Many of you are familiar with the U.S. Travel Association and all the work it does to remind the world that the United States is a great place to visit. What you might not realize is that there is an organization within U.S.Travel dedicated to getting all of us Type A residents to use ALL our vacation time. Project:Time off was started a few years ago and Cait Debaun is the Director of Communications. She has sent me the post that they will be sharing today, which is National Plan for Vacation Day. If we don’t take all our vacation and encourage our staff to take theirs, how can we expect others to take days off to visit our attractions and destinations? We have to set a good example!
How Vacation Planning Can Unlock $236 Billion for the Travel Industry
Every year more than half (54%) of American workers fail to use earned vacation time, leaving a staggering 662 million days on the table. Those unused days cost the U.S. economy $236 billion in 2016 due to lost spending, a massive opportunity for the travel industry.
Planning is the key to success
Research shows that planning is the golden ticket for getting workers out of the office and on vacation. Project: Time Off research found that those who plan for vacation time are more likely to take earned time and take longer breaks.
- In 2016, 52 percent of planners used all of their time off compared to 40 percent of non-planners.
- While three-in-four (75%) planners take a week or more at a time, non-planners take significantly fewer days—zero to three—than planners at once (42% to 18%).
The benefits of planning extend beyond the days spent away from the office. Planners are reporting greater happiness than non-planners with their relationships, health and well-being, company, and job.
To get Americans planning, save the date for National Plan for Vacation Day on January 30, 2018. The national observance is an opportunity for the travel industry to remind Americans to choose to travel in 2018 and start planning for it.
The first-ever National Plan for Vacation Day in 2017 saw more than 600 organizations share the message with unique activations. With a new toolkit, Project: Time Off has made participating easier than ever for 2018. Here are five ideas to get you started.
5 Ways to Celebrate
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Engage on social media using #PlanForVacation.
Consider a Twitter Chat, Facebook Live event, or Instagram Story to reach multiple audiences. Do you have blogger or influencer contacts? Get them on board!
The toolkit contains customizable social posts that can be altered to fit your voice. For more ideas, check our talking points and promotional videos featuring TV Host and Travel Expert, Samantha Brown.
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Leverage Project: Time Off’s research to engage media and your target audiences.
Learn about the vacation habits of your state or city with our Under-vacationed America map. Want more on planning? Look out for the new Power of Planning report that will be released on January 30.
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Encourage site visitors to proactively plan for vacation using your itineraries and Project: Time Off’s new calendar tool.
The tool can be embedded onto your site allowing users to enter earned days, plot out time off, and export it to their own calendars or share with others.
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Strike a deal with travelers who make plans early.
Project: Time Off found that those who plan are more likely to take a week vacation or longer. Consider offering a deal or promotion for longer bookings.
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Practice what you preach by encouraging planning in your homes and workplaces.
Organize a planning event or set aside time to build out your calendar with family and friends.
Join the U.S. Travel Association and Project: Time Off on Tuesday, January 30 to help make National Plan for Vacation Day 2018 count.