Delegates get a sneak peak at cutting-edge statistics during General Session

March 29, 2003

Delegates get a sneak peak at cutting-edge statistics during General Session
Saturday’s General Session featured Peter Yesawich of Yesawich, Pepperdine and Brown (YP&B) who presented "America in Transition: A Preview of Emerging Lifestyles and Travel Trends." Yesawich shared with NTA delegates the most current information on evolving lifestyles, media habits, travel habits and future travel preferences from the not-yet released 2003 National Leisure Travel Monitor Survey.

Peter Yesawich focused on three factors playing important roles in the travel industry today: 1.) Iraqwarphobia, 2.) a languishing economy where value is king and 3.) the new consumer and the power of the online world.

In light of Iraqwarphobia, consumers are postponing or canceling trips, have a reluctance to travel longer distances and make more last minute decisions on travel, Yesawich said. "One-in-four leisure travelers said they will postpone or cancel in light of the war," he said. "In comparison, leisure travel was the first to drop after September 11 and also the first to recover."

YP&B is a leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency specializing in serving travel industry clients. The company’s offices in Orlando, New York, Honolulu, Los Angeles, London and Mexico City serve clients worldwide.

Click here to view full coverage of the 2003 Tour Operator Spring Meet.