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Feature - Travel Trends
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What do guests want from their travel experiences? We speak to industry experts who highlight the top trends that are shaping travel and tourism today
While coming to terms with the impact of the pandemic, the travel and tourism industry is also acquainting itself with a new wave of travellers. Expectations have altered and demands are now higher, as most industry experts point out. But what is it that guests truly want? Among new trends taking shape, experiential travel, eco-conscious breaks and wellness experiences that go beyond spas are leading the way. With travellers now becoming more aware of their choices than ever before, they are seeking experiences that transform them, are not detrimental to the environment and offer them the most value. ECO-CONSCIOUS BREAKS Even before the pandemic, travellers were becoming more environmentally
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aware and conscious about the impact of their trips. With tourism contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions, more and more travellers are choosing eco-conscious breaks as a way to mitigate their role in the issue. And the industry has taken note. When Chris Nader cofounded ENVI Lodges, it was in response to the strong spotlight that the pandemic shone on the environmental impact of travel and tourism. He noted that there was a psychographic shift taking place in the industry, led by Gen Y and Z, who valued experiences and sustainability above everything else and were choosing hotels that left a positive impact on the environment in which they operated. Nader said: “Travellers are making greener choices; they are choosing
Travellers are making greener choices; they are choosing responsible properties that operate in a way that matches their beliefs
responsible brands and properties that operate in a way that matches their beliefs and they want to make sure that there is accountability and monitoring. “They need to know how their stay is contributing to the wellbeing of the locals. They also need to know that their efforts are supporting the regeneration of the environment or the protection of local heritage,” added Nader. “We, therefore, developed our sustainability standards with the help of various experts in design, engineering and operations. These standards are included in our sustainability programme – C.A.R.E. – and are based on seven pillars: respect the land, build with a sense of place, protect wildlife, support local communities, be mindful of resources, eat responsibly and engage guests.”
09/05/2022 8:11 PM
