The global recession has changed the hotel industry in the UK & other countries in a manner similar to the impact upon other travel related industries. The brunt of the recession has settled on the mid-market brands. Business for budget brands such as Holiday Inn Express, Travelodge & Premier Inn has actually increased. Research indicates a change in holiday plans from long stays away from home to shorter stays nearby at budget hotels & holiday camps. Rapid growth is occurring in the short break market for persons staying from one to four nights. This rise in room nights over the past few years is not large enough to offset the long stay market losses. Other general economic factors also affect the UK hotel industry. Bad weather, the credit crunch & a decline in jobs work against the industry as holiday travel is curtailed or eliminated.
Business travellers are switching to budget hotel brands. This trend can be directly correlated to the timing of the economic downturn beginning in 2008. In a positive reaction, the budget hotel brands have worked hard to improve their offerings to compete with the mid-market brands. Guests can get much better deals than previously. Business brand awareness has been converting to membership in new loyalty programmes. The Internet benefits the hotel industry because booking rooms is easier. It is a way for brands to reach out to business guests. Guests use hotel websites for information about best deals & to book rooms online. Generic travel websites like Yahoo! Travel, Travel.com or hotels.com are most frequently used by potential guests. Hotel loyalty programmes are another method to entice guests to book their holidays at all types of hotels. Over half of frequent business guests belong to some loyalty programme that offers special benefits to customers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3704747
