REVEALED: Irish travellers' top demand when booking a hotel, and it may surprise you

A recent survey has shed light on what truly matters to Irish holidaymakers when booking a hotel and the results might surprise you! 

In a time when travel options are endless and consumer expectations are higher than ever, this research by Savills Ireland, one of the world's leading property agents, reveals a clear frontrunner in the minds of Irish travellers. 

64% of Irish adults now rank high-speed wireless internet as their top hotel must-have, with this survey signalling a shift away from the typical attitude of 'getting away from it all' when on holiday. 

Alongside digital expectations, the survey also highlights a growing demand among younger generations for hotels to demonstrate clear sustainability credentials.

However, despite growing awareness, sustainability is still not a major deciding factor for the general Irish public when booking hotels. In-fact, 43% of men and 39% of women say sustainability doesn’t influence their decision when booking a hotel.

The nationwide study, carried out by iReach on behalf of Savills, among 1,000 adults found that while Gen Z leads demand for both Wi-Fi (74%) and environmental action, older generations are more focused on comfort than climate.

However, Wi-Fi is a top-three must-have across all age groups, with surprisingly 71% of Boomers (55 years old and above) nearly matching Gen Z, indicating strong digital adoption among older travellers.

49% of Boomers said hotel sustainability efforts do not influence their booking decisions, compared to just 28% of Gen Z (and approximately 38% of millennials and Gen x respondents).

Tom Barrett, Director of Hotels and Leisure at Savills Ireland commented on the findings: “High-speed wireless is now the top hotel must-have of Irish adults today – suggesting that not many truly 'switch off' while away from home. While this is perhaps unsurprising for Gen Z, who grew up in a digital-first world, it’s striking to see older generations just as attached to connectivity.

“Irish guests definitely expect hotels to deliver on digital fronts. But while high-speed Wi-Fi has become non-negotiable for most, there’s a clear generational and gender divide when it comes to the value people place on green credentials," he concluded. 

READ MORE: Met Éireann pinpoints location of thunderstorms amid 25 degree heatwaves

When asked which amenities were most important in a hotel stay, Irish adults ranked their top three must-haves as high-speed Wi-Fi (64%), on-site dining options (61%) and having a swimming pool (48%).

The least important amenities to the Irish public were event or meeting spaces (3%), kids clubs (8%) and concierge services (13%). 

Room service (25%) was also considered more essential than a gym or fitness centre (16%), according to the research conducted. 

The Savills survey reveals key generational contrasts in expectations, showing that Gen Z are most likely to want room service (39%) and concierge services (27%), at more than double the rate of Gen X and Boomers. Swimming pools also appeal more to Gen Y and Gen X (both over 50%) than to Gen Z (22%).

“We assume Gen Z are the digital generation, but Boomers are just as reliant on connectivity, if not more so,” added Mr Barrett.

The Savills survey also uncovered distinct differences between men and women, with men being twice as likely to prioritise a gym or fitness centre (21% vs 12%) whereas women place more value on on-site dining (67%) and swimming pools (55%).

Among respondents who do factor in sustainability, certain green initiatives were more influential:

• Locally sourced/organic food – 32%: More popular with women (35%) than men (30%)
• Use of renewable energy – 29%: Favoured by 35% of men versus 29% of women
• Support for local communities – 27%: Broad appeal across demographics
• Waste reduction programmes – 24%; 29% of women considered this important vs just 17% of men
• Ban on single-use plastics – 23%: Stronger concern among women (29%) than men (17%)
• Water-saving initiatives (e.g. low-flow showers) were cited by just over one in five respondents

At the lower end, sustainable building materials and net-zero emissions policies were only important to 15% of respondents.

Barrett went on to say: “These figures show that while awareness is growing, particularly among younger guests, many still prioritise price and comfort over sustainability, especially in older and rural demographics.”