Contemporary marketing Intelligence tools for hospitality industry in 2022 2022
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Mention far-and-wide disruptions and the hospitality industry easily comes to mind. No aspect of the industry is left untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic, save for the basic principles of hospitality. Safe to say, today’s business models in the sector look like entirely different animals from their predecessors and there are many more hospitality trends, which you’ll find out below. Show
As a business owner, keeping an eye out for the latest trends can help you stay on top of all the changes in the industry, events that impact how you do business. In this hospitality trends report, we will delve into the latest and most significant developments that are reshaping guest experience, tech adoption, and tourism, among others. 
The hospitality industry is one of the hardest-hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. For these types of industries and small businesses, it might take more than five years to recover. Some might not reopen at all (McKinsey, 2020). As 2021 unfolds, we can expect to see trends that emerge as direct reactions and adjustments to the continued spread of the virus. For example, hotels and accommodation rentals have already implemented stricter hygiene protocols, increased cleaning at all locations, converted rooms to work-friendly rooms with wifi and practical workstations, and some have invested in touchless technology and mobile apps to reduce the spread of the virus (Global Data, 2021). With the hospitality industry’s diversity comes a wide array of trends that you, as a business owner, should consider when developing your strategies to stay on top of the game. In the following sections, we will go through some of the trends shaping today’s modernized hospitality industry. 1. Online CommunitiesConcerning the hospitality industry, online communities changed the way businesses in the hospitality field interact with customers. Company websites, social media networks, and travel websites like TripAdvisor contribute to hospitality facilities’ take on transparency, leading to an improvement in the quality of services they offer. Online marketing also heavily relies on multi-user interactivity. Hence, reviews found on the internet heavily affect a customer’s booking decisions. Word-of-mouth remains a powerful marketing tool, and combined with today’s digital platforms; customers can easily share their experiences in hospitality facilities. For business owners, this means they can easily find unique selling points. Needless to say, positive reviews convert to economic value for your business. Potential guests are more likely to rely more on the reviews made by current or previous hotel customers. Moreover, the information you can extract from online communities, like the reviewers’ age, lifestyle, job, gender, and hobbies, will give you valuable insights. This way, you get updated with the current trends in competition and the upgrades you need to deliver better services.
2. Sharing EconomyThe sharing economy is way past the experimental stage in the hospitality industry. It has been redefining the industry and is expected to grow in the coming years. Derived from the notion that mutual parties can share an unused asset or property, the sharing economy leverages technology to facilitate value exchanges. This could be through peer-to-peer applications, collaborative platforms, or shared marketplaces. In the sharing economy, you can easily coordinate transactions via the internet. Although this occurs among private individuals, it has nonetheless created an economic impact for major and leading brands in distinctive industries. Airbnb, Expedia, and other sharing economy platforms are currently providing new hospitality experiences for customers. A report from Airbnb, for example, cited that from June 5 to 7 of 2020—three months after the pandemic exploded in the US—gross booking value increased in year-over-year terms for the first time since February (Airbnb, 2020). It also reported an increase in popularity of booking for cottages and cabins, which suggests that people are looking for more secluded accommodations. 29% of bookings were also made in larger groups and within a week of arrival, which suggests that families are making a last-minute travel decision to experience a new view. For hoteliers as well, the sharing economy allows for more flexible management. Lodging properties and accommodations listed on such platforms are not required to follow the same rules and regulations as traditional hotels. Thus, they can deliver more consistent and better customer services and vacation experiences compared to local hosts.
