But wait, this time travel isn’t just about vacation. People are meeting clients, attending meetings, closing deals, and getting promoted for their performance, all while traveling.

A little confused?

Here we are talking about Bleisure travel, a travel trend that is gaining tremendous traction from all around the world.

And by looking at the way the hospitality industry has embraced it, bleisure certainly looks like a profitable segment to tap into.

In this blog, I will walk you through the nitty-gritty of bleisure travel and also help you make your hotel ready for it.

Read on, if you want to mint some good revenue out of this new segment.

What Is Bleisure Travel?

Bleisure travel is exactly what you think it is.

Bleisure travel is about combining business travel and leisure travel into one trip. So, what exactly happens is that business travelers extend their stays in order to relax, reduce stress, and take in the sights and sounds of the community.

Additionally, if you aren’t aware, there’s another term for blending business and leisure (or vacation) — it is called “bizcation”.

However, we are going to stick to “bleisure”.

Because, yes, it sounds cool.  

Numbers That Speak for Themselves

What is so fascinating about bleisure travel that it is becoming popular?

Isn’t it boring?

The fact that the primary reason is work, it seems a little unlikely that someone would actually enjoy such trips. 

These are some of the things that I heard from a couple of peers when I was doing my part of the research.

But the more I dug, the more it was becoming evident that bleisure travel is here to stay.

With time, the work and personal lives of travelers are merging. Businesses are becoming empathic towards their employees. Today, they understand that the key to retaining talent is to boost morale and help reduce their stress. Hence, bleisure travel is becoming a go-to element in many corporates.

And this, in turn, presents a great opportunity for hotels to uplift their revenue by tapping into it.

Let me share a few statistics from research by Expedia:

• 32% of respondents said that they travel for work once or twice a month
• 71% of business trips are two to three nights in duration.
• When looking at international business travel, the prevalence of bleisure increases to 52%.
• 66% of bleisure travelers said they spend more money on leisure activities because of the money they saved on travel.
• More than 80% of bleisure travelers said they tend to stay at the same hotel where they stayed on their business trip.

Now, if these numbers don’t convince you about the prominence of bleisure travel, then I don’t know what would.

How Can Hotels Become Bleisure Travel-Ready?

Okay, Harsh. I get it.

I know that bleisure is the thing, currently; and it is going to boom in the coming years as well.

But, what’s next?

How am I going to join the bandwagon?

Are there any ways to attract bleisure travelers?

This is exactly, what you’re thinking, right? Fret, no more. I will help you.

The preferences of bleisure travelers are not the same as others. And if hotels want to make the best out of this set of guests, they must invest their time and efforts to understand bleisure better.

Let’s look at the aspects that a hotel needs to work on:

1. Have a work-centric infrastructure

Of course, bleisure travelers look for leisure. But that’s secondary. Their primary thing on their to-do list is work.

Meaning, apart from a comfortable stay, these travelers also seek co-working spaces or something similar in hotels where they can get their work done without any disturbance or difficulties.

And how can you ensure that? By having the following things on your property:

• Set up multiple workspaces and conference rooms to allow bleisure travelers to work and host other official events.
• Ensure that the hotel is equipped with high-speed internet so that the bleisure guests can work seamlessly.
• Keep spare computers, laptops, and other IT accessories to support them with everything they need to carry out their official tasks.
• Stationaries are also important for bleisure guests during their stay. And when you have them available at your property, it shows that you are detail-oriented.

2. Create offers and packages

Companies love it when everything (all the amenities and service) come in one package. It saves their time and money. And that’s the space where hotels need to play.

Let me explain by the way I think of it.

For instance, there’s this company that wants to host a client meeting in a different city. They have multiple hotel options from that particular city. But it gets a little overwhelming when they have to book everything separately — be it the rooms for their employees or the conference hall they want for the meeting.

But, imagine, your hotel already has predefined packages for such bookings.

Let’s call a package as Premium Corporate Bundle which includes 3 rooms, a dedicated conference hall, breakfast for all guests, and required stationaries.

This makes it a lot easier for companies to make a reservation.

