Unusual accommodation continues to make headlines, developing exponentially in both the city and the countryside. While bubbles and cabins are still very popular, new categories are swelling the ranks to attract more and more nocturnal adventurers. The only limit is the imagination of the project owners, whether they are professionals or private individuals, and each year more incongruous accommodations are created. A booming market that should continue to grow, responding to the need for the experiential and authentic expressed by travellers.
According to a study commissioned by the Hôtes-Insolites agency, the unusual accommodation market in France comprises nearly 3,600 accommodation units for a total of nearly 10,000. A little over 500 of these sites are campsites, the others being mainly bed and breakfasts or gîtes. The annual turnover is estimated at 220 million euros with an average budget per night of 142 euros and an average stay of 1.7 nights.
A market that has hardly experienced a crisis since 40% of current accommodation was created between 2018 and today. In addition, the market is becoming more structured and, above all, is moving upmarket, since 75% of these accommodations now offer hotel services such as breakfast, beds made up on arrival and cleaning included. In addition, 58% offer Wi-Fi access and 17% offer a service such as a hot tub or sauna. The days of the simple cabin without water or electricity are long gone.
One of the reasons for this is that we are now in the age of the 'experience economy', where guests are hungry for adventure and exploration, where experiences become transformative and sensory, says Julian Houchin, director of Eden Arc, an alternative accommodation provider. As a result, distinctive design is becoming the norm, as customers are looking for moments and experiences that take them out of their everyday lives and are Instagrammable. The market is therefore responding to the desire for intimacy and back-to-basics among travellers seeking far-flung experiences, a growing trend by 2023 and beyond.
Stays combining design and leisure
Who better than Ikea to propose a hotel unlike any other and especially at the cutting edge of design? The Swedish brand, already known worldwide for its F&B offer through its cafeterias, is pushing the envelope even further by putting a foot in the hotel business. The...
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