As the summer travel season starts in the US, top markets for travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend reflect a broad range of climates and activities including resort areas in Hawaii and Florida, major city centers, and smaller communities in the northeast and west.
For the 2021 holiday season, warm weather destinations lead the top markets for hotel occupancy in the US. Across both weeks, seven of the top markets are common including destinations in Florida, Hawaii, and California, though ranking varies slightly.
He also foresees several of the trends driven by the COVID-19 pandemic continuing.
For starters, Lawson believes renters will continue to seek housing opportunities in suburban locations where they’re finding more value in terms of living space. This trend is driven primarily by the increase in the number of people working from home. Living and working in the same space has obviously proven challenging for many, and if the majority of employees continue to work remotely, demand should remain strong for suburban rentals that offer larger living spaces.
In terms of trends with staying power, Lawson predicts landlords and tenants alike will continue to make use of virtual and online showings. “We saw this trend emerge before the pandemic, but it grew increasingly popular throughout the year,” he said.