Travel and holiday rental trends in 2024
What to expect this year and the most important new developments
- In 2024, solo travel and wellness tourism increase exponentially in popularity.
- Travelling via train gains popularity over air travel, affecting holiday rentals and promoting more sustainable tourism.
- Artificial Intelligence makes it easier to play an important role in travel and accommodation planning.
- Hosts must adapt their properties to the emerging preferences of travellers.
New trends for 2024 point towards changes in the way we travel
It seems that 2024 will bring significant changes in the tourism landscape. According to surveys conducted by various travel insurance companies, 58% of the population intends to travel more this year than they did the previous year. Two major trends for 2024 that are gaining momentum are the increase in solo travel and wellness tourism.
But there’s more! Because, according to Hilton, 64% of travellers this year prefer to allocate part of their savings to leisure travel rather than other types of trips. This aspect will have a positive impact on holiday rentals, as a greater number of tourists will opt to rent a holiday flat. Thus, the chances of securing a booking will increase according to statistics.
However, it will all depend on how the host maintains the flat, the prices, and their services. Another trend that has already begun to emerge is luxury tourism, despite inflation. Travellers see travel as an investment worth making, even in high season. Likewise, travellers also support sustainable tourism, a practice that has been on the rise for some years now.
Wellness tourism is trending
More and more travellers are packing their bags with the aim of resting and relaxing. They seek to get away for a few days from everyday stress and disconnect from their surroundings to connect with themselves. This is very good news for renting out your holiday home because these travellers prefer the autonomy of a home to a hotel. By advertising your property as a holiday home, you can promote its use as an ideal place to unwind. Other advantages of holiday rental homes in this type of tourism include the following:
- Travellers feel more liberated.
- They are not subject to schedules.
- They can come and go as they please.
- They have access to a complete house.
- They are the best option if travelling with children and pets.
- They can cook whatever they want, whenever they want.
Spending holidays in a holiday home is an appealing experience. And it is expected that this type of tourism trend will increase in 2025 according to the Global Wellness Summit study. Similarly, this study seems to indicate that Spain is the second European country with the highest number of wellness tourism offerings. For this reason, we recommend that you have brochures in different languages in your holiday rental for foreign tourists.
Travelling by train is now a symbol of glamour
That’s right! While we have been opting for air travel for years when it comes to travelling, train travel is now gaining ground. Previously, trains were considered an improved alternative to buses that had been overshadowed by the cheap flights offered by different airlines. The train offers comfort and the possibility to admire the landscapes along the journey.
Travelling in luxury trains is now common practice, which has aroused great interest among travellers. Night trains have also become relevant, where comfort and silence prevail. The demand for this mode of transportation is growing, and the great advantage is that it will eventually lead to cheaper travel prices than current fares.
Additionally, it’s worth considering the ongoing importance of sustainable tourism. Trains emit less CO2 per passenger and per kilometre travelled than planes, according to the Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030. This factor will favour domestic tourism especially and could also promote holiday rentals at the same time.
Solo travel has become a trend
While solo travel was less common before, this “rarity” is now viewed more positively. Today’s traveller sees great advantages in solo travel. The first is that they don’t depend on anyone to plan and organise the trip, and they are also free to move around each destination as they please.
Travelling alone allows for meeting more people, promotes sociability, and experiences become more memorable. We pay more attention to details, learn to know ourselves better, and are more inclined to embark on adventures. People who travel solo are almost always very independent individuals who enjoy discovering new places.
Moreover, they prefer to travel with a backpack instead of being burdened with suitcases. This makes it easier for them to move around, and they also believe that travelling with as few belongings as possible is better. These travellers seek comfortable accommodation, typically centrally located, with good internet connection and entertainment (TV, games, etc.).
Popular travel predictions for 2024
- Relaxing trips.
- Solo travel for the purpose of experiencing and/or self-discovery.
- Gastronomic trips.
- Opting for sustainable travel.
- Choosing the train over the plane.
- More contact with nature.
- Travelling off-peak.
These are the expected predictions for this year. Some have only recently begun to emerge, such as solo travel or gastronomic trips, while others have been on the rise for years, such as sustainable tourism. You can promote all the features of your holiday rental property and tailor them to one or more of these profiles.
Artificial Intelligence will be part of the changes
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will contribute to changing the way we travel, as it can help us find interesting promotions and savings. It is estimated that four out of ten young adults already use it. The advantage is that it is a quick way to find good prices, instead of spending hours and days searching for the best deals.
AI is present in more digital spaces as months go by. Now we can find it on any holiday rental website. It helps us find the best deals and even makes recommendations to travellers based on their searches. This tool is of great interest to people who have little free time to search for flights and holiday rentals.
Entering a holiday rental portal involves making a selection among a multitude of properties. AI, thanks to the search patterns stored on our devices, has become a great ally in saving us time and money. And it will be even more in demand to find the best travel deals in 2024.
Why is it important to know about these changes?
As a host, you can always stay ahead of your guests’ interests. Knowing the 2024 predictions allows you to adapt your holiday rental property to these changes. If you know travellers’ preferences, such as those who prefer solo travel or those opting for wellness tourism, you can use that information to your advantage.
Highlight on the holiday rental portal where your property is listed all the virtues of your property. Reflect: why is it worth staying in your property and not in another? This is what you should convey in the listing. Think about how a guest would act, imagine having to choose accommodation. You can also promote your property as an ideal space for couples or for those deciding to travel solo.
Finally, studies conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) confirm that tourist accommodation has increased enormously in 2023. In that year, the record for properties destined for this purpose was broken. And current hosts expect to maintain or even exceed bookings in the travels of 2024.