AHLA Archives - The Travel Vertical

Elvis Tribute Artist and a Hot Dog King Cheer On International Tourism and Experts Chime In, Too

November 9, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

America Is Open for Business

It’s been 602 days. Who’s counting? Everybody.

In Las Vegas, Elvis tribute artist Travis Allen is back on the job. Bliss Wedding Chapel already has new bookings from 23 couples traveling from France, Germany, Brazil and the U.K. Two weeks ago, owner Brandon Reed says there were zero weddings on the books.

In New York City in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, Don Rossi’s street cart is open for business. Before the pandemic, he sold up to 500 hot dogs per day, which fell as low as 10 hot dogs during the height of the pandemic. The self-proclaimed Hot Dog King welcomes back the international visitors that he calls his “lifeblood.” (Source: USA Today)

Fully vaccinated international visitors from 33 countries are required to show official proof and a recent negative viral test. The airlines are responsible for verification.

The top-booked destinations for overseas travelers in November are New York, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Francisco, in that order, per Travelport data, with Brits emerging as the “most eager to get back to U.S. cities.”

It’s a welcome sign of recovery for the U.S. travel industry, which has seen flight bookings to and within the country rise to 70% of pre-pandemic levels, Bloomberg reports.

Excitement for Nov. 8 has been building overseas, with airlines reporting sold-out flights on Monday.

In London, the moment saw rivalry put aside as two flights from Heathrow simultaneously took off from parallel runways at 8:30 a.m. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic A350s orchestrated a first-ever double historic departure for JFK International Airport.

Just in time for the holidays. Congestion is expected as the U.S. opens back up. “It’s going to be a bit sloppy first,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said. “There will be lines, unfortunately.”

Increased wait time is also expected at border crossings. Closer to home, Mexican and Canadian visitors will be able to drive to the U.S. for non-essential purposes for the first time in 20 months, and some cars were lining up at the northern border over the weekend.

Visit Rochester‘s Rachel Laber Pulvino spoke on-air with Global News Toronto about “Bordering On,” a new campaign targeted at Canadians from New York State’s third-largest city, just 90 minutes’ drive from Canada and three hours from Toronto.

In Minnesota, Gov. Walz proclaimed Nov. 8, 2021 as “Canadian Travelers Day.” To mark the re-opening of international land borders to vaccinated travelers, a press conference highlighted the importance of Canada to Minnesota’s economy, along with travel marketing efforts to welcome back the state’s neighbors to the north.

Good news came from the busy San Ysidro Port of Entry. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, “Border reopens smoothly to cheers, hugs and tearful reunions.” Before the reopening, “On Sunday night, hundreds of cars formed lines stretching back miles into Tijuana waiting for the clock to strike midnight, as tourists planned to cross into San Diego during the first hour of eased restrictions. Many said they used that strategy to try to avoid the peak rush-hour traffic later Monday morning.” However, “the milestone moment came with shorter lines and less traffic than anticipated, leaving international land travelers pleasantly surprised.

Latest Recovery News From Industry Movers & Shakers

Tripadvisor: CEO Steve Kaufer will leave his position in 2022, it was announced this week. “Steve Kaufer had a good run,” writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal at Skift, “transforming a company with a small office over a pizza shop in Massachusetts 20 years ago into a global, household name brand. The issue for Tripadvisor isn’t who will replace Kaufer, but what innovations will it take to revive the company.”

YouGov: A new survey reveals that about one in five global consumers believes that celebrity and influencer endorsements are effective in travel advertising (18%). In a list of 11 retail categories asked about in 17 global markets, travel came in sixth. Indians and Chinese are among those most impressed; Brits, French, Italians, Swedes and Americans among those least. Download the report here.

Hopper: Since the re-opening of U.S. borders was announced in late September, travel app Hopper has seen international flight searches to the U.S. spike 338% for trips after 8 November.

ADARA: Thanksgiving Travel Trends Report: The upcoming holiday is demonstrating the best performance yet. Hotel bookings are within 6% of 2019’s level. Trip length patterns are reverting to norm while some traveler segments are splurging like never before.

Download the US Hotel Bookings Report to find out key traveler trends for the upcoming holiday season based on data from Aug. 15 to Oct. 7 comparing the booking and searching pace to the same period in both 2020 and 2021.

