Latest TripAdvisor Survey Included Three "Eco" Questions

TripAdvisor released the results of its 2012 Travel Trends forecast this week. More than 2,700 U.S. travelers were surveyed. There were three "eco" questions in the survey. First, guests were asked whether or not they participate in a hotel's towel and linen reuse program when they travel. Seventy-one percent said they do. This is about the same percentage I have seen in other surveys--possibly lower. Fifty-one percent said they switch off the air-conditioning or heat when leaving the hotel room. This one surprised me a bit as I thought a far fewer percentage of guests would actually do this. Perhaps guilt played a factor in the travelers' response? Finally, only 12 percent--yes, just 12 percent--said they choose a hotel specifically because of its green or environmentally conscious credentials.

TripAdvisor did not make it clear how it framed the "hotel choice process" question but of course one would expect location and cost to be the predominant reasons for choosing a property.

Other results not related to the environment showed that despite the current economic climate, 31 percent anticipate they will spend more on leisure travel next year, while 49 percent expect to spend the same amount as they did in 2011. Seventy-nine percent of respondents plan to spend a minimum of $3,000 on vacations in the coming year, 57 percent will pay out at least $5,000 and 21 percent will invest $10,000 or more on 2012 leisure travel. Ninety percent of respondents are planning to take two or more leisure trips next year, and 24 percent are planning five or more getaways. The top three international cities U.S. travelers plan to visit are Paris, London and Rome. The top three U.S. cities for 2012 are New York City, Las Vegas and San Francisco.