SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--Although recession, terrorism, wars and epidemics have resulted in a significant slump for the hospitality industry over the past several years, In-Stat/MDR (www.instat.com) expects that tourism, both leisure and business travel, will increase compared to 2003 levels. The market research firm reports that, as the hotel market does begin its recovery, it will grow up to nearly 450,000 properties worldwide in 2004 from just over 440,000 establishments in 2003. Total supply of guestrooms is also expected to grow, and at a greater rate, with 129.6 million rooms worldwide at the end of 2004 compared to 126.3 million rooms in 2003. Growth will continue through 2008.

"The hotel market will present attractive opportunities to vendors, as hoteliers begin positioning for recovery and making the necessary investments to remain competitive as travel and tourism begins to pick up," said Amy Cravens, a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "Opportunities will emerge from traditional service and product offerings to the cutting-edge that draw on the latest technologies and innovations." The global hotel market, however, has many intricacies, with various regions presenting various requirements, and thus, to maximize success in this market, a vendor will have to understand where the opportunity for their product is concentrated.

In-Stat/MDR has also found that:

  • Slow recovery is particularly evident in Western Europe, where international tourism receipts from countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland continue to decline. The one bright spot in the European market appears to be the United Kingdom, where tourism is on the rise.
  • Areas in Africa and the Middle East will also continue to present a challenge until the region's stability is restored.
  • An especially bright spot, in the next several years, will be North America, where hoteliers are anxiously preparing for the awaited recovery.

The report, "State of the Hotel Market: Is Hospitality Positioned for a Stellar Year?" (#IN0401284MU), examines the State of the Hotel Market, examining the size of the market based on number of establishments and guestrooms. Market size is segmented by region and country, and is further segmented by class and size of hotel. Market information is presented for 2003 and projected through 2008. To purchase this report, or for more information, please visit: or contact Rick Vogelei at 480-609-4533; [email protected]. The report price is $1,995.

About In-Stat/MDR - In-Stat/MDR (www.instat.com) offers a broad range of information resources and analytical assets to technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists worldwide. The company stands alone in its ability to integrate both supply-side and demand-side research methodologies into a single comprehensive view of technology markets and products. This capability relies on a unique ability to cover the entire value chain from engineering-level technology, through equipment, infrastructure, services and end users. In-Stat/MDR is part of the Reed Electronics Group, a division of Reed Elsevier (), a world-leading publisher and information provider. With more than 38,000 employees worldwide, Reed Elsevier operates in the science & medical, legal, education and business-to-business industry sectors, providing high value and flexible information solutions to professional end users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet.

Kirsten Skedd
480.609.4534
In-Stat/MDR