PHOTO: Denver figures to continue to experience an increase in tourism due to the legalization of marijuana in Colorado (courtesy Brett Green)
By analyzing search data, survey findings and data from the Hotel Price Index (HPI) in 2014, Hotels.com has declared its Top 10 Travel Predictions of 2015.
Hotels.com scanned through the many trends of 2014-from robot concierges to the rise in marijuana tourism to increased interest in the Midwest-and put them all together to create the 2015 list.
Here is what Hotels.com is projecting for the new year.
Detroit Continues to Soar
Detroit and the state of Michigan have seen their fair share of struggles throughout the years, but things finally appear to be looking up.
According to the HPI, Detroit currently ranks as the 28th most popular domestic destination in the U.S., and, according to Hotels.com, Detroit's resurgence will continue in 2015. Hotels.com projects Detroit will soar into the top 25 in 2015, which would make it only the second Top 25 U.S. destinations in the Midwest.
After persevering through two years of bankruptcy, Detroit now looms large, bolstered by new hotel openings such as the Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney and new downtown entertainment and nightlife hotspots.
Mobile Bookings Will Grow
Aided by millennials and other millennial-minded, tech-savvy travelers, mobile hotel bookings will increase in 2015, according to Hotels.com.
Millennials have become highly influential as the fastest growing segment in the travel industry. The development of apps, mobile payment services, hotel gift cards and smart watches are making the booking process easier, more fluid and more convenient for travelers everywhere, millennials included.
Given travelers are naturally mobile people, it's only natural mobile bookings would grow in 2015
Denver Sky-High Tourism Boom
Denver, ranked 17th among U.S. destinations in the HPI, will become a Top 15 domestic destination in 2015.
Why?
Well, there's a little thing called marijuana tourism, and it's skyrocketing up into the colorful, magical Colorado atmosphere. Colorado's legalization of marijuana has done what many advocates of legalization stressed it would: improve the local economy. Marijuana stores-particularly the stores that opened earliest-are seeing lines out the door. In fact, they are finding it difficult for supply to meet the demand.
And, of course, Denver locals aren't the only ones hitting stores. Travelers are coming from far and wide to experience the destination in large part because of the new laws.
Travel to Mid-Size Beach Towns Increases
Travelers have been flocking to major beach cities for years, but many are beginning to shift toward mid-size beach towns instead, according to Hotels.com.
Smaller towns with beaches nearby such as Key West, Fla; Ocean City, Md. and Palm Springs, Calif. figure to experience an increase in tourism business. At least one will become a Top 50 domestic destination, according to Hotels.com.
All three towns were among the most searched destinations on Hotels.com in 2014.
Bangkok Will Rebound in 2015
Bangkok has long been a popular destination for travelers, but its tourism numbers plummeted for most of 2014 due to political unrest (dropping from 14th to 21st among domestic destinations from 2013 to 2014).
But travel appeared to be pick up near the end of 2014, indicating an uptick in interest in the destination. Bangkok's Department of Tourism reported a 2.5 percent increase in airport arrivals for November 2014, compared to November 2013 when the protests began. This could be a sign that travelers are less wary of spending time in Bangkok as 2015 arrives.
Innovation/Use of Technology Will Be Prevalent Among New Hotels
As technology advances, so do the technological demands of travelers.
Now that robots can service guests and drones can deliver items to guest room doors, there is more of an interest (and demand) for innovative offerings.
While the use of robots and drones is still in its infancy, you can certainly expect more properties to feature keyless mobile entry (see: Starwood and Hilton), as well as automated check-in kiosks. This is basically becoming the standard in the hospitality industry.
Latin America Travel to Increase
Mexico, Brazil and Puerto Rico already account for nearly 20 percent of the Top 50 international destinations, according to the HPI.
In 2015, expect one-third of Top 50 international destinations to come from Latin America, according to Hotels.com.
The majority of top international destinations are still in Europe, but Latin America welcomed many more tourists in 2014, pointing to a tourism boom in 2015 and beyond.
Pop Culture Tourism to Rise in Small Towns
Pop culture tourism has always been a significant moneymaker for destinations, but small towns are expected to see a great deal of it in 2015.
Albuquerque, N.M.; Montauk, N.Y.; and Cape Girardeau, Mo. all saw their tourism numbers climb after filming was based in the locations.
On top of that, new TV and film releases scheduled for 2015 figure to bring other small towns into the spotlight soon.
Free Breakfast Please
Free Wi-Fi is obviously a hotel amenity that is growing substantially in demand, but complimentary breakfast will also be highly valued in 2015, according to Hotels.com.
Complimentary breakfast is another amenity that was tabbed as an important amenity among travelers in surveys in 2014, and the demand figures to increase even more in 2015.
Leisure and business travelers (and "bleisure" travelers) need a good hearty breakfast to keep on moving, after all.
Italy Popular Among Americans
Italy has always been a popular destination among American travelers (and travelers in general), but Venice and Florence will aid an even greater interest in the European country in 2015, according to Hotels.com.
Venice and Florence are projected to receive more American visitors, and the Hotels.com Winter Holiday Travel Survey indicated that Italy was the No. 2 dream destination for Americans in 2015 (after Hawaii).
Venice and Florence ranked 12th and 13th in 2014, respectively, but may see a boost in travel after some big celebrity weddings in 2014.
After all, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West tied the knot at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence in 2014 (and you thought you could go one article without hearing about Kim and Kanye).
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