about tourism and hospitality industry

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Global tourism industry - statistics & facts

What are the leading global tourism destinations, digitalization of the global tourism industry, how important is sustainable tourism, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023

Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022

Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Related topics

Recommended.

• Hotel industry worldwide
• Travel agency industry
• Sustainable tourism worldwide
• Travel and tourism in the U.S.
• Travel and tourism in Europe

Recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Global business travel spending 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in leading travel markets worldwide in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leisure tourism spending worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global business travel spending 2001-2022

Expenditure of business tourists worldwide from 2001 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 1950 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2005 to 2023, by region (in millions)

Number of travel and tourism jobs worldwide from 2019 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in millions)

• Premium Statistic Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value
• Basic Statistic Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties
• Premium Statistic Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023

Market size of the hotel and resort industry worldwide from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value

Leading hotel brands based on brand value worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties

Leading hotel companies worldwide as of June 2023, by number of properties

Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotels opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotel rooms opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Countries with the highest number of hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

• Premium Statistic Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023
• Premium Statistic Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022

Leading airports for international air passenger traffic in 2022 (in million international passengers)

Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023

Market value of selected airlines worldwide as of May 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027

Worldwide number of passenger rail users from 2017 to 2022, with a forecast through 2027 (in billion users)

Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023

Number of daily passengers using bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as of April 2023, by region

Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028

Number of users of car rentals worldwide from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023 (in million)

Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Transport-related emissions from international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2005 and 2016, with a forecast for 2030, by mode of transport (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Attractions

• Premium Statistic Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type
• Basic Statistic Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022

Most visited museums worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in millions)

Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022

Leading amusement and theme parks worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by attendance (in millions)

Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type

Number of monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list as of September 2023, by type

Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Number of Michelin-starred restaurants in selected countries and territories worldwide as of July 2023

Online travel market

• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revenue) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Selected trends

• Premium Statistic Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2023
• Premium Statistic Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2023

Share of travelers that believe sustainable travel is important worldwide in 2023

Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region

Main sustainable initiatives travelers are willing to adopt worldwide in 2022, by region

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023

Nights and experiences booked with Airbnb from 2017 to 2023 (in millions)

Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022

Technologies hotels are most likely to implement in the next three years worldwide as of 2022

Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Must-have hotel technologies to create a more amazing stay in the future among travelers worldwide as of 2022

• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

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What Is Hospitality Management? Careers, Skills, Salaries, and More

Discover examples of jobs in the hospitality industry, needed skills and education, and hospitality courses you can take to advance your career.

Hospitality management involves all the tasks and aspects associated with managing a hospitality business. These businesses focus on welcoming customers and providing them with pleasant experiences, whether through dining, lodging, events, entertainment, or travel. 

Take a closer look at how hospitality management is different from hotel management and examples of hospitality management career paths. You'll also discover the skills and education you may need to succeed in this industry, the job outlook, and how to get started.

Hospitality management vs. hotel management

Hotel management has to do with the lodging industry only, and hospitality management involves a variety of industries. Hotel management is a type of hospitality administration. You'll find that most hospitality businesses fall under one of five key categories:

Food and beverage

Meetings and events

Travel and tourism 

Career paths in hospitality management 

A background in hospitality management may open a variety of job opportunities. Here are some of the career paths you can take.

*All salary data sourced from Glassdoor June 2022

Hotel general manager

Hotel general managers use business, management, and interpersonal skills to oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel, motel, lodge, inn, or resort. The various hotel department heads report directly to them, and they must have knowledge of all areas of hotel management. Depending on size, the departments within a hotel might include:

Food and beverage services

Front office

Housekeeping

Human resources

Information technology

Kitchen and food production

Maintenance and engineering

Marketing and sales

The level of education needed for a hotel general manager depends on the size of the business. If you want to work for a full-service hotel, you'll likely need a bachelor's degree in hotel management or hospitality. Smaller hotels will often hire general managers with an associate degree. Luxury hotels may require you to have a master's degree in hospitality management. 

Average annual salary (US): $67,918

Property operations manager 

In addition to mechanical and engineering knowledge, property operations managers need good organizational skills, a knack for time management, and an ability to work well individually. This position may also be referred to as a property maintenance manager. 

As a property operations manager, you'll conduct regular inspections on properties such as resorts or hotels. Inspections help ensure that the property’s appearance is up to standard and that all parts of the property are operating normally. You will either do maintenance and repairs yourself or supervise your maintenance staff members. 

You can take a few routes to get a job as a property operations manager after graduating from high school. Consider getting an apprenticeship, going to trade school, or getting a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.

Average annual salary (US): $51,004

Restaurant manager

Restaurant managers perform all the tasks that ensure a restaurant runs smoothly, such as:

Hiring restaurant staff

Setting schedules

Dealing with customer problems

Overseeing food prep and plating

Ordering food and restaurant supplies

Special skills that might benefit you in this job include the ability to work under pressure, flexibility with your schedule, and good communication skills. 

To become a restaurant manager, you can get a high school diploma and work your way up to the position in a restaurant, or you can get a degree. Many restaurant management positions call for at least an associate degree in restaurant management or hospitality management.  

Average annual salary (US): $49,789

Front office manager

Front office managers are responsible for the operation of a front office. In the hospitality industry, this might be the front office of a hotel, a casino, an event company, or an eco-adventure business. Some duties may include:

Overseeing the front office staff

Record keeping

Answering phone calls

Interacting with customers 

Some workplace skills you'll need include an ability to communicate in person and in writing, good supervisory skills, and the capacity to work well under pressure. 

You'll need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent to become a front office manager and some experience working in a front office. Or, you can get an associate or bachelor's degree in communications, business management, or human resources .  

Average annual salary (US): $42,740

Director of housekeeping

A director of housekeeping is in charge of the housekeeping department in a business that provides lodging like a hotel or resort. Some duties include:

Hiring and training housekeeping staff

Managing staff schedules

Overseeing housekeeping needs for regular business and events

Helping out with cleaning tasks 

To get a position as a director of housekeeping, you might only need a high school diploma or a GED and significant housekeeping experience. However, some housekeeping director positions require an associate degree in hotel management or hospitality management.

Special skills needed for this job include:

The ability to work well alone or with a team

Superior customer service

Good time management skills

Average annual salary (US): $55,266

Sommeliers have a deep knowledge of wine and understand how to recommend and serve it to customers. Their knowledge of wine might include:

Types of grapes used to make wines

Where wine grapes are grown

Select wine regions around the world

The proper way to taste wine  

To become a sommelier, it helps to have experience in a fine dining restaurant as a front-of-house attendant. It's possible to work your way up to a sommelier position, but an educational program designed specifically for sommeliers can be an efficient way to learn what you need to know. Examples of two institutions that offer sommelier education programs include the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). The time it takes to get these certifications typically spans from about 18 months to three years.

Average annual salary (US): $60,908

Catering assistant

Catering assistants work for catering companies, which prepare and serve meals for events. Special skills needed for this position include knowledge of food preparation, food service, and food safety. You'll also need good time management and customer service skills . 

Catering assistant duties include:

Loading and unloading food and catering supplies

Washing, cutting, and peeling foods

Preparing salads and sauces

Setting up dining areas and buffets 

To become a catering assistant, you'll usually need a high school diploma or the equivalent and some experience working in the food industry. 

Average annual salary (US): $32,671

Travel agent

Travel agents plan different aspects of trips for travelers. Duties typically include conducting research and consulting with customers. They’re also responsible for booking flights, cruises, car rentals, hotels, tours, restaurant reservations, and event tickets. Special skills useful to travel agents include good verbal communication, time management, and the ability to work under pressure.  

To become a travel agent, you'll need a high school diploma or the equivalent and at least a few courses in travel planning from a community college or a vocational school. 

Average annual salary (US): $39,189

As a tour guide, you'll provide visitors or travelers with information about a particular place or a group of places. Examples include museums, government buildings, historic sites, parks, neighborhoods, and whole towns or cities. Additional job duties might include:

Collecting fees

Providing maps and brochures

Translating for foreign visitors

Giving briefings on safety procedures

Special skills that benefit tour guides include:

An engaging personality

Comfortable at public speaking

The ability to stay organized

Foreign language skills 

Average annual salary (US): $33,312

Event planner

When you're an event planner, you're responsible for the activities that ensure an event goes smoothly. Your duties often include:

Booking event sites 

Hiring caterers, entertainment, photographers, and other vendors

Consulting with customers

Overseeing staff

Negotiating vendor contracts

Supervising event setup and breakdown 

Important event planner skills include time management, the ability to work under pressure, and attention to detail.

While some event planning jobs require an associate or bachelor's degree in hospitality management. Several certifications may also help you qualify for more positions. A few examples include Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) or Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP). 

