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why should travel distributors embrace JOMO travel

Travel Trends: Why Travel Distributors Should Embrace the 'Joy of Missing Out'

&nbsp;Travellers don’t want to wait; they expect instant, accurate results when searching for hotels or packages. Behind the scenes, the Hotelbeds Cache API makes that possible.Travel APIs: What is our Cache API?Let’s say you’re a travel distributor working with Hotelbeds, and you offer thousands of products across your website, mobile app, and third-party platforms. You need to quickly show prices and availability for all these products at the same time, without sending a separate request to Hotelbeds for each search. That’s where the Cache API comes in.&nbsp;With the Cache API, you can download Hotelbeds’ data files and store them locally in your own system. This way, your customers enjoy faster search, while you provide a better user experience.&nbsp;Why are Cache APIs important for the travel industry?If you’re managing large amounts of traffic, publishing on third-party websites, or building packages that need instant price and availability data, a Cache API can help. Here are some benefits of using it:Speed and efficiency: You’ll display availability and pricing information instantly, without waiting for live API calls.Better user experience: Customers see accurate, instant results, which keeps them engaged.Reduced load on backend systems: You minimise repeated live queries and store key information on your local system.Dynamic package content: You can use Cache APIs across hotels, transfers, and activities to offer personalised travel packages.Improved conversion rates: Your users are more likely to complete the booking when the experience is fast and reliable.Cost savings: Fewer live requests reduce the operational costs.&nbsp;Discover more about our travel APIs with an introduction to Hotelbeds' API services and integrations for hotel APIs and experience APIs here.&nbsp;What are the roles of the Hotelbeds Cache API?On Hotelbeds, you’ll find Cache APIs across three products: Hotels, Activities, and Transfers. Let’s take a closer look at each:Hotels Cache APIWith Hotels Cache API, you’ll have access to all the hotel prices and availability on Hotelbeds, so you can create travel packages or upload the data on third-party platforms.&nbsp;When using the Hotels Cache API, you have two options:1. Retrieving all the Hotelbeds filesThis workflow retrieves all available data from Hotelbeds and replaces your existing data. You’ll receive the files in a .zip format. Once unzipped, you’ll be able to access and load the full dataset into your system. The process is simple and straightforward, but keep in mind that you’ll have larger downloads.&nbsp;This is recommended for the first setup, full refreshes or fixing data mismatches.&nbsp;2. Managing only the updatesThe second option is to update instead of replace. This is useful when you want to update some parts of the data and don’t want to overwrite the unchanged parts. If you choose this option, you’ll have smaller downloads, but a more complex workflow.&nbsp;This is recommended for ongoing updates after initial setup to keep data fresh. Updates can be requested once per hour.&nbsp;Transfer Cache APIWith the Transfers Cache API, you can download data such as currencies, vehicle types, pickup points, routes, terminals, and more. For example, if you’re showing airport transfer options, you can preload all relevant routes and pickup points so your users get instant search results without waiting.&nbsp;This data is delivered via HTTPS GET requests, and responses come in JSON format, so it’s easy to work with using most modern programming languages.Activities Cache APIThe Activities API allows users to map all of the activities listed as 'active' in a destination. This API does not provide any price or availability information, but forms a vital component of our API Suite by allowing our partners to accurately determine which activities are active, and therefore sellable, in each of the destinations we offer.&nbsp;Speed up your travel business with our Hotelbeds API SuitePartner with Hotelbeds to use all our API solutions: our Cache API for fast, up-to-date pricing and availability, the Booking API for real-time reservations and confirmations, and the Content API for hotel and activity details like descriptions and images.&nbsp;Our travel API services, gathered together into our powerful API Suite offer these three solutions to empower your business and activate an optimised travel booking process and experience for both your business and end customers.&nbsp;Depending on your company’s size and scope of operations, you can pick the right framework to integrate into your existing system, with an API solution that can be tailored to your exact needs.&nbsp;Sign up today to discover a faster, more intuitive booking experience which reduces end-to-end friction.&nbsp;

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travel tech solutions: benefits of a travel cache API hotelbeds

Travel Tech Solutions: What are the Benefits of a Powerful Cache API?

&nbsp;As we look ever-forwards in the travel industry, the trend of solo travel is projected to offer significant opportunities beyond just today's demand. In fact, recent reports suggest that around 76% of Gen Z and Millennial travellers plan to embark on solo travel experiences this year, while 56% of solo travellers as a whole demographic would rather opt for a shorter weekend getaway, rather than a long-haul trip.&nbsp;&nbsp;And while independent travel itself is not a new concept, the rise of solo travel as a key travel trend for this year and beyond can be in part attributed to the fallout of a post-pandemic traveller. Many people across the world became more comfortable with our own company, and this has given rise to a modern traveller more at ease, and more likely to, put their own aspirations and desires over the challenges of organsing travel experiences that cater to a group, or even a partner. This demographic is not just looking for adventure, but also desiring tailored experiences that foster connection and creativity.&nbsp;The rising trend of solo travel is reshaping the travel landscape, presenting a significant opportunity for tour operators and travel distributors. With more individuals seeking independence and personal growth through their journeys, accommodating solo travellers is essential for travel distributors looking to stay competitive in the travel industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;By embracing this trend, travel distributors can expand their offerings, attract a diverse clientele, and enhance customer satisfaction, ultimately leading to increased bookings and loyalty.&nbsp;For travel distributors, the value lies in understanding the key driving factors behind this demand, to better capitalise on the solo travel market in today's landscape. Discover some of the key motivators for solo travel below, alongside some travel experience recommendations you can apply to your own business models and offerings in order to attract and retain today's solo travel market.&nbsp;&nbsp;And to level-up your appeal, partnering with Hotelbeds, as part of HBX Group, a leading TravelTech ecosystem player, allows you to empower choice for end travellers as a result of our powerful travel booking solutions, expansive portfolio, and real-time travel insights. Sign up today to join the Hotelbeds network.&nbsp;Key Drivers of Solo Travel in 2025Growing Demand for Personal DevelopmentAround 70% of millennials and Gen Z reported that travel helps them grow personally. This desire for self-discovery and empowerment is prompting more individuals to embark on journeys alone.&nbsp;This trend is particularly evident among younger generations who prioritise experiences over possessions and seek opportunities to connect with themselves and the world. It’s been proven that Gen Z and Millennials, for example, would rather spend on travel than anything else. This is a key indicator of the importance of travel not only as a hobby or a way to spend time, but also to further their lived experiences and express themselves. A recent study by Booking.com also supports the idea that many solo travellers are motivated by the desire for self-growth and exploration, noticing an uptick in parents embracing child-free trips.Experiential and Interest-Based TravelTravel has become much more experience focused, which lends itself well to solo adventures. Recent travel trends support this, seen in the propulsion of niche tourism into more mainstream travel motivators – such as the boom in ‘gamification’, arts-focused tourism, sports travel and music tourism – but also the continued demand for authentic interactions and meaningful activities tailored to each individual traveller. Gone are the days of ‘checkbox’ travel. Today, travellers want personalised, bespoke experiences focused on proactive travel, not passive sightseeing.Digital TransformationWith 85% of travellers citing online resources as crucial for planning their trips, technology has made solo travel more accessible. With access to vast resources, travel forums, social media communities, and accommodation solutions, individuals travelling alone can feel secure and supported as they navigate new environments. Plus, websites and mobile apps offer instant information and booking options.Growing Demand for Female Solo TravelSafety and planning are key for female solo travellers, with destinations like Japan and Portugal being popular choices, and increasingly available resources to help with planning and safety precautions.&nbsp;Popular travel trends have included ‘MeMoons’, solo honeymoons which are becoming increasingly common for today’s female solo travellers. Citizen Femme’s The Future of Female-Led Travel: 2025-2030 Report also highlights that self-discovery and experiential travel are key driving forces behind solo female travel, in line with wider solo travel motivators. A key example from this report highlighted the success of Discover Africa, a luxury safari company, who reported that their solo travel enquiries had doubled, and that women made up 70% of those bookings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Luxury travel lends itself well to solo travel, and can form a key consideration for travel distributors wanting to capitalise on female solo travel, due to the bespoke, inherently personal and customer-centric approach of these experiences.Unique and Authentic ExperiencesThere is a growing desire among solo travellers for unique, immersive experiences that allow them to engage with local cultures. This has led to an increased demand for personalised tours, culinary experiences, and authentic cultural exchanges.&nbsp;According to research from Forbes, 78% of solo travellers prefer immersing themselves in local cultures rather than sticking to traditional tourist spots. Tailoring experiences to include local interactions and unique adventures will attract this demographic.Mental Health AwarenessThe desire for mental wellness through travel has surged, with 64% of recently surveyed travellers indicating that travel helps to alleviate stress. As mental health continues to be a focal point for many, the therapeutic aspects of solo travel will drive more individuals to explore alone, to recentre themselves, engage in meaningful interactions with others, and disconnect from the often tiring and demanding roles and responsibilities of everyday life.&nbsp;How Travel Distributors Can Capitalise on the Solo Travel TrendCurate Tailored Packages: Distributors should create exclusive packages for solo travellers, featuring customisable itineraries, social activities, and unique experiences. Highlighting the option to join smaller group tours or workshops can enhance the social aspect of travelling alone.&nbsp;Emphasise Safety and Flexibility: In a time where safety remains a concern, offering detailed information on health measures implemented at accommodations, along with flexible booking options that allow easy changes, will be crucial in attracting solo travellers.&nbsp;Leverage Technology: The use of digital tools can enhance the solo travel experience. Offering apps that provide real-time support, local guides, and traveller networking opportunities can ease the concerns some may have about travelling alone.&nbsp;Provide Local Insights and Recommendations: Establish partnerships with local guides to offer authentic experiences that connect solo travellers with their destinations. Promote accommodations known for being solo-friendly, highlighting shared spaces for socialising or activities, such as co-living spaces or local dining bars where travellers can mingle.&nbsp;Market to Diverse Demographics: Recognise that solo travel is not only popular among young adults! Research indicates that solo travel spans various age groups, including seniors and working professionals seeking escapes. Create and promote marketing campaigns that speak to different demographics, including seniors, parents, and professionals from all different walks of life and markets.&nbsp;Safety Concerns and Support Systems: A recent study found that 61% of solo travellers prioritise safety when choosing their destinations and accommodations. Travel distributors need to emphasise safety measures, flexible cancellation policies, and 24/7 customer support in their offerings, as well as additional security like comprehensive travel insurance.&nbsp;Recommended Travel Experiences for Solo TravellersAs travel distributors, consider the following experiences and how these can be tailored to each solo traveller’s unique preferences. Consider these overarching travel types in relation to where your unique growth opportunities lie, either in the partnerships you have, the products you offer, or the packages you curate:&nbsp;Culinary Classes and Food Tours: Engage solo travellers by offering cooking classes with local chefs or curated food tours to explore regional delicacies, allowing for both culinary knowledge and social interaction.&nbsp;Wellness Retreats: While wellness-focused travel is certainly not a new consideration or travel motivation in the industry, its popularity is once again on the rise, with key considerations shifting towards preventative healthcare and ‘longevity’ wellness.&nbsp;You might offer package trips and recommendations that include yoga, meditation, and health workshops, catering to travellers looking for rejuvenation and reflection. For travellers who are looking to engage in ‘longevity wellness’, why not consider ‘high-tech’ wellness programmes? Medical spas, retreats, and wellness centres are available all around the world, with some forming ideal destination hotels for travellers looking to escape, unwind and detox. These programmes could be related to beauty, fitness, anti-ageing, or mindfulness, helping clients reach their wellness goals.&nbsp;Adventure Experiences: Offering those travelling solo a chance to experience the authentic natural beauty of a destination coincides with the noticeable rise in nature tourism and nature adventure tourism. Suggest experiential trips which uncover natural landscapes, or activity-focused packages like hiking, cycling or water sports, just as a few examples, where travellers can both challenge themselves and meet like-minded individuals.&nbsp;Prioritising accessible adventure also aligns with today’s shift towards ‘soft adventure’, a key sub-trend within adventure travel, with such activities like wildlife watching, hiking and cycling accounting for 72% of the market share! Many are seeking unique experiences such as wildlife watching in the Galapagos Islands, hiking in Madeira, or exploring Costa Rica, just as a few examples!&nbsp;Cultural Immersion Experiences: Create itineraries that delve into local traditions, arts, and crafts, enabling solo travellers to connect with the local community meaningfully. Consider the benefits of offering alternative destinations, or ‘detour destinations’ to travellers who are looking for meaningful experiences, as a chance to get away from the crowds and get under the skin of their destination of choice.&nbsp;Socialising Opportunities: Group travel comprised of solo individuals can help to encourage solo travellers connect through organised outings or events, such as city tours or group dinners, fostering a sense of community while travelling. Group travel like this also allows for individual itineraries for more independent travellers, or the comfort and security of like-minded travellers for those travelling solo for the first time.&nbsp;Solo-Friendly Accommodations: Partner with and offer hostels and boutique hotels that offer shared spaces, communal activities, and solo-specific amenities, ensuring comfort and connectivity for those travelling alone. This is where having an expansive portfolio of accommodation options at your disposal offers valuable benefits – such as the 250,000+ hotels we offer as Hotelbeds.&nbsp;Plus, with everything from eco-friendly lodges to 5* luxury and budget-friendly options on offer, you can better meet the needs of solo travellers in today’s landscape, no matter their personal preference or chosen destination.&nbsp;Destination Recommendations for Solo TravellersEurope: Many are drawn to Europe for its history, culture, and ease of travel. Specifically, countries like Portugal, Italy, and Spain are experiencing a surge in solo traveller interest.Asia: Japan, Thailand, and India are also highly recommended for solo travellers.Other Destinations: Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Egypt are frequently mentioned as great places to explore solo.&nbsp;The evolution of solo travel into 2025 presents a fertile ground for travel distributors willing to adapt to new consumer demands. By embracing the drivers behind this trend and adjusting offerings accordingly, tour operators and OTAs can create experiences that resonate with solo travellers.&nbsp;Focusing on safety, flexibility, and authentic engagements is essential in capturing this burgeoning market and will position your brand as a leader in providing enriching travel experiences for individuals venturing out on their own.&nbsp;Not to mention, increasing the scope of your offering as a travel distributor is a key factor when it comes to attracting, and retaining, today’s solo traveller. As personal as travel is, it’s critical that you’re able to provide the depth and breadth of travel experiences that today’s independent traveller is looking for.&nbsp;With 250,000+ hotels in 170+ countries in our portfolio, thousands of direct contracts for competitive rates, as well as exclusive rates and availabilities, alongside 23,000+ experiences, global transfer routes and car hire services, our portfolio provides you with the travel products required to meet the needs of today’s, and tomorrow’s, traveller.&nbsp;Discover more about our Hotelbeds offering as part of HBX Group, a leading TravelTech ecosystem, here.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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solo travel demand drivers in 2025 hotelbeds

