Unplugged No More

25-Country Expedia.ca/Egencia Study Examines How Mobile Devices Impact Travel - Seite 2

When it comes to keeping connected, almost one in five Canadians (19 per cent) use their smartphones more when they travel than they do at home, almost half as much (35 per cent) compared to other travellers around the world.

Complimentary WiFi Considered Top Hotel Perk
Given the ubiquity of mobile devices in travel, travellers increasingly prioritize WiFi accessibility. Fifty-six per cent of travellers worldwide report that WiFi availability and pricing impact their purchasing decision when booking travel, slightly more than noted by Canadian travellers (54 per cent). When asked to rank mobile-related hotel amenities, leisure travellers ranked "Complimentary WiFi" first, ahead of high-speed Internet access, wired in-room connectivity and a business centre with computers and printers. Business travellers deem complimentary WiFi even more important, with 86 per cent of global travellers ranking it as very or somewhat important when booking a hotel for business travel. When it comes to Canadians, business travellers find complimentary WiFi even more important than their international counterparts with 89 per cent referencing this amenity as very or somewhat important.

When they are on the road, the following mobile app/device functions are the most frequently utilized by both leisure and business travellers around the world:

-- Email/messaging:	61 per cent
-- Camera/video recording:	50 per cent
-- Maps/navigation:	47 per cent
-- Social media:	45 per cent
-- Weather:	38 per cent
-- Utility (alarm, calculator):	33 per cent
-- Entertainment:	24 per cent

While laptops and desktop computers are the most common way to book travel, 78 per cent of business travellers have used their smartphone in a travel planning capacity and 71 per cent use tablets. The most common uses for both devices are managing itineraries (37 per cent and 32 per cent) and researching destinations (35 per cent and 32 per cent). Other popular activities are, shopping for hotels, receiving flight alerts and checking in for flights. Globally, 28 per cent of employed adults who own a mobile device have used a smartphone or tablet to book a hotel.