Destinations, suppliers, and tourist attractions in the UK are all set to welcome 2022. The feeling is surreal when you check in at the airport to board a flight to your favourite spot or even a new paradise.
That celebratory champagne at the airport lends an altogether different air to the Are we travelling again? Sentiment so many travellers are feeling after being cooped up at home for so long.
A lot has changed over the past couple of years. People are exposed to technology all day. Remote working is here to stay. Online shopping, online learning and even online social events are the new norms. That said, nothing beats the fervour and excitement of visiting new places in person! The travel industry is gearing up to celebrate 2022 with some of the latest trends picking up pace.
Workcations
The sudden need for a flexible environment has shifted our attitudes towards how we work. According to research, 40% of Generation Z employees plan to take a workcation (essentially working while travelling, but not travelling for work). In the travel industry, vacation rentals remain the preferred accommodation type. Short-term rentals offer people their own happy space. Travel becomes easier. Rent your own space and enjoy the luxury of a 5 or 4-star hotel, sipping your favourite drink and working.
Technological Efficiency
Technological support has helped meet the customer’s demands. Hospitality managers have the advantage of making properties more efficient using modern technology. Rentals and hotels now have access to smart home tech, online reservation, check-in and check-out to give guests maximum satisfaction during the vacay. Some are moving towards contactless solutions, and this trend is likely to continue. Investors have already begun investing in vacation start-ups. Earlier in 2021, a start-up named Pacaso, owned by SmartStay, received $75 million.
Business Travel New Type
Staff productivity is increasing, and the retention rate is expected to improve in 2022. Travel companies are likely to hire a more qualified staff globally. Thanks to remote working! It is now easier to connect with people and hire talented candidates for the company. Corporate travel is likely to increase as people have not forgotten the value of face-to-face meetings. According to research, corporate trips are expected to grow by 38% in 2022.
Last-minute bookings
People are looking for an excuse to travel again. Travel companies are witnessing last-minute bookings galore, even as the omicron variant spreads across the globe. The demand is there, and people want to travel. People are spontaneously making plans, resulting in increased last-minute bookings. According to Fortune, demand for travel is likely to continue growing in the second half of 2022.
New Experiences
Do you remember the movie featuring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet? Is the holiday based on the ideal home swapping scenario? Research shows that around 85% of travellers are seeking new travel experiences. As a travel support solutions company, we are ready to support our agents and operators to meet this growing demand.
Trip-Stacking
Booking multiple trips back-to-back is known as trip stacking. In 2022, we will be witnessing people looking for long holidays, breaks and packages. The need for travelling and getting out of the house is why people are choosing trip-stacking.
Luxury All-Inclusive Safety
All-inclusive resorts have a reputation for being convenient and family-friendly. Pandemic-era travel has also introduced measures that have become mainstays to make all-inclusive travel safer. These measures include mobile payments so that travellers do not have to swap cards or touch point-of-sale checkpoints frequently.
Low-Key Events
Travel companies and operators can now focus on making an event low-key. Small gathering events are making a comeback. People are looking for more intimate options like smaller venues and private holiday spots. Even as restrictions ease, customers are favouring intimate team meetings, parties, weddings and other events.
Wellness and Balance
After so much time crammed at home, people are longing to dive into nature’s beauty. Tour agents and operators are overwhelmed with requests to find the best mountain resorts.
Business Travellers are Back
Business travellers are looking for excuses to travel. Almost half of business travellers believe they will meet or exceed pre-pandemic travel levels by the end of 2022. This is great news for travel agents, tour operators and leisure travel providers!
Landing on the Road
One of the emerging trends in 2022 is the increase in road trips. People are excited to travel by road – plus, the safety of it cannot be matched by public travel. People are choosing road trips instead of flights and trains. A majority of travellers are planning road trips through nature, searching for cabin rentals and working remotely to explore the outdoors.
Sustainable Priority
In 2022, people are more concerned about sustainable travel. They are hunting for tour operators that help them travel into nature without damaging the environment. Even Google is making changes to encourage transparency around travel sustainability. Watch out for this trend.
Dream Vacations
While cooped up indoors, people are dreaming of their ideal vacation destination. This travel fever is amplified as people are looking for extra savings from being indoors during the pandemic. In late 2021, the trend towards dream vacations and luxury travel grew to 50%. Travel agents can increase customer satisfaction by arranging with the hotel for drinks at check-in, welcome hampers, cuisines and dine-in options to encourage people to travel again.
Flexibility in Travel
With the ups and downs in 2020 and 2021, travellers are looking for agencies to set them up with flexible bookings and hefty cancellation penalties. According to research, 87% of people have agreed that flexibility is a key term when travelling. In 2022, guests are expecting flexible travel packages and conditions. Offering packages with flexible options is crucial to onboarding pre-booking customers. Think flexibility in everything from cancellations and refunds to arrival and departure dates.
Diversity and Inclusion
Even travel agents and tour operators will need to focus on creating a diverse and inclusive image and culture. In 2022, we will see more hotels, travel agents, tour operators, and leisure travel providers making positive changes to be more inclusive, including gender-neutral language, website design, and overall branding.
Next Steps for 2022
2022 is all about new beginnings. Travellers are ready with their bags, holding on to their dream vacations. For tour operators and travel agents, it is our time to turn their dream vacation into reality. While this is positive news, we understand that it can be a challenge for travel agents and tour operators to meet the burgeoning needs of eager travellers. At Technomine Travel Solutions, we are prepared to support travel operators with 24*7 support and consultation on recruiting qualified staff. Some of our services include cost-effective solutions, off-hours working and improved staffing solutions.
Reach out to us at chris@technominetravelsolutions.co.uk to learn more about how our support services can help grow your travel agent business.