Experiences such as themed stays as part of hotel packages, and trips where the hotel is the destination itself, are part of the latest travel trends according to Agoda’s ‘Travel in 2021’ survey announced today to mark the launch of Agoda’s Special Offers travel deals. Short stays, frequent trips, and exploring new local destinations are also the top ways people cite they want to travel now.

Demand for added benefits in accommodations packages

With domestic travel the only option for many travelers in the Asia Pacific region, people are prioritizing how, where and what they do on their travels based on their top accommodations must-haves.

Food and beverage benefits is the top accommodation must-have when people think about their next local vacation, with Philippines, Thailand and Japan most likely to demand this as a perk.

Experiences (onsite or offsite activities such as cooking workshops and heritage tours) ranked second regionally, with Indonesians, Vietnamese and Thais most likely to cite it as must-haves in accommodation packages.  Korean, Japanese and Singaporean public are the least likely to consider experiences a “must-have”.

Early check-in and late check-out perks round out the top three ‘must-have’ benefits, while upgrade of rooms and wellness benefits like spa vouchers ranked #4 and #5 respectively. When it comes to early check in or late check out as a must-have, Singapore takes the top spot, followed by Malaysia,  Indonesia, Taiwan and China. South Korea, Japan and Thailand are least likely to cite this as a ‘must-have’. Respondents from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan are the most likely markets to desire room upgrades, while Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are least likely.

”Previously hotels might have been a base for exploring the locale, especially for international vacationers. Now with domestic visitors and staycation travel dominating travel plans, people want to enhance their accommodation experience as they may spend more time inside, and are looking for the hotel to provide the entertainment. Whether that’s additional activities or simply those added luxuries like F&B or spa package, or the decadence of a late check-out, how folks are getting holiday highs have changed. And Agoda is helping consumers find the best deals with its new Agoda Special Offers product to help consumers get a more fulfilling travel experience at a great value as they continue to travel hyper local,” said Enric Casals, Regional Director Southeast Asia and Oceania, Agoda.

Agoda launches Agoda Special Offers to meet travelers’ desire for extra perks with their stay at great prices

With Agoda Special Offers, travelers now have access to exclusive and non-exclusive packages, and value-added benefits when they search for accommodation on Agoda.com. They can browse the range of offers most suited to their needs, from food and beverage credits, local experiences within or outside the hotel, early check-in or late check-out perks to special room upgrades, and make bookings for these packaged deals at great prices.

Deep dive into data

Accommodation perks

• With restricted international travel, people are finding new things to experience in their own backyard. This is particularly the case for people with children at home, they are more likely to look for accommodation packages that come with experiences such as local workshops and heritage tours
• Respondents in age groups 18-24 and 25-34 are more likely to look for experiences as part of their accommodation package

How people travel

• 41% of people are taking short trips, while almost one in three are exploring local destinations not visited before
• 27% of people are looking at their accommodation as a destination itself, and not just a place to sleep in
• Unlike the rest of the Asia Pacific region, for Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia public, exploring new local places top their list, while taking short trips is top for the other surveyed markets
• Only 19% of people in the region are planning travel last minute, with South Koreans (37%), Indonesians (26%), Japanese (20%), Malaysians (20%) and Vietnamese (20%) most likely to out of all markets, and Chinese (9%) and Taiwanese (11%) least likely to
• With domestic travel trending, people from Taiwan (37%), Malaysia (32%) and Thailand (31%) are most likely to consider their accommodation as a destination itself
• Japanese are least likely to look for experiences as part of accommodation (9%), followed by South Koreans (16%) and Indians (20%)
• People aged 18-24 and 25-34 are most likely to explore new places, while those between 45-54 are the most likely age group to take short trips
• Among the age groups, 18-24s seem to be most spontaneous as they are most likely to plan travel last minute, and those 25-34 and 35-44 are most likely to willing to splurge on accommodation

Market Data

Mainland China

• Experiences, followed by F&B benefits and early check-in/late check-out, are the top must-have accommodation perks when Mainland Chinese think of their next local vacation
• Like most markets in the region, taking short trips is the top way Mainland Chinese travel now. That is followed by taking frequent local trips and looking for experiences as part of their accommodation such as added perks and themed hotel stays. Exploring new local destinations is #4, while choosing accommodation as a destination itself and not just a place to sleep comes in #5.
• 19% of people in the region are planning travel last minute, in Mainland China, the public are least likely to with only 9%