Average annual salary (US): $41,189

Hotel marketing manager

As a marketing manager at a hotel, you're responsible for maximizing profits by boosting customer awareness and satisfaction. Duties typically include:

Managing hotel marketing staff 

Promoting the hotel through print, radio, video, and online marketing

Conducting market research to determine the needs of customers 

Building good customer relations 

To become a hotel marketing manager it's common to have a bachelor's degree in marketing or hotel management and have some experience in sales or marketing.   

Average annual salary (US): $54,579

Do you need a degree to work in hospitality management?

Whether or not you need a degree to work in hospitality management depends on the job. While a tour guide may not need a college degree, a hotel general manager often requires a master's degree. 

What skills do you need to work in hospitality management?

Having good communication skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in the technical skills specific to your job may help you succeed in hospitality management. Here's a look at the workplace skills and technical skills you will typically need.  

Workplace skills

Since jobs in the hospitality industry focus on giving customers enjoyable experiences, certain people skills are valuable. These often include:

Communication

Time management

Ability to multitask

Attention to detail

A positive attitude

Problem-solving

Flexibility

Technical skills

The types of technical skills you'll need for a job in the hospitality industry depend on the particular job. For instance, if you have a position as a front office manager, you may need to be good with numbers and have familiarity with accounting software. For an event planning position, you'd want to know about design, and as a hotel marketing manager, you would benefit from having a strong grasp of social media.

Read more: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?

What is the job outlook for hospitality management?

The coronavirus pandemic greatly affected the leisure and hospitality industry. In April 2020, jobs in the industry decreased by 48 percent, but employment has steadily risen since January 2021 and the industry has made a significant rebound to recover almost all of that employment loss as of March 2022 [ 1 ]. This is especially true for the private industry, as opposed to government employers. Therefore, the job outlook appears relatively bright.  

To pursue your interest in a career in hospitality management, here are a few ways to get started:

Consider an internship or an entry-level job in the hospitality industry to determine if it's a good fit for you.

Identify if you have special knowledge or skills that would transfer to a hospitality management position.

Get a better understanding of the industry by taking a few hospitality courses. 

If you're interested in being a general manager, front office manager, or marketing manager in a hotel, check out this hotel management specialization offered by ESSEC Business School on Coursera. If the travel and tourism industry is more to your liking, you might be interested in a course on sustainable tourism from the University of Copenhagen. 

Related articles

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What Is an Associate Degree? Requirements, Costs, and More

10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

What Are Interpersonal Skills? And How to Strengthen Them

Article sources

1. US Travel Association. " Leisure and Hospitality Employment Update , https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/leisure-hospitality-employment _march-2022-update.pdf." Accessed March 30, 2022.

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Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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What is hospitality?

Hospitality means extending a welcome to guests or offering a home away from home, and the word is derived from the Latin word “hospes” meaning host, visitor or stranger. The hospitality and tourism industry is a vast sector that includes all the economic activities that directly or indirectly contribute to, or depend upon, travel, tourism and hospitality.

This industry sector includes:

• Hotels & Resorts
• Restaurants & Catering
• Night Clubs & Bars
• Travel & Transportation
• Spas & Wellness
• Cruise Liners & Bus tours
• Cultural & Sports
• Business Administration (events, communication, customer experience, and many more )

Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management

Discover the EHL Bachelor's program meticulously crafted by our Hospitality Management School to meet the evolving needs of the hospitality and tourism industry.

Our curriculum strikes a balance between hands-on experience, academic excellence, and business acumen. It also provides a unique opportunity for students to study in two premier locations: Switzerland and Singapore.

Immerse yourself in practical courses, workshops and two six-month internships, providing real-world insights aligned with industry demands.

The History of Hospitality & Tourism 

Hospitality is one of the oldest businesses, going way back to the innkeepers and taverns of biblical times. Tourism, on the other hand, is a more recent invention which began in Europe, with Switzerland being one of the first countries to develop special accommodation and services for travelers. 

In the late 1800’s, the concept of leisure tourism and hospitality spread across Europe, bringing flocks of wealthy travelers to Switzerland. It began with visitors seeking cultural and natural exposure on guided tours in the Swiss Alps, train rides and wellness tourism. Palace-style hotels, thermal baths and ski resorts became icons of luxury tourism in Switzerland.

This new generation of wealthy guests had higher expectations for comfortable accommodations, convenient services and fine dining. The leisure travel phenomenon gave birth to hospitality management schools: EHL was founded as the first hotel management school in 1893 in Lausanne, and it has pioneered in hospitality management education since then.

Hospitality is one of the most resilient, adaptable and dynamic industries on the planet. It is an industry of constant change, where technology and innovation are being integrated to improve the guest experience.

What is Tourism and Hospitality Management?

Careers in hospitality management.

Hospitality management is a broad career field that provides many opportunities for international career progression. In the core of the hospitality industry alone (hotels, events, restaurants, etc.) graduates with a hospitality degree can become managers in a variety of departments and sectors, or choose to specialize in one area.

The career paths are as diverse as the industry, and with so many new hospitality concepts and innovation changing the industry, the career paths will continue to grow and evolve with technology and trends of the 21st.

Hospitality education at EHL teaches students to love learning because it takes a scientific approach that sparks curiosity and involves the five senses. 

What are Hospitality Management Skills?

Studying at ehl, the world's 1st hospitality management school.

In the field of hospitality management, customer satisfaction is key, and the primary goal is to ensure the best customer experience possible. Therefore, hospitality management courses teach both professionally-focused hard skills (room pricing, cost-control, accounting, scheduling, etc. ) and soft skills which are related to how one acts, and interacts in a professional environment.

Training for soft-skills is critical to succeed in the 21st century: critical thinking, agility and adaptability, effective communication, imagination and curiosity: these are all skills students develop at EHL in our hospitality management courses and degrees.

#hospitality-industry

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The magazine of Glion Institute of Higher Education

• What is tourism and hospitality?

Tourism and hospitality are thriving industries encompassing many sectors, including hotels, restaurants, travel, events, and entertainment.

It’s an exciting and dynamic area, constantly evolving and adapting to changing customer demands and trends.

The tourism and hospitality industry offers a diverse range of career opportunities that cater to various interests, skills, and qualifications, with positions available from entry-level to executive management.

The booming tourism  and hospitality industry also offers job security and career growth potential in many hospitality-related occupations.

What is tourism?

Tourism is traveling for leisure, pleasure, or business purposes and visiting various destinations, such as cities, countries, natural attractions, historical sites, and cultural events, to experience new cultures, activities, and environments.

Tourism can take many forms, including domestic, or traveling within your country, and international tourism, or visiting foreign countries.

It can also involve sightseeing, adventure tourism , eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and business tourism, and it’s a huge contributor to the global economy, generating jobs and income in many countries.

It involves many businesses, including airlines, hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators, and transportation companies.

What is hospitality?

Hospitality includes a range of businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, resorts, cruise ships, theme parks, and other service-oriented businesses that provide accommodations, food, and beverages.

Hospitality is all about creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for guests and meeting their needs.

Quality hospitality means providing excellent customer service, anticipating guests’ needs, and ensuring comfort and satisfaction. The hospitality industry is essential to tourism as both industries often work closely together.

What is the difference between tourism and hospitality?

Hospitality and tourism are both related and separate industries. For instance, airline travel is considered as part of both the tourism and hospitality industries.

Hospitality is a component of the tourism industry, as it provides services and amenities to tourists. However, tourism is a broader industry encompassing various sectors, including transportation, accommodation, and attractions.

Transform your outlook for a successful career as a leader in hospitality management

This inspiring Bachelor’s in hospitality management gives you the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to take charge and run a business

Is tourism and hospitality a good career choice?

So, why work in hospitality and tourism? The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, providing a colossal number of job opportunities.

Between 2021 and 2031, employment in the hospitality and tourism industry is projected to expand faster than any other job sector, creating about 1.3 million new positions .

A tourism and hospitality career  can be a highly rewarding choice for anyone who enjoys working with people, has a strong service-oriented mindset, and is looking for a dynamic and exciting career with growth potential.

Growth and job opportunities in tourism and hospitality

Tourism and hospitality offers significant growth and job opportunities worldwide. The industry’s increasing demand for personnel contributes to economic and employment growth, particularly in developing countries.

The industry employs millions globally, from entry-level to high-level management positions, including hotel managers, chefs, tour operators, travel agents, and executives.

It provides diverse opportunities with great career progression and skill development potential.

Career paths in tourism and hospitality

There are many career opportunities in tourism management and hospitality. With a degree in hospitality management, as well as relevant experience, you can pursue satisfying and fulfilling hospitality and tourism careers in these fields.

Hotel manager

Hotel managers oversee hotel operations. They manage staff, supervise customer service, and ensure the facility runs smoothly.

Tour manager

Tour managers organize and lead group tours. They work for tour companies, travel agencies, or independently. Tour managers coordinate a group’s transportation, accommodations, and activities, ensuring the trip runs to schedule.