STR and Tourism Economics upgraded the hotel industry forecast for 2022 during this week’s NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. The experts are now forecasting U.S. hotel demand to reach “near full recovery” in 2022. Previously, they had forecast that demand would not fully recover until 2023.

Marriott International: The world’s largest hotel company reported improvement in the third quarter, as did CEOs from other large hotel chains. Group room revenues for the quarter were down 46% versus the same period in 2019. That’s a significant improvement over the second quarter 2021, which saw a decline of 76% versus the same period in 2019. Average daily rates for groups are up.

Hyatt: The company’s largest corporate accounts have grown by 50% since June and cancellations caused by delta variant in late summer leveled off and decreased in October.

Hilton: Leisure travel remained strong and business travel continued to pick up during the third quarter. Hilton experienced significant improvement in its results as compared to the same periods in 2020, due to an upward trend in travel and tourism. Certain hotels suspended operations at various times throughout 2020, but the majority of those hotels have reopened.

Airbnb: Following a busy summer, Airbnb’s revenue for the period ending Sept. 30 beat forecasts at $2.2 billion, up 67% from the same period in 2020 and surpassing 2019 third quarter revenue by 36%.

CEO Brian Chesky commented during the earnings call that, “Something bigger than a travel rebound is happening. The world is undergoing a revolution of how we live and work. For the first time ever, people can travel any time, anywhere, for any length, and live on Airbnb. This trend towards more flexibility will only accelerate.”

Pointing to work policies at some of the world’s largest companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble, and Amazon, Chesky said remote flexibility policies are evidence that this trend is here to stay.

On the international travel front, Airbnb has seen U.S. searches increase by 50% and bookings by foreign guests go up 44%. The most popular destinations are Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, and the South Florida Atlantic Coast for guests primarily traveling from London, Paris, Santiago, Toronto, and Vancouver.

AHLA: Considering the high price of gas, there’s a damper on road trips for Thanksgiving, according to a new national survey conducted by Morning Consult for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Expedia Group Media Solutions: The Q3 Travel Recovery Trend Report indicates that the industry is maintaining its momentum, search volumes are holding steady, and search windows are shortening. Holiday bookings are up by double digits and business travel is on the rise.

On a regional level, New York City leads the list for top 10 destinations by bookings from both global and North American-based markets. Starred cities indicate those new to the list this quarter.

Business travel demand in Q3 was up more than 40% quarter-over-quarter and up more than 110% compared to Q3 2020. Chicago and New York were among the top four booked destinations for business travelers globally .

Download the full report.

Trip Stacking is a Thing, Airfares Fall for Fall + More Travel News Items

September 7, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Double (Triple?) Booking

You can’t be in Oahu and Orlando at the same time. But, have you heard of “trip stacking”? You will. Travelers are hedging their bets, taking actions to ensure they go on vacation. The new trend is known as “trip stacking” and is reportedly driving up prices.

“Trip stacking” is when a traveler plans multiple trips over the same period of time in case one trip gets canceled due to the pandemic. The trend allows travelers to choose which trip they are more comfortable taking as the vacation date nears.

“…Unlike making three or four dinner reservations and then deciding hours before where you want to go based on appetite or convenience, trip stacking will cause prices on airlines and hotels to go up for everyone,” said Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO of travel technology company HotelPlanner, as quoted by CNBC. “Unlike restaurants, hotels and airlines yield their prices up as occupancy levels increase.”

Corporate Travel

Two separate studies reveal similar findings.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the results of a mid-August national survey on the current pandemic sentiment conducted by Morning Consult. Among business travelers, 67% indicated they are likely to take fewer trips and 68% plan to take shorter trips. Press release here.

Looking at the long-term, business travel budgets may be changed forever, indicates Bloomberg, citing a survey of 45 companies across the US, Europe and Asia. Eighty-four percent of respondents are planning to spend less on travel. These global companies are signaling that innovative new communications tools are making many pre-pandemic trips unnecessary.

“That’s a blow to the airline and hospitality industries — already among the biggest casualties of the pandemic. Business travelers, who buy premium-class or more-expensive refundable tickets, rang in as much as three-quarters of airlines’ pre-pandemic profits while accounting for only 12% of seats, according to PwC. The hotels sector, which draws about two-thirds of its revenue from business travelers, could see a dip of as much as 18% by 2022 as virtual meetings replace 27% of corporate travel volumes, a Morgan Stanley study shows.”