Travel Trends: What Are the Key Trends Driving Solo Travel Demand in 2025?

&nbsp;In today’s dynamic travel landscape, the importance of inclusivity and accessibility is paramount for travel distributors aiming to maintain profitability, relevance, and long-term success.&nbsp;As the demographic of travellers continues to evolve, so does the demand for travel experiences that cater to diverse needs, preferences, and abilities. Meeting this demand is no longer just a matter of corporate responsibility; it is becoming essential for business viability. Not only this, but with the recent implementation of the EU Accessibility Act (EAA) in June 2025, the accessibility of both physical and digital products sold by businesses in the EU are under increasingly regulated legislation.&nbsp;It’s demonstrably proven that prioritising accessible travel - making the entire journey, from booking to in-destination experiences and post-booking inclusive and enjoyable for all - has a significant impact on customer loyalty and positive brand reputation for businesses authentically engaging in these inclusive practices. Businesses can also benefit from unlocked growth opportunities and an increasingly diverse travel ecosystem.&nbsp;What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?The EAA, originally codified into law in 2019, aims to 'resolve discrepancies' in accessibility requirements and accommodations concerning the sale of products both online and in-person.&nbsp;&nbsp;In relation to travel, a few examples of the impacted products and services include:Consumer-facing websites and apps.Point of sale devices and self-service kiosks.Delivery of transport service information, including real-time travel information.Electronic tickets and electronic ticketing services.&nbsp;In many nations, organisations covered by the EAA must also publish an accessibility statement which contains, amongst other facts, information about the functionality of a product or service, proof of this product or service's technical accessibility, and how the product or service meets the EAA's requirements.&nbsp;The benefits that regulated accessibility will bring to businesses can vary, but are proposed by the EAA website to include:&nbsp;Cost reductions as a result of common rules around accessibility in the EU.Easier cross-border trading.More market opportunities for their accessible products and services.&nbsp;For travellers, increasingly regulated accessibility for products and services means:&nbsp;More accessible products and services in the market.Accessible products and services at more competitive prices.Fewer barriers when accessing transport, education and the open labour market.More jobs where accessibility expertise is needed.&nbsp;While this legislation is for business conducted in the EU, the increasing measures to prioritise and regulate accessibility is a clear indicator that this should, and will, be a key consideration for the travel industry going forward - and a critical purchasing factor for customers, too.&nbsp;So, why is it beneficial to accommodate accessibility demands across the entire travel industry - from initial searches, to booking, and in-destination experiences?&nbsp;&nbsp;Cater to an untapped segment of the travel industryThe financial implications of adopting inclusive practices are compelling and far-reaching.&nbsp;&nbsp;The demand for accessible travel options is growing rapidly, with an estimated market worth of over $58 billion in the United States alone, and according to the World Health Organisation, over a billion people worldwide experience some form of disability, representing a potentially underserved segment with a huge spending power.&nbsp;The accessible travel market - comprised of people with disabilities, their families, and friends - is a significant and often under-tapped segment, as shown in these thought-provoking findings in a recent accessibility and inclusivity-focused report from Expedia Group:&nbsp;71% of underserved travellers state a preference for brands that support diversity and inclusion, compared to 62% of the general population.73% are more likely to book again with brands that promote inclusive practices, compared to 62% of the general population.76% believe it is important to see themselves reflected in travel ads and promotions, compared to 69% of the general population.&nbsp;Businesses catering to the needs of this demographic can substantially boost their revenues by accommodating a larger audience. Ignoring this potential customer base equates to leaving money on the table.&nbsp;For example, our growing portfolio of accessible hotels are easily identifiable in our Booking Platform as a result of a tailored filtering system, which allows our web-based partners to quickly refine for accommodation options that cater to specific accessibility needs. Currently, we offer over 135,000 accessible hotels, a number which is consistently expanding as a result of dedicated acquisition campaigns to increase our offering, and the importance of serving accessible experiences for all travellers.&nbsp;Sign up today to scale your accessible hotel offering&nbsp;&nbsp;Contribute to a more equitable approach to travel sellingOf course, the wide-ranging nature of inclusivity means that considering how to equitably accommodate such a complex multitude of lived experiences, requirements, and considerations is a significant undertaking.&nbsp;However, the following stastistics highlight just how important it is for travel distributors, sellers and providers to consciously become more equitable, to ensure that accessibility and inclusivity is a priority:73% of luxury travellers from diverse backgrounds don’t feel that the travel industry is inclusive, according to Uwern Jong, editor-in-chief of OutThere magazine, speaking at World Travel Market 2024.Only 0.9% of ads feature people with disabilities, according to Dom Hyams, CEO of Purple Goat Agency at World Travel Market 2024.42% of underserved travellers feel limited by their identities when planning travel.An average of 5+ hours of extra time is spent researching inclusive trips – including to ensure services and destinations are safe, welcoming and accessible.Only 16% of travellers feel that travel advertising and promotions represent them authentically.71% of underserved travellers say it is important that travel company staff be well-trained on diversity and inclusion issues and topics.Nearly 3 out of 4 underserved travellers are more likely to book with companies demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion.&nbsp;This becomes even more apparent when you consider that, as just one segment of the vast traveller base, research shows that the disabled traveller base could be as much as 1.5 billion people globally, representing a total spend of over $10 billion per year.&nbsp;&nbsp;As just one part of the vast audience of underserved travellers, this highlights the significant power and opportunity that the entire market of underserved travellers presents, and the scale of the opportunity for travel distributors to help create a more equitable travel industry but consciously serving these travellers with accessible, inclusive travel experiences as a part of your business strategy. And especially for European travel profesionals, accommodating accessible travel as a key segment is a necessity, as a result of the European Accessibility Act.&nbsp;Key considerations for travel distributors for inclusive travel:Promote travel packages that celebrate local cultures and provide authentic experiences for all travellers, as this encourages a more equitable approach to tourism.Broaden your market reach and customer base by catering to a wider spectrum of audiences and underserved communities – cultural heritage is a key selling point for traveller experiences, and presents a significant opportunity for sellers and local communities.While underserved, diverse traveller segments make up the core customer base, not the minority. This is an important factor to remember when considering why inclusive travel experiences need to be the norm when it comes to core travel offerings, how travel is marketed, and the type of experiences travellers can book.&nbsp;Accommodating shifting traveller expectationsToday’s consumers are not just seeking picturesque destinations; they are looking for experiences that resonate with their values of inclusivity and social responsibility.Within the context of inclusive travel, some key traveller demands and shifting demands include:Meaningful travel – from local immersion, whether that’s the local culture and community, to slow travel and purpose-driven travel.From aesthetics to authenticity – no longer satisfied with ‘surface-level tourism’, travellers want to support businesses and destinations that reflect their values of inclusivity and social responsibility.Sustainability – from seeking out plastic-free travel, to a focus on nature tourism, to an overall reduction in the negative impact of tourism for both the environment and on local communities/infrastructure.Diverse experiences and destinations – today's traveller wants to head ‘off the beaten path’ in ‘detour destinations’ and immerse themselves in the local culture while they’re there.&nbsp;With this in mind, when travel companies prioritise accessibility and inclusivity, they send a powerful message that they value all customers, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.&nbsp;Not only this, but the travel and tourism sector as a whole has a unique opportunity to promote tourism offerings that are available and accessible for all. This links to the more equitable approach to tourism, wherein key players focus on creating, promoting and selling experiences that cater to diverse needs. Doing so also increases the likelihood of tapping into new market segments and new streams of revenue by expanding the appeal to more customers.&nbsp;For example, with the increased demands for authenticity within the travel experiences from today’s traveller, there lies a significant opportunity for travel distributors who are willing to promote experiences which celebrate cultural understanding.&nbsp;But from an economic perspective, other key opportunities include creating employment roles for local communities around the world, especially for marginalised groups. In fact, successfully launched accessibility initiatives have been shown to increase local income in destinations by over $5,500 per capita per annum, according to a recent report by Trip.com Group.&nbsp;This, in turn, cultivates a perception of trust and loyalty, making customers more likely to choose a brand that aligns with their ideals over competitors. Which leads into our next point...&nbsp;&nbsp;Building brand loyalty and reputation at the point of bookingWhen travellers feel seen, heard, and respected, they are more likely to become loyal customers and recommend the business to others.&nbsp;Of course, accessibility is critical at all points of the travel experience, but the booking journey remains one of the most essential when it comes to making a positive impression on potential customers and creating a more loyal, engaged customer base.&nbsp;When considering the booking journey and how accessibility plays such a large part of this, the recent launch of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes so prevalent.&nbsp;This law has been put in place to ensure products and services, including digital products, websites and apps, are accessible for all, within member states of the EU.Why is accessibility relevant to the booking journey?This decision-making journey is also impacted by several key factors in relation to the display of travel products.&nbsp;&nbsp;Around 72% travellers indicated that high-quality photos depicting accessibility facilities significantly influenced their booking choices. While limited information on the accessibility of hotels, transportation and attractions caused frustration, and dissuaded a booking.&nbsp;This highlights the importance of ensuring that all products and services, including websites and apps, are accessible for all, and promoted in a way that prioritises equal access. Not only for an equitable approach to travel selling, but for the benefit of these travel businesses as well, considering the weight that these factors have on the booking journey.&nbsp;In addition, as awareness of the importance of accessibility continues to rise, companies that embrace inclusive practices are likely to attract a broader audience, benefiting from positive word-of-mouth marketing and customer advocacy.&nbsp;Why? Research shows that 46% of travellers with disabilities consider user reviews and recommendations from peers vital for making informed decisions. In fact, testimonials from individuals with similar experiences enhance the decision-making process for 63% of respondents.&nbsp;Customer advocacy is one of the most influential and impactful methods of positively influencing your business reputation (and vice versa). So, giving high consideration to accessible needs during the booking journey can boost customer satisfaction and therefore retention, which ultimately leads to increased business growth and market share.&nbsp;This not only improves your business reputation for existing and potential customers, but also allows you to remain competitive. As social consciousness surrounding travel grows, consumers increasingly expect companies to demonstrate a commitment to responsible and inclusive practices.&nbsp;In a world where consumers are increasingly making choices based on values and inclusivity, prioritising accessible and inclusive travel is not just good ethics; it’s a smart business strategy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Why Offer Inclusive Travel?In summary, for travel distributors seeking continued growth and success, embracing inclusive and accessible travel experiences is not merely an ethical choice; it is a strategic business imperative.&nbsp;By prioritising inclusivity, companies can effectively meet the evolving needs of today’s diverse traveller demographic, ensuring sustained profitability and relevance in the competitive travel market.&nbsp;By offering accessible travel options and prioritising accessibility and inclusivity, you demonstrate not only a commitment to social responsibility but also tap into a growing and often underserved demographic.&nbsp;Investing in inclusivity and accessibility is not just a means to enhance customer satisfaction; it is a pathway to secure a vibrant and thriving future in the travel industry.&nbsp;Sign up today to scale your accessible hotel offering&nbsp;

