US Family Travel
Survey
September 2015
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
4
Study Highlights
8
Survey Overview and Respondents
9
Survey Respondents
10
Travel Behavior
12
Travel Challenges
19
Travel Attitudes
27
Travel Decision-Making
30
Conclusion
32
3
Introduction
Rainer Jenss
FTA Family Travel Study 2015: Income Influences HOW American Families Travel,
but WHY They Travel is a Matter of Attitude
The Family Travel Association (FTA) was founded in the fall of 2014 with one primary objective: bring the travel industry together to inspire families to travel – and to travel more. After
all, travel’s power to transform children and potentially change their lives is something that
most of us can appreciate.
With family and multigenerational travel now one of the hottest and fastest-growing segments of the entire tourism industry, accounting for over one-third of all leisure trips, some
might wonder why investing in the growth of this sector is even necessary. After all, at a time
when a record number of families are traveling, shouldn’t the industry focus its attention on
other emerging categories?
There are several reasons why I believe that today, right now, is precisely the time to double
down on family travel. Besides the not-so-inconsequential detail that America looks to be
lagging behind the rest of the developed world in producing global workers, I’ve always maintained that not enough parents in the U.S. place the same priority on the value of travel as
their counterparts overseas. This is a broad generalization, of course, and yet there does seem
to be a consensus among strong voices in the industry with whom I have talked about this.
But has there been any in-depth research about travel attitudes and challenges for US families?
Not really.
So to learn more about what’s really going on in this country when it comes to families and their
travel habits and attitudes, we joined forces with the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch
Center for Hospitality and Tourism to take a snapshot of the market today. What we got back
was new and groundbreaking research into how families make travel decisions and the barriers
they face in doing so, as well as how differently parents prioritize traveling with their kids.
“We were very excited to work with the Family Travel Association on this study,” said Dr. Lynn
Minnaert, clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Professional Studies. “This is an underresearched area in the tourism literature, and we hope that the study will help the travel industry provide better products and services for families in the future.”
What did we learn? For starters, we appear to be correct in our premise that, despite the
steady increase in family/multigenerational travel, there’s still plenty of room for growth!
As we sifted through the data, three distinct profiles for groups of family travelers emerged.
The first group, which we call the Hassle-Free Travelers prefers travel options that require little
effort and research. They appreciate the value of travel, but are looking for travel options that
can be booked and enjoyed easily. While they are not averse to international travel, they are
likely to book an all-inclusive resort or go on an organized tour where the travel planning is
done for them. They are less likely to value travel over material possessions, and least likely to
take their children out of school to travel.
4
The second group, or Cautious Travelers, is more willing to spend time researching and preparing for travel, and is—at least in theory—more willing to try a wider variety of travel options. In addition, most are more willing for their kids to miss school to travel. However, they
worry about safety, hygiene, food options, finding appropriate activities for the children, and
whether they are getting value for their money. Because of these uncertainties, they tend to
revert to ‘safe bets’ such as family-friendly hotels and theme parks. But because they feel that
travel strengthens family bonds and makes children better global citizens, the members of this
group seem to be sold on the value of traveling with their kids, even when they are not sure
where to go and what to do, or are just too nervous to leave their comfort zones.
Finally, there are the Intrepid Travelers. They tend to opt for new destinations each time
they travel, are most likely to take their kids out of school for vacations, value travel over
material possessions, and like to travel to different cultures and unusual destinations. And
while all families want to keep their children safe while traveling, this is not the main focus
for this group.
The Cautious Travelers were found to be the dominant group in this survey. What does
this mean? I submit it confirms that a significant proportion of the population is very willing to travel—and travel more with children—but is not doing so without help. These people
are struggling to find meaningful information about where to go and what to do, and need
assistance finding value-for-money travel options that offer the experiences for which they are
looking, and seek reassurance that their families will be safe while on the road.
I would even argue that this is great news, as it represents a tremendous opportunity for the
industry. If we continue to nurture the Intrepid Travelers, help the Cautious Travelers with their
concerns, and cater in new ways to the Hassle-Free Travelers, we could see an even greater
acceleration in the growth of family and multigenerational travel in the years to come.
Please take a deep dive into the research and let me know what specific data points interest
you. As a member of the FTA, you have complete access to all the information and we are
happy to provide further analysis in the categories of your interest. After all, helping our members better understand this market also is one of our top priorities.
