What are the travel trends our team has identified in 2020? What’s the ratio between those who stay in an Omnifique home for business or pleasure? What can we expect from the high-end travel industry in 2021? If there’s anyone on our team who has the answers to these questions and more, it’s our Marketing Manager, Paula Bonnet.
Argentine-born, worldwide traveler and speaker of four languages, Paula not only works in travel… she has based her life around it. When she’s not reading, writing, enjoying foreign foods, or planning her next voyage, she’s delving into the rich world of Omnifique’s online communication and heading up our knockout Marketing Team.
We asked her to give us some insights into current travel trends and to share her team’s predictions for travel in 2021, and this is what she had to say:
What tendencies in the travel industry has the Marketing Team at Omnifique identified during 2020?
P: We’ve identified four main trends that reflect how the pandemic has shaped traveler behavior this year.
First, in May, when many U.S. travelers decided to get back on the road, we noticed they were more interested in staying in private settings than hotels. It’s easy to see why: they avoid crowds, they don’t have to share amenities, or wear masks as soon as they leave their room. Plus, there’s the added benefit of needing a smaller team of people to cater to a private group staying in a vacation home.
We’ve noticed that travelers are on the hunt for secluded, remote locations. All-inclusive villa getaways have never been more enticing than they are at present. People want to immerse themselves in nature, enjoy their surroundings, and stay at home (when away from home) as much as possible.
Another trend that has become stronger as the year has progressed is that people choose to stay at driveable locations. All of the scenic destinations featured in our portfolio, located just a few hours away from the big U.S. cities, benefit from a marked increase in visitors compared to previous years.
It’s also worth mentioning that, as more companies are allowing their employees to work from home, more people are starting to realize that they can work from anywhere – literally. We’re seeing guests choose to spend a few months in one home and then make the move to spend a couple of months in another, enjoying all the same comforts that we all love when being in our own homes, but with the entertaining difference of being somewhere new. Digital nomads are no longer start-up founders in their 20’s with a laptop working from a Bali beach. 2020 has shown us that they’re also families (pets included!) who want a change of scenery in a beautiful home and almost instant access to a Colorado national park, for example.
Is it mainly business or pleasure driving guests to stay in one of our homes?
P: Mostly pleasure. Company retreats are not as common as they used to be, but people are taking their offices on the road. With that in mind, it’s to be expected that a mix of business and pleasure becomes gradually more popular. At Omnifique, we like to refer to this kind of travel as Bleisure.
What expectations does Omnifique have for the high-end travel industry in 2021?und?
P: Without a doubt, we’re going to see an increased focus on cultivating experiences and strengthening sustainability. 2020 will go down in history as the year that made the entire population of the 21st century reconsider priorities.
Life in 2021 will no doubt include a greater emphasis on the need to escape, to truly savor life, and to enjoy the simple pleasure of being side by side with the people we love. When we pair these basic desires alongside a choice of stunning scenic destinations, the combination is exciting.
We’d also like to believe that discerning travelers will make more of a conscious effort to connect with travel-related companies that implement and value sustainable practices.
What’s the most exciting or interesting thing about working in such a niche segment of the travel industry?
P: Learning something new by paying attention to the behavior and interests of a wide range of travelers is always very exciting. I believe that it’s crucial for us, as members of the travel industry, to be exceptional listeners and to provide a service that truly caters to our target market’s needs.
Excellence is our bread and butter, but we can only achieve it if we stay ahead of trends and we continually make an effort to understand our clients. Listening and learning is what I love most.
Is there anything else you’d like to share that you think readers might be interested in?
P: Yes. One thing does come instantly to mind, and it’s this… It was an odd year.
But now that it’s gradually coming to an end, I think the team at Omnifique was able to prove that the services we provide, the homes that our Expansion Team curates, and everything else we do for guests on a personal level, is at such a level that we’re able to withstand all manner of adversities, including a worldwide pandemic.