From shorter booking windows to the desire for alternative accommodation options, Expedia says travel in 2021 will have a decidedly different look for Canadians than in previous years. Based on analysis of traveller data, the online travel giant has compiled an educated forecast of what travellers are looking for, and can expect, in the year ahead.
Punctuated with a host of additional hacks (efficiency tips), the report is designed, says the company, to arm travellers with the information and inspiration they need to make smart travel decisions coming out of an unprecedented year.
This year, in addition to tapping into its own database of search and demand data, Expedia partnered with ARC for a deep dive on the effect of the pandemic on air travel.
Among the report’s findings:
PLAN C
Whether it was Plan A or Plan C(ovid), it’s clear Canadians spent 2020 exploring smaller towns in their own province with close proximity to the outdoors and ones that were only a drive away. Looking ahead to the new year, Expedia suggests that Canadians are thinking about a new plan C – Canada, and how they can embrace winter at home, which would be a first for many who typically flock to warmer climates.
Destinations that offer ski and outdoor activities are seeing interest, as well as spots on Vancouver Island, which typically have the mildest winter temperatures.
However, many others are still dreaming of escaping somewhere warm and tropical, and particularly to an island destination.
TRAVELLER TRENDS 2021
• Flexibility isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s required: In 2021, flexibility will continue to be top of mind for travellers, who booked refundable rates nearly 10 percent more often this year compared to last. Luckily, flexibility is more affordable than ever: Expedia.ca lodging data shows average daily rates for refundable bookings were nearly 15 percent cheaper in 2020 compared to 2019.
• Health and safety advancements are essential: In 2021, concerns about staying safe while travelling will continue to impact every aspect of trip planning, from what type of accommodations to choose to where to go to who to travel with. Since May, nearly 300,000 properties have added health and cleanliness information on Expedia.ca, which includes enhanced cleaning measures, contactless check-in, social distancing, and other guest safety considerations.
• Shorter booking windows: In 2019, the average Canadian traveller booked flights around 34 days in advance of their departure date, but during the onset of the pandemic, that window shortened to 22 days, where it remains. The new, shorter planning cycle illustrates how travellers have adapted to the rapidly changing environment and ongoing uncertainty. This is a trend seen in lodging as well. Last minute bookings during the summer were on the rise with around half of Canadian travellers booking trips 0-7 days out, an increase from previous years.
• Growth in alternative accommodation options: While the most popular lodging type in 2020 was hotels, certain alternative property types were more popular than in previous years. Specifically, private vacation homes, cottages, glamping experiences, treehouses, and house boats. When looking to book a stay, the data shows that the lowest average daily rates are usually found on Mondays.
DESTINATIONS
This year’s trending destinations list looks considerably different than last year’s, with more rural and remote places outside of city centres and domestic destinations completely filling the top 10. In previous years, trending destinations included a mix of US and other international cities, but this year the story is very much one of Canadian roots. The destinations showing the greatest growth (listed 1-10) include:
• Jasper, Alta.
• Gaspesie-Iles de la Madeleines, Que.
• Banff, Alta.
• Tofino-Ucluelet, BC
• Okanagan Valley, BC
• Muskoka, Ont.
• Georgian Bay, Ont.
• Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Que.
• Thunder Bay, Ont.
• Golden, BC
THE NEXT BIG TRIP
While nearby getaways and road trips are likely to remain popular as travellers navigate the ongoing realities of life amid a pandemic, search data proves that Canadian wanderlust remains strong. More specifically, vacation-deprived Canadians dreaming of their next trip fall into one of two categories (top 20 destinations ranked):
Sun & Beach: Over half of most-searched destinations are islands in the southern hemisphere or otherwise that offer a warm and sunny beach escape:
• Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (#1)
• Puerto Vallarta (#2)
• Orlando (#3)
• Cancun (#4)
• Oahu (#5)
• Maui (#7)
• Punta Cana (#8)
• Maldives (#9)
• French Polynesia (#11)
• Bali (#13)
• Barbados (#15)
• Turks and Caicos (#16)
• St. Lucia (#17)
Slope & Coast: Some Canadians are ready to embrace the snow and lower temperatures, while others are looking to find some warm reprieve domestically:
• Banff (#6)
• Okanagan Valley (#10)
• Whistler (#12)
• Mont Tremblant (#14)
• Victoria (#18)
• Collingwood (#19)
• Tofino-Ucluelet (#20)
AIRFARE
This year, average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights hit their lowest in early July right around Canada Day, and then started to rise over the course of the summer as pent-up travel demand picked back up. Looking at the fall months, ATPs for domestic flights have largely returned to their 2019 levels; however, depending on official travel restrictions and health guidance, prices will likely continue to fluctuate for the foreseeable future.
The best day of the week to book an international or domestic flight is Sunday and the best day to start a journey for a domestic trip is Friday, with international travel being Thursday; this planning could save around 10 percent.
(Ed. note: Expedia research was compiled from before the approval and initial distribution of a vaccine for COVID-19)