Unplugged No More

25-Country Expedia.ca/Egencia Study Examines How Mobile Devices Impact Travel

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Oct 15, 2014) - Expedia.ca®, Canada's leading online travel provider*, and Egencia®, the business travel brand of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), today released the results of the 2014 Expedia.ca/Egencia Mobile Index, a global study of mobile-device-related behaviour and preferences among travellers in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The study revealed the deep dependence modern travellers have on their mobile devices -- defined as a smartphone, tablet, e-reader, laptop or smartwatch. Worldwide, 94 per cent of people bring at least one mobile device when they take personal vacations, and 97 per cent bring at least one device on business trips; results were consistent for Canadians.

"We are entering a new era where people are moving fluidly across desktop, phone, tablet, even wearables as they dream, plan, book and then ultimately take their trip," said Sean Shannon, Managing Director, Expedia Canada. "Travellers are not only researching and booking trips on mobile, but they're also complimenting their meals, showcasing their adventures and capturing every trip detail. This is the new normal when it comes to travel."

The survey takes a closer look at multi-device habits amongst both leisure and business travellers worldwide to better understand how technology is being used throughout the travel journey.

"For business travellers, mobile devices are increasingly required not only for getting the job done, but also for making corporate travel smoother and more productive. We wanted to understand more about how business travellers integrate mobile functionality into their trip so we can develop the best experience on whatever device they use," says Rob Greyber, president of Egencia.

Mobile devices effectively serve as a concierge, guide and companion for travellers, who rely on smartphones and other mobile devices at every stage.
On the whole, 76 per cent of global travellers say that their smartphones are "very important/critical" to their daily lives. Seventy per cent say the same about their laptop and 48 per cent say the same about their tablet device. Indians are the most dependent on smartphones, with 95 per cent categorizing the device as "very important/critical." The world's least smartphone-dependent people can be found in Norway, where only 57 per cent consider their smartphone to be critical/very important. Canadians report being in-between the two extremes with 67 per cent saying their smartphone is a very important/critical aspect of their day-to-day.