What are this year's trends in the hotel industry? Certainly, the pandemic and ensuing economic downturn greater than the 2008 recession and chaos caused by fluctuation in demand have had a significant impact on the hotel industry throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022 - no doubt with persisting effects. Some innovative responses to this exceptional situation like attempting to entice patrons back into food and beverage outlets and assure holiday goers that it is indeed safe to enjoy a hotel stay, have accelerated existing hotel industry trends and triggered lasting change.
Below mentioned are the 5 trends that are shaping the hotel industry in 2023.
1. Holistic Hospitality & Well-Being- Due to the COVID pandemic, preventative medicine and self-care are undisputedly trending right now. The wellness industry has transformed into a booming trillion dollar market already and the hospitality venues are well positioned to take a large piece of the pie, especially those with existing spa facilities.
2. Hotel Work Spaces & Bleisure travelers-Remote work has today become commonplace for many employees and is predicted to become more than just a passing trend. An unprecedented number of high-profile companies have already announced that they will adopt a flexible or hybrid approach to working remotely.
In 2023 alone, the number of workers around the world that are permanently working remotely are expected to double which means, hospitality venues are being used as make-shift offices for bleisure travelers, as well as locals seeking a change of the office environment.
3. Digitized Customer Experiences-Apps are increasingly significant in the way hoteliers manage the services they provide to their guests and can now control many aspects of the customer/guest cycle and experience. Since 2020, needless to say, the trend towards digital and contactless services has gained new momentum. Guests who have become accustomed to unlocking their laptops and smartphones using facial and fingerprint recognition will soon come to expect the same convenience while accessing their hotel rooms.
4. Experience Economy & Essentialism-Guests request both unique experiences and extreme personalization. Essentialism has reinvigorated the otherwise somewhat dusty saying “less is more”. Travelers are decreasingly displaying their wealth, preferring instead to spend wisely, purposefully and make a positive impact on the climate and on the world.
What is in demand is, unique experiences that give back to local communities in meaningful ways, as are niche properties, adventurous holidays and relaxation retreats.
5. Sustainability- A trend of hospitality that is both current and a hallmark of recent years: “sustainability” once again does assume its position. A natural extension to avoid disposable plastics, to eliminate unnecessary paper consumption. Thanks to opt-in receipts and reducing food waste, more far-reaching environmental and ethical considerations are shaping decisions being made at the management level.
Simple eco-friendly measures include replacing miniature toiletries with larger, locally sourced dispensers, choosing ethically produced bed sheets made from organic items and reducing energy consumption with smart bulbs etc… Vegan and Vegetarian options also harbor well-known eco-friendly advantages.
Final Thoughts-
In fact there are a multitude of reasons guests may also be choosing to stay closer home, such as ecological or budgeting reasons, with 2023 having seen a marked uptick in holidays spent more locally. Lucky for patrons, who live in an already tourism-rich, picturesque country with an awesome climate.