Eco-Awareness

According to research from the Green Hotel Association, 43 million U.S. travelers say they are concerned about the environment. Now, the travel industry is making a widespread effort to promote green initiatives. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Aloft, a Starwood Brand, each has green initiatives underway. Car rental companies such as Hertz, Budget, and Avis are adding more fuel-efficient cars to their fleet.

Hotel-Owned Villas

According to Scott Berman, a partner in the Hospitality and Leisure practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, upscale hotels are building villas in reaction to competition from independent villa rentals. Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Four Seasons properties and Evanson Hideaway & Six Senses in Ana Mandara, Vietnam, are a few examples of luxury hotels now offering villa rentals.

Private Jet Travel

Flying commercial is becoming passé for today's deep pocketed travelers. Aram Gesar, editor of the New York-based AirGuide magazine and AirGuideonline.com, says there are now 500 private jet companies, up from around 100 five years ago. Over the same period, prices to charter your own plane have declined from $3,800 per hour to as low as $2,200.

Multi-Generational Travel

Travel experts say that vacations including multiple generations of families are increasingly popular. The trend, known as "togethering," is expected to increase in coming years. Rod Cabron, spokesman for travel marketing firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, says people have an increased appreciation of time with family.

Yacht Charters

Wealthy travelers favor renting luxury yachts for their vacation. With a growing list of amenities such as outdoor Jacuzzis, plasma televisions, spacious staterooms, a culinary team cooking gourmet meals and the option to change your itinerary at whim (after all, it's your boat).

Adults Only Travel

Hotels are recognizing that travelers don't always want kids around, and are carving out adult-only sections. Two examples: Emerson Resort & Spa in Mount Tremper, N.Y., has a new 25-suite adults-only inn. The hotel and restaurant at the Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos is just for adults as well.

Traveling with An Entourage

Traveling with an entourage isn't just for celebrities. Bjorn Hanson, a principal in the Hospitality and Leisure Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, says that very wealthy travelers are bringing nannies, trainers, yoga teachers, and even chefs on vacation.

Vacation On The Decline

Research from travel marketing firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell says one out of four adult leisure travelers will take fewer vacations this year than in previous years. Why the decline? Experts cite increasing difficulty getting away from work.

Human Contact Returns

It's no surprise that the majority of leisure travelers book through the Internet. But industry experts say that upscale travelers are relying more heavily on luxury travel consultants who charge hefty fees to plan every aspect of a trip. Case in point: There is a wait list to join Fisher Travel, a members only travel concierge in New York City. The cost? $250,000.

A New Definition Of Camping

• 51.2 million Americans are vacation deprived, earning (14 days) and taking (11 days) the least amount of vacation days among their international counterparts

• 35% of employed U.S. adults usually do not take all of the vacation days they receive each year

• 23% of employed adults check work email or voicemail while vacationing, compared to 16% in 2005

• 40% of employed U.S. adults anticipate using the majority of their vacation time for 2007 by taking a power week and using the remaining days here and there

• 14% plan to take a full two week vacation

Out of all the countries surveyed, Americans receive and take the least vacation days while the French workers receive and take the most vacation days.

After the U.S. Labor Day weekend, which is symbolically the end of the busy summer travel season, the industry generally expects the demand for airline tickets and hotel rooms to drop significantly. This dip in demand usually lasts until Thanksgiving weekend, when airlines and hotels often see a spike in bookings. It is expected that the “Thanksgiving spike” will be much smaller this November, signaling the beginning of an expected travel decline due to adverse economic conditions.