“Fundamentally, customers do not want choice; they just want exactly what they want.”
― B. Joseph Pine II, The Experience Economy

Experience is the key product that modern customers are seeking. In hospitality, the right experience is vital to not only deliver the right service at the right time but also to build lasting customer loyalty.

Every hotelier, technology vendor, and travel agent talks about the right guest experience, but it is essential to recognise what creates this ultimate ‘product’―how the ideal guest experience differs from one to another, with tailored interactions that can transform an ordinary booking into an extraordinary stay.

When it comes to creating the ideal guest experience, one element in hotel operations stands out: guest profiles.

What is a hotel guest profile?

A hotel guest profile is a centralised digital record of a guest’s stay history, preferences, spending habits, and contact information. It helps hotels personalise services, anticipate needs, and enhance guest loyalty.

A typical guest profile includes:

• Spending habits: Frequent purchases, frequent visit locations, etc, that help identify their purchase power and tailor future offers.
• Booking information: This insight reveals popular booking and revenue channels, supporting marketing efforts and encouraging future stays.
• Payment information: Storing payment details in a secure and confidential manner helps make transactions easier and faster.
• Contact information: Tracking guests’ contact details, as well as their preferred mode of communication, helps provide them with timely, personalised messages.

Why hotels need a 360-degree guest view?

In the connected world, hotels easily have access to guest data thanks to the right hospitality technology. This enables properties to maintain comprehensive guest profiles that support data-driven decisions and help personalise guest experiences. 

Personalising marketing efforts

With a comprehensive understanding of each guest’s preferences and past behaviour, marketing campaigns can move beyond generic mass communications. This allows for targeted email campaigns that are not only relevant but also highly likely to convert, turning leads into booked stays. These insights enable automated, personalised communications, unlimited to sales emails. Consider communications like celebratory offers for birthdays or anniversaries as an example. Using past data to create personalised re-engagement messages during special days is more likely to make a brand’s communication stand out to the guests among thousands of other sales emails.

Enhancing service delivery

Having a detailed profile of the guest means foresight and personalisation that create a memorable impression. Hospitality brands will not only understand guests better but also anticipate needs and pay attention to the minute details that make a guest feel welcome and valued. Imagine a family with young children: knowing this extra detail will allow the hotel to have a cot ready in the room before arrival. The same goes for business travellers: a hotel can make sure to allocate a quiet room with a good view for work. Comprehensive profiles also facilitate proactive service recovery, reviewing past feedback to address any issues before they arise again.

Building stronger relationships and loyalty

Effective personalisation can easily translate into stronger customer satisfaction and, thereby, stronger loyalty. Data collected in comprehensive profiles enables a more attentive and personalised service, and as a result, businesses can significantly increase guest satisfaction. It means more positive reviews and valuable word-of-mouth referrals. The ultimate goal is to convert happy customers into brand advocates who will then actively promote the business to their network. A detailed guest profile allows a brand to understand and cater to individual preferences, fostering long-term relationships and boosting customer retention in an increasingly competitive market.

Driving revenue through personalisation

Harnessing a 360-degree view of guest profiles is a powerful tool for increasing revenue. Comprehensive guest profiles contain key insights for identifying and capitalising on upselling opportunities. For example, a restaurant could suggest a tasting menu to a guest with a restaurant reservation, based on their past dining preferences. By analysing booking patterns of high-value guests, businesses can adjust their pricing during peak periods to align with specific demand. Guest data is also crucial for creating effective loyalty programmes, enabling the rewarding of frequent guests with perks like exclusive lounge access, encouraging repeat business and strengthening their commitment to the brand.

Ready to personalise guest experiences with 360° hotel guest profiles? Connect with our hospitality technology experts today.

Guest data: handle with precision

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Budget travel market in a nutshell

Market dynamics

Source: Budget Hotels Global Market Report 2025

Factors driving growth

Emerging destination markets

South-East Asia | Eastern Europe | Africa

Demographic trends

Budget travel trends for 2025 (and beyond) 

• Demand for affordable accommodations: A significant portion of budget travellers in 2025 are actively seeking affordable accommodations. Traditional budget hotels are still a mainstay but there is a growing interest in vacation rentals, hostels, and boutique options offering value and a distinct local flavour.

• Preference for local and authentic experiences: Beyond the confines of luxury travel, there is a growing demand for more intimate experiences. Most solo tourists and young travellers crave authentic engagement with local communities. This can manifest as seeking out local cuisines, participating in cultural and community events, and supporting local businesses.

• Rise of “destination dupes”: Budget-conscious travellers are increasingly drawn to less popular but often more affordable alternatives to overpriced tourist hotspots. There is a growing trend of such alternatives going viral on social media. Destination dupes can also help mitigate the effects of overtourism.

