Staying ahead of trends is the key to success in a competitive industry like hospitality. It could mean the difference between guests choosing your hotel over a competitor, and on a larger scale, it determines the level of success you can achieve. Make your business the best it can be — and help it stay that way by keeping a keen eye on these hotel industry trends.
One of the top hospitality trends of 2022 is not a positive one, but it can be turned around. We’re talking about the rapidly increasing struggle to attract applicants. Luckily, there’s a free guide that can help: 4 Steps to Reduce Your Reliance on Applicant Flow. You’ll discover how to overcome the labor shortage with ease!
Top 3 Hotel Industry Trends
The Rise of Technology
Unless you own a romantic bed and breakfast in the mountains where the sole purpose is for guests to leave the world behind, then you need to stay ahead of hotel technology trends. And it’s much more than simply offering free Wi-Fi. You need to go above and beyond with technology that creates a top-notch guest experience and sets you apart from competitors. Consider putting Amazon Alexas in every room, offering keyless entry via an app, and adding virtual tours to your website so potential guests can look before they book.
All of your technology doesn’t have to focus on the guest experience, though. Recent innovations can make your life easier, as well, like AI-powered revenue management systems and convenient employee scheduling tools. There’s even a hiring platform that predicts applicant success, empowering you to find the right fit for your hotel and boost employee retention by an average of 43%!
A Greater Focus on Sustainability
87% of travelers want to travel sustainably, and 68% of clients actively seek eco-friendly hotels. So, it’s no longer optional to implement eco-friendly initiatives at your hotel. You must consider sustainable practices if you want to attract the most guests and maximize occupancy.
There’s a wide variety of green practices you can try, from putting environmentally friendly amenities in bathrooms to installing solar panels on your roof. It can even be as simple as choosing cleaning products that don’t contain any harmful chemicals.
The Growing Popularity of “Bleisure” Trips
Millennials tend to value experiences more than tangible possessions, which might contribute to the recent increase in “bleisure” trips. Essentially, people are extending business trips so that they can stay for a bit longer and enjoy destinations without the stress of work. These “mini-vacations” often involve them bringing friends or family members along.
Take advantage of this trend by promoting how your hotel can be the best of both worlds. You can advertise conference rooms, workspaces, desks, and your convenient location to business-travel hotspots. Then, you can tie it all together by mentioning how it’s the perfect place to relax with luxurious accommodations and tourist attractions nearby.
Is Your Retention Trending Downward?
One trend that we hate to see is a decrease in hotel employee retention. While some hoteliers simply accept it as part of doing business in the hospitality industry, others solve the problem with Sprockets. Our staffing solution is proven to reduce costly turnover by helping you make the best hiring decisions every time. It reveals which applicants will succeed and stay long-term like your best workers, improving employee retention by an average of 43%!
Get your free, 15-minute demo to quickly stabilize staffing levels at your hotel.