Top TripAdvisor property: Peppers Broadbeach

BERLIN, GERMANY: Almost half of all Australian travellers are expected to spend more on travel in 2013, according to the latest TripAdvisor survey.

TripAdvisor used this week’s ITB trade fair in Berlin, Germany, to announce the results of the world’s largest accommodation and traveler survey, the TripBarometer by TripAdvisor and the results are all positive.

This study, conducted on behalf of TripAdvisor by independent research firm StrategyOne (a division of Edelman Berland), is biannual and reports on top travel and hospitality industry trends, according to more than 35,000 travellers and accommodation around the world.

The results of the TripBarometer highlight country level, regional and global trends within the travel sector and reveal insights into economic outlook, travel planning, booking methods and traveller expectations.

The report shows that Australian properties are moderately optimistic about their business prospects in 2013, while 44 per cent of Australian travellers plan to increase their travel spend this year.

Australia’s accommodation industry is able to look back at last year with satisfaction: 80% of the over 700 properties surveyed for the TripBarometer reported that 2012 was economically successful for them.

In fact, 19% of Australian accommodation owners went so far as to describe 2012 as “very profitable”.

A majority (68%) of Australian accommodation are optimistic about their probability this year, which is in line with the global average of 68%.

In spite of the positive economic outlook, the optimism does not seem to be reflected in the Australian hospitality industry’s hiring plan for this year. Only 10 per cent of Australian accommodation providers plan to add new jobs in the next six months.

 HM flew to Berlin with British Airways. BA flies daily to Berlin the author recommends flying in Club World (Business Class), which features flat-bed seats, hundreds of hours’ entertainment on demand, a great selection of wine and some of the best meals in the sky. For bookings, visit www.ba.com