The hospitality industry should prepare for a wave of possibilities in 2023. Economic issues remain a concern as politicians and economists continue to warn the public about a potential recession in 2023. This could make it difficult for forecasting travel and guest expectations. The landscape of what people are looking for when traveling will continue to change through a new trend called slow travel. Technology is also continuing to rapidly expand across all industries, so hospitality should expect to see some more advancements, particularly with property websites. Also, properties will put an increased focus on training and employee retention given the chaos the pandemic caused for them and many other industries over the past few years.
Slow Travel
Slow travel is a new term that will continue to evolve and become more popular. The recent rise of remote work opportunities may result in more people partaking in slow travel. It is all about connecting with the travel location. People want to spend less time constantly rushing from tourist attraction to tourist attraction as on a vacation. Instead, they prefer to stay in a particular area and become immersed in the culture, meet the locals, and enjoy the unique food and music. Travelers want to focus on what the locals do in their daily lives and create adventures as the opportunity arises. Slow travel is meant to be educational and emotional for their present and future self. The hospitality industry can prepare for these types of travelers by advertising local activities. They can feature local cuisine and restaurants that can help guests become acquainted with the culture. Even something small like displaying local artwork and amenities will be beneficial towards helping their guests achieve their slow travel goals.
Technology
Technology will continue to advance this year in the industry. More properties will focus on mobile technology in their websites to improve their competitive edge. Many guests will be searching for lodging via a mobile phone, so it is important that these websites are easy to navigate from a smart device. It should take only a few clicks for a guest to visit a website and find pricing information, room availability, and amenities offered at the location. As the future progresses, more and more guests will be expecting a remote check-in and check-out process to help save time for both themselves and hotel employees. It will also be common to see more mobile room keys which will help save money and protect the environment by eliminating plastic key cards.
Employee Retention
The industry has experienced a high level of employee turnover over the past few years. It has always been an industry that has had a reputation for low retention rates because of the minimal growth opportunities. However, turnover has been above average the past few years as many members of the industry used the pandemic to switch careers and look for something that offered more growth or that was remote to help protect their health. Properties will look at the long-term value of their great employees and focus on retaining them. They need to make sure expectations are being properly set during the onboarding process, there is healthy communication between all employees, and offer more recognition for employees going above and beyond. Training programs should be developed to educate their employees about the business, and its mission, and give them an opportunity to voice what they like and don’t like about their job to management to improve overall work satisfaction.
InnStyle Wants to Help Make 2023 Your Best Year Yet
As everyone has learned over the past few years, plans and schedules are always subject to change. However, these terms and topics are a good indication of what the hospitality industry will be focusing its attention on as 2023 gets underway. Many properties will now be using this time to stock up on product supplies as they prepare for their busy season. InnStyle is here to help them with their preparations. They offer a wide selection of hospitality supplies including bedding, towels, dining linens, lodging accessories, and personal protection products. Please give them a call and speak with one of their friendly account managers about any questions you may have. They can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.