Expedia 2020 Trends in Travel Report: Where Canadian travellers should go in the new year

New report shares growing trends with destinations across Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2019 /CNW/ -- When it comes to analyzing travel trends, Expedia has a leg up. Being one of the world's largest online travel brands means being able to uncover themes across air travel, hotel stays, searches and bookings, even experiences – all in the pursuit of arming Canadian travellers with everything they need to travel smarter in 2020. And today the results are in – from European cities dominating the new destinations to watch, to inspiration on where to explore at home, as well as options for relocating to a beach this winter, the full 2020 Trends in Travel Report unpacks the fastest-growing destinations around the world, all based on real traveller data.

European cities dominate the new top ten
It's time to start planning and updating bucket lists. The below countries each had three or more cities that appeared on the list of fastest-growing destinations, based on flight demand for Canadian travellers. Data shows Canadians are racking up the international miles to Europe, with 6 out of the 10 countries on the list located in that part of the world:

The prairies, west and north are trending across Canada  
Canadian cities in the prairies, western provinces and the northern territories are all trending, so expect to see more of them in the new year. Interestingly, all of the top ten destinations listed have close proximity to the outdoors, making them great jumping off points for those looking for an adventure focused trip.

• Edmonton, Alberta (+221%); Winnipeg, Manitoba (+190%); Calgary, Alberta (+180%); Vancouver, British Columbia (+155%); Lethbridge, Alberta (+120%); Kamloops, British Columbia (+96%); Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (+81%); Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (+81%); Regina, Saskatchewan (+58%); Whitehorse, Yukon (+50%)

Beach escapes to soak in that vitamin D
The 2020 Trends in Travel report proves the Caribbean and Mexico remain as go-to destinations for Canadians in search of a warm beach vacation closer to home. Often the hardest part about planning a beach escape is narrowing down where to go. Whether it's authentic island culture or quiet uncrowded beaches, the below ten spots are up-and-coming destinations, based on hotel demand.  

• Oranjestad, Aruba (+98%); Sayulita, Mexico (+69%); Gros Islet, St. Lucia (+63%); Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (+61%); Rockley, Barbados (+54%); Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (+51%); Noord, Aruba (+44%); Placencia, Belize (+41%); Willemstad, Curacao (+38%); St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands (+35%)

Things to do: Theme Parks, Shows and High-Up Views
Activities and attractions are more than just an add-on to a trip. Often, they're one of the top considerations when travellers are choosing their destination and accommodations, and purchasing the tickets ahead of time makes trip planning easier. So, plan those experiences in 2020 and try something different. For some inspiration, here are some of the top activities for Canadians booked on Expedia:

• Universal Studios Hollywood admission (+141%); The High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas, admission tickets (+47%); Capilano Suspension Bridge park tickets (+180%); Colosseum & Forum Tour tickets (+96%); and tickets to experience the Mystere, Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island in Las Vegas (+30%).  

About Expedia
Expedia is one of the world's largest full-service travel sites, helping millions of travellers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia aims to provide the latest technology and widest selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. ©2019 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. Visit our web site https://www.expedia.ca or use our mobile app to book cheap flights, hotels, and packages.

All trends based on Expedia.ca hotel or flight demand from Canada between January 1, 2019 – September 15, 2019, compared to the same time frame in 2018. 

SOURCE Brand Expedia