Hospitality Industry Trends That are Happening Right Now

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

The hospitality industry is桂an桂essential part of桂the桂global economy. This industry consists of桂hotel lodging, amusement parks, cruises, tourism-related services, restaurants, and桂so桂much more.

During the桂COVID-19桂pandemic, hospitality took a桂massive hit, effectively destroying small businesses across the桂globe. Fortunately, since the桂world has reopened, business has been booming once again. As桂most business owners know, staying on桂top of桂the桂latest hospitality industry trends is桂crucial to桂long-term success.

Most trends come and桂go桂and桂don�셳 stand the桂test of桂time. However, being flexible and桂adaptable are valuable virtues in桂the桂hospitality industry. Staying connected to桂potential customer�셲 likes, dislikes, and桂desires can keep a桂business relevant for桂years to桂come.

This article will explore the桂trends in桂the桂hospitality industry.

Post-COVID-19: Where is桂the桂Hospitality Industry?

As桂the桂world has adapted and桂recovered from the桂intensity of桂the桂COVID-19桂pandemic, trends in桂the桂business world have shifted. In桂many ways, the桂hospitality industry has grown since the桂easing of桂pandemic travel restrictions. While the桂industry suffered greatly in桂the桂short term, those who were trapped in桂their homes have become eager to桂travel and桂explore again.

Since 2021, there has been a桂major surge in桂hotels and桂airlines. While this is桂great on桂the桂surface, there are some notable challenges. A桂labor shortage has made it桂difficult to桂properly serve all of桂the桂people re-entering the桂world. Since most businesses have never experienced a桂global event such as桂COVID-19, it�셲 been difficult to桂balance all the桂financial and桂structural changes.

Those who have survived the桂circumstances have been companies that understand how to桂stay consistent in桂product quality, performance, and桂price.

The Role of桂Hospitality Trends

Most businesses were consumed by桂the桂uncertainty of桂the桂pandemic. Rather than trying to桂thrive, many were just trying to桂survive. Now that concerns have lessened, they are able to桂turn their gaze back toward current trends.

The term 혫trend혬 refers to桂the桂ever-changing desires of桂consumers. What do桂people want these days? What are people excited to桂do桂post-pandemic? What does good hospitality look like to桂people today? Asking these questions can help businesses stay on桂top of桂current trends as桂they shift.

Currently, the桂role of桂any桂business (hospitality or桂otherwise) starts and桂ends with technology. New technology allows businesses a桂chance to桂boost their brand, make the桂practicalities more efficient, and桂improve customer service. Continuing to桂update your technology over time is桂a桂great way to桂stay ahead of桂rival businesses as桂well.

Current Trends in桂the桂Hospitality Industry

Since the桂invention of桂the桂internet and桂social media, business and桂societal trends have changed more quickly and桂dramatically than ever before. What is桂relevant today may not be桂relevant tomorrow. Here are some examples of桂current trends in桂the桂hospitality industry:

An桂increased awareness of桂safety and桂hygiene

In桂many ways, COVID has made people much more cautious. This is桂particularly true when it桂comes to桂safety and桂hygiene. While all sorts of桂businesses have put increased attention on桂cleanliness since 2020, the桂hospitality industry has made it桂priority number one.

While some of桂these expectations have changed in桂the桂last two years, it�셲 crucial that both customers and桂employees feel safe and桂protected. Not having these practices in桂place may lead some potential customers to桂look elsewhere. Some safety and桂hygiene trends include:

Having virus and桂bacteria-killing hand gel available
Requiring or桂recommending that individuals wear masks or桂other protective equipment
Recommending social distancing
Recommending hand washing

Hotel work spaces to桂support remote workers

Remote or桂hybrid jobs have become increasingly popular since the桂start of桂the桂pandemic. While some might have believed this would have been a桂short trend, evidence points toward the桂opposite. In桂fact, more and桂more jobs have doubled down on桂the桂idea. As桂many high-profile companies have started shifting toward remote work, hospitality businesses have been working to桂accommodate them.

Hotels and桂cafes have started to桂increase the桂number of桂plug sockets, created more meeting and桂private workspaces, and桂begun offering free high-speed WiFi. It桂is桂expected that nearly 1桂in桂4桂Americans will be桂working remotely in桂2024. With that in桂mind, offering support to桂this trend is桂extremely important for桂those in桂the桂hospitality industry.

