The ‘GOAT’ Travel Mindset
Lots of folks are pinning their travel hopes on 2022 and dreaming of taking a vacation that will check off a number of items on their wish list and perhaps offer a transformative experience.
According to the latest survey from Expedia, travellers are looking for what the online travel giant has dubbed the ‘GOAT’ - or the Greatest of All Trips - mindset.
The research found nearly two thirds of Canadians are planning to go big on their next trips, whether it's splurging on something special or finding ways to break free from routines and live on the wild side.
Many people are seeking experiences that encourage them to be present and live in the moment, by immersing themselves in culture and satisfying their feelings of contentment and mental wellbeing, gratification, and excitement.
More than a third of people polled are more willing to treat themselves and prioritize their experience over their budget when it comes to certain expenses, like dining at a Michelin star restaurant, shelling out on a shopping spree, or booking a first class ticket or 5-star accommodations.
In the next year, travellers are also inclined to step outside their comfort zone and immerse themselves in a destination and culture that’s completely different from their own. From eating new foods to exploring more off the beaten path and rural areas, there’s an appetite and curiosity for the unknown that so many people are craving.
And it’s not just new tastes, art, and music people want to explore -a quarter of travellers are excited to do something out of the ordinary, the kind of thing they would never otherwise do - like sleeping under the stars, going skinny dipping or having a romantic vacation fling on their next trip.
So, if you’re keen to travel, get inspired, think outside the box and start saving, because your next GOAT adventure could be just around the corner.
The ‘GOAT’ Mindset
61% of travellers are planning to go big on their next trips with a new "no regrets" style of travel
Travellers Crave Feelings of:
-Contentment/mental wellbeing (41%)
-Gratification (35%)
-Excitement/exhilaration (36%)
Source: Expedia survey
Willing to Splurge
-Dining at a Michelin star restaurant (21%)
-Going all out on the ultimate shopping spree (15%)
-Booking a first-class flight or 5-star hotel (11%)
Source: Expedia survey
Exploring New Experiences
-Embracing food they've never eaten before (37%)
-Experimenting with local delicacies (36%
-Visiting a destination they never would have considered pre-pandemic (19%)
-Seeking more rural, off-the-beaten track experiences (25%)
Source: Expedia survey
Outside the Comfort Zone
-Sleeping under the stars (15%)
-Skinny-dipping (11%)
-Having a vacation romance (14%)
Source: Expedia survey
