Nationally respected, Randall Travel Marketing, Inc. (RTM), provides trend analysis for the travel and tourism industry and annually produces a “Top 10 Travel & Tourism Trends” report for the industry. Whether the destination is New York City, Auburn, Moravia or Fair Haven, this information applies to all of us in the tour and travel industry that are trying to keep a pulse on the ever-changing habits of the traveling public.

In short, the economic indicators are giving us many reasons for cautious optimism. Fuel prices remain at record highs, unemployment is at a record low, the nation remains frustrated over the war in Iraq, but the core of traveler behavior is “time poverty” with the inability to get away from work the number one reason for not traveling. Despite higher prices and the fact that consumers find it difficult to get away from work, statistics show that Americans are still traveling.

In (very!) brief, here are the 2007-2008 Top 10 Travel & Tourism Trends:

1) Continued Growth in 2007 - The good news is that the data reveals that Americans view vacations as an essential part of life with leisure travelers now filling more hotel rooms and airline seats than business travelers.

2) Time Poverty = more to do + less time to do it - The generalized sense is that people do not have enough time to do what they want. In travel, they report the desire to simplify their lives by buying all-inclusive travel packages.

3) Fragile Consumer Confidence - consumers remain “subdued” about short-term economic prospects.

4) Traveler Frustration - Customer satisfaction with airlines, airports and hotels is at an all time low due to the combination of hassles, inconvenience and poor service.

5) The Internet - Going online is considered the No. 1 source of travel planning and purchasing. Consumers are using the Internet in record numbers, but that doesn't mean they like the process. Streamlining of the travel planning process is critical to long-term growth.

6) Geotourism - Travelers want a unique and culturally authentic travel experience.

7) Business Travel - Forty-eight percent of employees travel for work less frequently than they did five years ago, and only one-third plan to extend their business trips to take some time for leisure.

8) Generational Shifts - Baby Boomers are retiring, GenXers are entering their peak earning years, and Gen Y and the M-generation (M standing for multi-tasking & mobile) are all becoming more defined - the travel and tourism industry has to understand, accommodate and speak to each of these generational markets differently.

9) More Demand for “Orientation and Facilitation” - Today's traveler is impatient and wants help “finding the good stuff,” as Judy Randall of RTM says. They want someone or something that gives them instant and easy information. Online concierge services are the wave of the future, helping to meet this need.

10) Dawning of a New Travel Era - All sectors of the travel industry are now being affected by the changing expectations of the traveling public. The travel and tourism industry needs to constantly adjust to changing generational groups, demographic shifts and the new culture of “transumers” (consumers in transition).

In summary, there has been a sea of change in the kinds of vacations people want.

Today's vacationers seek new experiences, high-end amenities and unique things to do.

They also have less time and energy to spend planning their trips and tend to take vacations that are shorter in duration and, in terms of planning, want it to be hassle-free.

Meg Vanek is the executive director at the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.