• Sustainable and responsible tourism: In addition to cost-effective experiences, many budget travellers are also enthusiastic about eco-friendly options and supporting local communities. Businesses that can offer sustainable practices and eco-friendly lodging at affordable prices will resonate with this growing segment of travellers.

• Shorter trips and closer destinations: Budget travel trends in 2025 also show a surge in domestic and regional tourism. Driven by economic pressures and a desire for convenience, more travellers are opting for “nearcations” and short trips, prioritising value and local experiences over long-haul journeys.

How hotels can attract budget travellers 

Understanding these trends allows hospitality professionals to tailor their offerings and marketing strategies effectively:

Emphasise value

Travel agents and hoteliers can advertise any cost-saving options, complimentary amenities, and unique experiences. Consider offering bundled packages that combine accommodation, activities, or dining at a competitive price. Additionally, showcase the intangible value of an experience, from exclusive access to personalised service, to highlight the value for money.

Offer a range of accommodation options

Hotels can offer different room tiers to cater to various budgets. Providing clear descriptions and visual representations of each accommodation type, including budget-friendly options, guarantees transparency. In addition, offering flexible booking policies and payment plans helps further accommodate diverse financial situations.

Promote local experiences

Hotels and travel companies can collaborate with local businesses to offer authentic experiences such as guided tours, cooking classes, or cultural workshops. It is useful to promote these in the marketing materials and business website as unique and exciting offerings.

Highlight secondary destinations

If operating in a less mainstream location, it is important to highlight the unique charm, affordability, and authentic experiences as a good alternative to more crowded and overpriced tourist hotspots. This helps attract travellers seeking memorable experiences at more affordable prices.

Incorporate sustainable practices

It is key to embrace sustainable practices and communicate any eco-friendly initiatives, such as responsible waste management or partnerships with local sustainable suppliers. This will help promote a sustainability focused brand image, drawing in the growing segment of budget travellers seeking eco-conscious options.

Create packages for shorter stays and local travel

Last but not least, businesses can develop attractive offers for weekend getaways or regional explorations to cater to those seeking shorter, more budget-friendly trips. These packages could emphasise curated experiences, such as food tours or nature hikes, maximising enjoyment within a limited region and timeframe.

Revolutionise budget travel with smart hospitality tech.  Schedule your demo now

Technology’s role in optimising budget travel

As today’s travellers rely overwhelmingly on mobile apps and online platforms to hunt for the best deals, technology has become an indispensable tool for the budget hospitality sector. By integrating cloud-based reservation management systems, dynamic pricing strategies, and contactless check-in solutions, hospitality businesses can leverage technology to significantly reduce overheads, optimise offerings, and reach budget-conscious customers. This tech-forward approach helps the industry effectively cater to the growing demand for affordable travel experiences and satisfy the expectations of modern travellers while also maximising operational efficiency and business revenue.

Delivering value beyond price for a brighter future 

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Glamping—decoding the name

The allure behind glamping

There are unique features of glamping experiences that make it special to travellers.

1. Unique accommodations

Glamping offers a range of outdoor lodging. Unlike the usual camping experiences with tents, glamping adds a layer of sophistication to accommodation options. This means staying in unique accommodation types such as luxury tents, treehouses, and eco-lodges, that merge nature with comfort.

2. Modern amenities

The very premise of glamping is to add glamour to camping experiences. Many glamping sites, therefore, feature amenities that are otherwise rare in adventures in the heart of nature; electricity, Wi-Fi, heating, air-conditioning, and even hot tubs.

3. Scenic locations

Glamping and eco-resorts often focus on the environment and are set in picturesque natural spots like forests, beaches, or mountains. This allows the guests to disconnect from the outside world and give them a chance to connect with nature.

4. Eco-friendly practices

In true eco-tourism fashion, glamping sites often prioritise sustainability. These properties are concerned about the environment and actively take steps to minimise their environmental footprint. As such, they prioritise eco-friendly materials and renewable energy.

Preparing for glamping crowds

To provide the exact type of experience glampers and eco-travellers are looking for, there are several strategies resorts can try.

1. Offering flexibility and freedom

Most modern glamping sites combine digital technology, such as smart solutions, with their property. Modern technology allows employees to offer full freedom and flexibility to the guests so that the latter can truly disconnect while enjoying unique properties that highlight the natural surroundings. Data for personalisation, automated technology, and attribute-based offerings will allow guests to experience convenience and control of their stays.

2. Contactless journeys with minimal interaction

Glamping guests prefer to spend their stays disconnected from the rest of the world and connecting with nature. Contactless and self-servicing solutions can offer them options for social distancing, freedom with a sense of oneness with nature and stress-free holidays. For travellers looking for solitude and the perfect getaway holiday, minimal interaction journeys will be an enticing offer.

