Hotel Stays Expected to Increase This Summer

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:25 PM ET, Tue May 21, 2024

The number of Americans planning overnight leisure travel this summer has ticked up significantly over last year and that travel will include an increased number of hotel stays.

A recent poll commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)  found that 31 percent of Americans intend to book more hotel or resort getaways for summer 2024.

Additionally, hotels remain the top lodging choice for 46 percent of leisure travelers, according to the poll. Hotels also remain the top choice for 60 percent of business travelers.

AHLA described the poll results as good news for hoteliers amid continued challenging times. The hotel industry has been struggling with a nationwide labor shortage and high interest rates, according to AHLA.

The results of the new poll also indicate that “persistent inflation remains a significant obstacle to growth for hoteliers and other travel-related businesses,” AHLA said in a press release.

Poll data supporting this reality includes:

• 55 percent of respondents said inflation is likely to reduce their chance of staying in a hotel, down slightly from 56 percent in January
• 51 percent said inflation is likely to reduce their chance of traveling overnight
• 46 percent said inflation is likely to reduce their chance of traveling by airplane
• 44 percent said inflation is likely to reduce their chance of renting a car.

New poll from AHLA reveals 55 percent of respondents say inflation is likely to reduce their chance of staying in a hotel. (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)

Some of the other takeaways from the poll, which involved surveying 2,202 U.S. adults between April 25 and April 28, 2024, include:

• 52 percent of respondents said they are likely to travel overnight for a family trip in the next four months – up from 51 percent in January – 36 percent of whom said they would likely stay in a hotel.
• 42 percent said they are likely to travel overnight for a romantic getaway in the next four months, 56 percent of whom said they would likely stay in a hotel.
• 31 percent said they are likely to travel overnight for Memorial Day, 35 percent of whom said they would likely stay in a hotel.
• 32% of those surveyed ranked high-speed Wi-Fi as the top technological amenity they consider when evaluating hotels.

“This survey shows hotels are poised to benefit from a strong summer travel season, but it also underscores that inflation remains a stubborn obstacle to growth for our industry,” AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey, said in a statement.

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