Technology is fuelling a new wave of spontaneity in Britain, new national research has revealed. But it is also creating a generation who feel uneasy committing to plans in advance, according to the nationwide study by leading hotel bookers LateRooms.com. While 30% of Britons still make weekend plans a week or more ahead of time, over 40% of adults now confess that they don’t feel comfortable making definite weekend plans any further than 48 hours in advance.

Indeed, more than 10% absolutely refuse to make firm weekend plans before Friday, for fear of missing out on a spur of the moment opportunity – or a better offer. Andrea Tarpey, spokeswoman for leading hotel bookers, LateRooms.com, said: “It’s clear that technology, and easy access to it via our smartphones, is contributing to a rise in spontaneity and means that we’re leaving it later than ever to commit to things.

“Family weekends away, romantic breaks, dinner reservations, New Year’s Eve plans, party invites.... we’re leaving it much later in 2015 to confirm all of them. Even Christmas is seeing an increase in those waiting until 25th December to decide where they’ll be spending the day itself.”

The ubiquity of Facebook and other social media has seen the rise of a phenomenon experts have dubbed the ‘Maybe Generation’; because Facebook invitations give users three distinct options ‘Can’t Go’, ‘Going’ and ‘Maybe’.

The ‘Maybe Generation’ trend is being amplified by the social behavior of young adults, according to the research – over half (54%) of 18-24 year olds wouldn’t RSVP with a definitive answer to an invite until the latest possible moment.

Almost 7 in 10 (69%) of those young adults say always-on access to their smartphones means they can be more spontaneous and don’t feel the urgency to commit to plans right away. Just over half (54%) of 45-54 year olds agree.

The research shows that when receiving an invitation to a social event, the huge majority of Facebook users are most likely to select ‘Maybe’ and then make their final decision about attending or not on impulse.

According to the LateRooms.com study, Brits believe smartphone technology means that leaving decisions on making plans until later now makes more sense, because information which informs their choices – such as hearing what peers are doing, which late deals are available, and even the latest weather conditions - is more readily available and more useful than ever.

And LateRooms.com statistics bear out the new research findings. The company’s booking figures show that mobile bookers are increasingly spontaneous - 40% of rooms booked through its mobile app are for stays that same day, with 53% of bookings being for stays within the next 48 hours.

In essence, the technology revolution rewards those who delay making plans until late – with apps enabling people to make bookings with the tap of a smartphone,  take advantage of money-saving late deals, and plan activities more efficiently because of quick and easy communication with friends, access to late weather reports and up-to-the-minute travel information.  Importantly, it also allows them to change or cancel their plans on a whim as well.

Indeed, plans for many of the more traditionally important calendar dates are now routinely left until the latest possible moment. Christmas Day, historically the one day planned for months in advance, is now routinely seeing hotel bookings made on the day itself.

In fact, Brits seem to be most spontaneous during the  December festivities. Across 2013 and 2014 it’s consistently been the month that has seen the most same day hotel bookings.

Last year, 14% of all bookings made for stays on Christmas night were made on Christmas day itself, and 27% of bookings made on New Year’s Eve were for the same night.

In both 2014 and 2013, almost a third of hotel bookings made on NYE for the same night were made after 4pm, showing Brits are happier than ever to be more spontaneous and make late plans during the party season.

According to the latest research**, the number of smartphone owners has reached 76 per cent in the UK and is growing fast. And it is the UK’s new-found reliance on technology in the palm of its hand that is rapidly changing the way Brits run their lives.

Andrea Tarpey, LateRooms.com spokesperson added: “Our research shows that people are happy to leave it late when it comes to making their weekend plans. More than 3 in 10 of us are comfortable booking a romantic weekend away with our other half less than 48 hours in advance.  And families are booking spontaneously too - almost 30% are happy to leave booking a family weekend away until just two days in advance. 

“Britain is clearly surfing a new wave of spontaneity – and it is technology that we have to thank for the ability to leave decisions until later than ever.”