Mexican travelers are now considerably more enthusiastic yet discerning about travel than before the pandemic, and local accommodation providers will have to do more to meet their expectations, new research by SiteMinder, the world’s largest open hotel commerce platform, shows. SiteMinder’s Changing Traveler Report 2021: Mexico Edition, based on the survey responses of more than 870 local travelers, has found that the majority of the Mexican travelling population now expects better accommodation standards than before Covid, with 40.7% expecting higher standards and 20.4% much higher.
The findings reflect the greater emphasis that travelers are now placing on health and safety, as well as their desire for memorable and experience-led stays – a result of months of pent-up demand due to Covid restrictions. In fact, some 78% of Mexican holidaymakers plan to travel either more (40%) or the same (38%) compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. Only a small minority say they will never travel again (3%) and this is down from the 5% who answered the same at this time last year.
However, SiteMinder’s study also reveals that Mexican travelers are more budget-conscious than ever when deciding where to spend their next trip, with 44% of respondents listing this as one of their top two priorities when choosing where to visit.
“The enthusiasm shown by Mexican travelers in this year’s Changing Traveler Report should be very encouraging for hoteliers, but it should also serve as a reminder to not get complacent during this critical time of recovery,” says Jason Lugo, Senior Regional Director for Latin America at SiteMinder. “Hoteliers need to respond to the needs of new and evolved travelers, by using technology to offer value for money with competitive rates, attractive offers and a holistic focus on the guest experience.”
A focus on enhancing the experience of guests need not be hard, says Lugo, citing that over 85% of Mexican travelers are not opposed to their personal data being used to improve their visit. Additionally, direct bookings remain the most popular way of booking accommodation among Mexican travelers, with 26% favoring direct bookings over any other booking method.
“Accommodation providers need to work smart, leaning on technology to optimize their communications with their guests, respond quickly to market dynamics, push the right promotions to the right customers, and free up valuable time,” says Lugo. “Mexican travelers are giving hotels permission to use their data to create these experiences. So, during this time of fewer hotel resources and heightened competition, it would be wise to capitalize on this opportunity.”
SiteMinder’s World Hotel Index shows that while international visitors still make up the majority of guests in Mexico, over 35% of hotel arrivals in August are locals.
