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Key industry takeaways from Booking.com’s 2022 Travel Predictions

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Booking.com has delved into all aspects of the travel experience to reveal the needs and wants of tomorrow’s travelers

With the outlook on travel varying in each region, Booking.com has sought insights from a diverse audience mix to forecast where travel is headed in 2022. The predictions draw on research* among more than 24,000 travelers across 31 countries and territories, combined with in-house data and expertise, to reflect a truly global market. 

Delving into every detail of their travel experiences, the research explores everything from preferred travel companions and trip aspirations to technology preferences and practical considerations. Here, we share key traveler themes and priorities that surfaced and how you can leverage them in planning for the year ahead. 

Reigniting the travel spark

After being unable to travel for such a long period of time, travelers want to make up for lost vacations by saying “yes” to the opportunities that come their way. Nearly three-quarters (72%) agree they will say yes to any vacation opportunity if budget allows. And for the 49% that have been saving by not taking any big vacations since the pandemic started, money is no object for the trips they will take in 2022. This is exciting news for partners, as we anticipate this sentiment will further stimulate travel demand. You can update your availability and stay informed on the best tips to capture this pent-up demand via the Opportunity Center.

You can also secure more bookings and revenue early in the season with our Early 2022 Deal, which you can activate on the Extranet between October 19, 2021 until March 31, 2022. It will be live to prospective guests from December 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, helping you kick off the new year with an attractive offering.  

Emphasis on local experiences and connections

Next year, the desire to connect authentically with the local community will continue as travelers seek to be more mindful about every trip they take. Well over half (58%) of people agree it’s important that their trip is beneficial to the local community at their destination. Additionally, 68% want the money they spend when traveling to go back to the local community, and 73% want to have authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture.

You can tap into this demand by indicating the steps you took to positively impact your destination and community – from giving local artists a platform to display their talents and offering tours organized by local guides, to providing guests with info regarding local ecosystems, heritage, and culture. 

Divide in remote work preferences

Our research shows two camps emerging when it comes to working remotely. No longer confined to five days a week in an office, some travelers are looking to extend their trips, with 69% agreeing that incorporating remote working before or after their vacation is a good way to extend their time in a destination. You can attract these travelers by offering Long Stay Rates and indicating that your property offers work-friendly facilities and services. 

On the other hand, the new year will also see a significant rise in travelers (73%) wanting to firmly re-establish vacation time as strictly work-free, and 59% would rather spend less time on vacation if it meant they could completely switch off. 

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Greater focus on the traveler journey

After feeling “stuck” for so long, rather than rushing through the journey, travelers will relish every moment. Three-quarters (75%) of people said travel is more enjoyable when the journey feels like part of the trip itself. Even the uncertainty of navigating foreign public transportation in a new city is something two-thirds (58%) said they enjoy. 

This makes our Connected Trip vision, which will enable travelers to book all the major elements of their trip on our platform, all the more important. To date, our flight product has launched in 24 countries, and we will continue to build on this early success in 2022. Coupled with our focus on providing seamless airport taxi, ride-hailing, and public transport journeys, we’re committed to ensuring your guests arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy your hospitality. 

Flexibility will remain a top priority


The broader travel industry will continue to prioritize flexibility, as travelers rank the ability to cancel (33%) and the ability to reschedule free of charge (32%) as two of the most important priorities in 2022.

Given the uncertainty travelers continue to experience, it’s unsurprising that flexibility continues to be front of mind. On top of flexible rates, you can appeal to travelers by offering a one-time date change to guests who book a non-refundable cancellation policy. 

Wider adoption of predictive technology

From AI-powered instant translation services that make communicating with foreign guests easier, to machine learning models that automatically inform you about a late arrival – technology will continue to smooth out the unforeseen bumps in the road with increasing finesse and proactivity. As a result, we expect to see even wider innovation of predictive technologies that can help travelers make more informed decisions, especially considering that two thirds (69%) would be interested in an innovative service that could predict which countries will be safe to travel to, even months in advance, or automatically suggest destinations that are easy to travel to now based on current COVID-19 requirements (67%). 

Prioritizing wellness travel

After a year of travel restrictions, the important benefits that travel has on health and wellbeing are now being acknowledged. Nearly two thirds (62%) of global travelers said they didn’t realize how important travel was to their wellbeing until it was no longer an option.

With a further 79% of people affirming that travel helps their mental and emotional wellbeing more than other forms of rest and relaxation, partners can expect a heightened desire for guest facilities and amenities that cater to self-care. You can highlight that you offer such services on your property page by selecting them in the facilities section of the Extranet.  

*Travel Predictions 2022 research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12–24 months. In total 24,055 respondents across 31 countries and territories were polled (including 501 from Argentina, 1003 from Australia, 500 from Belgium, 1001 from Brazil, 500 from Canada, 1000 from China, 1007 from Colombia, 1001 from Croatia, 508 from Denmark, 1002 from France, 1000 from Germany, 1005 from Hong Kong, 1000 from India, 502 from Israel, 1003 from Italy, 1002 from Japan, 500 from Mexico, 501 from The Netherlands, 501 from New Zealand, 500 from Peru, 1000 from Russia, 1005 from Singapore, 1002 from South Korea, 1002 from Spain, 501 from Sweden, 501 from Switzerland, 504 from Taiwan, 500 from Thailand, 1000 from the UK, 1002 from the US, and 501 from Vietnam). Respondents completed an online survey in August 2021.

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Takeaway
  • Booking.com’s 2022 Travel Predictions point toward the themes that will matter most to your guests in 2022

  • The research was commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12–24 months. In total, 24,055 respondents across 31 countries and territories were polled 

  • To help you make the most of these predictions, we shared actionable advice, providing both insights and tools you can leverage in planning for the year ahead