3. Environmental consciousness

Green technology, ESG protocols, and SDG compliance play a huge role in minimising the environmental footprints of glamping. Energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, smart heating and cooling systems, water conservation mechanisms, inventory, and waste management are some steps that allow guests to enjoy glamping without harming the environment.

4. Optimised property management

Technology provides a flexible foundation for glamping businesses to grow and evolve. A cloud-based PMS allows glamping operators to centralise bookings, customer data, and property management tasks. Meanwhile integrated booking platforms enable dynamic price settings, analytics tools provide actionable data, and dedicated mobile apps allow businesses to scale efficiently.

5. Streamlined communications

In glamping, where properties may span vast, remote areas, clear and timely communication is essential. Technology is often the solution that bridges the gap of connectivity, and it is no surprise that it will help glampers, too. Think of guest messaging platforms, high-quality Wi-Fi, reliable internet connectivity, on-premises technology, automated notifications with IoT-enabled systems, and voice-controlled assistants.

Book a Demo Today to discover how IDS Next’s innovative solutions can optimise your resort.

Glamping, the modern travel experience in style

Glamping, like most travel trends that are predicted for the coming year, will continue to rise. It is predicted to grow with a CAGR of 8.7% from 2024 to 2030. The perfect blend of adventure and luxury that inspires a deep connection to the natural world will attract many travellers, particularly those looking for luxurious holidays and eco-friendly travel options. The responsibility of the industry remains; to offer the best of the eco-experiences to guests without disrupting the eco-systems itself. It is not just about staying in nature—rather it is about coexisting with it in style!

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Travelling for the sole purpose of participating in an event has long been a tradition of event enthusiasts. In recent years, event tourism showed a hike in numbers, affecting the economies of several regions.

Think of Swiftonomics, a phenomenon that refers to the economic influence of Taylor Swift concerts. Swift’s Eras tour in 2023 had a major impact on the cities where she hosted concerts. Similarly, pre-event predictions forecasted the impact of Paris 2024 Olympics to generate up to €10.7 billion, with €1.4-€3.5 billion of that (13-33%) attributed to tourism-related economic impact. Similarly, in India, the days leading up to the Coldplay Navi Mumbai performance in January 2025 is resulting in a hike in prices with hotels within 20 kms of the venue up to ₹5 lakh for three nights.

The impact of entertainment travel on hotels and resorts

There are several benefits that destinations and business owners can reap from entertainment travel.

1. Increased occupancy rates

Event tourism significantly boosts hotel occupancy rates, particularly for multi-day events. Travellers often seek accommodation facilities in the city or nearby areas, leading to a surge in demand for hotel rooms and other facilities, increasing occupancy rates for hotels and resorts. An added benefit is that it can be leveraged right to generate repeat businesses as well. Satisfied attendees may return to the same hotel for future events or vacations, creating a loyal customer base and ensuring long-term profitability. By providing exceptional experiences and recording guest data, hotels can capitalise on the opportunity to cultivate repeat business and foster lasting relationships with event attendees.

2. Higher Average Daily Rates (ADRs)

Event tourism, particularly for niche events like geek gatherings or conventions, often attracts attendees who demand premium services and amenities. These guests may require high-speed internet, business centres or conference halls, specialised accommodation, and other premium features. Hotels that succeed in catering to these demands can charge higher average daily rates (ADRs). The ADR can also be raised for events held during peak seasons or in high-demand destinations. A business can leverage on increased demand and command premium rates by strategically aligning a hotel’s offerings with these popular events.

3. Revenue from additional services

Events often include meals, receptions, or cocktail hours, providing hotels with a captive audience for their restaurants and bars. By offering high-quality food and beverage options, hotels can enhance the overall event experience and increase revenue from these services. Another avenue for hotels is the rental of meeting and event spaces. Branded merchandise and souvenirs related to the event or destination are also a great way to tap into the geek traveller segment. T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, or other memorabilia will certainly entice these audiences to make purchases, driving ancillary revenue.

4. Destination marketing and brand awareness

High-profile events attract media attention, leading to positive publicity and increased visibility via mainstream channels, social media and influencer marketing. This exposure will position the hotel as a desirable destination for future events and leisure travelers. Successful events also create a buzz and generate word-of-mouth marketing among attendees. When guests share their positive experiences on social media, review platforms, or through personal recommendations, it further amplifies the hotel’s brand and attracts new customers. Using events that align with the hotel’s brand and target market and crafting event related media campaigns can be a powerful tool for destination marketing and brand awareness.

5. Community economic impact

During events, temporary jobs are often created in various sectors of the hospitality industry, including event staff, security personnel, and transportation services. These jobs provide employment opportunities for local residents and contribute to the overall economic vitality of the community. Furthermore, event attendees often spend money on local attractions, dining, and shopping, further boosting the local economy. This increased spending can benefit businesses of all sizes, from small, locally owned shops to larger establishments. By attracting visitors and stimulating spending, events can contribute to the economic growth and development of the host community. 

