More Vacationers Will Pack Laptops Alongside Their Swimsuits This Summer; Travelocity Survey Reveals More Than 88 Percent of Tra
June 23 2005 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
While it may not be a complete surprise that consumers are becoming
increasingly dependent on their personal technology, Travelocity's
latest survey of leisure travelers showed that even while "getting
away", many vacationers remain tied to technology and can be
"plugged-in" to the world from even the most remote places.
According to this recent Travelocity(R) study conducted in
partnership with nationally-syndicated family travel columnist
Eileen Ogintz, one in three people actually find it MORE stressful
to NOT be plugged-in, whether via cell phone, laptop, or PDA. More
than half of travelers between the ages of 22 to 45 admit to
sneaking away from family and friends to check and respond to
e-mail, voicemail, or instant messages. Also, most travelers in
this age group impose no limits whatsoever on how frequently they
"plug in" while vacationing. So, why do vacationers need to remain
continuously connected even when they are supposed to be away?
"Technology has become such an integral part of travelers' lives
that many of us find it impossible to completely unplug," said Amy
Ziff, Travelocity's editor-at-large. "This is an astonishing trend
that demonstrates a change in how we vacation. It's interesting to
consider just how much rest and relaxation vacationers are really
getting while away." The joint poll conducted from April 21 - 26,
2005 consisted of responses from 834 Travelocity members. The poll
was conducted to obtain information about travelers' use of
electronic devices, such as laptops and mobile phones while on
vacation, and their impact on vacation planning and activities.
Complete survey details can be found at
www.travelocity.com/pluggedinpoll and additional findings include:
Behavioral Statistics -- While hotels, airlines, and airports are
aggressively moving towards providing easy, affordable high-speed
Internet access, most travelers (84 percent) say they do not select
their vacation destinations based on the type of access they have
to technology -- Forty percent of travelers are checking their work
email while on vacation -- Thirty Three percent of travelers have
mobile phones handy to stay in contact with work even when it's not
related to a work emergency -- One in every four respondents will
bring laptops on their vacation -- Most travelers report that they
will go several days without checking e-mail or voicemail, 13
percent report that they never check their messages at all, and 6
percent indicate that for them it's only a matter of hours between
checking in "Clearly, it's harder and harder for everyone to
totally unplug on vacation, especially when the travel industry
makes it so easy to stay connected wherever you are," said Eileen
Ogintz, author of the nationally syndicated family travel column
'Taking the Kids'. "But there's nothing wrong with setting some
limits, whether for the kids to text message friends at home or for
mom and dad to catch up on work e-mail and phone messages. The
point of vacation, after all, is to reconnect with one another."
-0- *T Age Demographics: -- Travelers who are most likely to be
plugged-in while on vacation are among the younger demographic
(primarily between the ages of 22 and 45) -- The most plugged in
travelers are those who are from 22 - 34 years old (81 percent),
and they use their electronic devices most commonly for non-work
related activities, such as checking personal e-mail, keeping up
with current events, or keeping tabs on weather -- Most travelers
check their personal e-mail at least once while on vacation with up
to half checking work-related e-mail as well: -- Sixty percent to
77 percent of respondents check their personal e-mail while away on
vacation (60 percent of those aged 60-77, 77 percent of those aged
22-34) -- Nearly 30 percent of respondents ages 60 - 70 check work
e-mail whereas about 50 percent of respondents ages 35 - 45
reportedly check work e-mail. -- Thirty six percent of children are
plugged in while on vacation, whether using their music players,
handheld games or mobile phones -- On average, travelers take
between one and two electronic devices with them, while the 35 - 45
year age group is likely to pack the most on average -- The 35-45
year olds also are the most likely (29 percent) to bring along
handheld or computer games *T "It's interesting to see the
evolution of younger age groups who incorporate technology more and
more into their everyday lives, for entertainment, relaxation, and
just to stay in touch," said Ziff. "As the tech savvy grow up,
electronic devices seem to grow with them every step of the way."
About the Travelocity Plugged-In Poll The Travelocity study was
fielded from April 21 - 26, 2005 via a survey of Travelocity
members who have traveled in the previous 12 months. Results were
accumulated from more than 900 responses received. Leading travel
Web site Travelocity developed the survey in conjunction with
family travel columnist Eileen Ogintz, author of the nationally
syndicated 'Taking the Kids' column, distributed by Tribune Media
Services. For complete details on the study, visit
www.travelocity.com/pluggedinpoll. About Eileen Ogintz Eileen
Ogintz's latest books include Globe Pequot for kids: The Kid's
Guide: Cruising Alaska and The Kid's Guide: New York City. They are
available at bookstores and online at www.amazon.com E-mail Eileen
travel questions at eileen@takingthekids.com. About Travelocity
Travelocity's industry-leading technology and straight-talking,
honest information help travelers take more rewarding and
affordable trips. With millions of registered users and booking
$4.9 billion of travel in 2004, Travelocity(R) negotiates thousands
of low-priced deals with the world's most reputable travel
providers - top airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise
lines, and other destination attractions and services.
Additionally, Travelocity offers deeply-discounted rates for
weekend getaways and dynamic packages through its Last Minute Deals
and TotalTrip(SM) shopping engines, and provides customer service
support over the phone 24 hours a day. Based in Southlake, Texas,
Travelocity also operates Travelocity Business(SM) for corporate
customers, powers international travel Web sites in eight
languages, and has been recognized for its consumer advocacy and
global leadership in online travel. More information about
Travelocity is available at www.travelocity.com. Travelocity is
owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in
travel commerce. More information about Sabre Holdings is available
at www.sabre-holdings.com
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