As part of our 15th birthday celebrations, below is a selection of 15 of our more remote SiteMinder customers.

Ranguana Caye (Ranguana Caye, Belize)

A private two-acre island on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, Ranguana Caye accepts a maximum of six overnight guests at a time in its three cabanas. 

Magical Pond (Kuusamo, Finland)

An igloo village in northern Finland, Magical Pond is located in an untouched wilderness, the 15sqm igloos designed to blend into the surrounding landscape.

Qasr Al Sarab (Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi)

Set in the middle of the Rub’ al Khali, or Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted body of sand in the world, you’ll stumble upon this regal oasis 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi.

Hapuku Lodge (Kaikōura, New Zealand)

In the canopy, 10 metres or more above the ground, the Hapuku Lodge treehouses form an idyllic coastal retreat about 200km north of Christchurch.

Pumarinri Amazon Lodge (Tarapoto, Peru)

Found in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest, the Pumarinri Amazon Lodge sits on 62 acres of jungle reserve, covered with forests and furrowed by rivers and streams.

Bawah Reserve (Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia)

Enveloped by the elements, Bawah Reserve rests in sheltered seclusion 160 nautical miles (300km)
north-east of Singapore in Indonesia’s remote Anambas Archipelago.

Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô (Phú Yên Province, Vietnam)

Infused with Vietnamese tradition, artefacts and local silk prints, this 245-acre nature and beachfront resort is found on a remote peninsula of the Phu Yen province in Vietnam.

Casa las Tortugas (Isla Holbox, Mexico)

With hotel villas that open onto Petit Beach about 70km from Cancun Airport, Holbox Island is a car free island, rich in marine life, between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Thalia Haven (Tasmania, Australia)

Located on a private 130-acre peninsula in eastern Tasmania, Thalia Haven is surrounded by the waters of Great Oyster Bay, and provides 5km of your own private beach.

Finch Bay Hotel (Galápagos Islands, Ecuador)

Surrounded by a protected National Park in the Galapagos Islands, 1350km off the coast of Ecuador, Finch Bay Hotel is a hidden gem accessible only by boat.

Annandale (Pigeon Bay, New Zealand)

Nestled between rolling hills, Annandale is a restored 19th Century homestead located on a private beach, on the Banks Peninsula of New Zealand.

Zil Pasyon (Felicite, Seychelles)

Embodying stealth architecture by being built into the rock walls, Zil Pasyon is located on the north side of a private 2.5km-long island, 55km north-east of Seychelles International Airport.

Blue Lagoon (Grindavík, Iceland)

Named one of the 25 wonders of the world by National Geographic, Blue Lagoon is positioned in the heart of an extraordinary volcanic frontier and is encircled by mineral rich waters.

Thanda Safari (Kwazulu Natal, South Africa)

In the renowned wildlife region of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, about 260km north of Durban, Thanda Safari is a private game reserve offering incredible scenery from every window.

Cap Rocat (Mallorca, Spain)

Dubbed the Mediterranean’s most secluded resort, Cap Rocat is located in a restored fortress in Mallorca on 30ha of nature reserve.

As part of our 15th birthday celebrations, below is a selection of 15 of our more unique SiteMinder customers.

Kakslauttanen, Arctic Resort (Saariselkä, Finland)

A family-run group of igloos and cabins in Finnish Lapland, Kakslauttanen is an ideal place
to admire the northern lights, 250 kilometres north of the Arctic circle.

V8 Hotel (Böblingen, Germany)

Featuring 26 specially-themed rooms for automotive enthusiasts, the V8 Hotel
features a test drive program and beds made from real cars.

Pumphouse Point (Tasmania, Australia)

Poised on a glacial lake and surrounded by century-old myrtle forests, Pumphouse Point
is a mysterious gem where beauty grinds time to a halt, for quiet awe, calm and reconnection.

Hostel Celica (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

After serving as a military prison for more than 100 years, 80 artists from around the world
helped to restore and renovate the building in 2001, transforming it into a hostel.

Antantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort (Green Mountain, Oman)

Two hours’ drive inland from Muscat, on the fabled Green Mountain, Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
offers dramatic panoramic views across the canyon from its uniquely elevated location.

500 Rai Resort (Surat Thani, Thailand)

With zero wifi, and a variety of experiences to help guests get in touch with the elements,
500 Rai Resort is the ideal environment to reconnect with the natural world.

Museum Hotel (Cappadocia, Turkey)

The world’s first “living museum” concept hotel, the property displays examples of
historical monuments from the Hittite, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

Good Hotel (London, UK)

As part of a global hotel brand on a mission, 100% of Good Hotel’s profits go directly to
educating children and retraining locals to provide them jobs in hospitality.

Gondwana Reserve (Herbertsdale, South Africa)

Four hours from Cape Town, Gondwana Reserve offers awe-inspiring views of the
Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains, with a touch of giraffe, hippo, cheetah and zebra thrown in too.

Pioneertown Motel (California, USA)

Dating from 1946, this rustic desert motel was a former movie set built by famed actor Roy Rogers.
Rumour has it Gene Autry played poker until sunrise in Room #9.

