The Traveler Mindset One Year Into COVID-19 Pandemic

It's been nearly one year since the COVID-19 crisis was declared a pandemic and travelers' concerns, priorities, desires and attitudes have come a long way in that time. Award-winning travel management firm Valerie Wilson Travel (VWT) recently published a white paper, "The 'New' Traveler Mindset," shedding new light on how consumers are viewing travel in the early stages of 2021. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Today's travelers are conscious of travel shaming and it's affecting the way that they share their experiences on social media, VWT notes. "With clients not posting their trips and tagging the properties and/or travel advisors, social marketing will have to adjust."

Beyond the safety concerns of traveling amid a pandemic, consumers are having to consider whether they want to deal with the headache of testing and navigating other travel restrictions and requirements. "The threat of being stranded somewhere is a roadblock to the traveler, as well as the inundation of ever-changing protocol and guidance," says VWT.

The lack of travel over the past year has resulted in extra funds to spend that have led to a phenomenon known as "revenge spending," where consumers are more likely to prioritize travel and new experiences over material items.

Domestic travel continues to dominate international travel in terms of demand-McKinsey reported that U.S. travelers' desire for travel to domestic destinations versus international locations has increased to more than 90 percent-but the latter is poised for a revival. Citing research by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, VWT reports that "bucket list" travel was the most frequently canceled type of trip in 2020. The result has been more travelers combining bucket list experiences to make up for what they've missed.

According to VWT, Micato is reporting its strongest-ever demand for family trips in 2021-22 as many families followed international protocols last year and largely postponed celebration travel.

The pandemic has consumers feeling entitled to be more selective and choose private accommodations. Citing Strategic Vision's Pulse of the Industry Survey 2021, VWT shares that 58 percent of consumers are interested in renting a private home or villa and at least half are up for private aviation.

With health experts still urging travelers to practice social distancing, travelers continue to be concerned about boarding crowded planes for extended periods of time. Currently, only Delta Air Lines is limiting capacity to keep middle seats open through April 30, 2021.

VWT reports that business travelers hope to avoid large airport hubs and connecting flights to minimize contact and limit close interactions with others, pointing out that the "comfort level for business travel is just not there yet." The firm's research shows that a potential CDC requirement for COVID-19 testing in order to fly domestically would present an overwhelming obstacle to the return of business travel.