Exploring Hotel Booking Trends: A Kaggle Dataset Analysis
The hospitality industry is going through a digital revolution in the last few years. From booking vacations to finding perfect accommodation, everything can be done with just a few clicks. With the help of technology, hotel management systems have evolved significantly to provide a smooth and satisfactory experience for their customers. With the emergence of Covid-19 and the consequential travel restrictions, the industry has seen a drastic shift in hotel booking trends. In this article, we will take a deep dive into exploring hotel booking trends by analyzing a Kaggle dataset.
The Dataset
The dataset that we will be working with is the Hotel Booking Demand dataset, which was published on Kaggle. The dataset covers hotel bookings from two hotels, one located in Portugal and the other in Tunisia, and spans two years (July 2015 to August 2017). The dataset contains various features that provide useful insights into the booking trends for the hotels.
Booking Trends
The dataset reveals some exciting insights into the booking trends of hotels. Let’s take a look at some of these:
1. The highest number of bookings for both hotels are made thanks to travel agencies or tour operators.
2. The most substantial amount of bookings were for City hotels compared to the Resort Hotels
3. The month of August had the highest number of bookings for both resorts and hotels.
4. The rate of booking cancellations significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend that is expected to carry on in 2021.
Factors Affecting Hotel Bookings
Various factors impact hotel booking trends. Some of the most common reasons people book hotels are comfort, location, price, and available amenities. Given this, hotels must focus on improving their online presence, customer service, and pricing strategies.
Improving Online Presence
One effective way for hotels to improve their online presence is by making their websites more user-friendly, enhancing the user booking experience, and introducing booking incentives such as loyalty programs. Hotels that provide robust online experiences can benefit from capturing the attention of more customers resulting in more bookings.
Enhancing Customer Service
Customer service is essential in the hospitality industry. When hotels focus on offering customer-oriented services, they become a popular choice for travelers. By providing personalized services, such as concierge services, and giving their guest a memorable experience, hotels continue to generate positive reviews, and more repeated bookings.
Pricing Strategies
Pricing strategies play a significant role in determining the rate of bookings. Hotels that provide attractive pricing options such as flat discounts, early bird booking discounts, and bundle packages, tend to capture more bookings, making it essential to price their rooms effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Kaggle dataset provides an in-depth understanding of hotel booking trends, indicating the highest booking rates for city hotels, the important role of travel agencies and tour operators in making hotel bookings. The dataset also highlights the impact of global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the rise of booking cancellations. Therefore, the hospitality industry needs to focus on enhancing their online presence, customer service, and employing effective pricing strategies to retain their customer base. By catering to these factors, hotel managements can analyze and adapt their strategies to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.
