Staycations Are Becoming More Popular Amidst Inflation

With restrictions easing up, people got their hopes up and packed up not just clothes, but also their long-overdue excitement.

However, as if jinxed, their overseas trips, flights, and long drives may have to take the backseat as inflation spiked the price of gas and other consumer goods and services. Now, a chunk of their travel fund would have to go someplace else, to compensate for the rising cost of living.

Then again, neither COVID nor inflation can make people store away their newly dusted luggage and travel gear. Like before, they are turning to staycation, camping, and other near-cation options to feed their wanderlust.

Data shows that a 65% increase in the first quarter of 2022 was seen in Airbnb’s U.S. bookings from people staying within their own region, over Q1 of 2019. In another report, 62% of Americans plan to take local, regional trips, visiting nearby cities and towns.

As staycation takes center stage, yet again, people are finding ways to spice up their experience through different near-cation options:

Inflation or not, no one can resist the mossy and refreshing smell and cool feeling you’ll wake up to in the morning when camping.

Now, camping is becoming more popular with 51% of travelers, saying that they plan to book spots in campgrounds. According to an Allied Market report, the camping sector is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% from 2022 to 2031.

The gas price hike hasn’t hurt the RV industry, which has seen no decrease in the demand for RVs and outdoor equipment. If any, they’ve noted an increase in travelers’ enthusiasm in the RV lifestyle. 28% of those that don’t own RVs are thinking of purchasing one, while 33% are considering renting one for upcoming vacations.

The reason for this is because RVing is still a more economically viable option for traveling compared to the combined cost of gas/ plane tickets and hotel accommodation. Plus, RVers can always limit their travel distance to save on fuel.

Read more about the costs of the RV lifestyle here.

The prevalence of remote work due to the pandemic has shot up the number of digital nomads which more than doubled from 4.8 million in 2018 to 11 million in 2021.

This popularized “workations” or working while on vacation. In a survey of more than 1,000 Americans, 67% said they took workations to “recharge their mental and emotional batteries.” Meanwhile, 92% plan to do it again in 2022.

How Your Business Can Take Advantage of the Staycation Hype

With this, businesses have a lot of headspace for making the most out of the popularity of staycations. Here are some things you can do to leverage this trend.

Aside from hotels, a lot of other businesses can benefit from the booming staycation market like restaurants, catering services, souvenir shops, cleaning services, doorstep deliveries, camping suppliers, and more.

This is the perfect opportunity to team up with other businesses in your area. For example, restaurants can partner with a hotel, B&B, or glamping business to include their DIY food kits or charcuterie box in the latter’s accommodation packages.

Make sure that you have your location listed on your website and social media bios, and utilize location tagging and hashtags on your post so you can reach the right audience.

In particular, TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes content from a place within a user’s vicinity so it’s important to always tag your location before posting.

People are getting used to the “new normal” but this doesn’t mean that they’re not anymore wary of COVID-19. Ease their worries by highlighting the safety precautions and protocols your business is taking to prevent the virus’ spread.

As more take work-life balance seriously, more jump on the workation train. Here’s what these on-the-go individuals are looking for: stable and fast internet connection, co-working spaces, in-room desks, and lots of coffee.

Many have grown more attached to their furry friends over the past two years as most times were spent at home with only their pets as company. 52% of travelers say that pet accommodation dictates their travel plans.

If your hotel, restaurant, or store is still not on board with the furry love, then it’s time to reconsider as travelers, particularly millennials, are willing to set vacation aside to stay with their pets.

The Bottom Line:

The pandemic and economic instability are changing the way people enjoy their vacations. This redirection has not fazed travelers from checking off their bucket lists and it shouldn’t hurt your business as well.

Locals may think they know their hometown well but you can always prove them wrong. It’s up to you to make staycations worthwhile for them and for your business.

Traveling is more than just having the perfect backdrop for Instagram photos. More than the destination, it’s all about the experience and memories one will gain with loved ones or new friends (when traveling solo).

This article was written by our marketing affiliate and contributor, Brand House Marketing. Reach out to them today, for creative and marketing solutions that are custom-tailored for your brand.