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2024 marked a remarkable milestone for international tourism, with growth surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2019. Accommodation spending also saw a significant increase, rising by 15% compared to 2023.&nbsp;As we look ahead, 2025 promises to reshape the hospitality landscape, driven by evolving traveller priorities and rapid technological advancements.&nbsp;At Hotelbeds, we’ve crafted this guide exclusively for hoteliers, providing key insights into 2025’s travel trends and actionable strategies to anticipate and adapt.&nbsp;This guide also features a dedicated section analysing how established trends have evolved, their current impact, and a practical checklist with tips to optimise your operations and stand out in an increasingly competitive market.&nbsp;Curious about the travel trends that will define hospitality in 2025?&nbsp;Download your free copy today and stay ahead of the curve!

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[REPORT] Travel Trends for Hoteliers 2025: Shaping the Future of Hospitality

&nbsp;As the shape of the travel industry and traveller demands continue to evolve, it’s important that you have access to the vital travel industry services you need to stay ahead of the curve.&nbsp;At Hotelbeds, as part of HBX Group, we are dedicated to providing you with the right tools and travel products necessary to meet the needs of your clients and maintain a strong position in the travel industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our unique selection of travel industry services and products, powered by TravelTech, our industry knowledge, and the expertise of our team, will ensure your success in the competitive travel market.&nbsp;Sign up today to get started with us or log into your account to start planning for success.&nbsp;Comprehensive API ConnectivityDesigned to enhance the developer experience, our API Suite offers light, fast, and reliable technology for frictionless distribution. All to help travel providers better cater to the needs of the modern traveller.&nbsp;APItude currently empowers over 5000 developers worldwide, with API solutions catering to every requirement.&nbsp;Whether you need seamless access to real-time pricing and availability in one place with our Cache API, want enhanced, end-to-end booking management with our Booking API, or require faster, enriched product content with our Content API, Hotelbeds APItude offers a solution to your needs no matter your position in the travel industry.&nbsp;Real-time availability and pricing, all in one place.Rich product content across our expansive portfolio.End-to-end booking management.Flexible terms and upselling opportunities.Simple, streamlined modification via one API Suite.&nbsp;Discover more about our API suite here.&nbsp;An Expansive Portfolio of Interconnected Travel ProductsA more comprehensive, global portfolio of travel products means you can better cater to your clients' evolving needs and stay relevant in the fast-moving travel industry.&nbsp;Here’s a look at what our global portfolio offers at a glance:Over 250,000 hotels worldwide.23,000+ in-destination experiences and activities to enhance your clients’ trips.Transfer routes with global coverage.500+ car rentals for more travel experiences.Travel products available in 170+ countries around the globe.&nbsp;Not to mention the 60,000 travel agents selling to actively engaged travellers in worldwide locations, and more than 3000 service and product experts providing sourcing and operational support to our suppliers and clients, for a truly comprehensive network in the travel and tourism industry.&nbsp;Access to a Global Network of Travel Sellers and BuyersIn the travel and tourism industry, fragmentation is a common occurrence. This issue is often cited by end travelers as a major source of disappointment and frustration, compounded by the fact that approximately 45% of global travellers prefer booking their trips through a single point of contact, which includes flights, accommodation, car rentals, and additional services. This preference is especially high among Gen Z travellers, with 50% prioritising comprehensive options.&nbsp;So, being part of an interconnected network wherein travel distribution is made easy can provide an untold number of benefits.&nbsp;With seamless API connectivity to help you get your products seen on multiple touchpoints as part of this highly desired comprehensive offering, the option for dynamic packaging, and a customer-centric booking journey through a user-friendly web-based platform, our travel partners are equipped with the means to succeed in their markets.&nbsp;Partnering with Hotelbeds goes beyond just accessing our travel industry services; it provides a gateway to countless opportunities for growth, development, and enhancement of your offerings. By collaborating with us, you can increase your visibility in a highly competitive market and leverage timely demand to your advantage.&nbsp;Personalisation Options to Create Real ConnectionAt HBX Group’s MarketHub, Salesloft’s Senior Director of Sales Engineering, Rebby John, revealed that consumers are likely to spend 67% more for the same product, provided they have a better sales experience. Indeed, personalisation begins at the very start of the journey, ahead of the experience or even the sale. Today’s consumer even anticipates that their ‘dreaming’ phase should be tailor-made for them.&nbsp;With Hotelbeds you can:Participate in seasonal sales and campaigns designed to uplift your revenue – choose the promotions you want to participate in with complete flexibility, to be seen by, and appeal to, your ideal customer.Benefit from exclusive rates, availabilities and specially negotiated conditions - thanks to our teams of sourcing experts, in order to craft even more bespoke travel options and deliver them at the right time to your market.&nbsp;Expert Teams to Support You and Your BusinessWhen you partner with Hotelbeds, you gain immediate access to not only a suite of powerful travel advisor tools that help you boost your bookings, but also a collective of 3,000+ industry professionals.Whether your client needs in-destination support – accessible via our Help Desk or the ‘Support’ tab in our Booking Engine – or you need guidance on which opportunities resonate most with your market thanks to our sourcing experts, our tools and teams are here to help.&nbsp;Regular Resources and Industry InsightsWe cover everything from getting started as a business, discussions about the latest travel industry trends and developments, to getting the best out of Hotelbeds on our Resources page.&nbsp;Make sure to check back for regular updates and bookmark the resources that align with your needs for future reference.&nbsp;An Intelligent Travel Marketing and Recommendation Tool &nbsp;While online travel providers are seeing significant usage, with around a large majority of travellers (72%) suggesting they prefer to book their trips online, it remains the case that personalisation is still a constant demand.&nbsp;And personalisation ranges from receiving personalised deals from their go-to travel providers or potential providers, or simply making the booking process easier - something which is increasingly vital considering that 26% of global travellers surveyed indicated that they didn’t enjoy booking their travel experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;Being a provider who is part of, and in turn benefits from, a streamlined booking journey while capitalising on the ability to offer personalised travel recommendations, deals and booking opportunities to travellers who are actively seeking comprehensive, bespoke products is vital.&nbsp;This is where Insights, our powerful search and travel recommendation tool, comes in. By providing market-specific recommendations, this tool enables you to cater to the specific needs and desires of travellers in your market, saving them the time and effort of searching for it themselves. You become their go-to provider, securing revenue which might otherwise have gone to your competitor.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here’s what this tool offers:Trend forecast with real-time data – Insights is influenced by real bookings, to closely match the current and upcoming preferences of your market. &nbsp;AI that learns from you – the more you interact, the more accurate your recommendations.Filter options to better cater for your customers’ needs - such as: international or domestic locations, destination theme, traveller type, regions, and star ratings.&nbsp;Cross-selling functionality to boost each booking – the ‘Experiences’ tab lets you review popular experiences ranked by their opportunity value.&nbsp;Explore Insights for yourself, here.&nbsp;Alternatively, sign up today to gain exclusive access to this intuitive tool, designed specifically for travel providers.We also offer powerful products and tools for web-based partners, as well as providers with an API business model. Read on for more information about our travel industry services for web-based providers:A Powerful Booking PlatformPowered by an intelligent algorithm and real-time data, our Hotelbeds Booking Engine has built-in features and functionalities specifically designed to streamline the way you work. But it is also powerful, processing 6.2 billion searches and 90,000+ bookings a day.&nbsp;Our Booking Engine provides convenient access to our search and recommendation tool, Insights, along with our self-service tools for efficient booking management. This streamlined process not only saves time but also enhances your earning potential.&nbsp;Elevate your clients' travel experiences with our in-built cross-selling features, streamline your searches with useful filters, visualise trips using the integrated Google Map view, and select from top exclusive rates, offers, and availabilities to better your overall offering to travellers, and improve your position within the travel industry and alongside your competitors.&nbsp;In-built Cross-Selling Functionalities to Maximise Your BookingsDid you know that cross-selling and upselling can be up to 20 times more effective than selling to a new customer? In fact, around 65% of many businesses’ revenue comes from existing customers.&nbsp;For our web clients, providing a personalised and enriched travel experience at the moment of booking is recommended to create the greatest impact, as this is when travellers are most open to inspiration. To help you achieve this, we have streamlined the process of adding related travel products and services to your bookings through our integrated cross-selling functions in the Hotelbeds Booking Engine.&nbsp;Simply click ‘+ Add Products’ from your cart, which will open a useful pop-up window. From there, you can add experiences, activities, transfers, and even car rental services.&nbsp;Whether your client needs in-destination support – accessible via our Help Desk or the ‘Support’ tab in our Booking Engine – or you need guidance on which opportunities resonate most with your market thanks to our sourcing experts, our tools and teams are here to help.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up today to become one of our valuable travel partners, or log into your account, to begin your revenue-enhancing collaboration with us and uplift your success.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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how hotelbeds can take travel providers into 2025

