Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Travel Trends: Theme park attendance down, Disney remains strong]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/theme-park-attendance-down-disney-remains-strong/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/theme-park-attendance-down-disney-remains-strong/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/theme-park-attendance-down-disney-remains-strong/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The outlook for theme parks in 2010 is quite upbeat compared to 2009. Last year, attendance slipped as the rough economy forced millions of people to stay home and snap shut their wallets.

This year, the improving economy, coupled with dozens of new attractions opening at parks around the country, is expected to pump up attendance figures at North American theme parks.

"The industry is well positioned to have a good year this year," says Gene Jeffers, executive director at the Themed Entertainment Association. "They actually did well last year, considering the economy."

In 2009, attendance at North America's 20 most-visited theme parks slipped 1.1% from 2008, to 121.4 million visits, according to newly released data from the TEA.


Disney's parks in Florida and California, however, bucked the downward trend by posting year-to-year increases.

In fact, the number 1 amusement park was Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World with just over 17.2 million visitors, up 1% from 2008.

Continue reading Travel Trends: Theme park attendance down, Disney remains strong

Travel Trends: Theme park attendance down, Disney remains strong originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amusement parkamusement parksAmusementParkAmusementParksdisneykevin downeyKevinDowneytravel trendsTravelTrendswizardng world of harry potterWizardngWorldOfHarryPotterWed, 16 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel Trends: Orlando, Las Vegas top summer destinations for 2010]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/28/orlando-las-vegas-top-summer-destinations-for-20/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/28/orlando-las-vegas-top-summer-destinations-for-20/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/28/orlando-las-vegas-top-summer-destinations-for-20/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Perhaps fueled by a sense that the economy is improving, millions of Americans are gearing up to travel this summer. And when it comes to summer travel, Americans are nothing if not decisive about where we want to go.

This summer's top two destinations - hands down - are Orlando and Las Vegas, according to a recent survey conducted with members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

Orlando ranks highest among the trips that agents are booking - 17.7% say the theme-park capital is this summer's Number One destination. No doubt, that's due in some part to the buzz building over the June 18 opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

Las Vegas is Number Two at 16.2%.

"There are a lot of discounts and deals right now for those cities," explains Melissa Teates, director of research at ASTA in Alexandria, Va. "But, generally, most people just know they'll have a good time in these cities. Orlando and Vegas really exist as vacation destinations."

Continue reading Travel Trends: Orlando, Las Vegas top summer destinations for 2010

Travel Trends: Orlando, Las Vegas top summer destinations for 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>honolululas vegasLasVegaslos angelesLosAngelesmiaminew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityorlandosan franciscoSanFranciscosummersummer travelSummerTraveltravel trendsTravelTrendsWizarding World of Harry PotterWizardingWorldOfHarryPotterWed, 28 Apr 2010 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel Trends: Online booking for travel expected to increase through 2014]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/06/travel-trends-online-booking-for-travel-expected-to-increase-th/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/06/travel-trends-online-booking-for-travel-expected-to-increase-th/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/06/travel-trends-online-booking-for-travel-expected-to-increase-th/#commentsFiled under: ,

Like much of the rest of the travel industry, online travel bookings in 2009 took a hit. Spending by consumers dipped for the first time in recent memory, from $112.9 billion in 2008 to $104.3 billion in 2009 (down 7.6%), according to a report from research firm Forrester.

However, while online bookings for virtually every segment slipped -- including air travel by a punishing 7.7% to $61.8 billion (can you say, "Hello, baggage fees"?) -- online car rentals fared relatively well, sliding only 2.1%, to $12.1 billion.

By comparison, hotels tumbled a staggering 9.9%, to $28.6 billion. Cruise bookings were down a modest 3.4%, to $1.1 billion. Tours were flat, but at just over $600 million, it remains a tiny sector.

Why did online car rentals hold up?
In large part, online car rentals can thank the fact that gasoline prices moderated somewhat in 2009. Cash-strapped consumers still stricken with wanderlust had good reason to hop back in their car to take trips.

Continue reading Travel Trends: Online booking for travel expected to increase through 2014

Travel Trends: Online booking for travel expected to increase through 2014 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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