Four Trends for Beyond Revenge Travel 2.0
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | March 2nd, 2022
Although Pre-Pandemic Profitability Will Remain Elusive, the Industry Will Make Strides Toward Recovery in 2022
Fran Worrall | January 5th, 2022
U.S. Travel Reacts to Lifting of Travel Restrictions for Vaccinated International Travelers
U.S. Travel Association | September 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — September 20, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on today’s announcement that restrictions on international air travel will be lifted for vaccinated individuals: "The U.S. Travel Association applauds the Biden administration’s announcement of a roadmap to reopen air travel to vaccinated individuals from around the world, which will help revive the American economy and protect public health. "This is a major turning point in the management of the virus and will accelerate the recovery of the millions of travel-related jobs that have been lost due to inter...
U.S. Economy Faces Daily Loss of Nearly $198 Million Due to Travel Restrictions
WTTC | September 15, 2021
Miami, FL - September 15, 2021 - Latest research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on inbound international travel spend has found that the United States economy faces a daily potential loss of nearly $198 million should current border restrictions remain. Based on 2019 levels, of the top 20 most important markets in terms of inbound spending, less than half are currently granted access to the U.S., severely impacting the recovery of the country’s Travel & Tourism sector. Data is based on the inbound spending to the U.S. by countries that are still closed off to travel as listed by the Centers of Disease Con...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Fauci Comments on Domestic Travel Vaccine Mandates
U.S. Travel Association | September 14, 2021
WASHINGTON — September 14, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on comments made by White House Chief Medical Advisor to the President Dr. Anthony Fauci in support of a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel: The science—including studies from the Harvard School of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Defense—overwhelmingly points to the safety of air travel as long as masks are worn. And with the federal mask mandate for all forms of public transportation and U.S. airports extended through January 2022, proper tools are ...
Vaccine Tourism Is a Double-Edged Sword
GlobalData | September 9, 2021
Vaccine tourism, where tourist hotspots are now offering COVID-19 vaccinations on holiday to attract visitors, is a double-edged sword as, while it could assist travel’s restart, it also raises the question of vaccine equity as it will further increase the divide between the wealthy and less privileged, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. GlobalData’s Q2 2021 consumer survey found that only 6% of global respondents were not concerned about the impact of COVID-19*. The remaining 94% were ‘extremely’, ‘slightly’ or ‘quite’ concerned. With concerns high, the opportunity to get vaccinated has been seized by m...
U.S. Travel Reacts to CDC Guidance on Unvaccinated Travelers
U.S. Travel Association | September 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — September 2, 2021 — U.S. Travel Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation advising unvaccinated Americans to avoid Labor Day travel: “As Labor Day weekend approaches—a traditional peak for leisure travel—the CDC recommendation to unvaccinated individuals is a further reminder that vaccination is the fastest path to normalcy for all, including for widespread travel. The vaccines have proven safe and highly effective, and now with full FDA approval, there is no reason why anyone sh...
U.S. Travel Reacts to EU Travel Restriction Recommendation
U.S. Travel Association | August 31, 2021
WASHINGTON (August 31, 2021)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on news that the European Union recommends removing the United States from its list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted: “This is a disappointing development following the boost in inbound visitation by vaccinated travelers that many E.U. countries experienced this summer. It’s a setback despite the uptake in vaccinations—the tool that’s highly effective against the variants—which are on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic. “Travel is a cru...
Hotel Profit Climbs Higher, but Could Delta Derail It?
HotStats | August 31, 2021
Global hotel performance is improving month by month. That’s the good news. The more pressing concern is if it will remain that way. The hotel industry remains fragile, dodging each and every new impediment thrown its way. The newest snag has been the Delta variant, which has caused COVID cases to spike in many areas and thrown a wrench into the gradual rebound. Just this week, the European Union recommended that Americans be banned from nonessential travel to its member states after a rise in case counts in the U.S. This as the U.S. remains off limits to most European travelers. Still, the hotel industry presses forward. U.S. ...
Business Travel Continues Moving Forward but Uncertainty Around Variants Impacts More Accelerated Recovery
The Global Business Travel Association | August 27, 2021
Alexandria, VA – August 27, 2021 – The business travel industry continues to report an overall willingness and optimism about the return to business travel. However, the rise of the Delta variant and other variants has become a cause for uncertainty and increased concern over the past month. This is according to the latest poll from The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association and worldwide leader in education, research, networking, and advocacy for the industry. This poll is the 22nd in a series tracking the pulse of GBTA’s membership of ...
