Global hotel cancellations rise ahead of holidays due to Omicron - Trivago

FILE PHOTO: Marie and Ed Graham greet daughter-in-law Nicola Graham and son Ally as they meet granddaughter Iona, 1, for the first time after arriving from London as the U.S. reopens air and land borders to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinated travellers for the first time since the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed, at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, Washington, U.S. November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson

(Reuters) - Concerns over the Omicron coronavirus variant and fresh travel restrictions have led to a spike in hotel booking cancellations globally, online hotel search firm Trivago said on Tuesday, threatening to upend a fragile recovery in tourism.

Cancellation rates increased to 35% since November and holiday travel planning was down 10%, the company said, adding that most travelers were choosing domestic destinations.