Mintels exclusive consumer research shows that short breaks are popular throughout most demographic groups for a variety of reasons. While some respondents stated a concern about being away from work too long or spending too much money, there is also a group that takes both short and long trips, indicating a willingness to take short trips for fun, not just out of economic necessity.

As the economy improves and Americans begin to spend more on travel in general, Mintel expects the short breaks market to benefit as consumers continue to take short vacations, and will possibly spend more money in doing so, either by choosing more expensive options or by traveling more often.

A short vacation is defined as a domestic trip of one to four nights away from home with at least one night of accommodation (i.e. staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast). The analysis focuses mainly on commercial accommodation for hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts. In addition, where applicable, self-catering accommodations will be discussed (cabins, camping).

• Introduction and Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Other relevant reports
• Definition
• Abbreviations and terms
• Abbreviations
• Terms
• Executive Summary
• Sales show strong recovery--up 6.9% in 2005
• Limited vacation time drives sales
• Cost of travel impacts sales--room rates static, airfares fall
• Supply of upscale hotel rooms increases, budget rooms fall
• Income distribution--high-income households up 31.2%
• Increase in Hispanic population good news for airlines
• Safety concerns positive for short breaks
• Online bookings still strong, but hotels take control
• Sub-brands drive growth, but differentiation is a challenge
• Reasons for taking short breaks determined by income
• Visits to family driving short breaks, beach and casino most popularactivities
• Strong future growth but rising gas prices could dampen forecasts
• Market Drivers
• Limited vacation time for U.S. employees
  • Figure 1: Employees with access to paidvacation and paid holidays, 1999-2005
  • Figure 2: Paid vacation days available toprivate sector employees, by average wage and geographical area, March2005
• Cost of travel
• Hotel costs
  • Figure 3: Hotel occupancy and revenue,2000-04
  • Figure 4: U.S. hotel rooms, distributionby daily rate, 2000-04
• Air travelFigure 5: Total U.S. scheduled airlinepassenger revenue, at current and constant prices, 1999-2004
  • Figure 6: Average yield for U.S. passengerairlines, 1999-2006
• Online travel bookings
• Overview
• Broadband penetration
  • Figure 7: U.S. broadband householdprojections, 2000-10
  • Figure 8: Internet travel-relatedactivities*, May-November 2004
  • Figure 9: Primary means of booking airtravel, U.S. residents, 2004
• Income distribution
  • Figure 10: U.S. per capita disposablepersonal income, 1999-2005
  • Figure 11: Households with discretionaryincome, by age of householder, 2000
• Minority populations
  • Figure 12: Population trends byracial/ethnic group, 2000-10
• Safety fears
• Market Size
  • Figure 13: Total U.S. retail sales ofshort breaks, at current and constant prices, 1999-2005
  • Figure 14: Graph: Total U.S. retail salesof short breaks, at current and constant prices, 1999-2005
  • Figure 15: Total domestic leisure trips,1999-2004
• Supply Structure
• Introduction
• Hotels and motels
• Overview
  • Figure 16: Major hotel operators in theU.S. by number of properties and rooms, 2003 and 2005
  • Figure 17: Graph: Major hotel operators inthe U.S. by number of properties, 2005
• InterContinental Hotel Group
• Cendant Corporation--Hospitality Division
• Marriott International
• Choice Hotels International
• Hilton Hotels Corporation
• Airlines
  • Figure 18: U.S. airlines by share ofrevenue passenger miles, 1998 and 2005
  • Figure 19: U.S. airlines by share ofrevenue passenger miles, March 2005
• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• Advertising and Promotion
• Overview
• InterContinental Hotel Group
• Cendant Corporation--Hospitality Division
• Marriott Hotels
• Choice Hotels International
• Hilton Hotel Corporation
• The Consumer
• Summary
• Four in ten have not taken a short trip
• Overlap of long and short trips markets
• Spouse or significant other most popular travel companion
• Your own vehicle is most popular means of transportation
• Spending time with loved ones top driver
• Weekends most popular time for short breaks
• 55-64 year old age group most likely to take short breaks
• $75K-99.9K age group more likely to visit family and friends
• Married couples are more likely to have taken a short break
• Black respondents more likely to travel alone
• Frequency of travel
  • Figure 20: Trips of four nights or lessthat involved a hotel stay, March 2006
  • Figure 21: Trips of four nights or lessthat involved a hotel stay, by age, household income and marital status,March 2006
• Reasons for taking short breaks
  • Figure 22: Reasons for taking shortvacations, March 2006
  • Figure 23: Reasons for taking shortvacations, by age, March 2006
  • Figure 24: Reasons for taking shortvacations, by race/ethnicity, March 2006
  • Figure 25: Reasons for taking shortvacations, by marital status, March 2006
• Travel companions
  • Figure 26: Travel companions on last trip,March 2006
  • Figure 27: Travel companions on last trip,by age and household income, March 2006
  • Figure 28: Travel companions on last trip,by race, Hispanic origin and marital status, March 2006
• Means of transport
  • Figure 29: Number of short breaks takenusing own car in the last year, by age, March 2006
  • Figure 30: Number of short breaks takenusing a rented car in the last year, by age, March 2006
  • Figure 31: Number of short breaks takenusing a plane in the last year, by income, March 2006
  • Figure 32: Number of short breaks takenusing a plane in the last year, by race/ethnicity, March 2006
  • Figure 33: Number of short breaks takenusing a train or bus in the last year, March 2006
• Purpose of trip
  • Figure 34: Purpose of short break, by age,March 2006
  • Figure 35: Purpose of short break, byhousehold income, March 2006
  • Figure 36: Purpose of short break, byrace/ethnicity, March 2006
• Visiting new destinations
  • Figure 37: Last visit to a new destinationon a trip of four nights or less that involved a hotel stay, by age,race and Hispanic origin, March 2006
• Nights included in stay
  • Figure 38: Nights included in stay on lasttrip of four nights or less that involved a hotel stay, by age,household income, race and Hispanic origin, March 2006
• The Future
• Future trends
• Short breaks set to increase
• Airlines consolidate and strengthen--fares rise
• Increased supply, decreased room rates
• Hotel chains take back the Internet
• Market based on Generation X and Baby Boomers
• Using sub-brands to differentiate
• Amenity creep continues
• Fitness as standard
• Lodging loyalty schemes stick around
• Forecast
• Market forecast
• Short breaks
  • Figure 39: Forecast of total U.S. sales ofshort breaks, at current and constant prices, 2005-10
  • Figure 40: Graph: Forecast of total U.S.sales of short breaks, at current and constant prices, 2005-10
• Forecast factors
• Appendix: Trade Associations