HSMAI Foundation Distributes Second Round of COVID Relief Grants to Hospitality Professionals Around the World
THE HSMAI FOUNDATION | August 27, 2021
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is supporting the hospitality industry by distributing a second round of COVID Relief Fund grants to hospitality professionals worldwide, bringing the total amount of grants to $170,000 distributed to nearly 400 recipients worldwide. The HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund was established in 2020 with the generous support of benefactors and individual donors. The fund provides HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to members and non-member industry professionals in need due to challenging circumstances related to the global pandemic. ...
U.S. Travel Statement on Extended Border Restrictions With Canada, Mexico
U.S. Travel Association | August 23, 2021
WASHINGTON — August 23, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the announcement that the United States has extended border restrictions on Mexico and Canada through at least September 21: “Travel restrictions are no longer protecting us from the virus – vaccines are. Every day that our land borders remain closed delays America’s economic and jobs recovery, causing greater damage to the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism. “For each month the status quo continues at the Canadian border, Ame...
Statement by U.S. Travel on Reported Extension of Mask Mandate
U.S. Travel Association | August 18, 2021
WASHINGTON — August 18, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Transportation Security Administration’s extension of the mask mandate through January 2022: “Extending the federal mask mandate for travel makes sense for the current health environment and has the travel industry’s full support. “The universal wearing of masks in airports and on airplanes, trains and other forms of public transportation is both an effective safeguard against spreading the virus and boosts public confidence in traveling—both of which are par...
A Small Hotel on the Frontlines With the Delta Variant
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | August 11, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky The delta variant is slowly but inevitably absorbing the news cycle heading into Autumn 2021 as cases swell across the world and governments take pre-emptive measures to stop a fourth wave of COVID-19 from triggering another round of economically harmful lockdowns. Even though all of us yearn for this pandemic to be over, sadly we’re still very much in uncharted water. Given this uncertainty, all hoteliers can really do is react and pivot as quickly as possible. Here is one such case study we’ve been authorized to report upon so that you can see how a small hotel handles the situation on the ground and i...
Statement by U.S. Travel on Canadian Land Border Reopening
U.S. Travel Association | August 10, 2021
WASHINGTON — August 10, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on today’s lifting of restrictions for fully vaccinated American travelers at the Canada land border: “Today, Canada begins welcoming fully vaccinated Americans back across the land border. This wise decision will spur the kind of economic recovery for our northern neighbor that’s critically needed on this side of the border as well." “Reopening the U.S. land border to fully vaccinated Canadians would mark a good starting point towards rebuilding our own travel economy, and the Biden administration should recipro...
AHLA Statement on COVID-19 Delta Variant and Updated CDC Mask Guidance
AHLA | August 5, 2021
WASHINGTON – August 5, 2021 – The following is a statement from Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, on updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) face-covering guidance due to the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. “As cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant continue to grow in the U.S., hotels will implement safety guidelines based off CDC guidance, and in accordance with state and local laws. As outlined by the CDC, the circumstances for a change in mask requirements are local, not national, and may be temporary depending upon location. Therefore, we encourage each hotel ...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Travel Ban Announcement
U.S. Travel Association | July 27, 2021
WASHINGTON — July 27, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s decision to uphold travel restrictions: “Covid variants are of concern, but closed borders have not prevented the Delta variant from entering the U.S. while vaccinations are proving incredibly durable to the virus’ evolution. This is why America’s travel industry is a vocal proponent of everyone getting a vaccine—it’s the surest and fastest path to normalcy for everyone. “While other nations, like Canada, the U.K. and much of the E.U....
International Travel Largely on Hold Despite Uptick in May
UNWTO | July 22, 2021
The biggest crisis in the history of tourism continues into a second year. Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85% below 2019 levels (or a 65% drop on 2020), UNWTO data shows. Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel. Meanwhile, domestic tourism continues to rebound in many parts of the world. The latest UNWTO data shows that over the first five months of the year, world destinations recorded 147 million fewer international arrivals (overnight visitors) compared to the same period of 2020, or 460...
