According to TIA�s Winter 2002�2003 Travelometer, 71 percent of travelers intend to travel for pleasure or personal reasons while 39 percent plan to travel for business or conventions this winter.

�With travel and tourism�s recovery on uneven ground during the past year, the relative strength of this winter travel forecast is good news,� said William S. Norman, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association of America. �But we have a way to go before the industry is fully recovered. We have a number of initiatives in place for 2003 aimed at consumers at home and in our key international markets that will help restore the vitality of the travel and tourism industry.�

Family members continue to be the most popular travel companions. Among those planning a winter pleasure trip, 52 percent will take along their spouse and 28 percent will take children with them. Eleven percent will travel with friends, 11 percent will travel with other family members, 5 percent will travel with their parents and 5 percent will travel as part of a group. Seventeen percent will travel alone and one percent will travel with grandparents.

Note: The results of TIA�s Winter 2002-2003 Travelometer are based on a representative sample survey of 1,000 travelers conducted in October 2002, and on TIA�s seasonal travel forecasting model developed in partnership with DRI/McGraw-Hill.

Travel Industry Association of America
TIA (www.tia.org) is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $537 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.

Contact:
Cathy Keefe
202-408-2183
ckeefe@tia.org , www.tia.org