How the Pandemic Has Changed Travel Trends – a Report by Hilton

In a newly published report, Hilton studies the hottest travel trends and identifies how the COVD-19 pandemic has changed them. The document titled “The 2022 Traveler: Emerging Trends and the Redefined Traveler” once again proves the fact that we all know – people’s lives have altered greatly since the start of the pandemic, and their traveling habits have drastically changed as well.

The legendary hotel company, which has had more than 3 billion guests during its century-old history, tries to keep up with the constantly changing trends, evolving together with travelers and meeting their demands. These days, people are more willing to try new culinary trends. Their alcohol preferences are changing too – tequila has become more popular than the pre-pandemic leader, bourbon. Sustainability is another trend that hotels in London, Madrid, or Beijing are embracing nowadays. More than a year in a lockdown has refreshed people’s striving for a healthy planet.

The lockdown has led to another interesting trend – more people decided to get pets. Now, many of these pet owners want to travel together with their animals, raising the demand for pet-friendly hotels. The pandemic has also changed the way we exercise. As gyms and fitness centers were closed, more people switched to workout apps, and so hotels need to add more features for people who exercise on the road.

Additionally, the pandemic has made people search efficiency in many aspects of life, and now they want to see it in travel too, so conveniences like contactless check-in and check-out or digital keys are very welcome. During the lockdown, many people could finally enjoy their hobbies or make new ones. This new passion for hobbies is going to shape hospitality trends in 2022. Hotels that offer new fitness options, culinary lessons, or DIY masterclasses will gain more attention. As many families became separated during the pandemic, family reunions and traveling to meet friends and family members will also likely be a big trend next year.

These trends require innovations for hotels, both inside and outside. While the impact of the pandemic on the performance of the hospitality industry is well documented, we still need to study the psychological impact of COVID-19 and how it will shape all spheres of business in the coming years.