7 Things that Cruise Ships Can Teach the Hospitality Industry

AUSTIN, Texas - April 19, 2023 - PRLog -- As the Covid pandemic recedes into the rear-view mirror, we are getting a clearer picture of which hospitality trends will predominate in 2023.

As it turns out, whether by careful design or lucky coincidence, the cruise ship industry is hitting all the right notes in hospitality at the moment – to the point that property developers, urban designers, venue managers, hoteliers, and restauranteurs would do well to pay close attention to the in-demand amenities and entertainment programs offered on cruise ships.

In this article, we'll look at seven things that cruise ships can teach the hospitality industry.

1. The Importance Of The 20-Minute Proximity Circle

You can certainly be excused if cruise ships don't come first of mind when you think of excellence in urban planning – but we're here to set the record straight.

The newest generation cruise ships, such as the Celebrity Beyond, are essentially small cities on the water, offering unparalleled, best-in-class access to a vast array of hospitality amenities and activity choices – all within a 20-minute walking circle – which has become the holy grail metric for urban planners seeking to create a lively streetscape.

In fact, these large, modern cruise ships serve as an idealized model for building modern "entertainment districts"— by combining central "streetscapes" with social gathering spaces, entertainment venues, pools, gyms, spas, sit-down and casual restaurants, art galleries, gambling halls, retail shops, museum exhibitions, and cultural events – all within easy walking distance to residential living units, e.g. the cabins and staterooms on board the cruise ship.

Land-based property developers are seeking to create a similar high-density hospitality environment that creates the "buzz" that drives traffic and makes living in these areas so attractive.

Residential housing is the key element for creating the "20 Minute Proximity Circle" – in response, many land-based property developers are now seeking to revise local zoning laws to make it easier to convert under-utilized office space into residential units.

Other land-based hospitality sectors are seeking to enhance activity at the street level. For example, many restaurants are petitioning to retain the expanded sidewalk seating areas granted during the social distancing era of the pandemic to create a busy, inviting streetscape.

Hoteliers are also seeing an opportunity to create more informal social spaces to service the needs of the local community.

And the flexible workspace provider Industrious, under the leadership of Jamie Hodari, is seeking to bring branded amenities, such as shared restaurant access.

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