Snowy destinations lead holiday hotel demand
Traveler demand shifts toward winter destinations while global hotel performance stays strong
The holiday travel season is shaping up as a strong period for hotels worldwide, with global occupancy edging up slightly year on year while room rates continue to rise.
New Amadeus Demand360® data shows travelers increasingly favoring snowy, winter-focused destinations alongside traditional beach getaways. Norway’s Tromsø has emerged as the most occupied destination over Christmas and New Year, signaling a shift toward winter wonderland experiences. At the same time, the season is delivering meaningful revenue opportunities for hoteliers, supported by strong demand and higher average daily rates.
Key takeaways
- Global occupancy remains resilient: Worldwide hotel occupancy is up 0.5% compared with last year, indicating stable demand during the peak holiday period.
- Snow destinations gain prominence: Tromsø, Norway tops the occupancy rankings at 93%, highlighting growing interest in winter and northern experiences.
- Beach travel stays relevant: Caribbean and tropical destinations such as Aruba, Curaçao, and Ko Samui continue to attract high volumes of holiday travelers.
- Emerging destinations stand out: Curaçao records the strongest year-on-year occupancy growth among the top destinations, rising by 11%.
- Room rates show wide variation: Waikoloa, Hawaii achieves the highest ADR among the most occupied destinations, while Cairns offers the lowest average rates.
- Holiday revenue potential is significant: Global hotel revenue over Christmas and New Year is projected to reach $7.4 billion, with New York leading individual cities in total revenue.
Source: Amadeus
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