TORONTO — People travel for countless reasons – culture, food, sports, love and…natural phenomena?
You bet! From the aurora borealis to animal migrations and glacier calvings, Mother Nature’s most remarkable wonders have long served as travel inspiration for many. And now, with a total solar eclipse set to take place on April 8, 2024, the mysteries of the universe will once again be front and centre on the global stage.
Last seen in 2017 and not to be seen again for another 20 years, the celestial spectacle will begin over the South Pacific Ocean before crossing over Mexico, the United States and Canada, exiting continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. NDT. Among the many cities that will have a front row seat to the show are: Mazatlán, Mexico; Hillsboro, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; Sherbrooke, Quebec; and Hamilton, Ontario, where spectators will be able to view the sun completely obscured by the moon for over two minutes.
And make no mistake, the hype is real, with travel interest spiking ahead of April 8’s big show. According to new Expedia data, among the North American destinations seeing the biggest increases in hotel searches for the eclipse are Burlington, Vermont (+1,155%); Little Rock, Arkansas (+985%); Dayton, Ohio (+705%); Buffalo, New York (+645%) and Indianapolis, Indiana (+545%).
But are searches resulting in bookings? Yes, says Flight Centre Travel Group’s Lindsay Kipp, Location Manager for Flight Centre Westboro. She tells Travelweek that Flight Centre has received an uptick in enquiries over the last several months from travellers hoping to view the solar eclipse abroad. Not only that but the company’s booking data indicates that Mexico is the most sought-after destination among Canadians departing between April 1-8, suggesting that many are aligning their travel plans to coincide with the eclipse. Cities like Mazatlán, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are among the destinations drawing the most attention during this time.
“Canadian travellers are not just pursuing an unforgettable view of the eclipse but are also eager to immerse themselves in the multi-experiences and cultural treasures present in different cities and countries,” says Kipp.
Citing recent findings from a Flight Centre Travel Group survey conducted by YouGov, Kipp also notes that 69% of Canadians draw travel inspiration from social media influencers, with 18% acknowledging a significant elevation in their travel aspirations due to influencer content. This aspect of digital inspiration, she says, adds a compelling layer to the rise of solar eclipse travel.
“In essence, the combination of Canadians’ varied travel interests and the influential reach of social media influencers sets the stage for solar eclipse travel to evolve from a niche interest into a trend. As influencers share their solar eclipse experiences, they ignite interest and aspiration for similar adventures among their Canadian followers,” says Kipp.
WHERE TO BOOK
So where should you book your clients to view the solar eclipse in all its glory? Skyscanner, who recently found that 35% of Canadians are planning to spend more on travel in 2024 compared to 2023, is sharing prime hotel recommendations to make a trip out of solar-eclipse viewing.
In Canada, these include:
- MONTREAL, QC
- Hotel le Coach
- Renaissance Montreal Downtown Hotel
- Le Mount Stephen
- FREDERICTON, NB
- By The River B&B
- Carriage House Inn
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Fredericton
- ONTARIO
- The Gananoque Inn & Spa
- Seaway Manor
- The Woodview Inn
In the United States, Expedia handpicked the following hotels:
- AUSTIN, TX
- The LINE Austin
- Hotel ZaZa Austin
- The Carpenter Hotel
- Aiden by Best Western
- DALLAS, TX
- Virgin Hotels Dallas
- The Joule
- Wyndham DFW Airport
- SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Mokara Hotel & Spa
- Omni La Mansion del Rio
- Marriott San Antonio Airport
- INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
- Hotel Indy
- Bottleworks Hotel
- Drury Plaza Hotel
- DAYTON, OH
- AC Hotel Dayton
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