Restaurant manager

Restaurant managers supervise the daily operations of a restaurant. They manage staff, ensure the kitchen runs smoothly, and monitor customer service.

Resort manager

Resort managers supervise and manage the operations of a resort. From managing staff to overseeing customer service, they ensure the entire operation delivers excellence.

Entertainment manager

Entertainment managers organize and oversee entertainment at venues like hotels or resorts. They book performers, oversee sound and lighting, and ensure guests have a great experience.

Event planner

Event planners organize and coordinate events, such as weddings, conferences, and trade shows. They work for event planning companies, hotels, or independently.

vent planners coordinate all aspects of the event, from the venue to catering and decor.

Travel consultant

Travel consultants help customers plan and book travel arrangements, such as flights, hotels, and rental cars. They work for travel agencies or independently. Travel consultants must know travel destinations and provide superb customer service.

What skills and qualifications are needed for a career in tourism and hospitality?

Tourism and hospitality are rewarding industries with growing job opportunities. Necessary qualifications include excellent skills in communication, customer service, leadership, problem-solving, and organization along with relevant education and training.

Essential skills for success in tourism and hospitality

A career in the tourism and hospitality industry requires a combination of soft and technical skills and relevant qualifications. Here are some of the essential key skills needed for a successful career.

• Communication skills : Effective communication is necessary for the tourism and hospitality industry in dealing with all kinds of people.
• Customer service : Providing excellent customer service is critical to the success of any tourism or hospitality business . This requires patience, empathy, and the ability to meet customers’ needs.
• Flexibility and adaptability : The industry is constantly changing, and employees must be able to adapt to new situations, be flexible with their work schedules, and handle unexpected events.
• Time management : Time management is crucial to ensure guest satisfaction and smooth operations.
• Cultural awareness : Understanding and respecting cultural differences is essential in the tourism and hospitality industry, as you’ll interact with people from different cultures.
• Teamwork : Working collaboratively with colleagues is essential, as employees must work together to ensure guests have a positive experience.
• Problem-solving : Inevitably, problems will arise, and employees must be able to identify, analyze, and resolve them efficiently.
• Technical skills : With the increasing use of technology, employees must possess the necessary technical skills to operate systems, such as booking software, point-of-sale systems, and social media platforms.

Revenue management : Revenue management skills are crucial in effectively managing pricing, inventory, and data analysis to maximize revenue and profitability

Master fundamental hospitality and tourism secrets for a high-flying career at a world-leading hospitality brand

With this Master’s degree, you’ll discover the skills to manage a world-class hospitality and tourism business.

Education and training opportunities in tourism and hospitality

Education and training are vital for a hospitality and tourism career. You can ensure you are prepared for a career in the industry with a Bachelor’s in hospitality management   and Master’s in hospitality   programs from Glion.

These programs provide a comprehensive understanding of the guest experience, including service delivery and business operations, while developing essential skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. You’ll gain the knowledge and qualifications you need for a successful, dynamic, and rewarding hospitality and tourism career.

Preparing for a career in tourism and hospitality

To prepare for a career in tourism and hospitality management, you should focus on researching the industry and gaining relevant education and training, such as a hospitality degree . For instance, Glion’s programs emphasize guest experience and hospitality management, providing students with an outstanding education that launches them into leading industry roles.

It would help if you also worked on building your communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills while gaining practical experience through internships or part-time jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, attending industry events, job fairs, and conferences, staying up-to-date on industry trends, and networking to establish professional connections will also be extremely valuable.

Finding jobs in tourism and hospitality

To find jobs in tourism and hospitality, candidates can search online job boards, and company career pages, attend career fairs, network with industry professionals, and utilize the services of recruitment agencies. Hospitality and tourism graduates can also leverage valuable alumni networks and industry connections made during internships or industry projects.

Networking and building connections in the industry

Networking and building connections in the hospitality and tourism industry provide opportunities to learn about job openings, meet potential employers, and gain industry insights. It can also help you expand your knowledge and skills, build your personal brand, and establish yourself as a valuable industry professional.

You can start networking by attending industry events, joining professional organizations, connecting with professionals on social media, and through career services at Glion.

Tips for success in tourism and hospitality

Here are tips for career success in the tourism and hospitality industry.

• Gain relevant education and training : Pursue a hospitality or tourism management degree from Glion to gain fundamental knowledge and practical skills.
• Build your network : Attend industry events, connect with colleagues and professionals on LinkedIn, and join relevant associations to build your network and increase your exposure to potential job opportunities.
• Gain practical experience : Look for internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering opportunities to gain practical experience and develop relevant skills.
• Develop your soft skills : Work on essential interpersonal skills like communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends : Follow industry news and trends and proactively learn new skills and technologies relevant to tourism and hospitality.
• Be flexible and adaptable : The tourism and hospitality industry constantly evolves, so be open to change and to adapting to new situations and challenges.
• Strive for excellent guest service : Focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences as guest satisfaction is critical for success.

Tourism and hospitality offer many fantastic opportunities to create memorable guest experiences , work in diverse and multicultural environments, and develop transferable skills.

If you’re ready to embark on your career in tourism and hospitality, Glion has world-leading bachelor’s and master’s programs to set you up for success.

Photo credits Main image: Maskot/Maskot via Getty Images

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HOSPITALITY UNCOVERED

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Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism satellite account for 2017-2021.

The travel and tourism industry—as measured by the real output of goods and services sold directly to visitors—increased 64.4 percent in 2021 after decreasing 50.7 percent in 2020, according to the most recent statistics from BEA’s Travel and Tourism Satellite Account.

Data & Articles

• U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2017–2021 By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business February 2023
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015–2019" By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business December 2020
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015-2017" By Sarah Osborne and Seth Markowitz - Survey of Current Business June 2018
• Tourism Satellite Accounts 1998-2019
• Tourism Satellite Accounts Data Sheets A complete set of detailed annual statistics for 2017-2021 is coming soon -->
• Article Collection

Documentation

• Product Guide

Previously Published Estimates

• Data Archive This page provides access to an archive of estimates previously published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Please note that this archive is provided for research only. The estimates contained in this archive include revisions to prior estimates and may not reflect the most recent revision for a particular period.
• News Release Archive

What is Travel and Tourism?

Measures how much tourists spend and the prices they pay for lodging, airfare, souvenirs, and other travel-related items. These statistics also provide a snapshot of employment in the travel and tourism industries.

What’s a Satellite Account?

• TTSA Sarah Osborne (301) 278-9459
• News Media Connie O'Connell (301) 278-9003 [email protected]

How global tourism can become more sustainable, inclusive and resilient

A sanitary mask lies on the ground at Frankfurt Airport Image:  Reuters/Ralph Orlowski

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Ahmed Al-Khateeb

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} The Great Reset is affecting economies, industries and global issues

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Stay up to date:, the great reset.

• Tourism rose to the forefront of the global agenda in 2020, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19
• Recovery will be driven by technology and innovation – specifically seamless travel solutions, but it will be long, uneven and slow
• Success hinges on international coordination and collaboration across the public and private sectors

Tourism was one of the sectors hit hardest by the global pandemic. 2020 was the worst year on record for international travel due to the global pandemic, with countries taking decisive action to protect their citizens, closing borders and halting international travel.

The result was a 74% decline in international visitor arrivals, equivalent to over $1 trillion revenue losses , and an estimated 62 million fewer jobs . The impact on international air travel has been even more severe with a 90% drop on 2019 , resulting in a potential $1.8 trillion loss. And while the economic impact is dire in itself, nearly 2.9 million lives have been lost in the pandemic.

The path to recovery will be long and slow

Countries now face the challenge of reopening borders to resume travel and commerce, while protecting their populations’ health. At its peak, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported in April 2020 that every country on earth had implemented some travel restriction , signalling the magnitude of the operation to restart travel.

Have you read?

Tourism industry experts fear long road to recovery, how we can prioritize sustainability in rebuilding tourism, covid-19 could set the global tourism industry back 20 years.

Consequently, the path to recovery will be long and slow. The resurgence of cases following the discovery of new variants towards the end of last year delivered another disappointing blow to the travel industry. Any pickup over the summer months was quashed following a second wave of lockdowns and border closures . Coupled with mixed progress in the roll-out of vaccination programs, I predict that we will not see a significant rebound in international travel until the middle of this year at best.

Others echo my fears. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts a 50.4% improvement on 2020 air travel demand, which would bring the industry to 50.6% of 2019 levels . However, a more pessimistic outlook based on the persistence of travel restrictions suggests that demand may only pick up by 13% this year, leaving the industry at 38% of 2019 levels. McKinsey & Company similarly predict that tourism expenditure may not return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024 .

How to enhance sustainability, inclusivity and resilience

Given its economic might – employing 330 million people, contributing 10% to global GDP before the pandemic, and predicted to create 100 million new jobs – restoring the travel and tourism sector to a position of strength is the utmost priority.

