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Hotels.com examines how travelers' search patterns and preferences changed during the pandemic
Haven't planned a trip in a while? You aren't alone. Americans haven't taken a proper spring break trip in nearly three years, and in that time, the travel landscape has changed and travelers' preferences along with it. That's why Hotels.com analyzed searches on its site and mobile app from the past three years to identify the most in-demand and out of touch amenities so far in 2022.
"The pandemic impacted nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we search for our next hotel stay," said Mel Dohmen, senior brand manager at Hotels.com. "The amenities we love and are looking for in 2022 reflect everything we've felt and experienced over the past few years. From hotels that helped us relax and take the edge off to those that complemented new hobbies like cooking and skiing, there's a lot to learn about where travelers are going this year based on how they search for the perfect hotel stay."
Key findings from the 2022 Hotels.com Amenity Report include:
WHAT'S NEW
Stressed much? Searches for bathtubs surge
Call it a cry for help or just good old-fashioned self-care, but bathtubs were the most-searched hotel amenity during the peak of the pandemic. Searches so far this year are up 25% compared with 2019 and interest in spas have grown, too (+35%).
Sit back and soak at these top-rated hotels:
Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas, Nevada
Hotel Contessa River Walk in San Antonio, Texas
Hyatt Regency Downtown in Tulsa, Oklahoma
New hobby alert: We ski now
The pandemic forced everyone to get in touch with their outdoorsy side, so it's not all that surprising that searches for ski-in/ski-out hotels are at peak levels, up 50% since 2019. Interest in properties with ski shuttles and storage are also up 20%.
Après ski all day at these top properties:
Aspen Mountain Lodge in Aspen, Colorado
Parkside Inn at Incline in Lake Tahoe, Nevada
The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia
Cooking at home and the hotel
From baking bread to trying out that crazy TikTok pasta, kitchens were all the craze as the second most sought-after amenity in 2021. The trend is continuing with kitchen searches increasing 15% year-over-year.
Get cooking on that next trip at these hotels:
Clementine Hotel & Suites in Anaheim, California
Floridays Resort in Orlando, Florida
Homewood Suites by Hilton in Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT'S OUT
No Wi-Fi, no problem
Zoom meetings and doom scrolling aren't on the itinerary this year as searches for properties with free Wi-Fi are plummeting, down 50% since pre-pandemic.
Keep it IRL at these off-the-grid hotels:
Allegheny Springs by Casago in Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia
The Chisos Suite in Terlingua, Texas
We have no business here
Travelers are tired of work from home and turns out they really don't want to work from anywhere else, either. Searches for properties with business facilities are down 40% compared with 2019.
Properties with amenities that prioritize time off the clock:
The Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood, Arizona
Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica, California
WHAT'S TRENDING NOW
Dude, where's my car
Don't retire that road trip playlist just yet. Searches for properties with free parking are up 70% this year as travelers continue to favor destinations within driving distance.
Properties where the parking spot is guaranteed (and free):
Sonder Hotel Gravier in New Orleans, Louisiana
Ohio House Motel in Chicago, Illinois
Residence Inn by Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia
For those who can't stand another 10-hour drive, you aren't alone. Searches for properties with free airport transfers are up a whopping 105% so far this year.
We're **finally** taking a family vacation
Families have desperately missed out on quality vacation time together and it shows. Searches for properties with cribs (+65%), childcare (+45%) and connecting rooms (+20%) have increased double digits.
Parents love these kid-friendly properties:
Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa in Henderson, Nevada
The Hotel at Midtown in Chicago, Illinois
Holiday Inn Express in Virginia Beach, Virginia
And let's not forget the fur children, too. Interest in pet-friendly stays is up 35% in 2022.
Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, California
Working out while on vacation
Working out really wasn't a top priority during the pandemic. Searches for gyms were down 30% or more last year compared with 2019. However, in 2022 travelers are getting back into their wellness routine and year-over-year searches for gyms have increased 65%.
Hotels with top-notch gyms and wellness offerings:
The Perry Hotel in Key West, Florida
Homewood Suites French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana
Viva Wyndham Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Breakfast is back
Free breakfast has been the top amenity since pretty much the beginning of time. But the pandemic knocked this fan favorite down a few pegs as hotels traded hot buffets for pre-packaged grab-and-go items. This year, breakfast is back and searches are up 75%.
Wake up to waffle makers and breakfast buffets at these hotels:
Aloft at the Domain in Austin, Texas
Embassy Suites in Napa Valley, California
Tru by Hilton Downtown in Denver, Colorado
HOW YOUR STATE STAYS: SPRING BREAK EDITION
Ahead of spring break, Hotels.com also explored top-searched travel destinations and amenities to see how each of the 50 states and D.C. find the perfect stay. Top regional trends include:
Star Ratings: Northeasterners prefer 4-star properties with free parking. While Southerners are okay with 2.5-star stays, so long as they come with free breakfast.
Amenities: Arizonans and Californians look for pet-friendly properties, while travelers in Maryland, Louisiana and Ohio just want to soak in a bathtub.
Destinations: Midwesterners prefer midsize cities like Omaha and Oklahoma City to metropolitan areas. And residents in Southwest states (Arizona, Nevada) are most likely to choose California.
Notes to Editors *Hotels.com amenity report compared internal search data on US sites and mobile app from January 1 – February 7, 2022 with the same time period in 2019, 2020 and 2021. About Hotels.com® (or Hotels.com™) Hotels.com® is the most rewarding way to book a place to stay. We really love travel, and we know you do too. That's why we make it really easy to book with us. With hundreds of thousands of places to stay around the world and 90 local websites in 41 languages, Hotels.com has it all. So, whether you're looking for value in Vegas, treehouses in Thailand or villas with views, it's all just a click away. And with our "Reward-winning" loyalty program you earn free*** nights while you sleep…what could be better? Booking just got smarter too. With over 25 million real guest reviews and an app so easy to use that it's been downloaded 70 million times, you can be sure to find the perfect place for you. © 2022 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CST #2083949-50 ***Exclusions apply. Reward night worth the average price of the previous 10. Taxes/fees payable on each Reward Night redeemed. See T&Cs https://www.hotels.com/customer_care/terms_conditions.html CONTACT: Mel Dohmen, mdohmen@expediagroup.com SOURCE Hotels.com
