‘Multi Micro-Cation’ Emerges as Newest Summer Travel Trend

13^th Annual Vacation Confidence Index Finds a Third of Americans Will Take Multiple Shorter Trips by September

 

RICHMOND, VA, July 7, 2021 — A new survey from travel insurance provider Allianz Partners has found that 2021 will be the summer of the “multi micro-cation.” According to the 13^th annual Allianz Travel Insurance Vacation Confidence Index, one in three (34%) Americans will take multiple vacations between now and September, favoring shorter trips over the traditional week-long or more vacation.

 

The travel insurance and assistance company revealed two in three (67%) Americans will travel away from home this summer for at least a night, and that the average number of trips is 1.2 vacations, which is defined as a leisure trip at least 100 miles from home. Four in 10 (44%) Americans are eager to travel and will take the first opportunity to take a vacation. In fact, a majority (51%) of these eager travelers will take multiple trips, with 22% intending to take three or more trips this summer.

 

Four nights away is the average trip length – also known as a micro-cation, which Allianz Partners defined in 2019 as a leisure trip that is fewer than five nights – and the average drops for those who vacation more often, Allianz’s survey found.

 

For those who take four or five trips a year, four in 10 (40%) spend just two or fewer nights away from home on those trips. The “multi micro-cation” trend is popular among 18 to 34-year-old travelers, with nearly half of that age group (46%) saying they plan to take two or more trips this year.

 

“Americans are making up for lost time and are planning not just one vacation this summer, but multiple ‘micro-cations,’” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications at Allianz Partners USA. “Pre-pandemic we coined the term micro-cation and this year we’re seeing that trend return with a vengeance, with Generation Z and Millennials leading the pack of Americans who are taking multiple trips. For those planning on traveling multiple times this year, annual travel insurance offers coverage for rental cars as well as coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays, baggage issues and medical emergencies. Annual travel insurance offers value and the convenience of a single purchase for 12 months of travel.”

 

 

The Vacation Confidence Index has been conducted each summer since 2010 by national polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Allianz Partners USA.

 

Although Allianz travel insurance products generally do not cover known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories, or fear of travel, this year Allianz Partners USA announced the rollout of its new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds enhancements for new purchasers of some of its travel insurance products that may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine,** or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. This new coverage formalizes and adds to some of the temporary accommodations the company put into place in March 2020 to assist travelers who had been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

 

Methodology: These are findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Allianz Partners USA. For this survey, a sample of 2,009 Americans aged 18+ was interviewed from May 24 to 28, 2021 via the Ipsos Online Omnibus. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the results are accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had all American adults been polled. Quota sampling and weighting were employed in order to balance demographics and ensure that the sample’s composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Credibility intervals are wider among subsets of the population.

 

 

About Allianz Partners

Allianz Partners (AGA Service Company) is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company with operation centers in 35 countries. In the United States, the company offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel insurance, the company offers tuition insurance, event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for property and casualty insurers and credit card companies. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency in California (License # 0B01400) and Massachusetts.