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Preparing a Hotel for Event Tourism 

How do hotels effectively prepare for event tourism? One that ensures a frictionless experience for tourists without disrupting local communities with overtourism? 

• Infrastructure and facilities: Adequate and versatile halls, audiovisual equipment, diverse room types for guests, high-speed internet, and other necessary facilities to support events smoothly.  

• Dedicated teams: Make sure there is a dedicated team of event planners and coordinators experienced in handling group bookings and event logistics.  

• Partnerships: Establishing partnerships with local event organisers, DMCs (Destination Management Companies), and suppliers is a good starting step to leveraging events as revenue generators.  

• Property management tech: Utilising event planning software, reservation modules, table booking systems, POS solutions and related software can help manage the sudden influx of guests.  

• Feedback mechanisms: Feedback mechanisms help gather insights from event attendees and continuously improve a hotel’s services to align with the needs of event travellers.  

• Loyalty programs: Hotels can also offer loyalty programs or incentives to encourage repeat business from event planners and attendees. 

• Data management tools: Leverage data management solutions to gather guest data and insights to provide personalised experiences and forecast seasonal demands. 
  

• Sustainable practices: It is imperative that hotels implement crowd control measures, effective resource planning and eco-consciousness to reduce the impact of overtourism on destinations. 

Maximising opportunity through event-driven hospitality 

The relationship between events and hospitality is one of great potential for hotel operators. It brings significant economic and social benefits to the host destination, generating revenue for residents, creating new job opportunities and promoting the local culture and tradition. By understanding the trends and patterns of tourist behaviour around these events and aligning hotel offerings with event-driven demand, hoteliers can enhance their visibility, optimise pricing, and provide tailored experiences that attract guests. 

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Gone are the days of hurried commutes and grabbing a quick cup of coffee on the go. Today’s generation sees coffee shops as “third spaces”—refreshing social hubs beyond the confines of home and work, fostering connection, relaxation, and a vibrant coffee experience. This burgeoning trend presents a golden opportunity for the hospitality industry.

So, how can cafes and restaurants effectively leverage the coffee culture boom? The answer lies in a strategic blend of beloved coffee shop traditions with innovative solutions.

Understanding modern coffee consumers

In modern coffee culture and hospitality, consumer preferences are shifting towards uniquely personalised experiences and smart technology that enhances moments of social connection. To satisfy today’s coffee lovers, the hospitality industry must move beyond the old one-size-fits-all approach.

1. Selling experiences

Beyond simply enjoying a cup of coffee, the new generations frequent coffee shops to savour a well-rounded experience of relaxation, connection, and comforting hospitality. Additionally, the laidback atmosphere of coffee shops has emerged as a go-to hub for remote work and professional meetings with the advent of the flexible work culture. Whether for work or for relaxation, the ambience is key for a welcoming cafe space; think comfortable seating, curated playlists, and visually engaging artwork that invites the patrons to linger, work, or connect.

When it comes to the coffee itself, the consumption of specialty coffee made with high-quality beans and premium brewing methods is on the rise. According to a recent survey by the National Coffee Association for the USA, 62% of coffee drinkers purchase specialty coffee at least once a week. These coffee connoisseurs crave a high-quality brew with an appreciation for its flavour and origin.

2. Creating a community hub

Coffee culture demands a good time to accompany good coffee. Beyond just selling quality coffee, coffee shops must curate engaging experiences. Hosting local artist showcases, open mic nights or small business networking events are some of the ways coffee shops can go about it. Partnering with local businesses can also help create a vibrant community hub, attracting more patrons and building deeper connections.

When building connections through hospitality, businesses cannot underestimate the power of social media in the digital era. Coffee shops can use social platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase their coffee expertise, unique offerings, and upcoming events. Further, engaging and visually attractive content, fun contests, and giveaways can encourage online customer interaction and foster brand loyalty.

3. Integrating hospitality tech

Modern generations expect seamless technology integration for fast and efficient service in all aspects of their lives, and coffee culture is no exception. A Deloitte survey reveals that 58% of consumers aged 18-38 are more likely to return to restaurants that use automation technologies. Cutting-edge solutions, from reservation management modules to self-service kiosks, allow faster order placement during peak hours, freeing cafe employees to focus on what truly matters—offering a personalised touch and building rapport.

Data-driven decisions are also pivotal in delighting coffee connoisseurs in the digital age. Coffee shops can leverage the guest data accessed via data management apps and loyalty programs to tailor promotions, develop targeted marketing campaigns, and optimise offerings to cater to individual needs. This personal touch fosters a sense of connection, compelling patrons to keep coming back for more. 

How to invest in the right technology?

