Are you a 'Next Generation' traveler?

— -- Do you prefer to book travel on the Internet? Do you like to view hotel room photos and read reviews written by other travelers before making your selection? Do you use your cellphone to display maps when traveling? If you answered yes to these questions you may be among the growing ranks of Next Generation or "NEXTgen" travelers.

Less than a decade since the first trip was booked on the Internet, online travel bookings now surpass trips booked "the old fashioned way" by phone, travel agent, or other traditional channels according to PhoCusWright, Inc., a research firm concentrating on travel technology. The rapid growth in online adoption is driven by a new breed of high tech or "NEXTgen" travelers.

In a recent study co-authored with YPartnership, PhoCusWright examined the characteristics of NEXTgen travelers and how they differ from their more technologically challenged contemporaries. Some findings might surprise you.

NEXTgen travelers currently represent 16% of the total U.S. population and 26% of the traveling public according to Lorraine Sileo of PhoCusWright. NEXTgen travelers may be found in every age group. NEXTgen travelers are defined more by attitude than demographics and more by comfort level and interest in technology than age, sex or economic strata.

The study included more than 2,500 individuals from an online panel of nationally representative households. PhoCusWright defines a NEXTgen traveler as an active or frequent user of the latest entertainment, computer or consumer technologies who has taken as least one leisure trip in the past year. Although not all NEXTgen travelers may be business travelers, this forward-thinking throng is driving the technology business travelers will adopt and will ultimately define the way travel suppliers package and market their products.

Here are some highlights from the study:

Internet reliance

The Internet is very important to NEXTgen travelers. More than two thirds have broadband or high-speed Internet access at home and 58% have wireless. When traveling 61% want free Internet access in their hotel room.

71% of NEXTgen travelers search the Internet for travel, second only to e-mail and downloading video or music as the NEXTgen traveler's most popular online activities. While a little more than half use an online travel agency, like Expedia or Travelocity, only one in four want to communicate with a live counselor or agent and only 10% of NEXTgen travelers use a traditional brick and mortar travel agency.