Travel in 2015: Destinations, Innovation and Variation

Hotels.com shares its top 10 predictions for Canadian Travellers

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Times they are a changin' and the travel industry is no different. Between robot concierges, in-room massages for Fido, tanning butlers and vacation dronies, there is always something new to experience when on the road. With so much to do and see, Hotels.com™ is narrowing it down with their predictions for top travel trends in 2015.

"As we compiled our top 10 list, we looked beyond technology for data and travel patterns that signaled some trends that we think will really stand out in 2015,"said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com." We found that everything from food to bicycles to fashion will impact travel in Canada and beyond."

Top 10 Travel Trends in 2015:

1.	Increase in Luxury Travel: Whether it's five-star accommodation, fine dining or activities, Canadians aren't afraid to open their wallets to improve their travel experience. In the most recent report by The Canadian Tourism Commission Canadian travel spending was $30 billion a year, making Canadians one of the highest per capita spenders worldwide.
2.	Demand for Complimentary Breakfast & Wi-Fi: We all love getting something for nothing, but based on the latest Hotels.com Amenities Survey, these two topped the list.  Breakfast ranked as the most important overall hotel amenity, while Wi-Fi topped the list for in-room offerings for the past two years.
3.	Use of Mobile Wearables: Another item that's likely on the wish list for techies across the country, smart watches, are also changing the face of hotel bookings. Travellers can conveniently access details about their hotel and receive notifications when it's time to check in.
4.	Visits to the Big Apple and Big Ben: The U.S. is the most visited international destination for Canadian travellers – not surprising considering its close proximity – and we don't see this slowing down. Although New York City and Las Vegas dominate the top spots, the folks across the pond in London are close competition in the third spot.
5.	Checking Guest Reviews: Savvy travellers are doing their research and reading and writing reviews have become an integral part of the hotel booking process. With 11 million genuine guest reviews on the Hotels.com site, travellers can choose properties based on their ranking in categories including service, comfort and cleanliness.
6.	Local Redemptions for Free Nights: When the opportunity arose to use loyalty credits for a free* night in Canada, members of the Hotels.com Welcome Rewards™ program preferred Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. These cities will remain popular amongst travelers according to Hotels.com research.
7.	Booking Bike Tourism: Already popular in Europe and growing in the U.S., with new routes popping up cross-country, Canada is poised to be next in line for bike tourism. The close proximity to the U.S. and expansive landscape makes it a natural fit for cycling and Quebec is a great example being home to La Route Verte, North America's longest bike path. Plus, it's eco-friendly.
8.	New Purchasing Options: Technology and innovation has made it easier than ever to pay for your travel, and new payment options continue to enter the market. Canadians are likely to embrace new and convenient payment tools like Apple Pay, Google Wallet or even gift cards like the new Hotels.com gift card.
9.	Travelling to Give Back: The holidays can bring out the spirit of giving, but Canadians are no strangers to volunteer work all year round, ranking third in the 2014 World Giving Index. Whether it's within Canada or abroad, "Voluntourism" will grow in popularity as travellers look to give back to the countries they visit.
10.	Getting the Local Experience:  With the rise of personal home rentals or swaps that provide a more authentic taste of the city or country, it's expected that experiential travel will continue to be sought after among Canadians. In fact, a recent Hotels.com survey, showed the highest guest-rated hotel accommodations in Canada are two locally-run bed and breakfast establishments.

What other travel trends do you think will break through in 2015? Tweet us @hotelsdotcomca and let us know your thoughts using #2015travel.

Members can redeem their free* nights at more than 100,000 partner hotels, with no restrictions or blackout dates. The maximum value of the free night is the average daily rate of the 10 nights stayed. Credits do not expire as long as there is Welcome Rewards activity on their account at least once every 12 months. There are added service benefits for those staying more than 10 nights in a year.
* Taxes and fees apply to the free night.

About Hotels.com
Hotels.com, L.P. operates Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca), a leading online accommodation booking website with over 365,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals.

© 2014 Hotels.com, LP. Hotels.com, The Obvious Choice, Welcome Rewards, and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CST # 2083949-50

Image with caption: "Canadians are going to look for ways to satisfy their appetite for breakfast and the internet, on the hotels' dime, in 2015 (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141217_C5562_PHOTO_EN_9631.jpg

SOURCE: Hotels.com

For further information: Press Contacts: Lauren Wasley, energiPR for Hotels.com, Phone: [phone] x 19, Email: [email protected], @energiPR; Taylor L. Cole, APR, Hotels.com North America, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected], @TravelwithTLC