To boost coffee culture hospitality, not only is it essential to invest in technology, but it is also vital to invest in the right technology. Given below are five key tech solutions that coffee shops can leverage for smoother operations:

• Cutting-edge POS systems: A modern point-of-sale (POS) system can be the backbone of any hospitality establishment’s operations. Choose a system that seamlessly integrates with other solutions, including customer relationship management systems, and inventory management tools. This ensures streamlined operations and a smooth customer experience.

• Inventory/ material management software: A robust inventory management software optimises stock levels and minimises waste. This enables coffee shops and cafes to always have the perfect beans and other supplies on hand to satisfy even the most discerning coffee enthusiast.

• Mobile ordering and payment: A user-friendly mobile app for ordering and payment is critical to catering to the needs of the on-the-go customer. This reduces wait times and queues, greatly increasing customer satisfaction.

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution: CRM systems help foster stronger customer relationships.
  They track purchase history and preferences, helping shops reward loyal customers with personalised offers, curated menu combos and targeted promotions.

• Digital signage: Vibrant digital signage can showcase menus and promotions, creating a more dynamic atmosphere. Integrating social media feeds to display customer photos helps engage the patrons further.

Looking to enhance your cafe with the right technology? Book a demo and get started today!

In a nutshell

The coffee culture boom is a lucrative opportunity for the hospitality industry. However, capturing this growing market requires a strategic approach. By embracing innovative technology solutions alongside genuine human connection, cafes and restaurants can enhance operational efficiency, personalise the customer experience, and cultivate a vibrant community hub. Remember, it is not just about selling coffee. It is about creating a unique and memorable experience that keeps customers coming back for their daily dose of caffeine and connection. 

Wellness and spa management software is one of the crucial elements in contemporary hospitality, especially with the rising number of global wellness travellers. Spa management software enables wellness services to be carried out more efficiently, building strong guest relationships through membership management.

Gone are the days that managed appointments on paper and pen. Universal standards and quality assurance in spa management are better achieved through spa management systems. Despite the abundance of spa management solutions in the market, brands need to take several factors into account when investing in one; in other words, the solution chosen need to fit within the unique requirements for maximum efficiency.

Key features of an ideal spa management solution

1. Efficient booking system

The core focus of spa software is to make spa bookings efficient. A large spa chain, for example, can primarily benefit from an integrated spa management system that consolidates all spa activities into one platform. Appointments made by customers can be recorded in the system and integrated with the POS system, allowing billing and invoicing to be frictionless and enabling upselling opportunities. Appointment booking features also enable guests to view all available resources and offerings within a spa, allowing them to choose their preferred service and employee and book at their preferred time slot. On the other hand, the centralisation of appointments allows spa employees to view all services and service status on a single screen, empowering them to track all booked services, oversee team performances and deliver services accurately.

2. Spa resource tracking

An efficient spa management system also takes into account the planning of resources and re-stocking of products. By maintaining comprehensive resource lists that track the usage of resources, the system helps businesses allocate the right resource to the right job in proper quantities. Additionally, wellness businesses can plan re-ordering of necessary resources so that spa operations can run smoothly without any understocking situation. Ensuring the right resources are available is essential, helping spas provide an uninterrupted service delivery. Accurate resource tracking helps businesses foster customer satisfaction and loyalty, streamline their operations, optimise resource utilisation, and focus on creating exceptional wellness experiences.

3. Staff scheduling

For a spa business to be successful, it is essential to have access to rich human capital. As the performance of the employees defines the identity of a wellness brand, offering employees the best work environment is facilitated by using the right spa management software. Utilising a staff roster management mechanism provides an extended service to guests based on guest preferences, employee availability and specialisation. Staff can be scheduled based on the starting and ending times of various jobs if there is a change in the finishing times of jobs. Using real-time information, employees can be reallocated for new jobs as and when they are made available for optimised productivity.

4. Customer relationship management

The right wellness management software can help brands foster strong customer relationships. The ability of software to integrate with the business’s POS or loyalty systems allows smooth synchronisation of data, enabling the businesses to identify their most loyal guests, highest selling products, peak times and even track loyalty points and guest preferences. Using this data, wellness businesses can plan loyalty offers, exclusive service packages, and seasonal campaigns that entice guests to purchase. Consequently, these strategies can foster customer loyalty, repeat purchases and brand advocacy. Developing strong customer relationships can assist businesses in creating positive e-word of mouth and a positive online reputation.

5. Data and insights

Modern wellness management software entails automatic data recording features, enabling decision-makers to make spontaneous decisions. Real-time accessibility to information enables employees to stay updated about appointments and cancellations, forecast inventory and labour needs per seasonal demands, and track guest behaviour trends. These insights are also valuable for wellness businesses to understand the market trends, make amendments to their online and offline marketing and sales strategies, especially at a time when the wellness market is growing at an unprecedented rate.