3. Voice searchVoice search is the current trend that cuts across different industries. Technology, after all, tends to be limitless in capabilities. Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana are the latest digital assistant technologies on the rise. Though many consider this AI to be in its early stages of development, the model is based on conversational language. It aims to understand the intent and context based on previous queries. Furthermore, it wants to achieve perfection in contemplating multiple steps and queries, with more focus on actions, tasks, and transactions. In the hospitality industry, voice search is increasingly transforming the booking process. Via smartphones and tablets, customers can now research and book their holidays. By equipping your website with voice search capabilities, you can increase conversions as it connects you to qualified leads. Chart context menu What voice-activated speaker owners would like to receive from brands Information about sales, deals, and promotions % What voice-activated speaker
owners would like to receive from brands Personalized tips and information to make my life easier % What voice-activated speaker owners would like to receive from brands Information about upcoming events and activities % What voice-activated speaker owners would like to receive from brands Options to find business information (e.g., store location, opening hours) % What voice-activated speaker owners would like to receive from brands Access to customer service or support % Source: Think with Google Designed by
4. SustainabilityAs we face more environmental issues each day, sustainability becomes a primary concern. Thus, a large section of the hospitality industry participates in Go Green acts to lessen negative environmental impact. This proved good for the planet and also for businesses. It brings and attracts more hotel guests. Also, customers are more willing to pay for products and services from companies with sustainability practices. In the last 10 years, hoteliers applied sustainability practices to their properties. This granted a significant impact on the environment, enhanced guest experience, and drove overall revenue. Constantly developing environmental technologies reduces costs for hotels and improves efficiency. Governments have also started giving out economic incentives for the construction of properties that incorporate green technology. These incentives range from tax write-offs, expedited regulatory permitting, financial grants, and premium discounts for insurance. A sustainable business culture influences customers’ booking decisions. Studies also noted that younger employees are more willing to work in industries whose focus is extended to the community’s development.
5. Virtual RealityVirtual reality (VR) transformed and enriched the hospitality industry. It is one of today’s biggest emerging technology trends, with 57.4 million users in the United States alone (eMarketer, 2020). Thus, many businesses incorporate VR for the various opportunities it creates. VR in the hospitality industry is applied in travel experiences, hotel tours, and booking processes. High-quality VR headsets are now a mainstream consumer product, thanks to the increased investments from the likes of Samsung, Facebook, and Google. Along with augmented reality, VR allows customers to virtually experience a recreation of a hotel room or explore nearby attractions. In recent years, VR enhanced customer experience when exploring the surrounding area. For an average customer, VR provides more accurate information related to booking a hotel room. Reading through descriptions pales in comparison to VR, which offers customers the opportunity to virtually experience things for themselves. This way, hotels benefit from the try-before-you-buy concept of marketing.
6. Mobile TechnologyHotels and resorts are now leveraging mobile platforms for their guest loyalty, company branding, advertising, cross-selling, and marketing programs. Mobile apps are now a must-have for hotels and other related businesses. Various hotel management software are also available on the market today. Mobile apps in the hospitality industry have been tested and proven to deliver excellent customer experience. Mobile-friendly websites and apps, as well as live and updated information, drive growth in the overall business. Moreover, mobile technology bridges the gap between the customer and the hotel itself. Studies reveal that there is a steady rise in guest preferences for mobile apps related to the hospitality industry. Mobile technology, more specifically mobile marketing software, revolutionized the presentation of guest services through high-quality images and videos. Moreover, exposure and usage can increase for hotels when their facilities such as in-room dining, concierge, or other travel services are presented in high-quality multimedia formats. In 2020, 274.7 million people in the United States accessed the internet through any kind of mobile device. In 2023, this figure is projected to amount to over 295 million mobile internet users. Currently, approximately 83% of the US population are mobile internet users.
7. Personalized Guest ExperienceThe struggle to attract, convert, and retain customers is always present in the hospitality industry. Personalization of services is the latest development to transform the hospitality sector. Thus, going after a personalized guest experience has become a powerful and transforming trend in the hospitality business. With the diversity of the hospitality industry, the personalization of services was not possible until recently. Capturing and using guest data for more relevant engagement can be a complicated task. But once done, however, hotels realize it is well worth the effort. Guest data can be used to provide a personalized experience for your customers. It helps you anticipate their needs, send them relevant and related offers, and customize their stay in your property. By using data analytics software available today. This can be done by tracking and analyzing customer behavior and trends across multiple hotel properties. AI technology can also help you develop targeted and relevant sales and marketing materials differentiated for specific individuals or groups. Studies reveal that customer experience can soon overtake price and product as a key brand differentiator. Thus, it is now more necessary for hotels and other related businesses in the hospitality sector to deliver satisfactory services.
