Hospitality has long been synonymous with the hotel industry. Any change in hotel business trends has large-scale implications in a diverse industry. What could be an opportunity for a traveler or a matter of survival for hotels? It will not be an oversimplification to suggest that emerging concepts in the hotel industry reveal an atmosphere of tough competition. Here are some major issues:

Green is better?

Amid the growing concern for eco-friendly services, most travelers now prefer green and eco-friendly accommodations. Recent surveys by trade associations like the Partnership Travel Industry Association and online retailers like Yahoo revealed that nearly 70 percent of tourists are willing to pay more when it comes to green accommodations. These surveys further revealed that these guests will pay between a nine and ten percent premium over the prices already advertised.

What can be seen as a relief to the educated traveler could pose real challenges for the hotel business. To better understand the scenario, it should be noted that hotels are currently facing a severe shortage in occupancy rates that are at their lowest level since 1971. Such a crisis and lack of funds can definitely hamper any effort to install appliances that comply with LEEDS (Directive on Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Some experts agree that a trade-off may lead hotels to eliminate free services that include free small bottles of shampoos, jams, and fruit baskets; all of them are the hallmark of these eco-lodgings.

Where did the workers go?

The hospitality industry employs a very large proportion of part-time workers who, after gaining substantial experience, move on to other lucrative restaurant and outdoor jobs. Low wages in the hotel industry are one of the main reasons for low retention rates.

Hotel industry gurus are already thinking of ways to attract and retain skilled workers by increasing pay scales and reducing long working hours. Top management is now devising constructive methods that will retain existing workers by sponsoring education and creating attractive career paths.

Mega Hotels

The rising cost of construction and real estate problems have led hoteliers to implement the cost-effective pre-fab solution in the construction of new hotels. In fact, they are fighting back by producing highly efficient designs that use a greater proportion of space to generate revenue. Future trends in hotel construction will seek to maximize the use of building areas by constructing a multipurpose facility that will include casinos, shops, and theaters. The independent hotel concept is likely to disappear as the new properties will be built as a mixed-use development to provide guests with facilities such as churches, hospitals, and theme parks. Such variety will ensure that guests stay in one place, helping to generate income for the entire hotel complex.

The evolution of the smart traveler

The evolution of the Internet has led to a phenomenon in which travelers are increasingly demanding. Industry professionals suggest that an increase in a trend, reviewing properties online, will make travelers less forgiving as they can post their travel experiences. Such an overemphasis on the web can even lead to stiff competition and price-cutting strategies that only the big players can survive on.

To guard against such threats, the small business owner is now leaning toward opening a boutique establishment as an alternative to 70s-style motels. These niche properties are popping up everywhere by advertising a more kind of experience. personalized “home away from home”. The introduction of these boutique properties has also given rise to the popular and widely accepted theme of modern hostels. These hostels are keen to provide a clean and safe environment for budget conscious travelers. His goal is to dispel the myths associated with cheap motels and dingy guesthouses.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure that the constant reshaping of the hotel industry has made it more functional and practical not only for guests but also for hotel owners.