Best regards,
Rainer Jenss
President & Founder
Family Travel Association
5
Introduction
Lynn Minnaert
Demographic vs. Psychographic Influencers in Family Travel: The ‘How’ Versus the ‘Why’
Family tourism is an under-researched subject area: only relatively recently has it received
the academic attention it deserves as an important social phenomenon. This exploratory
study of the travel behaviors, challenges, attitudes, and decision-making processes of U.S.
families contributes to this emerging field and has examined the influence of demographic
factors (for example: income, age, number of children) and psychographic factors (for
example: attitudes toward travel and life) on how families in the U.S. make travel decisions.
To examine these questions, an electronic survey was developed by the Family Travel
Association and the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Center for Hospitality and
Tourism. The survey was extensively tested and then distributed by SmartyPants and
Scholastic. The support of both organizations for the study has been invaluable and we
greatly thank them for their involvement. Their efforts made it possible for us to collect
a total of 2,614 responses.
The findings reveal that in the demographic factors, only household income plays a significant role in the way families travel. Affordability is the biggest factor in determining whether
and how families choose to travel. The age and gender of the respondents; the number,
gender, and age of the children; and the educational level of the respondents all have
limited to no impact.
A family’s higher household income positively correlates with:
•Higher travel spend
•Lower likelihood affordability is a major challenge
•Higher likelihood to travel internationally
•Higher likelihood to have taken most trip types (except camping)
•Higher likelihood to plan most trip types in the future (except camping)
•Higher preference for resorts
•Higher preference for air travel
However, it also was found that income does not tell the whole story. While income
determines in many ways HOW families travel, it does not show clear relationships with
WHY people travel. The three psychographic family travel types we have discovered
(Hassle-Free Travelers, Cautious Travelers, and Intrepid Travelers) span different income
brackets and educational levels.
6
Psychographic factors determine:
•Which travel products families prefer
•Whether families are likely to try different destinations each time they travel
•The level of research families are willing to do before traveling
•The extent to which families worry about safety, cleanliness, and value for money
•The likelihood of families taking their children out of school to travel
•The extent to which families value travel over material possessions
It is in this complex combination of demographics and psychographics, of affordability
and travel preference, that substantial further growth in family travel is possible. Currently,
the information that is available about travel options and providers can be overwhelming.
A tailored resource specifically directed at families and differentiating between travel options
that suit different budgets and preferences is perhaps sorely lacking.
We wish to thank our respondents, collaborators, and supporters who have made this study
possible. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Dr. Lynn Minnnaert
Academic Co-Chair, Clinical Assistant Professor
NYU School of Professional Studies
Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism
7
Study Highlights
In this exploratory study, the Family Travel Association and the NYU School of Professional
Studies Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism examine the under-researched phenomenon
of family travel in the U.S. The study explores the following about families:
•Travel behavior and preferences
•Travel challenges
•Travel attitudes
•Travel decision making
Key Findings
•93% of the respondents are either ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to travel with their children
in the next two years.
•Respondents took an average of 3.53 domestic trips and 1.25 international trips
with their children in the past year.
•Families most prefer to travel with their children when the children are between
6 and 12 years of age.
•Of the respondents who had paid vacation days, over 50% did not use them all
last year.
•The respondents highly value the educational and emotional benefits of travel.
•Search engines are the most important information source for many families as
they research travel options but do not always provide information that is seen
to be reliable and trustworthy.
•Affordability is the most prominent challenge for family travel. While this mainly
affects lower income families, even higher income families raise this as a concern.
•Travel attitudes and preferences are, however, not clearly linked to demographic
factors (for example, family income), pointing instead to psychographic explanations.
•Three psychographic profiles were distinguished: Hassle-Free Travelers, Cautious
Travelers and Intrepid Travelers. Each profile has its own attributes and characteristics.
The three psychographic profiles are not dependent on the income or educational
level of the respondent, but are related to values and attitudes.
8
Survey Overview and Respondents
Survey Design and Administration
The survey presented here consisted of six survey blocks:
•Qualifiers: Only respondents who were over the age of 18 and who had children
17 years of age or younger, were eligible to take the survey.
•Travel Behavior: Questions in this block focused on the frequency of travel; the travel
types respondents had participated in; the travel types in which respondents were
likely to participate in the future; preferred transport and accommodation for family
vacations; and preferred age for traveling with children.
