The report's findings reveal that 2022 will be a year of growth for the industry, as "bleisure" travel – the crossover of business and leisure – will launch new demand. According to an analysis by Oxford Economics, demand for hotel rooms is projected to approach 2019 levels in 2022.But even though the industry will be moving toward recovery in the new year, full recovery can still take several years for reasons including the loss of ancillary and room revenue.
"Hotels have faced enormous challenges over the past two years, and we are still a long way from full recovery," AHLA CEO Chip Rogers said. "The uncertainty about the omicron variant suggests just how difficult it will be to predict travel readiness in 2022, adding to the challenges hotels are already facing."
Guests check in at the Red Rock Resort after the property opened for the first time since being closed on March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic, on June 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leisure travelers will drive most of the positive momentum for the industry in 2022, but business travelers are only expected to represent 43.6% of room revenue compared to 52.5% in 2019.
Most lack room service. Due to covid or lack of help?