Top hospitality trends to look out for in 2025

With 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally in 2024; marking the recovery of international tourism from Covid-19, the worst crisis in the travel industry’s history, about 2 billion people are projected to travel around the world this year, especially for leisure and business purposes.

Last year’s impressive record and the positive projection for 2025 also imply more demand for quality hotel accommodations by would-be guests and also discovering factors that influence their travel, choice of accommodation and things to do while on a trip.

In line with the above, below (in no particular order) are some trends that will influence guests’ decisions on the choice of hotels to stay, and also what hoteliers should look out for in order to stay in business this year.

Personalized services and authentic cultural experiences:

Today’s guests are after personalized services and authentic cultural experiences; hence both are key trends in the hospitality industry this year.

According to Samir Abi Frem, founder & CEO of Lokalee, travellers are increasingly seeking local, sustainable and bespoke experiences. “Hotels will need to adapt to these expectations and sustainability is also becoming a decisive factor in travel decisions,” Frem said.

Lokalee, which delivers seamless travel experience by integrating hotel services with curated local destination content, warned that hotels that care less about experience will get less guests this year.

Toeing the same line with the Lokalee CEO, Emmanuel Ele, the newly appointed Director for West Africa, Swiss International, explained that the guests are now after tailored and unified experiences, with the demand for seamless online and offline experiences on the increase.

“Hotels must integrate their systems to provide a fluid experience across all their platforms,” Ele, who also serves as managing director, Six Regions Hotels Nigeria, said.

Sustainable travel:

Globally, the guests are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and the development now requires hotels to incorporate eco-friendly practices and sustainable options to their offerings in order to appeal to environmentally conscious guests, a category that is on the increase.

Eco-friendly practices such as renewable energy sources, reducing waste, offering more green areas, among others will attract more guests to hotels this year.

Read also: How hospitality firm leverages services to promote cultural exchange

Tech/mobile-first approach:

Hotel bookings and inquiries on facilities are fast leaving traditional models for more innovative ones, especially through mobile phones, virtual tours and websites.

As at last year, about 32 percent of travelers booked their hotel accommodation through Smartphones. Considering the above, Ele noted that hotels must prioritize technology and mobile-first optimization to stay competitive this year.

Experience-centric travel:

Despite the rising cost of travel globally; especially airfare and hotel accommodation, travelers still prioritize experiences over price.

Hotels must focus on creating memorable experiences, such as partnering with local businesses to offer unique activities for the guests.

Experiential Dining:

Hotel restaurants are now shifting their focus from just serving food to creating immersive experiences that engage guests’ senses.

In view of the above, Chef Steffon, executive chef, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre, Ekiti State, is excited that the traditional food menu has been experiencing a boost, which he noted would be sustained this year.

“It is an area to focus because many chefs like me are increasingly creating something magical from our traditional dishes,” Chef Steffon explained.

Event-driven travel:

Travelers are increasingly planning trips around events and holidays. Hotels must adapt to this trend by offering event-specific packages and promotions.

Group Travel:

Probably, to share and save on the high cost of travel nowadays, group travel is on the rise, driven by families, friends and people seeking shared experiences.

To woo this group, which is a potential market, hotels need to offer tailored packages, services and pricing that will appeal to them.

Exciting diaspora packages:

With the increasing visits by African diasporas, especially Nigerians, there has been increasing demand for quality hotel accommodation and fun activities, as witnessed in Nigeria during the 2024 festive season.

Following the trend, Olufemi Talabi, founder and chairman, Citi Height Hotels, noted that the positive development will continue in 2025, with more Nigerian diasporas visiting the country on holidays, celebrations and for investment in view of the high exchange rate.

So, hotels, especially resorts that develop exciting diaspora packages will likely woo more to their facilities this year.