To successfully market to their audience, leaders in every industry have to be aware of the latest trends – this is especially true when it comes to hospitality. There are constant changes in the hospitality industry, which are shaping the future of businesses such as hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and casinos. With new technological advancements come new growth opportunities, but businesses can also be left behind when they resist change instead of embracing it.
As a business owner, manager, or other industry-leader in hospitality, keeping customers happy means being aware of what’s currently influencing them. From mission-driven, eco-friendly business practices to flexible opportunities that allow travelers to work, relax, and connect on the go, the trends are ever-changing, but we’ve got the details about what’s currently hot in the future of hospitality. Here’s a look at some of the trends that hospitality leaders should know about.
What’s New in Hospitality?
The future of hospitality is ever-evolving, and select, recent trends are focused on more than travel aesthetics. Some of the latest hospitality industry trends are focused on business practices across the industry.
What’s important to consumers does vary by generation, and this is something business owners can be attentive to. Gen Z, for example, seems to be emerging as the sustainable generation, with 62% of Gen Z shoppers stating they prefer to buy from sustainable brands, according to one report. Additionally, Gen Z and millennials are more likely than other generations to make decisions based on the values of a business.
As technology continues to evolve and travelers become more vocal about what’s important to them, so do the options that are offered to guests through the travel and hospitality industries.
Hospitality Trends You Don’t Want to Miss
Even though there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to hospitality, many of the trends that are shaping the future of hospitality are based entirely on consumer preferences. As travelers have expressed what type of services they’re looking for in 2025, business owners have shifted their focus to provide better guest experiences across the board. Here’s a look at some of the current trends in hospitality.
Next-Level Personalization
In a survey of what people value most in their customer experience, 65% of customers stated that personalization was a key factor, and many were willing to pay more for personalization. There’s no doubt that travelers want experiences that are specifically related to their preferences.
Leaders in the hospitality industry are creating more personalization options by offering things like flexible pricing and giving customers more control over their travel experience. Even simple changes like allowing customers to choose the options in the mini-bar or control the settings in their hotel room can provide a better experience.
Wellness Tourism
With the rise of wellness tourism, many travelers are interested in returning from their vacation in a healthier state than they left in.
Wellness tourism often looks like focusing on authentic wellness practices, leading to positive changes in the physical, emotional, and mental health of an individual. Many businesses in the hospitality industry are catering to this trend by creating opportunities for travelers to focus on their health. According to Grand View Research, the wellness tourism market is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2030. For some travelers, this looks like attending yoga classes, spending time in nature, or eating healthy instead of using vacation as an opportunity to splurge.
Story-Based Marketing
Marketing is an essential part of any industry. It’s what allows businesses to grow and reach more customers. But instead of focusing on promoting their brands, the latest trend in hospitality is story-based marketing.
This marketing strategy has taken over social media, with brands focusing on storytelling as a way of connecting with their audience and evoking emotions. This type of marketing invites the audience to become part of the story, rather than just trying to sell a product.
Eco-Friendly Practices
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword – it’s something that many young travelers are passionate about, and it determines where they spend their money. Developing eco-friendly practices should be a priority for businesses, especially in the hospitality industry.
As more and more hotel industry trends point toward sustainability, businesses across the world are catching on and implementing these practices. Initiatives that include practices such as reducing waste and plastic use, establishing systems for composting, and prioritizing energy efficiency can go a long way.
A Focus on Technology
As technology continues to advance, businesses in the hospitality industry have found successful ways of blending these innovations with the authenticity of human connection. It can be challenging to strike the right balance between integrating technology and using technology to replace social interactions.
However, instead of resisting technological advancement, hospitality businesses can use the right technology to increase efficiency, streamline processes, and provide an overall better experience to their guests.
Upgrade Your Hospitality Technology With Relay
No matter what type of business you run in the hospitality industry, using technology to improve the efficiency of your team is a must. Since travelers crave authenticity and personalization, digital transformation in the hospitality industry can lead to streamlining processes that don’t require human interaction.
Similarly, one of the keys to increasing efficiency is prioritizing effective communication. Relay provides an all-in-one communication device for the hospitality industry. Our devices allow your team to easily talk to other staff members, whether they’re using a smartphone, laptop, or Relay device.
Our devices also improve your safety practices by offering the best-in-class emergency alert system. This system is included as part of all Relay plans, without any extra fees or changes to your current infrastructure.
The ease and simplicity of Relay devices allow you to focus less on communication and more on the latest trends, ensuring that your staff and customers are well taken care of. To learn more about how Relay has improved operations for some of the biggest hospitality brands, book a one-on-one demo with our team today!