How Hotelbeds Offers Beneficial Travel Industry Services 

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and hotel amenities are no exception. Every year, new trends and guest preferences emerge, and hoteliers will need to consider them in order to deliver an exceptional experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2025, some hotel amenity trends are expected to come up and others to consolidate. With these premiums or extras, you’ll provide a memorable experience and your guests will be more likely to leave positive feedback about their stay.&nbsp;Since there are unlimited types of amenities to share in your property, it’s essential to determine which ones will better cater to the needs of your guests. Their form will depend on what demographics you target, what your guests are asking for, your budget, your brand, and the competition within the local market.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this article, we propose a comprehensive hotel amenities list with the best ideas depending on the type of traveller you aim to reach. Keep reading!&nbsp;What Are the Best Amenities for Your Property?&nbsp;Before delving into the best hotel amenities, you should invest some time in defining which are the right hotel amenities for your type of property and the target you aim at.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first step is to ask yourself what best defines your hotel and which guests you want to attract. List out the defining qualities of your property and make sure your amenities align with them. Is your property renowned for being convenient for business travellers, family-friendly, or a unique tourist attraction? Consider all these traits when defining your amenities.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, don’t forget to give guests plenty of information about your amenities beforehand so they know what they’re paying for. Provide guests with great photographs of amenities, facilities and each room type, as well as an explanation of their features. It's more likely that guests will pay for extra amenities if you provide them with more information, since they can better understand the benefits.&nbsp;Once you have this in mind, it’s time to go through our proposals for the best hotel amenities in 2025. You’ll find ideas that will suit different types of travellers and hotel budgets. Let’s see what you can’t miss out this year to create the most unforgettable experience for your guests!&nbsp;Best Hotel VIP Amenities for Luxury TravellersWhen it comes to catering to this luxury segment, the main thing to consider is that these guests will expect your staff to attend to every need. There are many luxury amenities that hotels may offer, but here are a few that will set them apart from the rest.&nbsp;Personalise welcome baskets or gifts in their rooms based on the information you know about your guests (e.g. where they’re from, who they’re coming with, etc).&nbsp;Another good idea for your welcome kits is to leverage local products and flavours to provide a wonderful first impression, such as local chocolates, wines, fruits, soaps, or lotions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer a pillow menu, allowing guests to choose the best pillow depending on their preferences.&nbsp;Provide room purification to ensure guests with allergies feel comfortable.&nbsp;Replace the mini-bar with a cocktail bar. Matcha kits are also very trendy these days, so you can offer them.&nbsp;Conduct workshops about different topics, such as how to cook a special or local dish in the hotel’s restaurant, learn how to create floral arrangements such as the ones in your lobby, or create a guided tour in case you are located in a historic building.&nbsp;&nbsp;Put a tablet in every room for room service to make it as easy as possible for guests to make requests.&nbsp;Organise private or VIP shopping experiences with local vendors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer a remote control to manage all the room functions such as bed height, lights, heating, etc.&nbsp;Main Sustainable Hotel Amenities for A Conscious TravellerOne of the major trends that is expected to continue to grow in 2025 is sustainability. Increasingly, guests are looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly accommodation options, and this extends to hotel amenities.&nbsp;Conscious travellers in 2025 will seek out amenities such as:&nbsp;Offer bulk bathroom amenity dispensers. Consider providing shampoo and gel packaged in wall-mounted refillable dispensers, or even only on demand. You can even choose solid solutions like shampoo and conditioner bars that can eliminate the need for plastic bottles altogether.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Offer biodegradable rubbish bags that are more environmentally friendly alternatives. Make sure that they’re truly biodegradable.&nbsp;Include local and seasonal products in the hotel's restaurant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Provide free or low-cost bikes to promote eco-friendly transportation.&nbsp;Provide recyclable paper for wrapping bathroom amenities, reusable bathroom cups, reusable fabric laundry bags, and paper containers for takeaways, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;Interested in how sustainable principles can be applied to your property? Make sure to check out our comprehensive article on practical tips to become a sustainable hotel.&nbsp;Best Hotel Amenities for Business Travellers and Remote WorkersThe corporate segment is incredibly lucrative, and you may be very interested in attracting this type of traveller to your hotel.&nbsp;Also, related to this, the trend of remote working is still on the rise, so having hotel amenities especially focused on workers can be a great attraction for your hotel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some of the extras you should consider including in your offering in 2025 are the following:&nbsp;Comfortable desks and lighting in the room.&nbsp;Workspaces available throughout the hotel, including at least one meeting room.&nbsp;High speed Wi-Fi, power outlets and USB ports.&nbsp;&nbsp;Free parking, free airport shuttle and transport services.&nbsp;Early check-in and flexible departure times.&nbsp;Express laundry services and available steam irons.&nbsp;If you want to attract international guests, consider providing universal sockets.&nbsp;The possibility to make free local and international calls.&nbsp;Unmissable Hotel Amenities for Families on Holiday in 2025What will make families' stays exponentially better in 2025? Here are some fantastic ideas to ensure an unforgettable experience both for adults and children.&nbsp;Consider offering connecting rooms, and include baby cradles.&nbsp;Provide pet-friendly facilities. Families are increasingly taking their pets with them on holiday, and more hotels are offering pet-friendly rooms. Because of this, this segment will really appreciate if your property caters to pets. Consider placing dog water stations on your property, offering dog beds, etc. Some high-end hotels, such as Hilton, offer dog menus.&nbsp;Offer free bike rental, pool or snow toys, stashes of puzzles or games. Also, playgrounds and games rooms for children will be highly appreciated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Include entertainment shows, such as clowns, theatre, and live concerts. And even streaming services for kids.&nbsp;Main Hotel Amenities for Wellness TravellersAnother strong trend in the hospitality industry is, without a doubt, wellness travel.&nbsp;When looking for a relaxing getaway, amenities are very important, since they contribute directly to the overall experience of guests.If you’re looking to cater to this segment of wellness travellers in the most excellent way possible, make sure to consider the following hotel amenities for wellness:&nbsp;A spa is a must-have for hotels aiming to attract this type of traveller. The spa should include several pools, jacuzzi, saunas, among others. You can also offer free swimwear or at a reduced price.&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer special packages including massages and other health treatments. If you don’t have the staff to provide this service in-house, consider establishing partnerships with local companies or freelancers.&nbsp;Sound proofing measures, so any outside noise is eliminated.&nbsp;Also, make sure to provide some of the best hotel bath amenities as welcome gifts, including items such as essential oils, body lotions and organic shampoos.&nbsp;Nail art has become a major trend in recent years, and it will continue to grow in 2025. You may want to hire a nail technician to provide this much-requested service in your property as part of your wellness team.&nbsp;Partner with a health and wellness platform to create on-demand workouts and guided meditation to in-room televisions.2025 is set to be a fantastic year for travel. By knowing the best hotel amenities for your guests, you’ll be a step ahead of your competitors. We hope you now have more ideas that will help you offer an unforgettable stay in your property.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember that with our platform, you can leverage not only the guest experience, but also your visibility among high-value clients.If you’re already registered in Hotelbeds, log in to our Partner Portal now.&nbsp;If you haven’t joined us yet and want to get access to our network of 60,000+ travel distributors, register your property here and boost your revenue this 2025.&nbsp;

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2025's Best Hotel Amenities Based on Traveller Types

&nbsp;More often than not, today's traveller is seeking a concise booking journey, whereby travel experiences are offered in a comprehensive manner to avoid a disparate booking process.&nbsp;&nbsp;Discover how Hotelbeds' ecosystem model allows you to take advantage of this demand, and remain relevant in an industry where having the full experience at their fingertips is so important to today's traveller:&nbsp;&nbsp;How Hotelbeds works to take your business further:Make Informed Decisions with Real-Time Data&nbsp;An Intelligent Booking Platform&nbsp;A Leading Product Portfolio In The Travel Industry&nbsp;TravelTech Solutions for All&nbsp;Why are Comprehensive Travel Options Important?Technology is becoming an increasingly prevalent part of the booking process - think automated booking tools, online booking platforms and mobile apps. In fact, 83% of Gen Z and 86% of Millennials suggest that booking on their phone is critical during their decision-making process, embracing what is accessible and at their fingertips.&nbsp;With this change in booking, today's traveller often expects to be able to find and book more comprehensive travel and experiences rather than navigating a disparate, fragmented booking journey.&nbsp;&nbsp;To offer this kind of comprehensive, whilst also facilitating personalised recommendations to cater for individual needs, you need a travel partner that strives to improve not only the value of offering for the end customer – the traveller – but also the interconnectedness of the global travel industry.&nbsp;How Hotelbeds Works To Take Your Business Further&nbsp;It’s our mission to connect and empower the world of travel, and indeed travel distributors themselves. By combining intelligent TravelTech solutions with the power of our people, we connect global travel players to a wealth of products suited to any traveller type.&nbsp;We constantly strive to ensure that our TravelTech solutions are specifically designed to meet and exceed our partners’ needs, no matter their place in the vast travel industry.&nbsp;And of course, it’s important to remember that offering comprehensive travel experiences isn't just referring to what products you can offer, it also encompasses how you as travel providers handle the overall customer journey. It's about the quality of service and depth of experience you can offer travellers to ensure they get the most out of each booking with you - and to ensure they return!&nbsp;Here at Hotelbeds, we equip you with the right tools and the right products to cater to your clients' needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up today to become one of our valuable partners, and join our ever-growing network of travel distributors, or log into your account to begin enriching traveller experiences with our interconnected services.&nbsp;Make Informed Decisions with Real-Time Data&nbsp;Owing to our vast data lake (400TB), our partners benefit from a wealth of market-specific insights, rich data and intelligence solutions which seamlessly connect supply and demand worldwide. Helping you to make intelligent choices and to capitalise on real-time demand, by exploiting and leveraging analytics as a strategic asset and using our predictive tools to empower your business.&nbsp;Meanwhile, our intelligent cloud-based platforms enable our partners to work at speed – crucial, in an industry as fast-paced and demanding as the travel sector - while also offering fast and reliable access to a global portfolio. Cloud-based technology platforms offer fast and reliable access to a unique portfolio of travel products and services to help you stay relevant and competitive in the industry.&nbsp;With a Booking Engine that processes around 6.2 billion searches per day, combined with our aforementioned vast data lake, our data intelligence serves as a catalyst for travel providers aiming to unlock their full potential. &nbsp;&nbsp;An Intelligent Booking Platform &nbsp;All travel providers must be equipped and visible on an intuitive travel booking platform which can make each transaction as smooth as possible for distributors and end travellers alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;From its seamless search functionality to easy booking management, our powerful Booking Engine is the strongest tool in your artillery, helping you to work at speed and secure memorable experiences for your customers, while also increasing exposure for travel experience providers and putting those products into the hands of 60,000 travel distributors around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Combining our vast data lake with a user-friendly interface, our Booking Engine is informed by billions of searches and real market data, allowing you to compete effectively in your market.&nbsp;Easily refine searches with useful filters to find our exclusive and differentiated properties, offers and rate types.Thousands of travel products and services in global destinations.&nbsp;An in-built cross-selling functionality that can further streamline the booking process.&nbsp;All of which assists your revenue potential!Sign up today to access our powerful booking platform, with in-built cross-selling functionalities, self-service tools and more!&nbsp;&nbsp;A Leading Product Portfolio In The Travel Industry&nbsp;It's our mission to provide our partners, and the end traveller, with as much choice as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;As part of a travel ecosystem under HBX Group, we have curated a powerful network of service providers, granting our partners access to a wide product offering to generate demand and capitalise on opportunity.&nbsp;Whether your clients are seeking a truly immersive experience in their destination of choice, the perfect hotel to rest and relax in after a long day of sightseeing, a transfer to make getting from A-B even easier, or even car hire to better explore their chosen destination, we connect you to the products, services and experiences travellers want. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With over 250,000 hotels in 170+ destinations worldwide, combined with 23,000+ in-destination experiences and activities, 500 car hire suppliers and global transfer coverage, all available in one booking platform, it’s no surprise that thousands of travel providers all over the globe are already trusting us to empower and connect them in the world of travel.&nbsp;&nbsp;And we’re not done yet…&nbsp;&nbsp;TravelTech Solutions for AllThe world of travel is forging ahead, further into the realm of innovation and connectivity. This is why we offer TravelTech solutions across the industry, to empower travel providers across the industry with the tools and products to better meet, and exceed, the needs of travellers around the world.&nbsp;Our leading API suite, APItude - including Content API, Booking API and Cache API solutions - is&nbsp;developed by our integration experts, designed to enhance make the booking process faster and more intuitive, Enabling you to successfully capture the increasing number of travellers looking for a smoother booking process, with less ‘shopping around’ and a less disjointed experience overall.&nbsp;&nbsp;Over 5000 developers currently benefit from this range of API solutions, offering a simple, fast and user-friendly experience, no matter how, when or where travellers are heading or what they want to purchase.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile,&nbsp;Insights,&nbsp;our&nbsp;live data intelligence tool, allows travel providers across the ecosystem to capitalise on demand as a result of AI-powered market opportunities for accelerated growth. These recommendations are tailored to your unique market needs, offering deeply personalised opportunities to scale both your competitiveness, your market presence and your revenue potential, by providing the stays and experiences your market wants and keeping up to date with what your competitors are booking.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This connective power makes us at Hotelbeds the ideal travel partner for providers looking to expand their reach, capitalise on demand, and enhance their offerings to capture valuable clients even from hard-to-reach segments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sign up today or log into your account to take your business further and offer comprehensive travel with Hotelbeds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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How To Offer Comprehensive Travel with Hotelbeds in 2025

