“Revenge travel” is the new buzzword in the hospitality industry. You “revenge travel” when you just take any of your daily stresses and life and want a break to reboot your mind. Frequent lockdowns, mounting work pressure, and the urge for freedom are forcing the millennials to revenge travel, to grasp some fresh air and freshen up their minds.
Whether you travel for revenge or for adventure, or anything else, traveling is always a boon for the hospitality industry. During the COVID pandemic, the hospitality industry took a deep hit, and many businesses closed down. But, revenge travel has infused new hope in the industry.
As traveling regulations are getting relaxed, people are once again packing up to calm their nerves.
How did it all start?
“Revenge travel” is a unique phrase that emerged during the COVID lockdowns. Countries were under lockdown; people were locked in their homes; offices and schools were closed, and travel was heavily regulated. People had to postpone or cancel their trips in such a situation, making them disheartened.
As the situation became better, vaccines got rolled out, the number of cases fell, and regulations on traveling were relaxed. It was a golden opportunity for travelers to best cover up for their missed plans of adventure and exploration. Many countries which heavily depended on tourists also relaxed norms to attract more tourists.
Thus started the phase of revenge travel, where tourists wanted to travel to take revenge for their missed plans during the lockdowns.
Revenge travel now
What was revenge for missed travel opportunities earlier has now transformed into revenge for life’s daily stresses and tensions.
Being confined to homes, working only from home, family responsibilities, etc., is quite stressful for the mind of millennials. Travelling has emerged as the best option for millennials to relieve their minds, gather some happy memories, try new things, etc.
Most of the revenge traveling as per the industry is happening on weekends, summer, and winter vacations. It’s during this time that professionals have time off from work to calm their minds.
A boon for the hospitality industry
The post-pandemic picture of the hospitality industry seemed gloomy; thanks to “revenge travellers”, the industry has bounced back and is even experiencing growth.
From the picturesque beauty of the Himalayas to the beaches of Goa, tourists are finding a sense of calmness, peace and relief from exhaustion. Prominent tourist places like- Kullu, Manali, Haridwar, Mussorie, etc., experience a great weekend rush of “revenge travellers.”
Couples are among the top “revenge travellers.” A weekend revenge travel is enormously beneficial for couples who need a break from their daily workload, job stress, and family responsibilities. The industry has also come up with short duration honeymoon packages for working couples.
Hotels, restaurants, travel sites, etc., have also come up with tailor-made solutions for “revenge travellers.” Most of the revenge travel is of short duration, like a weekend stay or one night stay, compared to more extended vacation plans. Nevertheless, it’s a source of much-needed revenue for the hospitality industry.
Future of Revenge travel
Revenge travel may become the new normal as per some industry insiders. As companies realize the advantages of working from home, mobile offices or employees working while traveling are now a norm. The stresses and tensions of life are nowhere to go, but the employees are sure to go for travel to calm their minds.
Airbnb, OYO, hotel chains and local hotels have all sensed this lucrative weekend opportunity – “revenge travel.” The industry is scrambling to prepare the best packages, plans and offers for travellers. Some industry leaders are also working to transform “revenge travel” into mobile work for professionals who want to live close to nature yet remain active at work.
Like a dream come true, revenge travelling has been a saving grace for the hospitality industry. What needs to be seen is how well the industry can utilize this opportunity to turn it into profit.
Want to make a career in the hospitality industry!
The hospitality industry is one of the most rewarding and promising career fields. About 8% of the workforce in India is employed in the hospitality industry. Moreover, the industry is growing at a healthy rate of 4.73%, and students can expect good future growth in the industry.
To build up a career in the hospitality industry, students can pursue either a diploma, undergraduate or MBA programme. Each course has its unique benefits.
Courses
Some of the most popular diploma courses are- a diploma in hotel management, a diploma in hospitality management, a diploma in housekeeping, etc. Students after class 12th can join diploma courses, the course duration 1-3 years depending on the course. A diploma is the best option for students who want to quickly start a career in less time and at a low cost.
One of the best options for students to build up a promising career in the hospitality industry is to pursue a BSc in catering science and hotel management or a Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM). The undergraduate courses are of 3 years duration, where students get the best education, skills, and training for the industry. After graduation in BSc catering science and hotel management, students can expect top job roles in the hospitality industry.
Students who have not graduated in hotel management can still pursue a career in hotel management, doing an MBA in Hotel Management. It is a 2-year course where students learn to administer hotels, launch marketing campaigns, handle the finances, etc.
Colleges
Many good colleges for hotel management are spread all around India, located mainly in the urban centers. Students can easily find good hotel management colleges in Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Chandigarh, etc. For MBA also, students can find the best B schools in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, etc.
Some of the best colleges are- BEST Institute, IHM Delhi, IHM Bangalore, ISHT Kolkata, etc.
Career options
The top recruiters are- HLV (Hotel Leela Venture), Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Marriott International India, InterContinental Hotels Group, Radisson Blu Hotels, Shangri La Hotels & Resorts, The Lalit Hotels, Indian Hotels Company Limited, etc.
Apart from just job opportunities, students also have a lot of entrepreneurial opportunities in hospitality management, which students can utilize to build up a promising career.
