The Six Personalities of Group Holidays
A survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Samsung has identified six distinct personality types that make up a group holiday. These include the 'Chief Vacation Officer' (CVO), the 'Busy Bee', the 'Ghost', the 'Snap Happy One', the 'Fluent-ish Friend', and the 'Window Shoppers'. Nearly half of Brits consider themselves the CVO, the person who turns group chat ideas into actual bookings.
The Role of the Chief Vacation Officer
The study found that 64% of respondents believe no group trip would ever get off the ground without a CVO at the helm. More than half (53%) said the CVO plays an underappreciated role in making holidays happen. Vicky Pattison, a self-confessed CVO, commented: 'It's safe to say I love a holiday, and in my friendship group I am absolutely the lead booker and honestly, I thrive from the challenge. What starts as a simple 'we should all go away' somehow turns into you sorting dates, comparing hotels, collecting passport details and reminding people to pay you back and I secretly get a kick out of it. Everyone loves the holiday once it's booked, but very few people see what goes into making it happen.'
Planning Challenges and Mobile Dependence
The survey revealed that mobile phones are increasingly vital for CVOs, with 67% relying on them to coordinate trips. However, 46% still find it difficult to keep track of group chats, bookings, and individual preferences in one place. Gen Z is turning everyday idle moments into planning sessions, with 24% planning holidays during lunch breaks or commutes. The top planning headaches include finding dates that suit everyone (42%), deciding where to stay (27%), and gathering passport details (11%).
Desired Features for Easier Planning
When asked what would simplify the process, 37% said they would value being able to view flights, hotels, and messages side by side. Others wanted to see multiple apps simultaneously (38%), multitask between chats and bookings (34%), and have a larger screen for comparing options (32%). Over a third (37%) agreed that better planning tools would motivate them to arrange more overseas trips. Samsung highlighted the Galaxy Z Fold7's Multi Window functionality as an ideal solution for CVOs.
Top 10 Holiday Planning Challenges
- Finding dates that work for everyone
- Agreeing on a budget everyone is happy with
- Choosing where to stay
- Making decisions when no one else will commit
- Dealing with people changing their mind repeatedly
- Getting everyone to reply in the group chat
- Chasing people for payments or deposits
- Comparing too many destination options
- Aligning on activities so everyone feels the trip is worth it
- Deciding on flights or travel times
