Upcoming trends in hospitality industry predicted by educational institutions

Prominent hospitality education institutions emphasise on not just adapting to hospitality trends, but also anticipating and influencing them.

Backed by the knowledge and proficiency of their faculty and close industry partnerships, they strive to envision the industry’s trajectory and respond proactively, shaping the landscape of hospitality education.

Here, Kunal Vasudeva, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Indian School of Hospitality will guide us more about the upcoming trends in the hospitality industry.

Intelligent Hospitality: As AI integration continues to reshape industries, we foresee an era of Hospitality 4.0. Accenture predicts that AI could augment the global GDP by $14 trillion by 2035.

Hyperlocal Experiences: The growing appetite for unique, authentic cultural experiences is a trend we foresee gaining further traction. Global Web Index reports that 67 percent of travellers seek authentic local experiences. Therefore, we predict a surge in demand for hyperlocal hospitality.

Sustainable Luxury: The concept of sustainable luxury will transition from niche to necessity. With 72 percent of travellers preferring eco-friendly options (Ipsos), ‘eco-luxury’ is poised to dominate the hospitality scene.

Rise of the Digital Nomad: Remote work has given rise to the ‘digital nomad’ demographic. According to the Global Digital Nomad survey in 2022, this group is expected to reach one billion by 2030. Therefore, catering to this dynamic demographic is an anticipated trend.

Wellness Tourism: Health-centric hospitality is taking the spotlight as well. The Global Wellness Institute reports the wellness tourism sector to reach $919 billion by 2024, a 7.5 percent annual growth since 2017, signalling a shift towards health-centric hospitality.

In response to these predicted trends, renowned hospitality education institutions have adapted their curricula to ensure their students are prepared for the future. From AI modules to sustainability practices, cultural intelligence enhancement to digital nomadism catering techniques, and wellness tourism competencies, they ensure their students grasp the essence of the changing dynamics.

With KPMG predicting 10 million job creations across different levels in the Indian hospitality industry by 2030, we believe that our future-forward approach will empower hospitality graduates to be at the forefront of these transformations, playing an instrumental role in India’s growth story on the global stage.