#Trending This Week - Value Hacking and Delightful Distractions, A Focus On Local Food Sourcing, Younger Generations Travel Differently, And Hotel Design Impacted By Travel Trends

Issue 172 • January 9, 2024

Happy New Year! Let’s hit the ground running. It’s the first #Trending of 2024 and we’re all about what’s to come this year. We’re talking new trends affecting how people are traveling including “value hacking” and the search for “delightful distractions.” A major hotel brand is focusing on unique and local sourcing in its F&B outlets to give guests more authentic local experiences. Younger generations have different needs and priorities when traveling and if you want to target this market, you might want to pay closer attention. And hotel design is becoming less brand centric and focusing on what guests actually seek. Check it all out in our two-minute read below.

Value Hacking And Delightful Distractions

We’re still looking at trending topics for the year and two new ones have arisen: “value hacking” and “delightful distractions.” The ability to save money, get a really great deal, or a value-added offer are top priorities for consumers. Many travelers are taking a closer look at their finances and so "value hacking" is one of the global consumer trends for 2024 as 44% of consumers plan to save more money by employing increasingly clever strategies to get the very best deals. Another trending want is that of “Delightful Distractions” — moments which evoke positive feelings. These interactions help spark joy and release tension, allowing consumers to leave their worries behind — if only for a few minutes. Read more in PhocusWire here.

Hotel Restaurants Move To Unique And Local Sourcing

One global hotel brand is banking on the fact that travelers will respond best to food and beverage operations which focus on locally sourced ingredients. In featuring products in dishes which can only be found locally, the choice allows the unique characteristics of the area to become part of the overall experience. The focus is on “hospitality which can be felt around the table and the food ingredients capture that sentiment in every bite.” Read more in FoodSided here.

Younger Generations Are Traveling Differently

Gen Z and Millennials have different priorities when it comes to travel. They are more focused on traveling for connection (whether that means they're visiting friends or family, attending a festival or concert, or engaging in the local culture of the destination). Rather than going on one or two long trips in a year, younger people are planning more frequent, short vacations, like weekend getaways. Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to use services that make their lives easier and are more likely to use travel advisors to book travel to make their trip as smooth and seamless as possible. Additionally, any type of destination that has spas, meditation retreats, or fitness and relaxation offerings appeals to young folks. Read more in Travel Market Report here.

Hotel Design Is Now Depicting Travel Trends

Sure we’ve talked a lot about travel trends and how they impact hotel offerings, but here’s the first of its kind report on how travel trends are literally impacting hotel design. Wellness, for example, is being seen in a more holistic way, integrated into the fabric of a building and its people and not just represented in a yoga class in the hotel basement. Brands are using designers to differentiate a property rather than making it fit into a brand standard. Authentic local experiences now must be housed within a hotel that reflects its location in every aspect including the look and feel. Read more in Hotel Designs here.