The Great Reset provides an opportunity to rethink how tourism is delivered and to enhance sustainability, inclusivity and resilience. We must also address the challenges – from climate change and “ overtourism ” to capacity constraints – that we faced before the pandemic, while embracing traveller preferences, as we rebuild.

A 2018 study found that global tourism accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2013 ; four times higher than previous estimates. Even more worryingly, this puts progress towards the Paris Agreement at risk – recovery efforts must centre around environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, according to a study on managing overcrowding, the top 20 most popular global destinations were predicted to add more international arrivals than the rest of the world combined by 2020 . While COVID-19 will have disrupted this trend, it is well known that consumers want to travel again, and we must address the issues associated with overcrowding, especially in nascent destinations, like Saudi Arabia.

The Great Reset is a chance to make sure that as we rebuild, we do it better.

Seamless solutions lie at the heart of travel recovery

Tourism has the potential to be an engine of economic recovery provided we work collaboratively to adopt a common approach to a safe and secure reopening process – and conversations on this are already underway.

Through the G20, which Saudi Arabia hosted in 2020, our discussions focused on how to leverage technology and innovation in response to the crisis, as well as how to restore traveller confidence and improve the passenger experience in the future .

At the global level, across the public and private sectors, the World Economic Forum is working with the Commons Project on the CommonPass framework , which will allow individuals to access lab results and vaccination records, and consent to having that information used to validate their COVID status. IATA is trialling the Travel Pass with airlines and governments , which seeks to be a global and standardized solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 travel requirements.

The provision of solutions that minimize person-to-person contact responds to consumer wants, with IATA finding that 85% of travellers would feel safer with touchless processing . Furthermore, 44% said they would share personal data to enable this, up from 30% months prior , showing a growing trend for contactless travel processes.

Such solutions will be critical in coordinating the opening of international borders in a way that is safe, seamless and secure, while giving tourists the confidence to travel again.

Collaboration at the international level is critical

The availability of vaccines will make this easier, and we have commenced our vaccination programme in Saudi Arabia . But we need to ensure processes and protocols are aligned globally, and that we support countries with limited access to vaccinations to eliminate the threat of another resurgence. It is only when businesses and travellers have confidence in the systems that the sector will flourish again.

In an era of unprecedented data and ubiquitous intelligence, it is essential that organizations reimagine how they manage personal data and digital identities. By empowering individuals and offering them ways to control their own data, user-centric digital identities enable trusted physical and digital interactions – from government services or e-payments to health credentials, safe mobility or employment.

The World Economic Forum curates the Platform for Good Digital Identity to advance global digital identity activities that are collaborative and put the user interest at the center.

The Forum convenes public-private digital identity collaborations from travel, health, financial services in a global action and learning network – to understand common challenges and capture solutions useful to support current and future coalitions. Additionally, industry-specific models such as Known Traveller Digital Identity or decentralized identity models show that digital identity solutions respecting the individual are possible.

The approach taken by Saudi Arabia and its partners to establish consensus and build collaborative relationships internationally and between the public and private sectors, should serve as a model to be replicated so that we can maximize the tourism sector’s contribution to the global economic recovery, while ensuring that it becomes a driver of prosperity and social progress again.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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When you walk into your hotel, the staff will greet you by name, know your travel preferences, and anticipate your needs. Almost every aspect of your stay will be personalized to your tastes, and you can reconfigure your room at any time to make it suitable for work, exercise, socializing, or sleep. For all leading hotel brands, the well-being of both guests and employees—and the health of the planet—will be top priorities. Welcome to the hospitality industry’s next normal.

The view to 2030 and beyond

Hospitality that benefits people and the planet, more on the future of travel and hospitality.

Three innovations to solve hotel staffing shortages

Travel startups: Disruption from within?

The path toward eco-friendly travel in China

Accelerating the transition to net-zero travel

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Rebooting customer experience to bring back the magic of travel

The next normal explores the future of grocery, college, video entertainment, and more., latest editions of the next normal, the future of biotech: ai-driven drug discovery, could this be a glimpse into life in the 2030s, the future of video entertainment: immersive, gamified, and diverse.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Chapter 1. History and Overview

1.1 What is Tourism?

Before engaging in a study of tourism , let’s have a closer look at what this term means.

Definition of Tourism

There are a number of ways tourism can be defined, and for this reason, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) embarked on a project from 2005 to 2007 to create a common glossary of terms for tourism. It defines tourism as follows:

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which imply tourism expenditure (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2008).

Using this definition, we can see that tourism is not just the movement of people for a number of purposes (whether business or pleasure), but the overall agglomeration of activities, services, and involved sectors that make up the unique tourist experience.

Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality: What are the Differences?

It is common to confuse the terms tourism , travel , and hospitality or to define them as the same thing. While tourism is the all-encompassing umbrella term for the activities and industry that create the tourist experience, the UNWTO (2020) defines travel as the activity of moving between different locations often for any purpose but more so for leisure and recreation (Hall & Page, 2006). On the other hand, hospitality can be defined as “the business of helping people to feel welcome and relaxed and to enjoy themselves” (Discover Hospitality, 2015, p. 3). Simply put, the hospitality industry is the combination of the accommodation and food and beverage groupings, collectively making up the largest segment of the industry (Go2HR, 2020). You’ll learn more about accommodations and F & B in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 , respectively.

Definition of Tourist and Excursionist

Building on the definition of tourism, a commonly accepted description of a tourist is “someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons” (LinkBC, 2008, p.8). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (1995) helps us break down this definition further by stating tourists can be:

• Domestic (residents of a given country travelling only within that country)
• Inbound (non-residents travelling in a given country)
• Outbound (residents of one country travelling in another country)

Excursionists  on the other hand are considered same-day visitors (UNWTO, 2020). Sometimes referred to as “day trippers.” Understandably, not every visitor stays in a destination overnight. It is common for travellers to spend a few hours or less to do sightseeing, visit attractions, dine at a local restaurant, then leave at the end of the day.

The scope of tourism, therefore, is broad and encompasses a number of activities and sectors.

Spotlight On: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible “for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism” (UNWTO, 2014b). Its membership includes 159 countries and over 500 affiliates such as private companies, research and educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. It promotes tourism as a way of developing communities while encouraging ethical behaviour to mitigate negative impacts. For more information, visit the UNWTO website .

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System

Given the sheer size of the tourism industry, it can be helpful to break it down into broad industry groups using a common classification system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was jointly created by the Canadian, US, and Mexican governments to ensure common analysis across all three countries (British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, 2013a). The tourism-related groupings created using NAICS are (in alphabetical order):

• Accommodation
• Food and beverage services (commonly known as “F & B”)
• Recreation and entertainment
• Transportation
• Travel services

These industry groups (also commonly known as sectors) are based on the similarity of the “labour processes and inputs” used for each (Government of Canada, 2013). For instance, the types of employees and resources required to run an accommodation business whether it be a hotel, motel, or even a campground are quite similar. All these businesses need staff to check in guests, provide housekeeping, employ maintenance workers, and provide a place for people to sleep. As such, they can be grouped together under the heading of accommodation. The same is true of the other four groupings, and the rest of this text explores these industry groups, and other aspects of tourism, in more detail.

It is typical for the entire tourist experience to involve more than one sector. The combination of sectors that supply and distribute the needed tourism products, services, and activities within the tourism system is called the Tourism Supply Chain. Often, these chains of sectors and activities are dependent upon each other’s delivery of products and services. Let’s look at a simple example below that describes the involved and sometimes overlapping sectoral chains in the tourism experience:

Before we seek to understand the five tourism sectors in more detail, it’s important to have an overview of the history and impacts of tourism to date.

Long Descriptions

Figure 1.2 long description: Diagram showing the tourism supply chain. This includes the phases of travel and the sectors and activities involved during each phase.

There are three travel phases: pre-departure, during travel, and post-departure.

Pre-departure, tourists use the travel services and transportation sectors.

During travel, tourists use the travel services, accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and transportation sectors.

Post-departure, tourists use the transportation sector.

[Return to Figure 1.2]

Media Attributions

• Front Desk by Staying LEVEL is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 Licence .

Tourism according the the UNWTO is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism worldwide.

Moving between different locations for leisure and recreation.

The accommodations and food and beverage industry groupings.

someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons

A same-day visitor to a destination. Their trip typically ends on the same day when they leave the destination.

A way to group tourism activities based on similarities in business practices, primarily used for statistical analysis.

Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC - 2nd Edition Copyright © 2015, 2020, 2021 by Morgan Westcott and Wendy Anderson, Eds is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The Future of the Hospitality Industry

The world we live in, and the ways in which we live in our world, are changing incredibly fast. Globalization and technological advances, in particular, are making our current global village very different from anything that came before.

