Budget-conscious travelers can now enjoy luxury with the increasing popularity of resort day passes.

• Guests at hotels and resorts can utilize amenities without incurring the expense of reserving a room.
• According to the company, ResortPass has a 95% share of the day-guest market and has partnered with over 1,300 luxury hotels, including the Waldorf-Astoria, JW Marriott, and Fontainebleau.

Lora Bowler, an avid traveler, is reducing her vacation expenses without giving up on resort visits.

The New York resident, who had anticipated spending less in 2023, ended up overspending, particularly on travel. Now, she is cutting back on expenses by using travel hacks and benefits, as well as opting for hotel day passes for relaxation.

"Bowler described it as a luxurious retreat, but unfortunately, it's beyond his financial means to remain there."

Guests at hotels and resorts can utilize amenities without reserving a room. Bowler has reserved daybeds and poolside services and also found a pass that provides a room for her husband to work from his laptop.

Luxury day passes are becoming more accessible through hotels and third-party partners to bridge the gap between travel-oriented consumers and high prices.

The cost of a typical luxury hotel room in the U.S. between January 1st and April 6th was approximately $400 per night, according to CoStar, a global provider of real estate data, analytics, and news. This represents an increase of roughly 1% compared to the same period last year.

Virtuoso predicts that luxury hotel room rates in July 2021 will be 85% more expensive than in July 2019, the month before the Covid pandemic.

"Hayley Berg, lead economist with travel site Hopper, stated that people are now focusing on travel budgets and prioritizing spending on vacations over consumer goods."

Over 60% of respondents in a July 2023 survey by Booking.com stated that their cost of living would influence their travel planning in 2024, while approximately half said they were likely to pay for accommodation upgrades.

Nearly 28,000 adults from 33 countries who planned to travel over the next 12-24 months said a majority of U.S. travelers would be willing to pay for day passes to use the amenities in a five-star hotel without staying there, according to a Booking.com press release about the survey.

After Covid restrictions were lifted, consumers who spent money on travel splurges contributed to the "revenge travel" trend, according to Berg. However, she stated that this trend has now ended, and many travelers are operating with limited budgets.

According to Berg, the day passes "offer people precisely what they desire" and generate a distinct source of income for hotels.

"By offering what they already provide, hotels can increase their revenue," she stated.

The Virgin Hotels New York City, located in Manhattan's Koreatown neighborhood, opened its rooftop pool for the second time on May 8, allowing day guests to utilize the amenity.

The Empire State Building and city skyline can be viewed from the pool, which has cerulean blue tiles and black-and-white lounge chairs.

Customers can reserve a pool lounge chair or upgrade to a cabana and invite up to four other people. The cabana comes with complimentary services and refreshments such as wine and fruit. Day-pass users at the pool club can also get their own personalized server, depending on their selections. A day pass for the pool club starts at $130.

Sarah Payton, the hotel's head of partnerships and programming, stated that "everyone requires a small amount of respite."

In May 2023, the hotel collaborated with ResortPass, a platform that offers day-pass access to luxury hotels, resorts, and spas at discounted rates.

Since its launch in 2016, ResortPass has dominated the day-guest market with a 95% share, and has formed partnerships with over 1,300 luxury hotels, including the Waldorf-Astoria, JW Marriott, and Fontainebleau.

Over 3 million users have utilized the day-guest platform, which now offers day-pass access in over 250 cities at competitive prices, including options as low as $25.

"ResortPass CEO Michael Wolf stated, "We allow individuals to experience a more local escape without physically leaving, which complements other forms of travel and may replace them.""

ResortPass customers typically spend around $165 on all-day access, and they tend to spend more on hotel amenities like the pool compared to overnight guests, according to Wolf.

On average, our guests spent over $250 on the property, with some spending even more.

ResortPass is developing a membership program for frequent day pass users, with an announcement scheduled for later in 2024, as stated by Wolf.