Travel is ‘roaring back’ — That’s good and bad for travelers
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Travelers didn’t have a good year last year.
Many people are placing their hopes on 2022, perhaps because of this.
According to travel experts, inquiries and bookings are on the rise. This upward trend could prove beneficial and challenging for travelers over the next year.
People want to make up time.
Brandon Berkson from Hotels Above Par in New York, who is the founder, stated that 2022 travel will be busier than ever before the pandemic.
“People are eager to get back to their lives,” he stated, noting that many potential customers feel the need to travel in next year’s future more than ever.
Viator-owned by TripAdvisor, Ben Drew stated in December that there is an “extraordinary” demand for travel.
Viator reports that beach and mountain getaways are very popular. Bookings rose 1,665% for Tulum (see here), and almost 700% for Denali National Park between 2019 and 2021.
M Swiet Productions | Moment | Getty Images
He stated, “Travel came back roaring.” Travelers are now booking more experiences even in the face of Omicron than they did in 2019 before the pandemic.
Viator data for 2022 shows that bookings have increased from summer to autumn, which is when travel tends to slow down.
Drew admitted that there may be challenges in 2022, but Drew stated that he believes it will bring “a chapter” of growth and resilience for the industry.
Are the people in this industry prepared?
The news about a potential business boom may be music to the ears of the travel industry. However, it can be dangerous if the boom happens too soon, according to ManojChacko, the executive vice president at WNS, a business management company.
He stated that “the speed and force behind demand might catch some players in the travel industry off guard.” Airlines could find it difficult to re-hire pilots. Pilots may also need to be trained and refresh their skills.
This year, it’s not just the airlines that are having difficulty hiring staff.
Some 62 million travel-related jobs were lost in 2020, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. While many of these jobs are now returning — in October, the WTTC estimated the industry’s employment levels would rise 18% in 2022 — former employees aren’t rushing back to their old roles.
Some workers found work in different industries after being burned by layoffs throughout the sector. Some workers are unwilling or unable to accept front-line jobs in an era of rising customer anger and aggressive behavior.
The WTTC reports that there are currently shortages in staff for the tourist industry in Spain, Italy (seen below), France, Portugal, and the U.K.
Gonzalo Azumendi | Stone | Getty Images
According to A.I.M., one in thirteen travel jobs in America will remain vacant. WTTC staffing reportPublished December. According to the report, Portugal’s numbers are 1 in 9.
Jon Bortz (CEO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in America), said that it was difficult to find enough cooks to handle the rebound of industry demand.The Exchange” Last year.
He said that overtime is being used by employees to fill this gap and that managers “take shifts” in order to do so.
Travel delays can be caused by worker shortages. This could lead to a decrease in service, such as fewer reservations at restaurants or the elimination of housekeeping.
Bortz said, “We were the first industry to be hit. We’ll probably be one of last to recover fully.” “We ask all customers to please be patient.”
Technology push
The industry’s transition to technology, long before the pandemic began, is evident in the shortage of workers.
These tasks are: delivering room serviceAirport cleaning can be done by robotsRachel Fu, Chair of University of Florida’s Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Department, agreed. According to Fu, hotels may also be able to use “concierge robotics” in order for customers making reservation.
Fu stated that AI can be used wisely to reduce labor costs, without sacrificing personalized service.
There will be many more touchless elevators in the next year.
Nima Ziraknejad
NZ Technologies CEO and founder
These innovations may not only help companies close labor shortages, but they may also be more valuable as businesses continue to fight for tourists dollars.
Some hotels allow guests to check-in and leave, make bookings for airport transfers, and book spa appointments via their apps. like the one by luxury brand Four Seasons.
Four Seasons Chat works differently to other hotel apps. Ben Trodd is senior vice president for sales and hotel marketing at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
HoverTap technology makes it possible to operate elevators without touching them. According to representatives from NZ Technologies technology company, the elevators have been in service in Canada and America.
“We’ll be seeing more touchless elevators next yea.” Nima Ziraknejad was the CEO and founder of the company.
This is how they work.
Elevators don’t stop there. Ziraknejad said that the technology is compatible with any surface. Ziraknejad said the company is looking to open self-service kiosks within airports, restaurants, hotels and other places, along with ATMs and entertainment systems for airplane seats.
Chacko, WNS’ Chacko said that companies with these technological advances will soon have an edge over others.
He said that passengers in some countries are expected to still fill out paper forms, and follow the rules of official personnel who handle their passports or other travel documents. “Elsewhere, for instance, in Spain, most information … can be uploaded onto a single app.”
These innovations “will be a key competitive differentiation” as customer expectations increase and there are more touchless technology options.
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