The American hotel industry grew at a rapid pace after World War II. The three-decade boom fueled increased commercial travel and skyrocketed incomes. In addition, organized labor helped to spread wealth more widely and made paid vacations a reality for millions of workers. Additionally, the growth of the interstate highway system and the reliable passenger aircraft made traveling more accessible. During this time, the hotel industry was also a major battleground in the domestic political atmosphere.
Cancellation policies
Travelers should familiarize themselves with cancellation policies when booking a hotel or a flight. These policies may help travelers avoid unwanted surprises when they arrive at their destination. If you decide to cancel your travel plans, it is important to know whether you will be charged a cancellation fee or forfeit your deposit. Hotels and airlines vary in their cancellation policies. You should ask your travel agent about their cancellation policy.
Most hotels require a 24-hour notice for cancellations. However, some require a longer period. Many hotels changed their cancellation policies after the COVID-19 crisis, which caused mass disruption around the world. Since then, most have returned to their previous policies. However, a few remain flexible. For example, some North American hotels offer the option to make changes to bookings without a cancellation fee. These hotels will also issue a credit voucher that can be used within 18 months at the same hotel.
Location
Location is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a hotel. It is directly related to the activities available in the area. A traveller’s hotel serves as a reference point for almost everything he or she does on his or her vacation. Hence, choosing a good location is critical for travel planning.
Google’s hotel search lets you filter your search by different parameters. For example, you can filter by location, price range, and user rating. You can even search for vacation rentals. Once you’ve found a hotel you’re interested in, you can read more about its amenities and see the rates.
Privacy
When traveling or staying in a hotel, it is important to protect your privacy. You cannot control how your hotel or airline handles your personal information, but you can take precautions to minimize the risk. Ensure that you log out of your personal accounts when using hotel business centers or Internet cafes. This will protect sensitive information and prevent impersonation and account hijacking.
If you must use public Wi-Fi, make sure you get the official name of the hotel’s network. If possible, use a VPN service to protect your personal information. While you can use public Wi-Fi to look up local attractions or restaurants, avoid entering your credit card number or other sensitive information.
Personalization
Personalization is growing in importance when it comes to traveling and staying in hotels. As a result, many hotels are now considering bringing personalized services to their properties. This can help them increase direct bookings through their website, increase the satisfaction of their guests, and increase the number of positive reviews. Some hotels are even linking their loyalty programs to personalized services to increase repeat business.
In addition to fostering greater brand loyalty, personalization also improves the financial performance of travel brands. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, more than half of the companies surveyed cited customer personalization as one of the key ways to increase their revenue and profits. Such personalization can be achieved through email campaigns, automated call centers, and social media.
Cost
With the upcoming summer season, the cost of traveling and hotels is expected to rise significantly. Rising labor costs and consumer demand will lead to higher prices. Travel prices increased by 8.5 percent in March and hotel rates rose by 11.7 percent. These increases are especially evident in budget hotels. However, travelers can minimize these expenses by using smarter booking practices. Among these strategies are using price comparison sites and direct booking with hotels.