NEW ORLEANS— AAA officials kicked off the 2002 Multi-Unit Lodging Operators and Owners Forum this morning here, reporting that they have noticed (through research) that there is a 12% to 14% increase in the number of people planning a drive-to vacation this summer. According to Ron Johson, national sales manager, AAA, “People may not be flying from Orlando to San Francisco, but they are driving from Orlando to Ashville, NC and are staying in hotels.” He noted that consumers are, however, taking shorter trips with an average length of stay about 2.1 days per hotel. “Our members are still not booking on the Internet,” Johnson said, noting 74% of AAA members are still calling a property directly using a toll-free telephone number. —Ruthanne Terrero
