Smart Meetings has updated this famous story about hospitality industry trends since it was first published in July 2015, so you can track the trends as they have evolved over time.
The Hotel Show, which hosts business-to-business events for the hospitality industry, has listed the Top 10 trends affecting the industry in 2015, according to the company.
Update
for 2020
On The Hotel Show blog in January 2020, IHCL Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications Rakhee Lalvani predicted that ecotourism, religious tourism, micro-cations, and culinary travel will be the industry's driving forces in the coming year.
1. Millennials are Catered to
According to the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research, millennials (those aged 18-34) will account for half of all visitors to the United Arab Emirates by 2025. Companies must tailor their strategies to this demographic's personality characteristics and preferences, which include frequent travel, early adoption of technology, a preference for customized experiences, and a tendency to be spontaneous. Hotels would want to satisfy them with convenient check-in and affordable gourmet dining experiences. In exchange, happy millennials will support their companies on social media.
Update
for 2020
Millennials are approaching middle age, dating, purchasing houses, and starting families. Millennials spend and fly more than any other age group, including Baby Boomers, according to a 2019 report by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Security. They also say that if they had more spending power, they would spend more. They are more likely to travel the globe and have a “local” experience, all while sharing their adventures on Instagram.
2. Explosion of New Technology
The bulk of today's visitors are self-sufficient, tech-savvy travelers who are at ease with apps and mobile websites. Best Hotels in Dubai, UAE must ensure that their services are current and easy to use. Travelers expect high-quality tech equipment and professional support staff at business meetings and conferences.
Update
for 2020
The abrupt shift to working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic's social distancing has prompted planners to get on board with productivity software and a crash course in digital pivoting. Virtual gatherings, which were once seen as a challenge to face-to-face activities, are now seen as a lifeline for connections that are needed for industry, study, and social needs.
3. International Tourists are Flocking to the City.
International leisure travel is on the rise, with Dubai International Airport being the world's busiest airport. Dubai Hotels in UAE must be able to offer services in a variety of languages, as well as customized experiences that are suitable for the culture and needs of their foreign guests.
Update
for 2020
Associations are pushing for visa services to be streamlined in order to increase the $97 billion in economic contribution that global travel provides. In the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, the industry must now discuss health protection.
4. Health and Well-being are becoming more important.
Hotels are responding with well-equipped fitness centers, pools, and spas as guests today take control of their wellbeing. Innovative wellness options are becoming more common among travelers. Energizing lighting, air purification, yoga rooms, in-room fitness equipment, and even vitamin-infused shower water are all growing trends.
Update
for 2020
Attendees want to feel that it is healthy to return to large group environments, so wellness is becoming more important. Reduced densities, more sanitation stations, and pre-packaged meals may become the standard in the future. In the meantime, mindfulness activities to relieve stress and improve mental health have become more popular on large and small agendas.
5. There is a need for Technology that is seamless.
The importance of seamless communication across platforms and devices is growing. Mobile check-in and automated concierge facilities are now available from several hotel chains. Guests at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas are given high-tech cards that sense their presence and open the door when they arrive.
Update
for 2020
The demand for being able to do everything from hotel registration to meal ordering from the comfort of our phones has only grown louder. According to a 2020 survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents would prefer to text for support in real time, compared to 42% who would prefer to speak to someone via video. The most obvious choice was to make a phone call.
6. The Principles of Sustainability apply.
As properties rely on renewable energy resources and water scarcity, eco-friendly practices are becoming the norm. Many hotels are installing solar panels and upgrading systems so that when guests exit their rooms, the air conditioners and lights switch off automatically.
Updated
for 2020
Attendees want to know that meeting professionals are doing everything possible to minimize the event's carbon footprint, waste, and source responsibly, but they also want to see nature in the ballroom. The power of a bond with the earth is harnessed by biophilic nature to improve people's well-being. As a result, hotel upgrades and new construction are being undertaken in order to appeal to the 63 percent of people who say they would like to see more plants in their rooms.
7. Employees will have New Responsibilities.
Many travelers seem to prefer machines to humans, preferring to check-in online and not minding if room service is delivered by a robot. Staff would be able to concentrate on providing more personalized service rather than rote activities as a result of this.
Updated
for 2020
Hospitality staff have stepped in to help victims of disasters and earthquakes, converting into alternative hospitals during a pandemic, and keeping lines of communication open as the situation changed rapidly.
8. Promotion of a Destination
Best Hotels in Dubai for couples are becoming more active in destination and self-promotion as a result of the proliferation of social media. Many are displaying photographs and tweets from their guests on their blogs, and some are also using the content in their promotional campaigns.
Update
for 2020
Convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) are stepping up to advocate for their cities, assist with risk management planning, and find sustainable and engaging event choices. They've taken on the job of strategic advisor now. Many people are coming forward to find solutions to problems as diverse as homelessness and impact measurement. Meanwhile, CVBs have become more inventive in their presentation of their meaning. They're becoming part of the wider travel experience, from heartfelt updates from the CEO during a crisis to donations for charities and free video conference backgrounds.
9. Damage Control in Real Time.
If a hotel guest is unhappy, he or she can easily vent their frustrations on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. Hoteliers must have the ability to react quickly. Maintaining good guest connections and driving future bookings are also aided by engaging with guests and reacting to their needs in these public forums.
Update
for 2020
Meeting planners are being pressured to become social media influencers—or recruit one. They are cultivating a following that will be excited to attend the next event by engaging their audiences year-round, delivering thought leadership bits, education, and genuine behind-the-scenes views that would make a Kardashian blush.
10. One-of-a-kind Advantages
With so many brands to choose from, properties like the H Hotel Restaurants & Bars, the best place to eat in Dubai must find a way to differentiate themselves. Some hotels are giving away curated set lists of downloadable songs, while others are providing free regular wine tastings in their lobbies or bars.
Update
for 2020
Some
hotels have gone to great lengths to surprise and delight their guests. The
focus is on personalization, from hangover recovery concierges in New Orleans
to “hotel flatterers” who make spontaneous, insightful remarks on how good they
are. Pet-friendly policies that begin in the lobby are also becoming more
common at many properties. Pet packages of poolside petting and Prosecco,
inspired by cat cafes and dog therapy, are available at the hotel.
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