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why is inclusivity and accessible travel the way forward

Industry Insights: Why Is Inclusive Travel the Way Forward?

&nbsp;About lastminute.comlastminute.com is a powerhouse in the dynamic holiday package sector, having positioned itself as a leading European travel tech player in its market over the last decade. Benefiting from an iconic, household brand and a rich portfolio of vertical brands to supplement it, and the power of being a fully licensed European tour operator, lastminute.com meets the needs of many diverse travellers.&nbsp;Travellers can search for and book flights, hotels, dynamic holiday packages (DHP) and a wide range of services on lastminute.com’s web-based booking sites and apps. They not only offer highly convenient booking options, but personalised travel experiences, traveller protection and deals.&nbsp;The Challenge: What did lastminute.com need to increase their holiday offering?lastminute.com’s key objectives were to improve its positioning within its core markets and to become an expert in dynamic packages, offering comprehensive travel experiences to a broad, international travel market.We spoke to Martin Kleinman, Supply Director &amp; Chief Commercial Officer for lastminute.com at HBX Group’s MarketHub Europe summit, who suggested that one of the challenges lastminute.com were facing when they began in 2015, was one of scope: ‘When we started, we were really quite basic in our hotel offering, and HBX Group enabled us to start with a very significant offering, particularly in the classic “sun and beach” holiday.’&nbsp;Martin also confirmed that in 2015, the early focus was on scale: ‘Back then, in 2015, when we began, we were very focused on flight-only and hotel-only. Partnering with HBX Group helped us to expand our dynamic packages holiday offering... it was what we needed to do, and helped us progress this key category.’&nbsp;The Solution: How was Hotelbeds able to help?Partnering with Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, in 2015, lastminute.com recognised the global reach and the established nature of our portfolio in the desired segments.&nbsp;Martin explained: ‘You [Hotelbeds] were experts already in sun and beach, and you had the kind of hotel content that our customers wanted. So, from the beginning, it was a perfect match.’&nbsp;Martin also revealed that this solution to expanding lastminute.com’s limited range at its beginning was a key differentiator when it came to partnering with Hotelbeds, given lastminute.com’s ambitions to do more in both hotel-only and dynamic packaging at the time.&nbsp;As a comprehensive travel distributor in the European segment and then worldwide, lastminute.com’s partnership with Hotelbeds made sense, as we enabled the growth of their offering thanks to our extensive global portfolio of travel products and established positioning within valuable markets.&nbsp;Through the dedicated work of our destination and sourcing experts and their proactive and personalised account management, we have been able to curate the relationships and partnerships that are needed to grow and maintain a portfolio with the breadth and scope that benefits aspirational players like lastminute.com when they are starting their journey.&nbsp;Our positioning as a leading ecosystem empowers other key players within their sectors, facilitating the connections required to create a frictionless travel experience for all involved. However, this position for Hotelbeds, and HBX Group as a whole, is only possible due to the legacy we hold and the experience that shapes our decisions, as a key partner to travel businesses across the industry for 40 years.&nbsp;By connecting their strategic mindset and ambitious business model to the inventory provided by Hotelbeds, lastminute.com were able to grow their visibility and better position themselves in the market as the expert in dynamic packages that they are today.&nbsp;On the strengths of the partnership, Martin suggested “mutual growth” was perhaps the keyword that captures our work together over the last decade. He said: ‘This is the best thing about the partnership – that we’ve grown together. The fact that lastminute.com is seen as European experts in dynamic packages is partly thanks to you, our suppliers.’&nbsp;He continued with, ‘We wanted to be confident that we could offer everything in every destination, and partnering with Hotelbeds provided a solution which could be built upon. That’s why Hotelbeds quickly became one of our strategic accounts.’&nbsp;In short, the value brought by Hotelbeds to the partnership was the sheer scope of the inventory offered, the strategic opportunities this gave lastminute.com – in terms of its expansion into a comprehensive travel distributor – and the overall profitability this afforded their business.&nbsp;The Outcome: Why Hotelbeds was the right choiceOver the past decade, lastminute.com has secured their position as an immediately recognisable name in the European segment and as a leader in dynamic holiday packages. Combining lastminute.com’s strategic growth and reputational uplift with the global reach afforded to them by having Hotelbeds as a key supplier, has enabled them to stand out as a prime competitor in this ever-evolving industry.&nbsp;lastminute.com's positioning has gone from strength to strength over the years, empowered by the availability of hotel content in their desired markets, in which Hotelbeds has played a significant role over the course of this partnership. ‘Sometimes,’ Martin mused, ‘when we want to launch a new destination, you’re already there. So, for us, that’s a real advantage starting out.’&nbsp;Setting their sights on new markets, new corridors of revenue have been made possible in part because of the global standing of Hotelbeds, both as a provider of global inventory but also as a consultant in growth opportunities.&nbsp;Martin believes that Hotelbeds’ strength as a partner comes from its dedicated expertise, not only of our Strategic Account Managers, but also our proactive approach to new opportunities that arise. Martin added: ‘With any new kind of opportunity that comes, I know that you come to us, and we always discuss it and see what makes sense to both of us. Communication is always key, so I’m grateful for that kind of openness and transparency in a partner.’&nbsp;As a result, this transparent partnership between lastminute.com and Hotelbeds has led to expanded operations, increased revenue, a broader customer base, and international renown for lastminute.com, enabling and empowering them to develop into and remain a leader in European dynamic holiday packages.&nbsp;For Hotelbeds, this partnership offered us the opportunity to leverage the experience gained by successfully growing in a consultative manner alongside lastminute.com over the years, and apply this growth experience to our continued improvement as a dedicated travel partner for other travel businesses across the industry.&nbsp;Why Partner with Hotelbeds?In addition to offering travel businesses crucial opportunities to expand, as demonstrated in the profitable partnership with lastminute.com, we offer a wide range of tailor-made solutions to travel businesses across the varying sectors.&nbsp;As part of the wider HBX Group ecosystem – a leading global B2B TravelTech company – Hotelbeds is the leading B2B TravelTech online distributor for wholesalers, suppliers and destinations. Hotelbeds offers a travel ecosystem connecting more than 300,000 products, including accommodation, payment solutions, mobility services and experiences, to local and global brands, empowering their partners to satisfy the growing needs of the end traveller.&nbsp;It’s our mission to empower choice for our partners and travellers worldwide:Presence in 170+ countries worldwide – with 250,000+ hotels and 23,000+ in-destination experiences, global transfer route coverage and car hire.Access to dedicated Account Managers, whose goal is your growth.1000 sourcing and destination experts, negotiating vital rates and availabilities.Seamless API integrations tailored to your business needs.Intelligent campaigns – to assist in the capture of seasonal demand.&nbsp;Take your business even further with Hotelbeds. Sign up today to see how we can optimise your success in the ever-evolving world of travel.&nbsp;Sign up to join the Hotelbeds network today&nbsp;

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Hotelbeds and lastminute.com strategic partnership

How Hotelbeds Empowered lastminute.com’s Growth into a Leading Dynamic Packages Expert

&nbsp;As a valuable travel tech solution, content APIs (Application Programming Interface) allow applications and systems to access and communicate with each other, and with content stored in a CMS (Content Management System), or alternative content repository, such as all the information on our hotels available in our Booking API as part of our comprehensive API solutions suite.&nbsp;The content API, therefore, acts as a ‘bridge’, facilitating connection between these systems and applications and enabling developers/users to retrieve, manage and deliver content across various platforms, devices, and even digital assistants.&nbsp;At Hotelbeds, as part of HBX Group, we offer a content API for hotels and an activities content API, which work in conjunction with our accommodation booking API.&nbsp;But before we look at the critical benefits that a content API brings to your effectiveness as a travel distributor, let us look at the important features and functions of our hotel content API and activity API, and how these travel tech solutions improve the daily efficiency of travel distributors across the industry.&nbsp;How does the Hotelbeds Content API for hotels work?The information returned by our content API can be classified as:Static information: information not directly related to the booking process but which is still crucial - comments, descriptions, hotel pictures, and address information.The core concept of our content API is to ensure that valuable information related to the whole travel booking process is returned in a simple, easy to access, decipher and deliver format, in the shortest possible time.&nbsp;Our content API, for both accommodation and travel experiences, is designed to return all the basic and required information needed to operate our booking API in a fast, effective manner. Quicker, for example, than having the information on an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server.&nbsp;To achieve this, we limit the size of the response messages to return just the static information of the hotel booking process.Roles and operations the Content API tool can performManaging hotel contentsOur Content API has been designed to retrieve all the details of the hotels available in our Booking API, and allows users to obtain these vital details through several different methods. This enables users to easily and quickly retrieve information associated with our global portfolio of accommodation options, such as room types, accommodation types, alongside lists of destinations, countries and promotions on available rates.&nbsp;The information returned through the Hotel Operation – the main function of the content API for hotels – is made up of four different categories of information, all requiring a different method of retrieval:Hotel descriptive operationsHotel location operationsHotel complementary operationsOther operations&nbsp;Hotel Descriptive OperationsThis includes all operations that can be used to describe each hotel, such as accommodation types, segments, categories and category groups, chains, image types, and facilities.Hotel Location OperationsThis group includes all operations that can be used to locate each hotel, and which are split into locations (destinations and zones) and countries.Hotel Complementary OperationsThese are categorised as all operations that can be used to complement the information of the hotels, as well as the information returned in our Booking API, such as descriptions of the room and board types, issues, and terminals associated with the hotel.Additionally, rate comments inform users of the comments the hotelier might want clients to know before confirming the booking. These rate comments are returned in our Booking API, so it’s important to ensure that your database is regularly updated to serve this information correctly and quickly.Other OperationsIncluded in this group are all the operations that are not directly related to the hotels but can be used to complement the information returned in our Booking API, including the descriptions of currencies and promotions that each rate can have.&nbsp;Activities API for travel experiencesThe content API contains a set of calls returning useful information regarding:Auxiliary data (countries, destinations, for example).Content for activities (images, commercial descriptions, and specific details).&nbsp;The content factsheet available in our Booking API is built using a set of attributes, which contain all the information required to accurately describe a product or set of products. Some of this information is presented to final customers when offering products or services, and so forms valuable, vital information for the booking process.&nbsp;Retrieving content factsheets can be done in two ways:Simple: a single content factsheet retrieved by its service code, and optionally, its modality. In our content API, this is called a ‘GET’ call.Multi: the content factsheet for a set of products, retrieved by a set of service codes and, optionally, their modalities. In our content API, this is called a ‘POST’ call.&nbsp;Both the service codes and modalities are returned by the Search operation!&nbsp;What benefits do Content APIs Offer?Now, function aside, here’s why content APIs are so valuable, and why utilising one from a B2B travel expert like Hotelbeds, and our parent company HBX Group, as a leading travel ecosystem player, can ensure that your business is performing at its most optimised:Dynamic content deliveryContent can be updated and displayed in real-time across a wider range of channels and platforms, without the need to be manually updated.Omnichannel content managementBy facilitating the creation, update and delivery of valuable content and information across multiple channels, content APIs can help ensure consistency and efficiency in the selling of travel products by streamlining the collection and dissemination of this content.Reducing operational and development timeStandardising the methods of accessing important content in relation to booking and availabilities helps to streamline development processes and save time on performing custom integrations.Greater scalabilityEnsured by the increased ease of access for content, and the streamlined distribution to a larger number of platforms, users and channels.Improved user experienceBy better empowering the delivery of personalised content to users, refined by their preferences and context, which results in a more connected (and more profitable) user experience.Better integration with third-party servicesSuch as e-commerce platforms or social media networks, alongside the more ‘traditional’ web-based booking interfaces, allowing for expanded reach and functionality.Future proofingBy ‘decoupling’ important content from specific platforms, content APIs can help to prepare this content for increasingly prevalent tech advancements, such as voice assistants or even augmented reality. This helps distributors stay ahead in the ever-evolving travel industry.&nbsp;Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, is a B2B travel expert, offering innovative and intuitive TravelTech solutions to travel players across the industry. By facilitating valuable and frictionless connections between businesses, we work to expand the growth, visibility, competitiveness and profitability of our partners in the ever-evolving travel industry.&nbsp;It’s our mission to empower choice for our partners and travellers worldwide:Presence in 170+ countries worldwide – with 250,000+ hotels and 23,000+ in-destination experiences, global transfer route coverage and car hire.Access to dedicated Account Managers, whose goal is your growth.1000 sourcing and destination experts, negotiating vital rates and availabilities.Seamless API integrations tailored to your business needs.Intelligent campaigns – to assist in the capture of seasonal demand.&nbsp;Not one of our valuable partners yet?&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up to become a Hotelbeds partner today&nbsp;to gain access to travel tech solutions like our content API, and much more.&nbsp;