In today’s competitive hospitality landscape, hotel distribution channels are critical to connecting hotels with potential guests. These channels include online travel agencies (OTAs), global distribution systems (GDS), metasearch engines, bedbanks, and direct bookings, among others.&nbsp;Thanks to the wide range of channels at their disposal, independent hotels and small chains have the opportunity to compete with global hotel brands. However, success depends on using these distribution channels effectively, rather than trying to use them all at the same time. Selecting the right mix of channels that align with a hotel’s goals is crucial. &nbsp;&nbsp;In this article, we'll explore direct channel distribution, its current landscape, key benefits, and future projections for 2024–2025. Additionally, we'll discuss how hotels can optimise direct bookings while complementing their B2B distribution strategy with platforms like Hotelbeds.&nbsp;&nbsp;How Does a Direct Distribution Channel Work?The direct booking channel allows hotels to sell rooms directly to guests through their own platforms, such as the hotel website, phone, email, live chat, or messaging apps. This channel is particularly attractive to hoteliers because it removes commission fees, for example. As a result, hotels retain more revenue per booking, while maintaining full control over pricing, guest relationships, and branding.&nbsp;Recent data shows that while 60% of hotel bookings are made online, only about 20% are completed directly on hotel websites, according to a report by Amadeus. In contrast, OTAs still dominate the market. This disparity can be attributed to OTA marketing budgets, consumer trust, and the convenience of booking through well-established third-party platforms. &nbsp;&nbsp;A report by Phocuswright forecast that, throughout 2024, direct bookings would grow modestly, due to technological improvements and increased guest preferences for personalised service. However, the direct channel still has many competitors, which offer strong customer acquisition capabilities, particularly in emerging markets. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hoteliers must invest in user-friendly technology, marketing, and guest experience enhancements to capture more direct bookings. For example, studies indicate that by 2025, direct bookings could grow by 10-15% if hotels optimise their digital strategies and focus on personalising guest journeys.&nbsp;Benefits of Leveraging the Direct Channel DistributionDirect bookings offer hoteliers numerous advantages beyond avoiding OTA commissions. These benefits include cost savings, enhanced guest experiences and brand control. &nbsp;&nbsp;Higher Profit Margins: By eliminating the OTA commissions, which can be as high as 25%, direct bookings significantly improve a hotel's profitability. A HSMAI report found that hotels could improve revenue per booking by up to 18% through direct channels, contributing to better bottom-line performance. &nbsp;&nbsp;Stronger Guest Relationships: The direct channel provides hotels with the opportunity to interact with guests from the beginning. This enables more personalised communication, which fosters loyalty. According to Skift, hotels that focus on direct bookings have the potential to increase their guest retention rate by 8-10%, as they offer custom experience. &nbsp;&nbsp;Complete Control Over Brand and Guest Experience: Through direct bookings, hotels control the entire guest journey—from pre-booking to post-stay engagement. This level of control ensures that the hotel can provide a consistent brand experience, personalising every touchpoint, such as emails, booking confirmations, and follow-ups, which contributes to long-term guest loyalty. &nbsp;&nbsp;Revenue Management and Data Insights: Direct channels offer better insights into customer behaviour, allowing hotels to refine their pricing and marketing strategies. Access to direct customer data enables hotels to implement targeted marketing campaigns, helping increase RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room).&nbsp;Why Is the Direct Channel the Perfect Complement to B2B Distribution?While direct booking channels are a powerful tool for hotels to increase profitability and control, they work best when complemented by a solid B2B distribution strategy. For example, Hotelbeds provide hotels with access to over 60,000 travel trade distributors globally, which allows them to reach high-value, long-haul customers and niche markets that may not be easily accessible through direct channels. &nbsp;&nbsp;By integrating the direct booking channel with a robust B2B platform like Hotelbeds, hotels can reduce their dependence on other distribution channels with higher commissions while maintaining high visibility across multiple markets. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hotelbeds is part of HBX Group, a global network of interconnected products and services that serves the needs of global travel players. The group also includes Roiback, the brand specialised in direct distribution. In this way, through the HBX Group offering, we enable hoteliers to integrate their revenue streams with both B2B and direct distribution channels, balancing short- and long-term goals. &nbsp;&nbsp;Essential Features for an Effective Direct Booking ChannelThere are certain components that you could include in your direct booking strategy in order to achieve faster results and streamline your operations. Listed below are those we recommend for effective distribution:&nbsp;Booking Engine: A fast, user-friendly, and secure booking engine integrated into the hotel’s website is essential. It should offer real-time availability, flexible payment options, and seamless navigation to encourage bookings. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loyalty Programmes: Offering rewards and perks for direct bookings helps build long-term relationships with guests and encourages repeat stays. &nbsp;&nbsp;Digital Marketing: Hotels must invest in a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that includes search engine optimisation (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, social media marketing, and email marketing to drive traffic to their website. &nbsp;&nbsp;Multilingual Support: To appeal to international travellers, it’s crucial for the direct booking channel to offer content in multiple languages. This not only improves accessibility for global customers but also increases conversion rates by making it easier to navigate the site and book rooms. &nbsp;&nbsp;Flexible Payment Options: Providing various payment methods, including local currencies and different payment gateways (such as PayPal, Apple Pay, and international credit cards), ensures that guests from all regions can complete their bookings easily. &nbsp;&nbsp;Integrated Customer Support: Incorporating live chat, chatbot support, or a direct messaging option helps answer potential guests’ questions in real-time. This reduces booking friction by addressing concerns or questions immediately, leading to higher conversion rates. &nbsp;&nbsp;Advanced Analytics and Personalisation Tools: Hotels should use data analytics to track customer behaviour, allowing them to offer tailored packages, special discounts, and personalised recommendations. Data-driven insights help increase conversion rate and guest satisfaction.&nbsp;How to Improve Direct Channel Performance?While the direct booking channel eliminates commission fees, it comes with its own costs, such as technology investments and marketing expenses. Therefore, optimising this channel requires strategic planning and execution. Here are some actionable steps hotels can take to improve their direct booking channel performance - whether they have external assistance or not.Boost Online Visibility &nbsp;SEO Best Practices: Optimise your hotel’s website for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and ensuring fast load times. Higher visibility on search engines will increase organic traffic and drive more direct bookings. &nbsp;&nbsp;Presence on Metasearch Engines: Metasearch engines like Google Hotel Ads, TripAdvisor, and Trivago allow travellers to compare rates and options from various providers, including OTAs. For hotels, appearing on these platforms increases brand visibility and price competitiveness, directing more traffic to the hotel’s official site. This approach can capture high-intent users already at the booking stage, converting them into direct bookings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mobile-Friendly Design: With more than 50% of bookings made on mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-responsive is critical. A mobile-friendly design enhances user experience, encouraging higher conversion rates. &nbsp;&nbsp;Diversify Marketing Strategies &nbsp;Cross-Channel Advertising: Implement a paid advertising strategy that spans search engines, display networks, and social media platforms. This will boost your hotel's visibility, occupancy rates, and RevPAR. &nbsp;&nbsp;Email Marketing: Use email campaigns to engage with past guests and potential new customers. Offer personalised discounts, exclusive deals, and news about upcoming events to drive repeat bookings. &nbsp;&nbsp;Influencer and Affiliate Marketing: Partner with influencers and affiliates to promote your hotel to their audience, leveraging their reach to boost direct bookings. &nbsp;&nbsp;Optimise the User Journey &nbsp;Compelling Visuals and Virtual Tours: Guests rely heavily on visuals when choosing a hotel. Ensure your website includes high-quality images, videos, and virtual tours of your property to highlight its unique selling points. &nbsp;&nbsp;Personalised Messaging: Tailor your marketing and website content to specific guest segments—families, business travellers, or couples—with personalised offers and messaging. &nbsp;&nbsp;Membership and Loyalty Programmes: Offering exclusive perks, such as discounted rates or complementary amenities, will encourage guests to choose your direct channel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Maintain Rate Parity &nbsp;Maintain Rate Parity: Maintaining rate parity across distribution channels, including OTAs and metasearch engines, is essential for maintaining trust and avoiding potential penalties from third-party platforms.&nbsp;These are just a few areas to pay attention to and invest in to maximise your direct channel value. The responsibility of handling all these tasks can become exhausting and time-consuming, and if you also feel this way, consider partnering with companies like Roiback from HBX Group, specialised in the direct channel, who will help you. &nbsp;&nbsp;Final Thoughts: Maximising Bookings with a Balanced Distribution Strategy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In conclusion, exploring and investing in direct channel distribution is an essential step for any hotelier aiming to diversify their distribution strategy. While the direct channel offers many advantages—such as improved profit margins, strengthened guest relationships, and greater control over branding—it requires strategic investment in technology and marketing to ensure it is fully optimised for sustainable, medium- to long-term results.&nbsp;When combined with a robust B2B distribution strategy, such as the one offered by Hotelbeds, hoteliers can significantly increase bookings while achieving stronger profit margins than with many other distribution channels. The reach of Hotelbeds’ global network, alongside a well-developed direct channel, allows hotels to maximise their visibility in diverse markets and increase profitability.&nbsp;Register your property with Hotelbeds today to discover the extensive benefits of B2B distribution.

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Building a Profitable Hotel Strategy: Direct Channel Distribution  

