As the rush for summer vacations begins, a recent survey commissioned by Mews and conducted by OnePoll reveals that Americans are prioritizing travel more in 2024, with a preference for highly digital, self-service hotel experiences. Nearly 80% of travelers expressed willingness to stay at hotels with fully automated front desks or self-service kiosks, and over 40% prefer to check in via a hotel’s website, app, or digital kiosk.
The poll, which included 2,000 participants split evenly between travelers and hotel workers, also showed that a fourth of hotel workers expect increased use of technology for check-ins compared to previous years.
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Key Findings:
- Ideal Hotel Features: Travelers highlighted in-room smart home devices (43%), keyless room entry (34%), mobile room entry (27%), and digital ordering (24%) as desirable features.
- AI Usage: A third (36%) of travelers have used AI for travel recommendations.
- Remote Work on Vacation: Nearly a third (29%) of employed Americans have worked remotely on vacation without informing their bosses, with 52% using vacations as an opportunity to work remotely.
- Remote Work Preferences: While 69% prefer working from their hotel room, a quarter opt for the hotel pool or spa, and nearly 25% choose the hotel bar or restaurant.
Blending Work and Leisure:
- Work Trips to Vacations: Nearly half (48%) of respondents have extended work trips into vacations.
- Ease of Catering: Hotel workers find guests blending work and vacations the easiest to cater to (83% and 76%, respectively).
- Additional Guest Behavior: Hotel workers anticipate increased tipping (39%), extended stays (38%), and greater use of amenities (31%). Additionally, 79% of guests frequently ask for local recommendations.
Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews, noted, “While some mid-market and select service hotels see softness, the luxury sector is resilient with guests spending more on bucket list trips and staying longer. Hotels embracing technology and personalized experiences are tapping into trends of extended work trips and blending work with vacations.”
Ryan Krukar, VP of Sales & Marketing at Gravity Haus, emphasized, “Technology allows our teams to gather guest information before arrival, enabling unique ‘excite and delight’ opportunities for lifelong memories.”
Andrew Gauthier, General Manager at The Incline Lodge, added, “By tracking guest preferences, we offer a curated experience and efficient contactless check-in, allowing more interaction time with guests.”
Survey Methodology: This survey of 1,000 American travelers and 1,000 American hotel workers was commissioned by Mews Systems, Inc. between January 30 and February 8, 2024, and conducted by OnePoll.
About Mews: Mews is a leading platform for modern hospitality, powering over 5,000 customers across more than 85 countries. The Mews Hospitality Cloud streamlines operations, enhances the guest experience, and boosts profitability for hoteliers. Recognized by Hotel Tech Report and World Travel Tech Awards, Mews has offices in Europe, the United States, and Australia.
For more information, visit Mews.