The role of spa software in enhancing guest experience

The right software for spa management has many benefits in hand.

• Enhancing customer experience with a high level of personalisation
• Digitalising jobs can make jobs more accurate and faster and improve employee productivity
• Enable employees to focus more on value-added services
• Minimising bottlenecks and reducing the burden on employees
• Facilitate quick management decisions and optimise strategies and operations
• Garner guest loyalty and increase the bottom line via standardised service.

Spa software can achieve many operational goals for wellness businesses.

The future of spa management is through the digitalisation of the highly labour-intensive industry. Through digitalisation, spa management can be minimised, simplified, profit-oriented and service-oriented. Spa management software heightens service quality through enhanced customer value addition. Removing bottleneck activities through digitalisation can avoid staff overburn and focus on finer details in servicing customers with flawless service quality, reliability, and customer empathy.

News of European countries taking measures to manage overtourism is hitting online channels, making many in the hospitality industry wonder what it means for them.

Overtourism is the increase in tourist numbers at such high volumes that it negatively impacts residents, visitors, cultures, and the surrounding environment of a particular destination.

What Are the Reasons for Overtourism?

The global tourism industry has consistently been on the rise even before the pandemic.

In 2023, many destinations are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals.

Source: United Nations World Tourism Organisation

What are the consequences of over-tourism

• Global warming and air pollution: The rise in transportation emissions—carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM)—expansion of infrastructure and high energy consumption in tourist hotspots significantly contributes to global warming.
• Disruption to the environment: Often, transportation emissions from cruise ships lead to water pollution. Noise pollution in overpopulated areas further exacerbates the environmental strain. The stress of excessive foot traffic, constructions, litter, deforestation, erosion and pollution forces more stress on ecosystems.
• The strain on infrastructure: Overtourism brings in tourists more than a destination and its resources can handle. Local infrastructure often struggles to meet that escalating demand causing a shortage of infrastructure that affects locals and tourists alike.
• Rising living costs: As demand for accommodation, services and goods increases due to tourism, prices rise, making it more difficult for locals to afford necessities. Known as tourist inflation, this situation leads to housing shortages and increased living costs for locals.
• Loss of cultural authenticity: Overtourism can lead to the commercialization and homogenization of local culture and traditions. When businesses cater primarily to tourists, it dilutes the authentic experiences that initially attracted visitors in the first place, leading to a loss of community identity.
• Economic instability: Economies that are heavily reliant on tourism are made vulnerable to fluctuations in industry. As the pandemic showed, countries depending solely on tourism for their foreign income can experience economic instability if tourism declines.

How to avoid and manage over-tourism

Sustainable tourism is a shared responsibility.

Innovation and change have been fuelling the contemporary hospitality markets including Oceania and the Pacific Rim. The industry is transforming into a complete tech drive, increasing sales faster and scaling further.  According to Statista, the travel and tourism revenue from Australia and Oceania is expected to show an annual growth rate of 2.54%, between 2023 to 2027.

Hospitality brands in these regions are also looking for benchmarking successful strategies to streamline their front and back-end operations. Yahoo Finance forecasts the demand for the global smart hospitality market to reach US$ 273.27 billion in 2023.

Enterprise Cloud Solutions Gaining Popularity

Being a technology service provider in hospitality is not just about bringing a great product to the market. Instead, it’s about having the foresight to chase continued evolution and innovation that keep your product or service one step ahead of traveller demands and industry needs. The right digital partnerships help brands effectively transform their operations in a way that not only protects their bottom line but also earns them a reputation of excellence amongst guests in an increasingly competitive market.

Attested Solutions Provider

Cloud services are now considered a premium offering as brands invest in digitisation. Enterprise cloud solutions are gaining popularity as hospitality is increasingly relying on private and secure cloud applications to address concerns about guest data privacy. IDS Next has invested in real cloud architecture and other common solutions giving our solutions a serious advantage as it allows scaling without inhibitions. We are a true enterprise chain solution provider with a private cloud and no shared databases. Our solutions are mobile-first, which is one of the core factors required for design thinking.

One Software in Multiple Platforms

IDS Next focuses on bringing out the best in technology for the hospitality industry by offering a unique set of solutions that complement each other. These range from cloud and on-premises to hybrid solutions, understanding that certain markets will not be completely prepared for cloud solutions in terms of infrastructure, internet connectivity, or regional administrative reasons. The company considers servicing multi-segmented brands with multiple front-office solutions and working seamlessly with central solutions.

Guest Enhancement with Great Support

Our full-stack enterprise cloud solutions offer a range of products for hotel chains and groups, restaurant chains and food courts, as well as leisure businesses. These solutions simplify guest communication and interaction, providing contactless and hassle-free experiences. We also offer 24/7 omnichannel, local and online support, ensuring the best customer service in the industry.