&nbsp;As we approach the holiday season, with Black Friday just around the corner and Christmas not far behind, now is the perfect opportunity to enhance your travel marketing materials.&nbsp;Personalising your marketing content is essential for attracting your target audience, especially during one of the busiest commercial times of the year.&nbsp;Luckily, our data-driven search and recommendation tool, Insights, has a unique flyer creation tool which allows you to create bespoke marketing in just a few clicks.&nbsp;In today's fast-paced marketing world, creating custom flyers that highlight your deals or comparing tailored hotels for your clients is essential. With customers becoming increasingly savvy in their travel choices, it's crucial to offer personalised experiences. Research shows that 80% of clients expect a personalised retail experience, making it more important than ever to stay ahead of the game.&nbsp;As a travel provider, you play a crucial role in shaping the traveller's experience. Clients rely on you to provide them with the best rates, hotels, and experiences that align with their needs and budget. This responsibility becomes even more important during peak commercial periods when countless deals are being promoted by various brands.&nbsp;In an era where travellers are increasingly adept at customising their own unique travel experiences through Online Travel Agents (OTAs), for example, it is imperative for your success to provide travel choices that cater not only to their financial constraints but also to their specific preferences - all while being easily accessible at first glance.&nbsp;So read on to discover just how to create personalised Black Friday marketing flyers with Insights.Step One &nbsp;– Understanding Your ClientStep Two – Artificial Intelligence is Your Friend!Step Three – Make It Personal&nbsp;Step One – Understanding Your ClientThe most important aspect for any travel provider is the ability to offer travel solutions that are tailored to your clients’ needs. This can include the type of holiday they’re looking for, when they’re hoping to travel, and how best to communicate their most suitable options.&nbsp;Insights allows you to translate this knowledge into potential booking options by selecting filters relevant to the client.&nbsp;With Insights you can filter for:&nbsp;Best opportunity – the hotels and resorts most likely to be booked in your marketType of hotel – including top sellers and new hotelsType of traveller – including business, families, and adults-onlyCategory – such as star rating and TripAdvisor rating&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, being able to filter for traveller preferences, types of hotels, and the properties you should be taking advantage of to uplift your revenue, also translates to your travel marketing and how you’re communicating any deals or offers with your customers.&nbsp;Different clients will respond positively to different offers, so it’s important that you’re presenting the most enticing deals at the right time, to the right client, in the right way, no matter the stage of the booking journey they're at.&nbsp;With Insights, you’re able to build travel marketing materials with the Custom Flyer Tool which are entirely tailored to your client’s requirements.&nbsp;Insights’ share functionality seamlessly builds flyers fit for distribution with just a few clicks. When plotting your travel marketing or communication strategy for any client, consider how best they’re going to receive information from you, and under which circumstances.&nbsp;This phase of planning is going to play a valuable role in your relationship with the client, as not only should you hope to delight them with your service, but you want to secure the booking – and should aim to become their go-to travel provider for all future trips.&nbsp;Discover more about Insights as the go-to search and recommendation tool here.&nbsp;Step Two – Artificial Intelligence is Your Friend!We recognise that the expertise of travel providers is often derived from their own experience and industry knowledge. And while there will always be a place for your individual knowledge, putting your trust in artificial intelligence can undoubtedly enhance your value as a comprehensive travel provider.&nbsp;Insights is loaded with real-time data which gives you a clear idea of what today’s travellers are booking and what’s competitive in your specific market. By utilising this live global data, you’ll gain access to valuable information that ensures you’re remaining competitive, and taking advantage of opportunities your competitors may not have access to.&nbsp;Depending on the information you’ve already gleaned from your client through varying means and at different stages of their booking journey, you can amend Insights' filters to bring up the most relevant data relating to the customer.&nbsp;Say, for example, you know that your customer is planning to travel from the United States to somewhere in Europe within the next three months. You also know that you’ve got high growth-potential properties in this destination thanks to your top recommended destinations shown on the Insights dashboard.&nbsp;This means that when you click into any of these recommended destinations, which are ranked by their potential for you and your business, you'll be able to not only filter for hotels in this destination that suit your clients perfectly, but also maximise your revenue by selling stays that will benefit you the most in terms of revenue.&nbsp;By adjusting the filters within Insights you’ll be able to see the top recommended that benefit your business, as well as those your clients will prefer – which leads us onto our next step.&nbsp;&nbsp;Step Three – Make It PersonalNow that you know where your client wants to go (and what offers they’re most receptive to) it’s time to make things personal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Head to Insights’ dashboard, as a first step. Once you’ve looked through your top recommended destinations, handpicked for their potential growth opportunity for your business, you’ll notice a ‘Create Your Flyer’ sharing option.&nbsp;Click this button, and you can select up to eight hotels you think your client will love. &nbsp;&nbsp;If we’re to give a top tip, we’d suggest filtering the hotels out further by traveller type, star rating and TripAdvisor rating. You can also accommodate for essential travel preferences like sustainability by using the appropriate filters.&nbsp;After finalising your top choices, you'll see that the 'Create Your Flyer' button now presents you with the option to either download or share the selected hotels. Go ahead and click this to move to the next step.&nbsp;Next, you'll be prompted to choose a format: portrait or landscape. The landscape option provides additional details about each hotel, while the portrait format is ideal for quickly comparing lead photos and key information like price.&nbsp;Once you’ve decided which your client would prefer, click the option, and move on through to the next stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here, we highly recommend incorporating your logo into your travel marketing materials. This allows for a personal touch that clearly shows off your business to your clients. Marketing can often be a significant investment in both time and money, but with Insights, customising your flyer is a simple and cost-effective endeavour.&nbsp;Next, you’ll be asked if you’d like to customise your content. This is a brilliant way to personalise your marketing materials to a specific client, and we’d recommend adding the client’s name to the header to let them know that these choices are far from generic – in fact, they were carefully chosen by you, their go-to travel provider.&nbsp;Implementing personalisation gestures like this can have a significant impact on your relationship with potential customers, with studies showing that up to 72% of consumers prefer responding to personalised marketing messages.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, if you skipped that stage, revisit step one and customise your headings accordingly. Once you have reviewed your chosen hotels for the final time (adjusting their order or concealing costs as needed), it is time to send out your marketing materials to the client.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, there you have it! Insights’ personalisation features require minimum effort, but could bring maximum rewards.&nbsp;Take a closer look at the other valuable features of Insights as your new favourite search and recommendation tool!&nbsp;&nbsp;If you're not already one of our valued travel partners, then make sure you're taking advantage of this time-saving, booking-boosting tool by signing up for free today.

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Insights, powered by AI

Personalise your Black Friday Travel Marketing with Insights

&nbsp;World Tourism Day is an annual event in the travel calendar that encourages industry stakeholders to reflect on the impact of tourism on the world: socially, culturally, environmentally and economically. &nbsp;&nbsp;Each year, this annual celebration is marked by a specific theme that reflects key tourism trends in the sector, from the impact of COVID-19 in recent years, to 2023's focus on innovative solutions for 'people, planet and prosperity', opportunities to reflect and rethink how we do tourism, to this year's focus on 'tourism and peace'.&nbsp;This year's theme reflects on:"Tourism can play a vital role as a catalyst in promoting peace and understanding between nations and cultures, and in supporting reconciliation processes."&nbsp;World Tourism Day is important for professionals within the travel industry to be aware of and consider, as it can help to:Learn about industry best practiceFind new business opportunities &nbsp;Raise awareness and knowledge &nbsp;Promote sustainable tourismIdentify travel habits and future trends &nbsp;Improve travel offerings&nbsp;So, can you take this year's theme of 'Tourism and Peace', which is a far-reaching theme, and apply it to your everyday?&nbsp;Promoting Peace and Community Resilience through TourismOften highlighted for its role in economic development, tourism also plays an important role in promoting peace. &nbsp;&nbsp;At a global level, where nations are interconnected and interdependent, tourism, an industry created by and for people, is proving to be a compelling and dynamic force in overcoming stereotypes and challenging prejudices.&nbsp;Did you know? &nbsp;Countries with a more open and sustainable tourism sector tend to be more peaceful.Tourism spreads philanthropy and leads to regional cooperation.Tourism supports post-conflict recovery.&nbsp;&nbsp;Success lies in empowering local communities to actively engage with their rich culture, while minimising conflict with the natural environment and all external forces - such as tourism. &nbsp;&nbsp;Real-world example: The town of Lahaina in West Maui was devastated by one of the worst wildfires in American history. Tourism resumed several months later, which raised new considerations for more mindful travellers. For instance, would their stay in a luxurious hotel displace residents who were temporarily accommodated there following the destruction of their homes?&nbsp;While West Maui accounts for 15% of Hawaii's tourism revenue, many local residents viewed the period of rebuilding Old Lahaina as an opportunity to address issues such as overtourism, environmental degradation, and economic imbalance. In fact, 17,000 residents signed a petition to delay the reopening of tourism in order to focus on the needs of Lahaina's working-class population.&nbsp;Nonetheless, with the projected loss of $9 million in tourism revenue per day since the fire, the Hawaii Tourism Authority enacted the Maui Marketing Recovery Plan to aid in the restoration of travel demand. This incident presented a crucial opportunity for thoughtful, intentional travel. A focus on regenerative tourism that reinvests in people, places, and encourages the 'long-term renewal and flourishing of our social-ecological systems' was paramount.&nbsp;It was essential that the travel and tourism mindset shifted from an individualistic to a collective perspective, for visitors and residents alike, to foster empathy and initiate collaborative action.&nbsp;Many travellers were inspired to add several volunteering experiences onto their itinerary upon seeing business owners' livelihoods burned down, and residents respected most the behaviours of travellers who engaged with patience and understanding while also giving back to the community.&nbsp;How can you, as global tour operators or online travel agents, encourage this type of travel?Encourage travellers to support local businesses and volunteer – these are key ways to continue that shift towards intentional travel that benefits host destinations.Promote alternative destinations – try sister locations to places that are suffering from severe consequences of overtourism.Promote a mindset for travellers grounded in intention - for example, one that asks 'where can we snorkel that's most respectful' instead of 'where do locals go?' Be aware of the wider industry and world – keeping informed as to any local challenges, initiatives or movements within the destinations that you’re recommending.&nbsp;These measures advocate a proactive approach to ensure that economic growth remains inclusive for the entire community, and that tourism is promoted for the benefit of residents as well as visitors.&nbsp;Top tip: Did you know that in February 2024, the General Assembly officially declared 2027 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism’? The next few years are a prime opportunity to take the travel industry even further when it comes to pioneering sustainable, beneficial initiatives.