7 Hottest Trends for Hoteliers to Watch in 2023

7 Hottest Trends for Hoteliers to Watch in 2023

COVID-19, increased digitalisation, the return of business travel, the war in Ukraine, the recession, people using crypto for everything and impressive growth in average daily rates (ADR) are just a few things that have happened during the last few years. All these things have influenced the hotel industry and forced it to become more agile, flexible and proactive.

As 2023 is already here, hoteliers should be ready for changes that may come and start applying technologies as soon as possible. The market today is incredibly competitive, making it hard for most hotel owners to stand out from the crowd, especially when not following trends.

Based on STR’s global recovery index, data collected worldwide shows that September’s performance was just 6% behind pre-pandemic levels. And this was only the fifth consecutive month of global demand recovery, showing performance levels at 90% or more than pre-pandemic figures.

Experts believe that this steady recovery will remain and slowly get back to normal. Hotels should expect to see performance returning to 2019 levels but also be able to learn lessons from the past two years.

So what should hoteliers expect from 2023? Explore our predictions below:

Organising Online Presence

Living in the 21st century means staying digital. Although hotels are far from digitalisation, like the healthcare industry, they must now organise their online presence. That is because people tend to use the Internet to find almost everything, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to reach this wide and relevant audience.

First of all, hoteliers should invest in website development and in SEO for hotels. Search engine optimisation will help you improve your visibility and gain needed trust. In addition, make sure you have social media accounts that illustrate customers’ stories and reviews since people tend to believe others.

Bleisure & Remote Work

Experts say that hoteliers should now follow and consider three key trends known as bleisure, digital nomads and staycations. That is because travelling has become more expensive, people travelling thanks to work and usually think about adding a few days as a holiday as well. This trend seems to remain in 2023.

In addition, remote work is incredibly popular today. That is why people know that they can work from all across the world, and your hotel can be a perfect space for them if you invest in relevant working conditions.

Short-Term Booking Window

According to the Pulse Report data by Duetto’s, the short-term booking window remains relevant and is going to continue to challenge hotel teams, both operationally and from a revenue side. Bookings drop by more than three months from stay dates all across the world, while the eight to 12-week booking window remains prevalent. Although most hotels struggle with that, it does not always mean a bad thing.

We see that a short-term booking window allows hoteliers to connect with a more mobile, more astute, and engaged traveller who can easily switch between business and leisure profiles. Hotels are globally trying to integrate client data and loyalty profiles within the entire spend onsite to develop personalised offers for a more profitable guest. And this is usually a guest who shops in a short-term booking window and makes direct decisions with their hotel supplier.

Chatbots

Chatbots are becoming more and more popular among different businesses. It is a form of digital technology that responds intelligently to humans by learning through answers and questions and providing users with the necessary information. Customer experience is essential today, so some users may leave in different time zones and require you to answer at 3 AM.

Chatbots allow you to sleep while they work – instantly engaging with and answering your guests’ questions, offering them quality and 24/7 personalised customer service. This technology can also help you cut down the operation costs and lessen the burden on your customer service staff.

Virtual Reality

With the adoption of Virtual Reality in real estate space, users began to love the trend of a tour of apartments before checking them psychically. As a result, hotels also started to apply VR technology to let users choose the best option for them remotely and not be disappointed when they arrive. For instance, you can use VR to show off your hotel’s luxurious rooms, stunning views or restaurants.

This technology can also be useful in showing places for weddings and events to show potential clients what they can miss if they don’t book with you. This not only boosts interest in visiting your place but also aids trust and client loyalty which is essential for hotels today. VR is also used in several marketing campaigns, allowing your potential guests to have a bird’s eye view of what it would be like to stay at your hotel.

Mobile App Check-Ins

Mobile check-in is a popular form of self-service technology that allows travellers to check in before a flight or hotel guests to complete their entire check-in process via mobile devices. This feature has become incredibly popular in days of restrictions since it reduces the need for staff to greet the arrivals.

The Growth of Boutique Hotels

In a world where we can get almost anything with just a tap of the finger, users need more unique experiences that cannot be replicated. It is especially vital for travellers. This means staying in one-of-a-kind apartments that offer a sense of place and history. Boutique hotels are top-rated, and they are loved by guests since they are usually placed in converted historic buildings, meaning they deliver specific character and charm.