Meet the Boomer Women

Boomer women are the latest consumer segment to come under the spotlight. A survey by VibrantNation.com, an online community for "smart, successful women over 50", finds that close to 80% of them already have leisure travel planned for 2010.

"While our ongoing online surveys and polling give us an up-to-date pulse of what Boomer Women want and what truly matters to them, the results of our recent travel survey even caught us by surprise with a staggering 79% of Boomer Women already having leisure travel planned for 2010," said Stephen Reily, founder and CEO of VibrantNation.com.

The company will unveil the results of its recent travel survey about the growing power of the Boomer Woman consumer at the 24th Annual Educational Travel Community (ETC) Conference 2010, the world's only conference focused on affinity and educational travel.

According to the Vibrant Nation survey, Boomer Women are on-the-go and traveling globally:

• 79% already have leisure trips planned for 2010
• 40% of those leisure trips include foreign destinations like Europe, Asia, cruises and the Caribbean
  

Boomer Women, even when married, are making their own travel decisions. They know what they want. 70% of survey respondents decide where to travel by themselves. An additional 20% make that decision with their spouse/partner or friends. While 2/3 of respondents are married, only 5% allow their spouse/partner to make travel decisions without their input.

Boomer Women are also not afraid to spend on their travel experiences:

• 58% spend up to $2,500 per trip
• 42% spend more than $2,500 per person per trip

Boomer Women are not just traveling for leisure but value educational opportunities and activity:

• 57% say they would pay more for trips that include educational components
• 31% have already taken trips that include educational travel before
• 58% prefer sightseeing with either moderate or extensive physical activity

"This influential and fast-growing demographic, who we've termed ‘Vibrant Women,' is one of the dwindling number of consumer groups with available discretionary funds," added Carol Orsborn, PhD, VibrantNation.com Senior Strategist.

"As a member of this demographic, it amazes me how we somehow remain overlooked in the travel marketplace despite being the healthiest, wealthiest, most educated generation of women in history."