(TAN): IHG hotel bookings saw rural locations rise to the top this summer with areas such as Kent, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, East & North Yorkshire entered the list of the top 10 most visited UK locations. The big cities slid down the list, said IHG.
Karan Khanna, MD UK&I at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “There’s been a reawakening in appreciating small-town life, our families, quiet communities, reconnecting with nature and unplugging from technology…when travel resumes to pre-pandemic levels, it will be done with a greater sense of purpose and appreciation for local communities and the environment.”
With travel restrictions limiting people jetting off to far-flung destinations this year, Brits looked to explore what was on their very own doorstep more so than ever before.
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IHG Hotels & Resorts, which has more than 360 hotels in the UK & Ireland has recently revealed new data about how British travellers chose to spend the last few months.
Khanna said that people’s appetite to travel and explore hasn’t changed, but their priorities have. Cleanliness and flexibility are top of mind for everyone now. And travellers can be attracted to travel by introducing enhanced cleaning measures and offering more flexibility.
Given the pandemic situation, more travellers are opting for a domestic holiday. Despite some borders opening for European travel over the summer, most people chose to stay close to home with 95% of UK bookings being made for domestic stays, which is higher than previous years.
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“From China and Australia, to the UK and US, we’ve worked with governments, organisations and hotel owners to help provide accommodation to those who need it most. This includes looking after thousands of healthcare workers, delivery drivers and the homeless across the UK,” Khanna said.
Given the nature of the virus and the recommendations for older populations, unsurprisingly, older guests saw the steepest decline in activity during the peak of Covid-19 in April. Since then, while other age groups have witnessed a steady recovery, it’s much stronger among guests aged 35 years old and below.