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hotelbeds API solutions

Travel Tech Solutions: Sell Seamlessly with Hotelbeds' Content API

&nbsp;Sustainable travel has become the buzzword of the last few years in the travel industry, and while it’s important to keep pushing towards an industry where sustainability is at the core of all business models, it’s also just as important to aim for more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Single-use plastic-free hotels and experiences are essential when we’re thinking about making tourism a force for good, which is a goal that lies near and dear to us at Hotelbeds as a TravelTech leader.&nbsp;Of course, sustainability, environmental concerns and the travel industry have long been connected within both positive and negative discourse. However, plastic pollution and the prevalence of single-use plastics is one of the main challenges facing the planet and the tourism industry, as plastic waste decreases the visual appeal of destinations, pollutes the natural environment, and can contribute to poor human and wildlife health.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tourism isn’t the only victim when it comes to single-use plastic waste, but the tourism industry itself is a large contributor to plastic pollution, and it’s time that the industry tackles this problem from the inside - just like our Sustainable Hotels Programme, which now offers around 20,000 sustainable hotels, 6000+ of which are single-use plastic-free.&nbsp;Here are just a few reasons why travel providers should be offering sustainable, single-use plastic-free hotels to your clients.&nbsp;Meet The Demands of Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) TravellerWhile today’s traveller is increasingly sustainably minded, it’s the traveller of the future who will be next in line to take the industry even further and minimise the impact of tourism on the environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Highlighting more sustainable hotels and travel options at the start of the booking process encourages travellers to make eco-friendly choices. This collaborative effort within the industry can help transform the typical traveller into a more sustainable one.&nbsp;Our CEO, Nicolas Huss, emphasises that "travellers are now more aware of their carbon footprint and impact on the environment than ever before." Research supports this idea, showing that approximately 43% of global travellers are willing to pay more to ensure their stay has a reduced environmental impact.&nbsp;So, who is it that you are trying to attract with these sustainable travel offerings?&nbsp;&nbsp;The majority of Gen Z wants to travel sustainably and are three times more likely to engage in volunteering or regenerative travel projects while visiting other countries.82% of Millennials express a desire for trips that have minimal environmental impact.Gen Z is the demographic that spends the most on travel, indicating that, despite inflation, travel remains a top priority in their lives. Thus, providing sustainable travel options can help retain these high-spending customers.Additionally, Millennials comprise about a quarter of the world’s population and contribute around 17% to global consumer spending, which represents significant purchasing power.&nbsp;And with the global sustainable tourism industry valued at 3.12 trillion in 2024 and growing all the time, there is significant uplift available for companies, organisations and providers who implement successful sustainable tourism opportunities and who actively partner with those in the travel industry with sustainability at the forefront of their business model.&nbsp;Accor Hotels: A Successful Case Study In Going Single-Use Plastic FreeIn fact, major hotel chains have already made a step forward in order to tackle this issue. One good example is&nbsp;Accor Hotels, which joined the&nbsp;Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)&nbsp;in 2022 and has since announced two global partnerships with&nbsp;Green Key and Green Globe certifications.&nbsp;&nbsp;Going single-use plastic-free can be a challenging task for any business in the travel industry, but here's proof that such an aim is not only attainable but significantly rewarding for businesses that do.&nbsp;In the following video,&nbsp;Jordane de Villaret Bentinck, VP of Sustainability Communications &amp; Change at Accor, explains the actions the chain has implemented so far and how they have been received by customers.&nbsp;Our Sustainable Hotels ProgrammeThis rising demand for sustainable hotels and experiences is also something we’ve clearly seen at Hotelbeds in the last few years.&nbsp;As part of our parent company, HBX Group, our Sustainable Hotels Programme started in 2020, initially offering 15,000 properties to travel sellers and eco-conscious travellers. Since then, it has expanded significantly to around 20,000 sustainable hotels, reflecting an impressive 84% growth over 2022 compared to the previous year.&nbsp;&nbsp;We also observed a notable 30% increase in the number of travellers booking sustainable and single-use plastic-free hotels on our platform during the 2022-2023 period, with interest continuing to rise. Currently, our portfolio includes 6000+ plastic-free hotels, with new eco-conscious accommodation options being added regularly.&nbsp;Additionally, all of these sustainable hotels are easily accessible through the ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our Booking Engine. This feature refines searches to highlight hotels that have identified themselves as plastic-free or have participated in our Sustainable Hotels Programme, achieving some of the highest industry certifications for sustainability practices.&nbsp;Only hotels that have attained industry-certified sustainability levels, such as the Hotel Sustainability Basics certificate from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) or the GSTC Industry Criteria from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), are displayed in our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter on our travel booking platform.&nbsp;This combined with the powerful, data-driven and user-friendly nature of our Booking Engine, which helps streamline daily tasks for travel providers, means it is easier than ever for travel providers to find the most relevant properties for eco-conscious travellers in just a few clicks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up to become a Hotelbeds partner today&nbsp;to access our growing portfolio of sustainable hotels and begin broadening your offerings to the most vital segment out there right now - young, sustainable travellers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoid Losing Business As Travel Goes SustainableAs more and more travellers are putting their money where their beliefs are, there is the potential risk that current hotspot destinations which are producing plastic waste will be left behind by an increasingly eco-conscious market. And for the communities which are so dependent on the revenue generated by tourism, as well as the travel providers, like you, who are dependent on securing bookings from travellers themselves, keeping up with client demand is key.&nbsp;When it comes to the increasing demand for sustainable and plastic-free travel, an impactful study in Mallorca showed that 84% of surveyed travellers said they would be willing to pay more for an experience that's free of single-use plastics.&nbsp;In fact, there are examples from all around the world, and across many different sectors within the industry, that demonstrate the growing appetite for plastic-free and sustainable travel opportunities, and the importance of remaining ahead of the curve to avoid losing out on critical revenue opportunities:&nbsp;Recycling initiatives aimed at reducing landfill waste have gained significant momentum. For instance, since its launch in 2016, the Refill Not Landfill initiative based in Cambodia has expanded to 19 countries, including Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, and New Zealand, successfully saving thousands of tons of plastic from the oceans. Additionally, we are partnering with key hotel partners on recycling initiatives that convert discarded pool floats into fabrics.&nbsp;Circular economies are becoming more common, exemplified by Basecamp Maasai Brand (BMB), where discarded mosquito repellent bottles and plastic tanks are transformed by Maasai women into handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, and key rings. Programs like these provide economic benefits to local communities, help preserve cultural heritage, and simultaneously reduce plastic waste in popular tourist destinations.&nbsp;Regenerative tourism and volunteering schemes are increasingly in demand, serving as essential avenues for positive-impact and eco-conscious tourism practices while offering significant opportunities for tourism businesses. A recent report by Red Sea Global (RSG), the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, Wave, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation highlighted that the demand for eco-conscious experiences and travel significantly exceeds the industry's capacity to deliver restorative experiences. This emerging economy, valued at an impressive $2.5 trillion, is expected to double by 2030. It remains an underserved segment of the travel industry and represents a crucial area for achieving much-needed sustainability and social responsibility goals for both local and global communities.&nbsp;In response to this need, our parent company, HBX Group, has organised several impactful clean-up activities around the world, in places as far-reaching as Shanghai, Mexico, and Mallorca. A standout event was our collective volunteer effort on International Plastic Free Day 2024, during which 133 volunteers dedicated 223 hours to collecting 444.58 kg of waste!&nbsp;That said, while as many as 85% of global tourists want more plastic-free alternatives, many travellers can also be quick to respond negatively if these alternatives are not convenient.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, innovative solutions, such as those offered by the Zimbabwean-owned company EcoDrop, provide accessible and convenient options for everyone. By installing refill stations around Victoria Falls, the airport, the town, and the UNESCO World Heritage site, this initiative allows both visitors and residents to purchase a refillable bottle. Each bottle comes with a code that can be scanned at any of the refill stations to refill the bottle. This not only serves as a unique souvenir but also addresses the issue of the production and consumption of single-use bottles by granting access to water refills for pre-purchased bottles.&nbsp;Evidently, if popular locations do not begin to implement green initiatives which are accessible and integrated into the in-destination experience, and if travel providers do not promote sustainable hotels and experiences in these regions, the risk of suffering a drop in business as customers choose sustainable alternatives becomes very real.&nbsp;And with 13 million tonnes of plastic entering the waterways around the world every year, reducing the impact of single-use plastic pollution as a result of tourism has never been more important, especially in coastal and island destinations. As our head of Environmental, Social and Governance, Carlota Galvan suggests:Considering that around 90% of the plastic in the oceans comes from land-based sources and that the annual damage of plastics in marine ecosystems amounts to 13 billion dollars a year, it is essential to be proactive on the issue.&nbsp;So, the motivation is two-fold for travel sellers to offer and promote single-use plastic free and sustainable alternatives to travellers at the very beginning of their travel plans; not only to help fight the destructive impact of plastic waste, but to continually meet the needs of todays’ traveller, without compromising the traveller of tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s the first step?&nbsp;Accessing a portfolio of thousands of sustainable hotels to offer your clients! And with 6000 plastic-free hotels, and 20,000 sustainable hotels participating in our Sustainable Hotels Programme, we at Hotelbeds are in a prime position to offer exactly what your customers are after.&nbsp;Sign up to become one of our valuable partners today to begin optimising your offerings with sustainable properties and access high-value clients all over the world, even in hard-to-reach segments.&nbsp;Become Part of a Forward-Thinking Industry&nbsp;Single-use plastic free. Carbon Neutral. Climate Positive.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you think of these terms, you think of the future. You think of the shape of the travel industry as it is in the minds of those that want to change the industry for good; you think of the next wave of generations who are the most vocal and outspoken about climate change and all the ways that individuals, industries and businesses need to offset the impact on the environment as a matter of urgency.&nbsp;&nbsp;Global and institutional incentives are also a great way to actively combat plastic waste and join forces with brands and organisations taking it upon themselves to make travel a positive force.&nbsp;As an example, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI), which is co-led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), requires national and local governments, companies, and supporting organisations in the tourism sector to actively commit to reducing plastic pollution and shift towards plastic circularity (reusing and upcycling products rather than disposing of them) by 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the ‘Future of Tourism’ coalition includes six NGOs who are encouraging key industry names to uphold 13 regenerative principles, such as circular economy, and including sustainable local supply chains in the definition of economic success, rather than just relying on GDP.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are critical developments from the industry itself, meeting the rising demand for something more than just sustainable travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus, incentives like this are a practical way to support travel providers like you, as you reduce plastic waste in the daily practices and partnerships that you have, while still maintaining health and quality protocols for the end traveller.&nbsp;Practical Ways to Help Travellers Avoid Single-Use PlasticsUse our ‘Sustainable Hotel’ filter - utilise the 'Sustainable Hotel' filter in the booking engine to quickly find hotels that have designated themselves as ‘sustainable’ or ‘single-use plastic free’ and possess the appropriate sustainability accreditation.Offer eco-friendly tours - provide tours that utilise eco-friendly transportation options, such as electric vehicles, public transport, or bicycles.Invest in ‘give back’ projects - like tree planting, much like our adjoining company Hotelbeds is dedicated to planting tens of thousands of trees in the Hotelbeds Forest! Or beach clean-ups, like those organised by our parent company HBX Group, in destinations as far-reaching as Shanghai, Mexico, and Mallorca.Partner with eco-conscious tour operators - collaborate with tour operators who actively reduce single-use plastic waste in their experiences. This can include encouraging travellers to bring their own reusable bottles and ensuring that plastic-free cutlery is provided when necessary. There are numerous ways for operators to maintain high-quality experiences without relying on plastic.Encourage travellers to book transport from businesses that have taken steps to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics. For instance, American Airlines has been recognised for the second consecutive year on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), while Air France-KLM has been identified as the most sustainable airline group globally using the same index.Promote eco-conscious cruises - Offer cruises that have significantly reduced or entirely removed single-use plastics. Hurtigruten was the first cruise line to ban single-use plastics in 2018. More recently, Virgin Voyages has also eliminated them, with Beyond Tours, Cunard, and P&amp;O following suit by 2022.Consider partnering with a sustainably minded reward programme. Approximately 42% of travellers surveyed indicated that they would be more inclined to travel sustainably if they could earn reward points for making environmentally friendly choices.&nbsp;Being a part of the movement is only going to bring positive responses from the high-value sustainable traveller and boost your success as a leader of the sustainable charge.&nbsp;What’s more, according to our platforms, tour operators and travel wholesalers are paving the way when it comes to booking sustainable hotels and experiences in some of our most popular destinations around the world. Which means, when it comes to influencing travellers to make sustainable choices, travel providers are essential!&nbsp;Promoting single-use plastic-free hotels is just the first step of many; but it’s certainly a start.Plus, ensuring that more sustainable hotels and travel opportunities are front and centre for travellers at the beginning of their booking journey, encourages and enables more sustainable choices – allowing the industry to work together to transform the ‘traditional’ traveller into a sustainable traveller.&nbsp;Sign up today or Log in to access a growing portfolio of single-use plastic free hotels and begin to expand your offerings to attract the increasingly eco-conscious traveller of today, with plastic-free hotels and sustainable hotels as part of our Sustainable Hotels Programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Why Travel Distributors Should Offer Single-Use Plastic-Free Hotels

