The post-pandemic holiday trends in 2022 will veer towards pet travel, contactless experiences, wellness trips, sustainable travel and “workcations”, among others. This is according to a new global trends report from Hilton.
The 2022 Traveller: Emerging Trends And The Redefined Traveller report highlights eye-opening travel and behavioural trends that are leading to innovations both inside and outside of the hotel.
“The world – and the hospitality industry – went through so much in the last two years. And as we’ve uncovered in this report, travellers’ needs and interests have shifted too,” said Hilton president Chris Nassetta.
He added that the hospitality group is optimistic about the prospect of travel in the future.
“Travel is certainly returning, and we’re excited to build on that momentum,” he said.
In the foreword of the report, clinical psychologist Dr Kate Cummins said the pandemic will continue to impact travellers “for years to come”.
“At large, psychological well-being is anticipated to be restored in 2022, and travel will play an integral role,” she said.
According to Cummins, many people have had to alter their choices amid the pandemic. Travellers for one, had to forego their passions.
“Travellers lost their valuable outlet or coping mechanism that once kept them in a state of balance, restoration and growth within their psychological well-being: taking flight and landing in hotel lobbies to explore the world around them,” she said.
Now that tourism activities have slowly resumed globally, Cummins said travellers will turn to travel and hospitality companies to help them make up for lost leisure time during the past two years.
That renewed focus on how holidays can boost mental health amid the pandemic is something that has been spoken about by other experts as well.
Asean Tourism Research Association president Professor Dr Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan said travel has a positive correlation to our overall physical and mental well-being.
“Regular holidays are important for both our physical and mental health and it can make a big difference to our productivity and morale. It helps to reduce stress through disconnection from our daily lifestyle and workplace. It creates new memories to cherish and share among family and friends,” he said in an interview.
“Holidaying has today become a necessity and is more than just a luxury,” he added.
Changed by pandemic
What’s for certain is that the pandemic has brought about many micro insights about the “pandemic-changed traveller”, according to the report.
One notable insight is the rise of pet travel, as observed from Hilton’s booking data.
The “pet-friendly” booking filter has been the third most used search filter on the hospitality group’s website. This trend, according to the study, is due to the fact that more households adopted a pet during the pandemic.
“Certain markets in Asia Pacific – like China, Australia, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore – are also reporting increased spikes in pet ownership,” said the report.
The report added that pet owners are looking forward to “prioritise their pet’s happiness more than before” by showering them with tender loving care.
In Malaysia, there are a handful of hotels, resorts, homestays and home-sharing businesses which allow guests to bring their pets into the property. Normally, the pets that are allowed would be small to medium-sized dogs and cats which are already housebroken or trained. Guests are most likely allowed to let their pets roam around the property as they would in their own homes, although property owners may have their own sets of rules.
At a glance, some of the places you can check out include The Dusun in Negri Sembilan, Noordin Mews in Penang, Ruby’s Resort in Pahang, Sea Gypsy Village in Johor, Kundasang Guesthouse in Sabah and Temple Tree Boutique Resort in Langkawi, Kedah.
A few properties may also accept small pets like hamsters, rabbits or even fish and turtles, as long as they are kept in their own enclosures. Do ask for more information and specific details from the property owners if you plan to bring your pets on holiday with you.
Who knows, you may even be able to bring some of your beloved plants (the “other” pet) too!
As for flights, no animals are allowed to fly in any commercial passenger cabin in Malaysia. However, pets are allowed to be stowed in the cargo holds as special excess baggage, but they must meet certain conditions (weight, vaccination, documentation, etc) prior to the flight.
Work and play
Meanwhile, the trend of workcation is here to stay because of the rise in number of remote workers, as well as the improved accessibility of remote working.
A workcation is a vacation that allows one to work away from the office, while integrating elements of leisure. It’s a trend that rose in popularity amid the pandemic. For Malaysia, the prolonged movement control order and lockdown periods, as well as the extended interstate travel ban, have made workcation an attractive “holiday” option for many working adults.
Element Kuala Lumpur general manager Nikie Mok said the “working from hotel” movement is definitely evident in Malaysia.
“Hotels have seen a rise in ‘working from hotel’ guests, where we have transformed our rooms and suites as workspaces for those who need a quiet, functional, and comfortable area to work from,” Mok explained in an interview.
Amid the pandemic, many hotels in Malaysia have resorted to workcation packages to stay afloat. These packages typically let guests work at the hotel for a certain period of time. Facilities such as the gym and pool access are also included.
The daily passes often come with a food and beverage credit (free coffee or tea for the whole day!). Guests also have the option of topping up their payment to spend the night.
Now, it looks like this working arrangement will be the new norm for many, despite the lifting of the interstate travel ban and the resumption of outbound tourism.
Recent Hilton reservations data shows a 30% increase (compared to 2019) in extended stay room nights – stays that are longer than seven days – as remote workers have now started to travel for meetings and other business events.
“The emergence of remote work will create a new segment of customer travel that will expand upon the traditional corporate travel schedule, blending weekdays and weekends into workcations in ways we haven’t seen before,” the report said.
For the most part, the hospitality group is optimistic that all these new travel trends will spell a stronger comeback for the tourism and hospitality sector. Hilton senior vice president (brand management, Asia Pacific) Alexandra Jaritz said the lifting of travel restrictions is much welcomed.
“With travel restrictions gradually easing in some Asia Pacific markets, 2022 looks promising for the region,” she said.
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