"In an effort to meet the needs of influential Millennial travelers, hotels are continuing to innovate, focusing on community and convenience," according to the Americas Hotel & Lodging Association, citing a survey of 11,469 U.S. hotels that STR conducted on AHLA's behalf.
Seventeen percent of luxury hotels, 12 percent of upper-upscale properties and 17 percent of upscale hotels provide communal spaces, according to the survey. Properties lower on the chain scale are less likely to do so.
On the convenience side, both food and technology factor in. Thirty-one percent of U.S. hotels offered grab-and-go markets in 2018, up from 21 percent in 2016. And the number of properties that give guests mobile access to hotel services has increased from 35 percent to 40 percent. Seventeen percent of hotels enable digital room keys via smartphone, a small number but up significantly from 6 percent two years ago.