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Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Connect, Curate, Customize: Teamwork and Technology Turn Outdoor Experiences into Unforgettable Adventures
As summer travel trends shift, one truth remains: the more personalized and immersive the experience, the more likely guests are to return. In today's uncertain marketplace, travelers are booking later and staying for shorter periods, often Thursday through Sunday rather than a full week. With rising costs and global events weighing on decision-making, guests are opting for quick getaways — and looking for meaningful experiences to make the most of them. Despite the uncertainty, outdoor adventure remains a strong draw. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the U.S. outdoor recreational economy is worth $887 billion annually and according to CRR Hospitality, outdoor adventure tourism is projected to grow by 15.3% annually through 2033. To stay competitive, hotels must go beyond standard offerings. Guests want to feel immersed in the local culture and environment — something they cannot replicate at home. At Motto by Hilton Bentonville in Arkansas, for instance, we've seen how curated, hyper-local experiences drive deeper guest satisfaction. Experiences Are the New Amenity Today's travelers prioritize destination over décor. Functional, efficient guest rooms are appreciated, but it is the experiences beyond the room that guests remember. Partnering with local event managers, tour companies, and artists helps uncover the 'hidden gems' that make your market memorable. Start with your team. Ask employees what they love about the area. Their insider knowledge can uncover the best trails, museum exhibits, bike routes, or lesser-known eateries — things guests might miss on Google. Personalization matters. Avoid generic recommendations. Take the time to understand what each guest is looking for. A QR code linked to an e-Concierge platform can share staff-curated favorites, updated in real-time to reflect seasonal events and local discoveries. Partner for Personalization Creating truly customized adventures is easier when you have the right partner. At our Arkansas properties, we work with 37 North Expeditions to provide on-demand outdoor experiences — from e-bike rentals to kayaking tours and corporate scavenger hunts. These kinds of partnerships are key to delivering flexible, high-quality adventures that align with your guest demographic. Eco-consciousness is another growing priority. Guests are seeking sustainable, walkable destinations beyond crowded hotspots. They will choose a pricier stay if it offers a stronger connection to the community and natural surroundings. Source: Hilton Motto Bentonville Source: 37 North Expeditions Source: 37 North Expeditions Get Involved 'Locally' Everyone on your team should engage with the community. Sales leaders can become ambassadors for local CVBs. GMs can join promotional boards. Offer your lobby space to community partners for pop-ups or meetings. Promote nearby parks, restaurants, and events on social media. Curate, Do not Just Sell Help guests plan their day. Be a connector, not just a host. A stay at your hotel should open the door to local experiences — not just serve as a place to sleep. Think Creatively About Partnerships Even if your property is not in a traditional resort area, there's value nearby — whether it is a public art installation, a farmer's market, or a mom-and-pop coffee shop. Build relationships with these businesses to enrich the guest experience. Start Small and Add Value Begin with a simple amenity, such as a hiking map and a locally made snack included in a room package. Instead of relying solely on discounts, find ways to enrich your existing offerings. Be Ready for Unique Needs Flexibility is key. Big events like cycling races may require creative bike storage or early check-ins. Anticipate these needs and plan accordingly. For example, our Motto by Hilton extended bike valet service, an extension of our bike storage and service offerings. Looking Ahead We expect demand for hyper-local, eco-conscious travel to keep rising. Properties can get ahead by investing in sustainability — like offering sparkling and still water refill stations or contributing to carbon offset initiatives for outdoor experiences. Personalization, authenticity, and sustainability are the new standards. Hotels that lean into these values will lead the way. Those that do not will be left behind. About the Author Bailie Sonnentag is Director of Sales, Northwest Arkansas, for Hospitality America, a leading third-party hotel development and management company and a preferred partner of Hilton and Marriott. Hospitality America is recognized as a winner of USA Today's Top Workplaces 2024 - 2025 awards. For more information, please visit or connect with Hospitality America on LinkedIn. Barb Worcester Owner, President at PRPRO 14409305770 Hospitality America
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Colorado plans to protect the great outdoors
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Governor Jared Polis warns that the Trump Administration's tariffs on outdoor recreation equipment and widespread layoffs in the outdoor industry pose major risks to Colorado's beloved natural spaces. In response, Gov. Polis is launching the 'Colorado's Outdoors Strategy,' a statewide initiative to protect Colorado's great outdoors. 'We are the very first state to have a comprehensive strategy, which is really remarkable,' Gov. Polis explained. 'When you think about what makes Colorado special, one of our greatest assets is our outdoors. It's important to make sure that we have a vision for conservation and outdoor recreation, climate resilience, and agriculture to make sure we can deploy, use, and protect our outdoors in a way that benefits us and future generations.' Colorado's Outdoors StrategyDownload State leaders are concerned–with more people moving in, climate change, wildfires, and drought, Colorado's outdoor spaces are feeling the pressure. 'The biggest short-term threat, I think, on everybody's mind is tariffs because these are actually really a question of whether our outdoor industry can even exist,' Gov. Polis said. The Outdoor Industry Association reports new tariffs will make it more expensive to make and sell outdoor gear in the U.S., which could lead to fewer jobs and a lack of options for customers. Colorado leaders are also concerned about growth, with the state's population expected to jump from 5.5 million to 8.5 million by 2050. The new plan is all about helping Colorado strike the right balance between enjoying the outdoors and protecting it for the future. 'Smart growth is a term we hear a lot in our urban core along the front range, but often it's not thought about in our outdoors,' said Becky Leinweber, Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. 'If we just open up the floodgates and just let everybody go and didn't do anything different to try and get ahead of it, have good management practices, support our land managers, make sure that those experiences are there for the long haul so that future generations enjoy it, then we'd be in a world of hurt.' The strategy comes to life through nine objectives and 33 coordinating partner actions, along with a resource hub–offering free online data, mapping tools, and other resources to support conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience planning. 'This effort is really rooted in our need to understand and meet the challenges that we know our outdoors face, and this is a strategic approach to not only protect, but frankly enhance our outdoor recreation industry, both from the experience side for residents, for visitors, and also for the business side,' Gov. Polis explained. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
