The tourism industry has seen plenty of major changes in recent years. From a sudden drop in travel in early 2020, to a surge in travel in 2021, to the current airline crisis that’s stranding travelers around the globe, businesses in the industry have had to learn to pivot their strategies time and time again to keep delivering what their guests want. What exactly do they want in 2022? Keep reading to find out, and to learn how a Utah hotel marketing management company like Vibrant Management can help you deliver, and show you how to showcase your company’s unique qualities.
Green Initiatives
Sustainable travel has been a major topic of debate in recent years. Earlier this summer, many celebrities drew backlash after details about their private jet usage went viral. But the public isn’t just demanding that the rich do their part to protect the environment; many want to do so as well as they make their own travel plans.
A 2021 Sustainable Travel Report from Booking.com found that 83 percent of global travelers say that sustainable travel is important. Another 61 percent reported that the pandemic made them want to travel in more sustainable ways in the future. And almost half of those surveyed said that there weren’t enough sustainable travel options out there today.
If you want to continue to attract eco-minded visitors now and in the future, it’s important to not only prioritize green initiatives but also to make sure that your marketing reflects these changes. Whether you choose to invest in LEED certifications for your buildings or to make smaller changes like offering organic bath products in refillable bottles, showcasing them is important to show potential guests that you care about the environment.
Smart Tech
More than 57 million households in the U.S. today use at least one smart home device twice a month or more. Homeowners turn to smart devices to save time, to make routine tasks more convenient or more accessible, for entertainment, and more. As consumers become more accustomed to these conveniences at home, it stands to reason that they’ll increasingly demand them while on vacation, too.
There are a variety of ways that hotels and vacation rentals can integrate smart technology. Keyless entry, which allows visitors to use their smartphone or even their smartwatch to access a digital key, is one popular upgrade making their way into hotels. Other popular options include smart TVs, in-room tablets with access to concierge services or with the ability to control smart lights, and smart thermostats.
Alternative Accommodations
Websites like Airbnb and VRBO have risen in popularity in recent years — but they’ve also faced plenty of backlash. Hotels and vacation rental properties can cash in on this backlash by stepping up to the plate to offer similar experiences to what guests are looking for when renting through these sites; alternative accommodations.
From unique properties to larger rooms that can accommodate families or groups of friends, alternative accommodations are having a big moment today. If you aren’t in a position to expand your accommodations, giving your rooms a modern and unique remodel may be the solution.
For instance, one of our properties, Cliffrose Lodge, features retro-inspired rooms with stunning views of Utah’s Virgin River and Zion National Park from their balconies. For vacation rental properties, showcasing your unit’s unique features — like the oversized outdoor living spaces at Watchman Villas, another Springdale, Utah Vibrant Management property — can help your rentals stand out from local Airbnbs.
Flexibility
COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the travel plans of billions of people around the world in 2020. And it continued to do so through 2021 and even into 2022. As a result, consumers are hyper-aware of the possibility of having to make last-minute changes to their travel plans. This means that your guests will increasingly be looking for flexibility when booking a stay, a tour, or other travel plans.
Offering the ability to cancel rooms with as little as a few days of notice can help you to convince wary travelers to book a stay. If you’ve suffered from too many last-minute cancellations impacting your bottom line, offering more flexibility to move reservations is a great alternative. Working with the best Utah hotel marketing management agency is a great way to develop a cancellation policy that works for your business while still keeping travelers happy.
A Mobile-Friendly Website
You already know that online bookings have long since surpassed bookings over the phone or even through travel agents. But now, mobile bookings on smartphones and tablets are gaining speed as well. As much as 70 percent of all consumers start researching their travel plans on a smartphone. Many will continue through and finish booking plans on that device. This means that if your company’s website doesn’t have a great mobile version, you could wind up with some frustrated customers.
Your Utah hotel marketing agency can help you check your website’s performance on mobile devices, and make the right moves to ensure that you’re capturing customers, no matter where they’re researching travel plans.
How Our Utah Hotel Marketing Management Company Can Help Your Property Stand Out
From developing a mobile-friendly site to showcasing your property’s green initiatives or smart tech features, a Utah hotel marketing management company like Vibrant Management can help your business give guests exactly what they’re looking for in 2022.
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