TripAdvisor: Higher rates, renovations among U.S. lodging trends
Comments �By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
TripAdvisor's first-ever survey of more than 1,000 U.S. lodging owners suggests that travelers stand a good chance of paying more for their hotel room this year vs. last year.
In the survey, 45% of respondents said they expect to increase rates, while 51% expect to hold them steady and 4% expect to decrease rates.
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The online-review giant polled hotel managers, as well as bed-and-breakfast inn owners and innkeepers. The findings generally mesh with the confidence that big-chain hotel operators have expressed recently in their ability to raise rates this year.
Other noteworthy findings in TripAdvisory's survey:
- Renovation trend: 61% of respondents said they're planning to renovate the interiors of their properties this year. Another 42% said they plan to renovate their property's exterior.
- Social media outreach: A whopping 57% of respondents say they'll boost their social media marketing budgets this year vs. 2010. That means if you have time to get chummy with your hotel on Facebook or Twitter, you'll find more opportunities.
- Online review feedback: Not surprisingly, 99% of respondents plan to respond to online guest reviews.
- Mobile programs: 27% of respondents plan to launch mobile programs for the first time in 2011 to communicate with customers who use their iPhone, Android, Blackberry or other device all the time. Just this week, Radisson-parent Carlson launched its first-ever mobile app for its revamped loyalty program, Club Carlson. Surprisingly, 46% have no plans to create mobile programs, but that could reflect a greater percentage of respondents that are from small hotels or independents that don't have big-chain tech budgets.
Readers: Have you spotted examples of any of these trends this year?
Posted Feb 17 2011 7:41AM
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