Driving Holidays and Staycations Top the List for Britons’ 2021 Holiday Plans

London - A survey by hotel loyalty programme Wyndham Rewards polling over 4,000 members across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Eurasia (EMEA) in November - including a representative sample of over 1,700 UK respondents* - has revealed the type of trips British travellers are planning for 2021 when they can travel again and the factors that feed into those choices. The findings showed that 78 percent of Britons surveyed have already started organising their 2021 trips with staycations, short-haul holidays and road trips topping their holiday plans. The survey also showed an intention to avoid peak booking periods and that for many, 2021 travel plans are not to their dream destinations.

Dimitris Manikis, President, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, EMEA said, "Our Wyndham Rewards survey reveals that British holidaymakers' decisions are still very much driven by the current climate. With an uptick in demand and an eagerness to plan their next trip in the year ahead, quiet holidays away from the crowds, domestic travel, and nearby destinations that can be easily reached by car are expected to continue to define the travel trends."

Appetite for Road Trips, Staycations and Short-Haul Holidays
Conducted in November 2020, the survey revealed staycations remain at the top of Britons' 2021 travel plans, with 44 percent of respondents expressing they intend to visit somewhere they have already visited in the UK and 39 percent planning to explore somewhere new in the UK. The survey also revealed demand for short-haul European trips with 31 percent expressing they would like to take a short-haul trip outside of the UK in 2021. Over half of respondents (64 percent) ranked car as their preferred mode of transport, followed by plane (31 percent) and train (8 percent), highlighting that many would prefer to reach their destination by car and avoid air travel for the time being.

Uptick in Demand for Off-Season Travel
UK respondents revealed an intention to travel during quieter booking periods with 19 percent expressing that they are most likely to avoid the peak season and only 5 percent wishing to travel during school holidays, implying a desire to avoid crowded places and busy holiday destinations. 23 percent of respondents in EMEA also expressed that they intend to avoid the peak season and only 6 percent expressed that they intend to travel during school holidays, reinforcing this trend. 37 percent of UK respondents expressed they are still unsure when to plan a trip in 2021, suggesting current restrictions on travel are making it challenging for many British travellers to pre-plan the timing of their next holiday.

Factors Influencing Travellers' Choices
The survey revealed the hotel's cancellation policy (61 percent), location of hotel (55 percent), number of COVID-19 cases in the destination (53 percent) and having to quarantine on return (53 percent) are the most important factors influencing British travellers' 2021 holiday decisions. 83 percent of respondents also expressed their 2021 travel plans do not align with their dream trip, suggesting that they are putting these factors above the dream trip they have in mind.

The survey was commissioned by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' loyalty programme, Wyndham Rewards®. The award-winning programme gives more than 85 million members globally generous points earning and redemption options, including free nights at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 90 countries around the world, including over 60 hotels in UK and over 400 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, from economy accommodations in vibrant cities to relaxing resorts by the beach and upper-upscale hotels.