&nbsp;Engaging with Authentic Voices and Preserving Local HeritageCultural tourism is characterised by visitors' ardent desire to discover, experience, and learn about a particular destination. Whether that entails exploring novel cuisines, residing with remote rural communities, supporting local business owners and artisans, or travelling pilgrimage routes, the interest in cultural immersion is rapidly escalating.&nbsp;Ensuring that travel experiences are firmly grounded in the essence of a place is also in the interest of travel distribution from a success standpoint:Cultural and historical travel accounts for 40% of all tourism globally.73% of millennials report being interested in cultural and historic places.Cultural tourists spend 38% more per day and stay 22% longer than other traveller types.&nbsp;Many countries and organisations around the world are already showing how it’s possible to balance economic development with retaining vital cultural heritage, and sustainable transformations. &nbsp;Urban regeneration – a ‘Special Area Plan’ in George Town, Malaysia, balances conservation with economic development, allowing local owners to restore their homes and set up businesses, while protecting historic buildings from tourism-induced redevelopment.Prioritising native industries – to avoid over-reliance on sole economic drivers, like tourism. For example, in AlUla investments are being made into native industries such as agriculture. Diversifying the local economy creates increased revenue for residents and lessens the strain on economies that rely on tourism as a main driver of revenue. &nbsp;‘Living heritage’ – the ‘Beirut Housing Rehabilitation and Cultural Creative Industries’ project offers small grants to local artisans, while the regeneration of the historical Mar Mikhael train station aims to reactivate cultural markets and businesses.&nbsp;A pivotal strategy for international tour operators and OTAs is to incorporate sustainable cultural tourism into their day-to-day operations is to elevate local communities to the forefront of your travel experience recommendations.&nbsp;Adopting this approach satisfies the prevailing trend for authentic, experiential tourism in a manner that generates longer-lasting positive impact for the host community and economy, while also maintaining business engagement with customer preferences.&nbsp;By actively engaging with local communities, the tourism industry can ensure that the generated revenue remains within the community, where it can yield the most substantial impact.&nbsp;Promoting Travel that Champions SustainabilityIn 2015, the Member States of the United Nations collectively adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which endeavor to 'enhance health and education, diminish inequality, and stimulate economic development – all while addressing the challenges of climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.'&nbsp;The tourism industry presents a multitude of opportunities to impact and contribute to the realisation of these goals: through the provision of high-quality tourism training, which invests in education and skills development; by investing in sustainable infrastructure; by working to further the eco-conscious transformations in communities, economies and mindsets, including initiatives to decarbonise the sector; and by investing in innovative travel technology and upskilling tourism's workforces globally.&nbsp;Sustainable tourism is a major focus for the travel industry, with the appetite for sustainability showing no sign of easing: 83% of global travellers believe that sustainable travel is important.&nbsp;For the environment &nbsp;One of the paramount concerns, not solely for the travel and tourism industry, but for the broader global context of sustainability, is the prevelance of single-use plastics. The hotel industry alone is responsible for the generation of 150 million tonnes of plastic per year – a significant proportion of which ultimately ends up polluting the world's oceans.&nbsp;In light of this, marine and coastal conservation programmes serve as an ideal example of how to promote experiences that cater to customer requirements while adhering to sustainable practices.&nbsp;Real-life example: Based in Cap Ternay research station on Mahé Island - which can be accessed via the Seychelles International Airport for overseas visitors, located near the capital of Victoria – GVI offers several volunteer and study projects where participants can spend their time scuba-diving to help underwater research, snorkelling to collect data on marine life, or even hiking through palm forests. &nbsp;&nbsp;Experiences like these are the perfect example of how agents can promote sustainable travel which not only aligns with the needs and desires of the customer, but that also benefits the host destination.&nbsp;How Hotelbeds HelpsWe’ve looked before at how important is to offer single-use plastic-free options for travellers (as just one example of sustainable tourism) and how this can and should become part of every travel distributor's strategy.&nbsp;But one way we’re making it easier for travel experience sellers across the industry is to offer sustainable tourism is by offering sustainable experiences in our Booking Engine. Including PADI-approved diving centres for those eco-conscious marine adventures, as well as thousands of other in-destination activities and experiences that offer tangible benefit to both traveller and host.&nbsp;Plus, our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our Booking Engine makes it simple to refine your searches to hotels that hold sustainability at the forefront of their operations and are certified as sustainable.&nbsp;In fact, hotels are only shown in this filter once they have achieved industry-certified sustainability levels such as the Hotel Sustainability Basics certificate by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the GSTC Industry Criteria offered by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).&nbsp;Sign up today to discover our sustainable hotels and expand your portfolio for the travel options so important to today’s traveller.&nbsp;For local communities&nbsp;Overtourism represents a distinct tourism-induced challenge that numerous renowned destinations across the globe confront.&nbsp;Initiatives such as the sustainable tourism tax, introduced in the Balearic Island of Mallorca, assist in supporting the conservation of this esteemed destination. Additionally, Kyoto, Japan, has implemented several measures to mitigate the strain of overtourism, including addressing traffic congestion and utilising social media to disseminate alternative routes and information for visitors.&nbsp;To work alongside these internal initiatives implemented by local governing bodies, it's vital that you fulfill your role as part of the travel distribution system to endorse destinations in a sustainable manner. After all, as the expert, you are the one placing travel prospects directly into the hands of travellers.&nbsp;Top tip: discover thousands of eco-conscious in-destination experiences with our Booking Engine, encompassing conservation opportunities, regenerative experiences, tours and experiences facilitated by local guides, and a plethora of additional options.&nbsp;Furthermore, our global portfolio equips providers with comprehensive sustainable options as result of our status as a full-service provider, including green transfers and car hire, as well as single-use plastic-free and sustainable hotels.&nbsp;Tourism Helps Create Meaningful Connections&nbsp;This sector can be perceived as the epitome of intercultural dialogue; it allows meeting the "other" through learning about different cultures, hearing foreign languages, discovering new cuisines, creating bonds with other people, overcoming cultural differences through sharing experiences, and building tolerance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Travel, in its quintessential form, is an endeavour to expand one's perspectives. Extensive research has even suggested that 'tourist affiliation with nature and connection with local people' are 'critical determinants of positive psychological outcomes'; that travel fundamentally enhances well-being.&nbsp;This, undoubtedly, aligns with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) previously mentioned: to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all individuals, irrespective of age.&nbsp;We see the connection between travel, identity and wellness in:Travellers seeking out experiences that align with their personal values, backgrounds or heritage.Travel that actively strengthens bonds with cultures or communities around the world.88% of younger travellers saying that travel has impacted their personal growth.72% of Gen Z travellers remark that travel is core to their identity and how they express themselves.&nbsp;Social belonging is defined as an essential human requirement, a 'fundamental human pursuit' - and tourism plays a vital role in generating prospects for interpersonal connection.&nbsp;Moreover, this sense of social cohesion is also apparent in the industry-wide transition towards experience-based tourism, where authenticity and genuine connection have become paramount for tourists' overall experiences.&nbsp;There is substantial merit in the positive impact for travellers and their companions, including reinforcing connections amongst friends, loved ones, creating more meaningful experiences and memories, as well as increasing the probability of revisiting a destination.&nbsp;There is also a great deal to be explored about the benefits of more connected social relationships between travellers and host communities:‘Immersion in the local community and socialisation with local people generate learning opportunities for tourists to know different cultures and virtues, which leads to self-reflection and potentially causes personal transformation.’&nbsp;Real-world example: The experiences of 26 international tourists to Fiji were examined in a recent study, to determine the connection between tourism and psychological wellbeing.&nbsp;Fiji has high levels of tourism, thanks to pristine natural environments and cultural diversity, and derives a great deal of revenue from tourism as a result: 34% of Fiji’s GDP was contributed to tourism, and around 150,000 residents are directly employed in the tourism sector. &nbsp;&nbsp;Travellers’ responses were categorised into themes, including ‘gaze’ (how tourists view the people and destinations they interact with and visit), ‘practice’ (a subjective, expressive encounter) and ‘reflection’ (post-trip learnings, related to personal transformation).&nbsp;&nbsp;And from increased sense of enjoyment when experiences where shared, a deeper sense of cultural understanding through authentic encounters with local communities and more chances for ‘shared memory’, results showed that travel can be a vehicle that increases social connectedness, personal development and transformation, and improved mental health.&nbsp;Not only this, but interacting with landscapes and residents who have been relocated due to climate change, or impacted by natural disasters, invokes a sense of awe that is directed not internally, but externally.&nbsp;&nbsp;These connections ‘evoke an ‘environmentally responsible consciousness’ in visitors, redirecting ‘personal concerns’ towards ‘more collective dimensions of personal identity’. These are significant factors in wellbeing, and support the notion that travel creates meaningful connections for people across the world.&nbsp;What are the key takeaways?Travel distributors, such as tour operators and online travel agents (and destination boards) ought to incorporate group travel into their tourism offerings – for more effective and numerous changes to offer chances for travellers to build connection with their companions during their trip.Accessible facilities are an essential requirement for children and elderly visitors – to promote collective participation in tourism activities and an enhanced sense of connection.Destination loyalty and revisit intentions experience an increase when visitors feel socially connected.Enhancing tourists' connection with nature, their companions and local communities will result in long-term advantages for travel distribution, local economies and travellers themselves.&nbsp;Our Impact &nbsp;As part of HBX Group, it’s our ongoing mission to demonstrate through action how much value we place on industry-recognised travel standards, and our own environmental, social and governmental (ESG) commitments. &nbsp;&nbsp;Following the development of a new reporting framework, we’re able to anticipate future regulations, and achieve higher certification, which means that we can work even harder to make travel a force for good.7,889 volunteer hours completed - contributed by 1015 employees.€7612 raised – for global social causes.444.58kg of waste collected from forest and beach cleanings.12,000 trees planted – that’s 9.04 hectares of developing forest.Carbon neutral in scope 1 and 2 – it's our 6th anniversary of this accreditation.Think Big Project – we launched this initiative to help create sustainable micro destinations, to empower local communities in rural areas.40,000 sustainable hotels – including 5500 single-use plastic-free accommodation options as part of our Sustainable Hotels Programme.We’ve become a UN Global Compact member.Hybrid vehicles – offered in even more global cities.Thousands of cultural tours, nature tourism and wildlife-centred activities – available in our Booking Engine, to encourage deeper connection with the environments and habitats of the world.Safari, reforestation, sanctuary and eco-conscious experiences – available for our clients to book.Purposeful Pause – space for employees to discuss important topics, such as financial well-being.Health Month – promoting employee wellbeing via yoga sessions, meditation and more.&nbsp;For a closer look at our parent company’s dedication to making ourselves and the world of travel a better place, you can download the HBX Group ESG report here.&nbsp;

