Trip Stacking: The new emerging trend.

Booking trips are always complicated. There are a lot of things to be taken into consideration and also there’s a chance that you might miss your trip. To avoid such happening, people are following a new trend which is Trip Stacking. Find out more about what is Trip Stacking and in what way it can impact both travelers and hotel owners.  

Trip stacking refers to the practice in which travelers book two or three separate trips that are flexible and refundable. Travelers can categorize their trips in multiple ways such as Trip A which can be the riskiest option such as international trips. Trip B can be a domestic option that can be affordable. Trip C can be dependable on multiple persons. The idea behind this practice is if one trip fails due to climatic conditions or any other restrictions then there is always a backup.

Trip stacking refers to the practice in which travelers book two or three separate trips that are flexible and refundable. Travelers can categorize their trips in multiple ways such as Trip A which can be the riskiest option such as international trips. Trip B can be a domestic option that can be affordable. Trip C can be dependable on multiple persons. The idea behind this practice is if one trip fails due to climatic conditions or any other restrictions then there is always a backup.

The trip stacking first started to pick up when Western countries started to lift the Covid 19 restrictions. Some destinations were open to travel while some were closed. This created uncertainty among the travellers hence they opted for this method.

Successful trip stacking required a gamble. Travelers need to carefully analyze whether their bookings are refundable and how much their arrangements are flexible.
But, booking multiple trips means spending way more than required. Of course, wealthier travelers can make the best use of this practice. Travelers need to prepare themselves for the delay in refunds.

The travelers can have peace of mind since they have multiple confirmed trips lined up. This ensures that if they deliberately have to cancel one trip then they always have a backup in hand. In this way, their arrangements won’t go in vain.
Trip Stacking is also beneficial for travel agents and tour operators. They can charge additional commission on multiple bookings and guests’ cancellations won’t affect them.

Cancellation Fees: During your vacation, there can be any circumstances in which you need to cancel your bookings. It can be due to personal reasons or any other restrictions. As in trip stacking, travelers have always to cancel one of their trips, prior due diligence regarding the refund and cancellation policies is a must.

Non-Refundable bookings: Many travel providers offer non-refundable accommodations at lower prices. If you do such bookings and have to cancel one or more of them, you may not be able to cover that loss.

Travel Insurance Coverage: Many Insurance companies provide coverage for unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost baggage. However, not all travel insurance companies cover trip stacking or overlapping itineraries.

 

How to manage the risks of trip Stacking?

• Research and understand the cancellation policies of hotels and travel providers.
• Choose flexible fares and accommodations that allow changes and modifications.
• Purchase reliable travel insurance that covers trip cancellations, interruptions, and overlapping itineraries. 
• Plan your budget for additional expenses like alternative accommodations or extra transportation.

Revenue Loss: More booking means more revenue for the hotel. When these bookings are canceled, they can lead to a direct loss in revenue generation. If the bookings are canceled close to the scheduled arrival 

Operational Efficiency: Whenever a booking arrives, the hotels need to make proper arrangements for their guests. This requires proper staff management, prior maintenance of rooms and amenities, and many more. Regular bookings help hotel staff to plan their operations efficiently. Too many cancellations can result in the underutilization of staff which can lead to increased costs.

Revenue Management: Moreover, managing funds will be more challenging as guests will be expecting early refunds. If this trend of canceling bookings continues, the hoteliers will have to make changes in their refund policies. 

The hoteliers have to opt for more flexible PMS systems in which they can easily manage the refund policies and manage refund rules for their properties. 

Management Strategies: As frequent cancellation has become a trend, the hotel needs to come up with different strategies to fill the gap which takes more time and effort of the hotel management staff. 

As we have discussed in the above sections that trip stacking has emerged due to the unique conditions of the pandemic, it is assumed that this temporary trend may be discounted once all the restrictions are relaxed. However, as in trips unexpected things can happen this trip’s stacking trend may last longer than we expected.

Trip Stacking is no doubt a smart way to explore multiple multiple destinations and make the most of your travel. However, it’s important to understand the risks. Trip Stacking may exist in the future as traveling to some place is better no traveling at all.

I hope you liked my article about Trip Stacking and its impact on hoteliers and travelers.

If you are a hotelier looking for a solution to manage your hotel efficiently, try QloApps- A free Hotel Reservation System. 

Also, if you want to share your thoughts or ask any queries, please connect with us on our QloApps forum.