Casona Sforza (Oaxaca, Mexico)

After years of inspiration, planning, sketches and modifications, Casona Sforza was born, with
earthquake-proof arches said to improve air circulation and help positive energy to flow to the suites.

Cuevas la Granja (Granada, Spain)

A restored collection of cave suites, Cuevas la Granja has been originally crafted
to blend seamlessly into the natural landscape around it.

Amberley Castle (Arundel, UK)

Enclosed by a 60ft high curtain wall which is flanked by a twin-tower gatehouse,
Amberley Castle, located in the West Sussex countryside, is steeped in over 900 years of history.

Bay Point Landing (Oregon, USA)

With RV campsites, Airstream suites and modern cabins, Bay Point Landing is a stand-out
camping destination surrounded by the beauty of Oregon’s wildest coast.

Satori Bubbles (Nosara, Costa Rica)

Privately immersed in nature, Satori Bubbles offers a rare escape
just minutes from the Pelada and Guiones beaches of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

As part of our 15th birthday celebrations, below is a selection of 15 of our more eco-friendly SiteMinder customers.

Easter Island Eco Lodge (Easter Island, Chile)

Inspired by Rapa Nui tradition and seeking sustainability and harmony with a unique ecosystem, this Biosphere and TripAdvisor-certified ecolodge offers a stay in a setting like no other. It’s surrounded by dormant volcanoes, awe-inspiring ancient monuments and the Pacific Ocean.

Sandat Glamping Tents (Ubud, Bali)

Escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the hidden Bali. Nestled in luscious rice fields a stone’s throw from Ubud, Sandat only employs Balinese staff and offers a luxury experience at one with nature based on a “zero impact” structure.

Gaia Riverlodge (Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize)

Perched atop the magnificent and remote Five Sisters Waterfalls, this hydropowered Green Globe-certified hotel offers an electric tram ride to the river, while most of the fruit and vegetables on offer are farmed onsite by locals in its Mayan organic garden.

Reserva Alecrim (Santiago do Cacém, Portugal)

Nestled between mountains and sea, choose from 36 lodges around a 28-acre reserve, including eco-suites and safari tents. With some of southern Portugal’s best beaches a 15-minute walk away, Alcerim supports local families by producing honey, wine, olive oil soap and more.

Mashpi Lodge (Mashpi Reserve, Quito)

Five-star, glass-walled Mashpi Lodge is an integral part of a private nature reserve dedicated to protecting, conserving and studying the stunning surrounding cloud forest, home to numerous species that exist nowhere else on earth.

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering (Singapore)

Known as ‘the hotel in a garden’, this groundbreaking building absorbs CO2 and pumps oxygen into the heart of urban Singapore. Delight in a unique, five-star experience while supporting sustainability.

Tierra Patagonia (Torres del Paine National Park, Chile)

Combining cutting-edge architecture with wondrous Patagonian landscapes, trailblazing Tierra Patagonia is internationally renowned for its conservation efforts, including renewable energy projects, farm to table dining and reforestation.

Xigera Safari Lodge (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

Overlooking the floodplains of Okavango Delta, a World Heritage Site, expect tigers, lions, giraffes and aquatic birds at this sustainable, solar-powered and plastic-free, proudly African lodge.

Bensley Collection (Cardamom National Park, Cambodia)

A radical fusion of luxury and conservation, offering breathtaking views along the riverbank, your stay makes a real difference, with the property working hand-in-hand with the Wildlife Alliance to protect 54 endangered local species.

Paradero Todos Santos (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)

Built around an oasis in the middle of the Baja California desert, the focal point of this holistic landscape project is a 100,000 square foot botanical garden, which has helped the area earn its acclaimed designation as a Bioshpere Reserve.

Daintree Ecolodge (Daintree Village, Australia)

With 15 bayans (treehouses) nested amongst the canopy of the world’s oldest rainforest, this solar-powered, carbon-neutral project protects, restores and supports the surrounding ecosystem. Expect no TV or Wifi, and instead enjoy access to a private waterfall.

Sebatu Sanctuary (Gianyar, Bali)

Sitting in forest-covered highlands, Sebatu is a sanctuary for mind, body and soul, with eco-credentials certified by Green Globe and Earth Check. Swim in a chemical-free natural pool with 300 fish, enjoy Balinese cooking classes or attend a traditional melukat ceremony.

Pepem Eco-Luxury Hotel (Tulum, Mexico)

Experience Tulum’s magic and mystique at Pepem Eco-Luxury, a self-sustained solar and wind-powered eco village comprising six comfy cabanas sheltered in lush tropical jungle. Ancient Mayan ceremonies, the Tulum ruins and sound healings are some of the attractions on offer.

Ca’Cigolara (Parma Province, Italy)

A little corner of Mongolia in Italy’s Appennino mountains, stay in one of nine beguiling yurts dotted around a six hectare certified biological farm, providing sustainable zero-kilometre food and products. What can’t be farmed on-site is brought from neighbouring farmers.

Taos Goji Eco Lodge (New Mexico, USA)

Amidst the immense beauty of Carson National Forest, Aldous Huxley, DH Lawrence and Georgia O’Keefe are among the literati rumoured to have stayed at this century-old lodge of charming cabins, which today operates on a zero-kilometre basis in harmony with its natural surroundings.

