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As we look ahead to next year, Choice Hotels and Newlio.com recently conducted the 2015 Leisure Travel Outlook Study to get a beat on the latest leisure travel trends.

Via a survey of more than 1,000 American adults, the study revealed what to expect from the leisure tourism segment in 2015.

For one, Americans are planning on spending 8 percent more on leisure travel in 2015 than they did in 2014 (5 percent more per trip).

American travelers are also planning on taking more leisure and personal trips (a 2 percent increase). Leisure travel will increase amongst millennials and families with children under 12 years of age by 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Seniors could be an even bigger focus for travel companies, as they could spend as much as 33 percent more on leisure travel in 2015 than 2014.

Not surprisingly, most travelers will base their leisure destination on their budget, with 62 percent saying it was the No. 1 factor in where they would go. Attractions (60 percent), activities (47 percent), type of destination (46 percent), trip duration (45 percent) and distance from home (42 percent) were the other top factors. According to the study, more than 40 percent of American travelers regularly stay at mid-price hotels like Comfort Inn when traveling for leisure/personal, spending an average of $115.94 per night.

But while American travelers generally watch their wallets, that doesn’t mean they won’t spend more on certain experiences. Culinary tourism is expected to jump by 30 percent in 2015, according to the study. “Set jetting,” or visiting a destination from a movie, is projected to increase by 18 percent.

But where specifically will U.S. travelers venture out to in their spare time?

Interestingly enough, despite recent trends such as desiring more authentic destinations, nearly half (48 percent) of American travelers are expected to visit a city they’ve already seen in 2015. Other top choices include: an ocean or a beach (43 percent), a new city (31 percent), a state or national park (23 percent), the mountains (22 percent) and a theme or amusement park (15 percent).

Top American tourist destinations that garnered the most interest include Western national parks (24 percent), the Grand Canyon (14 percent), New York City attractions (12 percent), Washington monuments (7 percent) and the Golden Gate Bridge (6 percent).

There are also some big events coming up in 2015 that already have leisure travelers buzzing. Respondents in the survey tabbed Mardi Gras (25 percent) as the event they would most like to attend in 2015, followed by the Cherry Blossom Festival (24 percent), the Super Bowl (23 percent), NYE at Times Square (13 percent), the Kentucky Derby (9 percent) and Burning Man (6 percent).

What can hotels do to draw leisure travelers?

Free parking and free Wi-Fi should do it. Free parking was most desired among couples, families and seniors. Free Wi-Fi was most coveted by LGBTQI, multi-cultural and—not surprisingly—millennial travelers.

Another strategy for hotels to implement? Well, offer discounted rates, of course. In exchange for a hotel discount, about 55 percent of American travelers said they would forego free alcoholic beverages, 53 percent would give up housekeeping services and 26 percent would leave their smartphone at home (meaning less bandwidth used at the hotel). When more than a quarter of American travelers are willing to give up their iPhone in this day and age, you know discounted rates mean a lot to them (it should be noted, however, that millennials are 35 percent less likely than seniors to travel without their smartphone).

Via the survey, only 30 percent of U.S. leisure travelers have preferred hotel brands. On the other hand, if you do become their preferred brand, you should be sitting pretty. Leisure travelers with a preferred hotel brand plan to spend 112 percent more in 2015 than those without a preferred brand.

Buckle up, everybody. It figures to be another interesting year in the travel industry.

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