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world tourism day 2024 travel as a catalyst for understanding

Travel as a Catalyst for Understanding: World Tourism Day

&nbsp;In recent years, the service and marketing industries have shifted their focus from accommodating Millennials as the 'future generation' to now integrating Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Born from the late 1990s to early 2010s, Gen Z and the children of Millennials, known as Gen Alpha, are already making significant impacts and are considered the true 'travellers of the future'.&nbsp;The industry is set on capturing the attention – and spending power – of these up-and-coming demographics of jetsetters, which makes sense given that Gen Z have risen to represent around one third of the global population.&nbsp;A recent study by the European Travel Commission revealed that younger travellers are more likely to: &nbsp;Return to, and add more value to, destinations over time.Discover and actively seek out new, less-popular travel destinations.Incorporate technology into the planning of, and during, their trips.Seek personal cultural experiences, benefits, and contribute to local communities in-destination.&nbsp;It should be noted that Gen Z is currently one of the highest spending demographics in the travel sector. Despite not being individually wealthy, their collective spending power heavily contributes to their travel experiences. This generation's strong alignment between their values and consumer behaviours further solidifies their influence in the market. &nbsp;&nbsp;Let’s take a look at how the ‘travellers of the future’ are changing the landscape of travel and tourism.&nbsp;The impact of younger generations on travel trendsDid you know that Gen Z alone constitutes a spending power of around global spending power of $143 billion (a figure that is only increasing) and accounts for about 40% of all consumers? Or that Millennials and Gen Z consumers will make up 45% of luxury sales by 2025?&nbsp;Digital-native travellersThe upbringing of Gen Z and Gen A in a digital era has resulted in their development during crucial formative years, constantly exposed to evolving and easily accessible technologies.&nbsp;In terms of seeking out assistance from a travel provider, rather than doing things themselves, the likelihood of Gen Z doing so is influenced by various factors. However, among them all, Gen Z tends to prioritise technology integration, easy booking procedures, social environments that encourage connections with fellow guests, interactive communication with service providers, and personalised experiences.&nbsp;In light of Gen Z's ability to meet their own needs through their technological proficiency, it is crucial for travel providers to find ways to engage with this constantly connected generation, such as through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).&nbsp;How to attract and accommodate ‘digital-native’ travellers:Highlight the benefits of using an agency over an OTA – &nbsp;in your content, your communications or ads, your website, everywhere.Personalise all communications to the right audience, at the right time. Gen Z wants individual experiences; use this to your advantage as a distributor who can offer them.Ensure your approach is ‘mobile-first’ - whether it’s marketing or fighting for a spot on the top results in a search engine, what’s important to know is that 80% of Gen Z travellers use smartphones to research and book their travel. Compete with OTAs and be seen.Create engaging online content – you can’t book travel for customers who can’t find your services. Not only do you need to be seen, but younger travellers need to be convinced of why they should use an agency over an OTA. Convenience is everything – but personalisation is a huge motivator for this audience.Embrace technology and digital experiences – incorporate and promote tech-based recommendations, from hotels that offer AI powered air-con and mobile check-in to using a travel booking platform that has flexible payments – like our Booking Engine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Travel influencersGen Z spends an average of 10.6 hours per day online, making them the most digitally connected generation, and in 2023, around 29% of Gen Zers were inspired to travel to a destination by TikTok. Meanwhile, around 54% of parents say their Gen Alpha child spends up to four hours a day on social media.&nbsp;Many members of Generation Z and Millennials, more than their Gen X counterparts, find travel inspiration predominantly through online platforms. Social media, with its use of hashtags, geotags, and content sharing, provides a convenient way for users to discover and explore various destinations, attractions, and experiences worldwide. Travel businesses and influencers play vital roles in showcasing these destinations through engaging content, essentially serving as virtual tour guides for their audiences.&nbsp;A recent study discovered that approximately 75% of travellers in the UK, US, Australia, China, and Japan utilise social media for travel inspiration. Leading the pack are platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Interestingly, 48% of travellers end up visiting destinations they stumble upon or are intrigued by on social media. &nbsp;&nbsp;Notably, during their searches, many users actively seek out new destinations, hidden gems, and unique travel experiences.&nbsp;Research indicates that the largest source of inspiration for young travellers is television, news outlets, or movies at 64%, followed closely by recommendations from friends and family at 47%. These findings highlight the significant impact of social media on the preferences of the younger generation of travellers, surpassing even the influence of personal recommendations.Build a positive online social presence to capture Gen Z travellersAnd considering the prevalence and importance of social media in their travel-making decisions, it’s fair to say that Gen Z – and even Millennials - are travel influencers too. &nbsp;&nbsp;It is important to note that for every interaction your Gen Z customers have with your customer service, booking, pre-and post-travel experiences, they are highly likely to share their feedback online, whether positive or negative. Therefore, social media plays a crucial role in the success or failure of travel companies.&nbsp;What does your online presence say about you as a travel provider?Are you creating engaging content? Is it the right content for your audience?Are you paying attention to what previous and existing customers say about you or your business?&nbsp;&nbsp;What do travellers want? Experiential TourismA large proportion of Millennial travellers seek culturally immersive, experiential travel – a chance to ‘get under the skin’ of their destination and create personally fulfilling experiences. &nbsp;&nbsp;Generation Z is known for seeking unique experiences, and as the first digitally native generation, their travel preferences reflect a technology-first approach from the start of trip planning all the way to sharing experiences during and after their travels. &nbsp;&nbsp;Most of all, both demographics are proven (find stats) to want and prioritise: &nbsp;Experiential travel – with a focus on authenticity in-destination.Wellness experiences – from holistic therapies to silent travel, wellness is driven by what wellness means to individual travellers, resulting in demands for bespoke experiences.Cultural and destination immersion &nbsp;Niche travel – such as agri-tourism, eco-travel, halal travel, adventure travel and more.&nbsp;The Gen Z demographic is increasingly showing a preference for authenticity in destination experiences. This shift towards experiential travel reflects a desire for bespoke, tailor-made travel experiences rather than the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Building on the cultural immersion focus of Millennials, Gen Z is leading the way in seeking experiences that align with their values. The trend is towards personalised, unique travel experiences that cater to the individual preferences of this generation.&nbsp;From ‘set-jetting’ travel to luxury culinary tourism, solo travel and wellness tourism, such as ‘silent travel’, there’s no denying the fact that as well as being motivated by a desire for self-discovery, cultural immersion, and localised experiences, Gen Z are just as inspired by ‘on-screen’ destinations, social media and a keen social and environmental awareness.&nbsp;In order to appeal to this future-focused generation of travellers, it is important to stay up-to-date on popular culture knowledge and have environmentally friendly recommendations readily available.&nbsp;See our top travel trends here!&nbsp;&nbsp;Sustainable Travel for the futureAs evidenced by recent data, sustainable travel is a top priority for Millennials and Generation Z travellers. 82% of Millennials have expressed a strong desire for travel options that are environmentally friendly.&nbsp;Promote sustainable travel options – from hotels that are certified as sustainable and single-use plastic-free (you’ll find these in our Booking Engine) to tours that have reduced their single-use plastic waste.Practice what you preach – many travel companies have signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism as signatories, or seek sustainability certification as part of the Sustainable Travel Agencies Certification. &nbsp;Adopt sustainable practices in your day-to-day – a key example would be to use digital travel brochures.Support local causes – recommend locally owned restaurants, tours and own voices from a portfolio of trustworthy and sustainable travel products – like our Booking Engine.Invest in ‘regenerative’ schemes – we're dedicated to planting tens of thousands of trees in the Hotelbeds Forest.&nbsp;Conscious travel is top of the demands list for many younger travellers, from sustainable travel practices and experiences that benefit local communities, to voluntourism and regenerative travel, alongside their undercurrent of desire for unique experiences.Discover more about overtourism, and the importance of promoting sustainable tourism here.&nbsp;The impact of Gen Alpha on modern familial travelThe growing utilisation of travel technology and enhancements in travel accessibility across various demographics worldwide have created new opportunities for younger generations to travel more easily and affordably. This shift is transforming the expectations of younger travellers as travel becomes more convenient and economical, especially in regions with advanced travel infrastructures.&nbsp;Given this, Gen A is expected to be the most mobile traveller yet.&nbsp;This not only affects the future travel patterns of Generation A, but also their current impact on modern family travel. In fact, approximately 43% of families with Generation A children are influenced or inspired by them when planning a trip.&nbsp;Although the older generations still play a key role in decision-making due to their ability to book trips, Gen A is actively sharing travel-related content on social media and indirectly influencing family travel decisions. Use this insight to provide experience-led recommendations to families with Gen A children.&nbsp;A high number of families are prioritising inter-generational experiences and the needs of the family over the destination itself. Tech-inspired holidays are ideal for family and intergenerational travel as these experiences are engaging, accessible, sustainable, and memorable. Immersive experiential travel is fun for the whole family no matter the season.&nbsp;While this is by no means an exhaustive list or overview of the impact of younger generations on travel, travel trends, and even wider traveller behaviour, it's certainly food for thought when you're considering how to attract, appeal and retain these all-important travellers of the future. &nbsp;&nbsp;Discover more valuable travel trends with our travel trend report, offering insightful snapshots into the behaviours and demands that are shaping the travel industry, and into the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Travel Trends: The Travellers of the Future

In the hotel industry, upselling is a strategic approach aimed at promoting upgrades on bookings or reservations. This entails encouraging guests to spend more on additional amenities and services at any point throughout the guest journey, encompassing pre-arrival, stay and post-stay phases.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s well-known that these upselling techniques can significantly help hotels increase profits. But it’s also essential to have in mind the best practices and avoid potential pitfalls.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this article, we delve into the benefits of upselling for hotels, what to upsell in hotels, key guest types to consider, and examples of upselling tactics for hoteliers.&nbsp;Keep reading to discover more about our recommendations.&nbsp;Benefits of Upselling in Hotels: Why Is It Relevant for Your Property?&nbsp;In essence, by investing effort into applying these techniques within your daily operations, you’ll reap multiple rewards. Here are our top reasons why you should tap into them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enhanced Understanding of GuestsEvery interaction with your clients starts with a dialogue, and each attempt to upsell pushes you to listen to your customer’s voice. Understanding your audience improves their experience and facilitates customer retention.&nbsp;Increased Customer’s SatisfactionUpselling serves as a great way for you to showcase your services and product range, offering more options to your customers. They might not be aware of upgrading options, or simply might have had other needs coming up since they made their booking.&nbsp;Boosted RevenueEffective upselling can give you extra revenue streams. Opting for the right distribution partner, such as Hotelbeds, can grant you access to international guests that are more likely to upgrade their booking as they tend to spend more in a destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hotel Upselling Ideas: Where You Should Put The Focus&nbsp;When you start implementing this technique, it’s very usual to get very creative and offer an extensive array of amenities or services for your upselling purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, prior to delving into the upselling possibilities, it’s important to acknowledge that you should avoid giving guests too many options that end up overwhelming them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our recommendation here is that you start by presenting classic options, such as breakfast, early check-in and late check-out. And then add a few deals tailored to that specific segments. A selection of 10–15 options would be ideal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Once said this, let’s see some of the most popular options for your upselling purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Room upgrades &amp; Rooms with special featuresBigger rooms, suites, or accommodations with panoramic views, terraces, saunas or kitchens.Stay extensions: Encourage guests to stay longer with discounts for a one- or two-night extension. This will help you sell additional rooms during off-peak seasons.&nbsp;Pet feesDry cleaning servicesSpecial occasion packages&nbsp;Baby beds&nbsp;Food and beveragesStrawberries and champagneWine bottlesPremium minibar selections&nbsp;Activities &amp; TransportSpa treatmentsIn-room massageDog walking servicesParking facilitiesBicycle rentalsOff-property excursionsAirport shuttle services&nbsp;Check-in and check-outEarly check-in: Guests arriving earlier than check-in time may be caught by surprise by your hotel and their rooms might not be ready. It would be a great opportunity for you to provide a room upgrade to a suite or simply a larger room as an alternative solution.&nbsp;Late checkout: This is important in order to facilitate the logistics of late departures, such as evening or late afternoon flights.&nbsp;Guest Categories to Consider In Your Upselling StrategiesFirst and foremost, it’s vital to know which segments of guests you’re attracting. This will give you insights on which type of amenities and services can be useful for each of these travellers. Some of the main guest categories to have in mind are as follows:&nbsp;Families with children: Consider offering connecting rooms and fun activities. This segment appreciates flexibility. Also, provide meal packages and family-friendly activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Couples: They may be willing to upgrade their experience with larger, more comfortable rooms, panoramic views, and other features that can enhance their stay.Romantic packages like couple’s massages, candlelight dinners, or a spa experiences are likely to be of interest.&nbsp;&nbsp;Business travellers: This segment has a great potential for upselling strategies as these guests are often less price-sensitive, and are looking to improve and smoothen their stay.Some interesting upsells for business travellers would be early check-in or airport transfer, flexible departure times, express laundry, parking... Ensure that they are comfortable and that they perceive your property as one that is convenient and provides prompt service.&nbsp;Digital nomads: Some high-valued offerings include well-equipped in-room workstations, a coworking space or a chance to upgrade to high-speed Wi-Fi. Discover further initiatives to cater for remote workers here.&nbsp;Solo female travellers: Given the rise in solo female travellers, consider offering secure transfer options with trusted providers, as well as other options that we explore in this article on solo female travel. &nbsp;&nbsp;5 Upselling Techniques for Hotels That Deliver ResultsNow that we have defined what services and products are a fit for upselling&nbsp;– and how to cater to some of the most lucrative guest types –, it’s time to deep dive into some of the most common techniques to drive upselling success.&nbsp;Start selling before your guest arrival: This is one of the best moments to upsell because the traveller is eager to buy extra/complementary services.&nbsp;You can send customised emails or WhatsApp messages with offers 2–3 days before arrival. For instance, consider sending a brochure with relevant information about the hotel, and include a section with add-ons to their primary booking, such as airport transfer, early check-in or room category upgrade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Partner with local businesses: Collaborate with local companies to provide tailored and enriching experiences. Offerings like private walking tours, boat trips, wine tastings and spa packages can enhance guest experiences.&nbsp;Check what popular activities are held close to your property, and reach these local businesses in order to establish a collaboration. A good example would be partnering with local wine farms to create a complete wine experience package for a minimum stay of two nights.&nbsp;Another great idea is to reach out to festivals or sporting events’ organisers. As you can read in these comprehensive articles on film tourism and sporting events tourism, there are plenty of appealing activities and proposals for your guests.&nbsp;Keep a look into data: To better understand which amenities and services were most popular in the past, it's imperative to collect this information. It will enable you to identify the trends of your property, and you may be able to prioritise some offers over others to increase your chances of selling.&nbsp;Focus on training your staff for front-desk upselling: Ensure all hotel staff are aligned, and know how and when to upsell.&nbsp;Train them to gauge guest moods and how to ask open questions to gather relevant information.The check-in might not be the best moment to try to upsell your products, as guests often arrive tired and want a smooth check-in process, without having to hear your offers. Instead, it’s better if you have sent your list of offers a couple of days before their arrival so that they can have a look at it and decide if there’s something appealing to them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Present every upsell opportunity as an option: Pushing hard doesn’t always work, that’s why it’s crucial to showcase upgrade offers as choices. Customers can get annoyed by aggressive upselling techniques. Focus on offering solutions rather than increasing your profits.In addition, when offering a new deal, only mention the incremental price, not the full price. E.g: Instead of saying ‘For £260 a night you could upgrade to our Seaview Suite with a Continental breakfast included,’ say ‘Would you like to upgrade to our Seaview Suite and add our Continental breakfast? It’s available for an extra £35 per night.’And always try to reaffirm the primary purchase and then offer the upselling. For example, say that the room chosen is wonderful, but that they can have the superior one for a small add-on.&nbsp;&nbsp;By embracing these techniques, hotels can elevate guest experience while boosting their revenue. As mentioned, it’s essential to start by understanding your customers’ needs in order to cater to them with your best offerings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember that Hotelbeds offer access to high-value customers more likely to purchase add-ons. We expand your hotel’s visibility among international travellers, who usually have a larger budget and seek to enjoy their holidays fully.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Join our network of 60,000+ B2B travel distributors today. Register your property for free and boost your visibility and occupancy rates! Already part of Hotelbeds? Log in to continue leveraging our campaigns and maximising your revenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lastly, don’t forget to download our free guide on how different channel distribution strategies can enhance your hotel’s performance. Click below and get it now!

