Top 8 Travel Trends and Predictions in 2016

Will 2016 be even better than last year when it comes to new measures and breakthroughs in the travel industry? Let’s find out right here, right now!

Nowadays, notice how the world of travel is experiencing exciting changes. There’s the increasing strength of shared economy sites like Airbnb and the consolidation of major hotels and airlines. There’s a huge and ever-growing demand for rental cars with majority of international visitors in the United States still preferring to rent a vehicle, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. The travel industry has truly embarked on some extensive upgrades in 2015.

If last year was brimming with innovations, 2016 is going to be even bigger – and better. So what exactly can travellers expect this year? Fox News recently released an article revealing some interesting travel trends in air travel, cruising and vacation destinations which are predicted to unfold this year. Let’s take a look.

In 2016, we will…

Witness people going crazy on space travel

Well, maybe just in theory. In reality not many, if any people will literally go and travel to space. The advancement of space travel expeditions have been envisioned by travel forecasters for a while now, but it seems that it’s finally happening this year. Kayak, a travel search engine, is accepting reservations for flights from XCOR Space Expeditions. Take note that reservations begin at around $100,000 per person. If you want to know more about this, visit www.aerospace.xcor.com.

See more hotels give flexible check-out times

Finally, those who are late risers or with tiresome flight times can cool off, take a breather and not worry about the hard-line check-in and check-out times of hotels. Luxury hotel groups such as Patina, Yotel and Peninsula began exploring flexible checkout policies to let guests have more time in their rooms. Few bill their guests on how late they want to stay. Here at VroomVroomVoom, we think many others will  extend this courtesy free of charge, as previously stated by the New York Times.

See more people go to Airbnb as hotel costs grow

It is interesting to note that North American hotels built 100,000 new rooms in 2015, but this hasn’t met the demand and occupancy rates are at an all-time high, as reported by the Global Business Travel Association. GBTA is forecasting that room rates will grow up to 4.7 percent in the U.S. and 2.5 percent around the world. Furthermore, the Starwood-Marriott merger, which is set to happen sometime this year, can decrease the competition. If you are traveling on a tight budget, simply go to popular rental sites such as Airbnb and Homeaway which have seen tremendous success last year. Travel forecasters predict this growth will continue in 2016.

Witness economy class cabins get more jam-packed 

Expect airplanes to get even more crowded and overloaded, specifically those economy class cabins. Slimline seats allow for more rows and are already being set up on new Southwest planes. It was in November last year when Emirates revealed an improved Airbus A380 that can pack in a record-breaking 615 passenger seats, another first for the world’s largest aircraft. American, United and other airlines are expected to begin reconstructing aircraft with very thin seats.

See flights get cheaper

High rates of flight booking can be very overwhelming. In 2016, airfares are expected to be the cheapest they’ve been in years, thanks to record low oil prices as well as fierce competition in air transport. And that’s great news, as it can save you some serious cash which you can put into other travel expenses, such as car rental reservations or hotel bookings. Based on the research and data compiled by the Hopper travel app team, the ordinary amount for an air ticket this January will be at a three-year low. But they were also quick to warn customers about super-duper cheap rates and the prospect of airlines introducing new fees and spending on extras such as checked luggage and advance seat reservation.

Get a load of airlines upping their game to accommodate passengers with disabilities

We know that all air travelers have the right to be respected and valued justly, most especially those passengers with disabilities and in wheelchairs. But that wasn’t really the case as several news outlets have disclosed in the past on inappropriate activity when airplanes refuse travel to people with disabilities. The media attention, though, may have helped as airlines step up and review policies for disabled passengers. A recent study by the Open Doors Organization saw some improvements for air travelers with disabilities such as novel design concepts such as the Air Access seat design by Priestmangoode. This conceptual airline seat has a detachable wheelchair, meaning the disabled passenger can stay in the same seat from the departure gate all the way to their destination.

See river cruises explode in popularity

Mega ships are still in but if you are after new and different scenic destinations, try river cruising, now regarded as one of the fastest developing sectors of the travel industry. In fact, last year saw rapid growth in popularity of river cruises with more than 40 new ships being launched. Top river cruise companies like Viking, Vantage and Crystal allow passengers and guests to travel along many of the major and popular rivers (in the world). While amenities usually differ; restaurants, bars and lounges, libraries, sky decks, and spas are common on most river cruise ships.

Witness more U.S. travelers continue to visit Cuba

This year, flying to Cuba will be reasonably priced and more accessible than ever, thanks to normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba. According to Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who is the chief of the U.S. mission in Havana, certified American travel in and out to Cuba increased 50 percent last year with few restrictions.

Indeed, our world is moving pretty fast that if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could totally miss it. So what are you waiting for? Go pack your bag and plan your next travel adventure. For your car travel needs, reserve your car rental today, you can organise either  your business or leisure travel using VroomVroomVroom‘s website.

Let us know: Which among these travel predictions are you most excited about? If you’ve already put your name down for space travel, or been part of the move to river cruising, we’d love to hear about it!