Further, an offer like 10% off on bookings made within 2 days of enquiry (basically, something that drives urgency) increases your chances of making a significant sale.

#ProTip

This presents you with a great opportunity for upselling as well. You can pitch additional services to guests or the company, such as a spa, recreational activities, room upgrades, and more, for extra charges.

Upselling is an efficient option for every property type to boost revenue. And not to mention, stats say, 60% of consumers would be spending more if an additional service compliments or enhances their main purchase.

Want to learn more about upselling?

Read this blog: Unique Ways of Upselling in Hotels

3. Play a strategic marketing game

Marketing is, anyway, at the heart of a hotel business, but when it comes to certain types of trends, it needs a little different approach.

Now, there are various forms of marketing — both in the digital and offline spaces. But you, as a hotelier, should be aware of the channels that are going to yield better results.

The way I think of it is that you first ask yourself this question — Where are my prospects hanging out?

Are they hanging out on LinkedIn? Are they hanging out in some corporate lounge in your nearest airport? Or are they hanging out in some co-working space?

I believe this makes it a little clear where exactly (or on which channels) you should direct your marketing efforts.

Let me give an example.

If I am running online ads, I will focus more on LinkedIn because that’s where my target audience is. When it comes to offline marketing, maybe I would use lounge magazines for advertisements or a billboard right in front of the airport.

4. Leverage loyalty program

Bringing in corporate guests, turning them into bleisure guests, and retaining them is a challenge indeed. However, this can be eased by leveraging loyalty programs.

If you aren’t aware, hotel loyalty programs are reward-based marketing strategies used for guest retention as well as new guest acquisition.

For example, you have had a bleisure booking with a company last year and they signed up for your loyalty program. This year, the company is planning to send its 10 top-performing employees to a different location (where you have your hotel’s other property) for work and vacation.

Now, this is where a loyalty program can help you gain a repeat booking. You can offer that company to utilize their membership card and access the rewards in that property.

Acquiring a new customer is anywhere 5 to 25 times way more expensive than retaining an existing or old one.

Then why not retain the existing ones?

Learn more about loyalty programs here: Hotel Loyalty Program for Maximum Customer Retention

5. Have something exciting on offer

Now, this is my favorite section because we are going to address the “leisure” part of the topic.

How do you make a hotel intriguing for bleisure travelers?

By adding amenities, activities, and services that would help them ease out and relax.

Here are a few things that you can add to your property:

• Have a spa in your hotel for bleisure travelers to soak in hot, bubbly water and relax their minds and improve mental well-being.
• Offer sightseeing or community gathering to help them understand the local culture better.
• You can also take your guests trekking on the nearest hill. Make them set up camp in the woods and spend the night under the starry sky.
• How about some gaming? You can have gaming rooms for millennial bleisure travelers to hop on the couch and play FIFA.
• An in-house bar is also a great way to help travelers rejuvenate after a hectic workweek.

These are just a few ideas that I had in mind. You can always do your own research and see where you can make a difference.

After all, it is BLEISURE and it wouldn’t do any justice if you don’t add some fun-filled and intriguing element to it.  

6. Have a strong distribution strategy in place

Your hotel has multiple options to acquire bookings from. You can list your hotels on OTAs, let your guests book directly from your website or Facebook page, and even acquire reservations from your hotel app.

However, it is crucial to understand where the chances are more of getting reservations. You can either bet on one channel or utilize a plethora of other channels.

Lay a robust distribution strategy to make the right call and become profitable.

Talking about acquiring bookings, there are two prominent technologies to bet on — a booking engine and a channel manager.

A booking engine lets you acquire direct, commission-free bookings, while a channel manager lets you acquire bookings from OTAs and update your inventory in real-time.

So, make sure you have these two technologies in your arsenal.

7. Incorporate a property management system (PMS)

While I have talked about all the brass tacks, it’s time to address the importance of a hotel PMS in this whole shebang.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a branded hotel chain or a new small property, you need a system that can enable your hotel to reach its full potential. And that’s exactly what a PMS does.

From streamlining operations and automating tasks to enhancing the guest experience at your property, a PMS will do everything.

