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While solo travel has undeniably been on the rise for years, it’s evident that more women than ever are diving headfirst into solo ventures. The future of solo travel might well be female!

With the majority readership of large publications like Solo Traveler World being women, online searches for ‘solo women travel’ increasing by a staggering 230% in 2019, and popular social media platforms like Pinterest logging a 350% increase in pinned articles about female solo travel, it’s evident that more women than ever are travelling alone.

So with that in mind, we dive into how travel providers like you can ensure you’re meeting and exceeding the needs of women travelling solo - and why you should want to capture this growing audience of high-value customers!

Understand the Unique Characteristics of Solo Travel For Women



It’s important that you understand the challenges, sensitivities and experiences of female solo travel and this traveller type, so that you can better cater for this valuable segment.

Some factors that many women travelling solo consider when booking or planning a trip are:


	Whether the country or region is a major tourist destination.
	How good the tourism infrastructure is as a consequence.
	What the crime rate of the destination is.
	What online review sites, blogs, friends and family and social media groups say about the safety of the country or destination – many suggested that TV and online ads were not as trustworthy.
	How affordable the destination is for a solo trip – especially considering accommodation.
	The overall reputation of the country and how it treats women.


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These are important factors to consider when promoting destinations to solo travellers, and even more so for women travelling alone; and are equally crucial for when you are building an idea of destinations that you would recommend from your portfolio in future consultations.

Use Our Digital Star Brochure



Our Star Brochure is a fully online, interactive travel brochure designed to make the lives of travel providers all over the world easier and more enriched when it comes to offering exactly what your customers want.

The ‘best for solo travellers’ icon highlights a wealth of hotels and accommodation around the world that are ideally suited for solo travellers of any kind. Spread across global hotspot destinations, this handy icon means it is easier than ever to pick out the properties - whether that’s affordable hotel rooms or luxury resorts - that perfectly meet the needs of solo female travellers during the booking process.

What does this mean for women travelling solo? They feel supported. Accommodated. And delivering a bespoke service is one of the most important things to today’s consumer across all industries, not just travel, with 71% of customers expecting personalised service!

Simply put, if you’re not ensuring your products can cater for bespoke communication for the travel segment you’re trying to secure bookings from, it’s not going to work.&nbsp;

What’s more, with our customisation tool as part of the Star Brochure, you can create travel brochures tailored on a client-by-client basis for an even more personalised experience! Create your very own female-focused content or use our own inspiring articles and Q&amp;A sections, highlight the best angles of those ‘best for solo travellers’ hotels, and secure even more bookings from this key segment!

While our game-changing Star Brochure is available for you to browse, the customization feature is exclusive to our clients - so sign up today to start making the most of this invaluable tool and grab those bookings!&nbsp;

Make Dedicated Information Easily Accessible&nbsp;



Create hubs on your website with relevant information about how your services can be tailored to female solo travel.

Whether this is FAQs, or dedicated pages in your service collections, make sure you list which hotels, tour operators and destinations are recommended for women travelling solo and why.

Don't forget to offer unique fee/payment information upfront - be clear on your fees, refund, and cancellation policies for solo travellers! Especially when it comes to unique fees like single supplements and cancellations if plans change.

This is critical when you consider that it takes the average consumer around 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds!) while looking at a website to form an opinion not only about your brand but about whether they want what you’re offering.&nbsp;

One of the best ways to do this is a design technique called progressive disclosure - essentially, you’re streamlining important content into a user-friendly format which improves navigation and allows the user to discover more information about your brand and offerings without being bombarded all at once. And consider that once they’re on your site, the average user spends around 5 seconds reading written content.

So, ensuring that your prospective audience understands, quickly, that you can offer the services or experiences they’re after is key.

Cater For The Luxury Solo Female Traveller



In the last several years, women taking solo trips within the luxury travel sector have increased significantly, and we think this is a prime opportunity to understand, and accommodate, this important audience to boost your success as a travel agency and ensure you’re as inclusive as possible for today’s traveller.

For example:


	Scott Dunn, a leading UK luxury tour operator, reported that they’d seen a dramatic uplift in solo bookings in the last three years, and that of those, 60% were women.
	Up Norway, a company that curates high-end excursions through Scandinavia, suggested that bookings from solo female travellers were up 40-50% compared to 2019.
	Bespoke tour operator Morocco by Design revealed that a full quarter of its bookings now came from women travelling alone.


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Not only are women looking to explore the world alone more frequently, but many solo female travellers are looking to travel within the luxury sector, with bespoke trips curated specifically for their preferences.&nbsp;

The industry is starting to take note of this increase in demand for luxury solo travel, so it’s important that as travel providers you’re aware of the opportunities out there!&nbsp;

From ‘Alonemoons’, offering solo travellers the deluxe experience a couple on their honeymoon might enjoy; women-only group travel; to tour operators and travel bookers offering amenities catering specifically to women travelling solo, there are many ways that the industry is providing opportunities when it comes to solo travel for women.

Consider how you can accommodate this type of traveller; what changes would have to be made to the partnerships you have with tour operators, or indeed to your tours themselves if you’re organising them for the end client?

Plus, when you work with a travel partner like Hotelbeds, you’re immediately boosting your visibility to this growing audience.

Tour operators, you’re opening up a whole new avenue of distribution for your experiences; while travel providers, you’re accessing a massive, ever-growing portfolio of over 16,000 experiences and 300,000 hotels in trending destinations worldwide!&nbsp;

This allows you as travel providers to capitalise on reaching and catering for the right audience, with the right resources you need.&nbsp;

Sign up today to start boosting your bookings from the valuable solo female travel segment!

Log in to your account to start maximising your sales from this valuable market!

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How The Compass Can Help&nbsp;

And so, keeping up with industry trends in your market is more important than ever, as more and more women seek out solo trips. You can do this easily with our destination and marketing tool The Compass for travel providers!

Designed to offer market-specific insights, gathered from thousands of daily searches and booking data from our users, The Compass allows you as a travel provider to see what’s being booked in your market and when.&nbsp;

What’s more, you’ll receive tailored opportunity alerts when your competitors are booking destinations or accommodation you haven’t taken advantage of yet - which means you never lose out on an opportunity again.

This time-saving, sales-boosting tool is exclusive to our partners, so sign up today to start scaling your success with The Compass!

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Offer Women-Only Group Travel



Quite often, travelling solo can be daunting, and for many the idea of venturing on a long-haul journey even to their dream destination is overwhelming no matter who is embarking on the journey. This is where group travel can be so valuable, especially to solo female travellers.&nbsp;

While some women travelling solo won’t necessarily feel the need to travel in a women-only group, for some travellers this will significantly decrease any concerns or doubts around travelling alone amongst a group.

Many tour operators around the world have already begun introducing women-only tours to great success - for instance, the tour company Trafalgar introduced women-only tours in early 2022, and suggested that 61% of bookings came from women travelling alone.

So, there’s never a better time to make sure you’re filling your portfolio with tours and experiences offered by tour operators and travel providers catering to this valuable segment, in order to meet the needs of the female solo traveller, and therefore boost your bookings.

Our ever-growing portfolio is the perfect place to start, with tours and experiences uniquely designed for solo travellers and access to thousands of travel sellers worldwide!

Do Your Research



In ‘standard’ communication narratives, the solo female traveller is not usually the focus. Many decision-makers in travel, including travel agencies, cannot relate to the challenges of women travelling solo.

This presents a significant opportunity for savvy travel providers to get to know this audience better and offer products and destinations that cater for their demands and challenges.

By doing so, you’ll position yourselves as the ones to beat for this particular audience.
Competitor and market research is an invaluable practice no matter the age, experience, or reputation of your travel agency, and even more so if you’re interdependent!

And considering that successful female-focused travel organisations like the Solo Female Travelers Club are already offering consultations for businesses to reevaluate their offerings in light of the growing demand from female travellers going it alone, it’s important that you’re viewing your offerings through the lens of a solo female traveller and consider where any opportunities for improvement might be.

Here are just a few ways you can do your research, and therefore identify any gaps in your business or offerings:

Read trusted insights

Our Client Resources page is packed full of regularly updated insights, inspired and influenced by global travel trends, and driven by our very own wealth of industry data gathered from thousands of bookings from travel providers all over the world. Check back regularly for insightful and inspiring content for travel agencies!

But as we mentioned before, Solo Traveler World and Solo Female Travelers Club are examples of valuable platforms with high social-proof attached to them where insights, shared experiences and customer-centric recommendations are shared by women for women looking to travel solo. Keeping a close eye on platforms like this can provide interesting insights into how other travel providers are catering for the growing audience of solitary female travellers.

Organic competitor research

Identify your most direct competitors and scope out how their facilities compare to yours: what services are they offering that you aren’t? Have these competitors made specific accommodations that would attract this segment, and how might you incorporate these into your own business model in a way that makes you stand out?&nbsp;

Utilise customer feedback

Getting insights from past or existing customers about their experiences with you is invaluable, and is one of the best ways that you can highlight any shortcomings with how your agency handles female solo travellers, and accommodates this type of traveller needs. Ensuring you’re GDPR compliant, of course!&nbsp;

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So there you have it! This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to catering for solo female travel, and it’s especially important that if as a travel agency you’re going to accommodate this type of traveller specifically, you really dedicate time to understanding the unique needs and preferences of women travelling alone.

But one of the best ways to start is by working with a travel partner dedicated to connecting the world of travel, no matter the audience or segment! At Hotelbeds, our global network and portfolio allows you to attract and keep your ideal audience, even in hard to reach markets.&nbsp;

Sign up today today to get started!&nbsp;

Log into your account today to get started!&nbsp;
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How Travel Providers Can Effectively Target Solo Female Travellers

