Four travel trends that have shaped the hospitality industry in 2022
Taking place on 27 September, this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) theme is ‘Rethinking Tourism’ and encourages the industry to re-imagine hospitality and what it means today.
“Tourism has the potential to shift lives in more ways than one, but we need to make sure it doesn’t come at the expense of people or the planet”, says Shaun Lamont, Managing Director of First Group Hotels and Resorts. “Key to unlocking sector growth and relevance is rethinking what we do and how we do it, and we need to start by asking, what do our guests want?”
Shaun says that almost ten months into 2022, guests have let their actions do the talking and shares what First Group have learnt:
1. Local is lekker: While the wanderlust might be strong, the Rand is not. Inflation and the rising cost of living are influencing travel decisions. Value for money is a key determiner for most South Africans, with 43% saying that it would impact their choice of destination in a recent survey by consultancy group, Travel Lifestyle Network. And while only 9% were planning to travel overseas, at least a quarter of those South Africans surveyed were planning a domestic holiday. And why wouldn’t they? After all, local is lekker! And real-life results verify the survey results, First Group has enjoyed full capacity at almost all their local resorts during the peak seasons of 2022 and look forward to a successful festive season as well.
2. Self-catering: In keeping with the value-for-money theme, tight budgets see travellers weighing their options. Historically, hotels might have enjoyed higher occupancy rates, however, surveys show that self-catering now boasts almost double that of hotels. Again, First Group’s real-life experience supports this, with self-catering accommodation almost-always selling out first.
3. Self-drive: With the recent closure of some domestic airlines and the increase in the cost of flights, self-drive holidays have seen an upswing in popularity. The most obvious indicator is that our parking lots are fuller than ever before and requests for air-port shuttles have decreased. That said, self-drive does make the journey, as much as the destination, part of the holiday, and allows families to make lasting, magical memories together, without having to worry about things like arrival and departure times.
4. Hygiene-conscious hospitality: As much as life has returned to normal, guests are still conscious of germs, and clean, sanitised environments remain non-negotiable. At First Group we are committed to more than just disinfection to reduce risk, we have employed a holistic approach designed to take care of both guests and employees’ health.
While guest behaviour and travel trends are constantly evolving, if the hospitality sector is to continue to remain relevant, there’s no doubt that we need to rethink tourism, says Shaun. “As South African holidaymakers navigate the new travel norms, it’s up to us to provide them with the peace of mind they want as they look to make lasting, magical memories,” concludes Lamont.
