Hospitality Daily Podcast Beyond Instagrammable: Why Travelers Are Rejecting Staged Hospitality - Abdul Baaghil
Mar 6, 2025
Abdul Baaghil, co-founder of Harvest Cottontail, dives into the growing demand for authenticity in travel. He discusses how high-net-worth travelers now seek emotional connections and real cultural experiences over staged luxury. The conversation highlights the pivotal role independent hotels play in offering unique stays that reflect local richness. Baaghil also tackles the balance between technology and genuine human interaction in hospitality, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and effective email marketing to enhance guest relationships.
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Authenticity over Instagrammability
- Travelers are seeking authentic, unscripted experiences.
- They are tired of staged, Instagrammable moments and want genuine connections.
Connecting with the Local Culture
- High-net-worth individuals seek emotional connections with locals and destinations.
- They buy local goods, stay for extended periods, and desire unscripted experiences to create their own stories.
Support Independent Hotels
- Support independent and boutique hotels that offer unscripted experiences.
- This helps prevent large chains from monopolizing the market and ensures authenticity remains.