The recovery in the leisure travel sector continues, despite concerns over new COVID-19 variants, while a similar trend in the business travel segment is yet to emerge, according to Jim Sullivan, managing director and REIT analyst at BTIG.
Speaking on the REIT Report, Sullivan said that as of mid-August, “we have not seen any material decline. Traffic volume is holding up pretty well in the face of the Delta variant concerns.”
Sullivan said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) data point to a “pretty consistently high” level of comfort in traveling, particularly for the leisure traveler. Recovery in the business sector is going to occur later, however.
One reason the leisure market is seeing strong demand is the new flexibility provided to travelers who are able to work remotely, Sullivan noted.