•Travel Challenges: Questions in this block focused on the factors that can make
family travel more difficult, and their relative prevalence. All respondents were
asked to assess a core list of challenges, after which the respondents were randomly
assigned three challenges to assess in further detail.
•Travel Attitudes: In this block, respondents were asked the extent to which they
agreed with a series of attitudinal statements about family travel.
•Travel Decision-Making: In this block, respondents were asked to rank information
sources for travel and assess the level of influence the children had in the decisionmaking process.
•Demographics: Respondents were asked to identify their gender, income level, state,
education level, ethnic background, and the number of paid vacation days to which
they have access.
The survey was designed in Qualtrics and distributed via SmartyPants and Scholastic.
The survey was in the field from February 2015 through May 2015.
9
Survey Respondents
Respondents by age
2,614 respondents
31%
18-29
63%
30-44
1%
45-59
60-75
5%
Respondents by number of children
50%
43%
40%
30%
24%
20%
20%
9%
10%
0%
2%
1
2
3
4
5
2%
6 or more
Respondents by sex
10%
90%
Male
Female
10
Respondents by education
Less than high school diploma
1%
34%
High school diploma
Undergraduate degree
45%
Masters degree or above
20%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Respondents by ethnicity
100%
80%
82%
60%
40%
20%
6%
5%
White
Hispanic
or Latin
Black
5%
0%
0%
1%
Native
Asian
American
Other
Respondents by household income
20%
15%
14%
16%
16%
18%
14%
10%
10%
11%
5%
0%
9
9
9
9
0
er
00
w
99
99
99
99
0
00
,
,
,
,
s
,
,
0
79
59
99
49
an
50
$4
o
$1
$1
–$
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–$
N
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0
ha
ve
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,0
,0
,0
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$6
$8
$4
$1
Geographical spread
47 States represented
11
Travel Behavior
U.S. families love to travel! 93% of the respondent were either “very likely” or “likely” to
travel with their children in the next two years. Only 2% were “unlikely” or “very unlikely”
to travel with their children.
How likely are you to travel with your children in the next 2 years?
80%
79%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
14%
5%
10%
0%
Very Likely
Likely
Undecided
1%
1%
Unlikely
Very Unlikely
Average number of trips per household in the past 12 months
Average
Domestic with
children
Domestic
without children
3.53
1.94
International
with children
1.25
12
International
without children
1.25
Over half of the respondents spend between $1,000 and $4,999 on travel each year.
How much would you estimate you spent on family travel last year?
28%
30%
23%
25%
20%
15%
16%
14%
13%
10%
4%
5%
0%
Household income and travel spending are clearly linked.
Household income vs. travel spending
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Less than
$500
$500 to
$1.000
$1,000 to
$2,500
$2,500 to $5,000 to
$5,000
$10,000
Over
$10,000
Less than $40,000
$60,000 to $79,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$40,000 to $59,000
$80,000 to $99,999
Over $150,000
13
Travel Behaviors and Preferences
Taken in the past
Likely to take in the future
Day trip
83%
81%
Theme park
78%
79%
Weekend getaway
77%
80%
Multi-day vacation in U.S.
77%
82%
Trip to see relatives
77%
77%
Museum or cultural attraction
74%
77%
Family road trip
72%
78%
Beach vacation
72%
80%
City vacation
61%
70%
Attending sport events
52%
58%
Visit to national park
52%
75%
Camping trip
48%
56%
Family reunion
42%
51%
Competing in sports events
28%
38%
Multi-day vacation international
24%
44%
Cruise
22%
49%
Safari or wildlife viewing
21%
42%
Ski or snowboard
17%
31%
RV trip
11%
28%
Volunteer or mission trip
10%
29%
Some noteworthy findings are:
•Volunteer trips, RV trips, ski and snowboard trips, safaris, and cruises emerge
as relatively niche products for family travel.
•Less than a quarter of the respondents have been on a multi-day international
vacation, and less than half are planning to take one in the future.
•National parks have great potential in the family travel market. This category shows
the greatest difference between past activity (52%) and future plans (75%).
14
Loyalty
Respondents who have taken a certain type of trip in the past are likely to take the same type
in the future. Multi-day vacations in the U.S. have the highest loyalty at 91%; RV trips have the
lowest loyalty at 66%.
Will take again
Will not take again
Multi-day vacation in U.S.
