The owners and general managers of some of the world's most exclusive hotels have revealed their predictions for the future of tourism.

Worldhotels asked key representatives of its 500 plus member properties all over the globe to take part in a survey and to indicate their expectations on new trends in key areas such as business growth, environment, customer expectation, customers' booking behavior, Internet booking and customer relationship management. A total of 116 questionnaires were returned and the results show an upbeat mood amongst the hoteliers who expect revenue to continue to increase in the next few years.

A total of 84% of the owners and managers of the Worldhotels portfolio surveyed believe that the current positive trading conditions will continue for at least the next three years. In addition, 88% expect their REVPAR to be higher in 2008, due to factors such as improved yield management, advanced revenue strategies or increased demand.

Environmental concerns are currently dominating the media and the Worldhotels survey revealed that hoteliers see ecotourism as another way of increasing business. When asked, 92% anticipate the addressing of environmental factors to improve business, while 77% feel that this would raise profitability. Working with suppliers to establish a 'green' supply chain was picked out as the issue they believe customers felt the most strongly about.

Looking to meet customers' expectations is a key factor in running a hotel; so the survey asked hoteliers what they felt were the most important considerations for business travellers. Offering the Best Available Rate topped the list for 82% of those questioned. Participants also rated free wireless Internet access (78%) and functionalities of the hotel website (74%) as very important.

The importance of the Internet in helping hotels to generate revenue was again highlighted when looking at customer booking behavior. A total of 86% of Worldhotels hoteliers surveyed think that in the next three years consumers will use hotel websites in preference to online travel agents. At the same time, 57% believe that control over rates inventory will shift to the hotel industry during the next three years. This finding compares to 27% who feel it would shift towards distribution channels and 16% who do not expect any change.

Before or after the stay of any guest, CRM is often seen as a crucial way of guaranteeing customers book repeat stays. This was confirmed in the survey with 86% of those asked agreeing that CRM will be of great importance for the hotel industry in the next three years.

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