Conventions & Meetings

On the positive side, Destination Analysts‘ survey findings for the week of Sept. 6, 2021 indicates: “The appeal of out-of-state business trips and convention travel has improved among employed American travelers relative to early this year. Now 45.7% of employed American travelers says they would be happy to take an out-of-state business trip in the next six months, up from 39.5% the week of April 12th. Also on the rise since April is the appeal of attending in-person group meetings. Now 40.4% would be happy to do so, up from 37.9% the week of April 12th.

In fact, one-in-five employed American travelers now plans to attend a convention, conference or other group meeting sometime in the remainder of 2021, with October appearing to be the peak month for this trip type.” More here.

Airfares Fall This Fall

As the summer closes, airlines are facing a shortage of business travelers that would normally help fill the gap until the Thanksgiving or Christmas travel season. Airfares are estimated to drop 10% into September with the average round-trip flight costing $260 for domestic travel.

United Airlines showed just how low airfares can be with $113 roundtrip fares between New York City and Los Angeles from late September to November, quickly matched by JetBlue Airways. Source: Business Insider (via Travel Smart News)

Sweeter Than Maple Syrup

Think Vermont. The Green Mountain state’s Department of Economic Development is offering $7,500 as a relocation incentive to attract labor.

To be eligible for the grant, out-of-staters must have moved to Vermont on or after July 1, 2021 and become a full-time employee of a Vermont employer in a role that has been listed by the state’s Department of Labor as most in-demand. The list of 50 jobs includes anything from fast-food, restaurant, and retail workers to construction and farm workers. Workers must also earn a living wage or above, which is currently $13.39 an hour. Full requirements here.

On Route 66

In southwest Missouri, an investigation is underway into a possible misappropriation of funds by the Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau. Meanwhile, the city has cancelled its CVB contracts—one at $60K for social media and public relations management and another $100K as the recipient of city lodging tax revenue. Executive Director Callie Myers and staffer Alex Hodkin have both been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation being led by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Sources: Joplin Globe and USAE News.

Diversity Matters

In North Carolina, Visit Elizabeth City has hired a consultant to conduct a diversity, equity and inclusion assessment to help with tourism marketing efforts in attracting more diverse visitors. The tourism development authority agreed last week to appoint Melissa Majors Consulting of Dallas, Texas to conduct the assessment.

Coming Soon…

Apple and the TSA are partnering to allow travelers to use digital versions of their ID to pass through airport security. Once states begin enabling access, iPhone or Apple Watch owners that updated to iOS 15 will be able to upload an electronic version of their state identification or driver’s license.

Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to introduce the innovation; Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah will follow. Adding a driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet is like adding a new credit card, meaning that users won’t need to unlock or hand over their device to show an ID. Source: Apple

One-Way Street

Canada has opened its borders to allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals that meet its conditions to enter the country for non-essential purposes beginning Sept. 7, 2021. For individuals with proof of vaccination and the required recent negative test result, automatic quarantine will no longer be necessary. Travelers submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN app or website.

“This decision is based on the latest available data, scientific evidence and epidemiological situation both in Canada and internationally,” officials said in a press release. Source: Canadian Travel News

Semiquincentennial! Planning Ahead for America’s 250th | More Destinations and DMOs Making Headlines

July 6, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

America’s 245th birthday is a wrap, so some folks are planning now for July 4, 2026. America250 is a national campaign raising awareness for the country’s 250th birthday celebration launching in Philadelphia where Independence Hall and other landmarks will play a big role in the nation’s Semiquincentennial. The marketing effort will initially spread to New York City, Boston, and Charleston and beyond.

The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress to inspire Americans to participate in our greatest milestone to date, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Tucked inside the 5,593-page federal coronavirus stimulus and spending package of late 2020 was $8 million for the commission.

“One program that has been confirmed is the building of a time capsule that will be buried on the grounds at Independence Hall and dug up on July 4, 2276, the country’s 500th anniversary,” reports Philly Metro.