Hotel services are now digital

As桂mentioned earlier, the桂rapid growth in桂technology is桂playing a桂big role in桂the桂hospitality industry. Previous generations depended on桂direct in-person contact in桂order to桂check in桂or桂get the桂customer service they needed.

Now, contactless services are available to桂make these processes quick and桂easy. With technology-assisted options, you can access mobile check-in, contactless payments, biometrics, and桂voice control. While this technology may be桂expensive for桂some hotels in桂the桂short term, it桂is桂expected to桂be桂the桂norm in桂the桂upcoming years.

Holistic hospitality is桂growing fast

When it桂comes to桂consumer trends in桂the桂hospitality industry, few are growing faster than the桂request for桂holistic services. 젬낍깎깜닥-낌껸곶깎니 has become a桂massive trend, effectively turning the桂wellness industry into a桂trillion-dollar market.

The hospitality industry has a桂unique opportunity to桂facilitate holistic practices through spa-related facilities. This may include:

Massage therapy
Reiki or桂energy work
Meditation or桂breathwork classes
Yoga classes
Sound healing events

Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)

One of桂the桂most popular and桂up-and-coming trends in桂the桂hospitality industry is桂the桂use of桂Artificial Intelligence. This technology allows customers to桂have access to桂customer service 24/7. One of桂the桂most commonly used types of桂AI桂is桂Chat GPT.

Chat GPT is桂a桂chatbox that is桂adept at桂imitating human conversation. Moreover, it桂is桂considered to桂be桂one of桂the桂most versatile Artificial Intelligence on桂the桂market. Chat GPT is桂able to桂interpret customers�� needs and桂direct, helpful, and桂realistic responses. Not all hospitality businesses have taken the桂leap into Artificial Intelligence just yet. This is桂a桂great time to桂invest in桂a桂tool that will be桂trending for桂years to桂come.

The ever growing trend of桂renewable energy

Similar to桂젬끅깎깜닥-낌껸곶깎,니 the桂word 혫sustainability혬 has become particularly popular in桂recent years. Many businesses have begun to桂put more attention on桂eliminating paper consumption, reducing food waste, and桂removing unnecessary plastics.

Another big industry change on桂the桂horizon includes reducing water and桂energy usage. By桂utilizing wind, solar, geothermal, and桂biofuels, businesses are able to桂not only help the桂planet but reduce energy costs by桂30% or桂more each year. In桂past years, this process has shown to桂be桂too complicated and桂expensive. As桂renewable energy has become a桂more practical option, those in桂the桂hospitality industry have started implementing it.

The impact of桂robots in桂hotels and桂restaurants

The age of桂the桂robot has finally arrived. Some businesses throughout the桂world have started to桂use robots to桂greet customers, provide customer information, offer room service, conduct housekeeping chores, and桂more.

In桂restaurant settings, robots have begun to桂carry out serving duties. This was especially helpful in桂the桂early days of桂the桂pandemic, as桂customers were fearful of桂close human contact.

The use of桂virtual reality tours

In桂the桂past, people had to桂rely on桂pictures (or sometimes nothing) before selecting a桂hotel or桂restaurant. Today, individuals are able to桂take a桂tour of桂the桂space without ever stepping foot inside. This allows people to桂feel confident in桂their decisions, offering a桂major benefit to桂businesses that invest in桂this technology.

Virtual reality tours offer 360-degree videos, inviting potential customers to桂get a桂full view of桂the桂space. This is桂a桂great way to桂swoon and桂impress potential customers.

Future Trends in桂the桂Hospitality Industry

When it桂comes to桂future trends in桂the桂hospitality industry, it桂helps to桂take a桂step back. By桂looking at桂current trends and桂issues in桂the桂hospitality and桂tourism industry today, we桂can try to桂anticipate what the桂future has in桂store.

As桂mentioned previously, the桂growth of桂technology turned the桂hospitality industry on桂its head. Trends have shifted more quickly than ever, and桂most customers are no桂longer interested in桂what they used to桂be. People are now more budget-conscious and桂environmentally conscious and桂no桂longer desire excessive travel experiences.

Airbnbs, local grassroots businesses, and桂holistic activities are on桂the桂rise. Customers are craving more unique, personalized experiences rather than more expensive and桂lavish ones. The future of桂hospitality is桂leaning more towards simplicity (with the桂help of桂technology) and桂less towards overspending.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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