Accommodation recovery guide for 2021

Tourism in the year that ends, was the industry that was hit as much as anyone else by the global pandemic. But what is the trend that is shaping up for the future of travel and what will be the situation that will be formed after the pandemic subsides;

All financial business analysts of Tourism and major tour operators are converging on the fact that 2021 will be a year of recovery, while by 2023 there will be a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels. The data following and following the recent news of the launch of a mass vaccination program of the world population converge on these optimistic estimates.

But the recovery will not be universal. In the pandemic period there was a clear preference for short-stay accommodation in peri-urban areas, over hotels in large cities, with the implementation of social distance measures being the main psychological factor for this trend.

But how can owners of apartments, rented rooms and small hotels prepare for the new situation that is taking shape?

“All market experts agree on a few key points that the short-term accommodation sector should focus on in the new year to stand out from the competition”

Increased cleaning standards

The implementation of the cleaning protocols imposed by the pandemic is at the same time a condition that the guest of an accommodation will now require. Highlighting and highlighting the best practices applied in an accommodation will now be an important presumption of choice. Booking surveys for 2020 showed that for 82% of travellers, cleaning information is a crucial selection criterion for the traveler. Thus, the thorough cleaning that the rental platforms now require, should be communicated clearly to the guest before booking and upon arrival at the accommodation, with appropriate disinfection marking, contactless check in/out as well as disinfectants and protection. Cleanliness is also the main factor in rating the quality of the accommodation in the review that guests leave.

Flexible booking policies

The uncertainty of travel due to restrictions during the pandemic will continue as a trend into the new year. Travelers are now very careful in their choices, choosing accommodation with flexible booking policies to a very high percentage of up to 77%, according to surveys by major OTAs. In addition, all short-term rental platforms reward properties that offer a flexible booking policy with a special label and offer them an improvement in their ranking order in search results. Also filtering results with a flexible policy, usually activated by the traveler, rejects those accommodations that do not provide this option. Therefore, a correct strategy of flexible policies in an accommodation offers a significant advantage in its appearance in search results.

Last minute reservations

The result of the new data is the explosion of last minute bookings. It is a fact that most bookings are for a period of weeks or days before arrival. The effort here is focused on maintaining an up-to-date booking calendar on the different platforms, with the help of a channel manager both to avoid double bookings and to ensure maximum availability and presence in multiple sales channels. Keeping the accommodation in perfect condition for the immediate reception of guests and implementing contactless check-in/out procedures through applications or lock boxes are prerequisites for this type of booking. Implementing last minute booking pricing policies on platforms through dynamic pricing software or revenue manager maximizes bookings and revenues.

Increase in long-term bookings – teleworking

A new trend in the coming year will be holidays combined with telecommuting. The significant increase in the corresponding trips of this category observed during the previous season create a new type of bookings with increased duration (usually 2 weeks or more) that combine holidays with distance working. A proper strategy of offers and discounts on long-term stays offers a significant advantage. Also a crucial factor in the choice of accommodation is the provision of fast and reliable internet as well as the existence of a work desk in the accommodation.

Adoption of smart technology

Digitization provides solutions to the new era that is taking shape, with Process Automation, effective promotion of accommodation in the global market and management of hospitality. Thus, for the New Year, programs and solutions of new technologies should be used to increase occupancy, reduce the workload of the staff and the manager of the accommodation, increase sales, improve the satisfaction rate of guests, control prices and maximize revenues. In all these areas now every property manager / owner has at his / her disposal powerful tools that at minimal cost boost the performance of his / her property.

Conclusion

The new year, according to the pandemic data so far, looks promising for the recovery of Tourism. The change in travel behaviour that took place in 2020 will be the new norm now. The implementation of meticulous cleaning procedures, flexible policies and arrival procedures, as well as the improvement of the overall hospitality experience enjoyed by the Traveler, is the catalyst for a successful new year. The presence in many sales channels and the utilization of new technologies is a one-way street to increase revenue and reduce the workload of the staff and the manager of the accommodation.

TitusCFU provides solutions with integrated programs, smart booking check-in management solutions, channel manager, revenue managers and other market applications that meet your needs. With our range of management, reception and professional cleaning services, you can meet all your needs or help you in some part of hospitality.

Trust TitusCFU to promote and develop your accommodation.