As spring fades away and the school year wraps up, many people start thinking about traveling and summer vacations.

A crucial aspect of any vacation is lodging — where you'll sleep, dine, relax by the pool or maybe indulge in a spa treatment. Influenced by social media, advancements in technology and cultural trends, travelers are driving what hotels and resorts offer to attract guests. This is affecting construction projects in the hospitality sector, as property owners strive to keep up with the latest travel trends for 2025.

Here’s a look at six current tourism trends and how they are driving hospitality construction. 

In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, proprietors understand that renovating facilities enhances the guest experience by keeping their properties fresh and appealing to the ever-discerning traveler. Generally, major brand-name hotels refresh their spaces every five to seven years to stay competitive in a dynamic market. In between those renovation cycles, some owners choose to add additional meeting space, new restaurants and bars, and even pool and water park amenities.

According to Lodging Econometrics, the United States is expected to see between 300,000 and 400,000 hotel rooms renovated and converted in 2025. As of January 2025, an estimated 127,000 hotel rooms were already undergoing renovations. These updates are not just about aesthetics; they are also driven by advancements in automation and sustainable technology. Innovations such as mobile keys, apps that assist with the check-in process, LED lighting, and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems are becoming standard features in modern hotel rooms, and property owners must keep pace.

These efforts often fall under the property owner’s Property Improvement Plans or Capital Expenditures, which reflect a strategic commitment by hospitality owners to keep their properties thriving and relevant. By introducing new amenities and offerings, owners aim to provide guests a better experience, drive revenue and maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

“Renovations offer a marketplace  advantage for owners who wish to maintain the guest experience their property is known for, while refreshing the spaces and integrating new technology,” says Julio Vasquez, a construction manager who has worked in PCL’s Nordic Hawaii and California offices. Vasquez previously oversaw a significant renovation at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawaii’s Big Island. “Our clients are adding diverse amenities to keep guests coming back,” says Vasquez. For example, the team is installing multiple retail locations and a variety of dining options on the property. These spaces are designed to be flexible and easily adaptable to changing technology, so that properties can be updated as needed.

Over the past five years, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions have significantly impacted the construction industry. One way to mitigate these challenges is for contractors to self-perform essential scopes, which offers builders better control over quality, scheduling and workforce management.

“For some of the massive, high-profile resorts that we build, self-performing major scopes like concrete can be critical to its success,” says David Keeler, a PCL senior project manager who has overseen major hospitality projects like the Conrad Orlando and The Flats at Evermore Orlando Resort, completed in 2024. PCL’s self-perform expertise proved to be beneficial on the project — the team trained craft employees to self-perform some finishing scopes, such as carpentry, as well. “When you have the skills and the labor to self-perform, you can help ensure both schedule and quality which is a win-win for us and our clients,” says Keeler.

As the effects of climate change become more evident, sustainability has become a key decision-making factor for travelers. In 2024, an annual study by Booking.com revealed that 75% of global travelers were interested in more sustainable travel. This included choosing lower-emission flights, prioritizing hotels with higher sustainability ratings, and seeking meaningful experiences that connect them with local cultures and environments without causing disruption. In fact, the global sustainable tourism market is projected to be valued at $11.4 trillion by 2032. It was valued at valued at $3.3 trillion in 2022.

To cater to these preferences, hospitality properties are building new projects or renovating existing ones to meet eco-certifications such as LEED, WELL and Green Globe. These certifications allow them to showcase their commitment to sustainability and attract the growing segment of environmentally conscious travelers.  Many resorts and hotels now highlight their green practices, offering eco-friendly features like water conservation, energy-efficient lighting, waste reduction, and sustainable energy systems such as photovoltaics and geothermal energy.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island, exemplifies eco-driven hospitality. The original Kona Village operated from 1965 until 2011, when a tsunami caused extensive damage, leaving the property vacant for over a decade. After extensive renovations completed by Nordic PCL, the resort reopened in 2023 as a LEED Gold property. It is now entirely powered by photovoltaic panels and features an onsite wastewater treatment plant. The reuse of wastewater for irrigation and the installation of low-flow fixtures has significantly reduced Kona Village's reliance on potable water from existing sources.  

Travelers are increasingly taking relaxation and rejuvenation to the extreme, opting for hotels and resorts equipped with advanced wellness amenities. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness tourism market is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2025, growing at an annual rate of over 10% since 2019. For hotel owners, this trend necessitates the design and construction of facilities that promote guests' mental and physical well-being through upscale fitness centers, nutritious food and beverage options, and cutting-edge technologies such as infrared saunas, hyperbaric chambers, IV therapy and medical-grade aesthetic procedures once exclusive to celebrities.

“The wellness market has seen exponential growth in recent years. For many of the properties we develop, wellness is about creating environments that leave visitors feeling better than if they had stayed at home,” says Caleigh Raymer, preconstruction director for PCL’s California Buildings. “Our aim is to build facilities that enhance the surroundings, ensuring a healthier and more rejuvenating experience for everyone who enters."

Technology has become a seamless part of any journey, making the experience smoother and more personalized for travelers from check-in to check-out. A significant 75% of Millennial and Gen Z hotel guests say they are more likely to stay at hotels offering self-service technology.

Whether through renovations or new builds, integrating advanced technology is critical for many hospitality proprietors. Automated check-ins, keyless entry, automated check-ins and keyless entry are becoming commonplace, with some properties now experimenting with generative AI capabilities that respond to voice commands to make restaurant reservations or control room settings. With technology constantly evolving, it is essential for hotels and resorts to not only upgrade their technology but also ensure adaptability for future innovations.

“Our clients are really thinking outside the box with what they can put into their properties to ensure their guests have the latest and greatest technology,” says Julio Vasquez, a PCL construction manager. “One of our jobs is to ensure these spaces have the capacity to easily be adapted to changing technology offerings.”

Traveling in large groups is becoming more popular, whether it's for multi-generational family vacations, corporate retreats, or events like concerts and sporting events. According to American Express Travel’s 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, more travelers than ever are planning to bring extended family members on vacations and 81% of travelers prefer destinations that are family-centric and offer activities for all ages. This trend is pushing hotel owners to develop facilities that can accommodate large groups and diverse interests.

One example is the Evermore Orlando Resort, which includes The Flats and the Conrad Orlando hotel. The Flats include four-bedroom, four-bathroom condos designed specifically for large groups.

“At Evermore, guests can host weddings or events in the Conrad Orlando conference areas, all while large groups, including multiple generations of families, can stay at The Flats next door,” says David Keeler, a PCL senior project manager. “This property was really designed to support group travel.”

Properties like Evermore are designed to cater to groups of all ages, incorporating adult-only pools and bars alongside kid-friendly spaces.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, hotel and resort owners must keep pace with industry trends and guest expectations to ensure long-term success in a competitive market. By collaborating with contractors who understand the complex and fluid nature of the hospitality industry, owners can ensure their properties cater to the diverse preferences of modern travelers.