Independent Hotels More Sensitive to Consumer Trends Than Chains

When asked about consumer trends in the European accommodation sector, independent hotels are much more likely to report that their customers are spending less on extras or opting for cheaper rooms than their chain hotel counterparts. As such, the most observed traveler trend seen by more than half of independent hotels was booking shorter stays, but this behavior was only registered by 36% of chains. These observations reflect a trend which is further highlighted in the 2024 European Accommodation Barometer and should be recognized as a rule of thumb for policymakers and industry observers alike - whatever challenges may be affecting the accommodation industry as a whole, it is likely amplified for smaller businesses.