A letter from the Executive Director of USAR Business Relations

This letter from Ellery Michaels, Executive Director of USAR Business Relations, was sent to travel agents detailing the features and services that make a vacation destination attractive to USAR members.

Ellery Michaels Executive Director USAR Business Relations

To our Friends in the Travel Industry:

First, thanks for your interest in the USAR! As you surely know, the members of our organization form one of the largest and most important segments of vacationers each year.

A few years ago, we began asking our members 1.) where they liked to travel and 2.) what qualities they thought an “ideal” destination might have. We’ll share some of their answers with you here, hoping that the information might help you serve USAR members more effectively in the future.

Who We Are USAR members are remarkably diverse: some work full time, some are fully retired; some are married, others are single; some are taking care of grandchildren, others are still raising their children; some are seeking adventure, others are seeking serenity; some are looking for the next challenge, others are looking to relax.

It’s impossible to generalize about such a varied and dynamic group! Still, we are able to offer a rough sketch of our membership. According to our most recent poll: 37% of our members work full time. 34% of our members work part time 29% of our members are entirely retired 28% of our members are between the ages 50-59 36% of our members are between the ages 60-69 24% of our members are between the ages 70-79 10% of our members are between the ages 80-89

As you can see, we have a younger and therefore more active membership than is often assumed. Don’t be too surprised if one of our members inquires about a hiking trip to Peru!

Destinations Our members tell us that, when they travel, they tend to prefer warmer climates in the winter and cooler ones in the summer. They also prefer destinations where they will not have to “rough it.” (They leave that to their grandchildren!) This does not mean that our members won’t be active on their vacations. Rather, it means that they prefer to visit those places with ample services and facilities to meet their diverse needs.

Kinds of Trips and Travel Contrary to popular belief, not all of our members want to take package tours. Many are just as adventurous than the most intrepid world travelers! It is the case, however, that many of our members live on a fixed income and therefore prefer to know how much a vacation will cost before they leave home. It is also the case that many of our members prefer to leave the details of planning and organization to someone else.

Package tours are attractive for these reasons. However, do not assume that every USAR member will want one.

What USAR Members Look for in a Destination Hotels and businesses often wonder what USAR members most want when they are on vacation. Here’s a brief answer. USAR members like to pay reasonable rates. They often travel in the off season (winter) and are especially happy when their membership in the USAR earns them discounts at hotels, restaurants, and attractions. USAR members tend to be less interested in a destination’s “nightlife” and more interested in sightseeing, services, and quality accommodations. USAR members often take extended trips, so they choose to stay in places where they may cook, do laundry, and entertain friends and family. USAR members have a variety of interests. However, shopping, sightseeing, golf, and camping are particularly popular. Many USAR members travel in recreational vehicles. Thus, the quality and accessibility of a region’s roads, camping facilities, and services are particularly important. Many USAR members travel with their pets. So it helps to provide them with the information they’ll need if little Fido or Mittens falls ill. Many USAR members, understandably, like to know about the quality and availability of health care in their chosen destinations. Some USAR members have limited mobility, so they like to know ahead of time about accessibility.

We hope that you find this information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have further questions and concerns. Our toll-free number for travel agents is (800) 555-USAR.

As always, we look forward to working with you in order to make USAR members happy travelers!

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