‘Urban adventurers’ are most popular leisure traveller, SACO survey finds

These modern travellers like the hustle and bustle of urban life, and move fast with the pace of the modern world, according to a survey by the Serviced Apartment Company (SACO).

From a sample of 500 of its customers, 65 per cent identified themselves as urban adventurers.

The next popular category was the ‘night owl’, with 15 per cent classified as night-time travellers who are out to seek the best city bars and clubs.

The ‘get togetherer’ and ‘shopper and café hopper’ were the other two options available on the survey. These travellers are categorised as prioritising group activities and retail therapy when booking a city break. 

Travel needs​

The online tool was created by SACO to enable it to recommend the best location and apartment to suit the travel needs of customers.

When asked what is the first thing they Google when planning a city break, 75 per cent of travellers chose local attractions and local places of interest over bars and shopping destinations.

Only 8 per cent would rather have a late-night and forfeit seeing the city, while 87 per cent prefer to be up and about rather than lie-in until midday. 

Jo Redman, marketing director at SACO, said: “We know that by 2020, millennials will represent more than half the UK workforce – proof that an insight into the travelling habits of these trendsetters is essential for the growth of the industry.

“This tool has been a fun and effective way for us to communicate with our customers and help them identify where best to experience SACO’s accommodation.”

Tomorrow’s traveller​

Having recently released new online research into the trends of tomorrow’s traveller, the serviced apartment provider has offered insights into the needs of millennials travellers.

Luxuries such as food and comfort are no longer able to sway travellers, but almost two-thirds would prefer a high-speed internet connection.

This latest research reinforces this, with the majority (40 per cent) of quiz participants stating that they would prefer to eat on the go, rather than sit in, in order to spend more time exploring the destination.

SACO plans to open a number of new properties in the UK and Ireland in 2016 and 2017 – taking its total number of apartments in the UK from 650 to more than 1,600.

Some will be serviced apartments , while others will part of the company’s new Beyonder aparthotel concept.