#Trending This Week - Last-Chance Tourism Beer Margaritas, Room Service Is Back, And Booking Windows Are Starting To Lengthen
Issue 149 • July 18, 2023
Summer travel is in full swing. Fingers are crossed it goes smoother than last year. We know you are busy, so here’s a quick look at what’s #Trending this week. We’re talking about “Last Chance Tourism,” which can be both a good and bad thing. We’ve also got some survey results about room service — and the weird and crazy things people are ordering (trust us — you won’t believe some of it). The booking curve is beginning to lengthen again, which is good news for everyone in travel who is tired of wondering if they are going to make their numbers until the very last minute. And this cocktail using beer is fast becoming a summer favorite. Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
“Last Chance Tourism” Is Gaining Traction
There’s been a lot more chatter lately about tourism — both overtourism as well as what is called “last chance tourism,” which, essentially, is witnessing a place before it literally disappears. This has been the case over the years with safaris in Africa as well as more recently in Iceland, Antarctica, and The Great Barrier Reef. There is the interesting juxtaposition of humans negatively impacting a destination as well as human interference also saving a destination. Read more in Inside Hook here.
Room Service Is Back, But The Requests Are Strange
Many hotels were killing room service long before COVID because it was a cost center, and then the pandemic put the final nail in the coffin of room service at a good number of properties (along with daily housekeeping). There are some luxury hotels still offering it, and, in fact, a recent Hotels.com Room Service Report noted 45% of U.S. hotels note demand for room service is rising, with 27% saying their guests splurge and spend an average of more than $100 for the amenity. What’s more interesting is the weird things people are ordering. Read the details in the Huffington Post here.
The Booking Curve Is Beginning To Lengthen
Prior to COVID, many tour and cruise companies were seeing an average booking length of six months before departure. This was totally abolished after the pandemic as short-notice bookings were the trend. Some tour operators are noting travelers are starting to booking further out again, with more reservations coming in about five months ahead of departure. While there is still strength in last-minute demand — and many companies and travel services are adding capacity to cater to it — the industry is seeing an ease in this eleventh-hour demand, perhaps also because last-minute bookings translate into higher costs, fewer private services available to cater to luxury travelers, and less than stellar experiences. Read more in Travel Weekly here.
The Beer Margarita Is Apparently A Thing
There’s always something new and different popping up in the cocktail realm and this time we’re seeing more people toasting with a Beer Margarita! Apparently this cocktail is trending because beer is versatile and beer cocktails tend to be lighter and fruitier than straight-forward beer — particularly in summer. Read more in Inside Hook here.
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