Uncertainty is still the main feature of this pandemic and especially so in the hotel sector, where the summer months will be dependent on the progress of vaccination and the geographical restrictions adopted due to the health crisis.
After months with the “closed” sign, tourism and hotels are preparing for an uncertain summer. At Omnitec Systems, specialists in technological solutions and equipment for the sector, here are some of the things we do know:
1. Increased interest in luxury hotels and apartments
According to the above study, this summer's demand for luxury hotels and apartments will increase by 13% with respect to the pre-pandemic period. In fact, luxury hotel searches on the portal have increased by 60.5% and booking of apartments and aparthotels has grown by 10%. This coincides with a decrease of 49% in the average price of rooms over the last 2 years. So it seems that tourists are willing to pay more for exclusivity and for options that reduce their contact with other travellers.
Undoubtedly, the emergence of COVID-19 has dominated the behaviour of tourists, who are now more concerned than ever about hygiene measures and contactless technologies.
2. Profile of the most demanding tourists
This change in tourist profile has affected the degree of demand. Hotels and the hospitality sector have taken good note of this and have already applied all kinds of measures to ensure health and safety and social distancing . Some hotels and rental properties have taken advantage of this forced stoppage to improve their amenities, including investing them with greater technological content. This is another of the unstoppable trends in the tourism sector:. Home automation, digital check-in and digital keys are here to stay.
3. National tourism during 2021
If one thing is clear, it is that national tourism will be unavoidable this summer. Staying in the province, in the region or exploring neighbouring Autonomous Communities was always an alternative holiday option that has now, by dint of necessity, become the norm. Just as interest in apartments, which provide greater isolation, has increased, so too has that of holiday homes, injecting life into that part of the sector.
4. Flexible reservations
The sector is already adapting to the demands of travellers who are looking for flexible reservations and accommodation centres with "last minute" bookings. To counteract the uncertainty in the sector, hotels and rental properties have become more flexible in their cancellation or change of dates policies. Also, at this point, digitalisation of the sector has become much more widespread.
5. Rebound in tourism in 2021
As Hosteltur reported in this article, overnight stays during 2020 decreased by 73.3%, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) by 68%. Experts agree there will be a rebound in the travel sector as soon as the health situation returns to normal. So when will we start to see hotels full again? They point out that we will still have to wait until the end of 2021.