91%
9%
Day trip
89%
11%
Weekend getaway
89%
11%
Trip to see relatives
89%
11%
Family road trip
88%
12%
Beach vacation
88%
12%
Theme park
87%
13%
Visit to national park
87%
13%
City vacation
87%
13%
Museum or cultural attraction
87%
13%
Attending sport events
84%
16%
Family reunion
83%
17%
Multi-day vacation international
82%
18%
Safari or wildlife viewing
80%
20%
Camping trip
79%
21%
Cruise
78%
22%
Competing in sports events
77%
23%
Ski or snowboard
74%
26%
Volunteer or mission trip
72%
28%
RV trip
66%
34%
15
Findings per trip type
The table below examines the past and future travel preferences per category, omitting
non-responses. Findings to note are:
•51% of respondents who have not taken a multi-day international vacation in the past
are unlikely to do so in the future. Higher income respondents are more likely to take
an international trip in the future.
•Of the respondents who have not taken a cruise, 33% are planning to take one in the
future, while 44% are not. Higher income respondents are more likely to plan taking
cruises in the future.
•Cruises and visits to national parks are most appealing to those who have not experienced them in the past (scores over 30%).
•Volunteer trips, RV trips, and ski or snowboard trips are least attractive to those who
have not taken them in the past (scores over 60%).
Taken in past and
planning to take
again
Taken in past and
not planning to
take again
Not taken in past
and planning to
take in future
Not taken in past
and not planning
to take in future
Day trip
75%
10%
8%
7%
Multi-day vacation in U.S.
71%
8%
13%
8%
Weekend getaway
70%
9%
13%
8%
Trip to see relatives
70%
9%
8%
13%
Theme park
69%
11%
12%
8%
Family road trip
65%
9%
14%
12%
Beach vacation
65%
9%
16%
10%
Museum or cultural attraction
65%
10%
13%
12%
City vacation
54%
8%
17%
21%
Visit to national park
46%
7%
30%
17%
Attending sport events
44%
9%
13%
33%
Camping trip
40%
11%
18%
31%
Family reunion
35%
7%
17%
41%
Competing in sports events
21%
7%
17%
55%
Multi-day vacation international
20%
5%
24%
51%
Cruise
18%
5%
33%
44%
Safari or wildlife viewing
16%
4%
27%
53%
Ski or snowboard
13%
5%
18%
64%
RV trip
8%
4%
21%
67%
Volunteer or mission trip
8%
3%
22%
67%
16
Transport preferences
Overall, respondents prefer to travel by car. There is, however, a greater preference for air
travel as income goes up: planes are the top choice for highest income category (household
income over $150,000).
What is your favorite way to travel on a family vacation?
70%
63%
60%
50%
40%
31%
30%
20%
10%
3%
2%
1%
0%
Plane
Train
Car
RV
Other
Accommodation preferences
Overall, respondents prefer to stay in hotels. There is, however, a greater preference for resorts
as income goes up: resorts are the top choice for the highest two income categories. Hotels
are the most popular choice for families with household incomes up to $100,000.
What is your favorite type of accommodation for a family vacation?
45%
41%
40%
35%
30%
29%
25%
20%
15%
15%
10%
5%
0%
6%
4%
Resort
Hotel
Motel
Vacation
rental
17
3%
Campsite Time share
2%
Other
Age of the children
The preferred age to travel with children is between 6 and 12 years of age.
What is the best age to travel with children? Select all that apply.
80%
74%
73%
70%
61%
60%
50%
41%
37%
40%
30%
20%
15%
10%
0%
0 to 3
3 to 5
6 to 9
10 to 12
13 to 16
17 and
older
The least preferred age to travel with children is when they are the youngest: between 0 and 2
years old. Preference then rises to 37% for the age bracket of 3-5 years old. Most respondents
feel that the best time to travel with children is when they are between 6 and 12 years old. The
age category of 13-16 years old also scores highly with 61%. Then a decline is noticeable to 41%
for travel with children of 17 and older.
18
Travel Challenges
Respondents were asked to rank challenges that can make family travel more difficult
on a scale of 1 to 5.
1) no challenge – 2) small challenge – 3) somewhat of a challenge – 4) big challenge –
5) biggest challenge.
‘Affordability’ received the highest score, followed by ‘timing of school breaks’ and ‘finding
adult time while traveling with children’.
