In early 2010, U.S. leisure and business travelers were keen on value and affordability when planning their trips, resulting in London, Rome, and Paris securing the top positions on HotelsCombined.com’s list of international destinations. Adding variety to the mix were Bangkok, Sydney, Dubai, and Cancun.
On the domestic front, the preferred destinations for U.S. travelers were New York City, Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Orlando, New Orleans, and Miami, showcasing a diverse range of choices.
HotelsCombined.com General Manager, Michael Doubinski, noted that both vacationers and business travelers were capitalizing on competitive deals amid the current tourism climate. He emphasized that consumers were actively seeking economical options for accommodations and flights to maximize their spending power. Doubinski highlighted the prevailing weak economy and hotel rates, cautioning that as the industry rebounds, finding budget-friendly deals might become more challenging.
The decline in room rates, recorded at 8.8 percent by data firm Smith Travel Research, was a boon for travelers, offering attractive deals before the onset of the northern summer months.
London emerged as the clear favorite for American travelers in 2010, boasting an average room rate of $166. It outpaced Rome at $148 and Paris at $197. Long-haul destinations like Hong Kong and Sydney secured the fourth and fifth spots with competitive rates of $100 and $171, respectively. Bangkok, at sixth place, enticed international travelers with a nightly rate as low as $77. Barcelona claimed the seventh spot with average rates of $154, while Playa del Carmen ranked eighth as the most expensive in the top ten at $240. Cancun, in ninth place, offered average rates of $192, and Dubai, in the tenth position, incurred the second-highest nightly prices at $227 for U.S. visitors.
On the domestic front, New York City maintained its allure as the top choice for U.S. visitors, despite its $180 average rate being the country’s second-highest. Las Vegas, the second-favorite city, boasted a more affordable rate of $110 per night. Miami Beach claimed the third spot with the highest average U.S. room bill of $203, while Orlando, in fourth place, offered the most attractive hotel rates in the top 10, averaging $90 per night.
New Orleans, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Honolulu, and Los Angeles rounded out the list with varying price points, showcasing the diversity of choices available to travelers. The top cities listed by HotelsCombined.com aligned with Skyscanner’s ‘Most Searched for Destinations for 2010 from U.S. Airports,’ indicating a consistent preference among travelers for destinations like London, New York City, Las Vegas, Paris, Los Angeles, Orlando, Rome, and Miami.
In line with these trends, a Travelzoo survey forecasted that 74 percent of respondents would only consider vacationing in 2010 if they found a good deal. Despite the focus on competitive deals, TripAdvisor’s annual survey revealed that Americans anticipated increased travel in 2010, with 41 percent planning to spend more on leisure travel compared to 2009.