Spring Break Travel Trends 2023: Emerging Consumer Trends & Predictions

Get data for any location

Start your search

Three years ago, the pandemic put a stop to travel, sparked remote work, and prompted mass relocations. As a result, we’ve seen human movement ebb and flow in new ways over the last few years. With the spring break travel season upon us, what will be some of the top travel destinations and emerging consumer trends? Based on these spring break trends, what can businesses in the hospitality and travel industry expect for the rest of the year?

To find out, we analyzed consumer foot traffic from March 1 to April 15, 2022, compared to the rest of the year. We looked at how foot traffic changed during spring break in U.S. states, major cities, and by place category as well.

Analysis: Top Destinations for Spring Break Travelers

Last year during spring break, most U.S. states saw increased year-over-year foot traffic. Nevada and Florida saw some of the highest increases in year-over-year foot traffic at 20% and 15%, respectively. As these two states are popular for tourism, it is likely that spring break fueled an influx of visitors to both states. The southern region of the U.S. experienced higher foot traffic than northern states as travelers were likely seeking a vacation in warmer weather.

spring break travel trends

Looking at this foot traffic on a more magnified scale, we can see which cities experienced the greatest increase in year-over-year foot traffic. Fort Lauderdale, FL, saw an increase of 35% year-over-year, making it the most popular city during spring break last year. This means Fort Lauderdale will likely see large amounts of spring break travelers again this year, especially as 2023 will be the first full-scale spring break in years. Other cities like Las Vegas, NV, and Houston, TX, were also top performers. States like California, Texas, and Florida all had multiple cities that grew in foot traffic last year, so this year, businesses in these states will likely be preparing for an influx in foot traffic.

Ready to Get Started?

Book a meeting with a location data expert now.

Schedule a Meeting

Getting even more granular, let’s take a look at spring break foot traffic by place category. Last year, there were various place categories that experienced foot traffic growth, but businesses in a few categories thrived. Not surprisingly, accommodations saw an increase of 58% in year-over-year foot traffic, making it the best performing category. Transportation saw an increase of 33%, and nightlife entertainment locations saw an increase of 28%.

So, last year during spring break, travelers were looking for places to stay where they could enjoy some nightlife and entertainment. This is likely the reason why Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas saw substantial spikes in foot traffic. So, how can this data help businesses in 2023?

Last Year’s Foot Traffic, This Year’s Plan

Although each year is different, analyzing consumer foot traffic during spring break last year is still useful. This is especially true as travel continues to regain more popularity after the pandemic and the mass travel disruptions during December 2022. With these issues hopefully in the rearview mirror, spring break 2023 may now be the best time to analyze foot traffic and consumer travel behavior, helping to predict travel trends for the rest of 2023.

However, as consumer behavior continues to change due to other factors like high inflation and economic uncertainty, businesses in the hospitality and travel industries will need to remain flexible in order to be successful this year.

Spring Break Destinations in 2023

This year, travelers are expected to be more adventurous. Less people are planning to visit places they’ve visited before, so unexpected spring break destinations may attract more foot traffic this year.

This means accommodations, transportation, and entertainment locations in cities like Las Vegas or Fort Lauderdale may have more sharp competition than last year. Our Q4 2022 Consumer Trends Report suggests that cost-conscious travelers will plan road trips to explore areas closer to home this year. Meanwhile, more airlines are offering new deals to help consumers get the most bang for their buck. So, will these tactics succeed in attracting consumers to travel by air? Whatever the case may be, traditional spring break destinations may see less travelers this year, as vacationers choose new locales.

But, not everyone wants to travel domestically this year. As many consumers venture into new areas, other consumers are venturing to new countries. Likely making up for lost time during the pandemic, more travelers plan to visit other countries this year and more families plan to travel together. It will be interesting to see what spring break destinations become popular this year as these new travel trends take hold.

Consumer behavior is constantly evolving. It’s critical that businesses in the hospitality and travel industries keep up-to-date on new trends in order to succeed. Analyzing last year’s spring break foot traffic by state, city, and place category can help us understand the big picture of consumer travel trends. It can also help businesses understand what to expect this spring break. Furthermore, this year’s spring break foot traffic trends will offer businesses a wealth of insight into the next wave of consumer travel trends for 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover how analyzing real-world movement patterns can reveal valuable trends in customer behavior, optimize business operations, and enhance strategic decision-making.

What is site selection and why is it important?

Site selection is the strategic process by which businesses identify, evaluate, and choose optimal locations for their operations. This process is paramount as the location of a business directly influences factors such as accessibility, visibility, profitability, and market longevity. For retailers, the right site can mean higher customer footfall and increased sales. In real estate, a well-selected site can promise lucrative returns on investment and tenant stability. Financial service firms leverage site selection to position their branches or ATMs in high-demand areas. Essentially, site selection plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success and growth of a business by aligning its physical presence with market opportunities and demands.

How does location intelligence enhance site selection?

Location intelligence refers to the harnessing of geospatial data to derive actionable insights, which can significantly enhance the site selection process. By analyzing data like consumer demographics, foot traffic patterns, competitor locations, trade area data, and more, businesses can make more informed decisions about where to establish or expand their operations. Location intelligence allows for a deeper understanding of market dynamics, revealing hidden opportunities or potential pitfalls. For instance, retailers can identify gaps in the market, real estate professionals can forecast property value trends, and financial service providers can assess areas with high customer demand. Advanced tools, like those offered by Unacast, further refine these insights by leveraging AI and machine learning, enabling more precise and timely decision-making.

What challenges do businesses face in the site selection process?

Unacast provides invaluable support to businesses during the site selection process through its advanced location data and analytics software, all powered and refined by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies. The company offers a suite of products designed to deliver accurate, actionable, and comprehensive location intelligence. This data proves crucial for businesses looking to understand consumer behavior, analyze traffic patterns, evaluate competitor locations, and much more. With Unacast’s robust tools, businesses in retail, real estate, and financial services can derive insightful information necessary for making strategic, informed site selection decisions. The platform not only provides reliable data but also ensures it is readily actionable for businesses, whether they are looking to open a new store, invest in property, or expand their financial services to new locations.

What types of location data are crucial for informed site selection?

Demographic data offers insights into the age, income, and lifestyle of people in a particular area, helping businesses understand their potential customer base. Foot traffic data provides information on the number of people visiting a location, which is crucial for retailers to estimate the store's potential popularity and for real estate professionals to assess an area's vibrancy and demand. Geographic Information System (GIS) data helps in visualizing and analyzing geographical details, supporting companies in identifying accessible and strategically located sites. Understanding the proximity to competitors, accessibility, and the socio-economic profile of the surrounding areas is also vital. Unacast’s platform aggregates and analyzes these various data types, providing a holistic view that significantly empowers businesses in their site selection endeavors.

Resources

Sort
No items found.

Book a Meeting

Meet with us and put Unacast’s data to the test.
bird's eye view of the city