Labor Day Travel Deals
By Doug Desjardins
The 2009 Labor Day travel season will be slower than usual for a second straight year but for reasons much different than in 2008.
Last year, people stayed home because they couldn't afford to pay $4 a gallon for gas or pay for air fares inflated by record jet fuel costs. This year, it's a combination of Labor Day falling later than usual and an economy that is still in the tank. That's why the American Automobile Association (AAA) is predicting a 13.3% decline in the number of people who will travel 50 miles or farther from their homes on the last long weekend of the summer, a decline of 6 million from last year.
"With the Labor Day weekend falling a week later this year, when many children will have returned to school, the decline may have more to do with the calendar than the economy," said AAA president and CEO Robert Darbelnet. "But our forecast shows that Labor Day travel will be up over this summer's 4th of July holiday, which is a positive sign."
Nevertheless, the decline in Labor Day travel caps off a sub-par summer for the tourism industry and has business-starved business like hotel chains, airlines and rental car companies in a promotional mood in an effort to grab what little business is out there.
Disneyland Resorts is running a special offer that cuts $400 off a four-night stay at Disneyland in Florida and California. Wyndham Resorts is giving members of its Wyndham Rewards program package deals that include two nights at a Wyndham hotel, a $50 dining gift card, a $25 gas card and free admission ticket to an amusement park for 41,000 points. "Travelers have countless deals to choose from this Labor Day,:" said Flo Lugli, Wyndham Hotel Group executive VP of marketing. "Even so, many people still can't afford to travel unless it's free."
People searching for bargains online have a number of limited-time offers and coupons available for Labor Day travel. Budget Rent a Cars is offering 40% of any weekly rental when its booked on Expedia.com and Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering a 20% discount on all of its rentals. Ultimate Coupons also features a Motel 6 discount for a 12% discount on a stay at any of its hotels through a coupon that expires on Sept. 13.
The discounts and promotions come at a time when the travel industry is struggling to make ends meet. According to Smith Travel Research, hotel occupancy rates in the U.S. dropped 19% during the first half of 2009 and U.S. airlines reported $6 billion in losses during that same period.