Canadians Leaving Vacation Days Unused, Handing More Than $5.5 Billion In Wages Back To Employers

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2016 /CNW/ – Most Canadians would like an additional 11.5 more vacation days per year, according to the latest annual “Vacation Deprivation” survey from Expedia.ca. But would they take them?

In 2016 Canadians received an average of 17.3 vacation days but will use only 14 of them. That adds up to nearly 31 million unused vacation days and more than $5.5 billion in wages handed back to employers! But that’s not all… 27% of Canadians go a year or more without taking a vacation, with an additional 36% going six months to a year without a break.

When they do get away, they feel a strong need to share their holiday fun via social media, with almost half (45%) of Canadian travellers say they share pictures of their vacation adventures on social media because it “validates their experience.” A similar number (43%) say it’s very important that they capture the perfect vacation photo for their social media posts.

In fact, one in five (20%) respondents said they would go so far as to “risk their personal safety” to get that perfect ‘look how much fun I’m having’ shot for Facebook or Instagram.

VACATION DEPRIVATION 2016
For over a decade, Expedia.ca has examined Canadian travellers about their vacation preferences and experiences through its annual Vacation Deprivation survey. One of the key touchpoints is the gap between number of vacation days Canadians receive and how many they actually anticipate using. Over the years, the survey has found Canadians are not using up all the vacation time they have earned from their employers and this year is no exception.

This year:
• 55% of respondents consider themselves “vacation deprived,” meaning they feel they either don’t get enough time off or are not taking some or all of their vacation days;
• 62% feel they deserve more vacation days than they get;
• 68% consider vacation travel a necessity, not a luxury:
• 21% said they can’t afford to take all the vacation days they are entitled to;
• 10% said they had not yet taken any vacation days this year (the survey was conducted in late August);
• 17% say it’s because their work schedule doesn’t permit it.

When asked what they would do with just one holiday a year, Canadians say they prefer beach vacations with lots of relaxation time.

Breakdown in number of days used…
Atlantic Canada – 14 days
Quebec – 16 days
Ontario and BC – 13 days
Prairies – 14 days

“Vacation time can be considered a major stress reliever with a range of benefits for both our physical and mental well-being including lower blood pressure and reduced anxiety,” Beverly Beuermann-King, a Canadian work-life balance expert says. “So it’s no surprise Canadians consider beach destinations a top choice to spend their vacation time because an all-inclusive beach destination can help you more fully relax your mind and body – from the relaxing environment the ocean provides, to the range of services many resorts offer to ensure you’re making the most of your holiday.”

MILLENNIALS DEFY STEREOTYPE
Millennials have sometimes been perceived as the “entitled” generation, which may cause some to assume they max out every allotted day. However, the survey found younger Canadians (age 18-34) say they rarely take all of their vacation days because they are too busy at work. They also feel guiltier about taking vacation days and they are more likely to check their work email and voicemail while on vacation, compared to older Canadians.

That said, Millennials are more likely to consider themselves “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) travellers, so they’re likely making the most of each vacation, and consider unique locations that will produce stunning and shareable photos for social media when making travel decisions.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRAVEL
We don’t leave home without our smartphones. The survey found 72% of Canadians take their smartphones with them on vacation, mainly to check personal email, to call or text friends and family, and to check in on social media.

• More than one-third (36%) of Canadian travellers said they use their smartphones to post on social media while vacationing, up significantly from 28% per cent last year.
• Almost two-thirds of younger Canadians (64% 18-34) say they’re likely to visit specific destinations that they’ve learned about through social media posts by other travellers.
• Canadians look to get lucky, with one in five (19%) saying they use dating apps like Tinder to make connections while on vacation.

ABOUT THE 2016 VACATION DEPRIVATION SURVEY
The survey was conducted on behalf of Expedia.ca by Northstar, a globally integrated strategic insights consulting firm, among 1,006 Canadian adults aged 18 and older who are employed or self-employed. Surveys were conducted between August 22 and August 31, 2016. Results are weighted to ensure the sample is representative in terms of age, gender and region. The survey is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

ABOUT EXPEDIA.CA
Expedia.ca is the nation’s leading full-service online travel provider. To help Canadians plan and purchase travel, Expedia.ca offers the best combination of scheduled and charter flights, car and hotel reservations, vacation packages, destination activities, cruises, and travel insurance. Expedia customers are supported by customer support agents available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a toll-free number and email response. Expedia.ca is owned and operated by Expedia, Inc.

SOURCE Expedia.ca

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In the end you will only regret the things you didn’t do