2017 Travel Trends from Travel Channel’s Anthony Melchiorri
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Anthony Melchiorri, host and creator of Travel Channel’s hit series “Hotel Impossible” (currently airing its eighth season), is known for his no-nonsense approach to hospitality as he tours the country, sharing his expertise with hotel owners to help them save their ailing businesses.
With an unrivaled depth of industry knowledge gained over 20 years of working in all echelons of the travel industry, Anthony can offer his insight on the hottest travel trends to expect in 2017 and explain what they mean for consumers.
Sample trends include:
· HOTELS GO MOBILE– Compared to Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, Millennials are more interested in travel by 23% and comprise approximately 27% of the U.S. population. To cater to this increasing number of tech savvy travellers, mobile apps will increasingly offer hotel guests improved access and functionality, like pre-selecting a room, requesting specific amenities, raising the shades, adjusting the temperature, and even unlocking the guestroom door.
· SHARING ECONOMY- AirBnB will continue to grow domestically and internationally, increasing partnerships and enduring affiliations with large brands like KLM Airlines, the American Red Cross and more.
· HOTELS TO HOUSING: With robust development occurring in major destination cities, Average Daily Rates will begin to decline while older, low-performance hotels will be converted into low income housing.
· SLEEP GREEN – Eco-friendly tourism will be at an all-time high as millennials migrate to new hotel experiences over familiar franchise options.
· RETURN OF THE TRAVEL AGENT– Travel agents fell out of favor in the early nineties with the advent of discount travel websites, but consumers soon learned that handling everything from bookings and accommodations to transportation, and more, was more of a hassle than the deals were worth. Travel agents will be back en vogue, offering personalized service and expertise in different markets to seamlessly build customized travel packages.