Festive travel brings guests: Hotel bookings skyrocket globally
Return of international travel drives Christmas hotel bookings surge: SiteMinder Report
Global hotel bookings are experiencing a significant boost this Christmas season, with SiteMinder’s latest data revealing marked increases in reservations for the festive period, December 21-25 .
Australia and Germany lead the charge with bookings up by 21 percent and 43 percent respectively compared to last year. This growth is driven by a resurgence in international travel, with December bookings rising by 20 percent in Australia, 26 percent in Indonesia, and 15 percent in the United States.
SiteMinder’s insights highlight a broader trend of increasing traveller confidence. Year-on-year, both the average length of stay and booking lead times have grown during the Christmas week. The UK, for instance, sees an increase in average stays from 1.98 to 2.10 days, while Thailand’s lead time has risen by 10 percent, reaching an average of 93.19 days. In Australia, the average length of stay has increased slightly from 2.23 to 2.25 days, with booking lead times growing by 2 percent, from 90.18 days to 91.98 days.
British travellers will be among the most mobile this Christmas, ranking as a top-five source market for major destinations including Australia, Thailand, the US, and Spain. Australia’s top visitor origins during this period include the UK, Germany, New Zealand, the US, and Switzerland.
New Year’s Eve celebrations are also fuelling hotel bookings, with cities like Sydney and London recording notable increases in reservations for December 28-31. Sydney’s bookings have surged by 23 percent, while London sees an 18 percent rise compared to the same period in 2023.
SiteMinder’s Chief Growth Officer, Trent Innes, commented, “The Christmas holidays have always brought people together from around the world, and it is pleasing to see that that will again be true this year. Our data not only shows that hotel bookings are up for that week but that there is a strong return in international travel and travellers booking months in advance.
Whether they are going home to see their families or to simply take a break in an exciting destination, travellers are set to bring in significant revenue for hotels towards the end of 2024 and hoteliers would do well to maximise their visits through memorable experiences.”
The findings are supported by SiteMinder’s Changing Traveller Report 2025, which highlights evolving travel preferences.
Two-thirds (65 percent) of travellers globally are now more likely to travel for an event, with family reunions and celebrations topping the list.
While nearly half (46 percent) plan to book standard rooms, most are willing to splurge on extras where it matters, such as breakfast (47 percent), room size (30 percent), and scenic views (28 percent). Additionally, four-in-five travellers aim to seek out on-site experiences at their accommodation.
With international travel regaining momentum, the holiday season promises significant opportunities for hoteliers to capitalise on the influx of visitors by creating standout experiences that will leave lasting impressions.
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