HotelsMag March-April 2023 | Page 29

The rustic experience at Onera does include luxury touches , such as soaking tubs .
Onera has an outpost in Fredericksburg , Texas , which is 1.5 hours west of Austin . Accommodations include custom treehouses .
large hotel companies offer . Its most recently taken off due to the effects of the pandemic , which has lent itself to the flexibility of working remotely and the quarantineinspired quest to break free and experience new adventures . Shortterm travels have also increasingly given way to longer stays and traveling alone has blossomed into group travel .
Makis noted that through November 2022 , revenue per available room ( RevPAR ) for U . S . hotels increased 7.6 % relative to pre-COVID levels , whereas RevPAR for alternative accommodations was up 45 %.
She said on a global scale there are 44.8 million alternative accommodation units of available supply , 2.3 times more than traditional hotels .
ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL “ What was once considered an industry disruptor has arguably become an integral part of the broader hospitality sector and , as such , should no longer be thought of as an alternative ,” Makis said . “ The alternative accommodation industry today is in many ways akin to the traditional hotel industry of 30 years ago , in that it is dominated by a fragmented ownership base , predominantly comprised of individuals .”
The alternative accommodations sector made up around 20 % of the estimated $ 300 billion in global lodging revenue generated in 2021
and Makis said it should be thought of as part of the global lodging industry .
“ As consumer demand continues to grow , expect the segment to follow the trajectory of the traditional hotel space , specifically via the injection of more institutional capital and increased formation of standardized brands ,” she said .
The sector , Makis said , is made up of a number of different sub-sectors ranging from short-term rentals to membership programs to shared accommodations . She said there ’ s been an increase in apartment-style accommodations , which are similar to traditional extended-stay hotels and attract leisure travelers seeking longer stays and also corporate travelers seeking more cost-efficient accommodations .
Makis cited the recently launched Apartments by Marriott , “ which demonstrates the continued blend between alternative and traditional accommodations ,” she said .
BRAND ACCEPTANCE Raj Shah , principal consultant
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