“It’s just a place to sleep” as the universal catch phrase for leisure travelers is fast becoming a thing of the past. Today’s travelers want much more than just a place to rest.
The travel industry seems to be one of the most robust sectors around the globe. This industry singlehandedly earned over $380 billion in 2017. With the growing confidence in the economy, the forward motion is a leading reason for expecting growth in the years ahead. This optimism is pushing the hotel sector to improve and innovate in the millennial style.
One thing to be sure of is the fact that consumers are aware of their worth. They have grown to become a lot savvier and demand a great deal from every hotelier for the hard-earned dollars they save for travel. They want appropriately configured properties that are fit to accommodate all of their needs and have the technology that is essential for life in the new millennium.
Before flinging open the doors to the hotel, hotel management needs to focus on crucial areas that make a world of difference.
If you want a slice of the ever-growing leisure traveler pie, then this blog is just for you!
Why do people travel?
Travel is the most commonly listed interest in people, and it has various forms. People travel for many reasons — some travel to visit friends and relatives, while others go for work. Traveling is also done as a spiritual ritual that lets them learn more about the ‘self’ through the crucible that is travel. The most important reason for people to travel is fun and excitement; it’s about relaxation.
What is leisure travel?
Leisure travel is the primary means for people to take a break from everyday life. Stays often characterized by fancy, luxurious resorts, and hotels or even going on guided tours and experiencing the local joys. The food consumed on such trips is also expensive, and transportation often depends on the mood of the traveler. According to USA Today, leisure travel is the complete opposite of business travel.
It is beneficial to step out of the ordinary, busy life and unwind to release some stress. This break is essential to feel refreshed and rejuvenated to work at the best of one’s potential.
The acrid words of criticism by employers need to be forgotten by everyone. It is also an opportunity to enrich yourself with the knowledge of life while making new connections with the cosmos. For those on a budget, leisure travel could mean something else. The most popular travel destinations often see wide swings in price seasonally in hotels and restaurants. There is an apparent reason why Mediterranean vacations are expensive in winters.
What leisure travels want:
Design
When a hotel is planned, the creation of a balanced and purposeful layout plays a critical role. The hotel aesthetic needs to be developed while simultaneously thinking of the needs of the guests, the owner, and also the staff. The design must have overall profitability of the operation in mind and ultimately increase the asset value.
Cleverly planning the interior design requires a commercial point of view, which culminates in a subtly persuasive environment ensuring that the guests spend money with a smile on their faces. The entire process of arrival, check-ins, and dining areas must add to the collective experience. The essential element for a sure-shot rate of profitability is creating a memorable, enjoyable experience that is worth repeating.
When you look ahead at the future preferences and needs of the guests of tomorrow, you embrace the motivations and leisure styles of millennial travelers. This mindset will help you smooth the way for baby boomers as they transition to a leisurely way of living.
The young travelers have markedly different behavior. They likely have a flexible schedule that makes the multifunctional design a prerequisite in the changing needs of hotel guests. Experience is the most critical factor here.
Unique experience
Leisure travelers look for unique experiences. They want to create meaningful memories that are found in things other than standard amenities. Consequently, hotel management must focus on capitalizing the site with unusual USPs. A deep understanding of the buyer persona can help you improve your strategy. The hotels cannot disregard older travelers who need integration more than independence. When people look for hotels in Buffalo, NY, they are looking for an experience for a lifetime. Not just a visit to a hotel with cheap food and a useless TV.
Luxurious dining options
The best way to maximize a hotel’s potential is to offer the best dining options to the guests. Familiarity with the average needs of guests will help you provide different solutions for each meal of the day. If your target audience is the millennial cohort, then you must prioritize late-night snacks instead of breakfast. Since vacations or ‘stay-cations’ are a break from the schedule, people do not eat at traditional times.
First-rate facilities
A leisure traveler would plan on exploring hotel facilities, especially when the weather is unfavorable. Well-stocked and modern gyms and swimming pool, are not the only features that you need. Installation of a fully staffed steam room and spa would help you go earning beyond dedicated revenues. Fostering a relationship with off-site facilities like the nearest trail riding companies and golf courses will let you offer special offers and create a long-lasting impression.
Technology
Long gone are the days when humble bedside phones were the center of profits. You need to replace this old-fashioned device with a personalized smartphone. Especially designing a phone to help the average customer would become a valuable resource for the client and a profit center for the hotel. Allowing unlimited free international calls, 4G connections, and zero roaming charges could grow your new mint.
If your designated device shows additional information about the surroundings, you could make it a tourist guide as well. Moreover, if the same device allows room service orders, scheduling facilities, and controlling the temperature and drapes in the room, you win the cake with its frosting and cherry on top.
When a hotel prioritizes such services, a hotel must ensure high quality in devices that the guests are inclined to interact with. Multi-language and customized welcome greetings give you a chance to enhance your corporate message.
Good Wi-Fi
Gone with the wind, are days when connectivity was an afterthought. The age of digitalization has created the hyper-connectivity syndrome, which causes an imminent need to post on social media or at least stay in touch with it. As a hospitality business, you must ensure the provision of a high-speed internet connection throughout the property. Furthermore, a secure password for logging in to the network and including it into your service would make you a crowd favorite.
Final Takeaway
It is an inevitable fact that the memory of the hotel stays with the guest for a very long time if the accommodation is unique. Your hotel needs to prioritize the collective experiences and not make a mix match of services.
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