Average
Median
Affordability
3.42
3
Timing of school breaks
2.61
3
Finding adult time while traveling with children
2.60
3
Available vacation time
2.58
2
Finding a destination or activities everyone will enjoy
2.29
2
Choosing accommodations
2.28
2
Planning the trip
2.26
2
Flying with children
2.24
2
Traveling by car with children
2.21
2
Packing for the trip
2.20
2
Dining out while traveling
2.16
2
Keeping children safe and healthy
2.15
2
Airport security
2.06
2
Passport and visa requirements
2.06
2
Family members getting along
2.05
2
Age(s) of children
1.99
2
Health and physical limitations
1.62
1
19
Affordability
Affordability is the biggest challenge for family travel, especially for families with an income
under $60,000. It is the least challenging for families with an income over $150,000. It is
interesting to note that families with incomes between $60,000 and $149,999 show marked
similarities in their perception of affordability as a challenge, despite the considerable difference in household income. Moreover, in the highest income category (family incomes over
$150,000) 10% of respondents ‘agree somewhat’ that they can’t afford to travel.
Income vs. affordability challenge
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
No
challenge
Small
challenge
Somewhat of
a challenge
Big
challenge
Major
challenge
Less than $40,000
$60,000 to $79,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$40,000 to $59,000
$80,000 to $99,999
Over $150,000
20
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 726 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive affordability as a challenge. The answer scale was
as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
It is hard to find travel options that are affordable
3.51
4
We choose destinations close by to reduce the cost of family trips
3.42
4
We cannot afford to travel
2.87
3
I don’t think family trips offer value for money
2.37
2
In the qualitative answers, the cost of renting several rooms is often highlighted as a challenge.
Respondents are looking for affordable and comfortable options, and many remark that
destinations offer low value for the money. Theme parks are often pointed out as the most
expensive, but also as aspirational destinations: “These are the kind of places parents want
to experience with their children.” The same is true for international travel: “We would like to
travel internationally, but it would end up costing about the same as a small car!”
Choosing Accommodations
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 714 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive choosing accommodations as a challenge. The answer
scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
Most lodging options are too expensive
3.58
4
It is difficult to find lodging options with an odd number of children
2.76
3
I don’t know where to find the best lodging options
2.57
2
Most lodging options are not child friendly
2.47
2
The high mean score for ‘most lodging options are too expensive’ resonates with affordability
being seen as the biggest challenge in family travel. From the qualitative results, it can be
understood that many respondents have high expectations of accommodations. Common
requirements are that the hotels should have continental breakfast, the accommodations
should be 4-star, or there should be a pool. Many respondents indicate that it is challenging
to know which sources of information to trust about accommodation options.
21
Available Vacation Time
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 707 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive available vacation time as a challenge. The answer scale
was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
My vacation schedule doesn’t match my child’s/children’s
2.17
2
I’d rather take vacation time at home
2.15
2
I feel guilty missing work to take vacation leave
2.05
1
My employer frowns on me taking vacation leave
2.01
1
We prefer using our vacation time as a break from our children
1.83
1
The findings show that available vacation time is not seen as a major barrier.
The survey also asked respondents how much vacation time they had and if they were
employed full- or part-time. The relatively high percentage of respondents who are not
employed may be associated with the fact that many may be stay-at-home moms.
If you are employed full or part time,
how much vacation time did you have last year?
30%
27%
25%
20%
10%
14%
14%
15%
10%
10%
9%
7%
5%
0%
22
9%
Of the respondents who had paid vacation days, over 50% did not use all days last year.
Of the vacation days you had last year, how many did you use?
47%
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
19%
20%
12%
15%
10%
5%
17%
4%
0%
None
Less than
50%
50 - 75%
75 - 99%
All
In the qualitative results, a variety of challenges were highlighted. Examples include:
“Low number of paid leave days limits options for international travel”; “In Silicon Valley, taking vacation and having children (we’ve pioneered freezing eggs as a ‘benefit’!) are
both frowned upon”; “It is normally taken up with doctor’s visits and sick days for my children and spouse”; “There is ‘competition’ between parents in the workplace to take time off
during school breaks.”
Timing of School Breaks
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 692 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive timing of school breaks as a challenge. The answer
scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
Our child’s/children’s school is supportive/flexible in accommodating family travel plans
2.87
3
Our child’s/children’s breaks are not long enough
2.76
3
My child’s/children’s schedule/s are too busy for a family vacation
2.42
2
We can’t take time off when my child/children are out of school
2.36
2
23
Age of the Children
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 704 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive the age of their children as a challenge. 72% of the
respondents highlight that the age of the children does not influence their travel decisions
very much.
