Catch Them Before They Fly: 5 Holiday Travel Tips for Advertisers

Back to Blog 08/12/2025 - by Sierra Ducey

All we want for the holidays… is a smooth campaign flight plan.
And maybe a little Wi-Fi in the sky.

Holiday travel season is already on track to break records (again). In 2024, nearly 80 million Americans traveled 50 or more miles during Thanksgiving week, the highest number ever recorded. Road trips remained the top choice, but international air travel jumped 23% thanks to falling prices and a renewed urge to get away.

For advertisers, this isn’t just a travel story. It’s a timing, targeting, and inventory story. So, before you max out your media budget, here’s a holiday wish list to help you reach travelers before they take off.

1. I Want… Earlier Booking Windows

According to AAA, most travelers book their trips in September or October, but the savviest ones do it even earlier. Nonstop flights go quickly, and so does the best media inventory, especially on high-demand channels.

How to adapt:

Launch campaigns in August or early September to catch early planners
Focus on awareness tactics like CTV, audio, and digital display
Highlight flexibility, convenience, and value in your messaging

The goal is to show up before they search — not after they’ve clicked “confirm.”

2. I Want… Smarter Data

Your audience isn’t just browsing. They’re booking. That means their digital trail includes contextual cues, location pings, and real transactional behavior. It’s all there, if you’re using the right tools.

Sources to tap:

Hotel and flight booking data
Purchase and transactional data
Location and contextual triggers

These signals help you serve relevant messaging to people actively planning, whether they’re heading home for the holidays or chasing sunshine abroad.

3. I Want… All the Channels

Holiday travelers are constantly switching devices — comparing flights on mobile, checking traffic on Waze, and streaming podcasts en route to the airport. A single-channel strategy won’t fly.

Try this omnichannel mix:

Advanced Audio and Podcasts for long drives and layovers
Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) near airports, rest stops, and train stations
Mobile and Social to catch them in between steps

You’re not just advertising to travelers. You’re joining their journey.

4. I Want… Creative That Stands Out (and Helps)

During the holidays, everyone’s vying for attention. Static banners won’t cut it. High-impact formats that engage, inform, or entertain are the real MVPs.

Top creative formats for travel campaigns:

Interactive maps with directions or hotel options
Weather-triggered ads that promote sunny getaways
Downloadable offers or coupons for last-minute bookings
Quizzes that match users to travel styles or experiences

Make your ad the one that actually helps — not just adds to the noise.

5. I Want… Results I Can Prove

Holiday travel isn’t just a busy season. It’s a high-stakes one, where every impression matters. That’s why it’s critical to bake in measurement from the start.

Track what matters most:

Foot traffic studies to measure in-person impact
Brand lift and sales lift for digital performance
Media mix effectiveness to optimize across channels

“Awareness” sounds nice. But “attributed revenue” sounds better.

I Want… All of This in One Place

You’ve got enough tabs open — and flights to catch.

Download our full 2025 Holiday Travel Package

Inside, you’ll find insights on travel trends, audience behavior, strategic timing, channel picks, creative formats, and measurement tools, all designed to help you plan smarter, launch earlier, and maximize ROI during the busiest season of the year.

Looking to reach holiday shoppers, too? Check out our companion blog on holiday retail strategy for tips, trends, and a link to the full Holiday Shopping Package.