Rise in Christmas hotel bookings boosts international travel

Hotel bookings during the Christmas period have increased notably, driven by a resurgence in international travel according to recent data from SiteMinder.

Global hotel bookings for 21-25 December have risen significantly compared to last year, with an increase of 21% in Australia and 43% in Germany. This growth is attributed to a substantial rise in international bookings over December, showing a 20% increase in Australia, 26% in Indonesia, and 15% in the United States.

The data also indicates an increase in both the length of stay and the booking lead time during the Christmas week, suggesting growing confidence in international travel and a trend of travellers booking further in advance. In the UK, the average length of booked stays is projected to rise by 6%, from 1.98 days to 2.10 days. In Thailand, the booking lead time is expected to increase by 10%, from 84.67 days to 93.19 days. Meanwhile, in Australia, the average length of stay has shown a slight rise, from 2.23 days to 2.25 days, and the booking lead time has grown by 2% year-on-year, from 90.18 days to 91.98 days.

The report notes that British travellers will be among the most active during this period, appearing in the top five source markets for countries like Australia, Thailand, the US, and Spain. The primary countries contributing to inbound travel to Australia are the UK, Germany, New Zealand, the US, and Switzerland.

Notable increases in hotel bookings have been recorded in cities famous for their New Year's Eve celebrations. Sydney has experienced a 23% increase in bookings for the 28-31 December period, with London seeing an 18% rise compared to the previous year.

Trent Innes, Chief Growth Officer at SiteMinder, stated, "The Christmas holidays have always brought people together from around the world and it is pleasing to see that that will again be true this year. Our data not only shows that hotel bookings are up for that week, but that there is a strong return in international travel and travellers booking months in advance. Whether they are going home to see their families or to simply take a break in an exciting destination, travellers are set to bring in significant revenue for hotels towards the end of 2024 and hoteliers would do well to maximise their visits through memorable experiences."

SiteMinder's Changing Traveller Report 2025 reveals that two-thirds (65%) of travellers globally are now more likely to travel for events, with family reunions and celebrations being the most common reasons. While almost half (46%) intend to book standard-quality rooms, the majority are willing to spend more on key aspects, including extras like breakfast (47%), room size (30%), and views (28%). Furthermore, four-in-five travellers plan to seek out on-site experiences at their accommodation.