Always Ahead

As the travel and hospitality industry continues to innovate, it is vital for businesses to adapt to new challenges. We aim to help all sectors of the industry including hotels, restaurants and leisure businesses, understand the present conditions and predict future changes so they can stay ahead of the game with an exceptional guest experience.

“Travel habits are always changing, and we find there are more and more guests that want the juxtaposition here, a quiet respite in the heart of Las Vegas and all the fabulous things it offers.”
Lezlie Young, General Manager, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. However, concerning the hospitality industry, it cannot stay a secret anymore as the city’s paradigm shift leaves many lessons for hoteliers around the globe.

The evolution of digitalisation in the hospitality industry has led to many challenges, leading to the rise of unique conglomerates in the market. A combination of e-casinos and other digital gambling organisations has introduced a unique sociocultural environment, and this is no different in the city of sin.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) tourism indicators also reported a tourist decrease in the last year during pandemic levels with the total visitor volume for February 2022 being 2,616,600 people. While this was 69.9% more than in February 2021, it was 18% lower than in 2019.     

The response to these challenges is the city of Last Vegas changing its status quo, exploring new strategies like:

1. Diversification of tourist attractions

Hotels across the globe turned to ancillary revenue during the lockdown as RevPAR proved unsustainable during crises. Vegas hotels responded to these challenges by opening up new entertainment and socialising facilities as proven by big hotels like Wynn Las Vegas designing a 400,000 square foot convention space and reopening its 18-hole golf course.

This leaves a strong message for hospitality businesses outside Vegas. Outdoor leisure facilities and socialising spaces are an ideal solution to offer guests a safe environment with open interacting opportunities, which will in turn continue the revenue stream.

Fortunately, the standardisation of hospitality technology, especially club and leisure management apps, makes diversification of entertainment facilities much easier for hotels. Hoteliers can leverage these brand-new solutions to launch new strategies such as:

• Promote new facilities like wellness or outdoor tours
• Manage the influx of multiple types of guests
• Keep track of diverse entertainment and leisure needs
• Provide contactless/ mobile solutions
• Maintain health and safety standards even at the height of socialising seasons

2. Reinventing the gaming culture

The extension of entertainment facilities beyond casinos is one of the biggest shifts that Las Vegas has witnessed throughout the last few years. As more states legalise gambling and opening of new online casinos, players can take part in gambling and gaming without requiring to travel to Vegas.

Today, hotels are investing in AR and VR technology, providing immersive travel, exploration and gaming experience to guests. By providing guests the chance to interact with an enhanced physical environment, even from the comfort of their hotel room, hotels build a better brand impression amidst the cutthroat competition.

Keeping up with digitalisation, Vegas entertainment centres have made efforts to transform the city into a major global Esports destination. CEO Dave Thompson of Changing Vegas creating the Asteroid Arena—a 4-person CCG designed for eSports shows that the city is already upping their game.

Changing the game culture of Vegas has left something for other hotels to consider. E-facilities and visual technologies have empowered hotels to keep guests engaged and entertained throughout the year, especially during low or restricted travel seasons.

3. Turning healthier and more sustainable

The world is experiencing more sociocultural changes as inclusivity becomes the norm and diversity is respected. In 2019, restaurants in Clark County-Las Vegas introduced eateries with the vegan and vegetarian options. Further gyms, free yoga classes and indoor hiking services have also evolved to be standard for hotels.

These new changes have proven that hotels need to be prepared for a diverse audience: the vegans, the wellness travellers, the health junkies and more. It is time to re-evaluate the traditional idea of a ‘comfortable stay’ to ensure every type of guest feels welcome.

Data monetisation through past sales data saved in modern ERP solutions will enable hotels to prepare personalised menu combos, curated room plans and pre-set amenities to accommodate and support different lifestyle choices of travellers.

Sustainable operations are joining these efforts to keep the green travellers satisfied. The migration from paper-based modules into cloud software to reduce paper trails has contributed to an overall positive environmental impact.

4. Building strategic partnerships

Partnerships with famous brands have become a popular trend for Vegas. Renowned partnerships like Wolfgang Puck’s Spago at the Bellagio have started to attract more for business recognition.

Partnerships need not be limited to the Vegas border alone. New and smaller hotels can benchmark the same strategy and partner with local artists, sports venues, entertainment centres, popular spots or even local events.

Entertainment and popular culture have always been the key focus for travellers and explorers. Building positive synergies with them will lead to a win-win that promotes local small businesses, simultaneously attracting more foot traffic to hospitality businesses.

Hotels can also take this a step further by communicating these partnerships via their own app, promoting them on their websites and listing different facilities and entertainment offers on their online platforms.

Bringing the Vegas life to the outside world

Las Vegas is evolving, with a prediction that it may soon lose its title of nightclub capital of the world.