But how do you pick the right software for your hotel?

Let me help you with that too. Click the below button to learn more.

The post The Right Way to Attract Bleisure Travelers to Your Hotel appeared first on eZee Absolute.

6 out of 10 people experience stress at work. And, China has the highest rate of workplace stress; 86% to be precise.

Stress is often not limited to the workplace, but there are various other factors that contribute to it. These include monotonous lifestyles, financial breakdowns, social media anxiety, relationship issues, and so on.

To help people break this chain, doctors recommend going on a vacation or taking a break from their daily routine. This is where health and wellness travel is one of the upcoming trends in the hospitality industry. 

If you are new to this concept, this blog is for you. Today, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about health and wellness travel trends, along with some tips for hoteliers to make the best of it. 

What is Health and Wellness Travel?

Health and wellness travel is going on a vacation, staying at a retreat hotel, and indulging in various activities for mental and physical well-being. This involves going for therapeutic sessions like Ayurvedic spa treatment, being a part of yoga training sessions, or meditation classes, that can help in the rejuvenation of mind and body.

Often this stay lasts from a week to a month. In fact, most of the retreat hotels are offering a workation to guests, opting for health and wellness travel. Meaning, they can stay, experience therapeutic sessions, and simultaneously work from the property. 

Nowadays, many organizations are encouraging their staff to go for such workation and take a break from their routine, especially for those working from home.

Why is Health and Wellness Travel Trending?

As I mentioned earlier, stress is quite common these days. In fact, WHO has declared that depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. 

Traveling is said to be an effective treatment for stress. Whenever you visit any destination, the first thing that helps you get out of depression is the change in surroundings. Secondly, you tend to meet different people, make new friends, and share your stories with them. 

Now, when you add the health and wellness factor to it, the trip becomes more productive, indulging, and rejuvenating. Reason being, the activities you do gives you a sense of relaxation, and calmness, and help you break free from the shackles of stressful thoughts. 

Let me share my experience with you. I lost my job in 2020, and I was sitting idle for around 6 months. I tried my hands on certain things like teaching, business, multi-level marketing, and whatnot. But none of them worked.

Eventually, I became depressed and had to seek a way to get rid of it. That’s when I thought of traveling to ‘Rishikesh  – The Yoganagiri’. The trip lasted for almost a week. 

My stay was clubbed with meditation sessions, yoga classes, and other stress-relieving activities. And trust me, it literally worked. I came out of depression, had a relaxed state of mind, and gained good control over my anger.  

This is not just my story. There are various people out there who opt for this kind of wellness travel to get rid of stressful issues and work on their physical and mental well-being. That’s why health and wellness travel is a trend among people.

What are Different Kinds of Health and Wellness Travel Trends?

When it comes to health and wellness travel trends, it is not just limited to one single category. Here are some of the prominent ones.

1. Sustainable travel 

We are all aware that the earth is in grave danger owing to global warming. Hence, various organizations are adopting eco-friendly ways to help save the environment. And, so are the hotels. 

Sustainable tourism is one of the ongoing travel trends in the hospitality industry. Guests often look forward to staying in a hotel that has adopted sustainable ways. This helps them live in a clean, refreshing, and healthier environment. 

For instance, many hotels are switching to renewable energy resources to reduce their carbon footprints. This includes opting for solar-powered water heaters instead of coal and wood-based. 

Another commonly accepted measure is organic products. There are many properties that have resorted to disinfectants, room fresheners, and toiletries that are made from natural products and are chemical-free. 

These kinds of initiatives are appreciated by guests, and in turn, give a boost to a sustainable lifestyle. In fact, as per a report shared by IMARC Group, the global ecotourism market size reached US$ 172.4 Billion in 2022. It is expected to reach US$ 374.2 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% during 2023-2028.

Considering these stats and figures, it could be rightly said that ecotourism is one of the emerging health and wellness travel trends.

2. Tours for physical wellness 

Physical wellness is not just about going to the gym, building muscles, or having 6-pack abs. It’s more about developing your flexibility, agility, and reflexes. 