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Upselling Techniques for Hotels to Boost Revenue in 2024

2023 is proving to be a great year for tourism, with several travel trends coming to the forefront.&nbsp;&nbsp;In our recent posts, we recommended catering to solo female travellers, as well as incorporating AI tech in the travel sector. Now, it's time to focus on another major travel trend that has gained popularity over the past few years.&nbsp;Film tourism, also known as screen tourism or set-jetting, refers to the phenomenon of people choosing holiday destinations based on locations seen in films or TV shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a hotelier, it's essential to understand this increasing trend, considering the abundance of films and TV shows filmed and broadcasted every year.&nbsp;Learn more about film tourism, how it benefits the travel sector, the main destinations for tourists, and how you can make the most of it. Keep reading!&nbsp;A Major Trend: Understanding Film TourismWith countless destinations to choose from, it’s vital to make your property’s location stand out from the competition. One way to achieve this is to leverage it with the help of TV shows and films.&nbsp;TV shows and films can significantly raise the profile of the city or country where the story is set. This exposure can extend beyond the specific location, benefiting regions, hotels, theme parks, and other attractions associated with the show or film.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tourists often seek to identify with their idols, favourite scenes, or visit the exact spots where the cast filmed. Screen tourism offers a unique opportunity to experience the emotions and sensations lived while watching a film or TV show, making it a fantastic way to connect with the history and culture of a place, which is what happened with the popular TV show Outlander and Scotland.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and Disney+ has made audiovisual content even more widely available to a global audience, contributing to the popularity of screen tourism. Locations featured in films can motivate tourists to visit these spots, transforming them into popular destinations.&nbsp;Benefits of Film Tourism for HoteliersFilm tourism serves as a powerful destination marketing tool. Visual content plays a crucial role in increasing visibility in front of millions of potential travellers.&nbsp;&nbsp;The great amount of content available through streaming platforms has led to a significant increase in people visiting places they've previously seen on screen.&nbsp;As a hotelier, capitalising on film tourism is a good strategy to achieve:&nbsp;Increased occupancy: Hotels in areas featured in popular films or TV programmes receive a higher influx of visitors eager to stay close to filming locations.&nbsp;Higher room rates: The popularity of a location due to film tourism can justify an increase in room rates, especially during peak seasons or when film-related events take place, such as the Cannes Film Festival (France), or the Oscars (Los Angeles, USA).&nbsp;Repeat business: Enthusiastic fans often return for multiple visits, or even recommend the accommodation to fellow fans, creating a loyal customer base. &nbsp;&nbsp;Year-round interest: Screen&nbsp;tourism tends to be evergreen, attracting fans throughout the year and maintaining a consistent stream of guests, even during off-peak seasons.&nbsp;Increased revenue from ancillary services: Tourists engaged in film tourism often spend on additional services, such as guided tours, merchandise, and themed events. Hotels can tap into these revenue streams by offering tailored packages and experiences. At the same time, you can benefit from partnerships with local tour operators, film and production companies. This can also help expand the hotel’s visibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enhanced reputation and unique selling point (USP): A strong connection to screen tourism sets hotels apart from competitors and elevates their reputation when associated with popular films or TV shows. A hotel can end up being recognised as a unique destination, like what happened with The Stanley Hotel from The Shining. &nbsp;&nbsp;8 Films And TV Shows That Have Boosted TourismOverall, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Spain, France, India, Japan and Iceland are some of the most popular destinations for film tourism. Have a look at which films and TV shows have contributed to the growth of tourists.&nbsp;&nbsp;Game of Thrones &amp; House of the DragonBoth TV shows are great examples of significant contributions to tourism in recent years.&nbsp;Their influence was huge, and many places benefited from it. A clear example can be found in Dubrovnik (Croatia), which is the real-life location of King’s Landing, frequently seen in the show. Another good example can be sunny Spain, which hosted many sets, such as&nbsp;Girona (Catalonia) or San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Basque Country).&nbsp;Iceland also received a great influx of visitors. For example, bookings to this country increased by 166% in 2019 when the last season premiered.&nbsp;Bridgerton &amp; Queen CharlotteAs one of the most successful Netflix productions, the Bridgerton series has significantly boosted tourism in the UK – mostly in Bath and London.&nbsp;The popularity of the show has been so great that even the Tourist Board of Great Britain has published a dedicated article on its website to promote the Bridgerton filming locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lord of the Rings &amp; The HobbitThis is one of the best examples of screen tourism directly influencing a country’s tourism.&nbsp;Despite the first of the films being released more than two decades ago, New Zealand keeps attracting screen tourism, making this an ‘evergreen’ source of income for the country. As a curiosity, these tourists (known as&nbsp;‘Tolkien tourists’)&nbsp;have a long-term impact that brings millions of dollars to New Zealand’s economy each year.&nbsp;Harry Potter filmsThey're another great example of how a country can take the opportunity to capitalise on a film series.&nbsp;Not only have the locations increased their visitor numbers exponentially – Alnwick Castle,&nbsp;home to Hogwarts, receives more than 800,000 visitors every year –, but they have also inspired dedicated theme parks like the ‘Studio Tour London’.&nbsp;On average, the filming locations experienced a 50% growth in tourism after their release.&nbsp;&nbsp;BraveheartFinally, we have this clear example of film tourism impact, which took the&nbsp;Wallace Monument in Scotland&nbsp;from 80,000 visitors per year to 180,000 after the film’s release.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tips for Hoteliers to Capitalise on Screen Tourism&nbsp;Regardless of the size of your property, there are various ways to take advantage of the increasing screen tourism trend. It’s all about creativity and thinking about how you can make the most of it!&nbsp;Contact and collaborate with film productions: Keep track of upcoming film or TV show productions in your area by getting in touch with the local film commission.Film commissions are public organisations that promote a specific destination as a filming location for audiovisual productions and promote film tourism. Many cities – &nbsp;and countries – have theirs, and they highly contribute to pitch their locations to be part of a film or TV show.Try to collaborate with the production teams and offer your property as a potential filming location, or provide accommodation for crew members. If you get to do it, you’ll gain fame, and you can even turn your hotel into another touristic destination in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact Tourism Boards: Discover actions already implemented to promote film tourism in your area, and actively promote any filming locations near your property.&nbsp;For example, in Barcelona there’s the ‘Barcelona Movie Walks’ website with all the tours available related to famous films and TV shows filmed in the city.In Italy, many Tourism Boards promote screen tourism through their online channels, such as their blogs. You can reach them and ask to be mentioned in their articles.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leverage social media: Share content related to film tourism on your hotel's social media platforms, engaging with your followers and being part of the conversation.&nbsp;Include, for example, behind-the-scenes facts about productions filmed in your area. It’s essential to communicate it through your social channels, so that you let people know what happened here and increase their interest in visiting the place.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer themed rooms and packages: If a well-known film or TV series was filmed near your property, consider offering themed rooms and packages inspired by the production. You can decorate the rooms with props or posters related to the productions.As for the packages, you can include guided tours to nearby filming locations. An example could be the Studio London Tour - The Making of Harry Potter.&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer Guided Tours: If your property is close to multiple filming locations, consider offering guided tours exclusively for your guests to enhance their screen tourism experience.&nbsp;Celebrate film festivals: Actively participate in film festivals hosted in your city and promote your hotel's association with the film industry. Offer special discounts or packages during these events to attract attendees. Organise private transport to the venue for your guests and enhance their stay.&nbsp;Certainly, as screen tourism continues to shape the new tourism industry, it's essential to stay updated on the latest trends and cater to the needs of today's travellers.&nbsp;If you're already part of our extensive B2B network, don't forget to log in and take advantage of our continuous campaigns to maximise your revenue.&nbsp;If you're not yet part of Hotelbeds, join the world's largest network of 60,000+ B2B travel distributors today. Register your property for free and boost your visibility and occupancy rate!

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Film Tourism as a Destination Marketing Tool: Tips for Your Hotel

