Amadeus Travel Intelligence data captured on November 19 suggests
a busy period with U.S. air traffic up 4% year-over-year during Thanksgiving
week. Amadeus’ data also shows mid-sized and secondary airports, especially in
California markets, are posting 9% growth in Thanksgiving bookings.
AAA said it expects a record 81.8 million Americans to
travel for the holiday this year with about 90% of those travelers planning to
drive to their destinations, turning Thanksgiving weekend into one of the
busiest travel periods the country has ever seen.
AAA forecasts that 1.6 million more people will travel at
least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1 compared to last
year.
Among the top 10 U.S. destinations where hotels are filling
fastest for Thanksgiving week, according to Amadeus, seven are in Arizona,
Florida or Hawaii.
Amadeus said Phoenix shows the strongest momentum, with
departures up 3.4% and arrivals up 10.5% between November 25 and December 2,
signaling renewed interest in the mild climate and outdoor attractions during
the holiday season. Atlanta also shows strong gains, with departures up 5.4%
and arrivals up 6.3%, cementing its role as both a key connector and a growing
leisure gateway for southeastern travelers.
Resort markets in Hawaii lead the pack, with occupancy
levels at 69% between November 23-29, more than double the U.S. average.
Kahului, Honolulu, and Waikoloa are the strongest performers.
Elsewhere, Sedona in Arizona is the most popular destination
this Thanksgiving, while Page (home of Lake Powell and near Glen Canyon Dam)
sits at number nine. Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts show similar momentum,
led by destinations such as Key West and Key Largo.
Amadeus also reported that the beaches and islands are
filling fast, but rate increases remain modest. While most top destinations are
slightly more expensive than last year, a few key markets like Kahului and Key
West are cheaper.
Post-Thanksgiving weekend shows strength in college football
towns with Auburn, Alabama (+$214); Ann Arbor, Michigan (+$145) and Norman, Oklahoma
(+$129) seeing sharp jumps in ADRs.
All of this data comes after Deloitte reported that for the
first time in at least five years, more than half of surveyed Americans plan to
take trips between Thanksgiving and early January, but most of that increase
comes from people staying with friends and family rather than in paid
accommodations.
However, Deloitte noted that the signs of softness don’t
stop there, as planned trip length and frequency, as well as travel budgets,
are all down compared to 2024. With fewer trips and more conservative spending,
travel providers could see a weaker winter in key metrics, including airline
load factors, hotel RevPAR, and activity bookings.