There are many martial arts form famous across the world, such as Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, Judo, Kushti, and Tai Chi, that help open up your muscles and make you more flexible. Additionally, they also help in improving agility. But, how can traveling help you with that? 

Well, many guests look for hotels providing packages that include such activities. In fact, there are retreat properties that have martial arts experts on their premises. Where, guests can come, stay for a long duration, and do a crash course during their vacation.

Not only this, indulging in sports such as trekking, mountain climbing, cycling, and marathons helps in physical well-being. And even they are quite popular among guests. Let me share an example for the same.

In Bali, Indonesia, there is a rocky mountain cycling tour that starts at 4 AM in the morning. This involves visiting Mount Batur to witness the glorious sunrise and glimpse the iconic volcanic mountain. And it’s one of the sought-after activities by travelers for leisure and physical well-being.

There are thousands of other destinations promoting such sports to help travelers indulge in physical activities during their vacations. Some of the famous ones are:

• Kayaking in Costa Rica
• Scuba diving in Spain
• River rafting in North India
• Skiing in Whistler (Canada)
• Skydiving in New Zealand

3. Traveling for mental health

Yoga is widely accepted across the world as a path to restore mental balance, attain peace, and improve physical well-being. There are 84 asanas in yoga, and of that, meditation is the most recommended to channel your thoughts and have control over your mind. 

Here’s a scenario that will help you understand the reason behind it. Imagine yourself sitting on the mountainside with a mesmerizing view of surrounding valleys and greenery-clad peaks. 

Once you close your eyes and focus on your breath, you’ll start hearing the melodious music of nature. And every gust of breeze flowing through your hair seems like sweeping away all your worries. With time, you’ll find yourself a bit closer to attaining nirvana and filled with a surge of positive vibes.

This is just one scenario. People often travel to natural places just to experience serenity. Opting for yoga sessions during such trips can help in improving your mental wellness. 

That’s where hotels come into the picture. Guests can book a stay for a long duration in hotels located at remote/natural destinations and experience a yogic lifestyle. 

In fact, retreat/wellness properties offering yoga training are perfect for guests to rejuvenate themselves. Here are some interesting facts about yoga tourism shared by Book Retreats,

• There are around 300 million yoga practitioners worldwide.
• Of these, around 86% have reported a strong sense of mental clarity.
• There are approx 20,000 yoga retreats in the world.
• The worth of the yoga industry is a whooping US$84 billion worldwide.

I guess these stats are more than enough to justify the fact that the yogic way of living is one of the health and wellness travel trends of 2024. 

4. Therapeutic travel

Last but not least is therapeutic travel. As the name suggests, this involves traveling to destinations to receive a therapeutic massage or attaining therapy sessions. 

You might be aware of the famous Ayurvedic spa treatments offered in Kerala. Travelers visiting there often opt for it. And considering its popularity, many hotels have started including spa therapy sessions as a part of travel packages. 

There are basically three widely accepted Ayurvedic treatments by properties in India, viz;

• Abhiyangam
• Shirodhara therapy
• Panchakarma 

These therapy sessions last for a week or two. Out of these 3 sessions, the former two are opted for by travelers only if recommended by doctors. Talking about the latter one, it can be experienced by any guest for rejuvenation purposes. 

Word to wise: If you opt for Abhiyangam or Shirodhara, ensure you consult your doctor first. In case you have any medical history, do not go for it.

5. Rehab tourism

Rehab Tourism is one of the quirkiest types of wellness travel.

Yes, you heard it right.

For those who aren’t aware of this form of travel, it is a vacation where travelers mostly seek treatment for their addiction problems.

The reason behind rehab tourism gaining traction is that a basic vасаtіоn-lіkе trеаtmеnt wоrkѕ well for most treatment seekers. This form of treatment and travel is not trаumаtіzing to the traveler (the patient, to be precise) аѕ оutrіght еxреnѕіvе hоѕріtаlіzаtіоn.

To make this approach of rehab effective, centers and hospitality businesses are partnering up to curate a ѕоft аррrоасh that nоt оnlу аttrасts recovering аddісtѕ but also helps in significantly асhіеve соurѕе соmрlеtіоn rаtеѕ.

