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Travel Logo Design

Looking for travel logo ideas and inspiration? Explore popular logo styles for travel and create your own with the FreeLogoDesign logo maker.

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Making your travel logo is easy with fld logo maker.

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Frequently asked questions about travel logos

Creating the perfect logo for travel with freelogodesign is easy, but just in case, here are some answers to questions you may have.

Whether you are an expert or not, here are some steps to follow that will help you create a travel logo. First, analyze your business and products. What are your strengths, weaknesses, and values? Never forget that you are creating a travel logo for your business, not for a competitor. Then, think about your brand image by choosing a logotype, color palette, and font that represent your business well.

Finding the perfect icon when creating a travel logo is essential, especially if you decide to make a combination mark or emblem logo. There are thousands of available icons on FreeLogoDesign to help you. When creating your travel logo with our logo maker, click on the Add an icon button to begin searching. Try different icons until you find the one that meets your needs.

Yes! As the name suggests, you can create a free travel logo with FreeLogoDesign’s logo maker. You will have access to all the logo templates (we have more than 2000!) and features to create your logo. Your free travel logo will be in a PNG format, 200 x 200 px. If you need high resolution or vector files, please note that you can also purchase one of our premium plans or add-ons: business card templates, brand guide, email signature, invoices.

What should be the main color of your new logo? Choosing the right colors for your travel logo can be challenging. Your brand image components of a logo are significant as they could impact the first impression someone has of your business. Selecting the right colors can make a huge difference in how people perceive your brand since every color has a specific meaning. People only need a few milliseconds to have an opinion on your business when they look at your travel logo. You must then ensure that your logo stands out from the competition while remaining representative of your field and values. If you want to know more and make an informed choice, take a look at FreeLogoDesign’s page on the meaning of the colors.

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1 - 64 of 9651 travel logo designs

There’s many ways you can convey that your brand is a globalized, internationally acclaimed business. But the most visible and instant step you can do to achieve this goal is to design a travel-inspired logo. Think airplanes, luggages, airports, palm trees, map pins, globe, cameras — all these are ubiquitous, well-known symbols about the travel industry. If you are a company that is involved in the tourism industry, say airlines, travel agencies, and hotels, then a professional-grade Travel logo speaks volumes for the brand. 

Here’s how you can do it cheaply and fast. First, turn to beginner-friendly DIY tools for logo designs such as BrandCrowd’s travel logo maker. Inspire yourself with thousands of available templates. You can pick trip and vacation logo inspiration from here then jump to other well-known tools such as Photoshop. Or you could stick to a template and redesign it yourself. How? Well, BrandCrowd offers tools for newbie and intermediate logo designers. Just pick a template and change some of the elements by choosing the provided shapes, icons, fonts, and layout. By the end of it, you’ll be surprised by how the template has changed. 

Make your brand more adventure -packed with some inexpensive if not free logos from BrandCrowd’s travel logo maker. And if the logo is not enough to convey a vacation-related business, then you can design other marketing materials such as Instagram and Facebook posts and business cards right on the platform.

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Making Your Travel Logo Is Easy With BrandCrowd Logo Maker

Create a professional travel logo in minutes with our free travel logo maker. Brandcrowd logo maker is easy to use and allows you full customization to get the travel logo you want!

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Pick one of the travel logos on this page or update your search.

Customize Your travel Logo

Change colours, fonts, add a tagline… Our travel logo maker is 100% customizable and easy to use.

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How do i make a travel logo with brandcrowd.

Creating your travel logo easy with BrandCrowd. Just follow these steps and you'll have a travel logo ready to share with the world in minutes.

1. Start searching:

To find travel logos relevant to your business enter your business name - We'll automatically show you travel logos related to your business. You can browse the logos and choose one you love.

2. Refine your search:

If you can't find the perfect travel logo, you can refine your search by entering related keywords. We'll show you more logos related to your search.

3. Create a travel logo shortlist

To make life easier you can "shortlist" logos that you like. Simply click the heart symbol and we'll add the travel logos to your shortlist.

