Survey of Travelers shows importance of choice and competition

FAIRFAX, Va. - Oct. 16, 2017 - PRLog -- Key findings in the 2017 Consumer Travel Survey released today by U.S. Travelers Coalition (www.ustravelers.org) show American consumers prefer to shop around when planning and booking their trips and support a more competitive travel marketplace.

"When it comes to booking travel, there is no question that consumers benefit from greater competition and choice in the marketplace," said Craig Karnis. "Whether it's having more flight options offered by foreign airlines, staying in a short-term rental rather than a traditional hotel, or being able to search, compare and book their trip in one place instead of going directly through each individual brand, most people surveyed enjoy having the option to shop around for the most affordable deals that meets their travel needs."

2017 Consumer Travel Survey Key Findings:

·   69% of those surveyed believe the U.S. government should approve more international carriers to provide service to the United States

·   One-Third of travelers indicate they have stayed in a short-term rental

·   Less than 50% of travelers said they prefer a hotel over a short-term rental

·   67% of travelers start their travel shopping with a travel agent, either online or in the community

·   63% prefer to book their travel via a travel agent (online or in the community), vs booking directly on a hotel or airline website

"The data suggests that leisure travelers are brand agnostic and want to be able to shop for travel and see all of their options in one place. For air travel in particular, consumers are clamoring for more competition.  While not surprising, the survey results confirm that attempts by airlines and hotels to limit competition and compel consumers to "book direct" are not in-line with what consumers want." Karnis added.

To learn more about the survey visit https://ustravelers.org/2017-consumer-travelers-survey/

1500 consumers were polled via phone for the survey with the margin of error being +/- 3 percent.

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About US Travelers Coalition:

The U.S. Travelers Coalition is an independent grassroots coalition of hundreds of thousands of travelers from all 50 states who are concerned about travel policy.  The U.S. Travelers Coalition is the strong voice in defense of every American traveler – the vacationing families, the frequent fliers and the road warriors, promoting travelers' rights, protecting consumer choice and enhancing competition.