By Mike Ford and Mike Rogers, Founders of SiteMinder

The last 15 years have truly been an incredible journey – from starting out with a hunch in a rental house on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, to serving the tens of thousands of hotel customers around the world that we do today. It’s not been easy, but has been incredibly rewarding, and we’ve had the chance to work with scores of wonderful people that have all had a hand in helping SiteMinder become the business it is today. From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you!

An anniversary is a great time to both reflect and share stories, so as part of SiteMinder’s 15th birthday celebrations, we wanted to take a moment to share 15 of our observations and memories since founding the business, to provide a deeper insight into the journey, and what we’ve learnt so far.

1. Firstly, what has become ever clearer is that a business starts and ends with its people. When we opened our London office in 2009, a big part of our success there was due to the fact that we started it with people that were inside the business already, who were able to ‘transplant’ our culture and ways of working into that new operation. At every point along the way, trusting our people to create the business we envisioned, and working with those that reflected the values of SiteMinder, has proved vital. And we’ve been lucky to have worked with more than our fair share of great people so far.
2. As a founder, you never really stop selling, so being able to clearly articulate the vision of your company, and where you are going, becomes one of the most important things you can ever do. This is much easier in the early days, when you have a small team that’s completely bought into what you’re trying to achieve; it becomes much harder as you grow and evolve, and have to sell that same vision to a team of hundreds, to tens of thousands of new customers, to sceptical media and to potential investors.
3. You need a competitive spirit to drive you in a competitive environment. One of the most satisfying moments in the history of the company was defeating a competitor who raised $100 million in our home market when we had a handful of employees and not much cash in the bank. Simply because we had a better product and offered a better service.
4. Sometimes, to claw yourself to the next stage of your startup you just have to sticky tape stuff together. Don’t get me wrong, the core of our system was always incredibly robust, but naturally we didn’t have the opportunity to automate everything straight out of the blocks. (Mike Ford: I remember spending all day hitting the channel sync button until Mike Rogers could get it on an automated scheduler [while also taking customer support queries], which was memorable, but not fun. I still don’t know how I got talked into that one, but you do what you have to do.)
5. Hire management skills ahead of the curve. It’s easy to get caught up in execution mode when things are moving fast, and sometimes it’s hard to see when you are at the limit of your managerial capacity. As you evolve, you need to constantly be looking to build or hire management skills that can take you to the next level, and it’s easy to leave this too long if you don’t have your wits about you.
6. Practise optimism, and always plan for more success than you expect. To give you a sense of how far forward we were looking, we initially only registered SiteMinder as a .com.au domain.
7. One of our most powerful sellers has always been word of mouth, so we’ve always kept our product and service at the heart of what we do. While we have built a highly capable sales and marketing engine, our product has always been and will continue to be what separates us from the crowd. With tech as easy and cheap to build as it is today, as soon as you stop innovating someone will take the lead from you, so your product and service as a tech company must always remain the focus.
8. Focus on your customers, not the competition. At times we used to get dissuaded by what competitors were saying they were doing. One thing that was quickly learnt, however, was that they almost never delivered on what they were promising, or didn’t deliver well. So worrying too much about what your competitors are doing can take you off track in delivering what your customers actually need. Trust your instincts and focus on bettering the lives of your customers, rather than focusing too much on your competition.
9. Contrary to modern medical theory, it is possible for the human body to function on no sleep for days at a time. Not advised, but we did prove this in the early days of SiteMinder.
10. Don’t be too pragmatic and measured in your approach. Naive optimism is underrated. Things are probably going to be a lot more difficult and complicated than you first think, but if you spend too much time worrying, you will probably never get started. There is a lot to be said about just having a crack.
11. To provide an insight into the early days of SiteMinder, and how our name came about, here’s a snippet of an email conversation between us in circa 2006.
    Mike Ford: “Last but not least, the #$#$#$%% name! I want to register a domain so I can get a site up and start talking to people (clients and possibly investors). I’ve come up with the following possibilities: resEasy (a pun on Rest Easy); SiteMinder; and Leapfrogg (Leapfrog is taken). If you want to laugh at this point, that’s fine, but please come up with a better name in the next 2 days – if you don’t then at least you have to tell me which of the above you prefer.”

    Imagine that, right now, if Marketing were working on a new logo for “Leapfrogg”! :P

12. Which leads us to: Don’t get too emotionally attached to your ideas or too dogmatic about them. To the contrary, get used to just putting them out there and having them shot down. Good ideas will survive and bad ideas will evolve into good ones.

13. Lead with your own unique style. Yes, ‘future you’ may have some questions, however if you mirror your leadership style on someone else, you do a disservice to your team and are bound to end up lost.
    (Mike Rogers: The team asked me to reflect on whether I’d ever made any questionable decisions in the last 15 years, and listed fashion decisions as an option to discuss, but I don’t think I’ve ever made a questionable fashion decision, ever – even in this photo.)

