Happy New Year! Did you make any resolutions? If so, do they involve more travel? If you resolve to do more traveling in 2017, you’re not alone. A survey by GO Group LLC found that twenty-one percent of the population plan to take more vacations this year. Business travel will also be up by fifteen percent. What will also be on the rise is Bleisure, which means that business travelers plan to add some leisure [vacation] onto their business trips.
Another new trend is booking on a mobile device. A recent survey by Booking.com showed that more travelers will be using mobile devices for direct bookings and for checking-in too. Travelers are increasingly relying on travel apps and WiFi service.
A trend I am especially happy to hear about is the uptick in adventure travel. The same survey showed that forty-five percent of travelers are seeking adventure vacations. Spa vacations will be a close second to adventure trips. With everyone living such frantically busy lives, it is no wonder we are looking to escape on an adventure or pamper ourselves with a spa or wellness retreat.
No matter what kind of trip they’ll be taking, most polled agreed that they want to be eco-friendly (sustainable travel).
Service will be more important than ever before. Despite our becoming an automated society, travelers expect personal attention in some places, such as hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
My prediction is that travelers will seek big bargains. They will balk at prices they once paid. They will search for the lowest fares, even if that means being inconvenienced or giving up some creature comforts. They will want to save as much money as possible so they can spend it on another trip!
I also expect virtual reality to play a greater role in travel planning. More travel agencies, operators, and resorts will use VR in some form or fashion to motivate bookings.
What are your travel plans this year? I’d love to hear from you. If you comment on this post, I’ll be sure to provide you with some advice and resources to help with your travel planning. I’d also like to take this opportunity to share my five favorite blogs from 2016:
My Fifteen Favorite Travel Apps
Do Not Book a Vacation Rental Until You Read This!
My Five Favorite Airfare Hacks
Runner Up: Ten Travel Resources You’re Missing Out On
In addition to my travel tips blog, I host Über Adventures, which shares all kinds of amazing adventures, such as one of my favorites from 2016,
Terrance Zepke studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee and later received a Master's Degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. She has studied Parapsychology at the renowned Rhine Research Center. She began her career as a freelance writer and photographer, ... 
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