Youth Travelers' Lodging and Dining Preferences

Abstract

This exploratory study attempts to understand restaurant and accommodation preferences among young guests (operationally defined as between the ages of 15 and 25) visiting Switzerland on different travel budgets. The study first divides the target population into four categories of visitors: low, medium, medium-high, and high budget. It then evaluates the guests' preferences regarding restaurants and lodging facilities. All four categories perceive attractive prices as the most important attribute in choosing a restaurant. Travelers with high budget also consider speed of service as a pivotal factor. Independently of their budgets, youth guests want their accommodation to be clean and comfortable. Relevant marketing implications and suggestions for future studies are drawn in the conclusion section.