Kiwis get smart with annual leave this Easter

Kiwis get smart with annual leave this Easter

· One in ten Kiwis taking annual leave to make the most of April holidays
· Domestic destinations, Pacific and USA rule holiday hot spots
· Expedia reports 90% YOY increase in interest for Easter holidays

As the first extended public holiday of the year approaches, one in ten (10%) Kiwis have booked three days’ annual leave, spanning the Easter break and Anzac Day double-holiday-hit, to get a whopping ten day break, according Expedia research released today.

Savvy Gen X (35 – 54 years old) travellers were shown to be the most likely to take advantage of the Easter and Anzac holiday break, booking three days’ annual leave more than any other age group.

When compared to the Easter period last year, Expedia has seen a staggering 90% increase in interest for holidays this Easter period.

While domestic destinations remain the most popular, Expedia has witnessed triple digit year-on-year growth in demand in multiple holiday hot spots across the world as the longer break appears to have inspired Kiwis to look further afield.

Where Kiwis are off to this Easter:

· USA: increase in demand of almost 300% increase with LA, Las Vegas and San Francisco proving the most popular destinations
· Fiji: 255% increase in demand for Easter holiday period
· Australia: demand is up 179% with Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast favourite destinations
· Domestic travel: holidaying at home is still the winner for Kiwis with the most popular local destinations for Easter 2014 being:
· Queenstown

· Auckland

· Wellington

· Rotorua

“Kiwis might kick themselves if they do not to consider taking advantage of the double-holiday-hit to take just three days off work in order to get a whopping 10 days leave,” said Expedia travel expert Kelly Cull.

“While it may be too late for some to arrange the double-holiday-hit with your boss, it’s definitely not too late to book in a long weekend. There are still plenty of great last-minute deals on offer.”

Work demands, saving up leave for the end of the year or forgetting to book time off were cited as reasons by Kiwis who are passing up the ten day stretch and only taking statutory days off.
Accruing leave was a strong motivator with the 18 – 24 (31%) and the 35 – 44 (27%) age groups shown to be most likely to save leave till the end of the year.

Expedia travel expert Kelly Cull cautions against stockpiling leave, citing Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation study which found that Kiwis left nearly a week of their annual leave days unused last year.

ENDS

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