4. Edit your travel logo

Once you've found a travel logo that you love, you can customize the logo colors, fonts and layout. You can even add more embellishments with shapes.

5. Preview your travel logo

When you're done editing you can easily preview your logo on apparal, signage and more to see how it looks in real life.

6. Download your travel logo

Once you're done customizing, you can download your travel logo - you'll get access to all the logo files you need, instantly

What elements make a beautiful travel logo?

It's easy to create a travel logo with BrandCrowd's logo maker - but making sure you get these design elements right will ensure your logo is perfect. Your travel logo should represent your brand, help people remember you and provide insight into your services. Choosing the right colors, layout, fonts and shapes are key to making sure your travel logo rises above competitors.

There's an array of different logo types to choose from. Does your travel logo need an icon or just text? Should it have a combination of both? Find out more

Logo colors

Want to convey trustworthiness? Want to appear fun and outgoing? Choosing the right colors for your travel logo makes all the difference. Find out more

In the same way colors can convey meaning, so too can fonts and typography. Need a serious travel logo or maybe something more gentle? Make sure to choose your fonts wisely. Find out more

Frequently asked questions

Creating that perfect travel logo with BrandCrowd is easy - but just in case, here's some FAQs to help you get started.

What is the BrandCrowd travel logo maker?

Do i get a transparent version of my travel logo, what layout works best for travel logos, what text should i choose for my travel logo, how do i find the right travel logo, how do i add a tagline to my travel logo, can i download my travel logo instantly, do i get my travel logo in vector format.

Travel Logo Maker

Create your ideal travel logo in no time with our free logo maker tool. Get inspired by a variety of travel agency logos and kickstart your travel company's branding journey today.

Travel logo ideas

Check out these travel logos created by real Wix users.

How to make a travel logo in minutes

1. Tell us about your brand

Enter your travel business name, tagline and brand aesthetic—or just let our AI logo generator come up with one for you.

2. Make it your own

Choose a style that speaks to you. Then, customize the font, colors, icons and text to bring your new travel logo to life.

3. Share it with the world

Download your custom logo design and use it anywhere you need to—from business cards to branded merch.

Build your brand with Wix Logo Maker

A memorable travel logo can elevate your brand by clearly communicating what you do and showcasing your brand's personality. Popular elements in travel logo design include iconic landmarks, airplanes, compasses or waves, each symbolizing different aspects of travel and adventure. With the Wix logo maker , you can create a professional travel agency logo that captures the essence of your company in minutes.

After crafting your travel company logo, take advantage of Wix's suite of free business tools to further establish your brand. Generate a unique name with our travel agency business name generator , select from a variety of travel tourism website templates and draw inspiration from successful travel website examples . These resources are designed to help you create a cohesive and memorable brand identity that resonates with travelers worldwide.

Travel logo design tips

Choose the right font

Your logo's font can significantly impact how your business is perceived. Select a typeface that mirrors the energy of your brand and draws in your desired clientele.

For travel logos, the font should evoke a sense of adventure and reliability. Consider using clean, readable typefaces for a modern look or script fonts to add a touch of elegance and personalization. The right font will make your travel agency logo design stand out and convey the professionalism and unique experience your company offers.

Use color strategically

Like typography, colors also communicate the personality of your travel business. It’s a good idea to research logo psychology when choosing your logo colors . 

Blues and greens often reflect tranquility and nature, perfect for eco-tourism or adventure travel companies, while vibrant colors like orange or yellow can capture the excitement of travel and exploration. Remember to choose colors that differentiate you from competitors while appealing to your target audience.

Make a graphic statement

Icons, illustrations and graphics also help you stand out from the competition. Make sure to choose a graphic element that represents your type of travel business.

A well-chosen icon can communicate much about your brand at a glance. For instance, a globe or airplane may be fitting for an international travel agency logo, while local landmarks are great for niche tour operators. Make sure that the graphic you choose is scalable and looks good in both color and black and white.

Select the right layout

When selecting a layout for your travel logo, it's important to think about the persona you want to convey. Consider your niche within the industry and the message you want to send to your clients.

