Shoulder Season Sees Peak Demand
Europe's Shoulder Season Hotel Bookings Set to Break Records
Europe is experiencing a 5% increase in hotel demand for the shoulder season compared to the same period in 2019. Travelers are increasingly seeking off-peak travel to avoid crowds and enjoy lower prices. Another reason for the rising demand is the favorable weather after Europe's hot summers in recent years.
Change in Hotel Bookings for the Shoulder Season (Benchmarked Against 2019)
Source: Adara, a RateGain Company
Economy Hotels Steal the Spotlight
Economy hotels are experiencing the highest surge in bookings in Europe this shoulder season. The off-season also offers lower prices for services that are more expensive during the peak season, leading to increased uptake among travelers. There is a 26% year-over-year increase in bookings for economy hotels, followed by a 14% rise in luxury hotels. Full-service hotels are seeing a marginal decline in bookings.
Off-Beat Destinations Ignite Wanderlust
Poland is becoming an alternate destination for European neighbors seeking to explore newer options. Offbeat destinations in the Balkans and Baltic are also getting popular owing to more affordable prices and for travelers avoiding over-tourism.
North American and British Travelers Take the Lead
Despite changes in travel patterns, the shoulder season is set to see regular patterns of arrivals with the U.S. and the UK as the biggest source markets. Other important source markets include Canada, France, Germany and Australia.
Multiple Check-ins are in
The average length of stay (LOS) based on hotel bookings is 5.6 days but the average LOS based on flight bookings is 14.3 days. It means that travelers are either checking into multiple hotels in the same destination or taking a car rental/ public transport to visit other parts of a country before taking an outbound flight.
Mediterranean Adventures: Solo Travelers Bridge Africa and Europe
There is an increase in bookings from countries from North Africa as solo travelers hop between destinations. Countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco are emerging as stopovers for these travelers. They are traveling across the Mediterranean Sea, with bookings from these origins to Europe increasing by up to 62% year-over-year compared to 2023.
Solo Adventurers Take Charge: Families and Couples Step Aside
Europe is a popular destination for its culture and history and families love to explore it with children as a learning experience for them. However, it seems that solo travelers to Europe would like to explore history and culture more as the demand for it during the shoulder season is higher.
Source: Adara, a RateGain Company
Source: Adara, a RateGain Company
Back in Time: Rising Craze for History-Fueled Journeys
Europe is a popular destination for its culture and history and families love to explore it with children as a learning experience for them. However, it seems that solo travelers to Europe would like to explore history and culture more as the demand for it during the shoulder season is higher.