Accommodation in Tourism: Outlook for Hotels in 2023

Accommodation in tourism will see some bright days ahead, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and a survey conducts by Morning Consult.  The AHLA is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry. 

The survey found that 60% of Americans are reporting more interest and willingness to stay in hotels this year versus last year, and hotels are the top accommodation choice among those planning to travel for business and leisure in the next three months. 

Accommodation In Tourism

The new national Hotel Booking Index measuring trends for accommodation in tourism notes 52% of adults would choose to stay in hotels if they were to travel overnight for leisure in the next three months, while 76% of potential business travelers would be most likely to stay in a hotel if they travel for work during the same timeframe.

Survey responses from business travelers indicate that nearly 70% of their employers have either returns to the pre-pandemic normal or increases amounts of business travel. This is good news for hoteliers, as business travel is one of this tourism accommodation industry’s main sources of revenue.

Accommodation in Tourism: Pre and Post Pandemic:

– 51% of business travelers say the share of employees expects or encourage to travel for work is now the same as before the pandemic, while another 20% say it’s more than before.

– 53% of business travelers say the average length of business trips is now the same as before the pandemic, while another 20% say it’s more than before.

– 52% of business travelers say the amount of business trips expected or supported by their employer is now the same as before the pandemic, while another 20% say it’s more than before.

– 52% of business travelers say the amount of spending their employer will cover on business trips is now the same as before the pandemic, while another 18% say it’s more than before.

AHLA’s Hotel

Based on the survey results, AHLA’s Hotel Booking Index (HBI) for the next three months is 7.1, or very good. The HBI is a composite score gauging the short-term outlook for the hotel industry. The ten-point score is based on a weighted average of survey respondents’ travel likelihood in the next three months (50%), self-reported household financial security (30%), and a preference to stay in hotels for travel (20%).

The two Hotel Booking Index surveys of more than 4,000 adults were conducted Dec. 16 – 19, 2022, and Dec. 28, 2022, to Jan. 2, 2023. 

Other key findings for the hotel industry and accommodations in tourism include the following:

+ Hotels are the top lodging choice for those planning to travel overnight for the upcoming holidays Martin Luther King Jr. Day (47%), Valentine’s Day (54%), and President’s Day (42%)

+ 48% of business travelers have extended a business trip in the last year for leisure purposes, and 84% of business travelers are interested in bleisure

+ 60% of adults are likely to take more vacation/leisure trips in 2023 vs. 2022

+ 45% of business travelers are likely to take more business trips in 2023 vs. 2022

Americans Planning

“With Americans planning for more hotel stays this year and business travel moving in the right direction, AHLA’s Hotel Booking Index is a cause for optimism among hoteliers,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “This positive momentum is great news for the hotel industry as well as its employees, who are enjoying more career opportunities, upward mobility and flexibility than ever before.”

To help hotels fill open jobs and raise awareness of the hotel industry’s 200+ career pathways, the AHLA Foundation’s “A Place to Stay” multi-channel advertising campaign is now active in 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tampa.