Vacation Deprivation Survey

For nine years, Expedia.com has sponsored the annual Vacation Deprivation™ Survey, which analyzes and compares the vacation habits of workers in the United States and abroad. For more information about the 2009 survey, visit www.vacationdeprivation.com. For complete 2009 results, click here. For the press release, click here.

Top Findings in 2009 Regarding U.S. Vacation Habits

• Although Americans see value in taking vacation time, fewer this year said that they feel better about their job and more productive upon returning from vacation than last year (34 percent in 2009 vs. 39 percent in 2008).
• Nearly one-third of Americans (30 percent) admitted they have trouble coping with stress from work during the vacation cycle.
• The number of employed U.S. adults not planning to use all earned vacation time increased 3 percent from 2008.
• On average, Americans reported receiving 13 vacation days in 2009, one day less than the previous three years.
• Women are more likely than men to feel guilty about taking time off from work (40 percent of women vs. 29 percent of men).

Vacation Insights from Around the World
In addition to looking at the U.S., the 2009 Expedia Vacation Deprivation survey polled the vacation habits of employed workers in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Australia, Japan, and for the first time, New Zealand.

• This year, workers in Canada, France and Australia will receive between one and two more vacation days than in 2008, while all other countries will either receive fewer vacation days or see no change in earned time off.
• Employed adults in France will receive and take the most vacation days of all countries surveyed, with workers receiving 38 days and leaving only two days unused.
• Even though working Americans receive the smallest number of vacation days, workers in Japan are the least vacation-minded, as 92 percent of workers said they would not use all vacation days and will leave an average of seven days on the table.

Why does Expedia.com care?
Expedia.com believes that everyone deserves and needs a vacation. Regardless of the number of days people receive or how they want to take them, Expedia.com is a key vacation resource that connects travelers around the globe with great selection and prices for all of their vacation needs.

Contact
Press only: ExpediaPR@edelman.com