AAA Colorado forecasts nearly 1/3 of Mountain region population will travel over year-end holidays

Denver, December 16 – AAA Colorado is projecting 87.7 million Americans, 25.2 percent of the nation’s population, will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home during the year-end holidays. In the Mountain region (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana), there will be 7.3 million travelers or 32.5 percent of the population. This is the largest percentage of the population traveling for any major holiday this year. The year-end holiday period is from Wednesday, December 23, 2009 to Sunday, January 3, 2010.

As the economy begins to show signs of recovery, the focus for travelers this year will be on controlling costs rather than avoiding trips. Travelers in the Mountain region expect to spend $830 per household during these upcoming holidays, and 36 percent of the traveler budget will be apportioned to transportation costs. Only 14 percent of year-end holiday spending is expected to go towards accommodations, as most travelers will opt to stay with friends and family. Spending at the destination on food and beverages, shopping, entertainment and recreation constitutes the remaining 50 percent of spending.

In the Mountain region, 76 percent of travelers are expected to journey more than 400 miles round-trip. Despite fuel prices that are between 80 and 90 cents higher than last year, automobile travel will be the predominant mode of travel with 90.2 percent of Mountain region travelers taking to the roads. AAA Colorado forecasts 4.9 percent will travel by air over the year-end holidays. A wide range of travel dates during the year-end holiday period has allowed consumers to find travel deals. The remaining 4.9 percent will be traveling by “other” means, including trains, buses and multiple modes of transportation.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index – a monitor of pricing in 20 popular cities across the US – the lowest average published airfares over the Christmas/New Year holiday are expected to increase 2 percent from last year to an average of $179 per round-trip ticket. Car rental rates are up 2 percent to an average of $50 per day for a mid-size car. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be 10 percent less than last year with travelers spending an average of $119 per night. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond lodgings will pay 6 percent less than last year.

AAA's projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. AAA Colorado has more than 530,000 members and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com