A minimalist layout can suggest sophistication, while a more dynamic composition might convey excitement and adventure. Adapt your logo's layout for different uses—opt for simplicity on digital platforms where space is limited but consider more detailed versions for print materials where you have room to expand on your brand story.

Explore logos by industry

Explore logos by style, dive deeper into logo design.

Check out these tips from design and branding experts on the Wix Blog to help you create the right logo for your business.

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How to design a logo from start to finish

What is a travel logo?

A travel logo is a visual symbol that represents a travel company or agency. It combines imagery, typography and color to convey the essence of the brand and its services. A well-designed travel logo should evoke feelings of adventure, leisure or exploration and be easily recognizable to customers.

How do I find the right travel logo?

To find the right travel logo, consider your brand's unique characteristics and what you want to communicate to your audience. Use tools like the Wix logo maker to experiment with different designs, fonts and colors. Look at other travel logos for inspiration but aim to create something that stands out and resonates with your target market.

Can I edit my travel logo after creating / downloading it?

Yes, with Wix logo maker, you can edit your travel logo even after downloading it. If you need to tweak colors, fonts or other design elements, you can simply log back into the tool and make the necessary tweaks to ensure your logo always meets your evolving brand needs.

Do I own my travel logo after downloading it?

Once you download your travel logo from Wix logo maker, you have full ownership of the design. You can use it for all branding purposes without any restrictions. It's important to make sure that all elements of your logo are original or licensed for use to avoid any copyright issues.

Create your free travel logo today.

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50 Travel Logo Ideas To Brand Your Travel Business

The travel and tourism sector is huge and incredibly diverse in its industries and operators, generating about US$1.6 trillion in 2017 in the USA. Companies big and small are reinventing their offering to attract tourist and traveler dollars -whether it's travel gear or experiences you're selling, how does your business stand out from the rest?

If you're a 1-person show like a tour guide, travel blogger , vlogger, photographer or travel app developer, you can legitimize your side hustle with a professional logo. For established businesses like hotels, tour/cruise operators, accommodation owners or vehicle rental companies, rebranding your business creates new opportunities for growth and to reconnect with customers and suppliers.

A logo is the face of your business, and it's how customers recognize your business from competitors. Developing a strong visual identity for your brand will help your business stand out in the travel industry. It will be used everywhere - from your website, social media channels to flyers, business cards and signage - to promote your business. We've curated a list of 50 travel logo ideas that show the diversity of logos from luxury brands to travel startups and small businesses who are reinventing their offering for a new generation of travellers.

01. Travel Logos Featuring People

If you're a travel blogger or photographer or private tour guide you could leverage your personality in the design. Humans/character logos work really well for You Tube vloggers or any travel-related business with only one point person (usually the owner).

Some travel logos feature people in various activities like camping or hiking. Some designs could be specific for the brand's target audience like cameras for photographers. Other designs are fun and quirky by a person's face and adding some peculiar details like a moon or a pin.

02. Logo Ideas Featuring Vessels and Transportation

The journey can often be as pleasureable as arriving at your destination. In this set of travel logos we focus on logos featuring airplanes, wings, cars/buses, boat logos and ships.

03. Logo Ideas Using Globes, Maps, Compass Icons

Some logo designs feature some traveling tools such as a map or a compass to highlight a location or logistics expertise. These are a favorite for travel bloggers offering tips or travel companies offering tours for a specific travel destination. Some designs entwine these symbols with other fun details to give them a bright mood.

04. Refreshing Logo Ideas Featuring Nature, Sun and the Sea!

If you're a business operating in a popular beach destination, than your logo could feature (the beach or mountain that tourists are coming to see. If a customer is scrolling through instagram and click on one of your images, seeing a profesional logo as your profile pic and your contact details will encourage them to contact you.

Often these designs are bright and colorful, in text and colors, enticing target consumers to try their brand. Most designers love to feature landscapes of tropical islands (showing palm trees and the beach and the sun ) as it emphasise the laidback and relaxing vibe travelers generally want when they go on vacation.

A excellent travel logo will do wonders for your business!

Wondering where to get a high quality logo for your travel business?

