Shapes Of Things To Come

Yes, it’s that time of year … no, not Christmas, although that’s certainly a big date on the calendar in the next month or so …

No, for travel trade types, this is the time of year when they look ahead and try to figure out what’s coming in the next 12 months.

Well, Booking.com has just released its “8 Big Travel Predictions” for 2017 based on a wealth of data, traveller endorsements, reviews, preferences and insights that it has at its fingertips.

So what’s Booking.com see coming in the next 12 months, well here’s a glimpse of what they think is ahead:

• Instant Gratification 2.0 – technology is fueling a more demanding and impatient traveller. Of those surveyed, 44% of travellers expect to be able to plan their holiday in a few simple taps on their smart phone and over half (52%) expect their use of travel apps to increase in 2017. With this, we’re increasingly looking to technology to eradicate all on-the-road niggles, deliver answers to our specific needs in the moment and enhance our experience with recommendations and short-cuts we haven’t even thought of. The coming year will see this expectation addressed in an unprecedented way.
• Getting to Business – The “bleisure” boom is well and truly underway and 2017 will see a further upswing not only in the blurring lines between leisure and business travel, but in the value we attach to workplace travel opportunities.
• Appetite to Discover – the discovered world has many undiscovered places and 2017 promises to see travellers unleashing their inner explorer like never before.
• Mind, Body and Soul – in a hectic world, people are increasingly seeing travel as a way to bring balance back into their lives. Almost half (48%) see going on holiday as a moment to reflect and make better lifestyle choices. The coming year will see many travellers prioritizing health conscious trips that promise harmony for the mind, body and soul.
• Go Green or Stay Home – sustainable travel may mean different things to different people, but there’s no denying the trend for both travellers and accommodations becoming more environmentally and sustainably aware and responsible. The coming year will see over a third (36%) of travellers planning to choose more eco-friendly travel options than they did in 2016 and nearly two in five (39%) interested in an eco-tour travel experience.
• Simple Pleasures – travellers in 2017 will be inspired by their own aspirations rather than material possessions.
• The Human Touch – as the ying to technology’s yang, interacting with amazing staff and forging genuine relationships on holiday will be an increasingly important hallmark of travel in 2017.
• Fly Me to the Moon – travel has become a lifestyle, not a luxury for an increasing number of people, and it’s unsurprising that we are starting to see people’s desires to explore go beyond this world. The merging of technology with the increasing desire to travel into the unknown is leading to many innovations and travel advances in 2017.

Booking.com’s chief marketing officer, Pepijn Rijvers observed:

“Experiencing the unknown, encountering different people and cultures, and testing new limits has always been at the core of what drives us to travel and 2017 is certainly shaping up to be an exciting year.”

For the full story on what Booking.com sees coming in 2017, don’t miss Canadian Travel Press’ annual Forecasting issue set to publish on December 5, 2016.