However, although technology is playing a bigger role than ever before in every aspect of our lives, the personal touch has also never been more important. When a business makes use of an industry leading property management system , that business is free to concentrate on the personal touches that make for a really unforgettable customer experience.

The Impacts of COVID-19

While person-to-person contact was discouraged and even forbidden during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the industry increasingly moved online. Of course, the move towards digitalization was taking place anyway, independently from COVID-19, but technology has definitely been introduced in ways it might not otherwise have been.

In the business community generally, remote work is on the rise. It’s much more convenient (not to mention much quicker and much cheaper) to set up online meetings than to have to worry about scheduling an in-person meeting in a physical venue. It wouldn’t be surprising if people don’t book venues for business functions nearly as much as they did previously, and that will also affect the hospitality industry.

In the hospitality industry, in particular, streaming technology was introduced to help hotel staff communicate with one another and to help staff communicate with guests. It’s especially important for guests to be able to engage meaningfully with staff, but there’s absolutely no reason that streaming technology shouldn’t continue to play an important role in the future!

The New Look of Hospitality

Everyone has become much more aware of personal hygiene, and hospitality businesses will need to ramp up their standards. At the very least, guests will be alarmed if handwashing facilities are not conveniently (and frequently) available, if adequate ventilation is not ensured, and if too many people are physically squeezed into too small a space.

But sustainability is also becoming more and more important to people, so businesses will have to be sure that their improved hygiene practices are fully sustainable. No single-use plastics! No harming rainforests!

A growing awareness of the impact our activities have on our environment means that the hospitality industry must be visibly environmentally conscious. As technology advances, concerns about sustainability become more central, and guest expectations change, the hospitality industry needs to adapt – and fast!

Sustainable hygiene protocols will be important, and so will sustainable energy policies. Something like installing solar panels not only ticks the necessary green boxes but also makes venues independent of unreliable power suppliers – plus, it saves them quite a lot of money.

In the future, hotels and other hospitality businesses will need to be much more sustainable - and their sustainability policies must be made explicit to their guests. Businesses must be seen to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The Personal Touch

New technology is taking over so many roles that have always been played by humans. We’re accustomed to using self-service touch screens when we’re shopping, but buying a takeaway meal is not quite like paying for an experience. The whole point of hospitality is that it’s not supposed to be impersonal: when we are staying somewhere away from home, we still want to feel at home.

It seems probable that human hosts or hostesses will not be replaced with self-service options any time soon. However, there are several crucial roles for technology in the hospitality industry – roles that enable humans to provide better and more customized personal services.

For example, the smart use of AI enables hotels to adjust the lighting and temperature settings in rooms automatically, so no guest ever has to return to cold or darkness, no matter how long they’ve been out or at what short notice.

Technological Advances

Another area in which automation is taking on more importance is reservations. When your booking system is online, you can upload your availability and rates in real time as guests arrive and depart. 

Even check-in and payment can be effortlessly accomplished before the guest enters the venue. If the boring check-in functions are all online, the physical reception area can become an extension of the hotel’s vision: a place to welcome guests and make them feel at home.

(Even better, if check-in is available on mobile , lucky visitors don’t even have to find a desk or computer to get their check-in sorted. Without even pausing in what they’re doing, they can press a few buttons and check in or out with ease!)

Holistic Wellness

Obviously, making money is still the main point of most people’s lives. However, nowadays, people also tend to be more aware that it’s pointless to spend their whole lives working, in order to earn money, in order to have enough money to spend enjoying themselves, if they are too busy to take time to enjoy the money they’ve earned.

That may be why holistic wellness retreats are becoming more popular. In the past, health spas and resorts were very specialized and not all that ubiquitous, but now, holistic wellness is something most people are much more aware of. 

Hotel guests want dining options that are delicious, nutritious, and ethical. They want quiet and tranquil spaces in which to practice mindfulness or meditation. They want gyms, yoga, and Pilates classes so that they can keep healthy at the same time having fun.

To this end, hotels are already embracing more water features, plants, and natural lighting in their designs: anything that may help to make the home-away-from-home a haven of peace and tranquility. This ensures them of more guests and when they come stay longer.

In other words, the hospitality industry aims to provide guests with a break from the rat race of daily life – a break from computers, phones, and other screens. By fully automating and streamlining as many of their functions as possible, hotels and guesthouses can ensure their guests spend a minimum of time on administrative tasks and the maximum time doing the activities they love the most.

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A Moscow state of mind

Moscow is a city of many facets but, to all who visit, the iconic domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and majestic sweep of Red Square do add up to a bewitching mix of monumentality and mystery. The surprises do not stop at these famous locations, however: get ready for a safe and modern metropolis with a multitude of colours, lots of character and an admirable defiance of the elements too: the winter calendar heats up too. The city simply crackles with cultural life and buzzes 24/7—but from the bustle of the MKAD Moscow Ring Road to the soaring spires of the Moscow State University and space-age swagger of Ostankino Tower, it's also that monumental state of mind.

And yes, a little mystery too. Patriach's Pond, Patriarshiye Prudy to the locals, appears in many stories but come to Moscow and you will find that the place really exists, a haven of genteel charm and throwback to the 19th century that's still part of the Moscow's mega-sized urban fabric (with a monument to the author too). Yes! This city invites wandering with the unfamiliarity serving as the greatest of temptations for the urban explorer: it may take you to the leafy courtyard of a hidden museum, to a rooftop bar with a smashing view of this glittering northern global city or to one of the underground peoples' palaces, those vaunted stations of the Moscow Metro. Moscow in its sheer size and in its inscrutability is something that few global cities actually are: a thrill. Exploring it is both an education and thoroughly modern exercise in exhilaration.

Understand that Moscow is Russian to the core but a colossal human achievement as well: we are talking about a city founded in 1147 that is now home to more than 12 million people. Historical heft, meet modern allure and say hello to more than 250 theaters, 450 museums and 13 000 restaurants. No wonder Moscow won, for the second year in a row, the World's Leading City Destination award at the World Travel Awards this year, because simply put this city is a winner. The introduction of the Russian e-visa in January 2021 will make it easier than ever for citizens of 52 countries to get acquainted with Moscow as will RUSSPASS , a new digital travel service that will allow visitors to fully plan a trip to Russia and Moscow by offering more than 600 destinations, tours and author's routes all over Russia. RUSSPASS was launched in July and since then 82 regions of the Russian Federation have signed cooperation agreements with it — and more than half of their offers are already on the site. As RUSSPASS encompasses a wide range of city services and attractions—museums, parks, restaurants, theatres, cafes, and other city events from all over Russia— any person living in Moscow, or anywhere inside or outside Russia can now easily organize a customized travel itinerary or pick a ready-made tourist product. Currently available in Russian and English versions, in the future RUSSPASS will also be available in other languages.

Once you're in Moscow and though it's easier to navigate than you might think—metro signs and announcements, for example, are in both Russian and English. But try your hand at learning how to say Red Square like a local (it's easy: Krásnaya plóshchad ) then go and behold the marvels it contains: the massive St. Basil's Cathedral , completed in 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible to mark his victory over the Tartar Mongols and with its exuberant onion-shaped domes, and of course the crème de la crème itself, the Kremlin fortress . The Kremlin is almost as old as Moscow itself, though Italian architects expanded it in the 15th century. There you can see the Russian Orthodox cathedrals with their remarkable painted frescoes, Peter the Great's Arsenal and the Ivan the Great Belltower, but book a private tour to see the Grand Kremlin Palace and tsars' private rooms. One side of Red Square is now home to stunning Zaryadye Park , which was designed by the architects of New York's High Line. The vast park is divided into four climatic sections and features a cool cantilevered viewing post suspended 70 meters above the River Moskva. There's also a brand new tourist information centre at the park.

Moscow is much more than dramatic public squares and cathedrals, of course. The multitude of museums includes the Pushkin State Museum of Arts, with everything from mummies to Rembrandt paintings, the State Historical Museum, the All-Russian Exhibition Centre (VDNH) park with its pavilions commissioned back in 1939 (admission is free), and Museum of Cosmonautics, with its epic monument of a steel rocket blasting to the sky. In Gorky Park you'll find, along with plenty of cafes and restaurants, the sleek Garage Museum of Contemporary Art . The Tretyakov Gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art from the eleventh century up to the early twentieth—Vrubel, Kandinsky, and Malevich are some of the big names represented among the 190,000 artworks displayed in the elegant gallery.

And expect Moscow to shatter some preconceived notions you might have about the Russian capital. The Bolshoi, for example, is not just for ballet anymore! You can nibble on caviar and blinis at a luxe restaurant right behind the famous theatre. In fact, the gourmet dining and cosmopolitan nightlife scene in Moscow can only be described as fabulous, and culinary scenesters are truly spoiled for choice. This is the world in one city but a connected global city too, and one that's primed for business. Moscow supports the tourism and hospitality industry too, and a key industry initiative was the launch of the Moscow Travel Hub online platform last spring. The main aim of the Hub is to provide conditions for the creation of new products and services, developing a collaboration and implementation of new technologies in the tourism industry.

