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In service-focused industries like hospitality, one thing you can be sure of is change. Success depends on guest satisfaction, and businesses keep evolving to meet guests’ needs and demands.
The Post-Pandemic Era
There wasn’t an industry more severely affected by the pandemic than travel and hospitality. People couldn’t travel for close to two years, and hotels had to shut down operations while borders closed to visitors. But this only fired up travellers’ enthusiasm to explore, as they patiently waited for things to return to normal.
The post-pandemic era was a thing of beauty for the hospitality industry. Between 2023 and 2024, the market expanded from $4.673 trillion to $4.993 trillion. Compared to 2024, travellers are even more eager to travel in 2025 – excellent news for the hospitality industry.
Here’s the thing, though – interests have changed. What travellers want, whether they’re seeking leisure or boarding a flight for business, is different from what they wanted before the pandemic. Tech has evolved significantly in recent years, and sustainability and eco-friendly practices are more than just buzzwords.
Experienced hoteliers with their eyes on the future know that success isn’t permanent unless they keep their ears to the ground and move with the trends, all with the goal of delivering the best guest experience.
Technology
Tech is evolving, and it will never stop. You’re missing out on a lot if you don’t use it to your advantage. Not only are you missing out – you’ll be left behind.
There are four current hospitality technology trends: mobile check-in and digital room keys, AI, IoT, and VR. It has come to the point where a hotel focused on success cannot operate without these four elements.
Mobile check-ins and digital room keys became popular just after the pandemic, when the threat was still fresh in everyone’s minds. Smart room technologies like lighting control and voice-activated assistants have also gained popularity. Just as popular and effective is VR, which allows guests to take virtual tours of hotels from the comfort of their homes.
And of course, with the release of ChatGPT in 2023, AI has become an unstoppable force. Travellers now turn to AI for trip recommendations, and hospitality staff can tackle complex, time-consuming tasks using AI. This increases efficiency and leaves more time to focus on guests.
Want to learn more about how AI will change the way the hospitality industry operates? Speak to a hospitality business consultant like Nishan Silva to find out more.
Sustainability and Eco-friendly Practices
The words sustainability and green travel have been associated with the hospitality industry for the longest time, but they’re no longer just fashionable buzzwords. Travellers actually want to see a difference, and they definitely want their hotels to do their bit to be greener and kinder, not only to the planet but to local communities as well. It’s not a trend that will fade with time – it’s here to stay.
Hotels now provide eco-friendly products, grow their own vegetables, recycle, and say no to single-use plastics. But there’s something else just as valuable, if not more so: hotels allow guests to contribute, too. For instance, some beach hotels get their guests involved in beach clean-ups and marine life conservation. This undoubtedly enhances the guest experience by leaps and bounds and makes a real positive impact.
Another growing practice among hotels is partnering with local communities to source eco-friendly products and fresh produce. This not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures tourism directly benefits local communities.
Health and Safety
During the pandemic, health and safety became the utmost concern for everyone, everywhere. Social distancing and sanitisation became the norm. While the more extreme measures have tapered off, some practices are here to stay.
For example, self-cleaning door handles, UV-C light disinfection for public spaces, mobile check-in and check-out, and robotic deliveries are now preferred by guests. Air purifiers and clean ventilation systems are also investments many hotels continue to make.
Wellness Hospitality
Wellness travel isn’t new, but after the pandemic, it became more sought after. This is understandable, as the possibility of illness brought the importance of health and wellness to everyone’s attention. Hotels have tapped into this branch of the travel industry. From healthy local food to yoga and spa treatments – and even offering full-blown wellness retreats – hotels have begun to include wellness activities in their guest packages.
Some hotels are now fully focused on wellness. Most offer on-site gyms, fitness classes, and meditation sessions.
Bleisure Travel
Millennials and Gen Z no longer want to work until retirement and only then start travelling – they want both while they’re still young and fit. And so, bleisure travel was born. The pandemic had something to do with it as well. Everyone started working remotely, which showed that it’s possible to get work done without being in an office.
Young travellers are using this shift to their advantage – earning a salary while travelling. What does this mean for hotels? They should cater to bleisure travel by offering co-working spaces, meeting facilities, and reliable Wi-Fi, so that guests can get their work done while enjoying their stay and exploring the destination.
Final Thoughts
Things have changed drastically in the post-pandemic hospitality industry. From eco-conscious travel and bleisure travel to wellness, technology, and sustainability, the industry is going through a transformative period. Want to stay ahead of the competition? Embrace these trends and make the most of them!