Hotelschool The Hague: 13% less business travellers to Amsterdam – but they stay 16% longer
Hotelschool The Hague reports full recovery of International Business Travel
The Hague – Hotelschool The Hague announces insights from its first Yearly Outlook report, revealing that international business travel has fully recovered, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 2% in 2024. This recovery marks a significant milestone for the global hospitality industry. In combination with key trends such as extended stays, shifts in accommodation preferences, and the rise of sustainable travel practices taking center stage. Authored by Jeroen Oskam, Director of the school's Research Centre, the report offers strategic insights for industry leaders entering a phase that is different from pre-pandemic times, driven by new developments in business travel.
The school is proud to present a new series of Yearly Outlook studies, developed by the Research Centre. This highly anticipated report provides the global community of hospitality professionals with critical insights into emerging trends and developments, with a particular focus on the future of business travel. Business travellers play a pivotal role within the tourism industry, contributing significantly to international travel, GDP, and business revenues.
In light of recent disruptions and evolving challenges, this forward-looking study aims not only to reflect on the past but, more importantly, to anticipate future developments and uncertainties in the realm of business travel. By doing so, it offers strategic insights to help hospitality leaders navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the industry.
Key findings from the Yearly Outlook include:
- Recovery of International Travel: By 2024, international travel arrivals have surpassed 2019 levels by 2%, signalling a full recovery in the sector. In Amsterdam, there was a 13% decrease in business traveller numbers, offset by an increase in the average length of stay from 2.34 to 2.71 days. Notably, more business travellers opted for 3-star accommodations, marking a shift in preferences.
- Future of Business Travel: The report outlines a baseline scenario that predicts a sustainable, personalised, and seamless business travel experience by 2035. This future will likely be driven by AI integration, shifts in travel patterns—such as an increase in short-haul trips, longer stays combining business and leisure—and a growing focus on sustainability.
- Potential Disruptors: The study also analyses several potential disruptors to these trends. These include socio-political shifts that could reverse sustainability efforts, risks associated with AI-assisted travel, the decline of less attractive business destinations, and the impact of global geopolitical tensions.
The Yearly Outlook provides practical recommendations for hospitality professionals and tourism policymakers. These recommendations focus on building resilience, anticipating changes in business travel preferences, leveraging AI and technological advancements, and promoting sustainable practices within the industry.
By sharing this report with our industry partners, we aim to provide the hospitality community with timely, relevant, and strategic insights into the future of business travel,
said Jeroen Oskam, Director of the Research Centre at Hotelschool The Hague. We believe this knowledge will empower industry leaders to prepare for and adapt to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
For more information or to read the Yearly Outlook, please click HERE or visit www.hotelschool.nl/yearly-outlook
About Hotelschool The Hague
Hotelschool The Hague was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest independent hotel schools in the world. The school has two campuses, one in The Hague and one in Amsterdam, with more than 2850 students and 250 employees. Hotelschool The Hague has been voted the best public hotel school in The Netherlands since 2014 and ranks among the top hospitality management schools worldwide according to QS World University Rankings. Furthermore, according to Keuzegids, the school had the best Master's in Business Administration since 2019. Graduates of Hotelschool The Hague hold management positions in the hospitality industry worldwide. www.hotelschool.nl
