Travellers are bringing back more than just memories from holidays, with a majority (73%) saying they look for and gain inspiration for their own home from what they have seen in properties they have stayed in. And I can’t say I’m surprised as I’ve often done the same myself!
I (Interiors Addict founder Jen Bishop) recently worked with Booking.com on their Holiday Home Outlook Report: The Design Edition, which surveyed over 1,000 Australian holiday seekers in August 2024. This year’s report saw me weigh in on the findings alongside real estate guru and Selling Houses Australia host Andrew Winter, and interior designer and host of Australia’s Best Home, Brie Turton. The report unpacks the booking decision-making process, from general factors through to more aesthetic preferences.
My husband and I have become huge fans of a domestic break staying in a holiday home as it really suits us with two young kids. We don’t want the hassle of the airport and one hotel room with two kids is a little, shall we say, claustrophobic! The boys need space to play and separate bedrooms are always a nice luxury (they’re too young to be in a separate hotel room to us).
Countless times I’ve come home from our mini breaks with design ideas or a shopping list of things I’ve loved in a holiday home! It’s probably not surprising when I’m definitely also one of those people for whom the interior is important when I’m booking. Just like in my own home, I am at my most happy and relaxed when the aesthetic is just so! I also love experiencing a different kind of home to my own when I’m on a break, because why wouldn’t you? It’s the perfect opportunity to try something new.
There’s an ongoing strong demand for holiday homes this summer, with 75% of Australians (the equivalent of 14.9 million people) saying they intend to choose this accommodation type when taking a domestic trip. Three in ten (31%) reveal that they stay in holiday homes regularly, including 10% indicating they always stay in a holiday home. A majority of travellers (76%) say that they use holiday homes as a base to explore the surrounding destinations, with almost a quarter (24%) booking a holiday home with the intention to spend most of their time inside the property itself.
A majority of travellers (85%) say they make a booking based on the interiors of a home, vs its exterior (15%). The report looked at key elements within home interiors, including styles (overall interior design of the home) and features (what’s actually inside).
As a nation that loves the outdoors, it’s no surprise that travellers are drawn to outdoor living spaces and layouts. A majority (77%) stated the number one reason they would book a holiday home over another is if it had better outdoor living spaces such as a terrace, balcony or courtyard.
Australiana extends to preferred exterior design styles, with ‘Contemporary Australian’ homes (47%), followed by the classic ‘Queenslander’ (40%) and ‘20th-Century Modern’ (39%) as the most appealing architectural styles. In terms of home types, the quintessential Aussie ‘beach house’ remains the most desirable holiday home for the second year in a row for half of travellers (50%), followed by ‘country cottages’ (37%) and ‘city apartments’ (35%).
Todd Lacey, regional manager Oceania, at Booking.com, said: “We understand that many elements need to come together to create a seamless holiday home experience and we hope that this report provides insight into travellers’ ideal bookings, whilst engendering positive discussions about alternative accommodations, a sector that plays an important role within Australia’s tourism landscape.
“These findings present an opportunity for owners to learn more about why Aussies book homes, and what’s popular for their next holiday. Booking.com’s overarching aim is to provide customers with the widest choice and diversity of great stays all in one place. Of the 29 million total reported listings on Booking.com, we are proud that more than 7.8 million listings are homes.”
The research was commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted by YouGov among a sample of holiday seekers across Australia. The holiday seeker is defined as all consumers 18+. The sample comprised a total national representative sample of 1,000 respondents. The study was conducted online between 21 August to 29 August 2024.