Whether you're operating a wine tour business in Sonoma (California), a bungee jump business in Queens Town (New Zealand) or a safari tour business in Tanzania, a professional logo is one of the most important designs decisions you'll make for your business. We recommend two options:

1. Try crowdsourcing your logo design on DesignCrowd where you can hire a professional graphic designer from DesignCrowd’s talented community of freelancers. A professional logo designer can create your custom travel logo or work with a crowd of designers to see heaps of logo ideas.

2. Try a high quality logo maker . You can create your logo with the help of AI-powered logo maker from BrandCrowd. The maker uses 15,000 original logos to generate hundreds of cool travel logo ideas for your business. Then use the editor to change colors and fonts until you get it just right. The travel logo maker will help you design a professional logo your target market will love!

Check out more logo ideas on BrandCrowd or see these other resources:

20 Crowdsourced Travel and Tourism Logos

21 YouTube Channel Logo Ideas

What Is The Best YouTube Logo Maker?

50 Podcast Logo Ideas

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Written by Marvi Ocampo on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Marvi is a travel blogger and freelance writer who mixes in a love for design into her work. Connect with her through her travel blog at Osmiva.com

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Travel Agency Logos

Home » Logo Maker » Ideas » Travel Agency Logos

Are you looking for the perfect logo to get eyes on your travel agency? Well, you’ve come to the right place – that’s what we do!

Evoke wonder and excitement for your customers with the right logo. Whether you’re catering to budget travelers or luxury globetrotters,  tours or summer destinations, you want a logo that shows everyone your business can bring their travel dreams to life. 

As you design your logo, you’ll want to check out some of these top travel agency logos, made with our logo creator, for inspiration, and then scroll down for industry tips on creating the logo of your dreams. 

How to make your own travel agency logo

Create a travel agency logo in 2 minutes, simply by entering your travel agency name and tagline (if relevant), and clicking ‘Design’.

Tell us a little about your travel agency, select a logo type, and choose the fonts you love so we can create the perfect logo for your travel agency.

Customize and make tweaks with our logo editor to bring your vision to life. You can play with fonts, colors, and logo layout—no design skills necessary! 

Design your custom-made logo instantly

Travel agency logo ideas, travel agency logo design tips.

Before you start designing your logo, you need to select the type of logo you want: Text-based, icon-based, or a combination.

Text-based icons could include your entire travel agency name or a monogram of your business’s initials. Icon-based logos focus on a specific icon or a combination of both icon and text. 

There are various types of icons, including abstract, geometric, custom, interactive, pictorial, and crests and emblems. Each type of icon has its own purpose. 

Most travel agencies choose symbols of planes in flight or abstract swirls to indicate motion. However, there’s no wrong choice. You can choose a combination of text and icon, text only, or an icon-only logo. When choosing the type of logo you want, select one unique to your business. 

2. Typography

The font you choose tells your customer a lot about your business’s personality and values. So, when choosing a font, pick one that fits your business’s identity.

If you cater to luxury travelers, you may want to choose a font that speaks directly to your services, such as an elegant script. If you offer travel services for young adults, lowercase sans-serif fonts are both friendly and professional. 

You can mix and match different fonts, pairing them together to get your business name (and tagline, if relevant) to pop. But when doing so, don’t use fonts that are too similar. If you’re going to mix fonts, create a contrast. For example, use an all-caps font next to a lowercase font to make it stand out.

Don’t forget when creating your logo, you can customize the fonts in our logo editor until you’ve landed on the perfect one. Just remember, whatever font you choose, make sure that it’s easily readable.

3. Color palette

The colors you choose will help communicate specific emotions to your customers and will help make your logo stand out. When choosing a color palette, you want to make sure it makes a statement and is easily recognizable from your competitors.

Your logo colors should emphasize specific characteristics you want your travel agency to be associated with. If you want to indicate a fun-in-the-sun tropical vibe, use warm colors like oranges and reds. If you want to emphasize relaxation and calmness, use colors like blue and light green. 

Don’t forget, you don’t have to stick to only one color. Play around with colors and see what combinations work for your logo. 

You want your logo to shine no matter where it’s being showcased. Whether it’s on your store sign, business cards, or website, consider how your logo will look on different mediums. 