Despite being a farewell new trend, it seems to be catching up at a good speed as it is focused totally on delivering health and wellness.

If you think, you and your hotel can be a part of this cause, then it is certainly a great way to jump into the trend and offer what’s best for people.

How can Hotels Tap into this Segment?

Hotels play a pivotal role in health and wellness travel. After all, they are the accommodation providers to travelers opting for wellness tourism. 

They can make the best of it by providing facilities associated with health and wellness travel at their property. Be it introducing the concept of yoga, physical activities, or therapeutic sessions.

But whilst you partner with such service providers, it’s important that they have certified practitioners. Or go for ones that have been associated with these segments for a long time and have good client reviews.

For therapeutic sessions, it is mandatory to check if the person giving it has proper certification in the same. Also, ensure that s/he is using proper oils and equipment to deliver it the way it’s supposed to be. 

The Kairali group in India is the best example of a retreat property. They have a plethora of packages with almost every type of Ayurvedic massage for the guests. Moreover, travelers can combine it with yoga sessions to complete their treatment cycle and feel completely rejuvenated. 

Trust me, I’ve stayed at their properties and went under a treatment for my spinal issue. The results were quite amazing, and to date I recommend everyone to experience it themselves.

Here is a video that’ll compel you to go for it. 

What does the Future of Health and Wellness Tourism Look Like? 

Post-pandemic, people are more concerned about their well-being. And after a long work from home, everyone is looking forward to a break to rejuvenate themselves. That’s why various health and wellness programs are being reintroduced in the hospitality industry. 

The concept is not new, but it has gained momentum in recent years. Moreover, it has helped people to start things afresh. 

Even now, people opting for workation are looking for places that can aid in improving their physical well-being and finding inner peace. This has led to exponential growth in wellness tourism.  

It can be rightly said that health and wellness travel is one of the trends in the hospitality industry with a bright future.

The post Heard of Travelasana? The Top Health and Wellness Travel Trends in 2024 appeared first on eZee Absolute.

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet” – Millennials.

We live in an era where the virtual world is more real, likes and reviews are more appreciated than word-of-mouth publicity, social media engagement makes more sense than gossip over tea; likewise, millennials are one of the biggest attractions for the hospitality industry. 

Talking about the recent events taking place in the world tourism industry; millennial travel trends have significantly taken over the market with a notable hype. Thus, giving way to endless opportunities for the travel and hospitality industries.

Who are millennial travellers?

Before diving into the millennial travel trends, let’s first understand who millennials are.

Millennials or Generation Y (Gen Y) are people born between 1980-1999. They are tech-savvy, well connected with the world, independent and not afraid to try new things or go to lesser-known places. 

Gen Y is no longer limited to create fashion trends or travel to exotic destinations. Rather, they seek a purpose and meaning behind all the places they visit; explore their culture and tend to interact with new people.

Millennials enjoy life to the fullest being workaholics, crazy shopaholics, and seasoned party-goers. They travel for adventure and to earn money. They often work with employers who give them the freedom to travel and pay for the same.

All the more, we see so many examples of people leaving regular 9 to 6 jobs and becoming full-time travelers or travel bloggers. 

How millennials are changing the hotel industry?

Millennials are using technology to make savvy travel-buying decisions that largely depend on their experience, cost and the type of stay hoteliers offer.

On average, Gen Y takes 30-35 days of vacation each year with an increasing trend in their annual travel spend as compared to Gen-X (born between 1946 and 1964) who tend to be more conservative on budget.

It’s observed, that the millennial generation matured much quicker than their ancestors in this area; realizing that it is better to travel now and save money later rather than doing it vice versa.

Earning handsomely, they wish to travel more as well as explore tourist destinations. And, look forward to places filled with exciting experiences, offering them a variety of new dishes and hidden adventures that add on with them.

So, for hoteliers, it’s time to focus and adapt to the millennial travel trends; as well as their passionate demands when it comes to booking a stay.

What are the latest millennial travel trends?

From planning to experiences, below we’ve listed out the top millennial travel trends you can easily adopt.

