Press Release: Travelocity.com
June 11, 2002
FORT WORTH, TX -- With the summer travel season officially under way, a new poll from travel expert Travelocity.com
(www.travelocity.com ), the most popular travel site on the Web, reveals
that 90 percent of those surveyed plan to take an out-of-town summer vacation this year, a 9 percent increase from
2001. Of those traveling, more than eight out of 10 said they will spend as much or more money for their summer
excursions.
The poll, based on a survey of 6,000 Travelocity.com members that was conducted in May, also discovered that nearly
40 percent of those surveyed will generally take a combination of both short and long trips during the summer vacation
season. In addition to the details included below, complete survey results can be found at www.travelocity.com/summerpoll
.
"This past year, visiting friends and family has become a top priority in the lives of so many individuals,"
said Sam Gilliland, president and chief executive officer of Travelocity.com. "This survey reflects the value
people have placed on taking the time to get out and enjoy themselves this summer, despite the ongoing uncertainties
around the world."
Survey findings also include:
Most Travelers Plan to Increase or Maintain Spending
The Majority of Travelers Have not Changed Plans Due to September Events
and the Economy
-- 63.9 percent have not changed plans because of these events
-- 11.7 percent have planned to spend more time with family instead of
exploring new destinations
-- 22.7 percent said they will vacation within the United States and
closer to home
-- Only 2.9 percent said they will be using an alternate form of
transportation in lieu of flying
Among Travelocity.com Members, Air Travel is Still the Leading Method of
Transportation
-- 72 percent of respondents cited air as their primary means of
transportation for summer travel
-- This is up from 63 percent in 2001
-- Car was second, cited by 24 percent of Travelocity.com members as
their preferred method of transportation. This is down 8 percent
from 2001.
-- Additional methods of travel indicated on the survey included bus,
rail and recreational vehicles
Summer Travel and Family Reunions go Hand-in-Hand
-- 20 percent of Travelocity.com members will spend their summer
vacations visiting loved ones at a family reunion, making this
activity the most common among travelers
-- 13.7 percent will explore cities within the United States
-- 10.8 percent will go to a summer home or cabin
-- 10.1 percent plan to take a romantic getaway
-- Remaining activities include exploring cities outside the United
States, relaxing on a cruise or at a resort, visiting a major theme
park, camping and attending a special occasion
Florida, California, Nevada, Hawaii and New York are the Top 5 Travel
Destinations within the United States as cited by Travelocity.com members
-- 14.6 percent cited Florida
-- 10.5 percent California
-- 5.6 percent Nevada
-- 5.2 percent Hawaii
-- 5.1 percent New York
Other Travelocity.com Research Findings
In addition to the member poll on summer travel, Travelocity.com further analyzed how consumers traveled in the
2001 summer season and how they plan to travel in the summer of 2002 by looking at its 34-million member database.
E-Ticket Usage Regains Altitude
-- E-ticket usage dropped slightly from Jan. to Oct. 2001, likely a
result of the events of September, as travelers preferred the
flexibility of paper tickets when changing travel plans.
-- E-ticket usage has since exceeded Jan. 2001 levels.
-- Of all the trips actually eligible for e-tickets on Travelocity.com,
the following percentages were fulfilled via e-tickets as opposed to
paper tickets:
-- Jan. 2001 = Approximately 86 percent
-- April 2001 = Approximately 86 percent
-- Oct. 2001 = Approximately 84 percent
-- April 2002 = Approximately 90 percent
Advance Purchase Time Back to Normal After 2001 Holidays
-- The average advance purchase time of air tickets for domestic travel
in Jan. and Feb. 2002 was approximately 28 days, which is not far
from normal for the season.
-- That average has recently moved back out to approximately 30-31
days, which is relatively normal as people start thinking in advance
about their summer vacations.
-- The 2001 holiday season garnered longer advance purchase periods
than other times of the year.
-- The current advance purchase time averages are slightly lower than
last April's.
-- April 2001 = 34 days
-- Dec. 2001 = 44 days
-- April 2002 = 31 days
About the Travelocity.com Summer Travel Poll
Travelocity.com distributed surveys via e-mail to members between May 9 - 16, 2002. Seven million Travelocity.com
members were solicited via its Real Deals newsletter e-mail of which 6,013 surveys were completed and used for
analysis. To ensure data quality, duplicated responses were omitted from final findings. Findings are significant
at a 95 percent confidence level with +/- 1.3 percent margin of error.
About Travelocity.com
Travelocity.com, a database-driven travel marketing and transaction company, provides Internet and wireless reservations
information for more than 700 airlines, more than 55,000 hotels and more than 50 car rental companies. In addition,
Travelocity.com offers more than 6,500 vacation packages, tour and cruise departures and a vast database of destination
and interest information. Travelocity.com employs more than 1,000 customer service professionals, has sold more
than 22 million airline tickets and has registered more than 34 million members.
Travelocity.com is wholly owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG - News), the leading provider of technology
and marketing services for the travel industry. More information on Sabre can be found at www.sabre.com . Additional
information about Travelocity.com can be found on the Web at www.travelocity.com
.
----------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT:
Judy Haveson (judy@vollmerpr.com)
212/554-7425
Janelle O'Haugherty (janelle@vollmerpr.com)
972/488-4790
SOURCE: Travelocity.com