‘Holidaying at Home’ is Here to Stay – 81% of Consumers Planning to Stay in a UK Hotel in 2023

The latest GO Technolog y repor t from hospitality tech provider Zonal and insight firm CGA by NielsenIQ, reveals that the majority of consumers (81%) are planning to stay in a UK hotel in 2023, as costof-living pressures deter them from taking trips abroad

The sur vey of more than 2,000 UK consumers highlights the continued oppor tunity for domestic hotel visits in 2023, with nearly half (44%) of consumers saying that they will avoid hotel stays overseas due to cost-of-living increases A fur ther 39% said they’d be ‘staycationing’ simply because they would prefer to travel within the UK rather than abroad this year up 12% from 2022

Fur thermore for consumers choosing to holiday in the UK it appears that the frequency of their stays will increase with just under a third of consumers (28%) planning to stay at a domestic hotel more than once this year Whilst half of consumers sur veyed state they stay in hotels the same amount as before the pandemic , a significant number (33%) of 18-34-year-olds have increased the frequency of their visits, with 23% visiting a UK hotel weekly With more consumers planning to holiday at home in 2023, hoteliers have a significant oppor tunity to attract more guests and boost profitability, so it’s vital that they are prepared

And it’s not just the frequency of stays where we can expect to see changes in consumer behaviour, how people holiday is also expected to alter With repor ts suggesting that people will look to plan shor ter breaks this year to help keep costs down[1 , the research shows that this will likely be the case , with nearly half (48%) of consumers staying at a UK hotel for a weekend break rather than a holiday (31%) When it comes to younger consumers in par ticular they are likely to plan much shor ter visits to a UK hotel with 27% saying that they would use a hotel for a day trip, driven by access to amenities such as a restaurant or bar, spa, g ym or swimming pool

Looking more closely at the other influential drivers behind consumers ’ decisions to stay at a UK hotel, price (66%) and location (61%) are at the top of their considerations, followed by hygiene standards (41%) and good customer ser vice (39%) Digital platforms also continue to be a key influencer in consumers booking decisions Whilst older consumers prefer going directly to a hotel’s website , younger adults are turning to social media Three in five (60%) of those aged 18 to 34 say they visit a hotel’s social media pages before booking, highlighting the impor tance of these platforms

Commenting on the findings, Stewar t Moss, Managing Director, High Level Software , par t of the Zonal family, said: “Despite consumers facing increasing cost-of-living pressures, it’s welcome news to the hotel and wider hospitality industr y that Brits still want to holiday in the UK this year Whether it’s a long weekend or a shor t break, it’s clear that consumers don t want to miss out on their precious holiday time And although hotels across the countr y might already feel prepared for another staycation boom as a continued result of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, it’s impor tant they don’t rest on their laurels Developing a real understanding of what consumers want – from offering a selection of amenities, to seamless booking experiences – and capitalising on these insights, will not only help hoteliers prepare for an increase in guests but establish an advantage and attract spend, something which is key in a competitive market ”

Karl Chessell, Director – Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA, CGA by NielsenIQ added: “It’s been a challenging three years for hospitality in the UK but the staycation boom has been a rare upside Hotels have responded well to the surge in demand and the quality and variety of accommodation on offer has never been higher Our research shows how guests are satisfied and engaged, but that there are great oppor tunities to grow sales again this year especially through the smar t use of tech Engagement and responsiveness across websites, social media and review and booking platforms can attract even more visitors, while in-hotel and inroom innovations can help retain them As ever, brands that stay closely attuned to guests’ needs and respond nimbly will have the best chance of success in 2023 and beyond ”

[1] https //www waleson ine co uk/whats-on/travel/staycat on-book ngs-soar-2023-hol days-25856929