Choose a layout that can also support a thumbnail-sized version of your logo without the edges being cut off. That way, you’ll be able to use your logo on just about anything.

Experiment with different versions of your logo, which you can do in our logo editor. Move the icon around, resize the lettering of your business name, and test out which logo works best. If you’re not sure, you can always ask friends and family which option works best before making your final decision.

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Tourism Logos + Free Logo Maker

"Tourism" covers a relatively broad range of businesses, so you should use your specialty, whether a tourism destination, a tourism office, or a travel agent, as inspiration for your tourism logo. Combine your travel-inspired icon with bright colors for a great logo! Check out our collection below for ideas, or use our free tourism logo maker .

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Tourism Logo Ideas:

Travel Logos

What is tourism branding?

Tourism branding is the name, logo, customer experiences, tone of voice, and industry associations that are related to your business. Branding is how you build recognition and a reputation for your business.

What can I use as a tourism icon?

Your tourism icon will depend on your niche or how you want your customers to feel when they see your logo or think about your business or traveling. There is a wide range of tourism logo images you can use, from suitcases to exotic locations, so have a look at our collection of examples or use our free logo maker for inspiration.

Where can I find tourism logo ideas?

• Go through your business plan and brand message for design ideas.
• Research your top competitors' logos.
• Consider why you are starting this particular business. Is there an interesting story you can use for inspiration?
• Look at online logo makers for ideas.
• Ask potential customers what they'd like to see in a logo.
• Think about how you can stand out from the competition.

How do I create the best tourism logo design?

• Think about what your business means to you and what you want to achieve.
• Review your business plan for key ideas.
• Keep competitors' logos in mind so that your logo will be different.
• Use a logo maker to experiment with colors, icons, and fonts.
• Research the meaning behind your chosen colors and fonts to ensure they convey your brand message.
• Design a few options and show them to family and friends for feedback.
• Use the feedback to tweak and download the best design.

What should I include in my travel and tourism logo?

There are no set rules when designing a travel tourism logo. You can include images of the globe and/or planes for a world tourism logo, or you can focus on your niche, whether that's travel to specific locations, family tours, or simply a tourism office in a city. You can include dark colors for a professional look, or lighter colors to attract attention and convey fun and excitement.

Where can I download a tourism logo in PNG format?

You can design, edit, and download a logo for a tourism company in PNG format for free with Zarla's logo maker. It also allows you to download a tourism logo in vector format for free.

What colors are tourism logos?

The vast majority of tourism logos use red, green, blue, and yellow in their logos, as these are bright colors that attract attention and convey happiness and joy.

Where can I download a tourism logo design for free?

You can use Zarla's logo maker to design and edit a tourism logo for free. Click on "Edit" below one of our examples to get started.

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What makes a good tourism logo?

A great logo shows the world what you stand for, makes people remember your brand, and helps potential customers understand if your product is right for them. Logos communicate all of that through color, shape and other design elements. Learn how to make your tourism logo tell your brand’s story.

Types of logos There are 7 different types of logos. They’re all a combination of image and typography, but each gives your brand a distinct feel... Keep reading

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Automotive, Travel, and Traffic Safety Information

Nearly 44 Million Travelers Leaving Town for Unofficial Start of Summer

Second highest memorial day holiday travel forecast since aaa began tracking in 2000.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 13, 2024) – AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.  

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”   

Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides. AAA car rental partner Hertz says Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand , with the busiest pick-up days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.  

This Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57.  Pump prices rose this spring but have held somewhat steady in recent weeks. Prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.  

Airports are bracing for a spike in travelers. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019. This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11. This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors play into how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class. For example, passengers who book nonstop flights with seat selection and carry-on bags included will likely pay more than those who select basic economy with a layover.  

  Nearly two million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. AAA projects 1.9 million people will take these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year. “This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.”  

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro 

INRIX , a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.   

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.  

Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.   

For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT

Source: INRIX   

Source: INRIX  

Top Destinations 

This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed. European cities dominate the international list. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.  