Sustainable travel has become a significant concern for individuals around the world. As hotel guests become increasingly aware of environmental issues, they expect the companies they support, including hotels, to prioritise sustainability in their operations.&nbsp;In light of Plastic-Free July, it is crucial for hoteliers to address the issue of single-use plastic and to commit to implementing plastic-free policies in their properties.&nbsp;This article aims to guide hoteliers interested in embracing sustainable practices and attracting environmentally-conscious guests. We will explore why guests are on the look-out for plastic-free hotels, how the hotel can benefit by making the change, practical tips to eliminate single-use plastics, and a successful case study from a leading hotel chain.We will also share how hoteliers can communicate their plastic-free initiative to a network of 55k travel distributors, using the ‘Single-use Plastic free’ filer in our Partner Extranet.&nbsp;Why Do Guests Prefer Plastic-Free Hotels?It’s no secret there has been a paradigm shift that has influenced the lifestyle of millions of people, affecting all areas of life - including travel and leisure.&nbsp;Sustainable travel has become a significant concern in today’s world, and there are many ways to support the cause. Focusing specifically on one of the main issues – &nbsp;single-plastic use –, we believe that hoteliers have a great potential to become a force for good.Guests believe it as well, and by paying attention to their concerns and catering to their needs, your hotel could benefit from improved positioning in front of eco-conscious travellers…and increase your room nights.●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;People are more aware of environmental issues and expect companies to share their feelings; this includes how hotels address sustainability within their operations. The way they do it influences the decision-making process when travellers book one property or another. For instance, 81% of travellers surveyed by Statista highlight that sustainable travel is important to them.&nbsp;&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Some statistics report that least 74%&nbsp;of travellers &nbsp;want travel companies to offer more sustainable choices. Meanwhile,&nbsp;65% state that they would feel better about paying for accommodation with a sustainable certification or label.&nbsp;Additionally, 56% of people consider it essential to reduce the usage of single-use plastic in their daily lives, which could extend into their behaviours when travelling, too.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;It is also vital to take into account that a company’s reputation could be at risk if there’s not a clear commitment to addressing plastic pollution and the damage single-use plastics can have. For this reason, it is important to take sustainability considerations seriously in order to do right by your guests, and for the planet.How Can Plastic-Free Initiatives Benefit Your Properties?Whether it’s individual boutiques or large hotel chains, implementing changes in your properties requires a lot of time and effort. But it will be worthwhile.&nbsp;Want to learn more about the advantages that your property could benefit from? Helping the planet should be incentive enough, but here are some pointers to keep in mind.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; As part of HBX Group, Hotelbeds’ 2023 Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) report states that there had been a 30% growth in travellers looking for both eco-friendly and plastic-free properties on our platform.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;If your hotel takes steps towards becoming more sustainable – such as by reducing single-use plastic – it may be eligible to be included in our Sustainable Hotels Programme. In short, you’ll be more visible to our 55,000+ distributors and their customers who are seeking properties with eco-credentials. We’ll give you more details on its benefits and how to join later in this article.&nbsp;&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;In terms of competitive strategy, having a defined, valuable sustainability plan could enable your hotel to stand out from the competition. Attaining a hotel sustainability certification will &nbsp;help to better position your property and attract a wider range of traveller segments.&nbsp;&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Additionally, bear in mind that there’s an increasing number of regulations around this issue from many countries and regions around the world. Be sure to keep up-to-date with regulations and expectations on a country-by-country basis.&nbsp;However, do remember that these benefits will be limited if you don’t communicate your actions and let potential clients know your commitment to sustainable travel and no single-use plastic.&nbsp;As we mentioned in our article on the importance of going green for hoteliers, only one third of green hotels are communicating their sustainability efforts, such as implementing alternatives for single-use plastics. It's vital to communicate your policies on this matter so that you can attract people committed to this cause – an audience which is increasing day by day, awaiting the perfect offering.No matter what the size of your hotel, small actions can make a big change. Are you lacking in ideas? Keep reading, as we provide you with some valuable tips.&nbsp;Practical Steps for Hotels to Embrace SustainabilityThere are certain items that you can replace or reduce in your objective to become a plastic-free hotel.&nbsp;However, there’s one thing that you should take into account to help you reach your goal in the most seamless way possible: it’s necessary to educate your suppliers and employees to better understand how important this purpose is and how they can easily commit to it.For example, you could start by creating a working group where employees from the departments using single-use plastics participate. In this working group, it would be beneficial to identify all single-use plastics in your operations and try to propose alternatives.&nbsp;But it doesn’t stop there: it’s also important to chat with your suppliers and explain your aim to reduce plastic in your properties. They may be able to help you with the task by giving you ideas of which options they have available, such as multi-use items or products made of responsible materials.&nbsp;To help you get started, here are some examples of items to be replaced or eliminated in order to go plastic-free.&nbsp;6 Essential Tips for Eliminating Single-Use Plastics in Hotels1. Eliminate plastic bottles and offer glass or metal ones instead, which have to be refilled by the staff. If possible, consider installing water bottle filling stations for guests to use. Modern versions of these stations can refill a one-litre bottle in 10 seconds to minimise queues, whilst other stations cut off the water after 20 seconds to prevent wastage.&nbsp;&nbsp;2. Consider using bulk bathroom amenity dispensers. Offer shampoo and gel packaged in wall-mounted refillable dispensers, or consider providing these amenities only on demand. Switching to plastic-free hotel amenities, such as toiletries, is one of the easiest changes to implement, but is also a change which will be first recognised by your guests!&nbsp;3. Offer non-plastic slippers that are washed in-house and reused. Replace items such as stirrers, shoe shiners, razors, combs, sewing kits, and plastic packaging materials with sustainable alternatives, or remove them altogether.&nbsp;4. Use recyclable paper for wrapping bathroom amenities, reusable bathroom cups, reusable fabric laundry bags, and paper containers for takeaways, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;5. Offer biodegradable rubbish bags that are more environmentally friendly alternatives. Make sure that they’re truly biodegradable.&nbsp;6. Choose tableware and cutlery made from durable, biodegradable materials. For example, cut down on plastic straws and replace them with ones made of bamboo.&nbsp;Additionally, there are consultancy firms which provide assistance on how to tackle the issue of single-use plastics. They can help you address this issue and know where you can cut single-use plastics and start using the aforementioned alternatives.&nbsp;Accor Hotels: A Successful Case Study In Going Plastic-FreeSome major hotel chains have already made a step forward in order to tackle this issue. One good example is Accor Hotels, which joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2022 and have since announced two global partnerships with Green Key and Green Globe certifications.&nbsp;As previously mentioned, going plastic-free could be a challenging task. But here’s the proof that such an aim is both attainable and rewarding. In the following video, 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;Enhancing Plastic-Free Communications with Our Sustainable Hotels ProgrammeWe’re getting close to the end of this post, and we don’t want to finish it without helping you to communicate your plastic-free efforts.&nbsp;You’re aware of the importance of committing to the cause and which steps your hotel can start taking to become more sustainable. Whether you are starting to change or you have already successfully implemented actions, there’s one step left that is almost as important as taking action.&nbsp;It’s crucial that you communicate these changes to the world so that potential guests and investors are aware of your initiatives. By joining Hotelbeds’ Sustainable Hotels Programme, you can gain further visibility as an environmentally-conscious member of the travel industry, and can also begin to cater to a real demand by helping travel bookers to identify those properties committed to sustainabilityTo date, the Sustainable Hotels Programme portfolio contains over 38,000 properties certified as sustainable. As mentioned earlier, our 2023 ESG report revealed that those same properties had seen a 30% increase in bookings over 12 months, demonstrating that the demand for plastic-free properties is there - so, how can you ensure that your hotel is among those which are performing better than ever?Our Partner Extranet will be your ally: to gain a prime position in front of 71k travel advisors and their clients, mark your hotel as single-use plastic free by following these steps:●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Log into the Partner Extranet●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Select ‘Hotel Info’●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;After clicking ‘About Hotel’, scroll to the section titled ‘Things to Keep in Mind’●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Tick the ‘Single-use Plastic Free’ boxIf you have already registered your property with Hotelbeds, access here and select this filter now.&nbsp;Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be visible under the ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our Booking Engine. But this won’t be the only benefit – you’ll also be eligible for relevant, sustainability-focused campaigns, in which we will push sustainable hotels to our clients.Still need to register your hotel with us? Click here: it’s easy, free, and in a short time, your property will be seen by worldwide network of 55,000 travel distributors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Plastic-Free Initiatives To Boost Hotel Profitability, And Why They Are Important 

With more travellers prioritising sustainability as part of their plans than ever before, it’s vital that travel distributors can cater to the changing demands for eco-conscious travel. Up to 50% of travellers feel there aren’t enough sustainable options being actively promoted or available, carving a significant opportunity for distributors to offer eco-friendly travel products.


Demand for sustainable travel is on the rise


The demand for sustainable travel options is undoubtable, and is only expected to grow. According to the World Economic Forum, sustainable travel is now a priority for four out of five travellers globally, with 71% committed to travelling more sustainably. Travel distributors are perfectly placed to get ahead of the competition and offer sustainable travel options for conscious travellers, and would be wise to do so, since the sustainable travel market predicted to grow by $335.93 billion by 2027 (Global Sustainable Tourism Market 2023-2027).&nbsp;

As leaders in the global TravelTech space, Hotelbeds are experts in sustainable travel and have already helped thousands of travel providers to better offer sustainable travel options to their clients. If you’re ready to maximise the potential of this growing market, keep reading.

How to maximise the potential of the growing sustainable travel market




1.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Expand your sustainable property portfolio

Hotels worldwide are investing and developing their sustainability practices in line with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles to appeal to customers and stakeholders alike. This poses significant opportunities for travel distributors to advertise eco-friendly hotels and green incentives. Prospective travellers are proven to be doing more research and due diligence on sustainability before booking, so it’s absolutely vital to be promoting these credentials, particularly since, according to Avantio:
-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;40% of travellers want booking sites to clearly show sustainable properties&nbsp;
-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;37% of travellers want a filter option to show sustainable accommodation more easily

Ready to expand your sustainable property portfolio? You can access over 38,000 sustainable hotels with ease via Hotelbed’s ‘Green Hotel’ filter on our Booking Engine. In the past year, the programme has seen a 30% growth in travellers choosing eco-friendly hotels. Join the B2B travel partners already taking advantage of the Green Hotels Programme by clicking&nbsp;here.&nbsp;

Beat plastic pollution

This year’s theme for World Environment Day is Beat Plastic Pollution, drawing attention to one of the most significant environmental challenges of our time. Thankfully, the travel industry can play a part in the solution by catering to the increasing demand for plastic-free. In fact, Hotelbeds has seen an 84% increase in our plastic-free hotel portfolio, with 30% more customers seeking both an eco-friendly and plastic-free hotel in the past year. This is a fantastic opportunity for travel distributors to clearly advertise products which meet this criteria. Learn more here.&nbsp;

2.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Maximise high-margin products through sustainable ancillaries&nbsp;



Are you maximising the potential of high-margin ancillary products? For example, nature-based packages are predicted to account for 57% of travel packages globally, according to Euromonitor. This demonstrates the increasing demand and opportunity for sustainable ancillaries, from off-grid retreats to immersive experiences, which you can easily add to your offerings for sustainable travellers to choose from.

Hotelbeds can help travel distribution partners to offer sustainable ancillaries: in fact, our mobility and experiences portfolio countains 16,000 activities overall, giving plenty of choice to your clients.

EMERGING TREND: REGENERATIVE TRAVEL

Sustainability is about protecting both people and the planet. Offering tours which are experience-rich and help improve communities and/or natural spaces, known as regenerative philosophy, will become essential to appeal to the traveller of tomorrow. With competition higher than ever before, plus more choice and greater traveller independence, it’s vital to offer unique, values-based experiences which sustainable travellers can’t refuse.&nbsp;

3.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Broaden your customer base with options for all budgets



It is widely accepted that sustainable travel comes with a price premium, although those willing to pay varies across customer segments. Although some segments (like luxury travel and high-impact conservation) are seeing a boom, the global economic landscape is certainly impacting some travel behaviours. With inflation considered a primary issue impacting travel plans in the next 12 months, it’s vital to vary your offerings to suit budgets across traveller types. For example, whether a beach holiday or city break, emerging destinations are a fantastic opportunity to capture cost-conscious travellers who want to spend less, support local economies, and have authentic experiences. &nbsp; &nbsp;

●&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Access our Star Brochure to get ahead of the competition with key emerging destinations for 2023 for a range of traveller types.&nbsp;

4.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Increase your credibility to increase customer loyalty&nbsp;


Travellers are more discerning than ever about greenwashing in tourism, the marketing of products or companies which claim to be sustainable without any evidence to support these claims. In fact, the World Economic Forum reported one of the main barriers for sustainable travellers is concern around the claims which travel companies make about the sustainability of their products.

By working with credible partners and offering packages and services which are proven or certified to be sustainable (like the Hotelbeds Green Hotels Programme), with transparency and good reporting, you will gain valuable customer loyalty and see travellers return to you for years to come, all the more important in an increasingly competitive market with travellers exercising more independence than ever before.


The important role travel distributors play in sustainable travel

Travel distributors play a crucial role in protecting the planet through sustainable offerings. As the demand increases for sustainable travel, with more people understanding that eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing luxury or comfort; travel distributors can certainly benefit from, and even lead the way in, these changing ideas around sustainable travel. After all, environmentalism is definitely not going anywhere, so make sure your travel business is primed and ready to help sustainable travellers protect and enjoy the planet for years to come.&nbsp;

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Ready to start selling sustainable experiences? Log in now.

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Ready to start selling sustainable experiences? Register now!
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World Environment Day: Your Guide to Selling Sustainable Travel

