34 Million Fewer Americans to Travel This Holiday Season

AAA Travel expects the vast majority of Americans to stay home this holiday season. Public health concerns and travel guidance are influencing their decisions not to travel over the year-end holidays, a period that typically sees high demand for vacations. While AAA expects at least 34 million fewer travelers compared to last year's holiday season, as many as 84.5 million Americans may still travel from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a decline in travel of at least 29%.

"While Thanksgiving is traditionally spent gathering with friends and family, the year-end holidays are when Americans often venture out for longer, more elaborate vacations. That will not be the case this year," said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. "Public health concerns, official guidance not to travel, and an overall decline in consumer sentiment have encouraged the vast majority of Americans to stay home for the holidays."

The CDC urges Americans not to travel for the holidays this year, warning that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.

For those who make the personal decision to travel, it is important to understand the risks involved and take steps to keep yourself and others safe. Seek the advice of a trusted travel advisor and refer to AAA's COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com for the latest state and local travel restrictions, and to help determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and hotels are open along your route.

Introducing Chefs at Home, an initiative to inspire Pinners to cook well and do good

During the past few months with millions of people at home, more than 60 percent of Americans have increased their home cooking, and many have turned to Pinterest as a source of inspiration. In fact, searches for “easy at-home recipes” have increased by 12X.

To continue offering more fresh ideas to home cooks, Pinterest is launching Chefs at Home, an exciting sneak peeks into the home kitchens of the country’s top culinary talent. Chefs at Home features recipes, tips, and tricks from over 30 iconic chefs: What’s Andrew Zimmern’s go-to summer soup? How does Kwame Onwuachi make his favorite hummus? What’s Stephanie Izard’s secret to perfect homemade tostadas?

Chefs at Home invites Pinners to not only cook well but also do good. We recognize that food insecurity and job loss has made this a difficult time for many. As part of this program, Pinterest is donating $300,000 in free advertising to raise awareness and funding for the National Restaurant Association Educational Fund (NRAEF), Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR), No Kid Hungry, and Harlem Grown. 

To help curate the Chefs at Home recipes, Pinterest collaborated with industry experts Peter J. Kim, the founding director of the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD), and Tracey Johnsen, a creative strategist who honed her chops at Tastemade.

Head to Pinterest’s Today Tab every week for new Chefs at Home recipes. Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

Week 1: Celebrate Black chefs

• Kwame Onwuachi’s chickpea tagine hummus

Week 2: Snack like a chef

• Lucas Sin’s microwave sesame mochi

Week 3: Friends with benedicts

• Kia Damon’s pumpkin rye pancakes 

Week 4: Eat your feels

• Adriana Urbina’s stuffed poblano peppers

Week 5: Weekend bake-a-thon

• Dominique Ansel’s yogurt cake

Week 6: Savoring summer

• Andrew Zimmern’s cold cucumber soup

48% of Americans Canceled Summer Travel Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has caused nearly half (48%) of Americans to cancel their summer travel plans for this year leading to more distress for the travel industry

Here's what our survey found:

• 46% of those who had upcoming travel plans lost money on nonrefundable deposits and cancellation fees, averaging $854.30 per person. Most of the lost costs came from airline tickets (59%) and hotel rooms (44%).

• The coronavirus pandemic is changing consumers' views about travel. Forty-three percent feel more negatively about the industry as a whole, and many will change their behavior as a result. For example, 55% said they're less likely to take a cruise once the pandemic is over, and 52% are more fearful of overseas travel.

• 1 in 4 Americans are planning a celebratory trip once the threat of the coronavirus disappears, especially millennials, Gen Xers, parents of children under 18 and six-figure earners.

• 40% of consumers said they're more likely to purchase travel insurance for future trips due to the coronavirus. However, 18% said the health crisis made them less likely to consider insuring their future trips.