Moscow also offers great opportunities for youth tourism. It has developed the unique "City of discoveries" project that lets 18-to-35s explore the capital during their trip by being proactive 'researchers' of the city. There are eight educational routes consisting of such industries as energy, transport and space, digital technologies and telecommunications, ecology, creative industries, biotechnology and biomedicine, humanities, and urbanism. In spring of 2020 Moscow held Russia's first tourism hackathon (Moscow Travel Hack, with more than 260 participating developer teams), and the official tourist information portal Discover.Moscow is practically an encyclopedia of Moscow. There you can find not only a selection of interesting places and routes, but also learn about "secret places" that are known only to Muscovites, read interviews with noted chefs of Moscow restaurants, find unique archival materials about the capital and even more.

But the discoveries are for all ages and are all around Moscow. While the borders are still closed, you can get the latest information on Moscow's top sights, family vacation destinations, and cultural and culinary events using the online platform #Moscowwithyou . Start with virtual visits of the highlights there to prepare you for your Moscow city experience when you come here, from gleaming modern skyscrapers to the pastel shades of the building facades on atmospheric Arbat Street, one of the oldest streets in the city. Your urban impressions will be exciting and diverse, from the commercial bustle of historic Tverskaya Street to the relaxation of an invigorating "branch massage" at one of the city's traditional banya steam baths. Add some quality cultural time in your museums of choice and maybe a night (or two) on the town in 1905 Street, an area of restaurants and nightclubs on the banks of the River Moskva, and in no time at all you too may find yourself settling into something quite rightly called a Moscow state of mind.

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25 Hotel Industry Statistics [2023]: Hotel Rate Trends And Market Data

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Research Summary. The hotel industry not only reaches across the globe but also spans a wide cross-section of options ranging from budget motels to luxury resorts, making it an interesting field to study. Here are the key statistics on the hotel industry:

There are at least 187,000 hotels in the world as of 2023.

There are an estimated 17.5 million guestrooms in the world.

The global hospitality industry is worth over $4.548 trillion as of 2022.

There are about 1.6 million people employed by the U.S.’s accommodation industry.

The global travel and tourism industry was worth $4.671 trillion in 2020 , down from its $9.17 trillion value in 2019.

The average U.S. hotel occupancy rate is 64.2% as of February 2023.

Hotel Industry Statistics by Consumer Preferences

78% of millennials would rather spend their money on experiences than on things.

Hotels with a significant number of high-quality photos on their websites see a 15% increase in conversion rates.

This is compared to hotels that use few and/or low-quality photos. Including good photos of hotel rooms and amenities helps travelers know what they’re getting into and better imagine themselves there.

TripAdvisor shared that the number of photos a hotel has on its TripAdvisor profile has the most impact on traveler engagement with the listing.

More specifically, properties with at least one photo see a 138% increase in engagement and are 225% more likely to receive a booking inquiry, and those with over 100 photos see a 151% increase in engagement and are 283% more likely to receive a booking inquiry.

Europe has the highest hotel occupancy rate of any region in the world.

As of 2019, European hotels have an occupancy rate of 72.2%, meaning an average of 72.2% of all hotel rooms are occupied.

US Hotel Industry Statistics

There are 90,562 hotel and motel businesses in the U.S.

This number is a 0.4% increase from 2021, which is on trend with the average annual growth rate of 0.4% that this industry has seen from 2017 to 2022.

There are approximately 5.29 million hotel rooms in the U.S.

The U.S. hotel and motel industry is worth $177.6 billion.

This industry is predicted to grow by 33.6% throughout 2022 as it continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, although it’s seen an average annual decline of 2.4% from 2017 to 2022.

The U.S. tourism industry was valued at $545.11 billion in 2020.

In 2020, U.S. hotels had an average occupancy rate of 44%.

Hotel Industry Statistics by Employment

The U.S.’s accommodation industry employs about 1.6 million people.

In Q1 2019, there were 1.352 million gross job gains in the U.S. leisure and hospitality sector.

Here are data points for each quarter from Q1 2019 through Q2 2021.

In Q1 of 2019, there were 1.22 million gross job losses in the U.S. leisure and hospitality industry.

Here are the numbers for each quarter following that through Q2 2021:

The average employee of the U.S. leisure and hospitality industry makes $19.44 an hour.

32% of U.S. leisure and hospitality industry employees have access to employer-sponsored health care.

43% get paid vacation from their employers, and 50% receive paid sick leave .

Hotel Industry Trends and Projections

In 2019, the global hotels and resorts market was worth over $1.5 trillion.

This was just before the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread lockdowns in 2020, and it was the pinnacle of seven years of nearly continuous growth.

From 2021 to 2025, the global hotel and travel accommodation industry is projected to have a CAGR of 7%.

This will result in a market value of $1.05 trillion in 2025. In 2020, the global hotel and travel accommodation market was worth $673.02 billion, and it grew to $801.9 billion in 2021, which is a CAGR of 19.1%.

In 2020, travel and tourism contributed $4.671 trillion to the global GDP.

While this is a significant amount of money, it is also a significant decrease from the $9.17 trillion it contributed in 2019. This is a result of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns that significantly reduced the amount of travel in the world.

From 2008 to 2018, the number of hotels around the world has increased by nearly 14,300.

Hotel Industry Statistics FAQ

What is the growth rate of the hotel industry?

The growth rate of the hotel industry is 19.1%. This was the CAGR from 2020 to 2021 as the global hotel industry reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began to lift.

What are the four segments of the hospitality industry?

The four segments of the hospitality industry are Food and Beverage, Accommodation (also referred to as Lodging), Travel and Tourism, and Entertainment and Recreation.

You don’t necessarily have to be traveling to enjoy the hospitality industry’s offerings. The Food and Beverage sector, for example, includes restaurants , bowling alley food, and concessions stands, not just hotel restaurants. As a result, this is the largest sector of the hospitality industry.

The Accommodation or Lodging sector includes hotels, campgrounds, rental homes, and any other facility that gives people a place to sleep. This includes resorts, motels, and hostels all alike.

The Travel and Tourism sector covers the actual act of traveling via airlines, cruise ships, trains, taxis, and more. Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, chances are you’ll utilize at least one of travel and tourism’s offerings on a trip.

The last sector of the hospitality industry is Entertainment and Recreation. This sector is made up of all the activities that people do just for the enjoyment of it. These include:

Swimming pools

Spectator sports

Movie theaters

Participatory sports (e.g., scuba diving, golf, tennis)

Amusement parks

How many American hospitality workers were fired or laid off in 2020?

10.65 million American hospitality workers were fired or laid off in 2020. While About 1.2 to 1.4 million people in this industry lost their jobs each quarter throughout 2019, 1.695 found themselves unemployed in Q1 2020, and a whopping 6.331 million were suddenly unemployed in Q2 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Is the hotel industry recovering?

Yes, the hotel industry is recovering. The global hotel and travel accommodation industry is expected to have a CAGR of 7% from 2021 to 2025.

What are the latest trends in the hotel industry?

The latest trends in the hotel industry are high-tech, green facilities, alternative accommodation options, and incorporating experiences into hotel stays.

Hotels are beginning to implement more and more smart technology, whether it’s a keyless entry or turning on the AC with an app. In addition, many hotels are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint by conserving water, reducing single-use plastics, and earning their LEED certifications.

Another hotel industry trend is that travelers (especially millennials) are looking more toward alternative accommodation options, whether that’s a rental house or villa, a mobile home, or hotels with a personality that reflect the local culture rather than standardized branding.

Hotels are responding to this by focusing on opening boutique hotels and facilities that bring unique elements to their decor, amenities, and even floor plans.

The hotel industry is a major player in the global and U.S. economies. In 2022, the global hotel industry was worth more than $4.548 trillion and is projected to see a CAGR of 7% from 2021 to 2025. In the U.S. alone, the hotel and motel industry is worth $177.6 billion, and the tourism industry is worth $545.11 billion.

Lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly impacted this industry. The worldwide travel and tourism industry contributed $4.671 trillion to the global GDP in 2020, which is just over half the amount it contributed in 2019 ($9.17 trillion).

In the U.S., over seven million leisure and hospitality industry employees lost their jobs during the first six months of 2020, compared to the just over five million that found themselves unemployed throughout all of 2019. Hotel occupancy rates also dropped by 33.3% from 2019 to 2020.

