Millenials are a contributing factor to the increase in the use of mobile devices for making hotel bookings.
Travellers in the Middle East increasingly rely on tablets and smartphones when making hotel reservations, with over 70% of actual bookings in January 2017 using these devices, compared to 54% during the same period in 2016, according to hotel price comparison platform HotelsCombined.
HotelsCombined also noted that the number of travellers who use smartphones and tablets to search for hotels increased by 82% at the onset of 2017 against 73% during the same period last year. Actual sales booked via desktop or laptop continue to decline, from 27% during the beginning of 2016 to 18% for the same period this year.
“Today’s travellers from GCC are moving away from desktops or laptops when making their travel plans because of the quick and easy access to their mobiles and tablets. Travellers rely on their devices as they offer them simpler search and easier steps when booking. It is particularly convenient for booking short holidays, therefore, we see an increase in the number of mobile bookings especially in destinations from our region,” HotelsCombined MENA regional manager Amer AlHalabiA said.
“We expect to see the trend continue with tablets and smartphones leading the way for hotel bookings as more travellers begin to use a tablet or mobile as their primary device,” added AlHalabi.
Demographics are also a contributing factor, AlHalabi continued, with millennials now participating in the booking decision process and usually favouring smartphones as their device of choice.
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