Nearly Half Of American Travelers Are Making 2022 Travel Plans, Regardless Of COVID, According To Research From OAAA & The Harris Poll

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to new research, COVID is no longer standing in the way of most future consumer travel this winter. Nearly half of travelers (48%) are saying that they have either already made travel plans for the first half of 2022 or intend to do so in short order once they decide on a destination. In comparison, just 27 percent of adults say they are waiting to see what happens with COVID before working out a plan for their winter travel.

These are just a few of the key insights from "OOH Media Opportunities: Consumer Insights and Intent - Early 2022," the latest research report from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll. OAAA is the national trade association for the entire out of home (OOH) and digital OOH media ecosystem.

Findings show that confidence in air travel is up. The number of travelers willing to hop on a plane during the first half of 2022 has more than doubled since the 2020 holiday season, up from 24 percent to 51 percent.

The same encouraging trend is playing out on the local level, as 43 percent of Americans say that their local travel plans will either return to normal or even increase. Over a quarter (27%) report their travel plans will be similar to pre-COVID times, albeit it with more of a focus on trips closer to home – an increase from the 19 percent who said the same during the winter of 2021), In addition, 11 percent plan to increase the number of trips they take and the distance they travel – versus 9 percent at this time last year.

With more people on the move this holiday season, OOH advertising provides a compelling opportunity for brands and marketers to reach consumers who are coming out of the pandemic with fresh eyes and an increased appetite for outdoor and shared experiences. Those who say they notice OOH "much more" is up significantly from September 2020, a 9-point surge. Specifically, consumers find out of home ads about retail (63%), fast food (62%) and food and beverage (60%) to be most relevant to their interests.

Urbanites in larger cities of at least 1 million are particularly open to OOH experiences. As of October 2021, 64 percent say they notice billboards, outdoor video screens, posters signage and other forms of OOH.

Overall, 85 percent of those who say they noticed OOH ads also find them to be useful, including for finding out about special offers and promotions (42%) or learning about a new business or service (29%).

Meanwhile, although digital consumption has grown greatly during the pandemic, more than 60 percent of Americans say they frequently skip online ads due to digital device burnout.

"With lockdown in the rearview, travelers are doing more than embracing the prospect of travel – they're booking trips and becoming increasingly comfortable traveling further afield," said Anna Bager, President and CEO, OAAA. "This survey makes it abundantly clear that advertisers need to pay attention to out of home advertising as consumer journeys are returning to pre-COVID conditions, with the added ingredient of greater OOH awareness."

"Not only are Americans ready to travel, they're ready to consume and learn about new products – but their focus on online advertising is eroding," said John Gerzema, CEO, The Harris Poll. "That's why OOH has a big opportunity to take on renewed resonance as people travel, both locally and longer distances, and spend more time outside. Marketers should pay attention to this trend, especially in the leadup to the holiday season."

"OOH Media Opportunities: Consumer Insights and Intent - Early 2022" was sponsored by The Foundation for Outdoor Advertising Research and Education (FOARE), a 501 (c) (3) not for profit, charitable organization.

To review the findings, go to https://oaaa.org/harrispoll-wintertravel.

Methodology
The Harris Poll conducted the online survey from Oct. 20 – 25, 2021, with a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. Adults 18+. Data is weighted to reflect the U.S. general public across age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, income, household size, and employment.

About the OAAA
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the national trade association for the entire out of home (OOH) advertising industry. OAAA represents more than 800 members, including leading media companies, advertisers, agencies, ad-tech providers, and suppliers which comprise over 90 percent of the industry. OOH media includes billboards, street furniture, transit, place-based media, and digital formats (DOOH) across every sector of the channel. OAAA is the unifying voice for the industry, the authoritative thought leader, and the passionate advocate for advancing OOH advertising in the United States. The legislative unit of OAAA advocates for the responsible growth of OOH with federal, state, and local government. OAAA-member media companies generously donate over $500 million in public service advertising annually. Founded in 1891, OAAA is headquartered in Washington, DC with offices in New York City. For more information, please visit oaaa.org.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. For more information, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.

SOURCE Out of Home Advertising Association

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