Taking a page out of the Sin City, the world of hospitality can reinvent its services to match changing customer needs, such as diversified entertainment services, accommodating different types of travellers and tech-powering the services to increase service value amidst changing demands.

Las Vegas leaves something to think about for the global hospitality services market; to think out of box and to meet the new generation of patrons with services unlike ever before.

Experience and branding have become two critical elements in fostering guest loyalty in the hotel industry. Particularly in the age of consumer empowerment, seamless guest experience and branding go hand in hand—a fact that no good business can overlook. This has made it essential to identify where guests face friction in their journey from check-in to check-out in a hotel. Travellers may book their hotel stays for multiple reasons, however, despite the objective of their travel, the journey of their stay must be considered with utmost importance. 

Social media’s popularity has pressurised hoteliers to maintain their brand image with great competition, as hotel ratings and reviews are now posted and available online for the public. Statistics revealed by Stratos Jet Charters in early 2022 show that 66% of millennials prefer to use their smartphone to book their trips and 74% use their mobile devices for travel or hotel-related research. Hotels need nothing short of perfection to impress their audiences.   

The current competition also demands that hoteliers attend to every need of guests with personalisation. This can be quite a hassle to achieve with recent struggles most hotel businesses face. Appropriate resource allocations have also become difficult for most managements with prominent skilled labour shortages, even as the worst of COVID-19 has passed.   

All these factors have become the culprits for the negative guest experience, leading to the following common pain points.  

• Long lounge waiting time during check-in

  Sometimes, hotels expect guests to wait longer at the front desk or the lounge, leaving the latter frustrated and uncomfortable. It can be disappointing for those who arrive at the hotel after long hours of travel, expecting to quickly check in to their room and rest. The situation worsens during high-travel and vacation seasons with increased bookings.  

• Lack of complimentary supplies

  Guests expect a comfortable and relaxed stay at hotels. Naturally, they expect complimentary amenities such as drinking water, shampoo, soaps, coffee and tea when they check-in. Unfortunately, the lack of room commodities or the delay in re-supplying such amenities can significantly drop satisfaction scores.  

• Slow room turnover

  Quickly turning over rooms is essential to success in the hospitality industry. Often, properties may display a slow room turnover due to being short-staffed or have a high number of bookings. Today, guests wish to check in or out with zero glitches or delays. This often leads to frustrations for the guests.    

Technology has always been at the forefront when delivering a seamless service. Digitalising guest services can help hoteliers streamline and upgrade their services and eliminate the chances of guests leaving the hotel dissatisfied. Moreover, it can boost hotel ratings and organically bring positive recognition to the brand. Hoteliers striving to vamp up their game in the challenging industry need a solution to the above challenges. Amongst the most recommended tech-driven solutions, hoteliers can implement the below-mentioned solutions:  

• Self-check-in options

  This is an ideal solution to avoid making guests wait for a long time at the lobby during hotel check-in time. The long wait is one of the big pain points guests experience. Kiosk Marketplace reported that the digital check-in technology increased by 66% due to the pandemic. Hotels can leverage this trend by adding mobile self-check-in/ check-out options and significantly reducing lounge waiting hours. This could also facilitate contactless check-in.  

• Digitalised room service system
  

  Hotels can provide guests with all the required information they need on their smartphones, from general information about the hotel to a complete room service menu with the option of self-ordering.  TravelPerk reported that 79% of corporate travellers had completed a business trip booking on their mobile devices. These numbers make it apparent that smart and mobile technology is a sure way to guarantee today’s guest comfort and get services delivered on time.   

• Tech-driven resource planning
  

  A cloud solution that streamlines housekeeping tasks for supervisors and housekeepers by prompt notification of tasks can accelerate all housekeeping operations and consequently provide speedy and convenient service for the guests. Additionally, automation of the hotel’s routine tasks can help manage staff shortages, effectively eradicating delays in room turnovers. 

• Personalised accommodation
  

  Moving beyond the one-size fits all approach, hotels can cater to the individual needs of their guests by collecting guests’ information and preferences with a cloud-based Property Management Software and customising their services and amenities as per their needs. On the other hand, guests can request their preferred amenities prior to check-in, providing increased convenience while enabling hotel resources and services to be distributed optimally.   

Understanding where a hotel can improve its services and ensure a seamless journey for guests is paramount for the sustainability of any hotel business.   

The more hotel companies focus on reducing friction for guests, the more the guests can relax and enjoy the experience. A happy guest is a returning guest as they bring immense opportunities for more potential guests and simultaneously revisit the property. The worldwide smart hospitality industry is forecasted to reach $49.9 billion by 2027. Hence, technology combined with adequate planning and strong communication skills will alleviate guests’ pain points as much as possible, resulting in an ultimate guest experience and higher credibility.