Promotion: hospitality brand Design Hotels has published its inaugural Further Forecast trend report highlighting six cultural trends that will define travel in 2024.
The report, created in collaboration with futurist agency SOON Future Studies, includes 158 pages of case studies, insights and interviews that "will transform the travel industry in 2024 and beyond". Dezeen readers can get 20 per cent off the report with code DEZEEN20.
Three of the six key macro trends the report identifies include Age of Awe, Ancestral Wisdom and Remedial Pursuits, each of which is informed by a number of micro-trends – smaller, niche shifts "causing ripple effects in the current cultural landscape".
According to a survey undertaken by Design Hotels, 63 per cent of people are willing to invest more money in "out of the ordinary experiences".
The company's trend Age of Awe compasses how individuals increasingly seek daily experiences of "awe and wonder" that they are willing to travel for.
Within Age of Awe, Design Hotels identifies three micro-trends: Collectible Culture, which explores how shifts in luxury consumerism are leading to "more thoughtfully designed everyday objects", Miracle Moments, examining how unscalable "moments of wonder" are emerging as a new cultural currency, and Neuroaesthetics, which considers the impact visual and artistic experiences have on people's mental health and perception of the world.
"Knowing this, travellers are driven to embrace everything from unscalable experiences of life-altering wonder to smaller everyday moments of beauty," said Design Hotels.
The second key trend Design Hotels identified was Ancestral Wisdom, which represents the growing concerns over the long-term consequences of "humanity's extractivist tendencies".
The report explains that many sectors are exploring indigenous practices with the aim of finding solutions to better care for the planet and its species. This trend is split into two micro-trends – Origins of Eating and Inherited Knowledge.
Origins of Eating focuses on how ancestral techniques are supporting a "unique roadmap" for future cuisine strategies; while Inherited Knowledge examines how ancient systems – from architecture to agriculture – can solve large-scale challenges and offer superior solutions.
Remedial Pursuits involves what Design Hotels describes as a "new approach to healing and feeling" that it says is being practised by younger travellers. The company says this trend has shifted the discourse around wellbeing to focus on a holistic approach to mental health and longevity.
"60 per cent of people are interested in or actively increasing their practices and rituals such as meditation and breathwork," said Design Hotels.
This movement includes three micro-trends: Low-Stimulation Society and Healing Escapes and Psychedelic Quests. Low-Stimulation Society highlights how travellers are increasingly attracted to "slow, analogue ritualistic activities" to address mental and emotional health.
Design Hotels says that this is promoting the rise in another micro-trend – Healing Escapes and life-affirming trips. The brand says that hallucinogens are experiencing a revival for their spiritual benefits, resulting in increased 'Psychedelic Quests'.
"The Further Forecast marks a significant moment for Design Hotels as a global brand," said vice president and global brand leader of Design Hotels, Sarah Doyle. "We are committed to engaging in forward-thinking initiatives, challenging the status quo, and pushing the industry further in a circular way."
"We hope hoteliers, designers, restaurateurs, and architects alike will be inspired by this forecast to introduce new strategies and creative initiatives based on its findings," continued Doyle.
The report combines both consumer surveys and in-depth field research across design, technology, art and hospitality, to explore the shifts in culture and travel. This included consumer surveys, interviews, trend analysis and strategic foresight.
For example, Design Hotels developed the Design Hotels Community Survey, which included over 1,789 responses from June 2023. Interviews with industry experts included Microsoft, TeamLab, Bompas and Parr, IKEA's Space10 and Beckley Retreats.
SOON Future Studies added to the research by using "proprietary data banks of signals" to map out the macro-environmental drivers of change with emerging cultural trends.
The report features more than 200 case studies highlighting forward-thinking projects, people and places that Design Hotels predicts will frame the industry in the coming years.
The report was written for architects, designers and hoteliers with the aim of ensuring the creative community remains at the forefront of the travel industry.
Design Hotels includes over 300 independently owned and operated hotels in over 60 countries. The company also offers insightful travel industry expertise, including PR, creative consultancy, trend forecasting, marketing and global sales representation.
SOON Future Studies is a think tank, which undertakes research to establish emerging cultural insights and trends.
To purchase Further Forecast, visit Design Hotels' website. Dezeen readers can get 20 per cent off the report with code DEZEEN20.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Design Hotels as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.