Please select the option that describes best
why the age of the children is a challenge.
80%
72%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
13%
6%
5%
My child/children We can't take
is too young
time off during
to travel
school breaks
The age gap
between the
children is
too large
4%
Age does
not influence
travel decisions
much
Other
Family Members Getting Along
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 720 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive family members getting along as a challenge. The
answer scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
It is hard to find an itinerary that will keep everyone happy
2.48
2
Travel puts too much strain on family relations
2.00
2
My children don’t get along
1.99
2
My child/children doesn’t want to travel with me/us
1.56
1
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Trip Planning
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 703 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive trip panning as a challenge. The answer scale was
as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
Planning an itinerary that will keep everyone happy is challenging
2.91
3
It’s hard to figure out if a new destination will be family friendly
2.72
3
I don’t know whose advice and information I can trust
2.70
3
I prefer package tours where the planning is done for me
2.49
3
Planning a trip is too complicated
2.34
2
I don’t have time to plan a family trip
2.19
2
Flying With Children
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 707 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive flying with children as a challenge. The answer scale
was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
The extra airfare is too expensive
3.87
3
Airports are too stressful with children
2.96
3
I worry my child/children will misbehave on the airplane
2.61
3
I worry my child/children will get airsick
2.48
2
The high mean score for ‘the extra airfare is too expensive’ resonates with affordability being
seen as the biggest challenge in family travel.
Traveling by Car With Children
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 712 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive traveling by car with children as a challenge. The
answer scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
My child/children get/s bored on long car rides
3.48
4
My child/children misbehave/s on long car rides
2.53
2
My child/children get/s carsick
2.02
1
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Dining Out With Children
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 713 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive dining out with children to be a challenge. The answer
scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
Dining out while traveling with children is too expensive
3.56
4
I prefer accommodations where we can eat in the room or prepare our own meals
3.20
3
It’s hard to find dining options to please the whole family
2.62
2
Dining out with children while traveling is a hassle
2.51
2
We don’t like the dining options when traveling with our children
2.33
2
The high mean score for ‘dining out while traveling with children is too expensive’ resonates
with affordability being seen as the biggest challenge in family travel. The qualitative results
show that many respondents find it challenging to identify affordable and healthy dining options. Food allergies also are regularly mentioned.
Keeping Children Safe and Healthy
In the randomized blocks of follow-up questions, 720 respondents provided further insights
into the extent to which they perceive keeping children safe and healthy a challenge. The
answer scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
Average
Median
I worry about safety in unfamiliar destinations
3.50
4
I am worried my child/children will get sick while traveling
2.94
3
I am worried about healthcare options while traveling
2.93
3
I am worried my child/children will get injured while traveling
2.68
3
The high mean for ‘I worry about safety in unfamiliar destinations’ is noteworthy. In the
qualitative results, safety and cleanliness are mentioned as worries. Other frequent concerns
are that children may run off in crowded places and the abundance of unhealthy food in
many destinations.
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Travel Attitudes
In this section of the survey, respondents were presented with a number of attitudinal
statements about family travel. The answer scale was as follows:
1) do not agree at all – 2) disagree somewhat – 3) neither agree nor disagree – 4) agree
somewhat – 5) fully agree.
The first question block focused on attitudes toward different trip types.
Average
Median
We like to make our own travel arrangements
4.15
4
We usually travel on all-inclusive vacations
3.35
3
We prefer to go on a cruise
2.89
3
We prefer to go on organized group tour
2.75
3
We prefer a new destination each time we travel
2.46
3
We prefer staying home over traveling
2.38
2
We prefer to stay at properties with kids’ clubs
2.14
2
We prefer to stay at vacation rentals
2.11
2
The second block focused on attitudes toward destinations and activities.
Average
Median
Once we find a destination we like, we tend to return to it
3.68
4
We travel to experience a new and different culture
3.37
3
I would consider having my child/children miss school to travel
3.27
4
We like to travel to unusual and off-the-beaten-path destinations
3.09
3
Figuring out if an activity or attraction is appropriate for the
child/children’s age is hard
2.55
2
Many destinations are unsafe for family travel
2.46
2
Travel with children is more trouble than it’s worth
1.83
1
The third block focused on attitudes toward the educational/emotional value placed on travel.
