Following the unprecedented events of 2020, Hoteliers & Tourism Boards are bracing for the long road to recovery in 2021. In the last year, Tourism Boards and hotels have worked together to uplift the market sentiments by innovating new concepts and reworking existing areas to accommodate the market changes. The results indicate some crucial points towards the sentiments of Luxury Wedding Hotels & Tourism Boards and how are they embracing the spirit of 2021 weddings.
Elevating The Industry For A Better Future
Echoing it loud and clear that ‘We are in this for the long run,’ the results display a whopping 92% of hotels and tourism boards who are optimistic that 2021 will led us to a better place than last year.
Luxury Hotels Have Restarted Hosting Weddings
65% of hotels said that they have already restarted hosting weddings at their property. Of course, the way it used to happen has changed. Health & Safety is the topmost priority, they are making sure that proper protocols are in place and implemented throughout the property. High-level certificates like Bureau Veritas and Safehotels have been obtained to reinsure the safety of their guests.
Local Business Will Continue To Be A Crucial Market Segment For Hotel Recovery In 2021
Despite ever-changing travel restrictions and cautious consumer behaviors relating to Health & Safety and travel bookings, the trend towards local tourism has not changed. In fact, our research reveals that nearly 62% of Hoteliers expect business from the local market.
Online Marketplace Are The Future Of Wedding Industry
The pandemic has changed the way we do business. In such uncertain times, when the only safe way to meet is online, no wonder we witnessed 38% of hotels & Tourism Boards saying that they rely heavily on an online marketplace such as DWP Insider to source their business in the current times.
Smaller Guest Size
44% of respondents said that they organized at least 1-10 weddings at their property during 2020 as compared to pre-pandemic times when this number was 40+ in a year. They have also agreed that the celebration has gone more intimate with fewer guests for an enhanced safety and personal experience.
Summer Weddings Are Trending
3rd quarter is the busiest time for hotels when it comes to organizing weddings. With the rise in outdoor weddings pertaining to social distancing norms, the summer season offers perfect weather for tying the knot. Many couples are booking the property in advance for this season.
Increased Appetite For Physical Connection Than Before
It’s about the human connection. 65% of respondents said that they want to get back to meeting their clients physically over virtually.
These are the factors they have ranked as per the position before attending an event in-person:
- Number of attendees
- Quarantine Periods
- Safety Protocols & SOPs put in place by the destination where the event is held
- Safety Protocols & SOPs put in place by the organizer
Hello Again, Luxury Weddings
45% of respondents confirm that they have 20-40 weddings in the pipeline at their venue for 2021. This is a good start following a stressful year. With a 120% rise from the year 2020, it’s a sign that the Hotels and Tourism Boards are going hand-in-hand with the situation by adapting and finding ways to attract weddings. We will see more weddings at luxurious properties this year, from offering incentives, upgrades, special packages to rebuilding the premises to accommodate more intimate celebrations.
Feature Image Credit: @mitsisalila
