Toronto ,
08
February
2017
|
21:56
Europe/Amsterdam

Fluffy towels, laundry detergent and our favourite snacks – the home comforts Canadians just can’t do without on vacation

70% say the need for somewhere to feel like home is so great they’ll bring elements of their own home with them; 72% have the best time on vacation when they can make themselves feel more at home; 59% like it when their host treats them more like a friend

TORONTO – February 8, 2017 – It’s said there’s no place like home, and new research reveals how even when on vacation, Canadians crave their familiar home comforts and are most happy in accommodations—whether it’s a villa, apartment, bed & breakfast or hotel—that feels like home.

A recent survey conducted by Booking.com, the global leader in connecting people with the most incredible places to stay, found that despite almost half of Canadian travellers (48%) saying trying new things and experiences on a vacation makes them happy, their accommodations need to feel like home (67%).

The study shows how for many travellers, staying somewhere that makes them feel like they’re at home is the secret to travel happiness. Accommodation hosts and staff hold the master key to this happiness. Almost two thirds (59%) of those questioned say they like it when their host treats them more like a friend and that a friendly host can make or break a vacation (68%).

In fact, eight out of ten Canadians believe a truly great host who takes care of small inviting details, such as fluffy towels, well-stocked cupboards, and giving them local insider knowledge, is something that brings them real happiness while on vacation. Reviews are critical in the travel planning process, and if somewhere there’s mention of a great host, Canadian travellers are more inclined to book there (61%).

Extreme Measures

For almost three quarters of Canadians (72%), the need for somewhere to feel just like home is so great that they’ll even bring elements from their own home with them, including candles, lucky charms and even their own bedding to make sure their accommodations absolutely feel like their own personal sanctuary.

Top 10 items brought from home by Canadian travellers:

Soap

25%

Food/ Snacks

17%

Air Freshener

16%

Hair Dryer

15%

Pillows

14%

Towels

11%

Coffee

10%

Beer / Wine

10%

Tea Bags / Leaves

10%

Washing powder / liquid

9%

Eight out of ten say returning to their accommodations every evening is a vacation moment that makes them happy while they’re exploring an exciting new destination and is definitely part of the plan – the satisfaction of knowing they have somewhere comfortable to return to keeps happiness levels at a maximum the whole vacation long.

And just because travellers want to stay in accommodations that feel comfortable and like home doesn’t mean they want to scrimp on standards. In fact, over half of Canadians (51%) do want their accommodations to include some elements that are different to what they experience every day, and 14% will accept nothing less than 5-star luxury.

It’s no wonder travellers put such importance on their accommodations, as nearly nine out of 10 Canadians (86%) say seeing their accommodations for the first time is their happiest vacation moment.

Top 10 accommodations requirements by Canadian travellers:

A comfortable bed

82%

A picturesque view

61%

Free Wi-Fi

61%

Soft pillows

41%

Nice toiletries

37%

Complimentary bottle of wine on arrival

32%

Waterfall shower

24%

Great room service menu

20%

Coat hangers and wardrobe space

17%

A well-stocked mini bar

12%

“We travel to broaden our horizons and experience new things, but travellers also want to take risk out of their vacation plans. That’s where home comforts—which can take many forms—and a friendly face come in. What makes somewhere feel just like home varies tremendously, which is why people want to have a diverse range of vacation accommodations to choose from,” said David Mau, director of product, Booking.com.

“With over 1 million properties worldwide that have more than 23 million bookable rooms in over 30 kinds of accommodations, there’s something for every type of traveller on Booking.com. What’s more, with over 102 million verified reviews from people just like you, travellers can be sure to find somewhere that feels like home.”

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CONTACT DETAILS

For further information, contact the Booking.com Canadian Press Office:

Nicola Conte

nicola@punchcanada.com / 416.360.6522

NOTES TO EDITORS

Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 people from each of the 17 markets who had taken at least 1 domestic or international vacation in the past year. In total, 17,157 respondents (18+ years) were surveyed from the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Russia, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, Japan, India, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Data was collected from September 9 to October 4, 2016.

About Booking.com:

Booking.com is the world leader in booking hotel and other accommodations online. It guarantees the best prices for any type of property – from small independents to five-star luxury. Guests can access the Booking.com website anytime, anywhere from their desktops, mobile phones and tablet devices, and they don’t pay booking fees – ever. The Booking.com website is available in over 40 languages, offers over 1M hotels and accommodations including 512,000 vacation rental properties and covers over 95,000 destinations in 227 countries and territories worldwide. It features over 105M reviews written by guests after their stay, and attracts online visitors from both leisure and business markets around the globe. With over 19 years of experience and a team of over 13,000 dedicated employees in 184 offices worldwide, Booking.com operates its own in-house customer service team, which is available 24/7 to assist guests in their native languages and ensure an exceptional customer experience.

Established in 1996, Booking.com B.V. owns and operates Booking.com™, and is part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN). Follow us on Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest, like us on Facebook, or learn more at http://www.booking.com.