    

14. Diverse thinking creates innovation, there’s no question, and a big part of that is creating a culture where it’s ok for people to float different opinions or challenge ideas!

15. Finally, follow what excites you. It’s not possible to stay motivated unless you have a passion for what you are doing, especially not in the early stages, which can be gruelling. You have to have a very understanding family to put up with the hours.
    (Mike Rogers: I remember buying a tiny Linux laptop so that we could do family trips to the beach, where I would hide in a sun tent and write code, which… didn’t go down well! But if you can find an idea or a cause that doesn’t feel like it’s work to you, then that’s the key to staying inspired and motivated every day.)

We’re extremely grateful to those who have been with us from the beginning, those who may have left the business but played a role in our story, those who recently joined us, and those somewhere in between. Your collective energy helps to bring this company to life, and you should all be proud of what you’re achieving.

Thanks to our customers, for the ongoing faith that you put in our technology every single day. And thank you to our partners, who allow us to create a global community for hotels at a time when technology has never been so important to them.

From both of us, thanks for a magical 15 years, and cheers to the next 15!

Mike Ford & Mike Rogers

As originally published on Startup Daily.

The research, which draws upon the survey data of over 7,000 travellers from Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, the United States and United Kingdom, highlights that a traveller with higher expectations, driven by fresh experiences and the need to be more in control of their stay, has developed in the last 18 months.

The birth of the dynamic traveller comes as global hotel bookings hit 70% of their 2019 levels—their highest point since the start of the pandemic began—according to SiteMinder’s World Hotel Index.

SiteMinder’s report has found:

• When it comes to accommodation standards, guest expectations in 94% of cases are now higher (52%) or the same (42%) as they were compared to pre-pandemic times.
• ‘Bucket list items’ are among the top two considerations for 38% of travellers globally, when deciding what location to travel to. They rank as high as 60% in Spain.
• Accommodation that’s able to be freely cancelled and modified is one of the top two priorities for almost 1-in-3 travellers, as they decide where to book.

“Thanks to the rise of technology use over the last 18 months, today’s dynamic traveller is an increasingly savvy one ​​– an avid researcher that’s hyperaware of the widening range of choices available to them,” says Mark Renshaw, Chief Marketing Officer at SiteMinder. “The dynamic traveller not only craves a stay that’s unique and personalised, but one that’s experience-led too. Additionally, as unforeseeable restrictions continue to be experienced in travel markets around the world, today’s dynamic traveller seeks a greater sense of control.”

SiteMinder’s report outlines that experience packages are now as important as health/safety practices as travellers decide where to make their accommodation booking, and that 54% are either ‘supportive’ (39%) or ‘very supportive’ (15%) of accommodation providers using their personal data to better their stay. Another macro trend is that over 30% of travellers are now planning to work on an upcoming trip, extending above 40% in the United States and over 50% in Thailand.

An average of 39% of travellers globally expect to arrange their next trip directly with the accommodation venue, compared to 36% in 2020.

“The preferences of this dynamic, evolved traveller is likely to fundamentally reshape the travel industry, as well as the approach hoteliers now need to take to be seen as a viable accommodation option,” says Renshaw. “Control has tilted even further into the hands of increasingly discerning guests and, as we enter this new era of travel, the always-on nature of hotel businesses has never been more apparent – and put to the test.”

The Dynamic Traveller: A New Era of Hotel Guest can be downloaded here.

About SiteMinder
In an age of rising choice and accessibility for curious travellers, SiteMinder exists to liberate hoteliers with technology that makes a world of difference. SiteMinder is the world’s leading open hotel commerce platform, ranked among technology pioneers for its smart and simple solutions that put hotels everywhere their guests are, at every stage of their journey. It’s this central role that has earned SiteMinder the trust of tens of thousands of hotels, across 150 countries, to generate in excess of 125 million reservations worth over US$50 billion in revenue for hotels in the last year prior to the start of the pandemic.

One reason we travel is to explore, to experience wild, far off lands and make new discoveries.

Ryan Jeffcoat, Product – “Me struggling to breathe at 5,357m above sea level, atop Gokyo Ri in Sagarmāthā National Park, Nepal. Backdropped by Mount Everest in the distance, which I had just visited in the days prior. Lasting memories: a whole new level of what cold means, how remote some places are and what could happen should I take a wrong turn.”

Karen Aspell, Product –“Taken in 2011, this was one of my favourite stops as part of a 3-month road trip across America. We had just driven 8+ hours from Colorado, but when we got here, it really was something special. Is there anything more important than standing where Forrest Gump stopped running? This road trip was the first (and probably last!) time I have ever been so carefree. Fear of quitting a job and travelling the world were gone once I landed in New York, until landing in Sydney four months later with no money! It was the start of my life in Australia which SiteMinder has been nine years of.”

Julia Pereira, Customer Onboarding – “Black Forest, Germany, 2019. It was the first time I was seeing snow in my life. It started snowing a lot when we were still in the train, so we decided to get off at the next station to enjoy the moment and build a snowman.”

Alan Gloria, Partner Services – “This year I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii with my lovely wife Rebecca to celebrate our honeymoon. This photo was taken at Waipi’o Valley Lookout on the Big Island. The trip was amazing. We stayed in Kona and loved getting to see all of the nature you can find. We then flew to Oahu to visit Honolulu and Waikiki Beach for two days to relax.”