Average
Median
Family vacations enrich a child’s education
4.37
5
Travel brings us closer together as a family
4.30
4
I believe travel makes children better global citizens
4.09
4
Traveling with my child/children makes me a better parent
3.84
4
I prioritize travel experiences over material possessions
3.67
4
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It’s Not About Income, It’s Attitude
Correlations between the different attitude statements, combined with qualitative data from
the survey, highlight that three different family travel profiles can be distinguished. They are
presented below, along with their main attributes (note: the principal characteristic is listed
first). Although some attributes overlap between the different profiles, they each have their
distinct characteristics.
Cautious Travelers
The Cautious Travelers are families who value travel and often put great effort into researching
and planning family trips. They are attracted by many different travel products and destinations.
However, they tend to stick to trips that are traditionally seen as ‘family friendly,’ such as
theme parks and family-friendly hotels and resorts, because these products are regarded as
‘safe bets.’ Their travel decisions are greatly influenced by worry and uncertainty: they worry
about safety, hygiene, whether a destination offers value for the money, whether a child will
get sick, and whether activities are appropriate for children. They believe more strongly In
the value of travel for children and would consider taking their children out of school, but
they are generally too worried about all the uncertainties associated with travel to go far
off the beaten track.
More likely to worry about safety
Tend to prefer theme parks, hotels, and resorts
More likely to find it hard to identify activities appropriate for children
Like trying new places, but also return to destinations they enjoy
Feel that travel strengthens family bonds and makes children better global citizens
Still may travel to experience different cultures
More likely to take children out of school to travel
The Cautious Travelers are the most prominent group in this survey, which can be linked to
the following pronounced themes in the qualitative results:
Concerns about affordability and value—travel is a considerable expense for families
and they want to make sure they make the right choices
Concerns about which information to trust
Concerns about cleanliness, safety, healthcare, and security in unfamiliar destinations
Concerns about the safety of children in crowded places
Concerns about maintaining healthy diets on vacation, as well as worries about
food allergies
Concerns about providing children with experiences that are iconic (e.g. famous
theme parks)
Concerns about children being bored, as expressed in preferences for destinations
that offer a lot of on-site activities (e.g. entertainment, pools)
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Hassle-Free Travelers
The Hassle-Free Travelers are families who see travel as time for relaxation and indulgence.
They seek comfort and do not want to spend much time planning the trip. Just like the
Cautious Travelers, they are attracted to theme parks and family-friendly hotels/all-inclusive
resorts, but their motivations are different: whereas the Cautious Travelers worry about safety
and value, and tend to research travel options carefully, the Hassle-Free Travelers look for
options that allow the whole family to effortlessly relax. Hassle-Free Travelers are more likely
to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations; however, they are likely to stay in all-inclusive resorts
or take organized tours, as opposed to the Intrepid Travelers. Hassle-Free Travelers are more
likely to prefer staying at home instead of traveling. They also tend to place greater value on
material possessions than travel experiences.
More likely to prefer cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and organized tours
Least likely to take children out of school to travel
More likely to think travel with children is a hassle
More likely to return to the same destination
Still place value on the educational value of travel
More likely to place more value on material possessions
More likely to stay at home during vacations
Intrepid Travelers
The Intrepid Travelers are families that greatly value travel and are confident, independent,
and often experienced travelers. They emphasize their interest in exploring new cultures,
are likely to travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations, and often express disinterest in allinclusive and packaged products. They have an interest in many different travel products
and accommodation options, although the majority prefer hotel stays. Just like the Cautious
Travelers, they are more likely to take their children out of school to travel.
Tend to prefer new destinations every time they travel
Tend to travel to experience different cultures
Tend to worry less about safety
More likely to travel to unusual destinations
More likely to take children out of school to travel
Tend to value travel over material possessions
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Travel Decision Making
This section of the survey examined the information sources the respondents use when
making travel decisions. In the first question, respondents were asked to check any
information source they are likely to use when planning a trip.
Search engine (e.g. Google, Bing)
73%
Recommendations of family and friends
71%
Online booking site (e.g. Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak)
61%
Travel review websites (e.g. TripAdvisor, Yelp)
55%
Travel supplier website (e.g. hotel, cruise line, airline)
41%
Social media
37%
Magazines
32%
Guidebook
29%
Travel club (e.g. AAA)
25%
Travel blogs
24%
Tourist office website
22%
Travel agent
15%
Newspapers
12%
Tourist office - in person or via phone
11%
Tour operator website or brochure (e.g. Globus, Collette)
Other 10%
2%
30
They were then asked to identify their most important information choice among the options
they had checked.
