Weekly Roundup #50: Travel, Tech and Social Media
Week 50/2017
Greeting, everyone! Another end of the week means another Weekly Roundup on our blog, so make yourself comfortable and enjoy the read! As usual, we gathered the most interesting news and stories that were recently published and summarized them, so you could quickly recap what went on this week in hospitality. Don’t forget to follow our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Instagram!) and, until next Friday, have a wonderful weekend!
Industry News
Sitecore to give AccorHotels a ‘mobile first’ makeover:
The corporate website of our clients from Accor will be overhauled with a new design. The aim is to create a single identity for the group’s diverse brands which cover 4,200 hotels in 95 countries. Customer experience management software firm Sitecore is to carry out the revamp. The website’s new design is ‘mobile first’, meaning it is capable of adapting dynamically to usage across different devices and channels. AccorHotels paid particular attention to meeting accessibility standards, with a view to allowing all consumers, including those with visual-impairments, to browse the website with ease.
Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts named world’s most sustainable hotel group:
Another accomplishment for our client Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, since this week it has been named the world’s most sustainable hotel group for the second year running, by world-renowned certification body Green Globe. The international hospitality firm has also been hailed a “global sustainability leader” in the ‘Green Globe Report 2017’, with more than 50 percent of its certified properties worldwide achieving the entity’s prestigious ‘Gold’ status – an accolade bestowed on hotels and resorts that have achieved Green Globe certification for five years or more. These properties have been independently audited across 385 performance indicators and consistently met or exceeded the standards and criteria this rigorous certification process entail.
New generational data released by Expedia Media Solutions, reveals that when planning a trip, American, British and Chinese travelers prioritize trip activities, once in a lifetime and cultural experiences above all else. The findings, from a survey conducted by Northstar Research Partners,illustrate broad travel trends and distinct shopping habits, influences and motivations of American, British and Chinese travelers across four generations, including Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers. “Emotions, not dollars, are what drive decisions for most travelers today,” said Olson Killion.
Trends and Insights
5 ways business travel is changing in 2018:
While the business travel industry can take comfort in the fact that our globe’s growing economic interdependence will always provide a continuous stream of travelers, the other fact that the industry is being heavily disrupted, should not be ignored. The rise of the sharing economy, changing demographic expectations, big data, political turmoil, AI, and currency shifts are just a few of the many forces that are putting pressure on the industry to remain in a state of perpetual adaptation. So here are 5 ways in which business travel will change in the year to come: business travel spending is set to grow by 6.1 percent in 2018; blockchain’s impact will also grow; The sharing economy will complete its transition to business mainstream; Self-driven cars will play a real part and AI will hit the industry in a big way.
From day to night: How to convert ‘day-trippers’ into overnight bookings:
Think about how many people visit your city every year, but never spend a night in it. The number must be in the millions. These people are called day-trippers and they represent a huge revenue opportunity for your hotel. not all day-trippers can be converted into guests, but for many of them, it might only take a small nudge to convince them to make the most of their trip and stay a night and here are some tips and tricks: Provide experiences that extend upon the local environment; Revive the spirit of a traditional hotel stay; Be as visible as possible; Make yourself bookable on mobile.
2017’s best places for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s facts – traditions, spending & more:
With New Year’s Eve around the corner and the majority of Americans spending up to $200 each on the occasion per year, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2017’s Best Places for New Year’s Eve Celebrations to go along with its 50+ New Year’s Eve Facts – Traditions, Spending & More infographic. To help Americans ring in the new year without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities across 25 key metrics. The data set ranges from legality of fireworks to average price of a New Year’s Eve party ticket to forecasted precipitation for Dec. 31.
Technology
Technology is top of mind for hotels:
In response to the many geopolitical, sociological, and technological changes that took place in 2017, five-star hotels are making changes—some small, some large. Here’s what to expect, based on predictions from a panel of leading industry insiders: Hotels in major U.S. markets will become more expensive next year as the practice of adding resort fees; Turn-down service will disappear; Hotel rooms will get connected and rely heavily on technology; Brands will appeal more to travelers’ values; Wellness will become more important than ever; Hotels will send far more than rooms, starting to focus on filling up their itineraries with experiences and activities.
The tech innovations most anticipated by travel startups:
New tech innovations are allowing startups in the travel space to effectively compete in today’s crowded market, though some will have a larger influence than others. Recent research from Skift, conducted on behalf of Amadeus, surveyed several hundred individuals who work at travel sector startups about the tech innovations that they believe will have the biggest impact on their companies and the industry at large. Among the most important and relevant technologies that will impact startups are: blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, messaging platforms and augmented reality, each of these being described and explained in the Skift article.
