The world of hospitality represents a huge market of travel, tourism, transportation, dining, and lodging. Rapid digitization has heavily impacted the marketing and promotional aspects of the hospitality sector. Hospitality is a highly competitive field with the latest upgrades being added by the minute. Keeping up with the changing trends to provide the best possible value-for-money experience for customers is of paramount importance in the hospitality business. For instance, the modern hospitality industry now relies heavily on internet marketing and online reviews.
From word of mouth to word of influencers, the industry has come a long way. The hospitality sector is expanding to incorporate a massive surge in travel and tourism by a population reeling from the pandemic. Naturally, this is the best time for a career in the hospitality industry, as the scope is endless and hiring is surging. To get your shoe in the door, you must have earned credentials and on-the-job experience.
Unlike other industries, hospitality does not sell a product – but an experience. Customers can smell the staleness, from food to ambiance. This is the reason why keeping up with the emerging trends is incredibly important for this sector. The changing trends must be adopted by every player in the game to stay afloat in this industry. Oftentimes, the onus of instituting change falls on new recruits as fresh blood brings the much-needed change in the regular running of an enterprise. And the best way to enter the hospitality recruitment market is to have a professional accreditation attached to your name.
Here are the 10 trends shaping the world of hospitality right now
- Influx of technology Selection, consultation, and booking of hotels and restaurants now happen before even setting foot on the premises, thanks to the explosion of the internet. The biggest trend shaping the hospitality sector is that the hotels and their staff have started to embrace the technology. Hotels without a digital footprint have a hard time getting noticed, and it deducts their credibility. Colleges offering hotel & housekeeping course certificates now include rigorous technical training as a part of their curriculum.
- Sustainability High-end spenders now prefer conscious traveling practices that go beyond paper bags and eco-friendly cars. Hotels are now embracing vegan menus, solar panels, and updated electricity systems with automatic turn-off – all as a part of their sustainability drive. Hotels and lodgings with sustainable travel options now have the edge, and this trend is now being propagated in the marketing campaigns as well.
- Gen Z & Millennial Consciousness Selfie walls, workstations, color-coded rooms, and seamless wifi are all the top requirements of high-end spenders and their kids. The hospitality industry has sensed the needs of hyper-productive people, which now cater to these exact demands. Colleges like the Lords Institute of Management, Surat, have special seminars that teach the reception skills of generation-specific guests.
- 24*7 Assistance No rest for the staff! A hands-on staff that caters to all schedules and administers real-time damage control is a lucrative offering provided by the leading hospitality giants. These promotions are based on the omnipresent workers. Hospitality enterprises now have chatbots, skilled staff, live chats, and interactive service that acts soundly on real-time feedback from the guests.
- Self Check-in & Check-out Hassle-free check-in and check-out facilitated by prior booking boomed during a pandemic when all contact with strangers was actively avoided. But the trend has caught on the way out, and the 20-30 minutes spent at the check-out center appears to be avoidable. With the benefit of contactless payment and an online-review system, there is really no need to mingle with the staff anyway.
- Health & Wellness Does your hotel’s complimentary breakfast have a fruit table? Does your lodging have a juice bar? A yoga studio? A gym? A sauna? Well, it should. Health & Wellness is one of the top demands of stay-vacationers and casual hotel-dwellers. In addition to exercise and healthy food, the hotels are also indulging in regular meditation holdouts and holistic seminars from spiritual gurus — all to serve the guests.
- Digital Footprint From influencer marketing to online reviews, the hospitality sector now spends a tremendous amount on enriching its digital footprint to attract clients and in order to add to the brand value. Gone are the days of chain restaurants dominating the industry. Now, newcomers with a decent online presence are just as valued as any household name.
- Minimalism Less is more. The decor of the room often sets the mood for the vacation, and the trend is swiftly dwindling towards muted tones, earnest beddings, and a minimalist interior that calms the ambiance of the room. Many hotels went through complete renovation during the pandemic shutdown, and have emerged as minimalist hubs, ready to serve the individuals escaping the fast-paced life for a couple of days of complete relaxation.
- Automation
AI-powered chatbots, customer profiling, integrated messaging, personalized services, and predictive analytics are now being used in the hospitality industry. These sweeping trends provide customized services to clients and add to the efficiency of hotel operations. Additionally, the introduction of robots and other machinery to manage contactless servicing in the age of the pandemic has been readily accepted as an emerging trend of the industry. - Unique Selling Point (USP) Every hospitality enterprise now maintains a service exclusive to themselves. It can be breakfast by the pool, free makeovers, or a 100 ft. water slide. These USPs become central to their marketing operations and are synonymous with their brand. In the era of intense competition, it is essential to stand out and make a mark for yourself, and nothing gets the job done better than having a USP.
Conclusion
Every industry has gone through massive upheavals post-pandemic, but the biggest impact has certainly been on the hospitality industry. After a brief shutdown, the hotels and lodging had to open up and incorporate the best hygiene standards. Going by the trends picked up, this is the best time for fresh recruits to enter the industry. And the best way to land your dream job in the hospitality sector is by a hotel and housekeeping course certificate from a leading college or university.