1. Extremely active on Social Media

For millennials, when it comes to planning a tour, their phone is the source of planning, experiencing and sharing every detail of the trip. It is one of the most effective and easiest trends through social media engagement. 

If you are in the hospitality industry and you haven’t created a social media profile yet, then it’s time to create one! Live streaming, mandatory check-ins, offers, discounts and much more will definitely make your property trending on the social media platforms.

Let’s take an example of Instagram: Millennials choose a hotel deal that is just picture-perfect. So, on your Instagram profile, showcase images, contact details, offers, discounts, etc to let them choose you over others.

As a hotelier, you have to ensure that guests can book your hotel from anywhere i.e your website, through OTAs, social media and elsewhere. 

Further, you also get a chance to engage with them from your social media page. This gives them a personal touch while they’re planning to book with you. 

Interacting with them at this point will make them remember you when they wish to visit; thus developing an enduring relationship with them.

2. Will enroll in loyalty programs

Gone are the days of proposing the same type of offers for the millennials. Nowadays, these millennials are on a constant lookout for attractive packages, memberships, and deals that can help them to save up a little on budget. 

Give them instant delights such as happy hour discounts, complimentary event tickets, free services and other such experiences which they remember and wish to visit again.

Over 80% of millennials are already enrolled in a loyalty and rewards program.

Offering them the right package at the right price; with an option to easily join a loyalty scheme can make them go a long way. The better loyalty programs you run, the more chances for you to get millennials as your guests.

Also, they could turn to be your guests for a longer time. So, investing to meet their expectations and offering them what they like makes a lot of your business.

3. Want you to be easily reachable

Often, Gen Y is pretty hot-headed and short-tempered with little to no patience when it comes to services. They want you to be available for them whenever they need, whether it’s at the time of booking, checking-in, or something else at your property.

As millennials prefer to go by smartphones, having a mobile app for your hotel can be an advantage. By doing so, you’re ensuring that the millennials not only reach you easily, but they’re also able to book with you in a few clicks; which makes their experience a whole lot better.

On the same lines, get a responsive booking engine integrated into your hotels’ website. Here, millennials can book with you directly. Do give them the BEST DEALS and OFFERS on your website to get more commission-free bookings.

4. Focus more on online reviews

Reviews are realistic and available at the ease of fingertips. Hotels with right reviews don’t have much to worry but if your hotel has negative reviews, then it’s time to take control and change things for the better.

Well, word of mouth recommendations is one thing but online reviews are definitely way different; holding an important place in the millennial travel trends. They often tend to check out your reviews on as many platforms as they can and make sure that they’re booking their stay at a good place.

Specifically, reviews on Google and sites like TripAdvisor are a big hit amongst millennials to get real opinions from travellers who have stayed at the hotel.

82% of millennials think that online travel reviews are important.

So, maintaining a positive online hotel reputation is a must these days. The better, clear and answered your reviews are, the likelier it is for the millennials to choose your hotel.

All the more, for independent hotels since they don’t have the advantage big brands have should respond to both positive and negative reviews proactively. If you don’t, your hotel would be skipped by the millennials.

5. Prefer digital payments

Bulky wallets are a no-no for young travelers. They keep less cash and rely more on credit or debit card payments, net banking, e-wallets, online payments, etc. They are backing away from cash by preferring digital payments for any purchase or booking. 

Further, digital payments offer several advantages like points, cashback, free tickets, etc which makes millennials opt for them more.

84% of millennials use credit or debit cards to make purchases.

This wave of digitization has been unanimously accepted by the millennials as it’s safe, convenient, easy to keep track of with a matter of a single click. Hoteliers like you should be open to accept digital payments, through the right payment gateway integrations at your property; thus welcoming the Gen Y at your doorstep.

6. Explore local culture and cuisines

Gen Y is a true explorer and adventure-driven soul. They’re constantly and extensively searching for content online which lets them know about the location they’re traveling to. 

They’re keen on gathering information on the traditions, local cuisines and want to explore every bit of it. This is all gathered by them through social media as well as YouTube videos that many of the travel bloggers upload.