With recently felt global inflation and looming climate worries, plus increasing competition in the travel sector, these are rapidly changing times for hoteliers. However, the sustainable tourism movement may offer something of an antidote to these unprecedented challenges.This article details the current sustainable travel landscape and ways you can maximise sustainable travel opportunities for your hotel business in 2023.&nbsp;Environmental, social, and governance initiatives will increase your revenue&nbsp;According to a recent report by HotelTechReport, hotels worldwide are beginning to recognize the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, for investors, stakeholders, staff, and guests alike. These ESG initiatives take into account:&nbsp;Environmental considerations such as conservation of water, whether energy is being used efficiency, and reduction of wasteSocial considerations such as fair pay and labour conditions, diversity and inclusion policies, and investment in local businesses and communities&nbsp;Governance includes track record of board members, ethical business practices, and compliance with laws/regulationsAre you implementing ESG initiatives in your hotel business? Not only will these actions protect the planet, but a sustainability strategy will increase your revenue, as using and managing resources more effectively will result in cost savings. Additionally, if you can market your sustainability initiatives effectively, you will stand out from the competition and attract a wider range of traveller segments.&nbsp;As a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the global authority in sustainable tourism and travel, Hotelbeds are committed to supporting travel trade client partners to maximise opportunities in this growing market. Our own ESG commitments include our Plastic Free Hotel scheme, where qualifying hotels can be seen by thousands of potential travel buyers, with more than 38,000 properties already taking advantage of our offerings.We’ve also made the Climate Change Pledge and achieved Carbon Neutral status for three years running. Read more about our ESG initiatives in our report here.&nbsp;The demand for sustainable properties is growing exponentially&nbsp;Hotelbeds has seen a 30% growth in travellers booking eco-friendly hotels through our Green Hotels programme over the past year. With the rising awareness of the environmental impacts of travel, known as ‘eco-guilt’, it is clear that more travellers are becoming concerned about the negative impact of their trip and are looking to mitigate this through sustainable travel; in fact, 85.6% of travellers are willing to pay more for a hotel with sustainable credentials (Operto).&nbsp;With the ground-breaking development of carbon positive hotels around the world, like Norway’s Six Senses Svart, it is clear that the demand for eco-conscious travel is certainly not going anywhere and investors are seeing the endless potential of the sustainable travel movement. This innovative project sees an entirely self-sustaining hotel which is off-grid and carbon neutral developed in conjunction with the natural environment and constructed with minimal disruption to the surrounding land and sea. More than just a hotel, Six Senses Svart combines environment, sustainability, technology, wellness, and mindfulness.&nbsp;As a hotelier, it is essential to ensure that you are catering to this growing demand for sustainable properties, both in the short- and long-term. Whether you have the resources to build the next Six Senses Svart, or are simply making switches like plastic-free toiletries, you can take advantage of the growing demand for sustainable hotels across traveller segments globally. &nbsp;53% of travellers want to travel more sustainably, but not enough hotels are marketing their offerings&nbsp;Whether it’s individual boutiques or large chains, more hotels are making sustainable choices, which is vital in the current economic and environmental climate.By listing your ESG initiatives on search engines and focusing your marketing efforts, whether it’s zero plastic, green energy, supporting local businesses, or simply providing recycling bins, you can attract more traveller segments who are primed to pay more. There is significant opportunity here since, according to a report by Booking.com, only one third of sustainable hotels are actively communicating their sustainability efforts.&nbsp;Attribute-based selling is an effective way to ensure sustainability-minded guests can find your business during their research. If your hotel has any eco-credentials, you can benefit from ‘green filters’ on search sites; travellers are increasingly searching for ‘eco’ hotels as part of their research, so ensuring your hotel is listed in the optimal way is guaranteed to increase your hotel’s occupancy.&nbsp;Think you qualify or want to learn more? See how other hotels across the globe are benefiting from our Green Hotels Programme and get seen by thousands of travel sellers here.&nbsp;Beat plastic pollutionThis year’s theme for World Environment Day, Beat Plastic Pollution, draws attention to one of the most significant environmental challenges of our time.Thankfully, travellers are increasingly looking for plastic-free offerings; in fact, Hotelbeds has seen an 84% increase in our plastic-free hotel portfolio, with 30% more customers seeking both an eco-friendly and plastic-free hotel in the past year.If you have a plastic-free hotel, this is a crucial opportunity to clearly gain visibility and increase your occupancy. Learn more here.&nbsp;Take advantage of rising interest in regenerative travel through high-margin ancillariesSome travellers are looking to create a net positive impact from their trip, known as regenerative travel. Could you leverage this upcoming trend and connect with any local businesses or charities to offer regenerative ancillaries? Or perhaps you could invest a portion of each booking into a local community group or environmental project.&nbsp;Hotelbeds offers hoteliers access to a network of over 66,000 hard-to-access B2B travel buyers such as tour operators, retail travel agents, airline websites, and loyalty schemes in over 190 source markets worldwide. These channels provide hotel partners with returning guests that book further in advance, cancel less, spend more in-destination and stay longer.Qualifying hotels can benefit from exposure to more than 66,000 client partners of Hotelbeds and Bedsonline – including travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and points redemption schemes – via a green filter that includes details of certifications and offer tags.The pivotal role hoteliers play in sustainable travelAs demand for sustainable travel continues to increase, hotels who are willing to adapt and pivot will certainly succeed. Environmentalism is not a passing trend, so ensure your travel business is primed to help sustainable travellers invest in your offerings and protect the planet for years to come.&nbsp;Hotelbeds: making travel a force for goodHere at Hotelbeds, we have already helped thousands of hoteliers increase their hotel’s occupancy. Whether you’re an individual hotel, chain, or cluster, we can help your sustainable hotel business thrive. Register your property&nbsp;here.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here at Hotelbeds, we have already helped thousands of hoteliers increase their hotel’s occupancy. Whether you’re an individual hotel, chain, or cluster, we can help your sustainable hotel business thrive. Log in to your account&nbsp;here.&nbsp;

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World Environment Day - The Importance of Going Green For Hoteliers

The recent economic and global challenges of the past few years have caused a shift in how businesses approach technology for the long term.According to a recent study by McKinsey &amp; Company, companies of all industries have increased the digitization of their customer and supply chain interactions, some by as much as three or four years, while the adoption of digitally enabled products has also accelerated, by up to seven years - and as much as ten years in Asia.This rapid acceleration of technology adoption is transforming the business landscape and presents new opportunities for growth and innovation.&nbsp;Across many industries, a narrative shift is taking place wherein technology is no longer solely recognized for its cost-saving capabilities, but as a crucial aspect of any business. The rise of technological solutions is not a new concept, but the increasing reliance on technology to meet customer demand and replace outdated communication methods is noteworthy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the changes to the adoption of digital processes, the largest are the most likely to be here for the long term, including:&nbsp;Changing customer demands or expectations - such as, for example, increased hygiene awareness and online communication/purchasingIncreasing migration of cloud-based assetsIncreasing use of advanced technologies within business operations - such as artificial intelligence, automation and analytics.In fact, 32% of attendees at our MarketHub Americas event suggested they were planning to embrace tech and AI above anything else this year, and 28% planned to innovate more.&nbsp;Within the context of the travel and hospitality industry, it is imperative for hotel owners to consider how they can effectively integrate advanced technology to enhance customer interactions. This raises the important question of how hotel owners can adapt to an ever-evolving digital landscape, and what innovative tools and strategies are already being utilised to optimise customer experiences in the hospitality sector.&nbsp;Smart Hotel Technology&nbsp;In response to the growing expectations of digital-savvy travellers, hotels are expanding their horizons by offering innovative facilities such as mobile check-in, smart room technology and partnering with new tech companies to cater to their everyday needs.&nbsp;To be considered a top-tier hotel, it is essential to provide guests with cutting-edge technology that enhances their experience. Smart hotels achieve this feat by enabling customers to control devices and services using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), or digital connectivity. Examples of such travel technology include voice control, energy efficiency controls, facial recognition, and automation.&nbsp;The implementation of smart hotel technology is a vital aspect of customer experience. By utilising AI machine learning to collect and process customer data during a stay, hotels can gain valuable insights into customer preferences and provide a more customised experience.&nbsp;What are some other real-life examples of travel technology partnerships or innovations within the hotel industry?Marriott International recently partnered with Groups360 to streamline the process of booking rooms, meeting spaces and events for its corporate guests.&nbsp;The Maho Group, offering hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, partnered with Cendyn to power its CRM, revenue management and business intelligence, offering personalised experiences to encourage customer loyalty by tracking individual guests’ preferences.&nbsp;IHG Hotel and Resorts recently partnered with PPDS to offer Chromecast in select locations, providing guests with the ability to stream content from their smart devices.&nbsp;DistrictHive offers its guests a ‘human recharding pod’, an ‘off-grid’ space where AI systems manage energy consumption and can change external stimuli like sounds or smells based on external conditions.&nbsp;Ascott’s Lyf One-North Singapore provides a co-living property for guests, where they can trade digital art and engage in virtual activities.&nbsp;Hilton has been working with Meta and SweetRush to create VR scenarios to train members of the team to deal with complex guest situations and provide a better experience for future guests.How Do We Encourage Tech Development at Hotelbeds?In order to enhance the traveller's experience and ensure a seamless process, we have forged a partnership with Wayra, an open innovation centre operating within the telecommunications firm Telefonica to create the TravelTech Lab by Hotelbeds.Designed to allow us to support upcoming tech startups, this collaboration means we can work&nbsp;together with startup partners to create customer-centric products, platforms, and services that have a significant impact in the travel industry. Our goal is to continuously innovate and improve the travel experience for our customers.&nbsp;A diverse and data-driven distribution strategy is crucial to enhancing exposure and relevance within the travel industry, particularly in the valuable B2B marketplace. At Hotelbeds, with our extensive network of over 54,000+ travel distributors worldwide, we are well-positioned to amplify the success of your hotel(s).&nbsp;Not only this, but our exclusive extranet is a hotel marketing solution that combines the benefits of our distribution channel with valuable digital tools to effectively manage availability, rates, content and more to maximise room occupancy.Sign up today to become one of our valuable hotel partners today!Log in to your Hotelbeds account today to begin maximising your distribution.Green TechnologyThe tourism sector, research has shown, is responsible for as much as 8% of global CO2 emissions, with around 2% of this directly produced by the hospitality industry. This, and recent insight from CBRE demonstrates the urgency around the need for hospitality and leisure infrastructures, businesses and establishments to reduce their carbon footprints in comparison to other real estate classifications. Hotel carbon emissions alone are shown to be 96kgCO2e/m².&nbsp;And although there has been tangible progress to reduce carbon footprints in order to meet the terms of the globally recognised Paris Agreement, there is still much work that can be done not only to ensure the development of their business, but to keep in line with the fact that sustainability is now, by necessity, a guiding principle of the travel industry.&nbsp;Here are just a few examples of sustainable technology which hotels around the world are adopting:&nbsp;Operational systems:&nbsp;such as Energy Management Systems (EMS), Guest Room Management Systems (GRMS), Property Management Systems (PMS), and Building Management Systems (BMS).&nbsp;Online check-in and automated ticket management for guest requestsDigitised communications and collaboration technology:&nbsp;for shareholders, corporate communications and even for guests, to reduce the carbon footprint that comes with printed or physical resources.Renewable sources of energy:&nbsp;solar or photovoltaic - to lower the impact of high-consumption services like air conditioning.Why Is Sustainable Technology Important?&nbsp;As previously highlighted in our traveller of tomorrow discussion, the Gen Z traveller profile is one of the most influential in the travel industry. This demographic is particularly vocal in their support of sustainable travel, with Millennials also ranking the ecological impact of transportation, accommodations, and activities as a significant factor in their booking decisions. Google Insights also reports that more than half of surveyed travellers consider environmental impact when making travel plans.&nbsp;And after all, the guests of the future will be Gen Z and Gen Alpha (the children of Millennial families); and as the 'voice of sustainability', these generations prioritise eco-friendly practices, making it critical for hotels to adapt in order to remain relevant and successful in the industry.&nbsp;As part of our recognition that providing sustainable travel opportunities to end travellers is so vital, at Hotelbeds we’ve worked to ensure that hotels that can be categorised as ‘sustainable’ can easily be found in our portfolio. This is true when travel providers are locating their clients' perfect hotel using our Booking Engine thanks to our ‘Sustainable Hotel’ filter, or browsing top-recommended hotels in our Star Brochures digital brochure.&nbsp;This is because we know that it’s critical that your properties are receiving not only maximum exposure, but that the defining qualities of these properties are highlighted to the right traveller at the right time in order to increase occupancy rate.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up today to become one of our valuable hotel partners, and benefit from responsible, expert distribution as part of our global network.Recognition TechnologyRecent data indicates that incorporating self-service technology in hotels can increase guest satisfaction, with around 73% of travellers preferring to stay in hotels that offer such technology. From facial recognition to voice control and voice search, recognition technology offers valuable opportunities to implement self-service travel technology, and is one of the more accessible ways to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;Facial recognition technology however can also be used throughout the entire customer experiences to provide:&nbsp;Faster check-in and check-out.A more reliable payment system.Higher security - particularly helpful for travellers embarking on long-haul journeys or who want to ensure their details are protected in far-away countries.A dematerialised experience - reducing not only the need for wasteful resources like printed paperwork, but also a less stressful experience for travellers.&nbsp;The modernisation of previously manual or analog processes in order to streamline a customers’ experience also brings us to our next point.Customer-Centric Artificial Intelligence&nbsp;As the demand for travel continues to expand, and customers of all demographics are more expectant of digital processes in their daily lives, travel providers must dramatically rethink how they’re ensuring customer satisfaction.&nbsp;The integration of artificial intelligence into businesses has become more prevalent in recent years, though it has been in existence for quite some time. And while the use of machine learning and AI does present some logistical challenges, the potential of this type of tech cannot be ignored. It is essential, however, for the hospitality industry to strike a careful balance between the benefits of automation and the necessity of delivering personalised experiences.&nbsp;The most significant example of customer-focused AI when thinking about travel technology for the hospitality industry, is Chatbots. Using natural language processing (NLP) this technology accurately responds to and engages with users to streamline and enhance the customer experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;The benefits of integrating chatbots into customer service strategies are supported by research from Meta, indicating that approximately seven out of ten customers feel a greater connection to businesses that offer messaging options. In addition, 65% of consumers prefer contacting businesses via chat. These statistics emphasise the importance of utilising chatbots as a professional and effective means of enhancing customer satisfaction.&nbsp;From pre-booking enquiries to post-booking assistance, Chatbots offer:A direct channel of communication from customer to business, simplifying the way that customers used to contact travel providers in the past.&nbsp;Seamless customer service - when implemented correctly.The ability to gather crucial data - allowing businesses to learn about their customer needs to better meet them.&nbsp;Our CEO Nicolas Huss, suggests that technology like chatbots allows travel distributors to ‘provide an elevated personalised experience by remembering preferences and automatically implementing them each time an individual books their next trip.’Tech-Owned Hotels and Resorts&nbsp;Another noticeable way that the ownership of hotels and how this may impact the hospitality industry is the increasing instances of technology companies branching out into hotel ownership.&nbsp;For example, tech-company Heli, who have specialised in providing a booking platform and software to heli-skiing experience providers, purchased their own property in a move to expand into the industry in an all-new way.&nbsp;This expansion into the hospitality industry directly challenges existing hotel owners and hospitality providers, as established travel technology companies such as Heli are approaching the travel market with a high level of understanding about both sides of the market - what it takes to run a successful business, and also how to keep customers happy.&nbsp;&nbsp;What does this mean for hoteliers?Travel tech companies moving into the hotel ownership sphere will result in an increasing level of competition for existing hotel owners to ensure that they know what their guests want, and have the appropriate resources, facilities and internal tech solutions to provide this.Technology and Remote Working/Bleisure TravelAs we previously discussed in our article covering the best destinations for remote workers, the impact and influence of the remote worker on the travel landscape is significant, and does not seem to be dissipating. In fact, by 2022, the number of remote workers had grown to 35 million, with around 16% of companies around the world operating on a fully remote basis, and 76% respondents to a TravelPerk survey suggesting their company was hybrid.&nbsp;'Bleisure’ travellers are also an increasingly prominent segment, and the combination of business and leisure travel not only changes&nbsp;the needs that guests have during their stay, but also their search criteria during the booking process and businesses that lack the facilities or technology solutions to cater for this segment may find themselves at a disadvantage.&nbsp;&nbsp;This continual blurring of the line between business and leisure travel can cause several challenges for hotels, such as determining the travel motive for their guests, and changing travel behaviours which are leading to fewer ‘shoulder’ seasons throughout the year amongst other changes across the industry. This will have long-term impact on the considerations that hotel owners should be keeping top of mind when it comes to attracting, and retaining this segment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here are a few crucial technologies that hotel owners should consider implementing for remote and bleisure travellers:Secure, superfast WiFi - while this may seem obvious, the importance of reliable WiFi that will allow remote workers to conduct their business as usual is vital to attracting this type of traveller, and ensure positive word of mouth marketing as a result of their experiences.Access to tools like printers, desktop computers, and smart TVs - this supports a productive environment and ensures spaces are convenient for a wide range of needs.Cloud-based technologies - offering coworking or meeting spaces which offer online or cloud-based solutions ensures you’re meeting the variable needs of the remote worker.&nbsp;Nomad Stays is also looking to take their accommodation of remote workers even further, by offering a booking platform that focuses on the sense of community that this type of traveller is often looking for. This marketplace will provide travellers with ideas of where to buy relevant software to create meetups, coaching and training sessions, consultation services and more - and it’s a key example of how travel providers everywhere are beginning to change their business models to incorporate this high-value segment.Why is it important that hoteliers are accommodating remote workers?The notion of ‘hybrid hospitality’ encompasses the opportunity for hotels today, and how businesses utilising the spaces available in their hotels throughout the day and at different times can significantly uplift revenue generation. For example, by ‘stacking’ a co-working model onto the hotel real estate, a 24 hour window of revenue generation opens up, and several hotels found that by doing this it grew their revenue by 20%; just by offering remote workers space to conduct their business in.&nbsp;By offering a combination of spaces where their business travel and leisure travel needs meet, you’re offering the level of flexibility that today’s travellers are looking for.&nbsp;VR As A Hotel Marketing ToolVirtual Reality (VR) offers travel providers and travel sellers all over the world to build a sensory experience of a destination, attraction, or activity, which can then be used to complement or even replace traditional promotional tools much like printed travel brochures.&nbsp;However for hotels, VR offers a multitude of opportunities to increase occupancy rate, by emphasising the physical environment which is being sold to travellers. By engaging with VR experiences or materials, potential travellers can make a more informed judgement of a new destination, hotel or tourism experience. VR, when used as a hotel marketing tool, provides travellers the chance to more intrinsically understand what will be offered to them and therefore better influence the decision-making process.&nbsp;When guests can see themselves using the hotel facilities, or even relaxing in their room, the likelihood of them booking this hotel increases.&nbsp;Some real life examples of successful VR marketing include:&nbsp;Unveiled at Fitur 2023, Amadeus announced plans to offer virtual experiences and previews of trips for travellers to travel agencies with its ‘Triportation’ program. This innovative development will provide a mix of ‘VR, AI and metaverse’ to enhance the travel experience at critical moments in the booking journey.The use of a VR web portal (Bihor360) was used to successfully promote sustainable tourism in Romania, with positive effects on the awareness, protection and conservation of historical and cultural monuments.&nbsp;We predict that the use of virtual reality and augmented reality (AR) will continue to expand as travellers become increasingly familiar and reliant on this type of technology during the travel booking process. This includes utilising it to inspire them at the initial “dreaming” stage all the way through to their departure.&nbsp;So there you have it! These are just a few of the ways that travel technology is being integrated into the hospitality industry, whether that’s with a customer-centric approach, or with initiatives designed to improve the sustainability of hotel facilities, or even to train members of the hotel team to better serve their guests.&nbsp;&nbsp;At every level of the travel and hospitality industry technology is being recognised far and above its efficiency-increasing capabilities, and is becoming a crucial component of any business. At Hotelbeds, this integration of technology is something we hold as one of our central pillars, from the TravelTech Lab by Hotelbeds to the wealth of data we collect and use to offer our partners informed, market-relevant insights to improve their business.&nbsp;Sign up today to join the ranks of hotels around the world benefitting from our global network of travel distributors, responsible distribution and data-driven growth strategies.&nbsp;Log in today to begin maximising your exposure with our global network of travel distributors, and grow your revenue!&nbsp;

