The Staycation is Booming: How to Capitalise on This Trend

The staycation is booming! In this article, we'll explore why and how you can capitalise on this trend. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing many people to stay home for their holidays, staycation has become increasingly popular. People are realising the benefits of staying close to home – including enjoying more time with family and friends and getting a better sense of work-life balance.

Despite travel restrictions easing, there remains a degree of uncertainty and consumer caution about holidaying abroad. The evidence points to a prolonged period of popularity for the staycation, whether that be work or play.

Staycations will continue to be big in 2022.

According to a new study, the staycation boom will continue into 2022. According to the UK tour operator Hoseasons, 83% of those who took a staycation this year want to repeat that experience next year, with 24% already arranging their next trip.

In 2022, more than a third of holidaymakers (35%) said they preferred a staycation to a trip abroad, while over half planned on taking one of each (52%).

The most popular reasons why visitors to the area had a staycation were the pleasant and relaxing accommodation (34%), a change in scenery (32%), less stress than traveling abroad (30%), and increased mental well-being (29%). More than a fifth (21%) of respondents were delighted to help local businesses.

The growing demand for staycations, which has prompted smaller lodge and holiday site owners to expand their offerings, has also resulted in some firms increasing the size of their portfolio by more than 100%.

Staycations are great for work-life balance.

For some, COVID has been a struggle. For others, it's opened up new opportunities in terms of how we work - and where. Many people have learned that you can operate from almost any place as long as you have the appropriate equipment and a reliable internet connection.

Flexibility in terms of how, where, and when people work has become a given. Employers that don't provide flexibility will see higher turnover as workers seek jobs that match their needs better.

We also know that being about to take a break and have a good work-life balance is key to being happy in your job and also more productive as big business is taking note.

Many companies added to the health coaching they offered their workers in the wake of the epidemic. According to a Gartner 2020 survey of 52 HR executives:

• 94% of companies made significant investments in their wellbeing programs.

• 85% increased support for mental health benefits.

• 50% increased support for physical wellbeing.

• 38% increased support for financial wellbeing.

In addition, with hybrid and remote work becoming more widespread, the geographic range of employers that someone may work for widens. People are increasingly seeing the advantages of being near to home, such as spending more time with their family and friends and having a greater sense of work-life balance.

Enhance your technology to take advantage of last-minute bookings.

The travel and tourism industry has noticed a shift in booking behaviour from consumers since the pandemic outbreak. Concerned about impending restrictions and forced cancellations, they are utilising a more immediate booking strategy. There's been a significant rise in impromptu travel as a result. In fact, according to recent statistics, 69% of UK reservations were completed within just seven days of travel.

Hotel operators, holiday homeowners, outdoor leisure operators, and anyone else who will be accommodating the staycation should take advantage of this new development by having instant booking capabilities and the ability to respond quickly to incoming requests. For larger businesses, using a property management software solution to automate business activities is critical to achieving as many booking platforms as possible, diversifying distribution, and increasing brand recognition.

When it comes to streamlining check-ins and the guest experience with digital concierge services contactless technology became standard during the pandemic. Managers have less contact with their customers and are therefore less aware of the overall experience. Guests may still be connected to holiday staff while providing feedback using cutting-edge technology.

Become an automated, optimised, data-driven solution rather than a manual approach. Connecting to your human resources, payroll, and operations processes is important, but it's even more essential that it connects to your people.

Offer enhanced booking flexibility.

All operators supporting the staycation boom should make sure they are willing to be flexible to accommodate guests, as this will help promote bookings. People will be able to book their vacations confident in the knowledge that they won't lose money if they have to cancel because of COVID. Refund policies should be flexible so that consumers can arrange their holidays without fear of losing money. It's also a good idea to stay in touch with guests ahead of their visit to ensure that they still plan to attend. This can aid in the prevention of any last-minute cancellations since replacements can't be found.

Customer confidence is enhanced by messaging elements such as push notifications, SMS updates, email campaigns, and digital key entry. While people's confidence is increasing, they are still naturally cautious about holidaying owing to the pandemic. This implies that one of the most important things guests want assurance on when making a staycation is whether or not the accommodation is COVID-secure.

Customers will be relieved to learn about any new measures that are being implemented, such as more thorough cleaning processes, one-way systems, and employee education. Owners can go a step further in increasing consumer confidence by obtaining proper certification.

Maximise your marketing.

Those keen to make the most of this year’s staycation boom need to maximise their marketing efforts. This starts with the website, and holiday let owners need to ensure it highlights key information, unique selling points like Wi-Fi, in-room entertainment, digital key room entry, and new measures to contactless check-in are available. 

Owners should also use social sites to their advantage, particularly since they are a great remote workplace. This includes utilising social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and even Tik Tok effectively to promote products. It’s free marketing. Owners may also use these channels to attract consumers with appealing offers, like off-season discounts, in order to drive income during slower months.

Because the guest experience is the most effective marketing strategy, keeping customers satisfied is critical. Customers who are satisfied with your product or service will frequently tell others about it, resulting in a large number of positive comments.

Make certain that your firm is prepared for the summer staycation boom and make the most of your personal holiday rental to attract more clients.