So, here’s a tip for you: Make them feel closer to your roots once they arrive at your hotel. Post blogs or updates on your website to make them aware that you’re in the know of these practices in your region. Host activities, trips, and anything which makes them come to you.

Also, upload various videos and photos that indicate the cultural values followed in your city, a variety of cuisines that you offer and specialties that you have. Along with this, offer some adventure packages during their booking or collaborate with such vendors to gain higher revenues.

7. Spend less, explore more

While millennials travel more than Gen X, they prefer spending less on each trip and explore as much as they can. They are of the view to take multiple trips rather than just one big trip and spend everything on it. 

Likewise, millennials tend to conserve their resources and are budget-oriented for each of their trips. They may shop for last-minute deals, stay in alternative housing (renting a room, hostels, camping, etc.), and even split road trip fuel expenses with a few friends.

The upcoming trend for SOLO travellers or even couples has moved to staying at a hostel as it is much cheaper when compared to a hotel or any other property type. Popular examples are the hosteller, Zostel, goStops, hostels HUB, Mad Monkey Hostels, etc.

So here, you could sell better packages or create an environment similar to a hostel or even offer better rates than the other property types. Similarly, provide them discounts, last-minute deals, complimentary services, promo codes, and much more.

8. Favor business travel or “BLEISURE” travel

This generation has fewer responsibilities at home namely, kids, spouse and therefore has the opportunity to extend business trips more often than previous generations. 

Such millennials while traveling for a business purpose look forward to “Bleisure” travel (business + leisure). In fact, most millennials are likely to extend their business vacations to gain cultural experience and see more of the world, taking and added advantage of their company expenses.

Hoteliers should focus on catering to Gen Y business needs by providing reliable high-speed internet, charging docks and workspaces throughout their property. Further, many hotels have aesthetically design lobbies for business travellers to work or hold meetings. 

Showcase services on your website, OTAs or social media platforms such as the conference room at your property, business event spaces, and such likes.

9. Choose technology driven hotels

Millennials were born in a world of emerging technology. They love technology and would flock to your hotel if you provide them with the right tech tools. Hotels with a self-check-in kiosk or a mobile guest portal are most likely to be visited by millennials. 

With the influx of new technologies and ease of travel, the consumers or travelers demand to have an offbeat experience. These are the most common factors millennials look out for when they plan a trip.

Further, tech-driven hotels are adopting newer hospitality trends to get engaged with their customers more. Invest in a mobile-friendly website or app as millennials would prefer booking hotels on mobile at the comfort of their fingertip.

Future of millennial travellers

Millennial travelers are projected to have more impact on the travel and tourism industry than any other group. Their emphasis on travel will continually grow through their family and likely by their children adapting the same trends.

Additionally, adventure experiences, urban destinations, and online travel planning are expected to grow and control the world of tourism. Likewise, it will show an increasing trend of travelling to foreign countries, enhance solo travellers as well as expand the use of social media for the travel industry.

Further, these travelers are more or less a source of IoT (internet of things) enabled solutions for the hotel industry. The main reason is, because they want quicker and better services. In regards to this, hotels are now turning towards the internet, bluetooth and AI enabled products as well as services to impart them a better service.

Such constant updates in technology and trends will help you future-proof your hotel business and identify potential new opportunities.

Quickly check how IoT can help you grow your business.

Conclusion

Millennials being a paranoid bunch are active and always open to new ideas. Inspite of their specific choice of travel plans, they invariably want to ensure that their trip goes smoothly. Some of them even swap over-crowded destinations for relatively less familiar ones. 

Start with the basics. Be active on social media – the best way to get connected with Gen Y, maintain your online reputation – the best way to reach them by improving your hotels’ branding, be easily reachable – the most solid way to let millennials book with you.

For you as hoteliers, you need to understand their choices and cater accordingly. All you need to do is adapt yourself to the above mentioned millennial hospitality trends and start taking steps to work on it. 

Do share in the comment section below, if you are focusing on any of the travel trends; apart from the above mentioned ones to drive millennials. 

Goodluck to experience a new bunch of generation at your property!

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