Eventbrite. “ Millennials: Fueling the Experience Economy. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Medium . “ The Importance of Imagery on Hotel Websites. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Frederic Gonzalo. “ Photos Impact Bookings More Than Reviews. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Occupancy Rate of the Hotel Industry Worldwide From 2008 to 2019, by Region. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

IBISWorld. “ Hotels & Motels in the U.S. – Number of Businesses 2005-2027. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Number of Hotel Rooms in the United States From 2017 to 2020, by Chain Scale Segment. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

IBISWorld. “ Hotels & Motels in the U.S. – Market Size 2005-2027. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Market Size of the Tourism Sector in the United States From 2011 to 2020, with a Forecast for 2021. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Occupancy Rate of Hotel Industry in the United States From 2001 to 2020. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Accommodation: NAICS 721. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Economic News Release: Employment Situation Summary. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject: Gross Job Gains for the Leisure and Hospitality Sector in the U.S. (Rounded to the Nearest Thousands.) ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject: Gross Job Losses for the Leisure and Hospitality Sector in the U.S. (Rounded to the Nearest Thousands). ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Leisure and Hospitality. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

IBISWorld. “ Global Hotels & Resorts – Market Size 2005-2027. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Globe Newswire. “ Global Hotel and Other Travel Accommodation Market Report 2021: Market is Expected to Grow From $673.02 Billion in 2020 to $801.9 Billion in 2021 – Long-term Forecast to 2025 & 2030. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Total Contribution of Travel and Tourism to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Worldwide From 2006 to 2020. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Statista. “ Total Number of Hotels Worldwide From 2008 to 2018. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Hospitality Net. “ What Are the 4 Segments of the Hospitality Industry. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

Hotel Tech Report. “ 100 Hotel Trends You Need To Watch in 2022 & Beyond. ” Accessed on February 16, 2022.

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Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.

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UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague to drive innovation in hospitality

UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague, have agreed to partner around the development and execution of pioneering projects in the hospitality industry.

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to stimulate innovation and fresh ventures within the hospitality industry, promoting entrepreneurship and education while engaging in open innovation projects that can enhance the tourism industry, with a particular focus on hospitality. Currently, 20% of entrepreneurs of the UN Tourism Network are directly related to hospitality and are the most dynamic projects including a variety of stakeholders of the industry.

Building on the UN Tourism’s established innovation network, this agreement will further facilitate connections between startups and potential investors, as well as promote knowledge and skills through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions. This partnership not only underlines a commitment to a more sustainable future for the industry but also signifies a shared commitment to providing inclusive opportunities and memorable global student experiences, demonstrated through Hotelschool The Hague’s global Sustainable Hospitality Challenge.

Strong foundations for innovative future

Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, expresses: “Unfortunately 90% of startups within the hospitality sector eventually do not succeed. A decent tourism education and knowledge of the hospitality sector is necessary to develop a disruptive and well-functioning product. Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to alter this trajectory by offering a more robust foundation, fostering invaluable connections, and providing a conducive testbed for emerging startups. Given that technology now permeates 70% of tourism enterprises, it is imperative that these startups are seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, connected with pertinent stakeholders, and afforded the opportunity to validate their solutions in real-world settings before embarking on a larger scale.

Ms. Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors of Hotelschool The Hague says: “At Hotelschool The Hague, we provide our students with the perfect balance of theory, real-world experience and applied research to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry. We develop leaders who shape our global industry and drive it to give back more than it takes. We are proud to join forces with UN Tourism. We fully embrace their vision to Foster Innovation in the Hospitality Industry. In fact, our Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is a student competition designed to enhance the evolution of sustainable practices in hospitality, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of UN Tourism.”

Hotelschool The Hague, founded and funded by the hospitality industry in 1929, provides high-quality education and cutting-edge research in the field of international hospitality management, with an emphasis on the transformation of sustainability and digitalization and on developing students into sought-after hospitality graduates who excel in leadership roles worldwide.

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Hospitality Trends: A glimpse into the future of the industry

August 16, 2023 •

10 min reading

Step into the future of hospitality as we uncover the captivating realm of short- and long-term perspectives that are reshaping the industry. Let’s explore how technology is helping hospitality firms create an unparalleled guest experience and learn about the futuristic ideas that spark the imagination and are setting the stage for our extraordinary tomorrow.

---- HOSPITALITY INSIGHTS ----

This month, we have decided to share with you some industry trends. In the short-term perspective section, we have selected the ones you can expect to see in the next 2-3 years, while in the long-term chapter we highlight trends that will take longer to be implemented.

Short-term perspective

Development of a more inclusive and responsible travel mindset.

In recent years, the concept of responsible travel has gained significant attention and importance in the world of tourism. More and more travelers are committed to making their trips more environmentally and socially responsible. In a similar vein, inclusive travel is becoming essential for customers. In the U.K., two-thirds of customers think an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policy is important for companies in the hospitality and tourism industry. For UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls, this is not surprising as: “Hospitality has always been a people-first business and has a tradition of being one of the most inclusive sectors in the world.” Both these trends are having a significant impact on the hospitality industry.

How new technologies could facilitate the customer experience

For a long time, flying cars have been seen as a pipe dream at best or a whimsical folly at worst. Remember the Jetsons? Yet, it seems like it may become a reality in the not-too-distant future. Soon, we may be able to hail a flying cab in some cities to go to the train station or to visit a museum! When it comes to facilitating tourists’ journey, Biometric identification , such as fingerprint, facial recognition, and iris scans, is gaining in popularity at airports worldwide, including in Europe. This technology offers faster and more accurate passenger screening, reducing processing time for procedures like baggage check-in. Airports like Dubai International, Hong Kong International, Tokyo Narita, and London Heathrow already utilize facial recognition technology, while the European Union plans to implement an automated entry-exit system using fingerprints and facial images by 2024. Airlines like Emirates and major U.S. carriers have also been incorporating biometric identification for streamlined travel experiences.

The greening of the industry: Embracing sustainable practices

Vegan food is becoming more and more trendy. While, for some, this trend could threaten the savoir-faire of gourmet cooking (e.g., the art of preparing meat), more and more chefs are starting to develop innovative ways to cook vegetables. In the process, they are developing new complex techniques and new know-how. As summarized by Ixta Belfrage , a U.K.-based cookbook author “Plant forward is the way forward” and she recommends making “plants the star of the dish to eat less animal products”. The democratization of vegan food underlines the sustainability turn undertaken by the hospitality and tourism industry. One fine example of this is also the Global sustainability challenge , which invites students from Hospitality Business Schools all around the world to find innovative and sustainable solutions. This year, the focus was on being “one with nature” and encouraging students to imagine regenerative hospitality concepts.

Long-term horizon

The rise of futuristic-like transportation and traveling means.

Hyperloop trains are seen as sustainable solution for inter-city travel. Even though the technology is not there yet, it is increasingly likely that they will become part of our transportation systems in the long run. Indeed, companies such as Virgin Hyperloop or Elon Musk’s own The Boring Company are working on developing and testing hyperloop technology. Space tourism is becoming a reality for affluent explorers, with various companies offering expeditions beyond Earth's boundaries, such as Blue Origin's trips to outer space and SpaceX's plans for civilian missions around the moon. Yet one should not expect space travel to become the norm anytime soon but, eventually, it is expected to become more accessible and popular on a small scale. One can question the sustainable impact this new kind of travel will have though...

Net-zero target: the ultimate goal for the hospitality industry

Regarding sustainability, one shipbuilder has amassed a dizzying array of technology as it aims to launch its first zero greenhouse gas emissions boat by 2030. The future of travel is inevitably linked to climate change. As a result, actors in the hospitality industry, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have committed to being net zero by 2050. Indeed, a mix of technologies , ranging from sustainable aviation fuel to hydrogen-powered engines to all-electric planes in the next decade, should help the industry to reach its carbon neutral goal. However, some have expressed considerable doubts regarding the ability of the airline industry to reach this ambitious target.

---- HOSPITALITY INNOVATION ----

Recent stories in the news have pointed to the sustained emergence of several innovations that are likely to stay with us well beyond tomorrow. From seamless technology to futuristic experiences with ubiquitous sustainability, these pervasive innovations are changing the landscape of the hospitality industry, setting new standards forguest services.

Seamless and smooth technologies to easy daily tasks

While we all expect tools like ChatGPT to impact the promotion of tourism, the future of innovation goes beyond AI alone. The future internet will revolutionize travel by offering virtual reality experiences, enhancing real-world travel, and incorporating Web3 technologies. Blockchain and smart contracts can be utilized for booking platforms, eliminating intermediaries, while NFTs can be used to create digital passports as tokens on the decentralized web.

The use of digital wallets and contactless payment systems for mobile ticketing in public transport and tourist attractions means you won’t have to fumble for change when boarding a bus in New Delhi or Sydney or Sao Paolo. In addition, the abundance of data generated through these innovative solutions can also enrich the tourism sector. By analyzing spending patterns and preferences, businesses can tailor their offerings and create personalized marketing and promotion strategies that cater to individual needs and interests.

