America Summer Travel 2022 | McKinsey

Winter 2022 is coming To be good for travel and tourism in the US. The following five key trends are shaping the industry with implications for hoteliers.

Leisure travel is on the rise.

RevPAR in the US will not only exceed 2020 and 2021 levels, but also exceed 2019 levels. RevPAR outperformance is largely driven by rates. Hotels They’re not quite what they were in 2019, but rates are up—the average daily rate (ADR) is 15 percent more expensive than it was in 2019.

Basically, people love to travel. We asked more than 1,000 travelers in the US what they would do if they won the lottery, and spending on travel ranked as their second top choice (Exhibit 1).

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This winter for many vacations happen “no matter what”.

The survey shows that people are concerned about macroeconomics, such as inflation, but that’s not enough to keep nearly 70 percent of travelers from taking a vacation this summer (Exhibit 2).

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Are fuel prices high? People go to the nearest place. Does the hotel cost prohibitive? They hunt him down for a deal. Consumers may find ways to cut back, but these factors will not ruin their holiday plans (Exhibit 3).

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Travel plans have moved since the survey was conducted in June 2022. AAA estimates 42 million people will travel by car over the July 4 weekend, a new car trip record for the time — even as the national average gas price exceeds the $5 mark.



In addition, hotel occupancy, ADR and RevPAR figures all exceeded the comparable week in 2019, and TSA checkpoint travel numbers for the Thursday and Friday before the July 4 weekend were up 15 percent, compared to 2019.

Guests have more accommodation options than ever before

The lines have blurred between accommodation categories, and travelers are looking for hotel, home-sharing, all-inclusive and outdoor/luxury options.

While 78 percent of travelers surveyed said they were comfortable staying in a hotel, only 61 percent were comfortable staying in alternative accommodations. The top five reasons for staying in a hotel are consistency and predictability; security and privacy; Convenient location: Availability of concierge, lounge, restaurant and/or other facilities; and low cost. In comparison, travelers may choose alternative accommodation options as they offer more space; Home appliances: and actual or local experience.

So where are these travelers planning to go? More than half (54%) plan to go to the beach – a popular choice among 25- to 34-year-olds. The next destination option is city/town (32%), followed by mountain/hiking (24%).

Loyalty is heating up.

In this area, price increases and improved selection are intensifying efforts to maintain customer loyalty. But the research shows that many travelers, especially the younger generation, don’t feel they get enough value from loyalty programs, or the programs seem too complicated.

There are some features of loyalty programs that are more useful than others: offering discounts, keeping accurate footprints so guests can stay where they want, and easily redeeming points are favorites.

ESG is gaining importance.

While 75 percent of travelers surveyed agreed that sustainability is important, only half would pay more for it. But younger travelers are willing to pay more for green initiatives. Such initiatives that resonate with guests these days include using eco-friendly cleaning products. Replacing plastic key cards with options; Reducing the use of paper, such as electronic invoices; and smart appliances and monitoring systems to optimize energy use.

Here are five ways hotels can respond to these trends

1. Encourage “bleisure” stays by highlighting local attractions and events. With leisure and business travel recovering, we expect to see pleasure travel.
2. Help guests find you when they’re researching their next trip. Hotels can invest in an online and social media presence to connect with guests early in their research. This is especially important as hotels experience labor shortages and sometimes lower service levels.Communicate clearly before guests check in to make sure guest expectations are set.
3. Communicate differences in markets with heavy alternative accommodation supply. Hotels can communicate what makes them better, especially convenience, consistency and available services.
4. Improve loyalty programs. Hotels should revisit their loyalty programs to ensure they are addressing new needs, and help both repeat and infrequent guests get the most out of their programs.
5. Launch green initiatives through transparent and consistent guest communications. Thinking about how hotels can attract eco-conscious travelers and building valuable relationships with them can lead to long-term loyalty.