8. A New Generation of TravelersWhile reports vary on traveler characteristics and demographics, they all agree on one thing: the new generation is leading the pack in shaping the industry. Likewise, for hospitality businesses around the world, change is the new norm. To keep the business stable, developments must be made to attract this new generation of travelers. Industry leaders now carry the burden of understanding this new generation’s characters and preferences, which seemed to have changed rapidly, from Millenials and now to the so-called Generation Z. According to several reports, Generation Z is about to take over Millenials in population numbers and their estimated buying power. According to Forbes, the Gen Z buying power in direct spending is from $29 billion to $143 billion. With this, youth travel also becomes the fastest-growing sector in tourism. Hence, the market sees the need to apply tremendous changes based on the new generation’s likes and dislikes. However, with the current state of the pandemic, many travelers of all ages are currently opting out of traveling in the near future to avoid the risk of contracting the virus. But this trend is sure to resume as the coronavirus vaccines roll out in 2021 and as travel restrictions become more relaxed.
9. Global TourismIn the past years, the rising global tourism fueled the growth of the hospitality space. But that has changed since COVID-19 wrought havoc in 2020. Now, the industry is facing the risk of direct job losses of as many as 100 million (UNWTO, 2020). In the US, travel spending in 2020 only amounted to $679 billion—”an unprecedented 42% annual decline (nearly $500 billion) from 2019,” (US Travel Association, 2021). As countries start lifting travel restrictions and with hope spreading with the rollout of vaccines, we can expect the tourism industry to benefit from the “revenge spending” spree that many consumers will undertake. The industry will see a revival as customers start spending on things they have been denied during the lockdowns such as travel, dining-in at restaurants, and in-person entertainment (US Travel Association, 2021). Of course, coordinated health protocols will still be in place to protect both travelers and workers. Additionally, more countries and businesses will rely on technology (especially touchless technology), affordable transportation, and offers that enrich travel experiences to revive and drive global tourism in the time of the pandemic.
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10. The Advent of Unique Tourism ProductsUnique tourism products provide physical and psychological satisfaction to travelers, especially for those who are looking for more unique experiences. Some examples include sports tourism, health tourism, and more. These products allow travelers to choose specific destinations and the things that they expect to do when they get there. This trend brings to the industry several opportunities to expand a particular business. However, unlike the usual travel types, these products cannot be forced upon a traveler. In most cases, the traveler must be the one to seek it. This is why it requires in-depth studies on customer behavior, preferences, and expectations. Another thing to consider in this trend is its tendency to have an unstable demand. Seasonal, economic, political, and other factors greatly influence some tourism products. Take, for example, safari tourism that is dependent on seasons when game viewing is at its best. This reflects that some tourism products see higher demand than others at certain times of the year.
11. Emerging Popular DestinationsWhile many parts of the world are still implementing travel restrictions, it might be hard to visit emerging popular destinations for now. Some of them include destinations in Europe like Georgia and in Asia Pacific like the Maldives. However, we expect that as travel restrictions are lifted, travelers will surely come flocking to these destinations once more. When tourists spend their money on hospitality services like hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, local economies generate more revenues. In this sense, popular destinations worldwide are gaining more advantages from the economic perspective, propelled by the continued rise of tourism and hospitality services offered by each country. This led to some countries being more reliant than others on the hospitality and tourism sector in terms of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP). For example, in Macau and the Maldives, tourism counts for 50.2% and 32.5% of their total GDP respectively (Statista, 2021), whereas tourism accounts for just 3.7% of the UK’s economy. In the US, the figure is even lower, which is at 2.6%. As of 2019, however, Europe still emerges as the top destination, seeing the most overseas travelers, with about 742.2 million visitors. Asia Pacific is second with 360.7 million international tourists arrivals, followed by North America with 146.4 million (UNWTO, 2020).
12. Niche MarketsThe hospitality industry is also exploring niche markets, a smaller group of customers whose needs are different from the larger market. Niche markets allow businesses in the hospitality space to offer the best services to a group of customers by covering all their specific needs. One great example of this is Southwest Airlines, an economy airline serving peanuts instead of standard meals. Southwest Airlines caters to customers looking for an efficient and affordable travel experience, and they are now the world’s largest low-cost carrier. Another example is how hotels are appealing to professional and amateur musicians by offering music studios with state-of-the-art equipment. Hotel customers can now also order drinks and a guitar as part of room service. With this strategy of going after niche markets, hotels can open up more opportunities to serve their guests and at the same time, face less competition. Source: Statista Research Department
13. Smart TechnologyTechnology revolutionizes many types of businesses, especially in the hospitality space where businesses now need to rely on touchless sales points amid the pandemic. It not only offers a variety of cost savings but also opens up better revenue opportunities. Hotel technology covers operations, guest services, and marketing, and it further allows hotel owners to achieve higher levels of profitability. Moreover, smart technology enhances guest experiences. Occupancy sensors, for example, can better cater to guest needs, and they can also automate guest interactions. This allows hotels to stay informed of their guests’ preferences and personalize their services for specific individuals based on the guest’s previous visits. Also, hotels are now shifting to become “smart hotels.” This is done by offering Wi-Fi throughout the property, a mobile guest app allowing check-ins and check-outs, direct messaging, as well as a mobile key. These smart hotels are also incorporating in-room technology that uses a tablet to replace the printed compendium, collateral, and alarm clocks. By using these, guests will have direct digital access to hotel staff. In-room dining using, making reservations, submitting service requests, and controlling the room environment are also possible through the use of tablets.
