AURORA, Ill., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AAA projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago. TheMemorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30.

In Illinois, 1.8 million people will be traveling for the holiday weekend, which is a .2 percent increase over 2010. Of those travelers, just over 1.6 million will be driving (a .1 percent decrease from 2010) and just under 113,000 (a nearly 12 percent increase from 2010) will be flying to their destination. Gas prices across Illinois are on average $4.17, up from $2.98 from 2010.

In Indiana, just over 754,000 people are expected to travel, which is a .7 percent increase over 2010. Of those, 683,000 are expected to travel by auto (.4 percent increase) and about 47,000 by air (12.3 percent increase). In Indiana, gas prices are on average $3.96 per gallon, $1.20 more than this time last year. The average price nationally for gas is $3.91.

“Memorial Day travel experienced a gain of more than 14 percent in 2010, and this year we expect to add slightly to that gain due to an increase in air travel and an improvement in the overall domestic economic picture,” said AAA Regional PresidentBrad Roeber. “Some travelers will compensate for the higher fuel costs by cutting other areas of their travel budgets.”

Overwhelming majority of Americans to travel by automobile, but down slightly from last year

Approximately 30.9 million people plan to drive to their destination, a small decline from the 31 million who drove last year. In spite of gasoline prices more than a dollar per gallon higher than a year ago, automobile travel continues to be the dominant mode of transportation. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during theMemorial Day holiday weekend.

Impact of gasoline prices on travel plans

A survey of intended travelers found that six out of ten said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans. Of the remaining four out of ten travelers who said rising gas prices would impact their travel plans, 70 percent will economize in other areas and the rest will take a shorter trip or travel by an alternate mode of transportation.

Number of air travelers expected to increase by 11.5 percent

Nearly 2.93 million leisure air travelers (eight percent of holiday travelers) will fly during the holiday weekend, an 11.5 percent increase from last year’s 2.63 million air travelers. The remaining three percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by other modes, including rail, bus and watercraft.

Airfares, hotel rates and car rental rates all rise

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, Memorial Day holiday airfares are expected to be 14 percent higher than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $201 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase five percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $148 per night compared to $142 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels can expect to pay 10 percent more with an average cost of $109 per night. Weekend daily car rental rates will average $38, just $1 higher than last year.

Average travel distance up 27 percent; median spending down 14 percent

According to a survey of traveler intentions, the average distance traveled by Americans during the Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be 792 miles, which is 27 percent greater than last year’s average travel distance of 626 miles. Air Travel is expected to gain a larger share of overall travel, and is likely the cause of a substantial increase in the average travel distance compared to a year ago. Median spending is expected to be $692, a decrease of 14 percent from $809 last year.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2011 Memorial DayHoliday Travel Forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

- Jaguar is one of only 40 companies across multiple industries to receive this distinction in the U.S.

- Jaguar continues to emphasize customer care with Jaguar Platinum Coverage

- Jaguar’s new lineup of XF, XK, XJ drives U.S. sales increases

MAHWAH, N.J., Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Jaguar North America was recognized at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Las Vegas as a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion — one of only 40 companies to have earned this distinction this year.

To qualify for inclusion on this elite list, companies must not only excel within their own industries, but also must stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power. Among the five key customer “touch points” measured, including people, presentation, process, product, and price, Jaguar was noted for standing out by satisfying customers with the new-vehicle sales experience.

To identify the J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champions, J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. This group of 40 represents the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to U.S. customers—both within their respective industries and across all industries measured.

According to Gary Temple, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC, “The entire Jaguar organization from the designers and engineers in the U.K. through to the dealers in the United States have a commitment to serving our Jaguar owners, backed by Jaguar Platinum Coverage. We appreciate that J.D. Power and Associates has selected Jaguar as a Customer Service Champion and will continue to make customer care a top priority at Jaguar.”

In 2010, Jaguar also achieved the highest score in the U.S. auto industry and was ranked Highest among Luxury Brands for Sales Satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study(SM).
Globally, Jaguar celebrated a successful 2010 with the new XJ receiving more than 20 international honors. Jaguar XJ awards include:

• Best Luxury Car’ from China’s Auto News
• ‘Annual Limousine King’ from Quattroroute (Italy)
• ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ from Top Gear (UK)
• Automobile Magazine’s ’2011 Design of the Year’ (U.S.)
• Automobile Magazine’s ’2011 All Star Award’ (U.S.)
• ‘Best Executive Sedan’ from Bloomberg (U.S.)
• MSN Auto Editors’ Choice Award (U.S.)
• Popular Science magazine Best of What’s News Award (U.S.)

As well as distinguished honors, Jaguar U.S. sales for January were up 48 percent from January 2010. Jaguar’s 2010 U.S. sales for the full year increased 12 percent.

For the 2011 model year, Jaguar North America has launched “Jaguar Platinum Coverage” that will give Jaguar owners increased vehicle warranty coverage and the best in class maintenance plan. Jaguar Platinum Coverage features a five year/50,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance for the duration of the warranty period, including no-cost replacement of select wear and tear components, and 24/7 roadside assistance. This no-cost coverage includes oil changes, filters, brake pads, brake discs, brake fluids and wiper blade inserts.

About Jaguar
From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world’s premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company’s vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.
SOURCE Jaguar North America