Travel Trends   

As travelers make plans for summer and beyond, AAA Travel has identified the following trends:  

• Bucket Lists : Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips  
• Milestones : Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips  
• Asia : More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan   
• Solo Trips : More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves  
• Luxury Vacations : More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours  
• Trains : Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada, and Europe  
• Adventure in Nature : Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa, and South Pacific  

  Travel Agent Survey  

A recent survey of AAA travel agents highlights topics travelers are frequently discussing when booking trips:  

• Travel Insurance : 51 % of agents say more travelers are interested in protecting their trips  
• 77% of agents say ocean cruises  
• 70% of agents say all-inclusive vacations  
• 67% of agents say river cruises  

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology   

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.   

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM . The PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.  

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 15, 2024.   

*Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period   

For this forecast, the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27, 2024.   

AAA Travel Agent Survey Methodology 

AAA clubs distributed surveys to a random sample of their travel agents between March 18 and March 29, 2024 to understand recent traveler trends over the past 60 days. 186 AAA agent responses were collected from 13 AAA clubs (representing 97% of AAA membership overall as of February 2024).  

About AAA    

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.   

About S&P Global   S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit  www.spglobal.com .   

About DKSA    

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.   

About INRIX     

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.   

Credit cards are getting smarter

How banks are using huge amounts of data to separate legitimate purchases from scams

In mid-March, a scammer in California tried to buy $150 worth of Wingstop using my debit card. Aside from being impressed at the sheer size of the order, I was relieved because Citibank, which issued my card, declined the transaction on the spot and alerted me to the fraud. In minutes I was able to shut off my card, heading off any more purchases by the scammers, and order a new card. All's well that ends well.

When I went to Buenos Aires in April, I figured I might run into a similar situation . Sure, the banks say you don't have to call ahead when you travel anymore, but I assumed I'd still have some purchase flagged as potential fraud, as had happened in past trips abroad. Miraculously, everything went off without a hitch. I don't know how JPMorgan Chase knew that I would spend $200 on Botox in Argentina, but it did. (No, I didn't book my flight on the same card, and whatever, everybody gets Botox now .)

It's great that banks and credit-card companies are getting better at discerning which payments are fraudulent and which are legit. Many people have some horror story about having their credit card stolen or having their own legitimate transactions flagged as suspicious. And it's nice not to have to spend 20 minutes on the phone before a vacation explaining where you're going and when. Credit-card fraud protection is still far from perfect, but there's no denying that the technology is improving. On the flip side, it's also kind of wild to consider just how much financial institutions must know about you to make the right calls.

I was curious about how it all works — and, frankly, a little creeped out. So I reached out to some credit-card companies and academics to learn more. Why don't people have to alert their credit-card companies about travel anymore? And, more broadly, just how have banks gotten so good at figuring out what's normal about our spending habits and what isn't?

The Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of card-fraud complaints each year. The Nilson Report, which tracks the card industry, says payment-card fraud resulted in $33 billion in losses worldwide in 2022 and $13.6 billion in losses in the US. As such, credit-card issuers and banks are keen to do what they can to spot fraud. They want to keep their customers happy, and, more importantly, they want to stem their losses. In the US, the major credit-card issuers and banks generally have a zero-liability policy , which means that when a customer gets scammed, the organization, not the customer, has to eat the cost.

Years ago, whether a transaction went through was based on things like whether a physical card was present, whether you had enough money to make the purchase, and (if the cashier wanted to look) whether your signature on the receipt matched the one on the back of your card. In some cases, the cashier may have even asked for ID or called the bank to verify the funds. We've come a long way from those bad old days by using the same tools that power most innovations: data and computers. Credit-card companies and banks know a lot about us — where we shop, when we spend, and how much we're usually willing to pay for things — and they're getting better and better at turning that knowledge into action.

The models are evaluating a trillion dollars' worth of transactions a year.

While it's all the rage to talk about newfangled forms of artificial intelligence , fraud detection owes a lot to machine learning, a field within AI that's been around for years. A bunch of data gets dumped into computer systems, and algorithms figure out patterns and relationships. The algorithms create decision trees to predict the likelihood of different outcomes and identify what may be considered normal or fishy. It's not that your credit-card company knows that you, specifically, would blow a bunch of cash on A and not on B — it knows that customers with your profile are in the "likes A" camp and not the "likes B" one.

