Airline Rate Hikes and Heavy Advance Bookings Mean a Busy Thanksgiving Season For Vacation Rentals
Oct. 23, 2006. According to an article in USA TODAY, Airfares have risen for this Thanksgiving holiday by 15%. The follows an increase of 15% for last year, 2005. The article is based on an analysis by consulting firm Sabre Airline Solutions, which also suggests that this year’s travel season will be a busy one. This means that luxury vacation rentals should do very well during the holiday season as more travelers opt to drive.
The analysis suggests that higher fares aren't deterring travelers. Sabre says that early bookings are 42% ahead of last year. However, I suspect that these higher rates will prompt many holiday travelers to opt to drive to their destinations, just as we did. My family decided to drive on a destination we usually fly to, after finding that our airline had increased rates by at least a third during the holiday period---much greater that the increase cited in the Sabre analysis.
Since most guests of vacation rentals drive rather than fly, this Thanksgiving season should mean full occupancy for well managed luxury vacation rentals.
