Jingle All the Way Home and Abroad: Holiday Travel Spend More than Doubles AMERICAN EXPRESS SPENDING & SAVING TRACKER

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1 Jingle All the Way Home and Abroad: Holiday Travel Spend More than Doubles AMERICAN EXPRESS SPENDING & SAVING TRACKER

2 AVERAGE PER PERSON SPEND EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO $1,521 FROM $605 IN Half of all Americans plan to travel this holiday season (52%, on par with ), expecting to spend an average of $1,521, a 151% increase from ($605). AVERAGE HOLIDAY SPEND (PER PERSON) 52% (on par with ) of Americans plan to travel this holiday season $1,521 $605 2 Q.14. This year, will you be traveling over any of the following holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, New Year s? Base: Total Respondents Q.17. How much do you plan to spend PER PERSON on your upcoming trips this year for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, New Year s?

3 VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS REMAINS TOP REASON FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL Consumers site the top reason to travel this holiday season is to visit family or friends (53% vs. 58% in ), followed by treating oneself or family members to a vacation (31% vs. 30% in ). REASONS TO TRAVEL OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON The average American is expected to travel this holiday season with 5 people. Putting the overall cost for a family holiday vacation at $9,129 on average. Visiting friends/family for the holidays Treating myself/my family to a vacation as a gift I have found great deals for an end of year getaway I need a solo getaway before the New Year Going to lose my vacation days at work 31% 30% 20% 15% 13% 10% 12% 11% 53% 58% Haven't been able to vacation all year 9% 11% 3 Q.23. How many people will you be traveling with on your upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, New Year s trip this year, excluding yourself? Q.17. How much do you plan to spend PER PERSON on your upcoming trips this year for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, New Year s? Q.15. Which of the following includes the reason(s) you are traveling between Thanksgiving and New Year s Eve?

4 DINING OUT, ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE TOP AREAS IN WHICH AMERICANS EXPECT TO SPEND MORE WHEN IT COMES TO HOLIDAY TRAVEL While traveling, about one-third of Americans anticipate spending more on dining out (36%), and activities or entertainment (33%), followed by 25% staying at better accommodations. A significant increase this year vs. last year is noted for those going to a more expensive destination (18% vs. 14%) and more who are flying first class or business class (15% vs. 11%). AREAS TO SPEND MORE ON THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Dining out 30% 36% Activities/entertainment 33% 31% I'm staying in better accommodations 22% 25% I'm taking a longer trip 23% 25% I'm traveling with more people 20% 20% I'm going to a more expensive destination 14% 18% I'm flying first class or business class 11% 15% 4 Q.19. Thinking about your upcoming travel plans over [HOLIDAY SEASON] are you spending MORE in any of the following areas compared to last year?

5 THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PLANNING TO TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WILL REMAIN IN THE U.S. Three-fourths of Americans planning to travel this holiday season through the end of the year will stay within the U.S. (75% vs. 81% in ), while more than one-in-five will travel outside the U.S. (23% vs. 18% in ). DESTINATION PLANS FOR TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TRAVEL WITHIN THE U.S. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON I will be traveling within the U.S only I will be traveling outside the U.S only 12% 10% 75% 81% Northeast U.S Southeast U.S. Southwest U.S. 19% 18% 30% 25% 26% 29% Both Not sure 11% 8% 2% 1% Midwest U.S. Northwest U.S. Hawaii/Pacific Islands 9% 19% 23% 16% 14% 14% 5 Q.25. Which of the following describes where you plan to travel for your upcoming [HOLIDAY SEASON] trips? Q.26. Which of the following regions are you planning to visit during your upcoming [HOLIDAY SEASON] travels?

6 AIR TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR AMERICANS TRAVELING OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WHILE CAR TRAVEL WILL DECREASE When it comes to mode of transportation this holiday season, intentions to go by car have decreased (58% vs. 65% in ), those planning on flying has increased significantly (50% vs. 43% in ) and still fewer plan to travel by train (10% vs. 9% in ) or bus (8% vs. 9% in ). MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THIS UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON By car 58% 65% By air 43% 50% By rail/train By bus 10% 9% 8% 9% 6 Q.24. How will you be traveling to your upcoming [HOLIDAY SEASON] destinations this year?