"It's looking at what's happening that is very much out of the ordinary for your general behaviors," said Tina Eide, an executive vice president of global fraud risk at American Express. "And when I talk about general behaviors, it is generalized, right? It is not down to the specific purchase or to the specific merchant." Eide added, "The models are evaluating a trillion dollars' worth of transactions a year."

The machines know more now than ever. Mike Lemberger, Visa's regional risk officer for North America, said that over the past five years the number of data points people generate with their credit cards has grown tremendously. People are increasingly using cards over cash. And they don't just have a physical card they're pulling out at the store — they've got their card credentials in their Amazon account, Netflix account, iPhone, etc. The more purchases the card issuer can analyze, the more accurate the fraud detection will be.

"Visa, we don't have consumer information — that's your financial institution that has that — but what we have is this triangulation of all these data points," Lemberger said. "We can create more and better scores, layer on top of that machine learning and AI abilities, and it becomes a much, much more powerful predictor, which we then feed into all of our partners to say, 'Hey guys, if you want to make the best decisions, here's a whole bunch of really good information.'"

Visa isn't going to block your card directly, but it'll alert your bank that your purchase looks suspicious or that fraud has been detected at the merchant you're dealing with.

This all seemed pretty simple until I talked to Yann-Aël Le Borgne and Gianluca Bontempi, a pair of researchers at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium who work on machine learning and card fraud . They emphasized the vast scale of this fraud-detection technology. Companies and their algorithms are ingesting millions of transactions and creating so many decision trees to categorize certain activities that it can defy human logic, they said. Basically, the computer may be right that your transaction looks funky even if it's made in your home city at a fairly innocuous vendor, or it may be right that the transaction is fine even though it's made in a faraway place — but when humans try to figure out what did or didn't sound the alarm, nobody will really be able to pinpoint why.

"Machines can consider many more features, and at the end of the day it's not clear if all those features have meaning for humans," Bontempi said. "Humans are used to working with two, three features, at most five features, while machines can work with hundreds of features. So there are really different levels between what a machine can do."

There are human-written rules, which are generally interpretable, and there are machine-written rules, which can be a black box. They're more accurate, but they may be harder, if not impossible, for people to reverse engineer. And banks may be using several different algorithms, making this even more complicated. Data scientists are the ultimate decision-makers, but the information they're dealing with is based on highly complex tech.

Humans are used to working with two, three features, at most five features, while machines can work with hundreds of features.

When I explained to experts my somewhat embarrassing wings-versus-wrinkles conundrum and asked what may have triggered one alert and not the other, they offered up different explanations. Eide, from American Express, said that even though I hadn't booked my trip to Argentina with the credit card I used to buy the Botox, something else had probably tipped off the system that I was there. I realized I'd also bought a package of spin classes in Buenos Aires on my phone with the same card. I had also paid for a meal in the city. Lemberger, from Visa, emphasized that it's about all the data and spending patterns and said that given my spending patterns, the Botox likely matched my profile more than the massive delivery order.

"I hate to say this to you, but at the end of the day, all these data points build personas. Just like in marketing somebody would use personas to market to you, we're using that same technology to protect you," he said. "And the fact is that we use those data points to not just secure you but the whole ecosystem."

At some point it occurred to me that the supercomputers that credit-card companies and banks are working with could know more about me than I even know or understand about myself.

"It's probable that the exact reason why a transaction caused your card to be blocked has no straightforward interpretation," Le Borgne said.

I also asked whether there was a big difference in credit-card protections and debit protections and was told not really — maybe banks will be a little more restrictive about credit because they're technically lending you money that's not limited by your actual cash balance. I also asked if companies don't worry about preclearing travel because they don't care as much about losing money to fraud anymore, to which the answer was a hard no.

"At the end of the day, somebody's got to pay for the fraudulent activity," Lemberger said. Credit-card companies will give you your money back if you're a victim of fraud, but they'll find another place to recoup that money, just as they always do .

