For Second Consecutive Year...Las Vegas, Caribbean Cruising Rank as Top Destinations: Carlson Wagonlit Travel 2005 Travel Trends Survey

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates today announced the much-anticipated results of its 2005 Travel Trends Survey -- the travel agency powerhouse's most comprehensive survey ever -- which ranked Las Vegas as the number one domestic destination for the third consecutive year, while Caribbean cruising was cited as the top international "destination" for the second year running. The 2005 Travel Trends Survey was conducted December 1-20, 2004 of 398 Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates and agents throughout the United States, roughly equivalent to one response per every two locations.

"Last year's survey was among the first to point toward a dramatically improved picture for our industry in terms of interest and subsequent bookings, and this year's results point toward even more stability and greater interest in traveling, both domestically and abroad," stated Roger E. Block, CTC, Executive Vice President of the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division. "While last year's survey showed 83% of our respondents saying their bookings for 2004 were even or up over the same time in the previous year, this year has seen that number increase significantly to 91%."

Perhaps even more significant, Block said, is the number of Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates who are entering 2005 optimistically. "When we asked them what their personal outlook on their business was for 2005, over 88% characterized themselves as 'fairly optimistic' or 'very optimistic' while nearly 9% more said they were neither optimistic nor pessimistic. That compares with 85% who told us they were optimistic in 2004 and 11% who expressed neither optimism nor pessimism. That's quite a harbinger for success," Block explained.

Top Vacation Destinations: U.S. and International

When asked to forecast the five most popular U.S. destinations for 2004 based on their actual bookings to date, 82% of the respondents named Las Vegas, securing the city's number-one ranking in the survey once again this year. Caribbean cruising was the most popular international destination, named by 83% of the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate experts.

Also noteworthy:
• Hawaii fares considerably well in the overall rankings of most popular domestic destinations, with Maui, Honolulu and Kauai each landing in the top ten (at numbers 3,4 and 9, respectively), and a fourth destination -- Kona -- reaching the top twenty for the first time, at number 20. "Hawaii has truly enjoyed a remarkable renaissance among our best customers seeking an exotic vacation that also provides the peace-of-mind that comes with remaining within the United States," Block noted. "Hawaii now also ranks fifth among the top cruise destinations that our travel professionals have booked for the New Year."

• Similarly, Mexico dominates the survey results among top international destinations, with five vacation options -- Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico cruises and Cozumel placing in the top ten (at numbers 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9 (tie), respectively). While Puerto Vallarta drops to number 12, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos jumps to number 13 overall. "Mexico truly has it all, including sunny beaches with resorts to match virtually every type of budget," Block stated. "Plus the value of the dollar and its close proximity to the U.S. make for an easy, international getaway."

• Washington DC has made a substantial jump from number 18 to tie with Fort Lauderdale at number 11; Denali National Park has jumped from number 18 to number 14. Los Angeles has dropped out of top ten to number 16 on the domestic list (Kauai replaced it).

• London remains the top European destination, although it slips a notch to number 7. Rome jumps into the top ten at number 9, tied with Cozumel and Aruba (which makes its debut in the top ten). Paris slips a notch to number 15. "The biggest trend in European vacations comes in Tuscany, which makes its debut in our top twenty at number 16, tied with Nassau," Block said. "This confirms the popularity for Tuscany that we saw reflected in our fall trends survey. To those who have loved this vibrant region of Italy for years, they're no doubt asking what took America so long to discover it."

The following lists display the top ten domestic and international destinations for 2005, compared to the results from the 2004 survey conducted one year ago.*

  Top 10 Domestic Destinations: 2005  Top 10 Domestic Destinations: 2004



   1 - Las Vegas, NV           82%   1 - Las Vegas, NV           85%

   2 - Orlando, FL             75%   2 - Orlando, FL             77%

   3 - Maui, HI                56%   3 - Maui, HI                55%

   4 - Honolulu, HI            53%   4 - Honolulu, HI            49%

   5 - New York City, NY       33%   5 - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ  24%

   6 - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ  21%   6 - New York City, NY       23%

   7 - Anchorage, AK           16%   7 (tie) - Anchorage, AK     16%

   8 - Fort Myers, FL          15%   7 (tie) - Fort Myers, FL    16%

   9 - Kauai, HI               14%   9 - San Francisco, CA       14%

   10 - San Francisco, CA      13%   10 - Los Angeles, CA        11%





     Top 10 International               Top 10 International

      Destinations: 2005                 Destinations: 2004



   1 - Caribbean Cruising       83%  1 - Caribbean Cruising        77%

   2 - Cancun, Mexico           70%  2 - Cancun, Mexico            71%

   3 - Riviera Maya, Mexico     47%  3 - Riviera Maya, Mexico      35%

   4 - Jamaica                  34%  4 - Punta Cana, D. Republic   35%

   5 - Punta Cana, D. Republic  33%  5 - Jamaica                   34.5%

   6 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico 28%  6 - London, England           28%

