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RVshare: Americans’ Hunger, Readiness to Travel Forecasting a Robust Year for Tourism

RVshare, the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, on Thursday revealed findings from its 2022 Travel Trend Report, predicting that next year will be a blockbuster year for travel.

Nearly all (90 percent) of survey respondents said they’re very or even 100 percent likely to travel for leisure next year, as per the company’s release.

According to the survey, Americans’ desire to travel to clear their minds, escape, enjoy wide open roads, and discover new places has increased since 2020. Additionally, next year poses the potential for a new age of travel as flexible work becomes a permanent lifestyle for many Americans. This shift will have long-term effects on the way people travel and approach trip planning in the next year and beyond.

These results are among key findings from the RVshare 2022 Travel Trend Report produced by RVshare and Wakefield Research, following a comprehensive analysis of consumer sentiment, travel behaviors, and internal booking data to identify the top travel trends of 2022.

“As the global travel industry makes its return, we focused our research on more deeply understanding and assessing the emerging motivators and desires of today’s travelers,” said RVshare’s CEO Jon Gray.

“Our findings are encouraging and reflect the ongoing evolution of the travel industry, proving that desire to hit the road has never been stronger. While 2020 and 2021 may have been a time of discovery for many when it comes to RV travel, the category is growing in demand as more and more people find RV and motorhome accommodations appealing for a number of priorities and reasons.”

Continue reading below for a summary of other notable findings, trend predictions, and statistics surrounding the rise of RV road-tripping, flexibility in travel and work schedules, family travel, ‘camping out’ at events, and more. A link to view the report in its entirety can be found here.

Road Tripping is On The Rise: RV Style

After over a year of pandemic-related travel restrictions, Americans are eager to get back out and travel again, and RV travel is on people’s minds, specifically Millennials and Gen Xers. Nearly half of likely 2022 travelers plan on taking a road trip or vacation in an RV in the next 12 months. Travelers are interested in making long road trips more exciting; experiencing nature while reconnecting with travel partners; and clearing their minds to escape, explore and discover new places.

  • 53 percent of travelers say they’re likely to consider renting an RV for a trip in the future.
  • 45 percent of travelers surveyed included RVs in their top three preferred types of accommodations, a 13 percent increase from 2020.
  • 70 percent of Millennials and 54 percent of Gen Xers plan to take a road trip or vacation in an RV in the next 12 months.
  • 74 percent of travelers have reported that local diners and dives are their favorite stops during road trips.

Flexible Work, Flexible Travel: The New Normal

Many Americans took advantage of working while traveling in 2021, capitalizing on the opportunity to book and plan more spontaneous and longer trips due to more flexible working environments. The “work from anywhere” trend will continue to be a hot topic, with more than three-quarters of respondents indicating that their ability to work remotely will be a “key consideration” in how they travel in 2022.

  • 76 percent of employed travelers had the option to work remotely in 2021 and, of those, 59 percent chose to work remotely during at least some of their leisure trips.
  • According to an internal RVshare customer survey, 38 percent said they now have more opportunities to work remotely than they did pre-pandemic.

Bringing ‘Home’ On the Go: Family Travel

Family travel is projected to remain an essential factor when choosing how and where to vacation in 2022. More than half of likely 2022 travelers are looking to spend quality time with family or explore and discover new places next year, both of which have increased in appeal since 2020. Family-focused destinations such as the campground at Disney Fort Wilderness Resort, for example, are continuously among the top destinations for RVshare customers.[³]

  • 81 percent of travelers reported that they are excited to travel with family in 2022.
  • 59 percent of travelers find an RV road trip appealing, followed by trips to National Parks or scenic areas (56 percent) and family camping trips (45 percent).
  • 62 percent of parents responded that RVs offer an exciting experience for their children. 
  • 62 percent of pet owners plan to bring their family pets with them on at least some of their trips this year.
  • 50 percent of RVshare rentals on the site are pet-friendly.

National Parks as Popular as Ever

While many Americans visited National Parks in 2021, they continue to top travelers‘ lists when thinking about future trips in 2022. And, the majority of travelers surveyed would likely choose RV accommodations for trips to National Parks.

  • More than half of likely 2022 travelers (54 percent) say national and state parks, as well as nature reserves, are important factors when deciding what type of vacation to choose in 2022.
  • Travelers are most likely to find RVs appealing for trips to National Parks or scenic areas (56 percent).
  • When deciding on the type of vacation to choose for the coming year, nearly two-thirds of likely 2022 travelers (63 percent) are looking for beautiful scenery, and a half (50 percent) are considering outdoor activities.
  • For planning a trip to a National Park, most travelers (85 percent) would be at least somewhat likely to choose an RV over other accommodation options, including 26 percent who say they’d be 100 percent likely to do so.

Event Experiences Evolve

As travelers become more and more familiar with RVs, they are increasingly using motorhomes and trailers in creative and unique ways. RVshare provides consumers with the option to have vehicles delivered to a destination, which nearly one-third of renters took advantage of in 2021. And with the reopening of sporting, music, and culinary festival events in 2022, demand for RVs is projected to rise. Over half of respondents said they’re very or even 100 percent likely to choose an RV over other accommodations when attending a music, food, or other multi-day festival event, including a sporting event or game.

  • 80 percent of travelers are at least somewhat likely to choose to stay in an RV over other types of accommodations when attending these events.
  • 67 percent of respondents are at least somewhat likely to consider renting an RV over other types of accommodations when planning a tailgating event at a sports stadium, including nearly 1 in 5 (18 percent) who say they’re 100 percent likely to do so.
  • 24 percent say RV delivery to an event or festival appeals to them when considering an RV vacation.
  • 77 percent indicated that they’d be more likely to consider an RV trip if the RV is delivered to the destination, particularly a popular choice among travelers from urban areas (58 percent are more likely to choose RV accommodations given this option).

The full 2022 Travel Trend Report is viewable at rvshare.com/press. For additional information about RVshare, visit rvshare.com.

About RVshare

RVshare is the first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. With more than 100,000 vehicles available, RVshare’s diverse inventory ranges from affordable travel trailers to luxury motorhomes. It can accommodate any outdoor adventure, whether it’s a weekend of camping or a cross-country tour of national parks. Through RVshare, families,and groups can experience a one-of-a-kind trip and create memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to offering a unique travel experience, RVshare provides RV owners in North America the opportunity to turn their RV into a second income. For more information, visit rvshare.com, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @rvshare.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: RVshare: Americans' Hunger, Readiness to Travel Forecasting a Robust Year for Tourism! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/usa/rvshare-americans-hunger-readiness-to-travel-forecasting-a-robust-year-for-tourism/