Search engine (e.g. Google, Bing)
30%
Recommendations of family and friends
19%
Travel review websites (e.g. TripAdvisor, Yelp)
15%
Online booking site (e.g. Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak)
13%
Travel supplier website (e.g. hotel, cruise line, airline)
6%
Travel club (e.g. AAA)
4%
Guidebook
2%
Tourist office website
2%
Social media
2%
Travel blogs
2%
Travel agent
2%
Magazines
2%
Other
1%
Newspapers
1%
Tour operator website or brochure (e.g. Globus, Collette)
0%
Tourist office - in person or over the phone
0%
The dominant use of search engines is clear in both questions. Findings in previous questions
have highlighted that it can be challenging to identify a trustworthy source of information for
family travel. This could be linked to the fact that most families are faced with an overwhelming
number of choices when relying on search engines. This also validates the potential demand
for a central information source specific to family travel.
Role of the Children
Respondents were asked to assess the level of influence the children have in travel decisionmaking. They were asked to evaluate the statements below on a scale of 1 to 3
1) none – 2) a little – 3) a lot.
Average
Median
Selecting activities to do while away
2.31
2
Choosing the destinations to go to
2.09
2
Deciding whether or not to go on a trip
1.80
2
Collecting information about the chosen destination
1.75
2
Choosing accommodations
1.62
1
Choosing a specific travel supplier or brand (e.g. hotel, airline, cruise
line, tour operator)
1.43
1
The results show that children have the most influence in choosing activities to do while away,
and the least influence when it comes to choosing a specific travel supplier or brand.
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Conclusion
This survey has examined U.S. families’
•Travel behavior and preferences
•Travel challenges
•Travel attitudes
•Travel decision making
An important finding of the study is that while some aspects of travel are influenced by
demographic factors (most notably income levels), others are influenced by psychographic
factors (attitudes).
In this study, household income has emerged as the key demographic factor that influences
certain aspects of travel behavior and travel challenges. Higher household income positively
correlates with:
•Higher travel spend
•Lower likelihood affordability is a major challenge
•Likelihood to have taken most trip types (except camping)
•Likelihood to plan most trip types in the future (except camping)
•Preference for resorts
•Preference for air travel
However, there is often no clear correlation between income and travel attitudes. For example,
there is no correlation between income level and the desire to experience different cultures;
or between income level and the perception of vacations and trips as educationally or emotionally beneficial activities. Even the link between income and the challenge of affordability
is not as pronounced as could be expected. This points to psychographic factors underlying
these differences.
This exploratory study has proposed a hypothesis of three psychographic profiles in family
travel: Cautious Travelers, Hassle-Free Travelers, and Intrepid Travelers. Families, just like
other travelers, are not a cohesive market segment and each segment is identified by its own
behaviors, challenges, and attitudes. Cautious Travelers are the most prominent segment
identified in this study: this points to a potential future role of the Family Travel Association
as a trusted information source, which can help reduce the uncertainty associated with more
off-the-beaten-track travel options. Further exploration of the different psychographic profiles
also will aid the tourism sector in better serving each segment.
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About
The NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism
The NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, now
celebrating 20 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of these fields.
Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism was established in response to
the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education.
The Tisch Center’s cutting-edge curriculum attracts bright, motivated students who seek
to become leaders in their fields. Through its undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism
management, its graduate degrees and certificates in hospitality industry studies and tourism
management, Career Advancement Courses and Diploma Programs, as well as its worldrenowned conference, students gain the knowledge and the skill sets that enable them to
manage change, to communicate, to thrive in complex work environments, and to advance
the businesses of hospitality and tourism. For additional information on the Tisch Center,
visit sps.nyu.edu/tischcenter.
The Family Travel Association
The Family Travel Association was founded in 2014 to create a single and collective voice
on behalf of the travel industry and those companies that serve traveling families. As a
coalition of the leading family travel suppliers, resources, and experts, it’s mission is to
inspire families to travel—and travel more—while advocating travel be an essential part
of every child’s education. For additional information on the Family Travel Association,
visit www.familytravel.org.
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Notes
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©2015 NYU School of Professional Studies