According to a recent survey by hospitality cloud provider Mews, nearly three in four travelers agree that Americans will prioritize travel more and prefer digital, self-service experiences for hotel stays in 2024. Nearly 80% of U.S. travelers prefer hotels with fully automated front desks or self-service kiosks, and more than 40% prefer to check in on the hotel’s website, app or digital kiosk.
“Trends in the hospitality industry are constantly changing, but we are seeing signs that people are prioritizing travel again,” said Muse founder Richard Walter. “While we are seeing some slowdowns in mid-market and select-service hotels, the luxury sector appears to be resilient. Guests visiting luxury hotels are spending more and staying longer on their once-in-a-lifetime trips.”
The survey of 2,000 people, half travelers and half hotel employees, revealed that hotel workers expect guests to use technology more while traveling, with a quarter of workers anticipating guests will check in via a hotel’s website, app or digital kiosks more frequently than before.
A survey conducted by OnePoll revealed that around 43% of travelers prefer in-room smart home devices, 34% prefer keyless room entry, 27% prefer mobile room entry, and 24% prefer digital ordering. Additionally, 36% of travelers are using AI for travel recommendations.
“Additionally, more people are extending their business trips to have more leisure time or combining work and vacation,” says Vartl. “The most forward-thinking hotels are capitalizing on this trend by embracing personalized guest experiences and offering a range of amenities to cater to different guests’ needs. More hotels are embracing technology to create a seamless experience for guests, regardless of their travel purpose.”
According to the survey, about one-third of U.S. workers, or about 29%, admitted to working remotely during vacations without telling their boss. However, about 52% said they would use vacations to work remotely. Four in five U.S. workers prefer to work remotely from a hotel. About 69% prefer to work from their hotel room, about a quarter prefer the hotel’s pool or spa, and about 25% choose the hotel’s bar or restaurant.
Meanwhile, those who travel for work acknowledge that business trips open the door to other opportunities: Nearly half of respondents, or about 48 percent, extend their work trips into vacations.
Hotel employees expect guests to tip more (39%), extend their stays more often (38%), and make more use of hotel amenities (31%). Additionally, 79% said guests “always” or “often” ask for local recommendations.
A recent survey by the Hospitality Women’s Innovation Council found that only 20% of hotel professionals believe their current technology stack is sufficient to deliver efficiency, cost savings, and guest care. Around 91% of respondents called for greater collaboration from technology companies on integration, while 86% highlighted the need for improved integration processes to drive technology investments.