&nbsp;Why are Booking APIs Essential?Booking API’s, in today’s industry, are an almost integral solution for travel distributors offering valuable travel products to today’s traveller, as they enable more automated processes, expanded reach, and more efficient, customised booking and customer experiences.&nbsp;This is achieved through:Real-time access to inventory.Integration with various suppliers.Automated tasks such as payment processing and ticketing.Streamlined booking processes.&nbsp;If you haven't yet discovered the full suite of API solutions offered by Hotelbeds, read more about our comprehensive travel API solutions here, and the value they offer for travel professionals looking to increase their efficiency, scalability and profitability in this competitive industry.&nbsp;A good booking API allows end-to-end management for all bookings, making the online booking experience seamless for both travel distributors, aggregators, and end customers.&nbsp;But, how does this benefit you in the real-world? Here are a few key ways that a booking API enables you to optimise your success.&nbsp;Real-time Data and Inventory AccessEquals improved reach and live pricing.&nbsp;Live pricing and availability: Booking APIs provide access to up-to-date information, including real-time pricing, availability, and special offers from suppliers.&nbsp;Global reach: Distributors can access, and therefore sell, a wider range of inventory from various suppliers, both domestically and internationally, without needing to manage multiple systems manually. This streamlines the ability to offer more products to in-market customers without creating additional operational processes.&nbsp;Streamlined Booking ProcessesMost APIs automate various steps in the booking process, and this can range from search and selection to confirmation and ticketing, which helps to reduce manual effort for distributors, and potential human errors, and improves customer experience!&nbsp;As part of these automated processes, customers have a more intuitive and convenient booking journey, which encourages more positive experiences and increases the likelihood of returning customers.&nbsp;This is where the key features of Hotelbeds’ booking API come into their own, offering a seamless booking experience for customers thanks to its fast and easy integration:Instant booking confirmation.Flexible check-in dates.Find products by geolocation and keywords.Push notifications.Advanced filtering options.&nbsp;Supplier Integration and AutomationAPIs help to facilitate a more seamless connection between distributors and various travel product suppliers through integration and automation; this can include hotels, rental car companies, local and global experience providers, and airlines.&nbsp;This integration and communication between systems allows for increased automation, such as the aforementioned points on automated payment processing and ticketing. But APIs can streamline numerous manual processes including invoicing, refund procedures, generating and delivering tickets and vouchers to customers.&nbsp;This reduces the operational demand required for these processes and allows a more efficient way of working. Not to mention that this also improves customer experience due to the effective completion of these crucial booking journey aspects, all of which impact whether or not a customer will return to you as a travel distributor.&nbsp;Increased Efficiency and ScalabilityFeeding into this idea of reduced operational demand, is the consequent efficiency and scalability that comes with the use of a reliable booking API when it comes to:Cost and time savings: through the reduction of manual work, automation allows for faster, more efficient operations.Scalability: through increased automation and the level of integration available with a booking API, distributors can more easily scale their operations to meet and capture more demand, without significant changes or strain on their infrastructure.Reduced development costs: using a pre-built API allows distributors to avoid the costs and complexities of building their own booking system from scratch.Improved core responsibilities: through automating operational tasks and providing a more streamlined booking process, distributors can better focus on areas they can provide increased value to customers, such as marketing and customer service.&nbsp;Hotelbeds’ Booking APIs – Hotels and ActivitiesNow that we understand a few of the key benefits of booking APIs, where does Hotelbeds come in? And what APIs do we offer to enable a more optimised, efficient and ultimately successful business for you?&nbsp;Let us introduce our Hotel and Activities Booking APIs:&nbsp;The Hotel Booking API from HotelbedsWhen it comes to hotel reservations in particular, there are a few ways to gain access to hotel data and booking capabilities:Connecting via travel ecosystem players, like Hotelbeds.Direct connection via property management (PMS) and central reservation systems (CRS).Connection via channel managers.Connection via aggregators, such as GDSs.Partnering with big OTAs.&nbsp;The Hotelbeds Hotel Booking API is designed to streamline the integration of hotel reservations into websites and apps. Partners gain access to Hotelbeds’ extensive global accommodation inventory in real-time, simplifying tasks like searching for options, confirming bookings, managing reservations, and more.&nbsp;Our Hotel Booking API is the main hotel API in our API ecosystem, covering the complete booking process. Designed to book hotels in real-time, in just a few steps, this API generates full lists of hotels, confirms bookings, and enables seamless booking management and modification.&nbsp;Our Hotel Booking API works in conjunction with our Content API to obtain important content information from the hotels, such as pictures, descriptions, facilities, and services.&nbsp;Key Features of Hotelbeds’ Booking APIStreamline your booking funnel with our API Suite’s powerful Hotel Booking API to deliver a fast, intuitive booking experience with the following features:Fast and easy integration with various global suppliers.Quick access to a global inventory of accommodations.Streamlined integration of hotel reservations into websites and apps.Simple search functionalities for accommodation options.Advanced filtering options, including the ability to find products by geolocation and keywords.Quick and direct confirmation of bookings.Real-time access to updated information on pricing and availability.&nbsp;How does our Hotel Booking API work?Our Hotel Booking API uses three different methods to manage booking functions: Hotels, CheckRates, and Bookings.&nbsp;Hotels: this method (/hotels) is used to request room availability, where filters and special features can be applied before sending an availability request; offer a flexible date search; generate a list of hotels with room, board and rate types for these hotels and restricted to the selected dates; and return cancellation fees within the availability response.&nbsp;Check Rates: this method returns up-to-date availability and prices on hotels that require this information to be obtained prior to booking.&nbsp;Bookings: this allows distributors to confirm a booking, obtain a list of bookings, modify or cancel any booking, or simulate a cancellation to see any cancellation conditions.&nbsp;The Activities Booking API from HotelbedsOur API solutions also offer the ability to book activities and in-destination experiences, allowing you to provide even more travel products to customers and expand your value to them.&nbsp;This Activities Booking API is designed to:Enable the construction or creation of a complete activities website or mobile application (app).Integrate activities and experiences into existing systems, both internal and external.Integrate content for these activities and experiences into a common CMS, applicable to all travel products being distributed.&nbsp;How does the Activities API work?Our Activities Booking API can be split into three main functions:Availability / Search: offers a real-time list of available activities and experiences depending on the filters and special features applied.Details / CheckRate: return real-time availability for specific activity codes and operational dates, along with essential details.Booking /Post-booking: confirm, manage and modify all bookings.&nbsp;Discover more information about our comprehensive APIs here.&nbsp;If you’re not yet one of our valuable partners, to access our API solutions and begin optimising your booking success with Hotelbeds, sign up today.&nbsp;It’s our mission to empower choice for our partners and travellers worldwide:Presence in 170+ countries worldwide – with 250,000+ hotels and 23,000+ in-destination experiences, global transfer route coverage and car hire.Access to dedicated Account Managers, whose goal is your growth.1000 sourcing and destination experts, negotiating vital rates and availabilities.Seamless API integrations tailored to your business needs.Intelligent campaigns – to assist in the capture of seasonal demand.&nbsp;Become a Hotelbeds partner today&nbsp;

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Travel Tech Solutions: Access Optimised Booking Processes with Hotelbeds’ Booking APIs

