As a new year comes into focus, so do predictions for the current market trends. Here’s a look at what FROSCH thinks will be trending for the hospitality industry in 2016.
Hotel Restaurants Step it up a Notch
In 2016, many hotels are focusing on enhancing their restaurant and bar options, in order to entice guests with an upscale experience not possible at an AirBnB. Hotels are seeking out acclaimed chefs to head restaurants at their hotels; Chef Grant Achatz will be taking over at the new Faena Hotel Miami Beach. In order to keep these experiences fresh, a number of properties are employing chefs and mixologists on a rotating basis.
Hotels Get Smarter
In 2015, Japan successfully pulled off a hotel manned solely by robots, and in 2016, we see the trend continue to rise, with technology being utilized to create a smoother, more efficient experience for guests. It’s becoming more common for hotels to have self check-in available in the lobby and even at hotel bars, while in-room Netflix, sufficient WiFi, and Apple TV services are quickly becoming an industry standard. Hotels are abandoning the old and embracing the new — even going as far as to no longer outfit rooms with landlines, instead having guests request services via a simple text message. Similarly, apps on mobile devices are allowing guests to control their air conditioning, request room service, declare dietary requirements, and even access rooms!
Free WiFi Is Here to Stay
WiFi is quickly becoming as necessary as a bathroom for most traveler’s hotel stays. Many hotels are expanding their networks in order to to provide more reliable service, while some beachfront properties are even expanding their networks to outdoor areas and beaches. More and more, properties are offering WiFi free of charge to guests; in fact, free WiFi was a required amenity for all hotels joining the FROSCH Hotel Collection this year.
No More Check-Out Times?
Checking out of hotels may also get a makeover in 2016. Late check-outs for no extra charge are becoming more popular, with many properties allowing guests to decide when they are going to checkout, instead of requiring them to vacate their room at a certain time. Other hotels are experimenting with 24-hour blocks; meaning if you check in at 4PM, you have until 4PM the next day to check-out.
Hotels Revamp for Millennials
Hotels are expanding their appeal to millennial travelers as they continue to fight against the popularity of Airbnb. Millennials are looking for hi-tech, high-touch experiences when they travel. They also seek out personalized, gourmet experiences for a reasonable price. Big-brand hotel groups are tapping into the youth market by launching brands with cheaper price points and putting a strong focus on lifestyle, locality, and insider knowledge. Lobby bars and hotel restaurants in these new hotels are being opened up for a combination of work, play, and dining spaces, designed with this youthful customer in mind. Since millennials are quick to criticize via social media, customer service will be key in winning over this group of travelers.
Wellness Reaches New Heights
Lavish hotel spas and yoga retreats are nothing new, but in 2016 hotels are getting serious about their health offerings. Health-conscious travelers have even prompted a premium gym company to create a hotel brand, with its first properties slated for Manhattan and LA. Well-established hotels are also offering new spa experiences, which focus on mind over body, introducing intuitive counsellors, reiki masters, and cognitive and emotional coaches.
Concept Hotels Continue to Pop Up
Hotels are trying more and more to stand out, and in 2016 we see this trend continuing as the competition to win travelers over gets even fiercer. A hotel with bed made into bookshelves recently opened in Tokyo, and curates a 1,700-strong library, which you can read in your “bookshelf bed.” Also over the top, Key West, Florida will be getting an underwater hotel this year. We can’t wait to see just how creative hotels opening in 2016 will be, they’ll forever change our outlook at what a “standard” hotel can look like.
Hotels Get Eco-Friendly
In 2016, hotels are continuing to commit to sustainable practices. In New York, for example, 16 hotels have just signed a commitment to lower their greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in the next decade. 1 Hotel Central Park has started educating its guests on sustainability, where all of the hotel’s showers have a five-minute hourglass in order to remind guests of wasted water consumption