2. Hotels will be reevaluating their priorities next year! Major hotel
chains will focus much less on the amenities you’re used to, such as
TVs and phones. Instead, free and fast WiFi ranks as a higher
priority in 2015.
Amenity Realignment:
3. Rising rates:
With hotel occupancy reaching new heights in
2017, expect to see room rates on the rise.
We’ll see a greater emphasis on savings
opportunities this year, especially with the
younger generations.
$
4. Bundling and Blending:
Bundle up! Chances are, you’ll need to book a flight,
a room, and a rental car before you head out. Bundling
rentals is getting more popular and affordable than ever.
Speaking of package deals, blending hobbies into travel
destinations is increasingly in-demand.
Think of yoga trips, African surfing
adventures, or health retreats.
+ +
5. Tech in Travel:
Gone are the days when you’ll
need a card to check into your
room. In fact, your next room
key just might be your smart-
phone. Also look for: booking
via text messages, wearable
tech (think Google Glass or
Apple Watch), and geolocation
that tracks your whereabouts
and helps direct you to a room.
6. The Internet of Things:
The Internet of Things, or IoT, is estimated to increase 30-fold by
2020. We’ve already seen cars that park themselves, but did you
know that cars will soon be driving themselves, too?
Sorry, Uber and Lyft drivers!
7. Poshtels:
Ever wanted to stay in a hostel
but were intimidated by the
atmosphere or lack of
amenities? Your answer might
be a poshtel. That’s right: a
posh hostel. Poshtels have the
communal feel of a hostel with
a few hotel perks like free WiFi
and breakfast.
8. Braggie:
They’re basically the bane of
social media and travel. Your
friend takes 1 million photos
from the mansion she bought
in Tahiti. You get the picture--
a “braggie” exists to show the
world that they have places to
go, and those places are better
than your places.
“It's a crying
shame that you
have to go to
England to buy
a proper pair of
jeans”
9. Sharing:
You’ve heard of sharing rooms and
rides, but have you heard of sharing
meals? Many travelers will be dining
in a local’s home next year, thanks to
services like EatWith.com
and Grouper.
10. Venturing into space and oceans:
You’ve seen the whole world: What’s next? Space or the
deep sea! New travel initiatives will allow you to reach
these final frontiers.
11. Local & Authentic:
Overall, it seems that the travel
industry is interested in the real deal
in 2017. The local flavor is all the rage
in the hospitality industry today, with
hotels offering regional favorite foods
and pastimes. Perfect example: the
rise of local craft beers in hotel chains
nationwide.
LOCAL
12. Green hotels:
Do you really need to
change your sheets every
day? What about towels?
Green hotels also aim to cut
utility costs to minimize
environmental impact.
Plus, it just makes sense:
reducing utility consump-
tion may help drive hotel
room costs down.