14. Online Travel AgentsThe hospitality business is also seeing a trend in online travel agents or OTAs. In the past decades, OTAs merely handled organizing hotel accommodations. Now, OTAs are diversifying their businesses, expanding into apartments and vacation rentals, as well as activities and tours, ride-sharing, food delivery, and restaurants. Popular mostly among Millenials, OTAs will continue to expand their role in travel in the future. Furthermore, L.E. Hotels report that 51.5% of travel agents saw an increase in the number of Millenial clients in the past 2 years. This figure shows that clients are consuming more OTA services today. Online travel agents also benefit more from niche travel markets as well, such as culinary and wedding vacations.
15. Big DataMore on the technological side, hotels and other related businesses are grasping the concept of big data. Big data, by definition, refers to an extremely large and varied set of data that businesses come across daily. In the hospitality industry, these data sets are often about customer interactions and customer behavior. Big data is now a key concept that those in the hospitality sector must be aware of. Moreover, it identifies patterns and trends in the business. It also brings various benefits to a company. Among these are improvements to revenue management, targeted marketing, customer experience, additional services, and competition information. Source: Statista Research Department (2019)
Keeping Up with the Latest Hospitality TrendsThe hospitality industry is no stranger to disruptions, but it would really need to pull together all its resources and work through collective action for it to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We can say that the pendulum of change here has swung the wildest. And, rightly so, the hospitality sector of just a few years back looks almost archaic, what without mobile bookings or property rentals that we have since been familiar. It doesn’t mean you have to adapt to all these trends at once to remain competitive. However, it may be best to note that some of these trends are slowly becoming the norm so it is best to play catch-up while it is still early. Similarly, technology heralds most of the trends above, so make sure to use them to your advantage. For instance, horizontal solutions like CRM software can help you nurture long-term customer relationships, or you can learn how companies are using chatbots to provide solid customer service. References:
By Nestor GilbertNestor Gilbert is a senior B2B and SaaS analyst and a core contributor at FinancesOnline for over 5 years. With his experience in software development and extensive knowledge of SaaS management, he writes mostly about emerging B2B technologies and their impact on the current business landscape. However, he also provides in-depth reviews on a wide range of software solutions to help businesses find suitable options for them. Through his work, he aims to help companies develop a more tech-forward approach to their operations and overcome their SaaS-related challenges. What are the top 10 innovations in the hospitality industry?Quick Menu. Service Automation.. Facial Recognition Technology.. Artificial Intelligence (AI). Augmented Reality (AR). Guest Apps.. Big Data.. WiFi 6.. Hotel NFT Marketing Strategies.. What 3 trends are there currently in the hospitality industry?Current and emerging hotel trends to be aware of. Smart hotel technology. Incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) into a property is something that excites guests. ... . Sustainable hotels. ... . Robot staff. ... . Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. ... . Unique brand experiences.. What technology tool is essential for today's hospitality businesses?By using chatbots powered by artificial intelligence (AI), restaurant staff can keep up with the many demands of their customers. With chatbots, customers no longer need to call to reserve a table, wait for staff to attend to them, or wait in line for tables to free up.
What is the best promotional tool in hospitality industry?27 Must-Have Hotel Marketing Tools. Email marketing. Typically, marketing emails are campaigns and sent to a segmented group of customers, providing them with content relevant to their needs.. Content marketing. ... . Social media marketing. ... . Search engine optimization (SEO). ... . Pay-per-click ads (PPC).. |
