The Top Hotel Trends for 2022 & Beyond

Since the start of the pandemic, many guests have been craving a long-awaited hotel vacation. As we look ahead to 2022, restrictions around the world are cautiously easing but the past two years have certainly reshaped the hospitality industry and forced hotels to reinvent how they take care of and serve their guests. So, how can you ensure your business will meet the new standards, fulfil guest expectations and deliver maximum comfort, ultimate relaxation, pure indulgence and full accessibility?

To help set you up for a successful year we’ve identified the Top Hotel Trends for 2022. These insights are shaping the hospitality industry and will enable you to get the most out of your business, services, systems and cash flow - all of which will improve your operations and boost your occupancy rates.

Here are the Top 2022 Hotel Trends:

1. Sustainability Matters

Pre-pandemic many hotels were already making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint but now that COVID-19 has spurred an increase in the number of people choosing eco-travel it has deepened their commitment to driving sustainable design and green tourism.

Booking.com says the eco-travel sector is growing up all over the world with 73% of travellers preferring an eco-sustainable hotel rather than a traditional one. While a traditional hotel stay was an opportunity to overindulge in luxury, buffet food and overpriced minibar snacks many of today’s guests expect energy-efficient appliances/equipment, Smart technology and recycling programs, at the very least.

Reuben Beatson, Astro’s Managing Director, says, “the number one thing for 2022 is sustainability. Not just looking at sustainability as an afterthought but as a key pillar. Sustainable designs offer environmentally conscious travellers a place where they can feel comfortable and enjoy spending their time. The travel statistics really affirm that sustainability is becoming the norm, not an exception, and will prevail for years to come”.

The times are changing and here are some stats to consider:

• 83% of global travellers think sustainable travel is vital, with 61% saying the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the future
• 79% of travellers consider eco-friendly practices when choosing a hotel.
• 67% believe sustainable hotels are as comfortable as conventional hotels
• 51% of meeting planners book meetings only in sustainable hotels.

Astro is committed to helping the hotel industry become more sustainable and to this end we highly recommend booking a visit at our Auckland-based Showroom where the latest sustainable global trends are showcased, and where we provide inspiration on what can be done in your guest room to make a sustainable difference.

2. Millennials, Gen Z & Sustainability

The hotel industry has often been aligned with indulgence and excess rather than sustainability and connections. Gen X and Baby Boomers typically favoured gilded chandeliers over caring about the environmental impact of their accommodation, but both the Millennial and Gen Z groups’ expectations are paving a new way forward.

Many experts agree that the millennial generation, those who were born between 1980-2000, have had the most influential impact on the hospitality and tourism industries than any other generation. From the way we check into hotels, such as through technology, to influencing the way businesses evaluate their own practices, this generation is helping make sustainability one of the biggest priorities.

Reuben says, “as the Millennial and Gen Z generations continue to age, and their needs change, hoteliers and businesses alike will need to learn to adapt with them. Understandably, major global events, such as the pandemic, have a way of re-shaping spending habits. It’s become clear that sustainability is no longer a niche market but that guests are prepared to pay more to support green businesses.”

If you’re not sure where to start, Astro’s team of experts can help you go green, or greener, by assessing your current environmental impact and discuss a way forward.

3. Hotel Hygiene Standards

TripAdvisor Chief Experience and Brand Officer, Lindsay Nelson, says, “the safety of consumers needs to be appreciated and recognised as the biggest hurdle in closing the confidence gap created by the pandemic”.

A recent TripAdvisor study revealed that 92% of people surveyed said the most important factor in choosing a hotel is cleanliness, with 84% requiring this to be verified by a certificate or online documentation. Nearly eight out of ten said it was imperative businesses publicly displayed their compliance with government safety standards.

Qualmark NZ has introduced a free Qualmark Covid Clean Assessment which offers information and checklists compiled by Qualmark, derived from the New Zealand Government’s COVID-19 guidelines, to help businesses adhere to these protocols. By completing the COVID Clean Approved assessment, operators can demonstrate to visitors and staff that they have an awareness of COVID-19 government guidelines. Additionally, COVID Clean Approved is formally recognised by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

4. Smart Energy Technology

A few years ago some asked the question - Why does Smart Technology matter? Now more than ever hoteliers recognize the importance of this computer-based system because it has been designed to monitor, control, measure, and optimize energy performance and usage within their establishment.

As an example, the sophisticated machine-learning algorithms related to Smart lighting systems enable you to easily track occupancy rates and patterns which assists in applying the preferred lighting. Having thermal sensors and motion detectors can also determine whether the room is occupied or not and turn the power on/off. Studies have concluded that this approach can reduce your hotel’s energy cost by up to 30% while also raising the resale value in the marketplace.

In order to effectively manage your hotel’s energy costs, it helps to understand how you are being charged. The great news is that Smart systems can be applied to water savings, air conditioning, and all other electronic aspects. We are seeing hotels honing in on everything that uses power and challenging, “how can we make this more energy efficient?” In a hotel, there are many appliances and other electrical items, so this is a way to relook at what is used and see if there is another way to reduce that energy.

Astro is very focused on helping hotels align their practices with New Zealand’s energy-saving and sustainability goals so if you would like to discuss what you are currently doing our team can help you make an impact on your energy consumption.

5. Smart Guest Room Technology

In this day and age, the majority of people living in developed countries incorporate digital technologies into most aspects of their daily lives with the intent to make it easier and more efficient.

In recent years the number of voice-controlled and streaming services found in the home is astounding: 

• Streaming: Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
• Voice: Alexa, Google Home, and Amazon Echo
• Food Delivery: Uber Eats and Door Dash

Since on-demand convenience plays such a key role in our lives, guests expect this same level of comfort during their hotel stay. By adding convenience through streaming, voice activation, guest-room tablets, and food ordering tech hotels are “wowing” their guests and boosting customer satisfaction.

The Hilton, for example, has partnered with Netflix to allow guests to stream straight from their personalised Hilton Honours mobile app.  “We know our guests want to feel connected while travelling, just as they do at home, so we’re giving them seamless access to their favourite Netflix shows, films and specials while on the road,” said Noelle Eder, Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Digital Officer for Hilton.

6. Focus on Labour Saving

As we are all well aware, the labour shortage that has been brought on by this pandemic is causing hoteliers to look at all their operations to see how things can be done more efficiently. Whether by introducing technology to replace labour, or removing some services that were a nice to have rather than a must-have.

“Being in touch with hotels on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis we understand the complexities faced by the industry. In our quest to make it easy for you and your team we’ve introduced Astro Concierge to the market. Astro Concierge is a time-saving system that is designed to tackle the top industry challenges with ease and help you take charge of your team and housekeeper's time.”

By implementing Astro Concierge you will save time, money and frustrations across the following areas:

• Budgeting & forecasting
• Housekeeping time & labour costs
• Stock management
• Sustainability goals
• And much more…

With Astro Concierge you will ultimately streamline your business systems and find many other ways to preserve the one asset you cannot replace: your time.