National News

California, Florida, New York top states in travel spending

According to data from the Travel Industry Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, California ranked No. 1 overall in terms of total travel spending by domestic and international travelers, earning nearly $72 billion. Rounding out the top three were Florida ($56.3 billion) and New York ($35.4 billion). Other states in the top 10 were Texas, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia. The rankings are based on 2003 data, the most recent year for which figures were available. California also ranked No. 1 in domestic traveler spending, while Florida was first in international traveler spending.
Source: Travel Advance

Travel industry raises “yellow flag” for 2006

Experts predict that growth in the U.S. travel industry will slow in the coming months and early next year as high heating bills, combined with low consumer confidence, give travelers pause. Nationally, the industry will still see gains in 2006, but at 2 percent compared with the 4 percent growth expected this year, said Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association. "We see some yellow flags that concern me a bit," Cook said. "We have a cautious consumer in an environment of rising prices." Cook said soaring heating bills could put a chill on Americans' vacation plans this winter. Americans will pay between 30 percent and 50 percent more to heat their homes than they did last winter, and that extra expense is bound to pinch travel budgets. Higher air fares and deepening pessimism over the economy also add to the cautious outlook. Higher gasoline prices have not kept people from taking vacations, however.
Source: Travel Advance

AAA announces Five Diamond Awards

Luxury chain Ritz-Carlton was the big winner when AAA announced its Five Diamond Awards for 2006. The travel club is adding three more Ritz-Carlton hotels and one Ritz-run restaurant to its updated list of winners, giving the chain a record 31 properties on the list. Four Seasons has 24. New to the Five Diamond list are The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, in Beaver Creek, Colo.; The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, both in Florida; and The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, which is actually a Four Seasons hotel. The Ritz-Carltons are among six hotels and seven restaurants AAA added to the list, bringing the total to 150 Five Diamond properties for 2006. Other new Five Diamond hotels: The Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara in California and the Mandarin Oriental in New York.
Source: Travel Advance

Survey shows more travelers plan, book trips online

While the number of Americans using the Internet appears to have reached a plateau, those who plan and book trips or vacations online continues to climb rapidly, according to a new study from the Travel Industry Association. The annual report, "Travelers' Use of the Internet, 2005 Edition," which was issued jointly with TIA co-sponsor USDM Inc., shows that the Internet continues to grow as a dominant channel for both reaching and transacting with today's travel consumers. Survey results indicate a majority of online travelers (78% or 79 million Americans) turned to the Internet for travel or destination information in 2005--much higher than the 65 percent of online travelers in 2004. The survey also found that 82 percent of travelers who plan their trips online now also book reservations online.
Source: Travel Advance