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How Hoteliers can Cater for Travel Trends: Travel Tech/AI 

Responses to the economic and global challenges of the last few years have changed how businesses interact with and adopt technology, for the long haul. A recent study by McKinsey &amp; Company suggests that companies across all sectors and industries have dramatically accelerated the digitisation of their customer and supply chain interactions - some by as much as three or four years. The adoption of digitally enabled products has accelerated by seven years - and in the case of Asia, as much as ten years.&nbsp;There is a narrative shift occurring within many industries, where technology is not only recognised for its ability to offer cost efficient ways of working; but is recognised as a critical component of a business itself. Of course, the increase of technological solutions or advantages is not news - but what is illuminating is the weight being placed on technology to cater for demand, to replace outdated modes of communication with customers and curate more efficient, personalised experiences for consumers.&nbsp;Many of the changes we’re seeing in usage of digital products are likely here for the long term, including:&nbsp;Changing customer demands or expectations - such as, for example, increasing online communication/purchasingIncreasing migration of cloud-based assetsIncreasing use of advanced technologies within business operations - such as artificial intelligence, automation and analytics.&nbsp;So, in relation to the travel industry, this becomes an increasingly interesting and important question of how can travel providers ensure they’re meeting the needs of customers in a digital landscape? And also, what are some of the ways that advanced technology is already shaping interactions between travellevers and travel distributors?&nbsp;Data Usage To Create Personalised ExperiencesPersonalisation is one of the key consumer trends that all industries are seeing, not just travel, and it’s something that will continue to shape the considerations of travel providers globally. Especially given that, according to Google, 57% of US travellers think that brands and service providers should tailor the information provided based on personal preferences and past behaviours - and that was several years ago. Now, personalisation and using customer data and analytics to do so is critical.&nbsp;&nbsp;Customer data means there is more opportunity to personalise travel experiences, plus, and provide a more rounded, connected experience for the customer. In fact, 13% of all attendees at our 2023 MarketHub Americas event suggested that they were planning on offering more personalised services, with 11% planning to create and use more data to do so.&nbsp;By collecting customer data and combining this with powerful tools like predictive analytics, travel distributors and travel tech companies can better predict customer behaviour, trends in the market, and keep ahead in this fast-paced industry.&nbsp;McKinsey &amp; Company also suggest that brands will increasingly use ‘ecosystems’ to personalise journeys from beginning to end - meaning that personalisation for customers won’t stop when they arrive in their destination or at their hotel, but continue in partnering ecosystems which include the restaurants they eat in, the bars and clubs and shops they visit during their stay. Doing so requires customer data, to build out these ecosystems using past behaviours and customer preferences, to build an infrastructure of travel providers which is connected enough to offer wide-reaching customer service, which even includes their in-destination experiences!&nbsp;This focus on analytics within tourism is something that we at Hotelbeds are dedicating our energy to. The customer data available through the distribution of activities within our global network, for example, allows our partners to obtain additional information about customers and as our CEO Nicolas Huss explained at our MarketHub Europe event, ‘by knowing who they [customers] are, it is easier to meet their needs.’&nbsp;&nbsp;Insights&nbsp;is an ideal example of how we at Hotelbeds utilise customer data, but delivered in an anonymised, market-centric way, to provide key insights and allowing our partners to:Identify growth opportunities and market-specific booking patternsmarket.&nbsp;Save, anchor or discard recommendations to better influence our intelligent system.Create personalised marketing materials to capture client interest and increase the likelihood of booking.&nbsp;Using market-based data in this way, and combined with technology that enables our partners to meet customer preferences and learn from those, is one of the ways that we at Hotelbeds are working to maximise on the opportunities that using customer data offers without compromising on client experience or personal data security.Sign up today to join our global network of travel distributors dedicated to taking the industry further! Get access to key insights, a vast portfolio of properties, and intuitive travel platforms offering you those chances for all-important personalisation.Green Technology&nbsp;As much as 8% of global CO2 emissions are produced nowadays by activities in the Tourism sector (transportation, construction, catering, services, land promotion activities, etc.); while UNWTO suggests that around 2% of this is directly produced by the hospitality industry. Recent insight from CBRE indicated the urgency for hospitality and leisure establishments to reduce carbon footprints compared to other real estate classifications, with hotel carbon emissions at 96kgCO2e/m².&nbsp;And although there has been tangible progress to reduce carbon footprints in order to meet the terms of the globally recognised Paris Agreement, there is still much work that can be done not only to ensure the development of their business, but to keep in line with the fact that sustainability is now, by necessity, a guiding principle of the travel industry.&nbsp;Here are just a few examples of sustainable technology which hotels around the world are adopting:&nbsp;Operational systems:&nbsp;such as Energy Management Systems (EMS), Guest Room Management Systems (GRMS), Property Management Systems (PMS), and Building Management Systems (BMS).&nbsp;Online check-in and automated ticket management for guest requests.Digitised communications and collaboration technology:&nbsp;for shareholders, corporate communications and even for guests, to reduce the carbon footprint that comes with printed or physical resources.Renewable sources of energy:&nbsp;solar or photovoltaic,&nbsp;to lower the impact of high-consumption services like air conditioning.Artificial Intelligence and software solutions: to reduce food wastage, by tracking food production and inventory, as demonstrated by the innovative partnership between The Iberostar Group and Winnows AI to become carbon neutral.Why Is Sustainable Technology Important?&nbsp;As we explored in our discussion about the traveller of tomorrow, one of the most valuable and influential traveller profiles for the travel industry as a whole is Gen Z. The move towards sustainable travel is loudly supported by Gen Z most notably; though Millennial travellers also suggest that the ecological impact of transport, accommodation and activities is influential on their travel booking decisions. According to Google Insights, over half of surveyed travellers suggested that environmental and sustainable considerations were essential to them when planning travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;And after all, the guests of the future will be Gen Z and Gen Alpha (the children of Millennial families) and considering their status as the ‘voice of sustainability’, so catering for the values and preferences of this vast travel segment is critical for a hotel to remain relevant and successful, and for the industry as a whole.VR As A Marketing ToolVirtual Reality (VR) offers travel providers and travel sellers all over the world to build a sensory experience of a destination, attraction, or activity, which can then be used to ‘complement, or supplant traditional promotional tools’, much like printed travel brochures for example.&nbsp;&nbsp;Similarly to the ways that VR saw such significant success during COVID-19 as a result of its immersive nature, which allowed users to experience new destinations or take virtual tours of attractions around the world from the comfort of their home, VR allows potential travellers to make a more connected judgement of a new destination, hotel or tourism experience. It offers them a chance to more intrinsically understand what will be offered to them, and therefore influence the decision making process and make interested travellers more likely to book.&nbsp;Some real life examples of successful VR marketing include:&nbsp;Unveiled at Fitur 2023, Amadeus announced plans to offer virtual experiences and previews of trips for travellers to travel agencies with its ‘Triportation’ program. This innovative development will provide a mix of ‘VR, AI and metaverse’ to enhance the travel experience at critical moments in the booking journey.The use of a VR web portal (Bihor360) was used to successfully promote sustainable tourism in Romania, with positive effects on the awareness, protection and conservation of historical and cultural monuments.&nbsp;We anticipate that the use of virtual reality and augmented reality (AR) will only grow as travellers become more acquainted and expectant of this sort of technology throughout the travel booking process, from inspiring them at the ‘dreaming’ stage through to when they jet off.Customer-Centric Artificial Intelligence&nbsp;As the demand for travel continues to expand, and customers of all demographics are more expectant of digital processes in their daily lives, travel providers must dramatically rethink how they’re ensuring customer satisfaction.&nbsp;Of course, artificial intelligence itself has existed for many years, but it is only recently being integrated into businesses at a higher rate. And while the use of machine learning and AI does present some logistical challenges, the potential of this type of tech cannot be ignored. However the hospitality industry in particular needs to ensure that there is a careful balance between the ease and efficiency of automation, and the need to deliver unique, personalised experiences for today’s traveller.&nbsp;The most promise in this realm lies with features like intelligent Chatbots - which use natural language processing (NLP) to accurately respond and engage with users.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chatbots allow businesses to cater to a wide range of customer requests from pre-booking enquiries to post-booking assistance. And considering that, as suggested by research from Meta, around seven out of ten customers feel ‘closer’ to businesses that offer messaging options, and 65% consumers prefer contacting businesses via chat.&nbsp;&nbsp;From pre-booking enquiries to post-booking assistance, Chatbots offer:A direct channel of communication from customer to business, simplifying the way that customers used to contact travel providers in the past.&nbsp;Seamless customer service - when implemented correctly.The ability to gather crucial data - allowing businesses to learn about their customer needs to better meet them.&nbsp;Our CEO Nicolas Huss, suggests that technology like chatbots allows travel distributors to ‘provide an elevated personalised experience by remembering preferences and automatically implementing them each time an individual books their next trip.’Sign up today to join our vast global network of travel distributors!&nbsp;VR and AR Experiences For TravellersFrom immersive galleries, museums and exhibitions from the likes of techLab, with locations all over the world, the to mixed reality playgrounds of technology-driven installations from companies like Meow Wolf in the USA, and VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) games from Gamebox in London, the way that travellers engage with technology in-destination is changing. AR is fast becoming easily accessible in major destinations globally, and even theme parks like Super Nintendo World are bringing guests a wide range of immersive activities, rides and exploration spaces.&nbsp;But what is emerging is a whole new way for travellers to discover their destinations of choice, with app-based VR and AR experiences paving the way for a whole new realm of tourism where travellers’ experiences are enriched with interactive technology.&nbsp;For example, in Japan Kumamon Land is the result of a collaboration between Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture and a leading tech-organisation and marketing agency, to offer an app-based metaverse space where users can explore a virtual landscape inspired by the real-life destination of Kumamoto. Meanwhile Singapore’s National Heritage Board released BALIKSG, an augmented reality trail app that offers immersive trail routes where travellers can discover the country’s history through the use of augmented reality. Qatar Airways also recently launched Qverse, which is an immersive experience offering travellers the chance to navigate the Hamad International Airport, check in, and even interact with ‘Sama’ - a MetaHuman cabin crew!&nbsp;These explorations into all-new travel tech challenge the previously separate worlds of virtual and augmented reality and travel, breaking down boundaries within the travel experience.&nbsp;Smart Hotel TechnologyFrom mobile check-in and smart room technology to new tech partnerships that cater to the everyday needs of travellers, many hotels are broadening their horizons in terms of the facilities on offer for increasingly digital-product expectant travellers.&nbsp;&nbsp;A smart hotel can be defined by its ability to offer customers the ability to operate devices and services through either Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) or digital connectivity. This could include smart room technology such as voice control, energy efficiency, facial recognition and automation. In-room technology could also be controlled by apps and mobile devices, such as guests adjusting air temperature, lighting and air conditioning through app-based platforms or smart metres.&nbsp;Smart hotel technology is also a crucial development for the advancement of customer experience, as the appropriate collection of customer data during a stay, processed via AI machine learning, could help hotels learn more about customer preferences and curate an even more bespoke experience. Even investing in cloud-based technologies could simplify operations, reduce staffing needs, and provide a better guest experience.&nbsp;To further help create a frictionless experience for the traveller we have also recently partnered with Wayra, an open innovation centre within telecom company Telefonica, to create the TravelTech Lab by Hotelbeds, an initiative which supports tech startups and actively change the way that tomorrow's travellers move, connect and explore. This collaboration allows us to innovate with start-up partners to deliver customer-centric experiences through the creation of products, platforms and services that have a high impact in the world of travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;What are some other real-life examples of tech partnerships within the hotel industry?Marriott International recently partnered with Groups360 to streamline the process of booking rooms, meeting spaces and events for its corporate guests.The Maho Group, offering hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, is working with Cendyn to power its CRM, revenue management and business intelligence, offering personalised experiences to encourage customer loyalty by tracking individual guests’ preferences.IHG Hotel and Resorts partnered with PPDS to offer Chromecast in select locations, providing guests with the ability to stream content from their smart devices.Hilton also recently partnered with Amadeus’s distribution system, to better share valuable information to scale operations more effectively.&nbsp;The benefit of a diverse distribution strategy also cannot be overstated when it comes to increasing exposure and relevance within the travel space - especially the high-value B2B marketplace. And with a global portfolio of 250,000 properties in 170+ countries worldwide, at Hotelbeds we’re in a prime position to take your travel distribution even further.&nbsp;Sign up today to take your travel distribution even further with our leading insights, technology solutions and global portfolio.Log in today to take advantage of our leading insights, technology solutions and global portfolio.&nbsp;

