Although much uncertainty still surrounds the state of travel thanks to the pandemic, customer data from Allianz Travel finds strong interest in resuming domestic travel with hotels and resorts being the top choice for accommodations. The travel insurance and assistance provider looked at both consumer behavior on its website as well as responses to a survey of 4,300 of its customers, in order to gauge travelers’ intent in booking trips of at least two nights that are more than 100 miles from their home.
Allianz found that the majority of customers surveyed (59 percent) are eyeing domestic destinations for their next trip. Interestingly, 54 percent are planning to fly while 42 percent will opt to drive to their next stateside destination. When it comes to choosing accommodations in the United States, hotels and resorts come out on top, with 47 percent of travelers looking to book at a hotel property, compared to 27 percent opting to stay with family or friends and 11 percent choosing a short term rental home.
The survey also found that its customers are paying close attention to how well new cleaning procedures are being implemented in the travel industry. Allianz found that advanced sanitizing efforts (50 percent) and a proven vaccine for COVID-19 (49 percent) are the top safety measures that will make customers feel safe enough to travel again, followed by health officials announcing that it is safe to travel again (42 percent).
In the second quarter of 2020, Allianz Travel found that 42 percent of its Single Trip online travel insurance quotes were for domestic destinations, compared to only 22 percent in the first quarter, resulting in a 93 percent change in the percentage of domestic destination quotes delivered.
“While the travel landscape is constantly changing, we’re finding that our customers are eager to safely hit the road to enjoy time together with their families,” said Joe Mason, chief marketing officer at Allianz Partners.“While travel to foreign destinations is currently in flux, it’s a great time to fly or drive to rediscover the amazing destinations that America has to offer.”
Although travel insurance products generally do not cover pandemics, Allianz Travel has made several temporary accommodations to provide coverage for trip cancellations, trip interruptions and emergency medical care for those who become ill with COVID-19, and has temporarily extended refunds of travel insurance premiums to customers whose travel suppliers have canceled their trips due to COVID-19.
The travel insurance and assistance company is also allowing customers to use their policy any time within 770 days of the purchase date, so that it can be used for a new or rescheduled trip. Customers moving their existing plan must change their plan coverage dates prior to traveling and prior to any loss for which they are seeking coverage. In addition, if the customer takes advantage of this option to insure a new or rescheduled trip that was paid for with a travel supplier voucher, any amount paid by a travel supplier voucher would be considered part of that customer’s insured trip payments.
For more information please visit, allianztravelinsurance.com. Check out these tips in our July/August issue where cover travel as destinations around the globe begin reopening. For more future booking inspiration, visit #AmazingDaysAhead. For intel on new health and safety protocols, visit New Protocols, Safe Travels.
