Hospitality Industry Trends That are Happening Right Now

11 min read

The hospitality industry is an essential part of the global economy. This industry consists of hotel lodging, amusement parks, cruises, tourism-related services, restaurants, and so much more.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitality took a massive hit, effectively destroying small businesses across the globe. Fortunately, since the world has reopened, business has been booming once again. As most business owners know, staying on top of the latest hospitality industry trends is crucial to long-term success.

Most trends come and go and don’t stand the test of time. However, being flexible and adaptable are valuable virtues in the hospitality industry. Staying connected to potential customer’s likes, dislikes, and desires can keep a business relevant for years to come.

This article will explore the trends in the hospitality industry.

Post-COVID-19: Where is the Hospitality Industry?

As the world has adapted and recovered from the intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, trends in the business world have shifted. In many ways, the hospitality industry has grown since the easing of pandemic travel restrictions. While the industry suffered greatly in the short term, those who were trapped in their homes have become eager to travel and explore again.

Since 2021, there has been a major surge in hotels and airlines. While this is great on the surface, there are some notable challenges. A labor shortage has made it difficult to properly serve all of the people re-entering the world. Since most businesses have never experienced a global event such as COVID-19, it’s been difficult to balance all the financial and structural changes.

Those who have survived the circumstances have been companies that understand how to stay consistent in product quality, performance, and price.

The Role of Hospitality Trends

Most businesses were consumed by the uncertainty of the pandemic. Rather than trying to thrive, many were just trying to survive. Now that concerns have lessened, they are able to turn their gaze back toward current trends.

The term “trend” refers to the ever-changing desires of consumers. What do people want these days? What are people excited to do post-pandemic? What does good hospitality look like to people today? Asking these questions can help businesses stay on top of current trends as they shift.

Currently, the role of any business (hospitality or otherwise) starts and ends with technology. New technology allows businesses a chance to boost their brand, make the practicalities more efficient, and improve customer service. Continuing to update your technology over time is a great way to stay ahead of rival businesses as well.

Current Trends in the Hospitality Industry

Since the invention of the internet and social media, business and societal trends have changed more quickly and dramatically than ever before. What is relevant today may not be relevant tomorrow. Here are some examples of current trends in the hospitality industry:

An increased awareness of safety and hygiene

In many ways, COVID has made people much more cautious. This is particularly true when it comes to safety and hygiene. While all sorts of businesses have put increased attention on cleanliness since 2020, the hospitality industry has made it priority number one.

While some of these expectations have changed in the last two years, it’s crucial that both customers and employees feel safe and protected. Not having these practices in place may lead some potential customers to look elsewhere. Some safety and hygiene trends include:

Having virus and bacteria-killing hand gel available
Requiring or recommending that individuals wear masks or other protective equipment
Recommending social distancing
Recommending hand washing

Hotel work spaces to support remote workers

Remote or hybrid jobs have become increasingly popular since the start of the pandemic. While some might have believed this would have been a short trend, evidence points toward the opposite. In fact, more and more jobs have doubled down on the idea. As many high-profile companies have started shifting toward remote work, hospitality businesses have been working to accommodate them.

Hotels and cafes have started to increase the number of plug sockets, created more meeting and private workspaces, and begun offering free high-speed WiFi. It is expected that nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be working remotely in 2024. With that in mind, offering support to this trend is extremely important for those in the hospitality industry.

Hotel services are now digital

As mentioned earlier, the rapid growth in technology is playing a big role in the hospitality industry. Previous generations depended on direct in-person contact in order to check in or get the customer service they needed.

Now, contactless services are available to make these processes quick and easy. With technology-assisted options, you can access mobile check-in, contactless payments, biometrics, and voice control. While this technology may be expensive for some hotels in the short term, it is expected to be the norm in the upcoming years.

Holistic hospitality is growing fast

When it comes to consumer trends in the hospitality industry, few are growing faster than the request for holistic services. “Self-care” has become a massive trend, effectively turning the wellness industry into a trillion-dollar market.

The hospitality industry has a unique opportunity to facilitate holistic practices through spa-related facilities. This may include:

Massage therapy
Reiki or energy work
Meditation or breathwork classes
Yoga classes
Sound healing events

Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)

One of the most popular and up-and-coming trends in the hospitality industry is the use of Artificial Intelligence. This technology allows customers to have access to customer service 24/7. One of the most commonly used types of AI is Chat GPT.

Chat GPT is a chatbox that is adept at imitating human conversation. Moreover, it is considered to be one of the most versatile Artificial Intelligence on the market. Chat GPT is able to interpret customers’ needs and direct, helpful, and realistic responses. Not all hospitality businesses have taken the leap into Artificial Intelligence just yet. This is a great time to invest in a tool that will be trending for years to come.

The ever growing trend of renewable energy

Similar to “self-care,” the word “sustainability” has become particularly popular in recent years. Many businesses have begun to put more attention on eliminating paper consumption, reducing food waste, and removing unnecessary plastics.

Another big industry change on the horizon includes reducing water and energy usage. By utilizing wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels, businesses are able to not only help the planet but reduce energy costs by 30% or more each year. In past years, this process has shown to be too complicated and expensive. As renewable energy has become a more practical option, those in the hospitality industry have started implementing it.

The impact of robots in hotels and restaurants

The age of the robot has finally arrived. Some businesses throughout the world have started to use robots to greet customers, provide customer information, offer room service, conduct housekeeping chores, and more.

In restaurant settings, robots have begun to carry out serving duties. This was especially helpful in the early days of the pandemic, as customers were fearful of close human contact.

The use of virtual reality tours

In the past, people had to rely on pictures (or sometimes nothing) before selecting a hotel or restaurant. Today, individuals are able to take a tour of the space without ever stepping foot inside. This allows people to feel confident in their decisions, offering a major benefit to businesses that invest in this technology.

Virtual reality tours offer 360-degree videos, inviting potential customers to get a full view of the space. This is a great way to swoon and impress potential customers.

Future Trends in the Hospitality Industry

When it comes to future trends in the hospitality industry, it helps to take a step back. By looking at current trends and issues in the hospitality and tourism industry today, we can try to anticipate what the future has in store.

As mentioned previously, the growth of technology turned the hospitality industry on its head. Trends have shifted more quickly than ever, and most customers are no longer interested in what they used to be. People are now more budget-conscious and environmentally conscious and no longer desire excessive travel experiences.

Airbnbs, local grassroots businesses, and holistic activities are on the rise. Customers are craving more unique, personalized experiences rather than more expensive and lavish ones. The future of hospitality is leaning more towards simplicity (with the help of technology) and less towards overspending.

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May 1, 2023

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.