Enhanced privateness and flexibility are two of the stand-out tendencies that leading details and analytics organization GlobalData notes will shape the lodging sector in 2021, alongside for a longer period stays, improved cleanliness treatments and a lot more no-touch engineering. As 2020 draws to a shut, Vacation & Tourism Analyst Ralph Hollister features his watch on these developments.
Greater Privacy and Overall flexibility to Characterize Lodging Field in 2021


Increased privacy and flexibility are two of the stand-out developments that foremost data and analytics firm GlobalData notes will shape the lodging industry in 2021, alongside more time stays, enhanced cleanliness procedures and more no-contact technologies. As 2020 draws to a shut, Travel & Tourism Analyst Ralph Hollister delivers his look at on these tendencies.
Hollister notes: “Hotels that are not able to supply additional secluded places or offer increased booking flexibility could be at possibility of getting rid of out even further in 2021. Rate plans to accommodate longer stays need to be offered, even though the marketing and advertising of no-contact technology and increased hygiene processes needs to be increasingly seen.”
Lengthier Stays
“We have come to the realization that 2021 will not be free of charge from the results of COVID-19. Travelers will be looking to take fewer excursions – if not forced to due to ongoing vacation restrictions – but individuals that do travel are expected to also keep for longer to grab what they can when they can. Uncertainty is strife and it might lead to people heading ‘all out’ on 1 big trip, relatively than risking many smaller ones that could be canceled.
“Lodging providers need to prepare by producing rate programs for prolonged stays in order to offer increased value. In fact, this is one strategy now being explored by key players this sort of as Scheduling.com, which introduced two new fee plans to satisfy this want. The weekly level plan involves a bare minimum duration of continue to be of 7 evenings, and for the every month level approach, a duration of stay of 28 nights is the minimum amount need.
“Long stays will be significantly common with digital nomads, students and business vacationers.”
Increased Privacy
The have to have for more private kinds of accommodation has surged in the course of the pandemic, which is easy to understand presented that 79% of international respondents to a survey* by GlobalData noted they are still concerned about the outbreak. The privacy trend has benefited businesses such as Airbnb, which posted a shock profit for Q3 2020. However, lots of standard resorts that by natural means cannot provide the same concentrations of privacy have not witnessed related growth.
Hollister notes: “The likes of Vrbo and Airbnb can offer an abundance of accommodation types in more secluded spots, even though quite a few main lodges are stuck with town-heart properties. In the brief time period, vacationers may possibly feel there is minimal sense in risking a town-center spot when the primary points of interest are closed. Need for metropolis breaks will gradually return in the coming several years as the dust settles, but domestic breaks in rural locations are likely to be the preference and return at a a great deal faster fee.”
Enhanced Hygiene Procedures
Improved levels of hygiene and sanitation will continue to be required by guests in the coming many years. According to a GlobalData study*, 59% of international respondents are concerned about their actual physical fitness and health all through COVID-19. This significant stage of problem has meant that lodging providers have had to dramatically strengthen hygiene and sanitation treatments. However, it is not enough to just have these in place – they have also had to effectively market these changes to gain purchaser self-assurance.
Hollister notes: “All big players in the lodging industry have been implementing and showcasing their new cleanliness procedures this year – for instance, Hilton’s partnership with health care gurus Mayo Clinic, which has helped increase customer assurance. These procedures will continue to be refined in 2021 as the pandemic continues.”
Extra No-Contact Technological know-how
Technology in lodging that lowers purchaser get in touch with with frequently touched surfaces and other individuals will be positively received – specifically thinking of a total 60% of world respondents are ‘somewhat’ ‘often’ or ‘always’ influenced by how digitally innovative or ‘smart’ a provider is, according to a GlobalData survey**.
Hollister proceeds: “In 2021, motels will increase their adoption of technology that cuts down the range of touchpoints. Capabilities these types of as on the net verify-ins and check-outs, cellular keys and room settings managed by Internet of Points (IoT) know-how will come to be a lot a lot more commonplace.
“Using IoT to control area configurations also allows hotels to gather a lot more information on guests, generating a additional individualized practical experience when they next return. According to GlobalData’s lodging scorecard, Marriott is a single of leaders in the adoption of IoT, scoring the maximum of ‘5’ for the adoption of this engineering. The firm lately disclosed an IoT concentrated hotel space, in partnership with Samsung and Legrand, individualized by the needs and interests of the individual guest.”
Enhanced Flexibility
There has been major uncertainty for travelers in 2020, which has deterred them from booking accommodation in case they are unable to afterwards get refunded. According to the GlobalData study*, 56% of world respondents are anxious about domestic travel limits, and 52% echo the exact sentiment for international vacation.
Hollister provides: “Having a flexible cancelation plan on a hotel web page will be vital in ensuring immediate bookings, and these calm policies will continue in 2021. For case in point, Marriott International has just prolonged its 24-hour world wide cancelation policy by means of March 31, 2021. This extension into following year will be emulated by its rivals in order to remain aggressive.”
* – GlobalData’s Week 11 COVID-19 Restoration Survey (2-6 December 2020), ‘quite concerned’ and ‘extremely concerned’ responses mixed
** GlobalData’s Week 11 COVID-19 Recovery Study (2-6 December 2020)
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