The Future of Travel is Here
The future of travel is here. The traveler’s life is changing and you as a property owner will be a part of this shift in how we explore the world.
From the electric road trip and sustainable travel to cultural exchanges and quick trips, there are many new trends in how we discover and travel the world.
Educational trips
Traveling will not be just about a new place to see, it will be about learning something during your stay. Younger generations will continue to question the value of an expensive college degree over the practical skills and life experiences that can be gained by traveling. Popular kinds of trips will include cultural exchanges, volunteering trips, or international work placements.
Getting personal
Personalization, a trend that keeps growing within the travel industry, is not going away. The generic travel guides of the past will be replaced by brief, hyper-relevant, personalized content, which will be how travelers expect to connect with their experience. Travelers are looking for someone to make recommendations for them and will use technologies such as artificial intelligence to make travel suggestions based on past travel experiences. TripAdvisor has already made steps in this direction by announcing a new platform aimed at being more socially interactive when it comes to travel planning.
Conscious travel
In the coming year, travelers will put more weight into social, political, and environmental issues when choosing a potential travel destination. According to Booking.com, 58% of travelers will choose not to go to a destination if there is potential that their travels will negatively impact the people who live there. Safety is also a concern amongst travelers; they want to make sure they can travel safely regardless of gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Sustainability
Businesses across the travel industry, including hotels and independent properties, all agree it is time to rethink plastic. Millennials and Gen Z will continue to look for a sustainable experience in their travels, while lodging establishments will work to reduce their plastic usage. According to AFAR Magazine, Millennium Hotels and Resorts is getting rid of single-use plastic cutlery, straws, and packaging. In another example, Marriott International is providing a shampoo dispenser system at 1,500 hotels by end of 2018, eliminating more than 34.5 million plastic bottles and saving 375,000 pounds of plastic a year. This and many other steps are small changes that will leave a big impact.
Don’t just go, do!
As one of the biggest travel trends we have seen this year, unique travel experiences will be a trend that will continue to rise in 2019. According to Booking.com, 60% of travelers value experiences over material possessions. Travelers will be looking to have an authentic experience from their hotel and food to creating special moments with local activities.
Less is more
From research conducted by Booking.com, 53% of travelers plan to take more weekend trips in 2019. It will soon be all about the quick weekend getaway with more personalized, curated travel itineraries packed into shorter time frames. Travelers will want to make a “travel statement” during their brief getaway, and the desire to stay in a unique and noteworthy accommodation has never been in more demand.
Travel hassles be gone
Artificial Intelligence, or rather AI, will be woven into the fabric of how we travel. The same technology that powers Siri and Alexa and that guides self-driving cars will help to make the most of traveling in the coming years. Technologies like facial recognition for check-in, hotel rooms equipped with voice command, travel plans made by a bot, and robotic concierges who can communicate with guests in their own language are all on the horizon.
Mobile office
The concept of “work from home” has expanded into “work from anywhere”. Companies like Remote Year and WiFly Nomads offer the experience to travel the world and still keep your job by organizing and providing spaces for travelers to get their work done while traveling the world. Along with this concept, lodging operators are adding dedicated workspaces for their guests, so they can travel and work for as long as they want to.
Electric road trip
Originally viewed as commuter cars, EVs (electric cars) are now being made with batteries that can last up to 350 miles before needing a charge, perfect for a road trip weekend getaway. While it will be many years before the average American has a large, fully electric car, this shift happens it will change the way in which we travel. There will be an increased need for charging stations along the way as travelers will want to charge up while dining out, shopping, and staying at their hotel.
Changes in the travel industry are happening fast and it is important to be aware of these changes so you as a property owner will know how to accommodate and appeal to the future generations of travelers. If you have questions on how to incorporate and promote these changes and features within your property, contact marketing@rezstream.com for our online digital marketing services.
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