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To: Think4Yourself who wrote (124422)	5/21/2008 1:24:50 PM
From: ChanceIs	Respond to of 306849

AAA Projects a Slight Decrease in Memorial Day Holiday Travel Thu May 15, 10:00 AM ET ADVERTISEMENT To: TRAVEL EDITORS Contact: Mike Pina, +1-202-942-2079, mpina@national.aaa.com, or Troy Green, +1-202- 942-2082, tgreen@national.aaa.com, both of AAA Record fuel prices and tough economic times alter travel plans for some Americans WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA projects the number of Americans traveling during the Memorial Day holiday will drop slightly compared to the previous year. AAA estimates that 37.87 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a decrease of nearly 360,000 travelers (0.9 percent) from last years total of 38.23 million. Nearly 31.7 million Americans (83 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to travel by automobile, a one percent decrease from the approximately 32 million people who drove a year ago. Almost 4.35 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel via airplane; a decrease of 0.5 percent from the 4.37 million who took to the skies last year. About 1.8 million intend to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation. Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch this holiday weekend from record high gasoline prices and other factors, said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. Despite the small decrease, we will still see a significant number of people traveling this weekend. More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will be celebrating the Memorial Day weekend away from home. Across much of the country, motorists driving to their Memorial Day holiday destinations will once again encounter record-high gasoline prices. The national average for self-serve regular is $3.78 a gallon. That is 39 cents more than one month ago and 68 cents more than this time last year. Countless businesses large and small across the United States depend on the summer leisure traveler for a large portion of their annual revenue. This spring high gasoline prices appear to be dampening our societys intent to travel. If a trend toward higher gas prices and fewer travelers were to continue, it would eventually harm travel-dependent companies that provide employment opportunities and tax revenues in almost every city and town in America, Darbelnet said. According to AAAs Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day holiday weekend are expected to rise eight percent over last year as air passengers will pay an average $179. Car rental rates will climb significantly higher with consumers paying an average of $45 per day compared to $31 a year ago, an increase of 45 percent. Hotel rates for AAA 3 Diamond hotels are expected to be seven percent less than last year with travelers spending an average of $162 per night. However, travelers planning to stay at AAA 2 Diamond hotels will pay an average of $112 per night, nine percent more than a year ago. The greatest number of automobile travelers this Memorial Day holiday weekend will originate in the West with 7.6 million travelers, followed by the Southeast with 6.8 million; Midwest, 6.7 million; Northeast, 5.8 million; and Great Lakes, 4.8 million. The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.37 million, followed by the Midwest with 1.18 million; Southeast, 870,000; Northeast, 545,000; and Great Lakes, 384,000. The AAA Fuel Gauge Report Web site (www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) lists average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities for all grades of gasoline. Research for Memorial Day weekend holiday travel projections are derived from Travel Industry Association (TIA)s Holiday Travel Forecast Model. The model was developed based on consumer travel intentions and TIAs quarterly travel forecast data. The travel intentions data are collected through an online survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults nationwide, supplemented by an additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 states of travel origin in the United States. Historical travel volume and other economic data such as GDP, disposable income, employment and travel costs such as fuel price are also incorporated into the model. Analysis of the data and the forecasts are produced by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA. As North Americas largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the