Chances are, you’ve already travelled in 2022, and if you haven’t yet, you’re planning to, before the year is out.
Click start to play today’s Spell It, and consider options for your next ‘getaway’.
This year, most of us have emerged from our homes with a renewed sense of wanderlust. With two years of COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns and restrictions behind us, there’s a new sense of urgency to travel and reconnect with the world around us. It’s understandable!
Online American travel shopping company Expedia called 2022 the year of the GOAT – the ‘greatest of all trips’. They surveyed 12,000 travellers from 12 countries, and found that 65 per cent of respondents planned to “go big” on their next trip. Similarly, Spanish travel technology company Amadeus reported a jump in searches for “epic destinations”, according to a report they published in November 2021.
So, 2022 has been the year for fulfilling bucket lists and exploring far-flung destinations. But what does that mean for 2023?
According to an April 21 report by UK-based news agency Reuters, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), projects that global travel and tourism sectors will return to pre-pandemic levels next year, at a rate that will outpace global gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
Set for a powerful recovery, hotels will have to move away from standard, paint-by-the-number designs and experiences, to something more unique, authentic and adaptive.
According to a report by US-based hospitality branding and design group Longitude, here’s what travellers are going to be looking for in 2023:
1. Nature everywhere
No longer are travellers settling for four walls and room service. They want more – specifically, hotel rooms with an outdoor focus. Having been cooped up indoors during pandemic lockdowns, travellers want to reconnect with Nature at every opportunity. So, many hotels around the world are stepping up, by adding green spaces, like gardens and rooftop terraces to their properties. They’re also adding a host of outdoor activities to their experience roster, from hiking and biking to kayaking.
2. Multi-generational travel
Since many families were separated for a long period of time during the pandemic, the following years are going to be all about reconnecting and spending time together. This means people travelling together could represent a whole range of ages, from children to grandparents, and the hospitality industry will need to accommodate this new trend.
3. Sustainability
With the Earth in greater peril from global warming than ever before, travellers are looking for hotels that are moving towards 100 per cent sustainability. From guestrooms to restaurants, hotels will be expected to provide local, homegrown amenities, rather than mass-produced goods, as travellers focus on eco-friendly experiences that benefit the region they’re based in.
What are your travel plans for 2023? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
