December 20, 2022
The top 5 traveller trends hoteliers should know about in 2023
Travellers are back out there in the world again. Here’s what to keep in mind for your hotel business.
December 20, 2022
Travellers are back out there in the world again. Here’s what to keep in mind for your hotel business.
Travellers are now, more than ever, eager to explore the world. In fact, 65% of respondents to a recent survey* told us they “are constantly thinking about their next adventure”. No matter where in the world travellers choose to roam — from strolling the streets of Paris to scuba diving in Phuket, travellers are eager to experience the world again.
If you’re looking to build your hotel business in the year ahead, here’s what you need to know:
Where travellers choose to stay on their trip remains one of the most important factors, with 37% saying it made for the most memorable part of their trip. Hoteliers know this better than anyone — that’s why they spend so much time crafting the best possible experience for their guests.
37%
accommodations
33%
activities
29%
dining
27%
culture
16%
transportation
15%
shopping
As travellers plan to get out into the world again, we’ve noticed a few patterns emerging throughout our research. Here are the five key trends for hotel businesses in 2023:
Travellers are keeping an eye on the economic forecast. Inflation impacts the way travellers intend to travel this upcoming season, either by spending less on trips (32%), using alternative transportation (31%), or choosing less expensive destinations (30%), according to this report from Skift.. But that hasn’t stopped them from planning trips — in fact, it remains a top priority.
For hotel owners, think about ways to entice travellers to spend their trip with you. One way to do this is to find the right mix of deals and special offers that drive demand for your business without eating too much into your bottom line. This might be offering:
Travellers want to rest and relax on their trips. Who can blame them, after the last few years? Highlighting the ways your property can help travellers unwind after a long day of sightseeing (or skip the sightseeing altogether) can be a great way to draw travellers in. That might be showcasing amenities like your spa, pool, or great views.
That’s not the only reason to travel next year, however. Alongside this need to relax comes a desire to connect with the people and places around them. Think about how you can help them make those picture-perfect memories that last a lifetime. Emphasising family-friendly amenities in your marketing efforts, especially where parents and grandparents can relax and kids can have fun, can help take advantage of this trend.
Luckily for hotel owners, accommodation is the most important investment travellers make beyond big-ticket purchases like flights. Travellers put a lot of weight on this decision, with more than half (51%) noting that poor accommodation will most likely ruin a trip.
While travellers are always looking for deals, accommodation is the one place they tend to splurge for big and exciting trips — after all, where you stay serves as the hub for the entire trip, whether it’s a waterfront resort or a hotel with an epic in-destination view like Big Ben, the Empire State Building, or the Taj Mahal. The average daily rate for a U.S.-based hotel in 2021 was up year over year at $124.67 in 2021, compared with $103.25 in 2020.
With so much riding on their choice of accommodation, travellers look to Tripadvisor to help make their decision. As we looked at different components of Tripadvisor reviews, certain elements stood out for hotel shoppers.
When it comes to choosing accommodation, cleanliness mattered the most (57%), which is likely a lasting legacy of the pandemic. Elements such as service and amenities ranked slightly lower in importance, and much-touted features like early check-in (9%) or WiFi (15%) at the bottom. Making sure your property is in tip-top shape for your guests is critical in the year to come.
How do travellers plan to do more in the next year? Spend time working remotely. Up to 58% of workers in the U.S., for example, say they have the option to work remotely at least one day a week, according to McKinsey.
We’ve seen this reflected in other travel data as well. According to Skift, work-from-anywhere boosts travel demand for longer trips, with remote-friendly jobs allowing workers to take extended 10-day excursions or blend their business trips with leisure more frequently. This also makes travel more location-agnostic and responsive to amenities and prices.
Destinations are responding. Countries like Barbados, Portugal, Brazil and Dubai all offer “digital nomad” visas designed specifically for remote workers, and it’s increasingly a priority for workers around the world to have access to remote work. Consider offering special remote work deals for guests who plan to stay a month or more or offer work-friendly perks like fast WiFi, lounge spaces, or digital nomad meetups.
With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions, Tripadvisor is the place travellers can find the information they need. They turn to Tripadvisor to find out where to go and where to stay — searching for hotels like yours. We’re here to help you stay on top of traveller trends so you can capture peaking travel demand this upcoming year and continue to provide great hospitality.
How can we help you get ahead of the trends today? Learn more
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