Summer is fast approaching and the costs of travel and hotels are likely to rise. This is due to higher supply and labor costs and increased demand. As of March, travel prices rose by 8.5 percent while hotel rates rose by 11.7 percent. Following World War II, the United States hotel industry experienced rapid growth and became a battleground in domestic politics.
Booking in advance
Booking hotels in advance can have several benefits, including lower rates and more room choices. It also allows you to plan your itinerary and be certain of getting the right room. Especially if you’re traveling during peak season, booking hotels in advance is a smart choice. If you’re traveling to San Diego, for example, you’ll want to know whether the Gaslamp Quarter is accessible to travelers with mobility issues, or what summer events are going on in the city.
The best time to book a hotel is a month or so before your trip. This is because prices are lowest and average savings are highest one month in advance. However, you should still consider booking a hotel at least four to five weeks in advance.
Cancellation policies
When traveling, it is important to know the cancellation policies of the hotel or travel company you are booking. Some policies may be flexible, while others may be rigid. The best option to cancel a reservation is to contact the provider directly. However, if you book through an online travel agency, the cancellation policy of the hotel may differ from the one of the hotel you booked directly.
Most hotels and travel companies require a 24-hour notice of cancellation before check-in. But some may require a longer period of time. During the recent COVID-19 crisis, many hotels changed their cancellation policies to be more flexible. However, they have since largely reverted to their pre-COVID conditions. Some hotels, however, are prioritizing flexibility as a priority moving forward. For example, many North American hotels offer free changes to bookings and credit vouchers for use within 18 months at the same hotel.
Location
Location is an important factor when traveling and booking hotels. Travel websites use this information to personalize your experience and show you different hotel rates based on your location. If you’re in a low-income country, you’ll be presented with cheaper deals than if you’re in a high-income country. This information is obtained through cookies and other methods used by travel websites. Fortunately, there are several ways to get around location monitoring and web tracking.
One option is to use Google’s map to search for hotels near your destination. You can also enter the name of the city, airport, landmark, or address and get hotels that are nearby. This method can help you select the best hotel based on location and budget.
Inclusion initiatives
Investing in inclusion initiatives is critical for the health of any hospitality company. Not only does it help attract the best talent and connect with a diverse client base, but it also increases revenues. Inclusion initiatives can also boost retention rates. For example, many large hospitality companies have appointed a chief diversity officer.
The travel and hotel industry has long been criticized for its lack of diversity. In recent years, there have been some impressive DEI initiatives, but some have fallen short. For example, the Travel Industry Executive Womens Network, formed by Francis Kiradjian, has a network of 12,000 women worldwide. These women make connections through events and conferences, and online. The group began as a way to address the lack of diversity among hotel executives and managers. Many women found themselves underrepresented in leadership roles.