Santa Barbara South Coast Hotel Performance

For the week ending October 10, 2020, hotel demand increased 60 rooms sold per night from the previous week. Occupancy was reported at 65%, up from 64% the previous week. During the same week in 2019, weekly occupancy was 74%. Competing beach destinations across Southern California averaged 52% occupancy last week.

Hotel rates increased to $289 per average night, compared with $266 the same week in 2019.

Weekly Traveler Sentiment Research

Attached is the current week of national traveler sentiment. With October in full swing, we continue to study Americans‘ perceptions and travel behaviors this fall to anticipate what we might expect into the future. Concerns about the novel coronavirus moved back up this week, but aspiration and demand for travel continues to express itself. In fact, more American travelers than ever during the pandemic period are now able to recall recent travel advertising and, perhaps more importantly, there has also been a 10% increase in the last three months of the number who say the most recent travel advertising they saw made them “very happy.” Travelers are seeking honesty but friendliness in their travel advertising, and nearly 70% feel positive or very positive about seeing travelers with face masks in travel ads. They are also placing a high degree of trust in official tourism organizations for information on travel safety.

To hear detailed analysis from Destination Analysts, here is a link to their most recent webinar presentation. If you would like to attend these weekly sessions live on Tuesday mornings, you can register for free here.

Alaska Airlines Non-Stop San Diego to Santa Barbara Starts November 20, 2020

We are thrilled that Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has added their first new route since the onset of the pandemic. With daily service using a spacious E-175 aircraft, Alaska Airlines is now promoting fares as low as $69 one way (plus taxes). With the flight blocked at only one hour, your customers can depart San Diego at 1:15 p.m. and return from Santa Barbara at 2:55 p.m. Furthermore, Alaska Airlines has eliminated all change fees and will continue to increase physical distancing onboard by blocking some seats through November.

In order to ensure the success of this new route, soon Visit Santa Barbara will launch new ads in the San Diego metro targeting active travelers and Alaska Airlines fans. If you, your customers or your employees have reason to travel to San Diego this winter, we encourage you to draw their attention to this new flight. Together we can rebuild our local air service and further our regional travel recovery.