Traveling and hotels are one of the most important industries in the world, generating $250 billion each year. This is a huge amount of money which supports millions of people across the globe. Traveling is a great way to escape reality and relax and can have positive effects on your well-being, like reducing stress and anxiety levels.

Although economic blips may affect leisure travel, the industry continues to grow and has the potential to boost jobs and local economies. With this in mind, AHLA supports policies that promote travel to and within the United States, and encourage the use of travel-related tax deductions.

When it comes to booking travel, 26% of global travellers start their research on a search engine. It’s vital for hoteliers to understand how to optimise their online presence to attract this audience. Additionally, country-based travel data can be helpful for preparing more tailored offers for specific markets.

Gen Z travelers are interested in experiences that make them feel educated about a destination, or surprised and delighted. This is why it’s essential for hotels to continue providing unique and innovative guest offerings.

With the Olympics, MLB and NBA summer seasons underway, sports tourism is expected to boom this year, Avadhani and Selinger noted. To capitalise on this trend, hotels should consider allowing loyalty program members to redeem points for tickets to sports events, as well as offer exclusive fan experience opportunities. For example, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts now allows its members to exchange rewards for Minor League Baseball tickets and Marriott Bonvoy partnered with the U.S. Soccer Federation this year to offer fans a range of experiences in select cities.