Preferred Hotel Group – which operates independent hotel brand Preferred Hotels & Resorts and new sustainable hotel brand Beyond Green – recently conducted its annual global travel survey for members of its loyalty program – I Prefer Hotel Rewards.
More than 4,000 Members from all around the world took part in the survey, and the results reflect a really upbeat attitude regarding travel in 2022, indicating a long-awaited revival for the industry as solo travellers, couples, and families continue to Believe in Travel.
Survey Results Snapshot:
- WHERE? According to the survey results, destinations across North America and Europe are the top travel picks this year with 30% of respondents keen to explore North America and nearly a quarter wanting to experience the diversity of Europe’s urban and rural destinations. Exciting hotel launches in Europe this year – such as Sommerro, a luxury Art Deco hotel debuting in Oslo in September, and Passalacqua, an 18th century villa on the shores of Lake Como set to open in June, and across the United States – such as Pendry Park City, a contemporary mountain resort, which has opened its doors in Utah just in time for the ski season, and Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences, a wellness resort on Florida’s Palm Beaches launching this spring – are prompting a growing number of inquiries, stimulating intent, and generating bookings for future travel.
- WHY? More than 50% of respondents claim their primary vacation motivation is to travel with their extended family, having spent so much time apart. Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Preferred Residences collection, which offers more than 80 residential-style lodging options ranging from beachfront villas to luxury chalets, is a turnkey option for these types of leisure bookings, particularly as travelers continue to prioritize personalization and socially-distanced accommodations. Beyond Green’s family-friendly, sustainable properties will also be in high demand, including Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, in New Mexico, which offers the Junior Tracking Program for kids of all ages to experience hands-on conservation activities.
- WHAT? There are notable shifts in preference based on the types of guest accommodations prioritized. Inquiries and requests for resort-style properties continue to outpace city hotels with the survey revealing that over two thirds of respondents are planning to book a resort break in 2022. City hotels are still a strong consideration and beginning to make notable gains with nearly half of respondents planning to book an urban adventure this year. Second city destinations will continue to rise in popularity with traveler’s keen to explore lesser-known, and less crowded, metropolises such as Atlanta, Chicago, York in the United Kingdom, and Milan in Italy.
I Prefer Hotel Rewards, which launched in 2013, is the world’s largest guest loyalty programme for travellers looking for a unique perspective on the independent hotel experience. I Prefer perks are available at over 650 partner properties across the world, and the programme presently has 4 million members.
