NUMBER OF MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY TRAVELERS EXPECTED TO

INCREASE 5.4 PERCENT, AAA SAYS

Recent stock market volatility and the gulf oil spill could alter travel

plans for some, but improved economic data should propel a

sizeable increase in holiday vacations.

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, May 20 – AAA today projected the number of Americans traveling on vacation this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 5.4 percent from 2009 with approximately 32.1 million travelers taking a trip away from home. Last year, 30.5 million Americans traveled during the same period.

“AAA travel agents are reporting double-digit increases in the percentage of travelers making advanced bookings for tours and cruises, hotel bookings via AAA.com are increasing and AAA’s many travel industry partners have reported improved business conditions this spring,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “While the economy continues to be rocked by waves of occasional uncertainty, we think the improved economic performance from one year ago will cause more Americans to take vacations this Memorial Day holiday weekend.”

Increased travel can mean reduced availability, especially in markets like central Florida where the openings of new attractions are expected to make the area one of the summer’s most popular destinations. AAA recommends talking with a travel agent to find the best package deals, which may be available one day and gone the next.

Oklahoma car trips to rise – Oklahoma air travel will fall; nationwide air and auto travel expected to increase

Nearly three percent more Oklahomans (489,200) will hit the highway over the holiday compared to last year, traveling in a car, pickup or RV.

Auto trips by Americans nationwide are expected to increase this year with 87 percent (28 million people) reaching their destination by driving, an increase of 5.8 percent from last Memorial Day.

According to www.AAAFuelGaugeReport.com, gasoline is averaging $2.84 per gallon nationwide today, 51 cents higher than year ago levels. However, gas prices have been dropping over the last two weeks and appear to be poised to fall even further. Today’s Oklahoma price average of $2.706 is 52 cents above the price one year ago.

Motorists are encouraged to use AAA’s free online gas price tools and information, found at www.AAA.com under AAA News & Safety, Fuel News & Tools. Drivers can predict overall trip fuel costs using AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator, check current gas prices and discover easy ways to save money at the pump.

Leisure air travel is expected to decline slightly in Oklahoma with 78,750 getting there by air this year, down .3 percent from Memorial Day 2009.

Nationwide, AAA predicts air travel will rise with 2.15 million expected to fly, an increase of .24 percent from one year ago. Trips by other modes, including rail, bus and watercraft, will be the dominant means of travel used nationwide by an estimated 3 million Americans, or 6 percent of all travelers.

Average spending will top $800; average distance traveled same as in ‘09

The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend is forecast to be approximately the same as one year ago; 626 miles vs. 620 in 2009, AAA reported.

Median spending is estimated to be $809 this Memorial Day*. This is a sizeable reduction form one year ago, when Americans reported average spending plans of $1,052.

Airfares will be unchanged; hotel rates remain a deal; and rental car rates will be lower

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day holiday weekend are expected to remain unchanged from last year. Air passengers will pay a lowest average fare of $176 per ticket. Weekend daily car rental rates will drop 15 percent from an average of $43.30 in 2009 to $36.65 this year.

Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond-rated lodgings are expected to remain a bargain, but will decline only one percent from last year with travelers spending an average of $141.60 per night this year compared to 142.45 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond-rated hotels will pay four percent less at an average cost of $99 per night.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 52 million members (343,000 in Oklahoma) 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 safety and security of all travelers. AAA Oklahoma can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

*IHS Global Insight reported average spending last year rather than median spending. Average spending in 2009 was $1,052.