   7 - London, England          20%  7 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico  27.5%

   8 - Mexico Cruising          19%  8 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico   20%

   9 (tie) - Aruba              17%  9 - Mexico Cruising           19%

   9 (tie) - Cozumel, Mexico    17%  10 - Cozumel, Mexico          16%

   9 (tie) - Rome, Italy        17%

For the first time for 2005, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates were asked to name the top cruise destinations they were already booking for the New Year. The following lists display the top ten cruise destinations for 2005:

  Top 10 Cruise Destinations: 2005



   1 - Caribbean (Western)       39.2%

   2 - Alaska                    16.3%

   3 - Caribbean (Eastern)       14.1%

   4 - Caribbean (Southern)      9.5%

   5 - Hawaii                    4%

   5 (tie) - Mexican Riviera     4%

   7 - Europe (Mediterranean)    3.8%

   8 - Panama Canal              2.3%

   9 - Bermuda                   1.5%

   10 - Europe (Barge)           1%

   10 (tie) - South America      1%

   10 (tie) - U.S. Riverboat     1%

Business Outlook and Travel Trends

Carlson Wagonlit Travel's 2005 Travel Trends Survey asked respondents to identify key 2005 travel trends and to forecast their outlook for business in the year ahead. The results indicate good news for the travel industry: consumer confidence in traveling further from home, longer vacations, rebounding international travel, healthy 2005 bookings, and a sizeable include in the amount travelers are spending per vacation. The results follow, compared when possible to the 2004 survey*:

Comparing 2005 bookings so far to your 2004 bookings at this time last year, which is true?

   Our 2005 bookings are up:     67.6% (compared to 45% in last year's

                                 survey)

   Our 2005 bookings are even:   23.4% (compared to 38% in last year's

                                 survey)

   Our 2005 bookings are down:   9.1% (compared to 17% in last year's

                                 survey)



  What is your personal outlook on your business for 2005?

   Very optimistic:              36.7% (compared to 31% in last year's

                                 survey)

   Fairly optimistic:            51.5% (compared to 54% in last year's

                                 survey)

   Neither optimistic nor

    pessimistic:                 8.8% (compared to 11% in last year's

                                 survey)

   Fairly pessimistic:           2.8% (compared to 4% in last year's survey)

   Very pessimistic:             0.3% (compared to 1% in last year's survey)



  Regarding 2005 bookings to date, what trends have you noticed?



                                                   2005 Survey  2004 Survey*

   Average length of vacations booked: 6-7 days:       71.1%         NA

   Clients are feeling more confident about

    traveling further from home:                       60.2%         NA

   International travel seems to be on the rebound:    55.9%         54%

   Cruising is becoming more popular:                  53.1%         66%

   Pent-up demand, customers just don't want to wait

    any longer:                                        47.6%         NA

   Clients are spending more per vacation:             45.6%         32%

   Mexico bookings are up over last year:              39%           58%

   Customers more confident about safety:              35.2%         NA

   Renewed consumer confidence in economy:             28.6%         NA

   Europe bookings are up over last year:              28.5%         21%

   Caribbean bookings are up over last year:           25.7%         37%

   Customers less concerned about global conflicts:    21%           NA

   Average length of vacations booked: 4-5 days:       15.8%         NA

   Domestic bookings are up over last year:            12.8%         27%

   Average length of vacations booked: 8-10 days:      12.3%         NA

   People continue to want to stay close to home:      8.6%          18%

   Clients are spending less per vacation:             5.8%          23%

With Carlson Wagonlit Travel, your vacation experience begins with ours. To find the Carlson Wagonlit Travel location nearest you call 1-800-CARLSON or visit http://www.carlsontravel.com/ .

* Survey of 287 Carlson Wagonlit Travel agents taken Oct. 20-Nov. 19, 2003.

Carlson Travel Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc. Brands include: Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Cruise Holidays, Results Travel, Carlson Leisure Travel Services and Carlson Destination Marketing Services. In 2003, for the seventh consecutive year, the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate program was named the top travel business franchise by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500(R); Franchise Times ranked the program as the 3rd top franchise overall in 2004 for the fourth year in a row.


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