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How to Cater for Travel Trends: Travel Tech/AI

Within any sphere of travel it’s important to understand where audiences are looking to go, what they want from their experience, and how their needs are changing.&nbsp;

To keep ahead of the curve, as hotel owners it’s important to re-evaluate what was once considered ‘luxury’ travel, as many of todays’ travellers are moving away from purely exclusive resorts and disconnected retreats. And despite the fact that many countries are experiencing financial crises, the demand for luxury travel is anticipated to be ‘higher than ever’ in the next five years.

What Luxury Travellers Want In 2023

Here are just a couple of key insights into what luxury travellers are looking for from their trips include:&nbsp;


	
	Clients want to ‘get under the skin’ of a destination&nbsp;
	
	
	An increasing focus on exploring hidden gems, activities, and neighbourhoods - what GlobeTrender calls ‘Gamma Destinations’
	


With this in mind, we take a closer look at some of the most notable current and upcoming trends within the luxury travel sphere, what opportunities these present for hotel owners, and how Hotelbeds are ideally positioned to offer hotels access to travellers within this segment.



More Conscious Luxury

Given that one of the prerequisites of luxury travel is a closer, ‘exclusive’ look at a destination of choice, there are many overlapping similarities between luxury travel and conscious travel. This intersect can be more clearly seen when we look at a few aspects of the ‘hierarchy of needs of the luxury traveller’:


	
	Indulgent Experience (meets/exceeds)
	
	
	Authentic Experience (cultural, not mass travel)
	


This narrative shift towards conscious travel, where authenticity is becoming more highly priced than ‘pan-global luxury’ is apparent across the travel industry as a whole, however with regards to luxury travel and what travellers are looking for from their experience, there are key considerations for the hospitality industry - particularly, the need for green initiatives.

Mostly, the importance of offering sustainable accommodation for consciously minded luxury travellers is never more apparent, in order to remain relevant within a market whose definition is rapidly changing.&nbsp;

As a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), at Hotelbeds we understand how critical it is not only for hotel owners to remain successful, but for the industry as a whole to shift towards conscious travel. Our Green Hotel Programme and Plastic-Free initiative are just two of the ways that we’re responding to the very real demand from environmentally conscious travellers, offering simple and effective tools for our travel trade clients to not only make green choices in how they’re selling experiences and hotels to end travellers, but to make positive change within the industry.

Sign up to connect with our network of thousands of travel distributors to help attract the right guest at the right time today.



The Re-Emergence of China&nbsp;

Even though it will take time for China to be fully reinstated into the world travel market, the growing wealth across the region is a promising sign for outbound travel growth. According to Oxford Economics, there is potential for outbound travel to reach 48% of 2019 levels in 2023, which means roughly 17 million additional Chinese travellers will be exploring both international and domestic travel markets.

The reopening of China's tourism industry presents a wonderful opportunity for the growth of luxury travel. With the affluent demographics of Asia showing a strong demand for this style of travel, we can expect a massive outbound source market to emerge in the next few years.

As a global travel partner with a vast network of travel distributors, as well as valuable ancillaries for end travellers to enrich their trips, we’re ideally positioned to not only increase the visibility of our partners’ hotel(s) through a non-competing distribution channel, but also to a group of guests who:&nbsp;


	
	Have longer lead-times than other distribution channels.
	
	
	Cancel less often - for example, the cancellation rate for European hotels during FY22 was 31% when booked through our distribution channel, compared to the 65.5% seen in OTA bookings.
	
	
	Largely belong to long-haul markets
	


We offer all our clients access to fast-growing travel segments even in the most hard-to-reach spaces, while our cloud-based technology platforms provide fast, simple access to a network of global travel products to curate your clients’ bespoke travel plans. Put simply, working with us at Hotelbeds puts you in the right position to access some of the most valuable travel segments out there.

Sign up today to become one of our dedicated hotelier partners.

Log in to your account today and begin managing your hotel offerings.

&nbsp;



Pay Attention To Generation Alpha&nbsp;

A recent study from Globetrender highlighted this trend, revealing that these families are not afraid to spend big and travel far. The study also predicted a substantial hike in family trips, estimating an increase of 185% between 2021 and 2022, which we anticipate will carry over far and beyond 2023. As we look ahead to the next few years, it is safe to assume that luxury travel will see a sharp and sustained increase, particularly among wealthy families.

And as a passive but young demographic, Gen Alpha is reliant on their Millennial parents to spend for them, which means:&nbsp;


	Millennial travellers will be looking to accommodate their children - an increasingly influential and young demographic accustomed to regular travel and the digital era
	Luxury travel and luxury familial experiences may change as a result - from the rise of parent-child bonding trips to the increase in long-haul adventure trips, the way that luxury families go on holiday is changing.


It's essential to recognize the changing face of the modern family and adapt your offerings accordingly. For instance, in the UK, many families are led by single parents, around 90% of which are women. So, it's vital to question your preconceived notions about family travel and make sure your offerings meet the diverse needs of today's travellers. But what is clear is that there is no better time to cater for the elite and their younger generations.



‘Premium’ Travel As One To Watch

‘Premium’ travel has many names, but this segment can mostly be identified by where travellers sit on the plane - namely, those at the front. And while the premium segment may not be quite the same as luxury, the motivations, needs and travel styles are in a similar vein, so travel distributors would be remiss to discredit the growing opportunity that premium travellers present. Travel analytics companies like Forward Keys, in fact, have outlined premium travel as one to watch.

Recent insights suggest that the premium travel segment is recovering much faster than the economy segment in relation to 2019 levels. Interestingly, premium travellers also:


	Travel more regularly than economy travellers
	Spend more than average once in their destination of choice
	Stay for longer durations in their chosen destinations each time&nbsp;


In fact, at the end of 2022, premium segment travellers in America had stayed 14% longer compared to 2019 levels, with particular growth within small groups and families.&nbsp;

What opportunities does this present for hoteliers?

This is a rapidly growing segment of travellers who are willing to spend more in-destination, stay longer, and travel more frequently than those in the economy segment. So this means that recovery, in terms of revenue, is happening faster than visitor numbers, which is great news for host destinations and also great news for hotel owners looking to make the most of a high-spend, high-frequency traveller.



The Rise of High-Impact Conservation

As suggested in our article detailing some of the top travel trends for 2023, high-impact conservation remains another exciting opportunity within the luxury travel segment.&nbsp;

Pelorus, a provider of luxury trips, noted that many high net-worth travellers are no longer impressed by the type of excess that ‘luxury travel’ used to once mean, and that luxury is becoming more about the privilege of contributing to preserving and protecting the world’s environments. From spending time with marine biologists to joining conservationist efforts in Africa, the ultra-wealthy are beginning to fund experiences that make a tangible difference to the climate crisis, and capitalising on this type of traveller could lead to a huge uplift in your success as a hotel owner.

Partnering with in-destination organisations who offer a deeper experience than more ‘tokenistic’ give back schemes can be a key step for hotel owners looking to capture the interest of high-net worth clients looking to make a real difference. It’s critical to ensure that any partnerships offer tangible, real value to local communities and environments, in order to attract the calibre of luxury traveller looking to make an actual difference during their experience.&nbsp;



Luxury Wellness Tourism

CNTraveller suggests that ‘mindful movement is the new buzzword’ when it comes to luxury wellness as one of the top travel trends for 2023 and beyond, and we’re inclined to agree - though mindful movement is certainly not new as a concept! From hypnotherapy and nutritional assessments to astrology, forest bathing or sound baths, the concept of holistic wellness as a mainstream driver for travel has deserved a place on the radar since 2022.&nbsp;

Marketing wellness experiences is therefore becoming a key factor in many luxury hotels’ strategies, and our Star Collection Programme offers the perfect platform to maximise visibility to the right guest, as part of our dedicated marketing solutions for hotels - available exclusively to our hotel partners!&nbsp;

In order to remain relevant and keep up with demand, many hotels and hotel chains around the world have had to increase their wellness offerings by incorporating innovative, attractive experiences and facilities into their properties. In fact, some hotels are taking this one step further, incorporating high-tech medicine into wellness regimes and pushing the boundaries of what ‘wellness’ means - from hotels offering traditional Chinese medicines featuring nutrigenomics (the relationship between between diet and genes); on-site assessments that curate bespoke stress-relieving activities; or even offering clients treatments believed to increase ‘health span’ including stem-cell therapy, DNA analysis and customised immune-boosting.