Instinctually, I am not a technology-is-awesome person — if the AI really is going to kill us, I feel like we should unplug it. I'm not super freaked out about the privacy stuff, but I also don't love the idea that AmEx and JPMorgan and Citi have me so pegged. But it's cool that companies really are making fraud detection better, especially in a world where fraudsters themselves are constantly getting better. I don't want to be like "Yay, banks!" but maybe here the answer really is a little "Yay, banks!" At least that's the case until the next major data-privacy breach, at which point I will regret everything.

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

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Meta unveils travel mode for using Quest headsets during flights like Vision Pro

Update: Three weeks later, Meta has announced the feature alongside a new partnership with an airline. Original coverage from April 18 below…

Today I learned two things. First, apparently Meta Quest headsets don’t work on planes? I guess Apple knew to prioritize that feature for Vision Pro. And second, support is reportedly on the way. Add this to the list of ways competition from Vision Pro is making Meta Quest 3 a better product.

For April, Meta released software update v64 that makes Quest 3 passthrough more like Vision Pro, users say. Motion blur is more noticeable, but still clarity is increased. Meta has also added support for viewing spatial videos captured from iPhone 15 Pro.

Now Meta may be planning to introduce flight support as soon as v65 next month. Per @Lunayian on X ( via Nicholas Sutrich ), several code strings reference travel mode for use on a plane.

Early NUX render to introduce "Flight Mode" I found in Meta Quest OS v65 pic.twitter.com/oq2GzCiaZu — Luna (@Lunayian) April 18, 2024

Apple pushes watching movies and TV shows during flights as a key use case for Apple Vision Pro. It’s one of the first things you see at the top of Apple’s website currently.

Surely Meta has taken notice and prioritized travel mode as it positions Meta Quest 3 as a dramatically cheaper solution to Vision Pro with many of the same capabilities.

The most impactful change, however, would be around multitasking. Quest headsets are limited to three app windows at a time right now. Apple Vision Pro has plenty of other limitations, but there’s virtually no limit to how many windows can be placed around a room and used together.

• Zuckerberg says Meta Quest 3 is better than Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro is already making the Meta Quest 3 better
• Vision Pro latency by far the best on passthrough; lags behind Meta on angular motion
• Meta confirms spatial video playback coming to Quest one day before Vision Pro launch

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Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

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Meta Quest’s new Travel Mode will put more glassholes on your next flight

Another vision pro feature comes to quest headsets..

By Wes Davis , a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020.

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Meta Quest headsets are ready to go on flights with you as Meta has announced a new Travel Mode. The company is rolling out the experimental feature to Quest 2 and 3 headsets running Quest software version 65 or later, allowing owners to use the headset in passthrough on a flight without windows drifting away from them.

To try it, opt in under Settings > Experimental features . Then the new mode will live in the Quick settings panel, where you can toggle it from the Quest’s universal menu. Travel Mode isn’t without limitations — it’s not designed to account for the motion of a car or train, for instance; Meta says support for other transportation methods is coming. Also, if a game or app requires an internet connection, your plane will still need to offer Wi-Fi.

Quest headsets could already be used on flights, but doing it required turning off positional tracking, which also disables passthrough, as UploadVR notes .

• Meta’s Quest headsets add spatial video and pinch controls to compete with Vision Pro

The new mode seems aimed straight at Apple’s Vision Pro , which launched with a similar travel mode (and similar caveats). I’ve tried the headset in a car — as a passenger, of course; I’m not a monster — and it still mostly worked as long as the car wasn’t stopping and going a lot, and tracking failed if I looked out the side windows. Depending on how the Meta Quest’s new mode works, that could be the case for it as well, or it could be that it simply refuses to work if it doesn’t think you’re on a plane.

The new Travel Mode joins a growing list of Vision Pro-style features that Meta has added to its headset that debuted on Apple’s $3,500 headset earlier this year. This includes more expansive pinch controls as well as the ability to use it lying down and play back spatial videos recorded on an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max.

Update May 13th, 12:54PM ET: Added videos posted by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth.

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