&nbsp;Did you know that around 80% of global travellers have suggested that sustainability is important to them? Or that 6 out of 10 visitors prioritise hotels that are single-use plastic free?&nbsp;And considering that this year’s theme for World Environment Day is #BeatPlasticPollution, it’s critical that as a travel distributor, you’re aware of the responsibility to cater to the growing demand from travellers seeking sustainable options; not only for the longevity of the industry, but for the conservation, protection, and prioritisation of the planet.&nbsp;With our range of travel booking tools and products, our strong commitment to sustainability as a business, and our continuous focus on empowering both travel providers and travellers themselves with opportunities that cater to their specific needs, we strive to provide the best possible travel experience for all.&nbsp;Let’s take a look at how we’re helping you to help your clients travel sustainably.&nbsp;Make Sustainable Travel Front and CentreWith more and more travellers aligning their values with their spending habits, it is evident that the industry is moving towards a permanent shift to sustainability.&nbsp;Our CEO Nicolas Huss suggests ‘travellers are much more conscious of their carbon footprint and impact on the environment than ever before’, and research supports this notion, with around 43% of global travellers willing to spend more for the knowledge that their stay has a reduced impact on the environment.&nbsp;So it’s important that you’re able to offer trustworthy and approved sustainable options. Not only for ultimate peace of mind, but also to maximise the reputation of your business in today’s conscious industry, and for the betterment of the planet, too.&nbsp;Sustainable Hotels ProgrammeWe have our Sustainable Hotels Programme (formerly our Green Hotels Programme) offered in line with our parent company, HBX Group.&nbsp;Since its beginnings in 2020 our Sustainable Hotels Programme has continued to grow, from offering 15,000 to around 20,000 sustainable hotels and our collection of single-use plastic-free hotels has expanded significantly from 500 to 6000+, aided by a collaboration with Accor.&nbsp;The Sustainable Hotels Programme was established to provide hotels worldwide with a platform to demonstrate their commitment to transforming travel, catering to the growing importance of conscious travel choices for consumers, and facilitating the integration of sustainable options into the booking process for our registered partners.&nbsp;As such, our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter forms part of a crucial Sustainability Waves initiative, formed in 2023, to drive real, measurable change in the travel and hospitality industry. This programme helps hotel partners implement and showcase sustainable practices while improving their overall ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance.&nbsp;And by making these hotels easily accessible to our distributor partners and end customers, we’re connecting the industry to a more conscious way of discovering all this world has to offer.&nbsp;The Sustainable Hotels Programme was established to:Provide hotels worldwide with a platform to demonstrate their commitment to transforming travel.Cater to the growing importance of conscious travel choices for consumers.Facilitate the integration of sustainable options into the booking process for our registered partners.&nbsp;This leads us onto our next point...&nbsp;The ‘Sustainable Hotels’ Filter in our Booking Travel PlatformOne of the fastest ways for our registered travel partners to access, identify, and promote our collection of sustainable hotels is by using the ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our Booking Engine.&nbsp;Hotels are only shown in our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our travel booking platform, if they have sustainable certification, provided by industry-leading organisations such as the World Tourism and Trade Council (WTTC) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC); or have developed sustainability programmes of their own, with equal or higher sustainability standards.&nbsp;To appear in our Sustainable Hotels Programme all hotels will have achieved one form of sustainability certification or another, by:Implementing the 12 basics of sustainability defined by WTTC. These basics include Measure &amp; Reduce Energy Use, Measure &amp; Reduce Water List, No SUP water bottles, Bulk amenity dispensers or Community Benefit, among others.Providing evidence of these sustainability efforts to their verification partner, to comply with the Basic Hotel Sustainability standard.Working with a Certification Body towards achieving full GSTC requirements compliance, the highest social and environmental standards on the market.&nbsp;By selecting 'Sustainable Hotels' in our Booking Engine, you and your clients can have peace of mind knowing that the hotels and resorts recommended are accredited with the highest levels of sustainability.&nbsp;Not signed up yet? Sign up and start taking advantage of our 40,000 sustainable hotels!Join the Hotelbeds network&nbsp;Communicate your Sustainable Travel Offering EasilyOnce you have access to our growing sustainable travel portfolio, you’d be remiss not to broadcast this far and wide to your potential customers. For web-based partners, you can easily communicate your sustainable offerings during the search process to your ideal audience:Easy Hotel Comparison in the Booking EngineOnce you and your client have found suitable sustainable options for their needs, it might be tricky for them to narrow down their choices.&nbsp;Luckily, our Hotel Comparison Tool in the Booking Engine makes this simple.&nbsp;Simply select the sustainable hotel options that have caught your clients’ eye, and hit the ‘Compare’ button in our booking platform. It’s that easy.&nbsp;Our Booking Engine allows you to compare up to four hotels at the time of booking, offering a quick glance at each list of facilities to help your client make the decision.Bespoke Marketing Materials and FlyersQuickly create eye-catching marketing flyers to highlight any travellers’ sustainable hotel choices in just a few clicks.&nbsp;Insights, our intuitive search and recommendation tool, offers a Custom Flyer Tool makes sharing bespoke promotional materials with clients even easier. Once you’ve refined your search based on customer requirements, up to 8 hotels can be collated into a user-friendly flyer which can be personalised with a disclaimer for customers on an individual basis.&nbsp;Plus, as you can share any travel marketing materials through a variety of methods including WhatsApp, Email, Downloadable files, even a personalised QR code, Insights gets your promo material directly onto customers’ screens, making sure that you stay connected and convenient for travellers.&nbsp;Our Sustainable Travel CampaignsWe believe that offering timely, incentivising, and seasonal campaigns is a crucial aspect of being a good partner, and our mission is to provide the best travel products to our partners in a way that excites and delights their clients.&nbsp;Therefore, it is only natural that we run these types of campaigns to meet your needs and the needs of your ideal audience to meet growing industry demands.&nbsp;Our campaigns serve as a crucial platform to showcase valuable and sought-after products that keep you ahead in the travel industry.&nbsp;This includes promoting sustainable options, exemplified in our previous Single-Use Plastic-Free campaigns and our upcoming Environmentally Friendly Hotels campaign which provides easy access to thousands of single-use plastic-free hotels and those with sustainability at their core.&nbsp;We’ve seen huge success with our sustainably focused campaigns and are dedicated to constantly improving our offering of eco-conscious options, and our single-use plastic-free portfolio now stands at 6000 hotels all around the world.&nbsp;Since launching several ESG-focused campaigns as part of our Sustainability Waves initiative, we have worked towards:Eliminating single-use plastics across hotel operations.Improving accessibility to ensure a more inclusive experience for all travellers.Implementing zero-waste practices to reduce environmental impact.&nbsp;View our most recent ESG (Environment, Social and Governance Report here or sign up today to begin benefitting from targeted and seasonal campaigns to help you uplift your bookings.&nbsp;Access to Sustainable Products and Industry InitiativesHotelbeds, as part of the HBX Group, takes its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities seriously.&nbsp;It’s important that for any business in the travel industry, you’re getting access to the travel products and wider network to facilitate your own success in your market, as well as working to make travel a force for good.&nbsp;Amplify your own offering by providing the inclusive, sustainable, and accessible travel experiences the industry is demanding, by working with a travel partner like Hotelbeds.&nbsp;Here are just a few of the initiatives we’re working towards to champion sustainable product offerings, improve our environmental processes and optimise our contribution to travel as a force for good:Hotel Collaboration on Sustainable Projects – working together to champion sustainability with the likes of Hyatt hotels, and their plastic recycling scheme, which turns plastic pool floats into fabric.Facility Campaigns – in addition to our single-use plastic reduction efforts, we’re also launching or expanding campaigns to make it even easier for our partners to book and promote sustainable and inclusive travel, including:Hotels which accommodate eco-friendly electric charging points.Accessible hotels for guests with mobility assistance requirements.Pet-friendly hotel options.A new Environmental Management System – a structured framework including new policies, training, evaluation and analysis to improve our environmental operations and procedures as a business.&nbsp;Read more about why travel distributors should offer single-use plastic-free hotels here.&nbsp;So there you have it. While this is a few of the key ways that as a travel parter we make it easy for you to offer sustainable options to travellers, you’ll only be able to ascertain the true value of providing sustainable alternatives to your clients once you begin.&nbsp;Start catering to the demands of today’s traveller and focus on bringing sustainability to the forefront of your promotion, and if you haven’t already, sign up to access a global portfolio of sustainable hotel options. &nbsp;&nbsp;Join the Hotelbeds network&nbsp;

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World Environment Day: How Hotelbeds Helps Travel Distributors Promote Sustainable Travel

&nbsp;In the highly competitive travel industry, working with a partner who is proven to open new avenues of revenue generation and who provides comprehensive travel products and tailored support is essential when seeking to increase market share for any travel business.&nbsp;In this success story, we identify how tiket.com, a leading Online Travel Agent based in Indonesia, was able to expand into new international markets and capture increased customer demand thanks to a strategic partnership with Hotelbeds.&nbsp;About tiket.comEstablished in 2011, tiket.com is a leading Online Travel Agent (OTA) based in Indonesia. Becoming an affiliated company of Blibli in 2017 and a consolidating subsidiary in 2021, tiket.com has quickly positioned itself as one of the largest and comprehensive OTAs in its market.&nbsp;tiket.com offers a range of travel products to both domestic and international travellers, including flights, trains, accommodation, event ticketing, car rental and other essential travel experience products through both web and mobile booking platforms.&nbsp;The Challenge: What did tiket.com need from this partnership?Cisyelya Bunyamin, SVP of Accommodation for tiket.com and representative for our valuable partner at HBX Group’s MarketHub Asia summit in 2025, suggested that one of the main challenges for tiket.com in 2018 was its desire to expand to other global markets, outside of its established domestic market within Indonesia: ‘Our mission is to expand our markets globally, to global markets rather than just domestic market.’&nbsp;Bunyamin confirmed the global reach of Hotelbeds as a primary benefit to tiket.com: ‘By partnering with Hotelbeds, it helps us to [get] access to your global inventories, and at the same time will then help us also to be able to offer a wider range of products to our customers.’&nbsp;Therefore, the goal for tiket.com was to increase its revenue generation, capture more demand, and increase its positioning within the competitive global OTA sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Solution: How was Hotelbeds able to help?tiket.com’s partnership with Hotelbeds began in late 2018, and since then, both entities have benefited from a profitable, successful and strategic partnership. tiket.com has increased its expansion into international markets, and Hotelbeds has been able to deepen its relationship with a pioneering OTA in Indonesia.&nbsp;As a solution to tiket.com’s primary challenge of expansion into international markets was the global inventories that became available to them.&nbsp;Curated as a result of decades in the industry, our expansive travel product portfolio enabled tiket.com to not only access this wide range of travel products to offer and sell to their customers, but also empowered them to diversify the scope of their offering. In doing so, tiket.com were more readily able to capture increased demand, especially within international markets, due to streamlined access to a global inventory.&nbsp;Speaking with us, Cisyelya Bunyamin also suggested a key differentiator of Hotelbeds to other entities within the TravelTech sector was also the valuable pricing plans and rates our destination and sourcing experts can negotiate, and the consequent competitiveness this offered tiket.com as they expanded into new markets.&nbsp;This was a crucial factor for ticket.com when evaluating which partner would provide the most advantageous relationship and improve upon their current positioning. As Bunyamin suggested, ‘For us it's very crucial to be able to partner with a wholesaler that has a very deep pricing and rate plan, to help us improve our overall competitiveness.’&nbsp;Through streamlined API integration, tiket.com have been able to offer a wide range of accommodation options to a broader spectrum of customers. Fulfilling more demand with varying products from affordable stays, resort-type hotels, to apartments and villas, as well as other valuable travel experience products.&nbsp;This comprehensive experience, for their customers, ‘is something that there's no way we can do on our own in such a short time’, according to Bunyamin.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Outcome: Why was Hotelbeds the right choice?tiket.com has been able to significantly increase their market positioning both domestically and in the international markets they’ve been empowered to capture by accessing Hotelbeds’ global inventories.&nbsp;Owing also to the combination of tiket.com’s reputation as a leading OTA in their own market and our dedicated sourcing experts, tiket.com has seen notable increase in their own competitiveness.&nbsp;Benefiting from highly competitive, often exclusive rates, expertly negotiated by our experienced sourcing teams with on-the-ground, local knowledge, tiket.com has been able to increase their presence within international markets, which at the beginning of their partnership with us were inaccessible.&nbsp;Reliable access to real-time pricing through our API integrations has also helped tiket.com ensure their competitiveness even in times of flux, and empowered their growth within a relatively short time frame.&nbsp;But access to a global portfolio and seamless API integration is not the whole picture, and tiket.com also appreciated the mutually beneficial and supportive working relationship that both parties have been able to foster over the years. A key factor of this partnership, Bunyamin revealed, is the support received from the commercial and product teams, alongside the numerous API specialists at Hotelbeds.&nbsp;Dedicated and proactive guidance from a specialist Technical Account Manager ensured that any technical issues that arose were dealt with effectively, without unnecessary delays, alongside post-sales support, customer service, and customised strategic guidance from an expert Strategic Account Manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;Why Partner with Hotelbeds?In addition to offering travel businesses crucial opportunities to expand, as demonstrated in the profitable partnership with tiket.com, we offer a wide range of tailor-made solutions to travel businesses across the varying sectors.&nbsp;As part of the wider HBX Group ecosystem – a leading provider of TravelTech and expert B2B travel solutions – Hotelbeds offers long-standing experience in the B2B travel sector as a major travel distribution and wholesale partner connecting the fragmented industry into a cohesive network.&nbsp;It’s our mission to empower choice for our partners and travellers worldwide:&nbsp;Presence in 170+ countries worldwide – with 250,000+ hotels and 23,000+ in-destination experiences, global transfer route coverage and car hire.Access to dedicated Account Managers, whose goal is your growth.1000 sourcing and destination experts, negotiating vital rates and availabilities.Seamless API integrations tailored to your business needs.Intelligent campaigns – to assist in the capture of seasonal demand.&nbsp;Take your business even further with Hotelbeds. Sign up today to see how we can optimise your success in the ever-evolving world of travel.&nbsp;Become a Hotelbeds partner today&nbsp;Discover the full interview with Cisyelya Bunyamin, speaking to us at MarketHub Asia