There have been notable changes in the ways we traditionally handle certain aspects of travel. For instance, managing and safeguarding our luggage used to be our responsibility. However, to address this issue, Accor , a global hospitality leader, is partnering with startup Alltheway to provide a seamless and stress-free travel experience by offering baggage transportation between city centers and airports. This collaboration is set to expand internationally by late 2024.

An all-in-one hospitality solution has garnered attention from such giants as Apple who recently filed a patent for “systems and methods for accessing hotel services using a portable electronic device”. This suggests that Apple could be planning to develop a hotel application that consolidates all guest interactions, including booking a room, check-in, ordering services, and more, into one place.

In general, all guest interactions are important, and the main innovations are expected in six key moments : booking, check-in, service, food and beverage, check-out, and post-experience. For instance, consumers expect the entire booking process to be user-friendly and streamlined, providing them with all the information they need in a single view. Companies must also adopt a mobile-first approach, as an increasing number of travelers now prefer to book reservations on their smartphones or mobile devices. If the content provided is insufficient, or disorganized or the responses are slow, consumers get frustrated fast and will seek alternatives elsewhere.

Another intriguing signal in hospitality points to the future being centered around user disengagement . This approach prioritizes the integration of unobtrusive background technology that enhances human-to-human interaction. In simpler terms, the technology should operate silently, freeing people from screens and other processes that do not add value to their experience. By making the technology invisible yet reliable, hotel staff can spend less time looking at screens when a guest stands right in front of them, allowing them to focus more on personal interactions. Nobody goes to a hotel to suffer through these administrative moments or “engage” with a phone to order something. We need to embrace technology that seamlessly works in the background, enabling maximum human engagement when needed. The rise of interest in devices that bring us back to real life further confirms this signal. For instance, the “Nothing phone” , which leverages the Glyph interface to help users focus more on the world around them rather than their phones, recently announced its second edition, underscoring the growing demand for technology that promotes well-being, mindfulness, and real-life experiences.

Futuristic cues in the hospitality industry

The most futuristic innovations appear to be emerging in the food industry. According to the report dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Deliveroo , we can anticipate a much more personal touch in our diets. For instance, the integration of BreathTech can allow us to breathe into a device and receive personal recommendations on the optimal food to consume for our health. AI will aid in creating diets that are fully aligned with our individual nutrition needs. Furthermore, 3D printing technologies will create printed lunches for us, making food preparation much more convenient. Additionally, through the use of VR/AR and smart glasses, we can trick our brains and senses into thinking that we’re eating chocolate when, in fact, it may be broccoli. These innovations are reshaping our very perception of what food is and isn’t. While dining remains one of the tangible things we want to experience and share with others, the surge in take-away concepts in recent decades may pave the way for 3D food printers , which could become omnipresent by 2073.

Furthermore, there is a growing expectation for more sustainable solutions in the food sector, as traditionally unhealthy ingredients can now be substituted with novel products. For instance, one startup foresees exponential growth in the personalized nutrition segment and is actively developing plant-based products and other ingredient innovations for diverse applications. These advancements aim to create healthier meals and contribute to a more sustainable ecosystem. We also anticipate a transition in the entire value creation process, shifting towards sustainability and upholding the principles of a circular economy.

At the city level, positive dynamics are expected as well. Dubai, renowned as the “City of the Future” , is committed to being even more futuristic and further advancing its tourism industry by embracing greater levels of inclusivity, sustainability, and technological development. As an example of their dedication, all hotels in Dubai are mandated to adhere to the country’s sustainability standards.

Forward-thinking players in the hospitality industry are eager to embrace the Metaverse and experiment with blending the real and virtual worlds to create unforgettable personalized experiences. This includes innovative concepts such as a futuristic virtual check-in, virtual art installations in hotel lobbies, or hosting virtual concerts, all aimed at pushing the boundaries of traditional hospitality.

Decentraland, a virtual world powered by blockchain technology, is emerging as a vibrant hub for hotels and restaurants looking to explore new frontiers. One example of this is LEVENverse, which envisions a fun and immersive virtual hotel environment by LEVEN, challenging the conventional hotel archetype and offering a captivating experience for guests. These pioneering efforts are just a glimpse of the possibilities that come with the convergence of technologies and imagination. For instance, in a groundbreaking move, Indonesia became the first country to use Web3 and NFTs to protect its cultural heritage and revitalize its tourism industry. By embracing current and new technologies, we are ready to explore the transformative potential of immersive and interactive digital experiences.

---- HOSPITALITY INSPIRATION----

Read, watch and listen.

• Learn more about the proteins of the future with "Fungi bacon and insect burgers: a guide to the Proteins of the future"
• Read how travel can become more inclusive with "The Future of queer travel"
• Looking to create new menus for your restaurants? Gain some innovative insights with the Future menu trends report 2023
• Have a look at Masdar City and its innovative transportation system
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• Discover insights from renowned hotelier Liz Lambert about creating unique guest experiences in the travel landscape and what the future holds for us in hospitality

Research Assistant & Visiting Lecturer at EHL Hospitality Business School

Research Associate at EHL Hospitality Business School

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Meet Boston to host career fair on April 30th

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Meet Boston is hosting its third annual regional career fair to boost the city's booming hospitality industry. Hilina Ajakaiye, Executive Vice President of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and Conan Harris of Conan Harris and Associates encourage Bostonians to come out and explore jobs and careers in tourism. The fair will be on April 30 and is for job seekers of all levels and experience learn more and register to attend .

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Très 2024 sets the platform to accelerate tourism growth across India

In a significant boost for the tourism industry, Très 2024 is scheduled to take place from April 25-26 at Andaz Delhi. Now in its sixth edition, this event will highlight 60 of the region’s premier

In a significant boost for the tourism industry, Très 2024 is scheduled to take place from April 25-26 at Andaz Delhi. Now in its sixth edition, this event will highlight 60 of the region’s premier boutique hotels, retreats, lodges, camps, and pioneering travel concepts within the luxury and mindful tourism sectors. This year’s showcase is set to attract an audience of over 50 overseas travel operators from markets including the UK, France, Australia, the USA, Germany, among others, along with more than 100 Indian travel companies from across the nation.

The guiding vision of Très is to connect a select group of meticulously curated properties and travel experience providers with a precisely targeted audience of tour operators and travel facilitators. This collaboration aims to stimulate travel within and outside the country, fostering industry growth that is broad in impact and sustainable in nature. Diverging from traditional trade shows, Très facilitates bespoke, one-on-one appointments between buyers and sellers opening positive business opportunities for the industry.

The event is being supported by Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Uttar Pradesh Tourism departments. The show has received an overwhelming response from overseas as well as domestic travel companies as well as the hotelier community.

The Très 2024 exhibitors, ranging from boutique properties to historic forts and palaces, wildlife lodges, wellness retreats, private villas, and glamping sites, all share same philosophy – united by a strong, concept-driven approach that celebrates the unique stories and personalities behind each property. Each exhibitor offers personalized, immersive hospitality experiences, while also being mindful of their environment and local communities.

“Madhya Pradesh Tourism is proud to support the Très 2024 travel event. An enriching opportunity for the travel community to come together and explore the finest of boutique hotels that the region offers, Madhya Pradesh was there in full force, with over 20 luxury hotels and jungle lodges and of course, the Tourism Board itself. During these two days, we met companies from the USA, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Spain and even best of Indian travel designers that will surely boost Inbound as well as domestic tourism into Madhya Pradesh.” Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh

“Très has our continued support from the previous editions. In fact, this year, we further collaborated with Très to extend a pre-event Familiarization trip for select overseas operators where they experienced focused itineraries within Uttar Pradesh. This was done to highlight and market circuits such as Agra, Kannauj, Dudhwa, Ayodhya, Bundelkhand, and Varanasi. We are very pleased with the outcome of and impact that the event, and are committed to encouraging and supporting well organized platforms for tourism growth such as Très.” Preeti Srivastava, Deputy Director , Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

“We firmly believe that the subcontinent stands as a premier global destination for leisure, luxury, and inspirational travel, distinguished by its unique diversity and transformative experiences. Très embodies this belief, presenting a focused showcase of few exceptional travel offerings. We are immensely thankful for the support from our lead sponsors, Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Their backing has been a significant source of motivation for all involved,” Sowmya R Vijaymohan, Director at Très.

Adding to the value of the platform, Très Ignite sessions led by travel, destination and media experts will discuss relevant topics pertaining to the present and future possibilities in the region’s travel landscape, destination perspectives and niche experience-focused interests.

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Canada Taking On Tourism & Hospitality Industry Episode #2 Latinos en Canadá by Latincouver

Join Sandra Sallovitz, Abigail Flores and Daniel Araujo in this amazing conversation about their successful careers in Tourism and hospitality. This is the 2nd episode of 6 that will show you all the opportunities for those interested in these industries. Funded by the Government of Canada and brought to you thanks to Latincouver. Enjoy it!

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