Who Are Extended Stay Travelers? 19 Key Insights in 2023

Written By Guest User

In 2021, there were 35 million digital nomads worldwide—16.9 million in the US alone. In the same year, 80% of employees looking for a new job said it was important that their next job allow them the freedom to live anywhere, according to a Qualtrics report. 

It turns out that the rise of extended-stay travelers and remote workers was not a pandemic-related anomaly. A recent Upwork report found that by 2025, 22% of the American workforce will be remote, or over 36 million Americans—more than the worldwide population of extended-stay travelers in 2021. 

Hoteliers and property managers who familiarize themselves with who extended stay travelers are, what they want, and how they work will gain an advantage over those who only make assumptions. The key insights below will help you position your hotel or property as the ideal location for an increasing market of extended-stay travelers.  

Who are Extended Stay Travelers?

Anyone could be a slow traveler. A 67-year-old retired stockbroker, a teenage travel influencer, or a family of 5 with parents who both work remotely. However, these examples are exceptions to the data. When it comes to the demographics, beliefs, occupations, hobbies, and income of extended-stay travelers, clear patterns emerge. This fact should come as no surprise. Similar types of people typically enjoy doing similar things. Why is this important? In order to fill your extended stay accommodations with extended stay travelers, you need to know your potential customer. 

Demographics

First, extended-stay travelers are overwhelmingly millennials. As baby boomers retire and gen z enters the workforce, millennials are hitting their stride. Some are buying homes and settling down, but many are opting for a work-from-anywhere lifestyle. Below are key insights into who extended stay travelers are according to data on tens of thousands of Nomad List members. 

  1. 47% (over 28 million) of extended stay travelers are from the US, followed by the UK (7%), Russia (5%), Canada (4%), Germany (4%), and France (3%)

  2. 61% are in their 30s, 34-year-olds lead the way at 8%, followed by 31 and 36-year-olds (7% each)

  3. 60% are men, 39% women, and 1% reported other

  4. 60% identify as White, 13% as Asian, 12% as Latin, 7% as Black, 5% as Indian, 3% as Middle Eastern, and 1% as Pacific 

  5. 65% are single, 35% are in a relationship

Work

Slow travelers are typically well-educated and well-paid. It may come as a surprise that nearly half are employed full-time and only a minority work part-time. This means that extended-stay travelers have excess income to spend on more than a long-term room. They can typically afford laundry services, in-house food services, and accommodation upgrades. They want a home away from home, not a rugged hostel experience. Somewhere they can use it as a base to explore and experience local culture while enjoying the amenities and comforts of home when they return. Here’s what the data say:

  1. 90% have a bachelor's degree or higher

  2. 36% make between 100K - 250K a year, 34% between 50K - 100K, 15% between 25K - 50K, and between 250K - 1M, and 2% make over 1M

  3. 42% are employed full-time, 17% freelance, 16% are startup founders, 8% are full-time contractors, 7% work for an agency, and 3% work part-time

  4. 34% of men work as a software developer, 28% as a web developer, and 27% are startup founders

  5. 16% of women work in marketing, 15% in a creative occupation, and 12% as a startup founder

  6. 61% work from a home office, 15% in coworking spaces, 8% from cafes, and 5% in an office

Beliefs

In the US, 57% of liberals say they have a passport compared to 48% of conservatives. Liberals are more likely to travel to foreign countries, travel by plane, enjoy relaxing at the beach, and savor fine dining. Conservatives show more of a proclivity for fishing and golfing. This diversity in desired activities may have more to do with the fact that liberals skew younger, generally have higher levels of education, and more incomes. 

Slow travelers lean left by quite a large margin. They also tend to have no religious affiliation. Take these indicators with a grain of salt. Location is important. San Francisco will draw a different crowd than Cairo or Tehran, in general. A property in Ankara near a Halal market will likely attract more practicing Muslim guests than one in Shibuya, Tokyo. Nevertheless, the following data on extended-stay travelers’ beliefs will help us with our profile:

  1. 75% of female extended stay travelers are Progressive (48% for men), and 27% are Libertarian, Conservative, or Centrist (52% for men)

  2. 55% of extended stay travelers say they are not religious, 28% self-reported as spiritual, and 16% adhere to a major religion

Despite a large swathe of extended stay travelers claiming to have no religious affiliation, spirituality and the desire to find oneself attract many to destinations—yoga retreats in Thailand, unplugging in Costa Rica, and exploring Eastern forms of self-improvement in India. Appealing to a niche can be more lucrative than trying to attract the average. The existing allure of your location will largely determine your options for positioning your property. 

Enjoyment and Hobbies

The data below shows the answers of slower travelers when asked about what they particularly enjoy. “26% of men enjoy beer” does not mean that 74% of men don’t. Rather, it means that drinking beer plays into the decision of where a quarter of men will temporarily settle. These men would like to slow travel in a place with craft beer bars, nightlife, and a hotel or property with a bar or communal space where they can find camaraderie with other drinkers. 

Hiking, fitness facilities that cater to more than weight lifters and treadmill runners, and pet-friendly accommodations are a huge draw for extended stay travelers. Also consider that the majority of extended stay travelers are remote workers. They may enjoy a night out while still wanting a quiet place to sleep before waking up for an early Zoom call. There is a fine line between being a destination for remote workers who enjoy drinking and a party hostel. 

  1. 40% of men and 32% of women drink coffee

  2. 27% of women and 26% of women enjoy hiking

  3. 26% of men enjoy beer and 24% of women enjoy wine

  4. 26% of men enjoy fitness and 20% of women enjoy yoga

  5. 26% of men and 25% of women like dogs

  6. 25% of men and 20% of women like to wake up early

Profile of an Extended Stay Traveler 

From this data, we can create a profile of the average slow traveler: A 34-year-old, single, white, progressive, heterosexual male from the US with a bachelor’s degree who makes about $85,000 a year working from home as a software developer. Now, what can you do with this information? 

First, you should make your property attractive to extended-stay travelers in general. Next, you need to consider your location, your existing clientele, and the possibilities your property provides. Remember that the average is just that, the middle ground between extremes. Use this profile, but be critical in your analysis. 

Guest User