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Strategic Partnership: How tiket.com and Hotelbeds Achieved Profitable Global Expansion

&nbsp;The last few years have dramatically shaped traveller behaviours and preferences, with many of today’s travellers actively seeking more enriched in-destination experiences which we’ve previously reported on in our travel trends predictions, such as culinary tourism (54%), exploring natural landscapes (49%) and immersing themselves in the local culture (44%).&nbsp;It’s clear however, that whether they are seeking the next solar eclipse, dark skies to marvel at, or are plotting hiking routes for new destinations, today's travellers are firmly leaping into the great outdoors.&nbsp;So, what is nature tourism, and what does today’s adventurous traveller look like?What is nature tourism?Nature-based tourism, according to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) is defined as “responsible travel to experience natural areas and their landscape, flora, and fauna, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of locals.”&nbsp;Popular excursions include star-bathing in dark sky parks, chasing the Aurora Borealis, heading to the beach to see marine life, or mountaineering to soak in natural hot springs, ‘cool-cationing’ in some of the Northern Hemisphere’s most breathtaking locations, to venturing out into the wildernesses around the world from the comfort of a guided tour. But travel is personal, and so how travellers choose to get out and about is as wide and varied as how many travel experiences exist.&nbsp;Around 34% of global travellers report a growing interest in nature-based tourism, and 29% expressed interest in nature-based adventure. Many of these travellers will go to great lengths to witness natural phenomena, and aren’t shy of spending to do so. In fact, Future Market Insights forecasts that the global adventure tourism industry is expected to grow at 16.2% per year until 2033, potentially making it worth around $1.5 trillion. This, combined with the current demand for sustainable, nature-based experiences for today’s traveller, makes nature tourism a travel trend worth paying attention to.&nbsp;5 Key Nature Travel Trends to Consider‘Noctourism’ and astrotourism: travellers are looking skywardsThe industry is seeing a global rise in astrotourism: experiences such as stargazing, star bathing, and chasing the Northern Lights. 61% of travellers, according to recent Skift and Expedia reports, suggest that seeing the sky lit up by the Aurora Borealis is their most sought-after phenomenon, and this is set to be one of the must-see moments for many in 2025 and beyond.&nbsp;In fact, SkyScanner has reported that around 44% of 25-34-year-olds are interested in using astronomy to determine their next trip in 2025, whether that’s seeking the next solar eclipse, chasing the Aurora Borealis, or simply staying somewhere with wide expanses of uninhibited natural sky.&nbsp;The recent solar eclipses generated huge travel demand, with millions of people travelling to see this solar event. Recent findings from Skift showed that search interest within the US, for example, surged to four times its usual amount for ‘totality destinations’, while international bookings were up 133%.&nbsp;Elsewhere in hospitality, hotels and resorts in remote, light pollution-free areas, perfect for star-bathing, stargazing and seeing the Northern Lights – such as Iceland, for instance – are enhancing guest experiences by offering unique hospitality features and services. This can include additional wake-up calls, in case the Northern Lights occur late at night, on-site observatories, and complimentary snow suits. This is the kind of experience guests will remember and pay extra for!&nbsp;Nature and adventure Travel: digital nomads and ‘soft’ adventure-enjoyersProfessional meets personal for adventure-seeking digital nomadsNotably, there has also been a notable rise in digital nomads, remote workers, and entrepreneurs all actively seeking outdoor-based travel experiences, chasing adventure in between office hours.&nbsp;PassportCard Nomads recently discovered that 82% of digital nomads are seeking adventurous and culturally immersive travel experiences, eager to go beyond just sightseeing. These modern workers have been altering the way that travel integrates with work for years now, but they’re going one step further and changing the face of adventure travel too.&nbsp;For an increasing number of digital nomads and remote workers, travel is not simply seeking a refuge or fog-clearing shake from being behind the screen. These ‘modern adventurers’ are combining professional ambitions with the thrill of frontier-chasing, and travel is a way to blend rejuvenation and personal growth for a growing number of digital nomads.&nbsp;‘Soft’ Adventure vs Frontier ChasersAs a contrast to ‘frontier travel’, one of the newest buzzwords in travel is ‘soft adventure’.&nbsp;Fuelled by the ever-increasing demand for mindful, meaningful travel and unique experiences, ‘soft adventure’ consists of travel which prioritises comfort and pleasure over extreme thrills; experience-led travel which often combines an explorative itinerary with leisure or wellness activities.&nbsp;This is by no means a small segment of the adventure travel or nature tourism market, either. Activities like hiking, cycling and wildlife watching represent the largest share of tourism opportunities, accounting for around 60% - 80% of the market according to Tourism Economies. Not only this, but the soft adventure sub-trend is estimated to capture around 72% of the market share in 2025! We anticipate this trend of travellers seeking accessible exploration will only become more prevalent, representing a key opportunity for savvy professionals in the industry with an expansive portfolio of experiences that can accommodate this broader definition of adventure travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cool-cationing: the escape to colder destinationsTravellers are looking to shake off the heat of rising global temperatures, are discovering how ‘traditionally’ cold-weather destinations are great all year round, and are seeking alternative locations for a refreshing dip in summer.&nbsp;Instead of seeking warmer climates during the hotter months, global travellers are seeking experiences in destinations with cooler climates, while also trying to travel more sustainably.&nbsp;In fact, recent studies from Booking.com report that around 42% of UK travellers would prefer to use their trips as a chance to experience cooler destinations rather than heading to more traditionally common international destinations.&nbsp;Searches for ‘cooler holidays’ have surged by over 300% in some cases, with destinations seeking spikes in popularity including those within Northern Europe and the Arctic, with trips to the Arctic rising a staggering 235% from 2022 to 2023 (as reported by Skift.) Notably, this upswing in demand for these destinations also intersects with the demand for nature tourism, with many travellers seeking active, nature-based itineraries.&nbsp;For travellers looking to get out there, fjord cruises, hiking in the Nordic countryside, and Arctic expeditions offer unforgettable ways to embrace nature’s raw beauty.Natural phenomena and hands-on immersionThe evolution and increasing demand for natural experiences reflect the growing desire for authenticity and immersive experiences that the industry has seen across the board.&nbsp;Of course, the scope of nature tourism is broad, and often there is a valuable intersection between enjoyment of natural phenomena and sustainable, authentic experiences which benefit the host region or country, as well as fulfil the traveller.&nbsp;Whether travellers want to lean into the educational aspect, common within adventure travel, with hands-on learning experiences in the ‘field’ with experts, conservation efforts, regenerative experiences, or simply get up close and personal with the natural landscape, this demand hinges on one thing: meaningful connection.&nbsp;To offer incentivising experiences and secure bookings, it’s key that you understand the why of a traveller’s experience, what they want from it, and how you can fulfil that.&nbsp;Here are a few key in-destination experiences which are proving popular for today’s traveller:Solar and lunar eclipses: demonstrated with the 133% increase in international bookings to see the recent 2024 solar eclipse in the US.Seeing/tracking the Northern Lights in Norway, Canada, and Finland.Active volcanic eruptions: such as in Iceland or Hawaii.Wildlife migrations: the Great Migration in the Serengeti, or penguin gatherings in Australia, for example.Conservation efforts: such as joining expert marine biologists or tracking endangered species with ecologists.Expertly led tours and guides: with a focus on local voices to ensure authenticity and benefits to the local economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Luxury travellers: high-end sustainabilityAccording to Virtuoso, 74% of luxury travellers would be willing to pay more to travel responsibly, especially if it’s clear how the money will be used. In fact, luxury travellers are re-prioritising their travel experiences and choosing positive-impact tourism in their destination of choice - a method of travelling which leaves a place in a better state than how it was found - over the ‘traditional’ understanding of luxury.&nbsp;The ‘fusion’ of nature travel experiences and high-end hospitality is a sector poised for significant growth and expansion, as travellers move away from five-star hotels towards meaningful, connected travel experiences and options such as off-grid accommodations, solar-powered retreats and green construction materials.&nbsp;It’s also worth noting that today’s luxury traveller is much more likely to be younger. According to recent studies, the average age of travellers on private jets is 38, and while the 'Baby Boomer' generation still constitutes a large portion of the luxury segment, Millennial travellers spend an estimated $200 million on travel annually and make up 50% of the global market share.&nbsp;&nbsp;Younger travellers are those proven to want to, and are happy to pay for, travel as a priority compared to other generations, and the 'new luxury' traveller, as found by a recent McKinsey study, found that the 'aspiring' luxury traveller is growing in spending power. This younger demographic has been found to spend around $84 billion on luxury travel annually - more than any other cohort.&nbsp;These travellers may not have what is considered 'very high' or 'high' worth individually, and their earnings might not be the same as those in the ultra-wealthy segment. But factors like the growing wealth in China, for example, are contributing to a much leaner segment of the luxury travel industry who are younger and willing to spend a larger portion of their salaries on travel experiences.&nbsp;So, factoring what today’s younger travellers want into your recommendations when considering luxury is key, and this, of course, is sustainability.&nbsp;This is a unique position for both traveller and industry, given that in many cases, high-end travellers are in a position where they can support conservation efforts in the destinations they visit. To facilitate and leverage this, many existing and newly established luxury travel experience providers are offering unique experiences, creating their own conservation efforts which travellers can support, or donate to local efforts.&nbsp;For example, since the opening of the Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, cheetahs have been successfully re-established, demonstrating the real-world impact that the luxury segment can have on conservation.&nbsp;&nbsp;How can Travel Distributors Leverage Nature Tourism?The increasing popularity of nature-based travel presents a significant opportunity for travel businesses currently offering travel products for this traveller type, or are wanting to broaden their appeal to this growing segment.&nbsp;Understanding the current and future demands of this traveller is key to success, and the four key sub-trends within nature travel we’ve discussed offer an introduction to the types of demands this traveller segment is making of the industry.&nbsp;Book a room with a viewAround 80% of travellers, according to recent studies, would prefer to stay in a location that offers a ‘prime viewing spot’ for natural phenomena such as the northern lights, and for geological phenomena like volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs. That’s not a decision-making factor to overlook.&nbsp;Offer seasonal experiencesWith Hotelbeds, you can offer seasonal deals and opportunities to clients to maximise your appeal to travellers no matter their destination, increasing the likelihood of securing those all-important sales.&nbsp;What’s more, Hotelbeds partners receive exclusive access to specially negotiated offers thanks to our expert sourcing and destination teams, neatly packaged in our global and regional campaigns.&nbsp;Understand your clients’ demands and offer accordinglyHowever, in an era where personalised offers are so vital for the consumer journey, success hinges on meeting this audience where they are – and that requires offering the right products at the right price, at the right time in a way that makes sense for that traveller or audience.&nbsp;As Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, a leading travel ecosystem player in the B2B space, this is where we specialise, offering intuitive and innovative TravelTech solutions which reduce friction from the end-to-end travel experience, both for the end traveller and for travel industry professionals all around the world.&nbsp;An expansive global portfolio allows you to meet and exceed the needs of even more travellers in your ideal market – including 23,000+ in-destination experiences to better accommodate experience-first travel.Easy access to travel products with competitive, preferred conditions, exclusive availabilities, and differentiated rates as a result of our expert sourcing and destination teams.Sustainable Choices – our Sustainable Hotels Programme offers 40,000 options for eco-conscious travellers, including 5500+ single-use plastic-free accommodations.Our fast, intuitive API solutions mean you can take advantage of seamless distribution across even more booking touchpoints.Intelligent data-driven campaigns offer you the right price on travel products throughout the year, letting you capture and generate demand.A powerful online travel booking platform lets our web-based partners work and earn at speed, with complex algorithms, intuitive searches, and integrated revenue-boosting tools.Expert business insights to ensure you’re capitalising on every opportunity for growth, as well as competitor analysis, sales recommendations and sales optimisation.&nbsp;Sign up to join the Hotelbeds network today&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Travel Trends: Nature Tourism and the Evolution of the Adventurous Traveller