Success in the Summer of ‘21
Robert Rauch | July 19, 2021
How To Welcome Post-Pandemic Travelers Back Into Hotels By Robert Rauch The venerable hotel industry has been completely overturned during the past 15 months. We will have to create a very different strategy to outperform the competition this summer. What are the dynamics of hospitality industry competition today and how can we put together a winning plan in time for the Summer of 2021? Today, a digital marketing strategy is an industry imperative and critical business solution in this digital age. Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow hotels and restaurants to engage guests and offer a highly personalized level of...
Approved Vaccine Inconsistency Could Delay the Restart of International Travel
UNWTO | July 15, 2021
London, UK - July 15, 2021 - The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The global tourism body, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognised and approved COVID-19 vaccines. This comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZenec...
Bleisure as Usual and Five Other Factors to Boost the Groups Segment
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | July 14, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Now firmly in summer and it’s safe to say that the leisure segment is back online from the druthers of 2020 – groups, not so much. While every hotelier wants meetings and events to strike back in a similar fashion, there are a few almost irreversible considerations for the post-pandemic groups landscape. Rather than try to make it 2019 again, the wise hotelier will accept these changes and pivot operations to meet the new types of demand that are emerging. For meetings and events, this will mean fewer large-scale conventions and open-for-all receptions, and more limited, invitation-only gatherings. Start...
The Post-Pandemic Hard Reset
Vikram Singh | July 13, 2021
By Vikram Singh I wrote two articles during the pandemic, one around the beginning and one in the middle. It’s time to complete the trilogy. Our industry has been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fundamentally change itself. How we market, price and operate hotel assets needs to evolve to meet the changing market landscape. Here are my thoughts on how to make real changes in order to embrace the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead. Embrace the Hard Reset The hotel and travel industry was ground zero for the impact of global lockdowns: the hard reset button on the entire industry was pressed. A hard reset on an electronic ...
Two Dozen Industry Groups Release Blueprint to Reopen International Travel
U.S. Travel Association | July 8, 2021
WASHINGTON — July 8, 2021 — A coalition of 24 trade organizations representing a large and diverse swath of the U.S. economy is renewing urgent calls to lift restrictions on international visitation to the United States, and on Wednesday released a policy blueprint for reopening borders safely. Called “A Framework to Safely Lift Entry Restrictions and Restart International Travel,” the document identifies policy principles for finally welcoming international visitors back to the United States while keeping health and safety as the top priority. “The travel industry agrees that being guided by the science is absolutely the corr...
Vaccines and Digital Solutions to Ease Travel Restrictions
UNWTO | July 7, 2021
The global vaccination rollout and increased adoption of digital solutions for safe travel should lead to a rise in international mobility over the weeks and months ahead, the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates. According to the newest edition of the Travel Restrictions Report from the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, as of 1 June, 29% of all destinations worldwide have their borders completely closed to international tourism. Of these, more than half have been completely closed to tourists for since May 2020 or longer, with the majority of these belonging to the Small Island Development States of...
Red Roof Announces an Accelerated Partnership With Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA to Assist Families in India Impacted by COVID
Red Roof | July 1, 2021
Columbus, Ohio - July 1, 2021 - Red Roof®, the leader in economy lodging, has announced the launch of a month-long fundraising campaign to accelerate its support for the work of Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA (LPS) and its Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA COVID Relief India Project 2021, as the organization works to provide support for hospitals in Gujarat, India province which have been impacted by the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic. The new campaign, which will run throughout the month of July, will be seeded by a Red Roof donation of $10,000. Red Roof will encourage its franchise partners, vendors, and the entire industry to join them...
Most Americans Willing to Disclose Vaccine Status to Businesses
SafetyCulture | June 23, 2021
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - June 23, 2021 - As the U.S. reopens, the majority of Americans (63%) say they are comfortable sharing their vaccine status with businesses, according to new research from SafetyCulture. Plus, 43% of Americans said they would have increased trust in organizations which require or request all entrants to share their inoculation status. SafetyCulture’s nationwide research of 1,000 U.S. consumers was developed in partnership with YouGov. The survey is a follow-up to its June 2020 research which assessed consumer comfort levels interacting with businesses across a variety of industries. Key research findings: Vaccina...