Federica Turriceni, Sales – “Saline di Nubia, Sicilia, Italy. I was walking between the Saline and the colours were so amazing that I absolutely had to take a picture. That was the last trip I did with my friends in Italy to celebrate our 30th birthdays. I met my best friends after a year cause I live in Australia and they live in Italy. Spending time with them brought me back to when I was younger.”

Collette Van Rooyen, Product – “This photo was taken on safari in South Africa with my best friend. We drove from Kruger National Park to Cape Town in the girl’s trip of our dreams. Starting with a wedding in the national park and three days of daily safari-ing, we then spent a week making our way to the coast, making multiple stops along the way. It was such an incredible trip because I got to see my parent’s homeland with fresh eyes by travelling to areas of South Africa I’ve never been to before, and with a friend who was making her first trip to South Africa. We had such a range of amazing adventures on this trip, from spa days in an Elephant Park, to cocktails in Durban to living large in Cape Town. Incredible, memorable and glorious trip. Can’t wait to go again. PS: Just out of shot is roaming warthog who featured at the property both as guests and as dinner.”

Angels Vidal, Customer Onboarding – “Porto Venere (Liguria), Italy. Enjoying the views from San Pietro Church which overlooks the gulf of the poets in the village of Porto Venere. This location inspired the recent Disney film, Luca.”

Ian Skea, Marketing – “12 hours off the mainland of Sumatra, Indonesia, at the outer Mentawai Islands for 12 days in 2019. Living on a boat is an experience. We had a good chef so the food was amazing, but the trip was often rough and I got some seasickness. The place was amazing to surf but highly dangerous. We needed special insurance that covers air transport to hospital if you got hammered onto the coral reefs. There was also an earthquake upon arrival, so we were on alert for tsunamis.”

Mark Renshaw, Marketing – “Costa Rica, 2017. Great family trip, exploring different parts of Costa Rica. From zip-lining through the rain forest to searching for slow moving sloths at night, to surfing and white water rafting.”

Andrea Trombone, Product – “Cape Green Lighthouse, almost as South as you can go in New South Wales, a pristine land that still has echoes of the native cultures that inhabited these hills and gulfs for thousand of years. We had the pleasure of staying for a night at the local lighthouse which also provides short-term accommodation. Hearing from the hotelier & lighthouse keeper stories about the nearby whaling stations, unique in the world for the fact that killer whales helped whalers find and hunt migrating humpbacks and blue whales, was fascinating. The coastal rock formations are also a miracle of geology, and getting to walk by the coast for kilometres with no one in sight but seals, seagulls, and petrels is an experience to be held dear in my memory.”

Alfredo Rodríguez, Sales – “We wanted to navigate the rapids of Jalcomulco, Veracruz, a great and exciting adventure that I really want to repeat. Our boat flipped several times, and it was actually dangerous, but really fun. I went to know the land of my wife and we took a road trip across the fog zone in Veracruz.”

Sara Bonilla, Marketing – “This picture was taken in 2019. I went with my partner and his father (an avid and fearless mountain explorer) to Lake Sorapis in the Dolomites (Italy), a beautiful turquoise-coloured lake close to Cortina d’Ampezzo. The image is from when we were getting back. The hike took us around an hour and a half, and on our return, we were caught in the middle of a summer storm. In the picture, you can see me completely soaked, surrounded by the magnificent Dolomites, with the wet leaves of the trees reflecting the light of a shy sun and a group of clouds that seem to embrace the mountains and everything in between (including us!). What you don’t see is that my body is shaking, my heart is smiling, and all I’m thinking is, “How can I capture all this in my mind?” “What will be the folder in my memory to store this happy place?”. All while being very careful not to fall! It was the first time I hiked on the Dolomites and it was a re-energising trip, with amazing people in probably one of the most breathtaking locations in the world.”

Mike Kantor, Partnerships – “The dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano in Iceland, has to be one of the most amazing adventures I have experienced in my travels. Our hike brought us over lava fields, close to an Arctic fox and then 120 metres down to explore a beautiful cavern.”

Kevin Allsworth, Product – “Antartica is a stunning place to visit, it really does feel like you have reached another planet. We were lucky enough to spend 12 days exploring Antartica with near perfect weather and sea conditions. Lots of zodiac trips to see giant icebergs, volcanos, penguins, seals, whales and we even had a pack of orcas travel alongside the boat one evening. We even made a helicopter trip over the Lemaire channel. The trip of a lifetime that’s for sure!”

Elise Endert, Customer Onboarding –“Zion National Park in Utah! This was in 2020.  I was completely blown away by how beautiful Utah is! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Kenneth Murillo, Billing Team – “My friends and I went to explore Landmannalaugar in Iceland. Our trip was cut short due to big chunks of ice on the road, but we still got close enough to see some of the colourful mountains. We slept in the car some nights, drove till 3am at a time when Iceland has barely any night time, got into ice cold rivers and lakes, and got to see some of the world’s most unique landscapes.”

