Table 3.
Overview of trade publication trends.
| Trend categories | Description of trends | # Articles |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Technology | Artificial intelligence, 5G, mobile applications, payment solutions, biometric, voice-activation, data analytics, blockchain, cloud-based solutions, automation and robotics, data protection, chatbots, RFID technology, room entry, CRM, Wi-Fi | 294 (21.54%) |
| 2. Consumer Segments/ Consumer Preferences | Customer segmentation, guest expectations and experience, changing consumer preferences, guest entertainment, localization, customer engagement | 196 (14.36%) |
| 3. Corporate Portfolio | Managing hotel portfolio, diversification, expansion, strategy | 165 (12.09%) |
| 4. Employee Management/ Training/ Labor Market | Employee education, training programs, scholarships, mentorship programs, internships, e-Learning, employee loyalty, employee compensation, HR management, employee engagement, employee protection, equity and equal opportunity, team building, work environment, empowerment, work-life balance, talent acquisition and hiring, retaining employees, and turnover | 157 (11.50%) |
| 5. Travel/ Tourism | Airline industry, travel habits, over-tourism, regional analysis | 153 (11.21%) |
| 6. Design/ Architecture | Interior design and décor, architectural styles, hotel themes, art, landscaping | 123 (9.01%) |
| 7. Finance Management | Budgeting, forecasting, (re)financing, costs, pricing, revenue, lending, capital | 122 (8.94%) |
| 8. Branding | Brand management, brand strategy, leveraging branding, rebranding, brand elements, brand proliferation, luxury branding | 114 (8.35%) |
| 9. F&B | Dietary trends and changing consumer preferences for local, organic, vegan and vegetarian, and healthy cuisine | 103 (7.55%) |
| 10. Sustainability | Energy efficiency, waste management, waste reduction, alternative power, water conservation | 100 (7.33%) |
| 11. Mergers & Acquisitions/ Partnerships | Mergers and acquisitions, partnerships | 97 (7.11%) |
| 12. Guestroom Amenities | Bedding and linens, minibar, in-room entertainment, toiletries | 94 (6.89%) |
| 13. Hotel Development | Renovations, construction, opening and closing of properties | 88 (6.45%) |
| 14. Business Model/ Strategy | Strategic planning, timeshare, business models to compete with hostels and home-sharing, co-working, membership models | 86 (6.30%) |
| 15. Hotel/ Hotelier Profiles | Profiles of hotels and hoteliers | 83 (6.08%) |
| 16. Marketing | Email marketing, market research, storytelling, (re)positioning, mobile marketing, marketing strategy, digital marketing, programmatic advertising, social media marketing, content marketing, influencer marketing, reviews, customer engagement | 79 (5.79%) |
| 17. COVID-19 | Impact on hotel industry, dealing with COVID-19, recovery from COVID-19 | 73 (5.35%) |
| 18. Health/ Wellness | Fitness programs and equipment, holistic wellness, wellness tourism, spa | 62 (4.54%) |
| 19. Legal Issues/ Policies | Sexual harassment and misconduct policies, GDPR, liability, local regulations, scheduling laws, legal implications of mass shootings, fee disclosure practices, human-trafficking, discrimination, compliance | 55 (4.03%) |
| 20. Sanitation/ Cleanliness | Air quality, pest control, laundry, housekeeping | 53 (3.88%) |
| 21. CRM/ Loyalty | CRM, customer retention, customer analytics, loyalty programs, consumer insights | 51 (3.74%) |
| 22. Investment | Hotel investment, regional investment for expansion, management-only and company-owned properties, investing in surrounding community, ROI | 44 (3.22%) |
| 23. Security | Cyber-security, preparing for mass shootings, privacy protection, safety protocols and equipment | 43 (3.15%) |
| 24. Economy | Economic outlook, impact on hotels, interest rates | 41 (3.00%) |
| 25. Franchising | Franchising process, franchise agreements, franchisor/ franchisee relationships, franchise development | 32 (2.34%) |
| 26. Booking | Direct Booking, OTA, mobile booking, third-party and intermediated bookings | 31 (2.27%) |
| 27. Government Influence | Government regulations and programs, taxation, geopolitical climate | 31 (2.27%) |
| 28. Crisis Management | Responding to crises, disaster recovery | 30 (2.20%) |
| 29. Leadership | Women in leadership, leadership development, effective leadership | 29 (2.12%) |
| 30. P2P | Airbnb, home-sharing | 26 (1.90%) |
| 31. Diversity | Gender and racial diversity in customers, employees, and leadership | 24 (1.76%) |
| 32. Insurance | Insurance market, coverage, recovery | 17 (1.25%) |
| 33. Meetings/ Events | Meeting-focused hotels, cancellations and postponements, event booking | 12 (0.88%) |
| 34. Other | 108 (7.91%) |