According to the Hotels.com data, growth has been seen in overall travel searches in 2021, with a slight increase by 5% for same period in Summer holiday in Hong Kong compared to 2020. As aspiring travellers gradually regain confidence in travel, domestic travel lies at the forefront of travellers’ minds.

London moves up the list of #travelgoals, as travellers’ dream destination preferences shift

Although international travel remains limited, Hong Kong travellers are still longing for outbound travel. In 2021, London moves up the list and becomes the most searched destination for travellers on Hotels.com, followed by Tokyo, Hokkaido, Bangkok and Taipei.

When it comes time to rest at the end of a day of travel, ‘Hotel’ is king – holding on to the top spot for types of accommodation that customers seek on Hotels.com. Travellers have exhibited close to a 13% increase of interest in 4-5 star rating hotels vs 2020. This reveal a strong desire from travellers to take a break from their intense city lives.

Reach for the stars: Post-COVID mentality paves the way for #YOLO getaways

Staycations have peaked after the outbreak of the pandemic, as Hongkongers seek luxurious replacements for international travel. Since 2020, Hotels.com has seen a rising trend: star rating is the top criteria when searching for hotels, whereas 4-5-star hotels have gained an edge over price among Hongkongers.

Travel in small group and short getaway trip double the Summer fun

Travel alone is too lonely but too many people are too crowded, Hong Kong travellers on Hotels.com searched for two people room type the most, followed by 1 pax and 3 pax in the summer time. Also, data showed that Hong Kong travellers’ small getaway habit is obvious. When it comes to staycation, 1 to 2 nights still topped the stay room nights.

Zoe Chan, Director, Brand Communications, Asia Pacific, for the Hotels.com brand said, “There has been a significant change in travel options, from international to domestic and from city to suburb, however, these shifts have not dampened travellers’ desire to journey forward. While international travel has been restricted for much for the past year, it hasn’t stopped aspiring travellers from searching for their #dreamvacay locally.”