Luis Marrufo, Sales – “New York City, 2021. I am simulating the greatest representation of freedom in the world, in a country where if you work hard, you can make your dreams come true. It was an amazing first time in NYC with my friends, where a week was not enough to visit so many places, parks, restaurants and bars.”

Ivonne Barnes, Premium Services – “Playa Mujeres Mexico, 2020. Visiting the Caribbean and being able to admire spectacular views, wildlife and clear turquoise water.”

Mei Koon, Marketing – “New York, USA, 2019. Capturing the moment at the gorgeous Mural Project outside the WTC 9/11 Museum. On the trip I reconnected with a buddy from London whom I hadn’t seen for 10+ years, and explored NYC for the first time. Nothing like discovering new places with old friends.”

Whitney Winter, Customer Onboarding – “Chicen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, 2018. My husband and I were in Playa del Carmen for our honeymoon and we decided to take a several-hour round-trip excursion to Chichen Itza on a sort of whim. We were so glad that we did, as it was definitely a highlight of our time away! Seeing the Chichen Itza structures onsite and hearing about the intricate design of not only the buildings themselves but the overall layout and history of the complex had us both in awe at how advanced Mayan astronomy and mathematics were.”

Claudia Novreica, Marketing – “I solo travelled across Northern Norway back when I was studying in 2018 as a birthday present for myself. I visited a city called Honningsvåg, which turns out to be the northernmost town in mainland Norway. The city was tiny, but the nature surrounding it is what makes it special. Every day seemed to be an opportunity for me to go for a short hike or just to wind down and enjoy my own company. It was in early November, so it’s not the best time to visit Northern Norway. Most people are expecting northern lights  – which unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to see either. But I was lucky enough to be able to see one of the most beautiful skies I’ve ever seen after the morning rain!”

Sonya Müller, Product – “In November to December 2019 we had the very good fortune to travel to both Peru and Antarctica. We’ve both always wanted to go to Machu Picchu! Seeing photos in travel books, the ruins always looked so magical. I just wanted to go there and appreciate it in real life, rather than just viewing photos. We really enjoyed all the places we visited on our Peru trip, but going to Machu Picchu was an absolute dream come true!”

Luke McCabe, Marketing – “One of my few snaps from a memorable trip to Norway in 2016. On a whim, I met with two friends at Bergen Airport and we made the six hour drive north (through the fjords) to a sleepy village called Ervik. Known for its surfing, we borrowed some boards from a friendly local called Calle and scored a few freezing waist-high waves at the beach to the right in the image. Just out of shot further to the right was the sturdy wooden hus that was ours for the week. From memory, this photo was taken on a stroll at around 4:00am. I lucked out by securing what we dubbed the ‘Venus room’ due to its brightness and lack of curtains. An incredible last-minute trip with two close friends, filled with lots of laughter and sunlight.”

Karthik Palanivel, EDMA Team – “Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand in 2012. This was the exciting moment that I first stepped foot on a glacier, having never seen one before. I was also curious to find out how deep I would fall after the jump. I am huge car enthusiast and absolutely love long drives. I’ve done multiple drives in many countries, but this was my first time driving in New Zealand. We had a jam packed schedule to be covered in 14 days, driving nearly 2,800km. We experienced the beauty of New Zealand countryside up close and finished the trip grandly with the experience of walking on the Glacier.”

Angela Wozniak, Marketing – “In 2016 when my partner and I went backpacking around the world for 5 months, one of the highlights was visiting Iceland. The natural beauty of the country was amazing and one of our bucket list activities for the trip was to swim between two tectonic plates. It was very early in the morning and absolutely freezing, but we kitted up in dry suits and entered the glacial water that was just below 0 degrees. This photo is me just after finishing the snorkel between the plates. I couldn’t feel my face or hands at this point but was on such a high from the swim! So many amazing memories from the trip – exploring new cities, experiencing new cultures and getting to eat some incredible food! It was a super exciting time and I am always so grateful I got to go on such a long and memorable trip.”

Evan Miller, Billing Team – “I took this photo in Mykonos back in 2012. I had just quit my job in the Middle East and was returning to Australia for good. I decided to give myself a bit of a break in Greece before starting a new chapter in my life… Looking forward to going back soon!”

Amona Kadiku, Marketing – “In this picture, taken in 2011, you see me in my first week out of two months in Istanbul. I had taken educational leave from work to see the world, learn Turkish, and enjoy some needed space from my known environment. I didn’t know anybody in Istanbul. I found a girl from Croatia in a Facebook group, who had the same plan and was happy to go on a flat hunt with me. Within three days we had made our first fantastic connections, which led us, on this day to a sunset rooftop party. This trip will forever be memorable as it started to shape the future me. It was the reason I decided to move to London one year later. Going back to Istanbul will always be very emotional for me. I’m thanking myself (haha) and all the amazing people I met during this trip, for the best time in my young adult life. I recommend everybody to go and see Istanbul, it’s my favourite city!”

Laura Grajales, Customer Onboarding – “Guatape Antioquia. One of my favourite places in Colombia.”

