Here’s Why Hotels Need To Cater To The Solo Traveller Market
THE ST GILES HOTEL GROUP IS TAPPING INTO THE POWERFUL SOLO-TRAVELLER MARKET, AND SYDNEY'S TANK STREAM HOTEL GM, KLAUS KINATEDER, SAYS THAT THE EXTRA INVESTMENT IN OFFERING DEDICATED SERVICES FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS IS ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS.
Arguably, Australians are the most intrepid solo travellers. We don't think twice about jumping onto a plane, travelling half-way around the world and letting things happen. Possibly because we are so far away from anything, travelling solo is almost second nature to us.
But that's not the case for many overseas travellers, especially those who aren't all that aware of Australia and who might believe that even travelling to a big city like Sydney requires a Steve Irwin-like constitution to survive.
That's why I thought the St Giles Go Solo program was such a 'natural' for the Tank Stream's guests, and it has proven a great success.
IF WE TAKE OUT BUSINESS TRAVELLERS, WHO USUALLY TRAVEL SOLO, MY FRONT OFFICE TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED A 17 PER CENT INCREASE IN SOLO LEISURE TRAVELLERS IN THE YEAR TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
Many were specifically attracted by the Go Solo package, while others had heard or read about the Tank Stream's affinity with solo travellers.
The Go Solo initiative was the brainchild of St Giles' head of hotels in Europe, UK & USA, Abigail Tan-Giroud, who identified in the cities where St Giles operates - such as London, New York and Kuala Lumpur - few hotels really catered for the solo traveller market.
