The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation, and young people are at the forefront of this change.
Booking hotels and holidays is not the same as it was 30 years ago. Back then people would use travel agents, or phone accommodations they found in a magazine or brochure or teletext (showing my age). This is completely different in the modern day. In this tech savvy world we live in, almost everyone books their holidays online, even via their mobile phone, using the famous Booking.com and alike.
The advantages of booking online are incomparable to how people used to book. For example, speedier, instant confirmations, reviews at your fingertips and the option for last minute bookings.
Over the years hotels have had to develop and evolve with the changes and add their venues to booking.com, create social media accounts and more, all to keep up with our growing customer requirements for instantaneous power to book.
Continuous improvement is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction. To achieve this, we need to identify areas for growth, and currently, social media presents a prime opportunity to excel both for your own venue socials and your customers socials.
In today’s digital age, social media plays a pivotal role in shaping young people’s travel and hospitality choices.
For the younger generation, the visual appeal and shareability of their experiences are as important as the experiences themselves.
Young people are drawn to aesthetically pleasing environments that offer perfect backdrops for their social media posts. In fact Globe Trender found that 20% of young Brits admit to choosing destinations based on potential photo opportunities for social media.
Hotels and restaurants with visually appealing interiors, unique design elements, and photogenic spots can transform a space into a social media sensation. Therefore, attracting more of the younger generation to you establishment.
In today’s competitive hospitality market, young people are more discerning than ever when it comes to choosing a hotel. They evaluate a multitude of factors beyond just the basics of comfort and convenience.
According to a report by Little Hotelier “more than half of them (millennials) consider free wi-fi as the most sought-after hotel amenity.” This is now essential for hotels and accommodations, and by understanding and catering to these diverse preferences, hotels can better attract and satisfy the younger generation of travellers.
Another significant factor influencing hotel choices is the impact of social media. According to a blog by Mize 34% of millennials book a hotel because they saw it on their social media.
This underscores the powerful role that platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok play in shaping travel decisions. Young travellers are heavily influenced by visually appealing posts, stories, and reviews shared by their peers and influencers.
Moreover people also use social media as a source of research, with 21% of Brits using social media to research their destination before booking
Media like, video reviews, offer authentic glimpses into the hotel’s ambiance, amenities, and experiences, making them a crucial aspect of the decision-making process.
For example, my father thoroughly researches all his hotels on YouTube before booking, watching tour videos to get an in-depth view of what he is paying for.
By recognizing and harnessing the power of social media, hotels can tap into a vast network of potential guests who rely on these platforms for travel inspiration and recommendations.
Creating their own tour videos allows hotels to present genuine, unedited footage, providing customers with a transparent and reassuring look at their accommodations.
By understanding and catering to their preferences, particularly through the strategic use of social media, hotels can attract and satisfy this influential demographic.
Continuous improvement and adaptation to digital trends will be essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and staying competitive in the ever-evolving hospitality market.
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Source: https://mize.tech/blog/positive-and-negative-effects-of-social-media-on-the-tourism-industry/
Source: Brits spend big on vacation prepping for social media (globetrender.com)
Source: Millennial travel: Trends and statistics | Little Hotelier