A recent questionnaire, conducted by the “Gulf”, and participated in a sample of hotel visitors in the UAE, that more than half of the participants (55.4%) prefer to stay in five -star hotels. On the other hand, 32.6% showed their tendencies towards four -star hotels, in 12% preferences to luxury resorts and three -star or less economic options.
These numbers confirm the presence of different segments of consumers, whose preferences vary according to the budget and the purpose of residence.
The price is the most prominent standards
According to the questionnaire, the appropriate price and promotional offers topped the list of the main reasons for choosing the hotel category by 42%, which confirms that financial incentives remain a decisive factor with the visitor, while 35%considered that the level of service is the most important criterion in choice, followed by the comfort and luxury factor by 23%, which enhances the role of price offers, and digital platforms in influencing consumer behavior.
Causes of contentment
On the most prominent reasons for contentment after the end of the residence, 31.9% said that they feel satisfied when the value is achieved, which is a clear indication of the importance of achieving the balance between cost and return. 26.4% also confirmed that the hotel’s cleanliness is a priority for them, while 18.7% considered that food quality is the most prominent criterion for satisfaction. 23% of them were distributed between interior design, hotel facilities and the nature of treatment and service, as the most factors that leave a positive impression.
The most important services
As for the most important hotel services from the point of view of the participants, the swimming pools and relaxation experiences came first with 31%, followed by free breakfast 23%, then the room cleaning service 19%. 27% also showed their interest in various other services, such as rapid internet connection, concierge services, and the ease of logging in.
Ads and marketing
In light of the growing role of social media platforms in tourism marketing, the questionnaire showed that 46% of the participants are affected by hotel advertisements on these platforms, in the event that the offers are realistic and attractive only, while 29% said that they are affected by these advertisements in general, and 25% confirmed that they are never affected by them, indicating the need to develop more realistic and transparent advertising content to build confidence.
The behavior of inmates changed
According to several experts, they spoke in previous reports of the “Gulf”, the behavior of inmates in the Emirates has changed towards a studied experience, which depends on a comprehensive assessment of a group of elements, most notably financial offers, level of service, and hygiene. Where the visitor no longer depends only on the classification of the hotel, it has become more aware of the details of the experience, which constitutes a challenge for hotels and drives them to provide real value, in exchange for what the guest pays, which is confirmed by these numbers.
These numbers are a real opportunity for hotels operating in the Emirates to develop their services in line with visitors’ expectations. Focusing on attractive offers, hygiene, food quality, and relaxation experiences, may constitute milestones in enhancing guest satisfaction and loyalty, and investing in positive appearance on social media platforms can translate directly into increased reservation rates, provided that the content is realistic and convincing.