In fact, at Hotelbeds we have seen a significant increase in luxury bookings with many destinations experiencing growth exceeding 50% in the last couple of years as more travellers than ever prioritise mind and body wellness, and preventative care. This prompted an incredible opportunity to expand our portfolio with The Leading Hotels of the World Alliance, offering even greater access to the luxury travel segment and building our existing ability to connect luxury travellers with the right hotels and experiences.

Sign up to become a dedicated hotel partner today, and maximise your occupancy.

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How To Cater To 2023 Travel Trends: Luxury Travel


Within any sphere of travel, it’s important to understand where audiences are looking to travel, what they want from their experience, and how their needs are changing! And despite the fact that many countries are experiencing financial crises, the demand for luxury travel is anticipated to be ‘higher than ever’ in the next five years.

However, while some luxury travellers will be seeking ways of exploring new territory, trailblazing into destinations and okay with a few bumps along the way; for some, a rediscovery of classics is what’s fresh. Luxury travel is quickly becoming all about meeting the specific needs of this segment, while remaining conscious of how the notion of 'luxury' is changing in line with today's travel trends.

So, what does this mean for travel distributors? The focus, as always in today’s travel industry, is on bespoke. There are a few overriding trends that we’re seeing within luxury travel however, which are:&nbsp;


	Clients want to ‘get under the skin’ of a destination&nbsp;
	An increasing focus on exploring hidden gems, activities, and neighbourhoods - what GlobeTrender calls ‘Gamma Destinations’


So, with this in mind, we explore some of the key overriding trends which are important for travel distributors to consider, from the re-emergence of China as a main outbound travel market to the rising influence of Generation Alpha!

Incorporate Slow Travel



Given that one of the prerequisites of luxury travel is a closer, ‘exclusive’ look at a destination of choice, there are many overlapping similarities between conscious luxury travel and slow travel. This intersect can be more clearly seen when we look at a few aspects of the ‘hierarchy of needs of the luxury traveller’:


	Indulgent Experience (meets/exceeds)
	Authentic Experience (cultural, not mass travel)


Slow travel can be determined by any instance where a traveller actively seeks out impactful, meaningful experiences in their destination of choice, and so the benefit of using this travel style to meet these luxury needs is clear.

Things to consider when you’re crafting slower experiences for your luxury travellers:


	What is driving them to their destination of choice?&nbsp;
	What are they seeking for this trip that may or may not be different to what they’ve experienced before?&nbsp;


A particular recommendation for long-haul segments would be to allow them to get to grips with a country by exploring the authentic cuisine of their destination, particularly in countries where food is so much a part of local culture. Getting local experts involved is also critical, as there is also a notable shift in the narrative surrounding luxury travel where authenticity is becoming more highly priced than ‘pan-global luxury’.

Some of the top performing luxury destinations for 2023 so far, according &nbsp;to a recent study by luxury travel provider Carrier, have been Barbados, the Maldives, the USA, Greece, UAE, Antigua, South Africa, Italy, Spain and Kenya - which form interesting starting points when you’re considering where to send your luxury travellers on their slow travels this year, and into 2024.

What does this mean for travel distributors?

Travellers of all capabilities and preferences are beginning to understand that when we travel, we impact local communities and environments. Luxury travellers are beginning to prioritise ‘local’ over surface-level experience.

This is where having a vast portfolio of activities and experiences is so essential, in order to offer your clients bespoke opportunities to get to the heart of their destination of choice. Doing so requires attention to detail - which is a hallmark of luxury travel, after all.

This vast network of local travel experts, activities and hotels is something that we offer at Hotelbeds! With thousands of properties and activities in 195+ countries worldwide, our portfolio is the only resource you need to boost your bookings and meet your clients’ demands.

Sign up today to access our exclusive portfolio!

&nbsp;

Pay Attention To Generation Alpha&nbsp;



A recent study from Globetrender also illuminates the fact that Millennial families (Gen Y) are looking more and more for adventurous, intrepid trips. These families are spending high and travelling far, and with family trips increasing by 185% between 2021 and 2022, we can anticipate a sharp and sustained increase in luxury travel particularly for wealthy families in the next few years.&nbsp;

What does this mean for travel distributors?

Considering that Millennials are one of the most travelled demographics of today’s traveller, it’s safe to anticipate that the influence of their children, Gen Alpha, will only increase over the next few years.&nbsp;

A passive but young demographic, Gen Alpha is reliant on their Millennial parents to spend for them, which means:&nbsp;


	Millennial travellers will be looking to accommodate their children - an increasingly influential and young demographic accustomed to regular travel and the digital era
	Luxury travel and luxury familial experiences may change as a result - from the rise of parent-child bonding trips to the increase in long-haul adventure trips, the way that luxury families go on holiday is changing.&nbsp;


The changing nature of what the modern family looks like will also be important to review, to ensure that you’re meeting the needs of today’s traveller. For example, take the UK as a segment; many families are headed up by a lone parent, 90% of which are women. So challenging the assumptions over what sort of family trips you’re offering, and how these may not always meet the demands of your market, is crucial.&nbsp;

However, what’s clear is that there is no better time to cater for the elite and their younger generations.

‘Premium’ Travel As One To Watch



‘Premium’ travel has many names, but this segment can mostly be identified by where travellers sit on the plane - namely, those at the front. And while the premium segment may not be quite the same as luxury, the motivations, needs and travel styles are in a similar vein, so travel distributors would be remiss to discredit the growing opportunity that premium travellers present. Travel analytics companies like Forward Keys, in fact, have outlined premium travel as one to watch.

Recent insights suggest that the premium travel segment is recovering much faster than the economy segment in relation to 2019 levels. Interestingly, premium travellers also:&nbsp;


	Travel more regularly than economy travellers
	Spend more than average once in their destination of choice
	Stay for longer durations in their chosen destinations each time&nbsp;


In fact, at the end of 2022, premium segment travellers in America had stayed 14% longer compared to 2019 levels, with particular growth within small groups and families.&nbsp;

What does this mean for travel distributors?

Think about how you’re accommodating premium travellers, not just luxury. There is a vast segment here that’s fast-growing, spending more in-destination, spending more time in-destination, and travelling more than the economy segment.&nbsp;

So this means that recovery, in terms of revenue, is happening faster than visitor numbers, which is great news for host destinations and also great news for travel distributors looking to make the most of a high-spend, high-frequency traveller.

The Re-Emergence of China&nbsp;



While the reinstatement of China into the world travel market will take time, the growing wealth across the region is still an important feature of the potential for outbound travel growth. Oxford Economics suggests that, at its best, this outbound travel may reach 48% of 2019 during 2023 - but this still equates to roughly 17m additional Chinese travellers this year populating international and domestic travel markets.

The reopening of China ties into the increasing demand for luxury travel, as the wealthy demographics of Asia in particular are expected to be a massive outbound source market for this style of travel in the next few years.&nbsp;

Travel analytics company Forward Keys suggested that in terms of recovery trends, compared to 2019 levels, China is following many of the same trends we’re seeing around the world. Given that one of the fastest growing visitor profiles around the world right now is the premium segment, this applies to China as well, meaning that many of the Chinese travellers heading out to international destinations during 2023 and into 2024 are more likely to belong to the affluent classes than in pre-2019. The Chinese traveller, therefore, is a key segment to capitalise on as travel distributors during the remainder of the year and well into 2024, even 2025 and beyond!

As a global travel partner with an expansive portfolio in China and the Asia Pacific region, we offer all our clients access to fast-growing travel segments even in the most hard-to-reach spaces, while our cloud-based technology platforms provide fast, simple access to a network of global travel products to curate your clients’ bespoke travel plans.

Put simply, working with us at Hotelbeds puts you in the right position to access some of the most valuable travel segments out there!

Sign up today to begin your journey with us.

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&nbsp;

High-Impact Conservation



Alongside other key travel trends for 2023, high-impact conservation remains another exciting opportunity within the luxury travel segment.&nbsp;

Pelorus, who specialise in luxury trips, noted that for high net-worth travellers no longer impressed by the type of excess that ‘luxury travel’ used to once mean, experiences are becoming more about the privilege of ensuring that their presence contributes to the ‘preservation, protecting and future flourishing’ of the world’s environments.&nbsp;

After all, what higher privilege is there to accessing remote destinations, or experiencing first-hand the very real consequences of humanity on natural environments and wildlife, and having the ability to make a positive impact?&nbsp;

What’s more, a recent report from global luxury travel agency Virtuoso suggests that around 56% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennial luxury travellers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly tourism packages, with around 52% of Millennials seeking travel that preserves natural and cultural heritage.&nbsp;

Add this to the fact that Millennials represent 23% of the adult population on the globe, and that elite Millennials and their Gen Alpha children are an increasingly active and key segment for the luxury travel market, and you have an unmissable opportunity to cater for high-spend, eco-conscious Millennial families from around the world.


There you have it! While there are many trends to watch out for regarding the luxury travel segment, these are just a few of those that we find the most interesting especially for travel distributors.

One of the best ways to keep connected with this valuable segment within the travel industry is by partnering with Hotelbeds! With an expansive global portfolio of accommodation and ancillaries, we make it easier than ever to access high-end clients even in the most hard-to-reach spaces.

Sign up&nbsp;today&nbsp;to begin maximizing your success as a travel distributor.

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How To Cater For 2023 Travel Trends: Luxury Travel 


The UK is entering a new era with the coronation of King Charles III in May - the first male monarch since the 1950s - and it’s safe to say that this has been one of the most anticipated events in the British calendar for 2023.

So for clients eager to visit the UK and experience a unique time for this must-visit destination, then there’s no better month than this May, as London especially will be abundant with celebratory events, activities and decorations to commemorate this era of change. Not to mention it's a perfect way to make the most of the UK’s extra day off on the Monday after the coronation.

While coronation is taking place on Saturday May 6th 2023, there is much more besides the processions and coronation ceremony for guests of London and the popular surrounding areas. So we’ve created a list of some of the best things to do if you’re in need of a little inspiration for clients looking to visit the UK this May!

The Best Things To Do In London

Watch the royal procession

Before the ceremony on May 6th, the royal procession will journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for the King's Procession, and then the return journey will see them joined by other royals in the Coronation Procession. The streets of London all the way along both of these procession routes will be very crowded, but should your clients wish to try for a glimpse of the UK’s new king, this is one of the best ways to do so! Previous royal processions have travelled past and through tourist hot-spot locations such as Parliament Square, Whitehall, the Horse Guards Parade, The Mall and Constitution Hill.&nbsp;

Visit the royal attractions

Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace are all stunning royal attractions that many visitors would be remiss to skip on a visit to the capital around the coronation! Though most of these will be closed on May 6th for the coronation itself, regular visiting hours are in place the days either side of this event.&nbsp;

Why not suggest a ‘royal’ tour to your clients, offering them the chance to soak up the sights with a private tour discovering Royal London’s most popular landmarks;&nbsp;it’s the perfect way to spend a visit to the UK during the coronation! Seeing St Pauls with the Changing of the Guard is a must for lovers of British history, too.

Many of these experiences can be booked with our expansive portfolio! With a wide range of ancillaries including in-destination activities and transfers to make your clients' experience that much more enjoyable and seamless, our exclusive portfolio makes it easier than ever to offer your clients their perfect getaway.&nbsp;

Register for free today to access this trip-enriching portfolio of hotels, activities and other ancillaries valuable to your clients.

Experience the London Eye, the London Dungeons, and Madame Tussauds

London has many iconic landmarks, but some have a well-earned reputation for being quintessential&nbsp;and therefore unmissable for your clients. Give them a chance to get the full London sightseeing experience with a London Eye river experience, cruising past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; or recommend the novel Madame Tussauds for a chance to rub shoulders with A-list celebrities and public figures. The famous London Dungeons even has a new virtual reality experience, perfect for tech and history lovers alike!

Find the locations for the ‘Lighting up the Nation’ event

During the continued celebrations after the coronation itself, the ‘Lighting up the Nation’ event will see iconic locations around London and the wider UK lit up with lasers, projections, drone displays and light illuminations!&nbsp;

Enjoy a luxurious afternoon tea&nbsp;

For travellers&nbsp;looking for that iconic British experience - minus the jostling crowds - then a delicious afternoon tea, or cream tea as it’s also known, is the perfect thing. Some ideal locations include Harrods, The Goring Hotel, Fortnum and Mason, the Ritz and the Savoy.

But for a more quirky way to see the city, why not suggest a ride on a vintage afternoon tea bus for a unique way to enjoy panoramic views of London while enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea. It’s certainly an experience to write home about!

