Rich people are dominating holiday travel

Most hotel guests this holiday season will be people making six-figure incomes, a recent Deloitte survey found.

Traveling for the holidays this year? The answer increasingly depends on your paycheck. 

Households earning at least six figures a year are expected to make up the largest share of holiday travelers this season — 45%, up from 38% in 2023, according to a recent survey by the consulting firm Deloitte. And they’re on track to make up a majority of paid lodging customers, expanding their ranks as hotel guests from 43% last season to 52% now.

“Travelers are looking to invest in upgrades and experiences that will make the holiday memorable,” said Kate Ferrara, vice chair for U.S. transportation, hospitality and services at Deloitte.

But that’s partly a reflection of who’s traveling in the first place.

While richer people are expanding their footprint in the holiday travel mix, lower-paid ones are shrinking theirs: Households making under $50,000 are set to make up just 23% of travelers, down from 28% a year ago, Deloitte found. (The median U.S. income was about $80,600 a year, according to the latest Census data.)

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/rich-people-holiday-hotel-bookings-airfares-rcna181084

---