Weber-Stephen Products Co. News

National Poll Shows More Americans Planning Summer 'Staycations' and More Time Around the Grill

PALATINE, Ill., June 18 PRNewswire — Forty percent of Americans taking "staycations" this summer say they will grill outdoors more as part of their staycation plans, according to the latest Weber GrillWatch Pulse(TM). As a result, 46 percent of them say they will spend more money on grilling this year.

In fact, among grill owners planning staycations, a whopping 80 percent plan to grill weekly, including 41 percent who plan to grill at least several times each week.

While the term "staycation" is relatively new, 15 percent of respondents recognized it as "a vacation that people spend at or near home, instead of a traditional vacation away from home." Once having the term explained to them, more than half (51 percent) of the respondents said they plan to take one or more staycations this summer-including 24 percent who are changing their traditional summer vacations to include a staycation this year. Staycations appear to be more popular among grill owners: 54 percent plan to take a staycation this summer vs. 43 percent of non-owners.

Among all Americans taking staycations this summer, many are seemingly interested in expanding their outdoor grilling repertoire and improving their outdoor rooms as they spend more leisure time at home:

— Outdoor entertaining is big for staycationers — 24 percent say they plan to host more barbecues than they've normally done during past summers

— Thirty-four percent of staycationers will improve their outdoor room or area this summer

— Twenty-one percent plan to spend more money this season on grilling than a "typical" summer

— Forty percent say they plan to try new grilled foods or grilling recipes

— Thirteen percent plan to purchase a new outdoor grill this summer

— Seven percent plan to update or improve their current grill

— Others plan on buying grilling accessories (11 percent) or a grilling cookbook (8 percent)

— Among those who don't currently own a grill and say they will take one or more staycations, 18 percent plan to purchase a new grill as part of their staycation plans

From the Weber Newsroom(TM), the Weber GrillWatch Pulse is an up-to-the-minute survey commissioned by Weber-Stephen Products Co., and conducted by a third party online research firm to ensure accuracy. A sample of 1,094 adults 18 years and older were surveyed on June 12th and 13th, 2008. The sample is balanced demographically to be representative of the general U.S. population.

SOURCE Weber-Stephen Products Co.

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