This article is based on seven major trends that are characteristic of the entire hospitality industry in 2023 and beyond. We have prepared the current trends in the global luxury hospitality industry.
Luxury Hotel Market is already growing at a fast pace after a 2 year Covid Pandemic induced lull. Asia Pacific is set to show the maximum growth. The Luxury Market of Hospitality is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% and by 2031 will be worth over $160 Bn. Have a look at the infographic below.
Also, the number of players in the luxury hospitality sector are growing. These include but are not limited to:
- Hotels & Resorts
- Luxury Palaces
- Restaurants
- Luxury Homes
- Luxury Travel (Cruise, Air Travel, Luxury Trains etc.)
And much more!
One of our other articles already covers all that makes a luxury hotel. This one explores the major trends of luxury hospitality. Have a look!
New local services
There are apps which allow people living near hotels to access local services.
In other words, these applications allow hotel owners to provide various services to people who are not guests of their hotels.
This includes delivery of bouquets and products, yoga or other fitness products, and car rental. This step will allow companies to go beyond the limits of individual topics. Examples of such apps are Priscilla, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Hotels.
There are a lot of apps that would soon include augmented reality to make local experience memorable.
Mobile payments reach another level
The 2020s is going to be the decade of a smooth transition to mobile payments in the hospitality system.
Paying in an app should be a simple, clear, and safe process. UX occupies the biggest part of the development and has the key meaning for future apps, as excessive mistakes lead to the loss of users.
Blockchain in the hospitality industry is playing a key role to safeguard such payments against fraud.
The Concept of “luxury” is changing
Austerity is no longer the hallmark of a luxury hotel.
For example, it is not necessary to come in a three-piece suit to a hotel restaurant. Many guests of luxury hotels no longer want to burden themselves on vacation, and this is one of the main trends.
They want to come to the restaurant in sneakers and training pants (of course, expensive attire). Today’s consumers of luxury have the same wealth as their predecessors 5-10 years ago, but they spend it very differently.
This is especially true of the millennial generation, which, as you know, spends money not so much on material goods as on a unique experience.
Environmental Friendliness of Travel has Increased
Tourists with a broad outlook and focused on creation today intend to extract the most from their travels without harming nature.
They want the hotels they stay in to take part in eco-friendly promotions and programs, as the safety of the environment for many travelers around the world is important.
The value of individual services is growing
In recent years, the hospitality industry has been trying to learn as much as possible about its guests in order to competently customize the menu of services. To do this, they actively use mobile applications and loyalty programs.
Chatbots
In the hotel business, a certain trend has formed: some hotels already offer the service of communication via instant messengers. AI is influencing the hotel industry through services like Chatbots. For example, you can contact them through their own applications, or alternatively, using classic SMS, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp.
In 2016, bots were introduced by Kayak, Expedia.com, and Skyscanner.
The idea was not new: the technology was taken over from the main messenger platforms – Facebook Messenger and Telegram. You can be sure that the rest of the travel brands and independent hotels will follow. This is how the first signs of a real chatbot revolution appear.
With the help of chatbots, it will be possible to provide the most personalized approach at all stages of a trip, starting with booking a hotel and ending with the interaction during and after the trip. The chatbot will be able to collect information about the guest, interacting with him or her at each stage of the journey. Thus, this useful data will be possible to automate and use during future visits of the visitor.
The chatbot will be able to send personalized offers to guests based on their previous visits listed in their profiles. For example, it can offer to book a transfer from or to the airport, provide options for places where you can order dinner, or see the spa procedures. In such cases, the intervention of the hotel staff will cease to be necessary, as it will be possible to implement everything directly.
We can conclude that chatbots will be able to help hotels raise customer service to a more advanced level. Of course, technology will not be able to completely eliminate the guest’s need for human interaction: do not forget about complaints, various exceptions to the rules, special requests, and unforeseen situations. But for such conversations, the bot can always redirect the client to a live employee. Thus, chatbots will be a huge advantage for the hotel business.
Smart appliances and wellness rooms
Many hotels equip rooms with “smart appliances,” which help to save water and electricity, remove some routine tasks from staff, and help to improve the level of service. Also, do not forget that the various elements of the “smart home” are actively used by people in their homes. When they check into a hotel, they want to get a level of comfort no worse than at home. Therefore, all hoteliers are forced to meet the requirements of the time.
However, the leading players in the hotel market are already actively working in this direction. There is no need to go far for an example. Back in November 2017, Marriott announced the availability of a laboratory in which technology for smart rooms is being developed and tested.
The hotel operator uses not only its development but also solutions from leading global companies. Room management is done through the mobile application. It is enough to make a couple of touches on the touch screen to adjust the lighting and the temperature in the room. Also, through the application, you can control the smart appliances installed in the room.
Of course, luxury hospitality is important for hotel visitors around the world. Hotels should do everything possible to make a visitor have the greatest vacation.