&nbsp;The trend towards booking travel through a comprehensive travel provider is growing, as travelers seek authentic experiences. This increasing demand highlights the need for the expertise and connected services that travel providers can offer.&nbsp;For travel distributors, staying abreast of consumer behaviour changes, receiving real-time recommendations based on historical data, and capitalising on growth opportunities is essential for staying ahead of competitors, regardless of where travellers are in their journey with you.&nbsp;Not only does this enhance the services you're able to provide to travellers, but these key 'insights' allow you to remain relevant and valuable in the fast-paced travel industry, certainly when it comes to the needs of the end traveller.&nbsp;Are you maximising this opportunity, or still spending countless hours conducting research and making searches in order to close deals, all while staying informed about the latest industry developments?&nbsp;Do you have access to exclusive global connections in key destinations all in one place?&nbsp;You get all this, and much, much more, with Insights.&nbsp;Let's explore how.&nbsp;What Is Insights?Powered by intelligent algorithms and marketing technology, Insights is a search and recommendation platform for travel agents with unbeatable personalised recommendations&nbsp;and customisable marketing materials available at the touch of a button.&nbsp;Insights is equipped with intuitive features aimed at enhancing your travel marketing efforts, addressing present and future travel trends, and maximising your achievements. With our platform, you can effortlessly provide top-notch travel experiences, leading to increased bookings and loyal customers over time.&nbsp;Plus, as more travellers entrust their travel plans to interconnected travel distributors, and the international tour operator landscape becoming increasingly competitive, for example, having a leg up on the competition is essential.&nbsp;So, what does Insights actually offer?&nbsp;Trend Forecasting with Real-Time Global DataYou’ll never miss out on a destination trend again with Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;Using in-market global data and real-time insights, it allows you to keep track of, and capitalise on, destination trends that are most relevant to your source market.&nbsp;Insights is powered by:•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Historic travel search data.•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Real-time market data.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;An awareness of seasonality.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Historic booking and itinerary data.All this ensures that our information is valuable, relevant, and influenced by real bookings, to offer you opportunities that closely match the current and upcoming preferences of your market.&nbsp;By enhancing the quality of the products you offer your customers, you also increase your value as a travel provider. This positions you as the top source for the most sought-after destinations and comprehensive travel recommendations tailored to their needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a result, you gain a competitive edge and improve the chances of customers choosing your services repeatedly in the future.&nbsp;A Tool That Learns From YouWhat makes Insights even better? It’s intuitive, driven by technology that actively learns from your behaviour when using the tool.&nbsp;Why? Because you can’t offer bespoke experiences to travellers without a tool that provides a personal experience for you, as their trusted travel provider.&nbsp;When you access Insights, you will see Destination&nbsp;cards, which are recommendations based on their opportunity value. These are the destinations that offer the best growth for you based on your current market, customer booking behaviours and competitor activity.&nbsp;So, once you know your most valuable destination opportunities, how you interact with them tailors your further recommendations.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Anchor a destination to keep it at the top of your recommendation list regardless of its ranking.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Save it for later to remove a destination for a period of time, and create a reminder for it.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Discard a destination to tell Insights you’re not interested.You can anticipate receiving data on demand fluctuations, price decreases in your market, new additions to the hotel industry, and the most popular month to book suggested destinations. Rest assured that all recommendations will be customised to suit your specific needs and operational style.&nbsp;Get started today! Sign up today to access Insights, or log into your Hotelbeds account.&nbsp;Filter Options To Better Cater To CustomersA key question that arises as a provider of travel experiences is: how can you guarantee that you are offering your customers the most sought-after destinations, all while accommodating the increasing demand for travel in a manner that is both meaningful and personalised?&nbsp;With Insights, of course.&nbsp;&nbsp;You get access to a portfolio of globally sourced, exclusive destinations and hotels, but they are presented intuitively with comprehensive filter options so you can quickly refine your searches based on customer preferences.&nbsp;You can cater to a wide range of factors, such as: international or domestic locations, destination theme, traveller type, regions, star ratings and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;By utilising this tool, you can simplify the booking process and provide customised travel options right from the start. Insights is consistently updated, with clear week-on-week trends visible, allowing you to optimise booking rates effectively.&nbsp;In-Platform Personalised Marketing&nbsp;It goes without saying that the consultation stage before your customer books is one of the most critical, and how you communicate with your customer is vital.&nbsp;So, the ability to create personalised marketing materials in Insights is a pivotal benefit to travel agents.&nbsp;After identifying the most appealing destinations and hotels for your customer through the filter options, the next step is to utilise the Custom Flyer tool to present the top choices. Further customisation can be done by refining these selections based on star rating, traveller type, and TripAdvisor rating for a more tailored experience.&nbsp;What’s more, you can personalise all marketing materials with your own branding, removing the costly and time-consuming process of creating marketing content from scratch – a huge benefit for independent or home-based agents in particular.&nbsp;99% of marketers recommend that personalisation helps to "advance customer relationships" and has an "extremely strong" impact on whether that customer books or not. With feedback like that, it's clear that forming relationships on a personal level is critical.&nbsp;Cross-sell With Experiences&nbsp;Enhancing your customers’ trips and earning more has never been easier with Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the ‘Experiences’ tab, you’re able to review popular experiences in each destination you’re researching, ranked by the opportunity value for you, with key information about the experience, which you can use to excite and incentivise your clients!&nbsp;By utilising the interactive features available, you can manage these experiences just like you would your recommended destinations. Whether you choose to anchor, save for later, or discard the displayed options, Insights will consistently recommend the most valuable choices for both you and your clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;Embracing cross-selling can significantly increase your earnings per consultation, making this integrated feature your greatest asset while utilising Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;So why not try out Insights for yourself, and sign up today, or access Insights by logging in to your Hotelbeds account.&nbsp;

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A Quick Guide To Insights for Travel Distributors 

Overtourism is when a destination receives too many visitors. According to McKinsey, 80% of travellers visit just 10% of the world’s tourist destinations. Such imbalanced numbers cause infrastructure problems, harm natural and cultural sites, and frustrate locals.&nbsp;A small town in Austria, Hallstatt is an example of a destination experiencing overtourism. Despite its population of 800, the town receives around 10,000 visitors per day in peak season. This caused the town’s locals to protest against overtourism, while holding signs saying “tourism yes, mass tourism no.”&nbsp;Similarly, around 250,000 people live in Venice, yet, the Italian city accommodates 20 million tourists per year. In 2024, Venice introduced a €5 fee for visitors who would like to access the city centre between 8:30am and 4pm during peak travel season. The main reason behind it was to reduce the congestion in the city, especially due to day-trippers who are exempt from the overnight tourist tax.&nbsp;Like Venice, other popular destinations implemented regulations in 2023 and 2024. Athens capped Acropolis visitors at 20,000 per day. Bali implemented a tourist tax of IDR 150,000 (around €9). And Amsterdam banned the construction of new hotels, to name a few.&nbsp;What are the risks of overtourism?&nbsp;Overtourism poses risks to destinations and locals, while changing the travel experience for tourists and the booking experience for travel agents.&nbsp;Here is what happens:For destinations&nbsp;In 2023, the Canary Islands welcomed 14.1 million foreign visitors, which locals found unsustainable given the islands’ limited resources and increasing prices. In a 2024 protest in Tenerife, a local said their rent was €800 while they earned a salary of €900. Another activist complained about short-term booking websites, saying they increased housing prices for locals, who now have to sleep in cars and caves.&nbsp;Besides increasing the prices for locals, overtourism may also damage the monuments and wildlife. The 20,000 visitor per day cap in Acropolis was put in for this exact reason, as the authorities wanted to protect the UNESCO World Heritage site.&nbsp;For the environmentIn 2023, Peru announced it would suspend visits to Machu Picchu as overtourism caused erosion on some stone structures. Millions of people visit the ancient citadel every year, which is not sustainable in the long run. Later that year, Peru reopened Machu Picchu, but put visitor caps to protect it.&nbsp;The influx of too many tourists also means more pollution. Although Italy’s tourism industry was hard hit during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, locals in Venice reported cleaner waters and better air quality, as there were no visitors.For travellersWhen travellers stand in long queues, experience visitor caps, and pay tourist taxes, they may get frustrated with the destination. This also reduces the authenticity of the travel experience, which is increasingly important for tourists. In a recent report, 47% of survey respondents said they’d like to connect with locals in less-travelled areas, and 56% said they wanted to explore off the beaten path.&nbsp;&nbsp;For travel providersDestinations suffering from overtourism may disappoint your clients because of long queues and crowds. This can lead to negative reviews and dissatisfaction, damaging your reputation.&nbsp;In the eyes of some clients, recommending over-crowded destinations during peak season may appear inconsiderate, given the rise of sustainable tourism. According to recent studies, 43% of travellers feel guilty when they make less sustainable travel choices. Nearly half of survey respondents also believe travel service providers are responsible for addressing environmental factors, which include sustainable travel options.&nbsp;Want to know more about how we as a travel ecosystem player can take your business further?&nbsp;&nbsp;Read more about how to offer comprehensive travel services with Hotelbeds here.&nbsp;Why should travel providers consider overtourism when promoting destinations?Did you know that 44% of travellers have said they were interested in visiting less-touristy spots? As the Vayable CEO Jamie Wong said, “People want to reclaim what’s real. Mass tourism is no longer sufficient.”&nbsp;Experiential travel is on the rise. Travellers are looking for experiences rather than just visiting hotspots. American Express’ Global Travel Trends Report found that 77% of travellers prioritise having the right travel experience over the cost of the trip. And for travel agents, it’s more difficult to hit the right spot with over-crowded destinations. With more off-the-beaten-path destinations, local activities, authentic experiences, and sustainable choices are more likely to happen.&nbsp;Tourism accounts for 8% of carbon emissions globally, and is set to recover from the pandemic. In Q1 2024, international travel reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels. Given that most people visit the same tourist destinations, the environment is at risk. To help clients make more responsible travel choices, educate them on the risks of overtourism.&nbsp;For example, Thailand’s Maya Bay, featured in Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film The Beach, used to receive thousands of tourist boats every day. In 2018, it closed to tourists as the boats destroyed the area’s coral reefs. When it shut down, only 8% of its coral reefs were alive. The conservation efforts started paying off over the years, and in 2023, biologists reported that the coral reef population grew to 20-30%. Marine biologists estimate that it will take another 20 years for the coral reefs to become the way they were 50 years ago.&nbsp;These examples aren’t meant to put people off from travelling. Instead, they are meant to promote less-touristy beaches, eco-friendly hotels, and ethical tours that make tourism beneficial for everyone.How can travel providers find alternative destinations to better accommodate sustainable tourism?Work with HotelbedsTravel providers can use tools and analytics to learn more about emerging destinations that are gaining popularity but are not yet overcrowded.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, our Hotelbeds Booking Engine lets you discover hotels, vacation rentals, transfers, tickets, and experiences. Our expansive portfolio provides options from over 170 countries around the world, making it possible to book holidays in alternative destinations.&nbsp;With Hotelbeds, you’ll also get access to Insights, a search and recommendation tool. It gives personalised recommendations on trending destinations, the most popular activities, and alternatives depending on your clients’ needs. This empowers travel providers with bespoke recommendations, improved growth opportunities and a way to keep an eye on the competition.&nbsp;Plus, Insights highlights the destinations that offer the best growth opportunity for travel providers in your specific market, which provides a framework of consideration for your destination marketing strategy; including where you want to subvert these typical expectations within your audience, and offer closely-mirrored alternatives to delight, surprise and cater for travellers looking for hidden gems.&nbsp;We have an expansive portfolio, accessible via our Booking Engine, of 250,000+ hotels, 23,000 experiences for all sorts of travellers and destinations — including the lesser-known ones. Not only this, but you'll join a connected network of 60,000 travel distributors, all benefiting from our end-to-end services as part of HBX Group, a leading ecosystem player in the travel industry.&nbsp;Understand Traveller NeedsFor travel providers liaising directly with the end customers, or with channels of communication that reaches this audience, it's worth thinking about what recommendations will speak to travellers in different regions, countries, demographics and your bespoke targeting segments.&nbsp;Ask yourself these questions:What type of experience are they looking for? - Are they looking for a vibrant culinary travel or ecotourism experience? Or are they in the mood for a cityscape?Where have they enjoyed staying before - and are they looking for something similar?What were they unsatisfied with in their last destination? - Understanding any unsatisfactory aspects of their trip, and how overtourism may have played into this, will help you provide a more satisfactory recommendation&nbsp;When formulating a destination marketing strategy, consider promoting alternative destinations to those firm favourites, for a better experience for travellers, and increased booking opportunities. Gone are the days when travellers were happy to settle for a superficial look at their destination of choice, this year's travel trends (and beyond) suggest that today's (and tomorrow's) traveller wants to get under the skin of wherever they go, to understand the culture, the environment, and the people there.&nbsp;Instead of the usual Paris city centre stay for a romantic getaway, why not consider suggesting Reims? Situated in the renowned Champagne region of Paris and just a short day-trip away from the city, this charming town provides a romantic ambience featuring breathtaking Champagne houses and Gothic architecture.&nbsp;For urban enthusiasts who have been eyeing vibrant metropolises such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Seoul, Taipei stands out as a compelling alternative in Asia. The city boasts a rich cultural heritage, bustling night markets, and breathtaking scenic spots like Beitou and Maokong.&nbsp;For travellers looking for an adventurous yet sustainable experience, Costa Rica's cloud forests offer a life-changing and eco-friendly option. With three protected nature reserves - Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Bosque Eterno de los Niños - that showcase a wide variety of wildlife, extensive hiking trails, and rich biodiversity, this destination is a wonderful place to explore Costa Rica's ecosystems while supporting their sustainable initiatives.&nbsp;By booking these alternative destinations, you’re more likely to offer authentic experiences and sustainable options, away from the crowds of destinations experiencing overtourism. Everyone benefits from the experience — you offer an unforgettable travel experience, travellers have an amazing trip, less densely visited areas get an economic boost, and the popular destinations experience a reduction in the strain caused by mass tourism.&nbsp;Sign up today or log in to your Hotelbeds account to get the latest offers and stay up-to-date with travel trends.&nbsp;

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