Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Briana Bonfiglio
    • Candace Protzman
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Jennifer Arango
    • Kelly Fontenelle
    • Louis Intreglia
    • Tom McCarthy

Where is the Travel Industry Heading in 2019?

by Jessica Montevago / October 01, 2018
Where is the Travel Industry Heading in 2019?

While 2018 was dominated by talk of authentic and immersive travel, the trend is going to evolve further, into including meaningful experiences. Photo: Shutterstock.com. 


Executives and industry leaders took to the stage at the Skift Global Forum in New York City last week, sharing where they see the future of the travel and tourism sector heading in the coming years.

Technology is the new frontier
Expect technology to become more interwoven into the guest experience. And not just in the form of technology for technology’s sake. “I think technology is the future, but not mood boards in the lobby and not iPads in every room, but technology that really makes every transaction at a hotel easier, or cheaper, and there’s a reason for it,” said Ian Schrager, founder of Ian Schrager Company.

As the pioneer of boutique hotels, Schrager is familiar with innovation. He believes hotel companies should utilize technology to make the process of checking in and out “absolutely frictionless and the time cut down to nothing;” and to communicate with guests before, during and after their stays.

Personal fulfillment is the new aspiration
While 2018 was dominated by talk of authentic and immersive travel, the trend is going to evolve further, into including meaningful experiences.

Travelers are “craving slow, deep, and immersive experiences,” said Geetika Agrawal, CEO of Vacation With an Artist (VAWAA), which offers mini-apprenticeships with local artists across the globe. These trips focus on learning from masters rather than following guides, and creating rather than consuming.

“We want to learn directly from the masters that have been shaping our cultures for generations,” she said. “We don’t want to feel commoditized — we want to feel like these experiences are created for us.”

Expect a bigger push in Asia
The burgeoning number of Chinese travelers will continue to draw the attention of big hospitality companies. By 2021, Chinese tourists will spend $429 billion on travel, according to a report by CLSA, with Japan and Thailand, and other destinations in Southeast Asia — especially Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines — ranking as top favorites.

Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian said, for his company, Asia continues to be an area of high focus. “When you look at the travel statistics, over the past five years, travel has grown at about one and a half times the rate of GDP around the world, but in Asia it’s more around twice the rate of GDP growth. So, we think Asia continues to be critically important.”

Leaving a positive impact on the destination
Muna Haddad wanted to change the travel strategy to directly benefit the communities in Jordan being visited.

“People were barely spending time in villages, barely spending money, barely learning about the people,” Haddad said. That was the inspiration when she founded Baraka, an Amman-based consulting firm that aims to stimulate economic growth in tourism destinations by communicating and working with the locals.

“Travel shouldn’t be a charity, it should be a viable business and profitable to everyone involved,” she said. Since working with these destinations, Haddad said visits changed from lasting two hours to two days, generating a 300 percent growth from 2016 to 2017 in visitor spending at these sites. In addition, about 91 locals have benefited. 

Luxury will focus on exclusivity and personalization
As the luxury sector becomes more crowded, hoteliers will have to redefine what they offer elite guests.

“I think what you’ve found is that there is this commoditization of luxury, in many respects there’s an intense need to invest in personalization,” said J. Allen Smith, CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

In addition, expect to see more partnerships between ultra high-end brands such as Hermes to partner with hotels to offer exclusive experiences for discerning travelers.

Hermes’ President and CEO for the Americas Robert Chavez said stores can offer a private appointment to a hotel’s elite guests before shops open or after they close. It’s this type of exclusivity that will please high-end travelers, Chavez said. “People want things that not a lot of people can get. That’s what it is like in the luxury world.”

  2
  0

MOST VIEWED

  1. FAA Issues Nationwide Ground Stop for United Airlines Flights
  2. Maui Fires Update: Which Hotels and Resorts Are Open and Closed After Lahaina Fires
  3. Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent
  4. Hurricane Lee's Uncertain Path Raises Some Travel Concerns
  5. Hurricane Lee Intensifies to Category 5: Caribbean and U.S. Impact Uncertain
  6. Hurricane Lee Update: Storm Poses Threat to New England and Atlantic Canada


  1. Tropical Storm Lee Could Hit the Caribbean this Weekend
  2. Royal Caribbean Monitoring Haiti Violence
  3. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  4. Celebrity Cruises Removes Gratuities from "All Included" Pricing
  5. Hurricane Lee Forecast to Rapidly Strengthen into the Weekend
  6. Delta Air Lines Makes Major Changes to SkyMiles Status and Sky Club Access Rules
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
U.S. Passport Renewal Wait Time Drops: Now 8 to 11 Weeks
U.S. Passport Renewal Wait Time Drops: Now 8 to 11 Weeks

The passport renewal wait time was 10 to 13 weeks earlier in the summer. 

Read...
Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Antigua & Barbuda Ahead of Philippe’s Arrival
Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Antigua & Barbuda Ahead of Philippe’s Arrival

Tropical Storm Philippe is expected to turn into 2023’s seventh hurricane this week.

Read...
Travel Industry Could Feel Real Pain from U.S. Government Shutdown
Travel Industry Could Feel Real Pain from U.S. Government Shutdown

A shutdown would cost the travel economy as much as $140 million per day, 

Read...
Delta Air Lines Is Rethinking SkyMiles and SkyClub Changes
Delta Air Lines Is Rethinking SkyMiles and SkyClub Changes

"I think we moved too fast," CEO Ed Bastian said this week. 

Read...
Reports: New EU Visa Program ETIAS Won’t Start Until 2025
Reports: New EU Visa Program ETIAS Won’t Start Until 2025

The long-talked-about visa program for inbound travelers to Europe is reportedly delayed yet again.

Read...
Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent
Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent

Members of Southwest’s pilots' union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
European Travel Trends 2023 Outlook
CP White Paper 1
Cruise Trend Outlook 2023
View All
industry insider
industry-insider.jpg
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=e6640f25-695d-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
Why Travel Advisors Shouldn't Worry About Artificial Intelligence
Advertiser's Voice
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=b9003415-3a5d-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
Travel Agent Education Powered by Avoya
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Packaged Travel |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Resources |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy