Booking.com’s Philippine marketing team leader Raissa Roque shared key insights regarding the country’s hospitality sector at yesterday’s IDeaS HOTECH Forum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Roque was quick to point out that, in the post-pandemic era, it is highly unlikely that things will ever return to what they were before 2020.
She said: “Whatever happened before COVID, it is not going to happen again anymore. The trends have changed since then, and dealing with challenges in travel and hospitality has become an ongoing learning experience.”
Indeed, based on a survey conducted among Booking.com users in the Philippines and elsewhere, travellers have become more experimental in the sense that they want to try new experiences and different ways to do things, and this extends to the way they make travel decisions.
Roque noted that there has been an increase in decisions driven by the use of AI in search engines and the influence of social media, essentially making an experience out of the planning process itself.
The rise of silver travellers and an increase in family trips
Roque pointed out further that there has been an increase in family bookings or travel groups numbering between four and five individuals per trip.
She said: “Older people, the baby boomers, are now travelling. They’ve been spending more now in terms of travel as a leisure activity, especially in the Philippines.”
With the increase in family and group travel bookings comes an increase in searches for apartments on Booking.com and other online travel platforms, seeing how groups prefer an environment to serve as a home away from home during their trips.
Up to 45 percent of multi-generational groups have searched for apartments, as these give ample room and privacy compared to standard hotel accommodations.
Domestic tourists are propelling travel and hospitality forward
Based on reports not only from Booking.com but also from organisations like Mordor Intelligence and Leechiu Property Consultants, domestic travellers are helping propel the Philippine hospitality sector forward despite a lower turnout of foreign arrivals.
Indeed, data shows that domestic travellers accounted for 78.45 percent of hotel and accommodations bookings in 2024, driven mostly by long weekends that precipitated a rise in staycations, along with a significant increase in domestic travel demand, as well as a surge in MICE and business travel.
Keeping these in mind, Roque listed the top ten Philippine cities where travellers opt to go and book stays as follows:
- Manila
- Cebu
- El Nido, Palawan
- Boracay
- Siargao
- Panglao
- Coron, Palawan
- Mactan, Cebu
- Siquijor
- Moalboal
Manila's popularity surged thanks to the increased demand for staycations throughout the past 18 months which was fuelled, as stated earlier, by a spate of long weekend holidays.
Those booking in Manila specifies that their stays need to be child- and pet-friendly, given that many weekenders opt to stay with their kids and pets.
Likewise, Manila stays also need to feature access to fitness or wellness facilities; attractions, including retailers and restaurants, within walking distance; as well as the availability of transportation, particularly for those who need to fly in or out of the city.
Meanwhile, the bulk of provincial destinations saw a demand for accommodations that also offered spa services, room service (especially for remote areas like Mactan and El Nido), leisure activities, and sustainability practices.
Those booking outside of Manila also sought out reviews prior to booking, and checked for policies regarding cancellation and rebooking in the event of untoward incidents or changes.
Of the ten destinations above, Coron stands out because its primary market is not domestic but mostly made up of French tourists who come to the Palawan town to experience its aquatic attractions and rustic charm.
