Hotel bookings spike on positive vaccine news
On December 11, the same day that Pfizer’s vaccine was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the number of bookings made across Marriott, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Kayak and Priceline’s websites—among those of many other recognizable industry names — took a sharp turn upwards. According to RateGain, a travel technology company, last Friday represented the largest number of daily bookings since the pandemic began in March, with 9,512 transactions processed in the U.S., across all its partner sites. That number is even comparable to a typical day’s sales in November and December 2019, which generally saw between 8,500 to 10,000 bookings; the busiest day in December saw 12,117 bookings.
Post COVID-19 marketing
The latest report from Horwath HTL Atlanta, “The Excitement of Post-Covid Marketing,” addresses challenges service companies may face, while also looking at solutions. According to the report, management cannot assume customer service will automatically come back to the pre-COVID quality level. This report also shows how skills in training and leadership will be required for post-COVID achievement, focusing on how it will be essential for management to initiate a culture that emphasizes future success.
Poll: In-person meetings, events to surge in 2021
The Global Business Travel Association released the results of its latest COVID-19 member poll. The survey finds that a majority of respondents are optimistic that the travel industry will begin to rebound in mid to late 2021 and that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is top of mind for many business travel professionals. Key findings include:
- Three out of four respondents expect employees to attend in-person meetings and events in Q2 or Q3 2021, with 89% of respondents set to attend an in-person meeting or event with attendees outside their company by Q3 2021
- 87% of respondents expect to attend internal company meetings or events in person by Q3 2021. As attendance at in-person events increase through the year, attendance at hybrid meetings is expected to decline as 2021 unfolds
Travel in 2021: Better than you think
Looking to 2021, writes MMGY Global CEO Clayton Reid, there are many reasons to be optimistic as travel intent is climbing and vaccines are on the near horizon. In China, hotel occupancy and domestic flight numbers are now 90% of 2019 levels and in a study from McKinsey, Chinese intent to travel rose from 15% to 70% between May and August. While some suggest 2021 will reach only 70% of 2019 travel revenues, Reid writes that it will be much higher, with a global travel recovery reaching pre-pandemic levels by early 2022.
Consumers optimistic about travel in the new year, too
New York-based Tablet Hotels released new data indicating that consumers are feeling increasingly optimistic about travel in 2021, with the number of travelers booking stays 90 or more days out growing 208% over the November 1 to December 9 period versus the prior four-month period. The data indicates there is significant pent-up demand for travel and that consumers are growing more confident about traveling safely again in the new year as global vaccine efforts accelerate.
U.S. occupancy remains relatively flat
U.S. weekly hotel occupancy remained relatively flat from the previous week, according to the latest data from STR through December 12.
December 6-12 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019):
Occupancy: 37.8% (-37.4%)
ADR: US$85.88 (-31.7%)
RevPAR: US$32.49 (-57.3%)
Aggregate data for the top 25 markets showed lower occupancy (35.6%) but higher ADR (US$90.81) than all other markets. Among the top 25 markets, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida (47.6%) saw the highest occupancy level. Markets with the lowest occupancy levels for the week included Oahu Island, Hawaii (22.8%) and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin (24.1%).