Picnic in one of London’s parks

St. James’s and Green Park are perfect spots to enjoy some of the most iconic sights in London, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and The Albert Memorial. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are much more spacious however, with plenty of room for a picturesque afternoon watching the city go by.

Soak up some art and culture&nbsp;

From the British museum, the Tate Modern and the National Gallery near Trafalgar Square, to the Natural History Museum and the Victoria &amp; Albert, London is certainly not short on museums filled to the brim with art and culture to suit all tastes. Alternatively, let your clients pick and choose with great value London attraction passes for a flexible way to explore the city.&nbsp;

Sign up today to access a portfolio of activities and accommodation to suit your clients’ every need!

Log in now to start curating a bespoke trip to the UK for your clients!&nbsp;

Bonus Recommendations: Activities Outside of London

Enjoy the sights of regal Windsor

While technically not in London, what could be more perfect for clients’ visit to the UK over the coronation period than a trip to Royal Berkshire country to see Windsor! As well as being home to the 900-year-old Windsor Castle - one of the several homes of the royal family - this idyllic regal location is only an hour from Paddington station! Windsor Castle is hosting the official Coronation Concert on May 7th, but is typically open to visitors and offers stunning art collections, its historical State Rooms and St. George’s Chapel - the resting place of famous monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II and Henry VIII.

If your clients have space in their travel plans for a day trip to this beautiful city, why not recommend a Windsor Castle tour with transfers included for a stress-free way to experience this gorgeous location.

Explore Oxford and the Cotswolds&nbsp;

For travellers&nbsp;looking for a truly quintessential experience of the English countryside in one of the most postcard-worthy areas, a relaxed day out exploring the stunning city of Oxford is a must! Offer your clients the chance to enjoy the historic sights of its iconic universities, follow in the footsteps of its famous students like CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, and soak in the unchanged beauty of its cobbled streets and historical squares.

Log in to your account now to start booking your clients’ perfect trip to the UK over this coronation period.

Sign up today to start booking your clients’ perfect trip to the UK over this coronation period.

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King Charles III’s Coronation: The Best Things To Do In London

​

It’s not news that the 9-5 is no longer the norm, and that remote work is taking over as the new standard! In fact, ‘digital nomads’ – another term for remote workers – was coined in the 1990s, as improving technology was hypothesized to allow people to work from ‘anywhere’.&nbsp;

And as of 2022, there were approximately 35 million remote workers around the world, 16% of global companies are 100% remote, and 76% of respondents to a 2022 TravelPerk survey said their company had shifted to hybrid models. This means not only are the ways that business clients travel changing, but it also means that day-to-day travellers who may have been restricted by that rigid 9-5 office job are now more liberated to work, and therefore travel, wherever they want.

Of course, this means that in an already fast-changing industry you as travel suppliers must be prepared to cater for the remote worker and the impact that remote working is having on business and leisure travel - and especially how these travelling types are not as dissimilar as they once were.

One of the best ways for you to cater to the changing demands of travellers is by utilising a global portfolio of properties sourced from hard-to-reach markets, in some of the most popular destinations around the world! This is something that all our travel partners have access to with our exclusive and extensive&nbsp;portfolio of accommodation, which&nbsp;ensures that no matter your clients' needs, you are equipped with their ideal properties and ancillaries.

Not partnered with us? Register for free today to start scaling your success!

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&nbsp;

But for now, let’s look at where today’s remote worker is looking to travel, and how you can capitalise on this!&nbsp;



‘Bleisure’ Travel’s Rise to Fame

2022 saw the rise of the term ‘bleisure’ travel - a unique reference to the merging of business and leisure travel as a result of increased remote working, but also due to the fact that business travellers are taking advantage of the opportunity to combine corporate trips with leisure travel much more often. This was, among other factors, largely down to the restricted opportunities available to business travellers at the height of COVID-19.

Not only this, but leaders of Marriott International suggested that the rise of blended travel during 2022 is expected to continue, and accelerate, well into 2023 and beyond. Travel behaviours have changed and it is becoming increasingly more difficult for those within the hotel industry in particular to estimate whether its guests are in ‘business’ or ‘leisure’ mode just using previous indicators like booking times.&nbsp;

The long-term impact on the travel industry as a result of more blended travel means that everyone from hoteliers to travel sellers will need to consider how to accommodate an audience for whom the lines between business and leisure travel are increasingly blurred.

And of course, this simultaneously will impact where travellers will go for work, how long they will travel for, and how often - which is critical to consider when conducting your consultations. Utlising our technology solutions, and our ancillary portfolios allows you to&nbsp;capitalise on current trends and keep abreast of changing traveller demands.

The Best Destinations for Remote Workers

Now we understand that remote working is changing how both business and leisure travellers go on trips, it’s time to explore where in the world is best for remote workers. As one of the top travel trends for 2023, it’s crucial to know which destinations to recommend for this all-important travel profile.

Nomadlist recently identified its top ten destinations for remote workers based on growth in popularity over the last five years; though the most significant increase in visitors to these countries occurred between 2021-2023.

Notably, Japan has secured three of the top ten spots which suggests that this is a key destination to promote for 2023, and it's a perfect time considering Japan’s doors are now open to international travellers for the first time in three years. Momondo also came up with an interesting list of global destinations for remote workers which included Portugal, Spain, Germany and Japan.

So, let’s take a look at some of these most popular destinations!&nbsp;



Japan

Visas available: Tourist visa&nbsp;

For a lot of traditional workplaces in Japan remote working isn’t the norm - around 10% of the country worked remotely before the pandemic and this only increased to 20% during COVID-19. However, for remote working clients looking to utilise that ‘work from anywhere’ status, Japan is one of the best countries to do so. More affordable than many travellers would first think, with modern infrastructure, great nightlife and a rich culture, Japan is a remote workers’ dream.

As Japan’s capital city Tokyo boasts thousands of shops, cafes offering free Wi-Fi, coworking opportunities, exquisite cuisine and a neon-lit nightlife that never sleeps - more than enough for remote workers to keep occupied during down-time hours. Plus it’s a traveller’s dream hub with quick, clean, and reliable public transport to just about anywhere in the country.

Frequently cited as one of the world’s most livable cities, Osaka has a slightly more relaxed and friendly atmosphere than that of Tokyo, which would suit remote working clients who love the city but want things a touch slower paced. But for your clients who prefer the quieter side of life, Kyoto is Osaka’s more peaceful sister city. While there are many tourist hotspots, such as the iconic Kyoto Temple, the overall atmosphere here is calm, much more like that of a countryside town - however coworking places are a little harder to come by.



South Korea&nbsp;

Visas available: New workcation visa set to launch in 2023

With two brand new visas announced for 2023 - the K-Culture and Workcation visas - South Korea is becoming a much more viable option for remote workers! While details of these visas are yet to be confirmed, their implementation would open the doors of South Korea to a whole host of new remote workers who may not have had the opportunity to visit for longer periods of time previously.&nbsp;

The new workcation visa is said to allow foreign nationals the chance to experience life in South Korea for two years while working. The Korean government has also announced plans to improve the current online travel authorization process (known as K-ETA) to make it easier for visitors to enter and leave the country.

And with a widespread growth in popularity of Korean culture and entertainment - termed 'Hallyu' - there has&nbsp;never been a better time for you to organise a long-term stay for your remote working clients in this beautiful, richly cultured country. Plus, South Korea is the perfect place for remote workers, with easily available internet, plenty of cafes, shops, and places for dedicated laptop time as well as a vibrant pop-culture atmosphere and nightlife, especially in the capital city, Seoul. Not to mention the ease of traveling to stunning destinations like Jeju Island and Busan from Seoul using its many public transport links!



Portugal

Visas available: Temporary Stay Visa (designed for remote workers specifically)

For remote workers who have easy access to Europe (and even those who don’t, for those serious about working anywhere) Portugal is a great place to get away and experience some new surroundings while working that ‘9-5’.&nbsp;

Lisbon in particular, has grown in popularity with workcation travellers in the last few years; which is not surprising considering the cost of living is slightly cheaper than other countries in Europe while simultaneously providing plenty of cafes with strong internet connections. And of course, Lisbon itself is a popular, vibrant European city, with a rich nightlife culture, great food and stunning cityscapes - and it’s also one of the only European capitals to be flanked by beaches, which is a bonus for any traveller.

Plus, on the more practical side, Portugal has a NHR (non-habitual resident) program, which gives remote workers favourable tax rates during their stay in the country. Lisbon was also voted as the most popular place to work remotely in 2022, which just cements its status as one of the best cities to live and work for your remote working clients!&nbsp;



Germany

Visa options: Freelancer visa (though this does have restrictions)

When it comes to ranking factors like cybersecurity, cost of living, and digital and physical infrastructure, there aren’t many countries that can out-do Germany - especially in the battle for the title of ‘best place for remote working’ in 2023.&nbsp;

Being part of central Europe, Germany is a great hub for travellers looking for a place with a great remote working scene already (specifically for international workers), coworking opportunities, and plenty of busy, attractive cities. Berlin in particular has a thriving arts and culture scene, with a welcoming atmosphere perfect for international visitors. However, when it comes to visas specifically for remote workers, these can be a little tricky to obtain for non-Europeans, and is restricted to what the country deems ‘liberal’ professions - so your clients will need to do a little research before committing to this country!&nbsp;



Spain

Visa options: Digital nomad visa (in development), or using the Startup Act

Many destinations in Spain are becoming increasingly popular for remote workers, and from the island-living atmosphere of Mallorca surrounded by the Mediterranean to the urban buzz of Barcelona and Valencia, this is certainly no surprise. In fact, Barcelona made the top ten in the list of most visited locations in 2022 by remote workers, which speaks volumes to its appeal! Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tarifa are best for sun-seeking beach lovers, while Valencia, Barcelona, and Granada are perfect for culture aficionados.

As well as the bustling cities mentioned, Spain benefits remote workers who enjoy quieter locations with high-speed internet connections even in more rural towns; many of which offer programs designed to attract new residents in order to supplement dwindling populations.



USA

Visa options: ESTA for up to 90 days (multiple entry)

Considering the breadth and sheer scope of the USA, it’s impossible to create a list of the best destinations for remote workers in 2023 without including this behemoth of a continent, especially with each of its 50 states all offering unique cultures and opportunities.

In fact, a recent study by SmartAsset rated 100 cities and curated the top 10 best places for remote workers in the USA, to determine where in this vast country has the best opportunities for the WFH nation. Of these 100, the city that came out leader of the pack was Austin, Texas, with around 39% of its population already working from home. A vibrant and creative hub (with no state income tax), Austin is a perfect destination for remote workers looking for somewhere welcoming and affordable.&nbsp;

Other cities that made the list included Arizona’s Scottsdale and Mesa, Pittsburgh in Philadelphia (noted for its affordable housing and incredibly high coffee shop and bar density) - Nashville in Tennessee, and Durham and Charlotte in North Carolina. These were selected after analysing numerous practical factors like housing costs, income, unemployment as well as coffee shop and bar density (which for travellers is the fun part) to see where offers the best opportunities for the remote worker.


Of course, there are many destinations for remote workers that provide amazing backdrops during laptop time, these are just a few of the most popular!

Log in to start booking your clients their perfect remote working trip to maximize their out of office status!&nbsp;

Register now to start accessing our exclusive portfolio of accommodation, transfers and many more ancillaries, to curate your clients’ perfect remote working trip and maximize their out of office status!

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Working From 'Roam': The Best Destinations For Remote Workers in 2023

It's a well-known fact in the travel industry that the 9-5 system is no longer the norm, and that more people than ever have transitioned to the remote work model. In fact, this shift in the workplace was first predicted in the 1990s with emerging technology that would enable people to work from anywhere. By 2022, the number of remote workers had grown to 35 million, with 16% of global companies being 100% remote, and 76% of respondents to a 2022 TravelPerk survey saying their company had moved to hybrid models.

It is clear that the ways in which business travellers traverse the globe are changing. This shift has also enabled day-to-day travellers, who were formerly restricted by the traditional 9-5 office job, to gain newfound freedom to work and travel to their desired destinations. Consequently, this transition is significantly impacting both business and leisure travel, and shows that the underlying dynamics of these dynamics are becoming increasingly intertwined.&nbsp;

In light of this, it is essential that you as hotel owners are equipped to adequately provide for the evolving needs of remote workers. One of the best ways of doing so, is by working with a global hotel distribution provider like us, at Hotelbeds. With a widespread network within the travel industry, we facilitate effective and successful connections between travel suppliers, and travel buyers everywhere.

As well as our key insights into changes in the industry itself, our expert teams are abreast of changing demands that may impact your hotel(s), which means you can keep ahead of the competition and secure those higher occupancy rates.

Not partnered with us? Register your property today.

For now, let’s explore where today’s remote worker wants to travel, so that you can consider how to keep up with this fast-growing audience.&nbsp;



‘Bleisure’ Travel’s Rise to Fame

In 2022, "bleisure" travel emerged in response to the increase of remote working, as well as an uptick in the frequency of business travellers combining their work trips with leisure travel. This phenomenon was largely the result of limited opportunities made available during the height of the pandemic.