Marta Perez, Sales – “Rockstar trip to Hawaii, where I got to learn about the mixture of Eastern and Western influence on the Hawaiian culture, and contemplated the beauty of its nature. Loved spending some time getting to know my colleagues better, and meeting other Sales Rockstars from other parts of the globe.”

Maria Cricchiola, Marketing – “I travelled to Peru to complete volunteer work in some of the country’s poorest areas. In this photo, I was visiting a childcare centre to spend time with kids whose families were struggling to put them through school and get them access to basic dental health. So much of my time in Peru reminded me of my home in the Philippines, where people may go without a lot of what we’d call necessities of life and yet exude a warmth and joy that money could never buy.”

Lisa Cornofsky, Product – “In 2010 I spent 3 months travelling around South America – Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay. This photo was taken on Christmas Day at Salar de Uyuni which is the world’s largest salt pan in southwest Bolivia. It’s by far the most amazing, surreal, and beautiful place I’ve ever been to. Here, we are just standing in awe watching the sunset and enjoying a very unique and magical white Christmas! It was 3 months of immersing ourselves in different cultures and adventures, trying to navigate through countries where hardly any English was spoken and our Spanish was woeful to say the least! But we loved every second of it.”

Dai Williams, Growth – “To raise money for Camp Quality, in 2016 I competed in the Marathon des Sables in southern Morocco, which is a 250km, 6-stage endurance race across the Sahara desert. It was gruelling to say the very least!”

Hefzi ba Dragonné Arroyo, Sales – “This photo was taken in 2019, my first time watching my all time favourite Broadway musical Wicked. To watch this musical has being one of my lifetime dreams, and being able to finally see it and in the front row was just magical. The power of live events and the energy you get from them is just something indescribable.”

David Sinsuw, Sales – “It was the year of 2009, when my best friend from college invited me to her wedding in Germany. At first, I thought it would just be another wedding in a city. But she actually had her party in the middle of the Black Forest. We were invited to three days of events for the wedding, and at the last brunch I had the chance to drive a fire engine around. It was my first trip to Europe, and was unforgettable for me.”

James Bishop, Product – “This is from one of my last business trips in January 2019. Having breakfast with old friends and partners in LA during the HEDNA conference. I’m lucky to have been able to travel with my work, see some great places, albeit usually for very short periods of time! This was a rare moment when we got to leave the hotel/conference and live like locals for a brief moment. This was the HEDNA conference (Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association). It’s right up my street. I’m a total nerd at these events and love to hear and talk with partners, competitors and hoteliers about how our industry is evolving, and where we can work better as a group to create new opportunities for hotels worldwide.”

Georgie Davies, Marketing – “Lord Howe Island with my mum and brother. Our first time not only experiencing Lord Howe Island, but spending more than a weekend together, away from work and distractions. As we’ve gotten older, time together has become a rarity as we all live in different areas of New South Wales, so making time to step away from our lives and enjoy each other’s company was great! A special moment for us to reconnect, create new memories, laugh and relax in each other’s company. The island has no reception too so that helps!”

David Sinsuw, Sales – “Whenever I have a free time, I always fly back home to spend some time with my family. They always love the surprise visit from me on their birthdays, Christmas or any other occasion that I can fly back home to be with them. No matter where I go, I always remember that family comes first.”

Janet Ludley, Sales Communications – “Sunset on the Ile de Ré, looking west from the North/West point of the island. The Ile de Ré is steeped in French history and you can just make out the old lighthouse in the middle of the sea which has since been replaced by the Phare des Baleines. The tide is in, but underneath the waves you will discover the protected oyster beds. The Ile de Ré has been my holiday location for over 20 years – where friends and family come together from all over the world every summer.”

James Bishop, Product – “This image is from the last leisure trip abroad with my family, including my parents, in August 2019. We went sailing in Greece, island hopping in the South Ionian sea. Sailing is a hobby that my family has enjoyed since I was a child, and I haven’t been away sailing with my Dad for many years. It’s great to rediscover this shared passion and to see my wife and son, also starting to love sailing too. Plus, it’s so much better in Greece than in the English Channel or the North Sea!”

Andrea HGS, Customer Success – “I’m in Orlando, Florida with friends from Church that are like my family. It was my first time to Orlando Studios and I had a great time! Travel is one of my favourite things to do, and knowing new places with people I love means a lot!”

Below is a selection of  predictions for the next 15 years in travel from SiteMinder’s global partner community. 

Susan Wheeldon – Airbnb
“We’re seeing some fundamental changes in the way people are travelling, with the lines between travel and living continuing to blur. Many of those fortunate enough to be able to work remotely are embracing greater flexibility and new ways of travelling – from workations, to longer-term stays and even life as a digital nomad. We recently announced more than 100 upgrades and improvements across our entire service that cater to this growing desire for flexibility among guests.”

Gabriel Menis – Expedia Group
“At Expedia Group we believe that travel is a force for good. No matter if travelling for business or leisure, the experience of connecting with people and places, in person, is something that no technology can replace. One thing I would predict with fair accuracy is that the demand for travel will continue. Here are some other things I believe we will also see:  vacation rentals will continue to grow. New destinations will come to light and become popular – there are so many beautiful places and cultures for all to see. We will see more travel companies focusing on sustainability. Mobile will reign, from shop, to book, to check-in, to room service, to reviews, to check-out (hopefully we won’t see old phones in hotel rooms anymore). No technology will replace the actual experience of travelling!”

