1. The New Concept in Town: Lobbies You Won't Want to Leave
Traditionally, the hotel lobby has been a transitional zone, a place for weary travellers to park their bags as they check in. But this is changing. Tourism management staff are beginning to see lobbies as potential gathering places, where guests can even get to know one another, if desired.
These new-style lobbies feature such community-building design elements as:
- curated bookshelves
- espresso machines
- coffeehouse tables
- communal seating
The same study found that 58% of respondents were expecting to travel less for business over the coming year. Tourism management strategies of the future may be oriented towards the increasingly important under-25 market.
3. More Online Booking
The days of phoning up a hotel from your landline appear to be over. Today's guests book their stays online. Hospitality management courses must include an overview of the latest Internet booking technology.
4. More Mobile Booking
The travel & tourism industry is adapting well to online booking, but mobile booking may be the true wave of the future. According to the same Deloitte/TIAC study mentioned earlier, youth travellers report being comfortable with the idea of booking accommodations on their smart phones.
5. Comfort Food in Room 9, Please
In the '80s and '90s, there was a travel & tourism trend towards such exotic and high-end food as shrimp and more shrimp, sushi and champagne - the more expensive or exotic, the better. Today's food trends, however, have a distinctly retro flavour about them. Some travel & tourism establishments are distinguishing themselves with an old-fashioned specialty: comfort food.
Popping up on travel & tourism menus everywhere are such items as:
- shepherd's pie served with a vintage beer in a stubby bottle
- macaroni and cheese
- sweet potato fries
- apple crisp made with local, in-season, heirloom apples
- cookies and milk for guests of all ages at bedtime
- nostalgic candy on the pillow at turn down
In travel & tourism, the youth market is up. In one recent survey conducted by Deloitte and the Tourism Industry of Canada (TIAC), 51% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 reported, "Travel is one of the most important things in my life." On average, these respondents were planning to take at least two trips over the coming year.
7. Rise of the Boutique Hotel
The era of the big-name chain hotel may be over as travellers opt for smaller, more personalized boutique options instead.
8. Electronic Check-in
Self check-in kiosks, like the ones at airports, may soon be a common feature in hotel lobbies. They are expected to appeal to travellers who would like to check in as quickly as possible. For tourism management, they present an interesting possibility to save money on human resources.
9. Pump Up the Soap
Many hotels are installing pumps for personal care products in the shower. These devices have the double advantage of saving money and using less packaging than the complimentary mini-bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion.
10. More Showers Than Baths
Hotels are building more bathrooms with showers, keeping a small percentage of baths on hand, only to satisfy customers with special needs or who are travelling with small children.
