In 2017, more than 705 million vacation days went unused. In fact, more than half of working Americans reported having leftover vacation days at the end of the year.
You might think that they’re choosing not to take vacation days because they’re “too busy at work.” But more often than not, it just comes down to a lack of planning. Studies show that 53 percent of people who take the time to sit down and plan out their vacations take all or most of their time off.
That’s why we hope that you take the time tomorrow, January 29, to sit down and #PlanForVacation.
Vacation is essential to strengthening personal relationships, inspiring creative thinking, improving professional performance and promoting better health. And employees who take days off have been shown to be happier, more productive and more efficient at work.
Planners are also twice as likely than non-planners to use their time off to travel. A majority of Americans (84 percent) reported that it is important to travel with their time off, but less than half of time off in 2017 was used for domestic or international travel.
That’s why we’re passionate about helping DMOs connect travelers with their perfect destination. With more than 900 DMOs using our products and services to tell their stories, we know how many great destinations exist in the country and across the world. For every New York City, there’s a small, quaint town with a historic tradition that’s perfect for your next vacation!
To get started, follow these three easy steps:
- Confirm your benefits: Contact your manager or Human Resources team to check how many vacation days you have.
- Plan your time off: Use the U.S. Travel’s vacation planning tool to easily visualize your days off. Be sure to check out your destination’s website and social media to see all they have to offer!
- Share your plan with your manager: Ask for your days off as soon as possible, so you can start finalizing your travel plans.
Happy planning!
