Up close and personal
This year is the year to seriously look at how your travel information is consumed and used. A third of travellers (34%) admit to wanting someone or something to do the hard work for them, and make travel recommendations. Meanwhile, around 41% want travel brands to use technologies such as artificial intelligence to make travel suggestions based on past travel experience. Over half (52%) say they would be excited to use a digital tour guide, bringing them a truly bespoke experience, so next year is definitely a time to watch out for companies using better ways to curate and deliver picture-perfect holidays at the click of a mouse button.
Uncharted territories
NASA will start constructing its Lunar Space Station in 2019 (launching in 2022), with considerable investment in orbital spaceflight in 2019. Four in 10 travellers admit to being excited about the prospect of space travel in the future and are open to considering the experience themselves (38%). Until space travel becomes a reality (2019 isn’t the year for that, just yet), people will still be wanting to explore uncharted territories here on Earth in the coming year. For example, 60% of travellers say they want to stay in an accommodation under the sea.
Passports become cookbooks
It is no longer enough to buy a cookbook. Travellers want to learn local ingredients and assemble it all in the kitchen of a local to be replicated back home to dinner party guests. Sri Lanka is tipped to be the hottest place for a food tour in 2019 – quite literally with its spicy curries, fresh seafood and sweet desserts on offer.
Plastic not-so fantastic
A staggering 86% of global travellers said they would be willing to spend time to offset the environmental impact of their stay, with over 37% willing to clear plastic and litter from a beach or other tourist attraction. Expect to see a number of new travel start-ups and individual enterprises committed to eco-friendly travel come to the forefront in 2019, with technology at the core of their solutions.
About the Author: With more than 28 years of hospitality experience globally, Naim Maadad is the founding CEO of Gates Hospitality, which owns and operates hospitality concepts including Ultra Brasserie, The Black Lion Public House & Dining, Bistro des Arts, Reform Social & Grill, Publique, and Folly by Nick & Scott. It also has ownership of Six Senses Zighy Bay. Email: Naim@gateshospitality.com
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