Hotwire Releases third Annual “America’s Greatest Cities For A Quickie” Index With Greatest Locations For An Upgraded Getaway

Last-minute “quickie” trips of 2-3 nights are not only less stressful to plan, they also enable more at every turn – more frequent trips, more spontaneity, more savings on last-minute bookings with Hotwire and more money savings to have unusual experiences. In fact, 79% of Americans say they would use the money saved by booking a quickie on Hotwire to upgrade their getaway:

• 41% would add fun and active experiences to their travel routes
• 35% would pay for an expensive meal
• 29% would be pampered with a massage or wellness treatment

With this in mind, Hotwire is creating the third annual “America’s Best Cities for a Quickie” index[2] reflects the desire for MORE when traveling – more 4 and 5 star options, fancier amenities and more experiences at the destination. To create the 2021 index, the travel experts analyzed over 10,000 internal and external data points in more than 350 cities, including value, volume of experience (leisure) and driveability, with a focus on 4 and 5-star hotels, the amenities most wanted a really sophisticated experience.

America’s Best Cities for a Quickie Index 2021 – Top 40

What makes a great quickie town?

When it came to ranking the best cities for a quickie, these top 40 cities scored high in the following categories:

Best bang for your buck (value):

Hotwire enables more travel with its mysterious hot rate offers that save you up to half the listed prices or even more if you book last minute! And this year the Quickie Index lists cities where you can find 4 and 5 star hotels that offer more amenities and more bang for your buck based on the following factors:

• High 4 and 5 star hotel demand (based on the total number of Hot Rate room nights booked through Hotwire in 2020)
• Lowest Average Daily 4 and 5 Star Hotel Rate (Based on 2020 Average Total Daily Rates of Hotwire Hot Rates)
• Biggest last minute savings in 4 and 5 star hotels (based on the difference in 2020 average hotel daily rate for Hotwire Hot Rates booked 8 days or more prior to arrival versus within 7 days)

Activities (free time):

A quickie is about having a little fun. The Quickie Index ranks travel destinations that offer a variety of entertainment options suitable for all travelers to ensure a great time, such as:

• Most restaurants (based on Tripadvisor)
• Most activities (sights and attractions based on Tripadvisor)
• Least rainy days per year (based on NOAA data)

Easy arrival (drivability):

For a real quickie getaway, minimizing the time it takes to actually get to the destination is of the utmost importance in order to maximize the fun! As more and more travelers want to stay on site, the quickie index takes into account:

• Shortest Travel Time for Most People – We looked at the total population within 250 miles of the destination to find the cities that most people could drive to

Ready for a quickie trip? No need to plan ahead – Hotwire did the research for you so you can just pick a quickie town and pack your bags. And with Hotwire’s Hot Rate Mystery Offers, you’ll save even more when you book at the last minute! Simply select the rating, location and amenities you want – pool, breakfast, room service – then Hotwire will find the perfect hotel for you – announce the name after booking and save up to 60%[3] in process. To book your quickie getaway now, download the app or visit hotwire.com.

Via Hotwire

Hotwire is a leading website and app for cheap travel deals. Founded in 2000, Hotwire, Inc. was one of the first online travel websites to work directly with suppliers to post unsold inventory. By simply disclosing the name after booking, Hotwire enables travelers to book beyond their wildest means, including hotel rooms, rental cars, and flights.

Hotwire is an operating company of the Expedia Group. For more information, visit www.hotwire.com.

© 2021 Hotwire, Inc., an Expedia group of companies. All rights reserved. Hotwire, Hot Rate, and the Hotwire logo are trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST # 2053390-50

1 Survey methodology

The Hotwire survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) under 1,000 nationwide US adults aged 18 and over, between August 27 and September 2, 2021, using an email invitation and an online survey. The data were weighted to ensure an accurate representation of US adults aged 18 and over. The results of each sample are subject to sample fluctuations. The extent of the variation is measurable and is influenced by the number of interviews and the magnitude of the percentages that express the results. For the interviews conducted in this study, there is a 95 to 100 chance that a survey result will not deviate by more than 3.1 percentage points by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews with everyone in the region would have been led to the universe represented by the sample.

2 index methodology

Hotwire examined more than 10,000 internal and external data points in 350 cities across the United States based on value, leisure, and driveability. For 2021, Hotwire focused specifically on 4- and 5-star hotels – those with the most desirable amenities for a truly upscale experience. Each destination received a maximum of 15 points in each of the three categories and seven sub-categories. Hotwire used the various rankings in all three categories and created a weighted index to determine which cities ranked highest in all variables. The total number of points was weighted as follows: value (40%), leisure (40%) and drivability (20%). The Value Score takes into account Hotwire’s booking demand, average daily rates for accommodations, and the greatest last-minute savings for 4- and 5-star hotels (based on the 2020 average daily hotel rate for Hotwire Hot Rates, booked 8 Days or more from arrival vs. within 7 days). The recreational value is calculated from the number of restaurants, the number of activities, based on TripAdvisor listings, and the lowest number of rainy days a city has in a year. The driveability rating is based on the population within 250 miles (driving distance). Based on these factors, this index identified the nation’s best large (big cities), medium-sized (must-size must-sees), small (small town favorites), and itty bitty cities in the nation for travelers to get there quickly.

3 Savings are based on actual Hot Rate® hotel bookings versus lowest published prices found on leading retail business travel websites. The prices are dynamic and vary depending on the booking date and length of stay. There is no guarantee that these savings or tariffs will be in effect at the time of your search. Availability is limited. Hot Rates® are different from retail prices. With Hot Rates®, enter the date, location and star rating. The hotel will only be announced after booking. All bookings final. The prices do not include taxes and fees.

SOURCE Hotwire