Hotels Are Still the Top Choice for Lodging

By Lourdes Martin | August 17, 2022: As the sharing economy continues to grow, there are more and more options for travelers looking for lodging. But according to a recent study, hotels are still the top choice for most travelers. Travelers feel safer and more comfortable staying in hotels than in other types of lodging. Since the pandemic, hotels have quickly adapted to the changing needs of travelers, offering flexible cancellation policies and contactless services. Today, we are discussing the reasons the current traveler prefers to stay in a hotel rather than Airbnb or other alternative house-sharing options.

Hotels are still the top choice for lodging, according to a new survey from EY. 60% of travelers said they plan to stay in a hotel over alternative lodging options. The changes hotels have implemented during the pandemic, such as contactless check-in and increased cleaning efforts, have had a positive impact. These findings underscore the need for hotels to prioritize cleanliness and safety to win over guests. Age also appears to be a factor in how guests perceive hotel brands in the wake of COVID-19. For example, 13.5% of those aged 50 and older and 23.5% of those aged 30 to 49 said they have increased brand loyalty because of the way hotel brands have responded to the pandemic. However, those who are in ages 18 to 29 were even more likely to say their loyalty has increased, with 50% indicating that COVID-19 has made them more loyal to hotel brands. Hotels that prioritize cleanliness and safety will be better positioned to win over guests in the post-pandemic world.

When it comes to what attracts guests to a hotel, cleanliness and brand recognition are always at the top of the list. However, more and more hotels are offering contact-free amenities and services to appeal to a wider range. Hotels offer more amenities and services than most Airbnbs. While you may be able to find an Airbnb that has kitchen and laundry facilities, hotels typically offer much more in terms of amenities and services. From on-site restaurants and bars to concierge service and room service, hotels provide a level of convenience and luxury that most Airbnbs simply can’t match. As noted here in this article, Aavgo focuses on taking the lift-off hotel brands to provide a virtual front desk kiosk with contactless interactions; guests can retrieve their room keys quickly via QR Code and more! Hotel owners who want to stay competitive should consider adding these features to their establishments. In addition, marketers should highlight these features in their advertising campaigns to attract travelers looking for a better experience.

Hotel accommodations remain preferred despite the rise in popularity of home-sharing services. This is likely due to several factors, including the consistency and quality of service that hotels provide as well as the wide range of amenities they offer, the seamless service through the implementation of technology and finally, hotels also offer travelers a sense of community and allow them to meet new people from all over the world.

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Aavgo is a cloud-based SaaS technology company that offers solutions that directly impact hotel’s overall efficiency of operations, customer experience, and profitability. For more information about the Aavgo’s Virtual Front Desk, please contact our experts by phone: 1-888-932-2486 or via email: info@aavgo.com.

(Note: Lourdes Martin is a blogger, writer, and influencer with expertise in Hospitality, Travel, and International Affairs. Martin has been featured on Shoutout Miami and various other publications. Martin’s blog: Please, Do Tell & Recuerdos. Martin is a contributing writer to aavgo.com.)