All-inclusive resort bookings are booming

Those “are these hot dogs or legs?” photos are set to have a huge comeback, as interest in all-inclusive resorts is booming for this summer. Historically popular with budget travelers, the all-inclusive vacation is now appealing to higher-income travelers and families looking for luxury at a fixed cost without surprises.Whether it’s wanting a break from being subject to how inflation has jacked up the cost of a strawberry daiquiri, or simply the joy of not having to plan four kid-friendly dinner outings, travelers are increasingly booking the worry-free getaways. Hotels.com said that searches for all-inclusive resorts from the start of this year through June 1 jumped 70% compared to last year. And hotel chains are taking note:Hyatt’s reported revenue from its all-inclusive portfolio in the Americas grew 8.6% last year, and occupancy for these resorts was at 84% for the first three months of this year.Marriott said it would double its footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America to nearly 1,000 properties by 2030. At least 13 of those are unique, luxury, all-inclusive resorts.Some all-inclusives now cater to high-income vacationers with amenities like private butlers, Bloomberg noted.Once people get there, they usually want to return. According to a recent study commissioned by Hyatt Inclusive Collection for Skift, 84% of people who have stayed at an all-inclusive resort were repeat visitors, while 45% of travelers said they had stayed at an all-inclusive spot at least four times.—MM