Thibault Catala – Catala Consulting
“Technology innovations continue to transform every industry and job role across the world, and the hospitality industry is certainly no exception. In the coming 15 years, I see a number of forces coming into play that will change the way we operate. Firstly, A.I. and algorithms will create new jobs in the industry, and will allow us to further elevate the guest experience. Increased tracking will allow us to collect more data and create ultra-personalised experiences for our guests. And, finally, voice technology and speak-to-order will bring about new distribution channels. Distribution will become much less messy, with APIs allowing all systems to be seamlessly integrated to each other.”

Tamie Matthews – RevenYou
“Looking to the future, it’s the truly creative that will stand out from the mass of hotels looking to cash in. Leisure guests will be more demanding. They’ll increasingly want to impress and show off on social media, so the hotels that will thrive will be Instagrammable and unique. They will have the right lighting, the perfect backdrop, beautiful décor, the right cocktail and the perfect couch.
Guest communication to create an authentic local experience will be crucial to driving a successful, leisure-driven business. Guests will look to hotels for inspiration and direction, but it will need to be done via social media or an app, not across the front desk with a Perspex panel in-between.”

“Guests will look to hotels for inspiration and direction, but it will need to be done via social media or an app, not across the front desk with a Perspex panel in-between.”

Josh Beckwith – Sojern
“The future of tourism is dependent on the stability of our ecosystems, so we need to focus on the impact we’re having on the natural world. If we want safaris in Kruger National Park, or to swim with tropical fish in the Maldives, travel and tourism must lower its carbon footprint, help reduce global warming, combat rising sea levels and support the recovery of endangered species.
I predict governments will become more involved in this realm, including major outbound markets taking on more responsibility when it comes to offsetting the waste and emissions from their populations travelling abroad. Many hotels and airlines already shout about the sustainability practices they build into their business models, but with an ever-discerning consumer – they will need to do this in an authentic way to attract more travellers to book with them.”

Derek Martin – TrevPAR World
“In the next 15 years, the industry will move back to a focus on people and not so much a focus on tech. Technology is currently outgrowing our ability to comprehend what is truly important in business, and this is having a negative impact on revenues and distribution setups in the hospitality sector. I see a focus moving from a hyper-focus on software and systems, to how we can maximise our people in order to then maximise the technology that’s available.”

Erik Tengen – Oaky
“In 15 years we will be able to travel virtually to any place on earth from our living rooms, travels that will include the sensations of wind and smell. But, despite these technological advancements that will be available, most of us will prefer old-fashioned hospitality, and everything that comes with enjoying our beautiful world in real life.”

“In 15 years we will be able to travel virtually to any place on earth from our living rooms, travels that will include the sensations of wind and smell. But … most of us will prefer old-fashioned hospitality.”

Marc Horner – InnQuest Software
The tourism and accommodation industries will move away from all-in-one solutions trying to cover all bases, to seamlessly (and completely) integrated vendors. This will enable each and every business to create their own bespoke systems with the components they individually need. There will be less staff intervention, with travellers taking complete control of check-in, tours, transfers, food ordering and check out from the palm of their hand (or at the command of their voice).
In such an environment, industry staff will become vital as ‘hosts’. They will be more available to engage and interact with their guests, rather than needing to provide a key or drive hotel software.”

Christopher Cooper – Christopher Cooper Consults LTD
“In our future state, domestic travel will increasingly be displaced from air to train, where routes are available. Travel into space may challenge the lack of innovation in classic air travel, and free, fast, unlimited wifi will be expected as standard while flying. Accommodation in many cases will be smaller, cleaner and more efficient, and keyless check in via face recognition will become standardised. For remote workers, hotels will be creating an elevated and more tailored experience, as working away from the office remains a norm.”

“Travel into space may challenge the lack of innovation in classic air travel. Accommodation in many cases will be smaller, cleaner and more efficient, and keyless check in via face recognition will become standardised.”

Rodd Herron – Cendyn
“The pandemic may have ushered in a new era of touchless technology to the hospitality industry, but going forward, hotels will use this as jumping off point to create even more seamless and personalised guest experiences. With the right technology systems, hotels will use devices like check-in kiosks and in-room iPads to not only offer hotel services, but to collect the data to create the ‘wow’ moments that lead to positive reviews and repeat visits as well. With that guest’s previous stay data, housekeeping can make sure their room already has the hypoallergenic pillows they always ask for, and if a loyalty guest has a delayed flight resulting in a late check-in, a trigger can be sent to the kitchen to send up a snack based off of previous in-room dining purchases. With touchless technology at the helm, anything is possible.”

Jeffrey Messud – Aspire Software
“Looking forward, the hotel tech industry will become less and less fragmented. Over time, the global consolidation and standardisation of systems will accelerate, and finally payment solutions will become a critical part of the puzzle, eventually becoming the main decision driver for travellers and hospitality business operators.”