Short-stay trends that kept travel destinations abuzz in 2023

With the countdown for the new year having already kickstarted, companies in the hospitality space, are not just doing a review of new concepts delivered during 2023, but also revealing some interesting trends. Global hospitality technology company, OYO's recent report pulls back the curtain, revealing the dynamic travel trends that have defined this year's collective journey. 

In this report, Hyderabad stands out as the most booked city, closely followed by Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata. Uttar Pradesh takes the lead as the most booked state, with Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh following suit. 
Notable is the substantial year-on-year growth in smaller towns such as Gorakhpur in UP, Digha in West Bengal, Warangal and Guntur in Telangana. The Travelopedia 2023 report highlights September 30th, 2023, as the most booked day, and May 2023 as the month with the highest bookings. Jaipur claims the top spot amongst leisure cities, while Puri emerges as the most booked spiritual and pilgrimage destination.

Key highlights from the travel landscape include the use of the 'Nearby Button' on the OYO App over 360 million times in 2023, with 68 per cent of users making bookings from the top 3 recommendations. The OYO App recorded over 1.1 million bookings in under 5 minutes, and OYO's chatbot, YoChat!, resolved over 4.3 million queries throughout the year.

Shreerang Godbole, Global Chief Service Officer, OYO, commented on the global travel scenario.
"2023 stood out as a distinctive year for the travel industry, representing a potential return to complete normalcy after the challenges posed by COVID," he said.

Global Perspective

For OYO customers in the USA, Texas, Oregon, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Florida emerge as the top 5 most travelled states in 2023. Houston, Tulsa, Irving, Oklahoma City, and Wade are the top 5 most travelled cities. July 21, 2023, witnessed the highest number of bookings, with the 4th of July weekend claiming the title for the most booked weekend.
In the UK, bookings increased by 13 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year. London, Plymouth, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, and Eastbourne emerged as the top holiday destinations for 2023. August 26, 2023, witnessed the highest number of bookings, with the Bank Holiday Weekend claiming the title for the most booked weekend.

Cross-border holidaying

Europeans have booked more vacation homes outside their own countries in 2023 compared to previous years, with key destinations including Salzburg and Tyrol in Austria, West Flanders and Liège in Belgium, Blavand and Marielyst in Denmark, North Holland and Guelders in the Netherlands, and the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions in Germany.
Indonesia continues to captivate travellers worldwide, experiencing a 52 per cent increase in bookings compared to 2022. Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Medan, and Yogyakarta are the top five destinations in 2023, with Kabupaten Manggarai Barat experiencing the most growth.

As 2023 comes to a close, the revealed data provides a glimpse into the travel patterns that have resonated with over 93 million users worldwide. OYO's comprehensive year-in-review offers a candid look at the varied destinations and shifting trends that have influenced the travel choices of millions across the globe.