Additionally, executives at Marriott International suggested that the prevalence and growth of blended travel will endure through 2023 and beyond. It has become harder to determine if hotel guests are traveling for leisure or business purposes due to changing travel behaviours.

The long-term impact on the travel industry as a result of more blended travel means that everyone from travel providers to hoteliers will need to consider how to accommodate an audience for whom the lines between business and leisure travel are increasingly blurred.

The Best Destinations for Remote Workers

In light of the increasing popularity of remote working, it is important to consider the top destinations for this type of traveller. Nomadlist has identified its top ten destinations based on growth in popularity over the last five years. Knowing where to recommend for this all-important travel profile is key to understanding the changing trends in travel for both business and leisure travellers.

And as one of the top travel trends for 2023 for hotel owners, it’s important to know where to recommend for this all-important travel profile.

Notably, Japan has secured three of the top ten spots, indicating that it is a key destination to promote for 2023. This is especially pertinent as Japan is now open to international travelers for the first time in three years. Momondo has also compiled an interesting list of global destinations for remote workers, which includes Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Japan.

So, with this in mind, we can explore some of these destinations and why they’re popular for remote workers. Even if you are not located in these trending destinations, understanding how to appeal to the remote worker will stand you in good stead against your competition, and entice this valuable audience.



Japan

Visas available: Tourist visa&nbsp;

Recent evidence indicates that remote working is not a widely accepted practice in Japan; 10% of the workforce was observed to be engaged in remote working prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a figure that increased to 20% during the pandemic. Nonetheless, for remote working clients seeking to take advantage of their 'work from anywhere' status, Japan is an attractive option. It offers modern infrastructure, a lively nightlife, and a vibrant culture at a price that is more affordable than many travellers initially anticipate. As such, it is a desirable destination for remote workers.

Tokyo, Japan's capital city, is a great destination for digital nomads, offering a wide range of amenities such as cafes with free Wi-Fi, coworking opportunities, exquisite cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife. Additionally, the public transportation system is quick, clean, and reliable, making it easy to explore the rest of the country.

Osaka, often cited as one of the world's most liveable cities, offers a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere than its bustling counterpart Tokyo, making it an ideal destination for remote workers seeking an urban lifestyle at a slower pace. Similarly, Kyoto, Osaka's more peaceful sister city, is the ideal place for clients who prefer a more tranquil environment. While the city has many popular tourist attractions such as the renowned Kyoto Temple, the atmosphere in Kyoto is relatively calm, reminiscent of a countryside town - however coworking places are a little harder to come by.



South Korea&nbsp;

Visas available: New workcation visa set to launch in 2023

South Korea recently announced the introduction of more expansive workcation visas for 2023 - the K-Culture and Workcation visas - which will provide foreign nationals with an opportunity to work and explore the country for an extended period. These visas may offer an attractive option for those considering remote work, as they will enable a more immersive experience of life in South Korea. While the specifics of the visas have yet to be confirmed, this promises to be a lucrative opportunity for those seeking to take their work abroad.

The Korean government has also announced plans to improve the current online travel authorization process (known as K-ETA) to make it easier for visitors to enter and leave the country.

The current movement of travellers and younger demographics wanting to appreciate and experience the culture of South Korea – termed ‘Hallyu’ – presents the perfect opportunity for you as hotel owners to accommodate long-term travellers in South Korea. Not only is this destination renowned for its vibrant culture and exciting nightlife, particularly in the capital city of Seoul, the country has plenty of cafes and shops that cater to remote workers, as well as convenient and reliable internet access. Not to mention the ease of traveling to stunning destinations like Jeju Island and Busan from Seoul using its many public transport links!&nbsp;

The integration of comfortable workspaces with accessible Wi-Fi, central locations and bustling culture hubs is important to remote workers – and so as a hotel owner its important you consider where your hotel excels in these areas, and where you may need to improve your offerings to attract this type of traveller.



Portugal

Visas available: Temporary Stay Visa (designed for digital nomads specifically)

For remote workers who have easy access to Europe (and even those who don’t, for those serious about working anywhere) Portugal is a great place to get away and experience some new surroundings while working that ‘9-5’.&nbsp;

Lisbon has become increasingly attractive to workcation travellers in recent years due to its relative affordability in comparison to other countries in Europe and its availability of internet-equipped cafes. In addition, its unique nightlife, delicious cuisine, and picturesque cityscapes speak to its reputation as a vibrant, capital European city - and it’s also one of the only European capitals to be flanked by beaches, which is a bonus for any traveller.

Plus, on the more practical side, Portugal has a NHR (non-habitual resident) program, which gives remote workers favourable tax rates during their stay in the country. Lisbon was also voted as the most popular place to work remotely in 2022, which just cements its status as one of the best cities to live and work for remote working audiences!&nbsp;



Germany

Visa options: Freelancer visa (though this does have restrictions)

When it comes to ranking factors like cybersecurity, cost of living, and digital and physical infrastructure, there aren’t many countries that can out-do Germany - especially in the battle for the title of ‘best place for remote working’ in 2023.&nbsp;

Germany, situated conveniently in Central Europe, is a haven for remote workers looking to work in an already established, thriving remote working environment. With bustling cities, coworking spaces, and a vibrant cultural and artistic capital in Berlin - Germany is a great destination for those looking for an international working experience. When it comes to visas for remote workers however, it is important to note that non-European citizens may find the process to be more challenging, as these visas are restricted to specific professions that the country deems 'liberal'.&nbsp;



Spain

Visa options: Digital nomad visa (in development), or using the Startup Act

It is easy to understand why Spain is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations for remote workers. From Mallorca’s island-like atmosphere surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to Barcelona's and Valencia's urban buzz, there are a variety of locations that are sure to appeal to everyone. Barcelona even made the list of the top 10 most visited locations in 2022 by remote workers, which provides ample evidence to its growing popularity. Those seeking beaches should definitely consider Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tarifa, while Valencia, Barcelona, and Granada offer the perfect urban experience.

As well as the bustling cities mentioned, Spain benefits remote workers who enjoy quieter locations with high-speed internet connections even in more rural towns; many of which offer original programs to attract new residents to supplement dwindling populations. As hotel owners, how might you work with local councils or ruling bodies to ensure maximum exposure?

Of course, working with experts in global distribution like Hotelbeds ensures that your hotel, no matter its location, is shown to the ideal audience at the perfect time, using our wealth of data to inform where we promote your properties. This also means that more rural properties which are still perfectly suited for remote workers still receive that all-important exposure to the right travel buyer.&nbsp;

Register your property today!

Log in to your Hotelbeds account today!&nbsp;

&nbsp;



USA

Visa options: ESTA for up to 90 days (multiple entry)

Of course, considering the breadth and sheer scope of the USA, it’s impossible to create a list of the best destinations for digital nomads in 2023 without including this behemoth of a continent with each of its 50 states all offering unique cultures and opportunities.

Recently, SmartAsset conducted a study ranking the top 10 best places for remote workers in the United States. From the 100 cities surveyed, Austin, Texas was the clear frontrunner. With nearly 40% of its population already working from home, Austin offers an attractive and cost-effective opportunity for remote workers with its vibrant and creative atmosphere, as well as its lack of a state income tax.

After analysing a variety of factors, including housing costs, income, unemployment and coffee shop/bar density, this survey also determined that Scottsdale and Mesa of Arizona, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia of Pennsylvania, Nashville of Tennessee, and Durham and Charlotte of North Carolina all provide excellent opportunities for digital nomads. These cities were chosen for their practical factors as well as their appeal and amenities to the travelling worker.


Of course, there are many destinations for remote workers that provide amazing backdrops during laptop time, these are just a few of the most popular!&nbsp;

To easily reach remote workers looking for their perfect home-from-home while they work, register your property today to maximise your exposure to this valuable audience. Our expert teams can also provide insightful feedback on current trends, opportunities and demands from travellers which would benefit your hotel(s).

Log in to begin maximising your booking rates by positioning your hotel(s) as an unmissable home-from-home location for this valuable remote working traveller.

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Within an industry as competitive and fast-paced as travel and hospitality, it can often be a challenge for many businesses to understand the complex nature of distribution channels, and the changing distribution landscape.
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As hotel owners this, of course, is a crucial aspect of the hospitality sector to understand and ensure is bringing the utmost benefits for your hotel. Especially considering that the global hospitality market is expected to grow to as much as $6.7 billion by 2026 according to a recent global&nbsp;report.
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So, it’s no longer enough to be competitive – as hotel owners you must remain competitive, capitalise on every available opportunity, and be as visible as possible to the right customer, at the right time, to maximise occupancy rates.
&nbsp;
To remain competitive and to develop a profitable strategy that works best for your hotel, it’s important to utilise technology and meet new and upcoming demands from potential guests. The best way to do this is by maximising your use of global distribution channels – such as Bedbanks, Direct Channel and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).
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In this article, we'll have a closer look at the benefits of working with a Bedbank as a part of your wider distribution strategy, and how Bedbanks as a distribution channel offer many opportunities to boost your hotel’s success.

For an even more in-depth look at the distribution landscape and its different channels, download our guide to understanding global distribution, a free resource available at the end of this article.
&nbsp;



What Is a Distribution Channel?

In the travel industry, a distribution channel is a key chain of businesses and intermediaries, through which hotel rooms, travel services or products are passed through before they reach the final customer - the guest.

These channels of distribution offer their own benefits to you as hotel owners and are commonly used alongside each other, with unique weightings depending on what works best for each hotel on an individual basis.
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The most common types of travel distribution channels include:&nbsp;
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	Bedbanks&nbsp;
	
	
	Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) - such as Booking.com, Expedia&nbsp;
	
	
	Metasearch Platforms - such as Trivago, Kayak, TripAdvisor and Google&nbsp;
	
	
	Direct - often also referred to as dotcom or brand.com distribution, direct channel distribution is via the hotel’s own website, point-of-sale system, app or affiliate website
	&nbsp;
	


Ensuring that you choose the right distribution strategy for your hotel(s) is vital, and can have a significant impact on your revenue. This is why today we’re having a closer look at how partnering with a bedbank as part of your distribution channel strategy can bring large-scale benefits which you may not have access to via other channels.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

It’s also important to remember that your distribution channel strategy needs to be constantly reviewed and updated to align with the travel industry’s changing demands. What works today may not work tomorrow, so it’s a valuable practice to ensure that you’re allocating the right capacity to each of your hotel distribution channels.
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How Do Bedbanks Fit Into The Distribution Channel Landscape?

Bedbanks form an exclusively business to business (B2B) link between travel buyers and you as hotel owners.&nbsp;
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Here is a simplified breakdown of how a bedbank fits operates as one of the most common travel distribution channels for hotels:
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	A Bedbank acts as a wholesaler, providing easy access to opaque, B2B channels.
	
	
	This includes retail travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and loyalty programmes.
	
	
	The hotelier acts as a supplier, making rooms available on the Bedbanks’ wholesaler network.
	
	
	This network is distributed to B2B buyers, and the hotel owner increases their occupancy rates as a result of increased exposure.&nbsp;
	
	&nbsp;
	


Register your property with us today to access hard-to-reach global source markets and scale your success as a hotel owner.

Log in to your Hotelbeds account now to access hard-to-reach global source markets and scale your success as a hotel owner.



What Are the Advantages of Partnering With a Bedbank As a Channel of Distribution?

One of the most common challenges that many hotel owners will face is exposure to the right source markets. International travel is one of the highest earners in the travel industry, and is certainly a sector of the market that promises high revenue - for hotels that are visible.
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Here are a few insights as to how, as an impactful hotel distribution channel, Bedbanks provide many significant benefits:&nbsp;
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	Generates a high percentage of non-domestic and long-haul bookings.
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	Matches capacity with demand - dedicated account managers will assist with yield management strategies and advise on prime opportunities to sell the right room to the right guest, for the highest amount.
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	Connects offline and online distribution channels.
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	Offers easy global reach and high-value guests - often from hard-to-reach source markets that would be challenging or costly for hotels to reach directly.
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	Complements your direct channel distribution - without competing for the end customer.
	&nbsp;
	
	
	Provides clear commission and stable conditions - which means there are no surprises for you as hotel owners.
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	Offers dedicated account managers and marketing experts - to help scale the success of your business at every opportunity.
	&nbsp;
	


Maintaining a healthy distribution mix is vital to the success of your hotel, and while there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for how to weight your distribution channels, working with a Bedbank allows you to fully realise the potential of your hotels by diversifying your channels. Apart from this, as a true ecosystem player, Hotelbeds possesses many of the Bedbank's advantages and more.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Register your property with us today&nbsp;to begin diversifying your distribution channels, increasing your exposure, and maximising your occupancy rates.&nbsp;

Log in to your Hotelbeds account now to diversify your distribution channels, increase exposure, and maximise your occupancy rates.

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