Indonesia

• Like most markets in the region, top ways Indonesians travel are: Taking short trips, exploring local destinations never visited before, and using online travel agents (like Agoda) to search for travel deals as well as looking for experiences such as added perks and themed hotel stays as part of their accommodation. Tied at #4 are choosing accommodation as a destination itself, taking frequent local trips and planning travel last minute
• 19% of people in the region are planning travel last minute, but Indonesians (26%) are second most likely to do so after Koreans (37%)
• Regionally, 16% of people are willing to splurge on accommodation. Indonesians are least likely to do so at 7%.
• Experiences followed by F&B benefits and early check-in/late check-out are the top must-have benefits in Indonesians’ accommodation packages

India

• Indians’ top three current travel habits are: Taking short trips, exploring local destinations never visited before, and taking frequent local trips
• One in five Indians look for experiences such as added perks and themed hotel stays as part of their accommodation (20%) andchoose the accommodation as a destination itself, not just a place to sleep (20%)
• For Indians, food and beverage benefits, followed by experiences and early check-in or late check-out are the top must-haves in their accommodation packages when they think about their next domestic vacation

Japan

• Japanese top three ways to travel are: Taking short trips, choosing accommodation as a destination not just a place to sleep, and taking frequent local trips
• F&B benefits, Room upgrade, and Experiences are the most popular ‘must-have’ benefits in their accommodations package
• Japanese are second most likely, (with people from Taiwan), to desire room upgrades as a must-have benefit in their accommodations package. People from South Korea are most likely.

Malaysia

• F&B benefits, followed by experiences and early check-in/late check-out are the top must-have benefits in Malaysians’ accommodation packages
• Top three ways Malaysians travel now are: Exploring local destinations never visited before, taking short trips, and using online travel agents (like Agoda) to search for travel deals
• With domestic travel trending, Malaysians are second most likely, after Taiwanese, to consider their accommodation as a destination itself
• Regionally, 16% of people are willing to spend on accommodation. Malaysians and Indians are third least likely to (13%) after Indonesians (7%) and Filipinos (13%)

Philippines

• Top three ways people from the Philippines travel now are: Exploring local destinations never visited before, taking short trips, and looking for experiences such as added perks and themed hotel stays as part of their accommodation.
• Regionally, 16% of people are willing to splurge on accommodation. Filipinos are second least likely to (13%) after Indonesians (7%)
• F&B benefits followed by experiences and early check-in/late check-out are the top must-have benefits in Filipinos’ accommodation packages

Singapore

• Top three ways Singaporeans travel (staycations) now: Exploring local destinations never visited before, using online travel agents (OTAs) to search for travel deals, and looking for experiences such as added perks and themed hotel stays as part of their accommodation.
• Across the region, 27% of people are using OTAs to search for travel deals. Singaporeans and Malaysians are second most likely to at 34%, after Taiwanese (45%)
• With limited international travel options, 13% of Singaporeans are taking frequent local trips
• Singapore takes the top spot when it comes to early check in or late check out as a must-have, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia.
• F&B benefits, early check-in/late check-out followed by experiences, are the top must-haves in Singaporeans’ accommodation packages

South Korea

• Top three ways South Koreans travel now: Taking short trips, taking frequent local trips and planning travel last minute
• While 19% of people in the region are planning travel last minute, South Koreans are most likely to do so (37%)
• F&B benefits, experiences and room upgrades are the top must-haves in South Koreans’ accommodation packages.
• South Koreans are most likely among respondents in the region to desire room upgrades as part of their accommodation packages

Taiwan

• Top three ways Taiwanese travel now: Taking short trips, using online travel agents to search for travel deals, and exploring new local destinations
• Taiwanese are most likely to consider their accommodation as a destination itself, and not just a place to sleep
• 19% of people in the region are planning travel last minute, with people from Taiwan second least likely to (11%) after Mainland Chinese (9%).
• F&B benefits, Experiences and early check-in/late check-out are Taiwanese public’s top ‘must-haves’ in accommodation packages

Thailand

• Top three ways Thais travel now: Taking short trips, choosing the accommodation as a destination itself and not just a place to sleep, and looking for experiences as part of their accommodation (e.g. added benefits / perks, themed hotel stays, upgraded rooms etc)
• With domestic travel trending, Thais are third most likely, after Taiwanese and Malaysians, to consider accommodation as a destination itself
• F&B benefits, Experiences, and early check-in/late check-out are the top must-have benefits in accommodation packages

Vietnam

• Like most markets in the region, top three ways Vietnamese travel now: Taking short trips, exploring new local destinations and looking for experiences as part of their accommodation (e.g. added benefits / perks, themed hotel stays, upgraded rooms etc)
• Experiences, F&B benefits, and early check-in/late check-out are the top must-have benefits in accommodation packages

Note to editors:

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Singapore PTE Limited. Total sample size was 13,882 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5^th and 12^th April 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of adults in the respective countries (aged 18+).