Market Trends

📈 Saladplate, part of Informa Markets, serves as a digital hub for the Hospitality, Food, and Beverage industries. It features weekly news, a monthly newsletter, a bi-monthly e-magazine, and a supplier directory with over 10,000 brands. Additionally, it offers updates from more than 35 international trade events. Saladplate provides industry insights and fosters engagement within the business community.

🏨 Africa's hotel development pipeline has reached 123,846 rooms across 675 hotels, marking an 18.6% growth. Egypt leads with 45,984 rooms in 185 properties, followed by Morocco with 10,606 rooms. Marriott International tops with 31,782 rooms, with Hilton and Accor trailing. North Africa leads in volume, but East Africa, especially Ethiopia and Kenya, shows strong construction momentum. Despite a forecast of 65,000 rooms by 2027, past trends indicate actual deliveries often fall short.

🛰 With a staggering cart abandonment rate of 81.7% in e-commerce, the UK travel sector could unlock £16.5 billion by optimizing payment strategies. Ecommpay's report analyzed 2025 payment stacks of top OTAs like Booking.com and Airbnb, identifying gaps and innovations. Mobile-first experiences and flexible payment options like BNPL and open banking are crucial. Enhancing payment processes can boost conversion rates, trust, and revenue for travel brands.

🏨 Hotel owners are missing out on the booming wellness retreat market, valued at $226 billion in 2024 and projected to reach nearly $400 billion by decade-end. Wellness tourism grew 13.8% annually, with travelers spending significantly more than average. Platforms like Retreat.guru connect directly with retreat centers. To compete, hotels should leverage existing assets, partner with facilitators, and explore new distribution channels. The wellness retreat economy is expanding rapidly and offers substantial opportunities.

🗺 Mar 10, 2026, Spain's largest hotel companies experience strong global leisure travel demand, boosting occupancy and room rates. Diversifying strategies emerge: some focus on premium resorts, offering unique experiences for higher revenue per guest, while others prioritize asset-light management and franchises for global expansion. Multi-brand portfolios across luxury and lifestyle segments are developed. Spain remains a strategic hub for innovation, with international competition intensifying in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia.

🏨 Families are a growing force in hospitality, often choosing hotels based on children's preferences. Multigenerational trips are rising, with parents increasingly combining business and leisure ("Bleisure"). While 39% of parents would pay 50% more for family-friendly accommodations, hotels typically offer minimal amenities like cribs. Marriott and Hyatt are responding by expanding non-traditional lodging options, while smarter designs transform standard rooms into family-friendly spaces. Creating dedicated kid zones can boost satisfaction, loyalty, and positive reviews.

🌴 Mar 9, 2026. Luxury resorts worldwide are pivoting from wellness activities to deep rest and recovery programs. Trends show many travelers, stressed from constant digital exposure and work pressures, seek relaxation. Sleep optimization, nature immersion, and low-stimulation environments are central to these new offerings. This shift redefines luxury as rest, creating a major growth segment in wellness tourism. Hotels are crafting multi-day “nervous system reset” retreats focusing on sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, and nature-based activities.