&nbsp;What are detour destinations?A ‘detour’ destination is a lesser-known location near a popular tourist area or an alternative destination that offers similar experiences. While this growing demand for ‘sister’ destinations is not new, this travel trend can be intrinsically linked to a focus on seeking respite from overtourism, genuine interactions and refreshing perspectives on a region or country, as one of the key drivers for why ‘detour’ and alternative destinations are on the rise. Forbes has termed this sentiment ‘untouched tourism.’&nbsp;The Rise of the ‘Detour’So, why are alternative destinations a key consideration this year and as the travel industry evolves?&nbsp;Overtourism vs authenticityToday’s traveller seeks more authentic connection during their trips, but overtourism has led to significant crowding, local unrest, environmental damage, and negative impacts on local communities. Consequently, an increasing number of travellers are opting for ‘detour destinations’ to achieve their desired genuine connection and authentic experience, with research showing that approximately 63% of travellers are likely to choose a detour destination on their next trip, as suggested in a recent Expedia report.&nbsp;As a few examples, instead of the Bahamas you might send travellers to Kaua’i; Reims instead of Paris; Fukuoka instead of Tokyo or Osaka; Cozumel in place of Cancun; Waikato for travellers wanting Auckland; and Abu Dhabi instead of Dubai. Stand-out growth in travel to new and emerging markets is also expected, including the likes of Saudi Arabia and Albania as two examples, which achieved visitor arrival growth of 80% and 74% respectively in 2024 compared to 2019.&nbsp;Responsible travelFirstly, travellers are increasingly aware of the impact of travel on the environment, local communities, and economies. Although about 83% of people agree that responsible travel is important (as suggested by Booking.com's recent Sustainable Travel Report) there remains a gap between sentiment and action. Here is where the responsibility falls on travel distributors to facilitate sustainable travel choices, such as promoting alternative destinations to alleviate overtourism, which we explore further in this article.&nbsp;Personalised itineraries and 'niche' travelWith the rise in traveller preference for tailor-made travel experiences and the growth of 'niche' tourism, this can extend travellers itineraries beyond traditional sightseeing to more personalised trips that include ‘secondary’ destinations to satisfy their unique values and interests.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, when it comes to experience tourism, key drivers of demand are gastronomy, music and events tourism, and film and tv tourism, termed ‘set-jetting’.&nbsp;Budget-consciousnessWhile travellers intend to spend about 9% more on travel this year, demand for cost-effective alternatives is not slowing down. For example, if travellers can’t afford Tokyo during peak season, Yokohama, just a short train ride away, offers a similar experience.&nbsp;Sustainable regulation is on the riseWith many popular countries suffering from the effects of overtourism, increased regulations are becoming more common. Short-term rental bans, heightened tourism taxes, emission mandates, and even reservation systems in some popular destinations are expected to impact travel bookings and in-destination experiences.&nbsp;Additional Factors Shaping the Demand for DetoursJust who, and what, are we seeing as impactful drivers of this demand for alternative destinations, and why does it matter?Gen Z as Detouring TrailblazersOver the past decade, the travel landscape has been reshaped by the growing presence of the youngest generation of travellers: Gen Z.&nbsp;It is no surprise that detour destinations and alternative locations are becoming key trends for travel buyers, sellers, and distributors across the industry. Young travellers are not ‘the next generation of travel’, they’re making significant waves in the industry now.&nbsp;Gen Z travellers are incorporating a humanistic element into their travel experiences, much more so than previous generations. The shift towards increased authenticity, experiential tourism, and preference for local immersion, may be popular with Millennial travellers, but Gen Z is amplifying the demand for people-first travel.&nbsp;Not only do 57% of global travellers express a keen interest in the ‘next best thing’, aligning with this surge in preference for new destinations and unique experiences, but 70% of Gen Z travellers actively look for travel experiences which are ‘off the beaten path’ and which their family and friends might not be aware of.&nbsp;Mental health mattersAlongside this consciousness around unique experiences, around 73% of Gen Z travellers plan holidays and leisure trips to enhance their mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and 61% specifically look for personal wellness and well-being experiences.&nbsp;These key motivators are crucial to consider as travel distributors, especially when it comes to which products and places might resonate with this large travel segment, and also where any gaps in your portfolio or offering might be present.&nbsp;De-influencing as a CountertrendThe rise of social media has given birth to the concept of ‘de-influencing,’ which is increasingly becoming a backlash against the influencer market. De-influencing seeks to counteract the trends and consumer habits that influencers typically promote and get us to rethink what we buy, or book.&nbsp;This movement highlights the negative impacts of consumerism on both the environment and mental health. When it comes to travel and tourism, this concept applies to ‘de-influencing’ travellers from visiting overcrowded areas, offers alternatives and unknown areas which might offer a similar experience, and in some cases, discourages tourism altogether for its impact on the environment.&nbsp;While the aim, naturally, is to continue selling travel, this notion of 'de-influencing' popular choices can be better considered as 're-influencing' travellers to consider the repercussions of viral locations, and the impact this has on local communities, the environment, and also the authenticity of the experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;This notion of 're-influencing' more positive travel behaviours, and 'de-influencing' visitation to popular hotspots also impacts more than just the end travellers' experience. During the pandemic, travel and hospitality was one of the hardest industries hit, and regions like Asia Pacific experienced a 95% drop in international arrivals from January 2021. Now, underserved and underrepresented communities can benefit from renewed and redirected attention and visits from international and domestic travellers alike.&nbsp;While the influencer economy is valued at approximately $250 billion, with Goldman Sachs predicting it will grow to nearly half a trillion dollars by 2027, the message of de-influencing resonates strongly with younger audiences. On platforms like TikTok, billions of views have been generated on 62,000 relevant posts, signalling that savvy consumers are taking heed of this growing movement.&nbsp;This is especially relevant when it comes to the 'Instagram vs. Reality' epiphany that many people experience when visiting a viral destination or place, which again, ties back to the notion of wanting to escape overcrowding, and the occasionally disillusioned view of a destination new visitors can have thanks to expectations driven by social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Dupes’ Are the New Next Best ThingAn increasing number of travellers are embracing an ‘against the grain’ mindset – one which has always present in adventurous travellers, the travel segment previously commonly seen detouring from the norm, and seeking remote places.&nbsp;But ‘detour’ isn’t synonymous with ‘remote’, and in fact the intersection between that adventurous mindset of wanting to discover something new, and the desire for genuine connection is where the magic of the ‘detour’ destination lies. This is why ‘dupes’ - destinations that ‘feel-like’ their more popular counterparts - are rising in popularity and could very well be the key for travellers who don’t want to venture too far outside their comfort zone when it comes to avoiding crowds.&nbsp;An increasing number of social media posts feature ‘feel-alike’ alternatives to popular destinations, with #dupe on TikTok accruing 5.9 billion views. The trend involves travellers opting for lesser-known ‘second’ or ‘sister’ cities as alternatives to overrun tourist hubs.&nbsp;Similarly, searches for ‘hidden gem holiday destinations’ have surged by 150%, confirming that alternatives represent the future of many travel experiences. Flight data reinforces this trend, showing remarkable increases in interest for destinations such as Taipei (up 249%), Curaçao (185%), Perth (109%), and Liverpool (97%), all emerging as appealing options compared to their more popular counterparts.&nbsp;Promoting and booking these alternative destinations not only addresses the challenges of overtourism but also enhances the overall travel experience for the end traveller, fostering deeper connections with places previously overlooked. This, combined with a genuinely valuable portfolio, makes any travel distributor a go-to provider for today’s traveller.&nbsp;The Responsibility of Tourism DispersalAccording to recent McKinsey &amp; Company analysis, around 80% of travellers visit 10% of the world’s top tourist hot spots, and in response to the challenges posed by overtourism, many destinations are actively advocating for a more even distribution of tourism throughout their regions.&nbsp;This can be seen recently in France for example, where approximately 80% of tourism is concentrated in just 20% of the country. To combat this, the government recently launched a €1 million campaign encouraging both domestic and international travellers to explore beyond popular hotspots.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a similar vein, the implementation of protective measures by local governments, such as higher tourism taxes during peak seasons and short-term rental bans, is increasingly bringing the adverse effects of unsustainable tourism to the forefront for modern travellers – not to mention impacting their experience.&nbsp;Here, it’s clear that there lies a measure of responsibility on travel sellers and distributors worldwide to alleviate the pressure on heavily impacted tourist areas, for local communities, host regions and the experience of the end traveller.&nbsp;In fact, in an effort to counter overtourism, Intrepid Travel even created a ‘Not Hot’ list in collaboration with Globetrender, highlighting 10 underrated destinations ideal for exploration.&nbsp;These locations are unveiling new routes of travel, improving their infrastructure, launching incentivising initiatives to make them unmissable when it comes to visitation, attention, and conservation. All of which are key factors when it comes to sustainably diversifying tourism levels around a region. Some of these featured destinations include Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, Disko Island in Greenland, and Accra in Ghana, among others.&nbsp;This is a prime example of accountability when it comes to diversifying traveller awareness of alternative destinations, but also of recognising the shift that must take place to alleviate the strain felt by that smaller percentage of the world’s locations which accommodate the vast majority of global tourism.&nbsp;Booking Alternative Destinations for Today’s TravellerIn an era characterised by hyper-personalisation and overtourism, travellers are on the lookout for experiences tailored to their individual preferences, while simultaneously getting a ‘real’ flavour of their destination and avoiding crowds of visitors all doing the same. Therefore, for those seeking alternatives to the typical ‘must-see’ sites, a comprehensive portfolio of unique travel options is necessary to meet their needs.&nbsp;But not only this, you need to be able to offer the right products at the right price, at the right time.&nbsp;As Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, a leading travel ecosystem player in the B2B space, this is where we specialise, offering intuitive and innovative TravelTech solutions which reduce friction from the end-to-end travel experience, both for the end traveller, and for travel distributors all around the world.&nbsp;An expansive global portfolio allows you to meet, and exceed, the needs of even more travellers in your ideal market with easy access to competitive conditions.Including preferred conditions, exclusive availabilities and differentiated rates.Our fast, intuitive API solutions mean you can take advantage of seamless distribution across even more booking touchpoints.Intelligent data-driven campaigns offer you the right price on travel products throughout the year, letting you capture and generate demand.A powerful online travel booking platform lets our web-based partners work and earn at speed, with complex algorithms, intuitive searches, and integrated revenue-boosting tools.Expert business insights to ensure you’re capitalising on every opportunity for growth as well as competitor analysis, sales recommendations and sales optimisation.&nbsp;Sign up today&nbsp;To start your journey with Hotelbeds, and position your business as a key player in the industry with the helping hand of our powerful, business-enhancing tools and platforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;