Hotel booking patterns are changing - no doubt impacted by COVID. In the last few weeks, I have met with 100+ hoteliers at conferences in Seville (EMOYIONS 2021) and in Paris (DUCO FRANCE) and they all said the same thing. Since June 2021, they have all had record sales - WITHOUT the "normal" North American traveler numbers.
Like their North American counterparts, when the COVID restrictions were lifted, Europeans traveled - a lot! As a result, these hotels all said they've had their best June, July, August, and September - EVER! And because Europeans tend to stay longer - and often return to the same location year after year - they have already received heavy bookings for 2022. This has led to fewer rooms being available in the upcoming season. Also, at most hotels, the first rooms to sell out are generally the least expensive (entry-level) and the most expensive. Thus, as rooms close out, what's left are the "middle" rooms. So where you might want a Classic or Deluxe room, all that's left is a Jr. Suite. So category availability may drive your hotel costs up!
In previous years, we've always booked air first, because that gives you starting and ending DATES and LOCATIONS. Then, you tend to work the trip from the "outside-in." Now, due to COVID, most folks are booking their hotels first - because they are refundable, whereas AIR is often a challenge to get a refund. Then, they secure air that "fits" their hotel dates. It's a totally different pattern and a sign of the times.
What you lose in air savings, you could make up getting the room you want ... and at a lower price based on category availability. So we're seeing a different approach to hotel bookings and we have booked rooms as far out as August 2023. The hoteliers I met - after a tough 18 months - are excited about 2022 and beyond. And that will generally mean fewer rooms and higher costs.
