South African Hospitality Trends for 2023
ANEW Hotels & Resorts
We provide you with the right blend of service, luxury and efficiency. Think of ANEW as your home away from home.
“Going after personalized guest experience has become a powerful and transforming trend in the hospitality business.” – FinancesOnline
The hospitality experience as a whole has been shifting and despite the Covid -19 pandemic, some of these trends are now in even higher demand. The pandemic has pushed more people onto online spaces; if reviews mattered before, they matter even more now. Consumers are more discerning than ever, and travellers are seeking more personalised experiences that offer value for their money.
The Personalised Experience
“Truly unique, thoughtful, custom-made experiences will become the norm.” – Longitude
Luxury accommodation has never been more accessible. With an increase in online communities and sharing economies, such as Airbnb & the Expedia Group, hotels must create unique selling points and more valuable experiences to remain competitive. More options mean more savvy travellers. The pandemic has also made people more cautious of travel so when they do decide to enjoy a travel experience, they want more bang for their buck. "2023 is going to be the year of the evolved traveller. What we are seeing in SA with the increase in inflation, and high cost of living, is that people are in search of value wherever they can find it, especially online with aggregators, online travel agents and other disruptors trying to drive down prices.” - Madri van der Westhuizen, ANEW Hotels & resorts' Social Media Manager
We are also seeing a rise in multi-generational travel and trends like workations and digital nomading. Hotels need to cater to a variety of different age groups as well as their unique needs during their stay. This is also reflected in the trend of families’ leading drive for travel decisions being the activities available for the whole family. It is important to cater to mixed-generation groups as more families are travelling together. Customising guest experiences to cater for these specific needs creates a sense of personal touch and can increase brand loyalty. “91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands who recognize and provide relevant offers and recommendations” – Accenture'
Frictionless travel, in a personalised way
Another way the hospitality industry can tackle these new travel trends is through an omnichannel approach. According to Frost & Sullivan, omnichannel is defined as "seamless and effortless, high-quality customer experiences that occur within and between contact channels". In other words, giving customers the option of receiving service in person or via different technological channels, such as chatbots. This leads to a more frictionless travel experience as well as catering to the needs and preferences of both younger and older generations. However, according to Madri: this must be done in a way that drives personalisation, without taking away the human element as people are still seeking an experience.
领英推荐
Seamless yes, impersonal no.
Loving Local
The modern traveller is looking for authentic and enriching experiences rather than just luxury. Showing pride in local spaces can help cater to this trend. Taking inspiration and putting a focus on the local community and culture can create a more unique and nuanced identity. These things can create greater meaning for guests and better reviews. “-trends will focus on creating experiences that are not just memorable but also local.” – Longitude
The desire for more meaningful travel can also be seen when we look at the trend of social spaces. Digital nomads and younger travellers are looking for more than just a room and having spaces for guests to interact with others can be the vital difference between the hotel experience and that of most shared economy options.
Summary of the leading trends for hospitality in 2023:
?***
ANEW Hotels & Resorts received The Inspiration Award at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 as the organisation that has for the past two years inspired Africa’s travel Indaba community by the way in which it has challenged the odds to rise up and shine. The brand also received two awards at the prestigious Zululand Chamber of Commerce Business awards: Runner Up in the Best Tourism Business of the Year category and Runner Up in the Employer of the Year category.
As hospitality specialist, the group offers a uniquely different approach to the industry, focusing on curating a travel experience like no other!