7 MOST AMERICANS FIND TRAVEL TO BE WORTH THE SPLURGE More than six-in-ten (63%) Americans agree, they splurge when booking travel if the opportunity arises. In fact, 87% of Americans are willing to exceed their travel budgets, such as for a unique experience relative of location (62%), followed by a local cuisine (45%), souvenirs (32%), and first-class airfare (13%). REASONS TO GO OVER TRAVEL BUDGET 63% agree when booking travel, I splurge if opportunity arises Unique experience relative to location 62% 87% are willing to go over budget when it comes to travel Local cuisine Souvenirs 32% 45% First-class airfare 13% 7 Q.4. Do you agree or disagree: When booking travel, I splurge if the opportunity arises? Base: total respondents Q.T5. Which of the following are you willing to go over your budget when it comes to travel? (new in ) Base: total respondents

8 MOST AMERICANS WILL RESEARCH DEALS ONLINE TO OFFSET TRAVEL COSTS About six-in-ten Americans typically offset travel costs by researching deals online (59% vs. 62% in ), followed by one-third (34%) who will use loyalty or reward points for all or partial payment. Notably, 17% will speak to a travel agent who can navigate holiday fares (vs. 13% in ). TYPICAL WAYS CONSUMERS LOOK TO OFFSET COST OF TRAVEL Research deals online 59% 62% Use loyalty or reward points for all or partial payment Stay at the home of a friend or family member 34% 34% 32% 36% Shorten the length of trip Speak to a travel agent who can navigate holiday fares 18% 19% 17% 13% 8 Q.6. How do you typically offset the cost of travel? Base: total respondents

9 PRIMARY METHOD USED TO PAY FOR TRAVEL IS CREDIT/CHARGE, FOLLOWED BY DEBIT CARD When decided how to pay for their travels 27% of Americans say they ll pay with credit/charge cards (vs. 26% in ), followed by debit cards (24% vs 20%), and credit/charge card reward points (15% vs 12% in ). PRIMARY METHOD USED TO PAY FOR TRAVEL Credit/charge Debit card Credit/charge card rewards points 15% 12% 27% 26% 24% 20% 71% (vs. 70% in ) would be willing to forgo receiving holiday gifts to take a vacation during the holiday season A mix of debit/credit/charge and rewards points 14% 16% Use more than one method 10% 13% Cash Airline mileage points 2% 1% 9% 12% 9 Q.3. What is your primary method used to pay for travel? Base: total respondent Q.32. Would you be willing to forgo receiving holiday gifts to take a vacation during the holiday season?

10 JUST ONE-THIRD OF EMPLOYED AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO RESPOND TO WORK S WHILE ON VACATION One-third of employed Americans are willing to respond to work s while on vacation versus nearly one-half (46%) of Millennials who would respond to work s while on vacation. WILLINGNESS TO RESPOND TO WORK S WHILE ON VACATION Agree 33% 46%of Millennials (age 18-34) who would respond to work s on vacation Disagree 67% 10 T19. Do you agree or disagree: I am willing to respond to work s while on vacation? Base: total employed full or part-time (NEW)

11 AMERICANS ARE POSTING MORE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAN USUAL WHILE ON VACATION, MOST ARE SHARING TWICE AS MUCH More than one-quarter (26%) of Americans say they post to social media more while on vacation, while 30% say they post the same amount, 23% less and 21% do not use social media. SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WHILE ON VACATION - MORE, LESS, OR SAME AS USUALLY POST - Post more than usual 26% Of those who post more than usual: Post same as usual I post less than usual 23% 30% 62% share twice as many social media posts while on vacation. I do not use social media 21% 11 Q.T17 Do you post more, less, or same amount of posts to social media while on vacation as you usually post? (NEW) BASE: Total respondents Q.T18 How much more do you post on social media while on vacation? BASE: Total respondents who post more on social media while on vacation

12 ABOUT THE AMERICAN EXPRESS SPENDING & SAVING TRACKER METHODOLOGY The American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed online among a random sample of 1,540 adults, including the general U.S. population, an affluent demographic defined by a minimum annual household income of $100,000. Interviewing was conducted by Ebiquity from November 2-7,. The results have an overall margin of error of +/- 2.5 at the 95 percent level of confidence. ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, corporate card, business travel and corporate responsibility. ABOUT EBIQUITY, PLC. Ebiquity is a leading independent marketing analytics specialist. They provide objective data insights to major brands worldwide, helping them navigate the evolving marketing landscape to achieve business success. They work with over 80% of the world s biggest advertisers and offer industry-leading services including Marketing Effectiveness, Multi-channel Analytics, Agency Pitch Management, Agency Contract Compliance, Digital Performance Measurement, and Media Auditing. Ebiquity employs over 900 people in 19 offices in 14 countries worldwide. 12