Russians don't really care for fitness, but do love free internet
A majorinternational hotel booking website, Hotels.com, released its first research on
the Russians' overseas trips. The study based on hoteliers' opinions aims at
assisting accommodation facilities all around the globe in attending to the
growing Russian market. A half of participating hotels report an increase in
the number of Russian guests. Of them 32%, mention a growth of 11-25%, while
14% claim they have been having an impressive upturn of 26-50%.
Russian
tourists, note almost a third part of hoteliers, are feeling more and more
confident abroad. 24% of the respondents declare a significant progress in the
Russians' proficiency in English language. Over 90% of hotel owners worldwide
expect the number of tourist arrivals from Russia to continue growing within
the following three years.
According
to the hoteliers, 62% of their guests from Russia come for leisure, 18% - for
business, and 20% combine the above stated travel purposes. Most travelers are
keen to explore local points of interest, hence the relatively short periods of
stay. 50% spend 2-3 nights in a hotel, 34% - 4-9 nights, and 7% stay for ten or
more days. The Russians most commonly travel abroad with their spouse or
partner (32%), 19% set on a journey with friends, and just 7% prefer exploring
the world on their own.
Even though
just 47.7% Russians have access to the internet, they still make up quite a
crowd of almost 68 million users. It is claimed by the hotels that over a half
(61%) of guests from Russia book their stays online. Moreover, 53% of them take
advantage of designated booking services and mobile applications; and a mere
31% seek assistance of travel agents these days.
Hotel.com's
own statistics shows that the Russians prefer making last-minute travel
arrangements: 3% of bookings are done on the day of arrival, 22% - within a
week before the check-in date, and 12% of travelers allow themselves from eight
to twelve days to get ready for the trip. In general, 62% of all bookings are
fixed no more than 35 days prior to departure. And just 11% of Russian
travelers take care of their accommodation beforehand (90 or more days).
The
Russians' favorite holiday activities are sightseeing and shopping followed by
culinary delights and relaxing at the beach. While the least popular purpose of
travel is gambling. During the stay, the Russian tourists gladly spend money on
extra services: mostly on food and drinks, preferably local. Just some 23% of
them want nothing but Russian drinks, 15% - order Russian snacks to their rooms,
and 14% would like to have borscht on the hotel's menu.
Fitness
centers or en suite multimedia entertainment systems are of little interest to
the Russians. Free Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is wanted by as much as 79% of
them. 44% request smoking rooms. 50% refuse to enjoy the vacation without TV channels
from back home. Russian-speaking members of staff, guidebooks and websites are an
important factor for 39% of the holidaymakers.