New Survey Reveals Consumer Sentiment About Spending Money on Wedding-Related Travel 

NORWALK, Conn., May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As peak wedding season approaches, Americans are gearing up to celebrate loved ones with more than half (57%) planning to attend more weddings or wedding-related events¹ this year because they've missed out on so many during the pandemic. And after two long years of postponed weddings and celebrations, 79% of consumers feel that wedding-related events are a great excuse to travel, according to the Priceline Wedding Travel Report, released today.

The report, which surveyed 1,000 Americans, reveals top trends and average costs, as well as breaks down how factors like inflation are impacting both consumer sentiment and plans for wedding travel this year. 

"We've all missed out on celebrations over the past two years and it's exciting to have these occasions to look forward to again. Weddings are an opportunity for friends and families to reunite, and those moments shouldn't be compromised by high travel costs. Priceline offers deals and savings tips to help customers be there for the moments that matter." — Brigit Zimmerman, Chief Commercial Officer

Top insights from Priceline's Wedding Travel Report include:

• Save the Date…and Start Saving Up: Americans spend more than $2,700 on average just to attend a wedding—roughly equivalent to a full month's salary based on the median annual wage in the US². Budgeting for out of town wedding events is especially stressful for Gen Z (39%).
• Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Wedding Travel is Costly, Too: Six in ten (59%) respondents say that the high costs of attending weddings/wedding-related events has limited their ability to save for a vacation (61%) or a bucket list trip (59%). This becomes amplified as eight in ten (81%) say inflation makes finding a travel deal more important than ever.
• Singles are Chasing Deals…Not Dates: Singles would rather find a good deal on a hotel (66%) or flight (63%) than a date/plus one.

Say "I Do" To Travel Savings
With rising demand and costs, Priceline knows it's more important than ever to save. Having negotiated amazing deals for over 20 years, Priceline saves travelers more than one billion dollars every year (that's $2,000 per minute!). So travelers never have to miss the moments that matter—weddings, bucket list trips, and everything in between, Priceline reveals the top savings hacks to save on travel:

1. Whether you're bringing a plus one or flying solo, save up to $625 when you bundle  your hotel and flight bookings using Priceline Packages.
2. Become a Priceline VIP for free and access immediate savings, loyalty perks, and other benefits. Traveling to multiple weddings this year? You can reach VIP Gold status and unlock up to 50% off hotels after five bookings.
3. Pay at your own pace with "Buy Now, Pay Later" options through Affirm, which offers monthly or biweekly payments when booking travel on Priceline.

 To read more about the Priceline Wedding Travel Report, outlining additional trends and details on how Americans are approaching wedding travel, please visit press.priceline.com.

¹A wedding-related event refers to a bachelor/bachelorette party, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, group honeymoon (buddymoon), honeymoon, etc.
² Based on the Social Security Administration "National Average Wage Index" for the 2019 median average US wage receiving semi-monthly payments.

Priceline's Wedding Travel Report Methodology
Results are based on an online survey conducted between April 1st and April 10th, 2022 among 1,000 Americans, approximately half of whom were married in last 12 months or plan to marry in next 12 months, and approximately half of whom have attended or traveled to a wedding or wedding-related event in the last 12 months or plan to in the next 12 months. The results are balanced as it relates to age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and region in the United States.

About Priceline
Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc. [NASDAQ: BKNG], is a leader in online travel deals. Priceline offers exclusive discounts on hotels, flights, alternative accommodations, rental cars, cruises and packages. We offer more than a million lodging properties, helping travelers find the right accommodation at the right price. We negotiate great deals every day, and put our best pricing on the Priceline app. With free cancellation for many rates, 24-hour customer assistance and the option for both pre-paid and pay upon arrival reservations, Priceline helps millions of travelers be there for the moments that matter. For us, and for our customers, every trip is a big deal.

For further information, please contact:
Christina Bennett, christina.bennett@priceline.com   
Amanda Cohen, priceline@mbooth.com

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SOURCE Priceline