TRAVEL TIME IS FAMILY TIME

Posted on 06/23/2016

Canadians love to travel and Canadian families love travelling together. The proof is in the numbers from a new Choice Hotels Canada survey that questioned Canadians on their travel habits. It shows that the vast majority are planning trips soon and looking to connect with relatives at home or abroad or simply as a way to enjoy the fun times that come from sharing experiences together.

“In this busy age of online distractions and separate schedules, vacations are a time for families to connect, share memories and spend quality time together,” said Julie Chan-McConnell, Director, Marketing and Loyalty at Choice Hotels Canada.
The survey, conducted by LegerWeb, found:
Canadians are on the move
89 percent of Canadians plan to travel somewhere within the country in the next two years and those households with kids are even more likely to take a trip with 92 percent saying they are ready to hit the road soon.
Who they are travelling with
When Canadians travel, they don’t like to do it alone. An overwhelming 87 percent like to travel with family or friends, Albertans most of all with 93 percent and, not surprisingly, 95 percent of families with kids like to travel together.
The furry members of families aren’t being left behind
Pets are also popular travel companions with 22 percent of Canadians saying they don’t leave home without their animals. Families with children are most likely to bring the pet along with 26 percent saying so.
Where we’re going
When it comes time to pick a travel destination, most Canadians like to find new places to go every time they take a trip. Nearly three quarters (74 percent) seek novel destinations whenever they travel and that number jumps to 81 percent for Quebecers. Families also like variety as 79 percent of households with kids look for something new every year.
The reality, though, is that while Canadians may dream of visiting new places, half of them return to the same vacation spots again and again. Albertans are the biggest creatures of habit with 57 percent of them sticking to the same destination every time they travel.
The family that travels together stays together
Travel may be a time to see new things and visit new places, but a large number use it as a time to connect with friends and family in far-flung places. As many as 59 percent of Canadians travel to hook up with family and friends while those from Manitoba and Saskatchewan are even more likely with 74 percent doing so.
Children have a large impact on where Canadians travel. An overwhelming 88% of them said that children help determine where families go on a trip.
Travelling together is good for families as 84 percent of Canadians with children say that it brings them closer together.
What Canadians look for in a hotel
Canadian travellers look for value for money when they choose a hotel, with families with children being the most price conscious of all at 97 percent. After price, the most important factors when choosing accommodations by Canadians is cleanliness (86 percent) as well as safety (64 percent).
To help manage budgets, an overwhelming number of Canadians (81 percent) look for discounts or reward points when they travel, including loyalty cards.
The online survey of 1,576 Canadians was conducted between Tuesday May 24th to Thursday May 26th 2016 using LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent, 19 times out of 20.