The Semiquincentennial Commission plans to officially recognize tens of thousands of smaller events nationwide and collaborate with the U.S. Mint on collectible coins and medallions to mark the occasion.

Orchestrating the largest and most inclusive anniversary observance in our nation’s history will mean working with public and private entities, including destination marketing organizations.

*Aerial image of beachfront resorts at Surfside Miami Beach*

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has said it will donate its proceeds from the upcoming Miami Spice, a seasonal restaurant promotion, to assist those in need following the Surfside condo collapse. The DMO also has an online page resource that lists hotels offering discounted rates to first responders, families, and impacted residents plus other emergency support resources.

Gov. Bill Lee is teaming up with country superstar Brad Paisley in a “Tennessee On Me” campaign promoting tourism across the Volunteer State. The nationwide campaign offers 10,000 free airline vouchers to airports in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville.

The vouchers are worth $250 each through three participating airlines: American, Delta, and Southwest. Travels dates must be between July 11 and December 30, 2021. The perk is available to those who book a minimum 2-night stay through TennesseeOnMe, while supplies last.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a rare move: overruling a same-party gubernatorial veto. The override measure could include House Bill 862, which would change the way the state’s tourism marketing agency is funded. The Hawaii Tourism Administration and local tourism industry is strongly opposed to the bill, warning that it would harm the state’s leading economic driver just as recovery begins.

Meantime in Hawaii, Maui’s mayor is asking visitors, and airlines, to stop visiting the island. “We don’t have the authority to say stop, but we are asking the powers to be to help us,” Mayor Michael Victorino said at a recent news conference. The destination is facing a shortage of hospitality workers. Its restaurants, still operating at limited capacity, are struggling to keep up. Source: Associated Press

On June 22, Scottsdale City Council approved the budget the next 12 months for Experience Scottsdale, going into the last year under its current contract. Rachel Pearson, Experience Scottsdale’s vice president of community and government affairs, said tourists are only part of the equation until corporate business travel returns to produce a significant portion of Scottsdale’s hotel occupancy, especially on weekdays. Occupancy at area hotels was 40.1% in 2020 – down over 40% from 2019.

Visit Duluth could be no more when its contract is up with the city at the end of 2021 because the mayor has opened an RFQ process for a one-year contract through 2022. The city has hired Duluth marketing firm Giant Voices to assist in this process, seeking out “a partner or partners” for its destination marketing efforts. Visit Duluth will know if it’s a finalist for the job by July 12. Contracts are to be awarded at the end of the month.

A new report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association shows that 21 out of 25 of the top U.S. hotel markets remain in a depression or a recession. Urban markets, which rely heavily on business from events and group meetings, continue to face a severe financial crisis as they have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Urban hotels were down 52% in room revenue in May compared to May 2019, with San Francisco negatively impacted most, followed by Boston. New York City, which remains in a depression, has seen one-third of its hotel rooms (42,030 rooms) wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 200 hotels closing in the city. Tampa and Miami, however, did much better in May 2021 than in May 2019.

Dozens of television crews were on hand, fireboats sent streams of water into the air, and horns blared as Celebrity Edge left from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 26 on a seven-night voyage calling on ports in Mexico and the Bahamas. Sailing at 40% occupancy with a 99% passenger vaccination rate, the 2.900-passenger ship is the first big cruise ship to depart from a US port in more than 15 months.

Q: What lady is nine feet tall yet only 1/16th the size of her big sister?
A: Lady Liberty #2.

Last week a second—smaller—Statue of Liberty arrived on our shores as a gift from France…just like the bigger one. It served as a model for the sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the nearly 1,000-lb. statue was packed up and sailed off to New York Harbor from its perch in front of the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. On Bastille Day, she off again. This time, it’s to Washington D.C. where the mini-Lady Liberty will be installed in the gardens of the French Ambassador’s residence.

There was a sold-out crowd at MGM Resorts International for the return of “O” by Cirque du Soleil on stage at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The flagship production has played for over 17 million in audiences worldwide during its over-20-year run until the pandemic provided a very long intermission.

Jake Steinman, President & CEO of TravelAbility joins a panel to discuss “Creating an Accessible Destination” presented by Tripadvisor at Destinations International Visitor Services Summit on July 13, 2021. He is joined by Emily Cassell, Director, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau; Alison Brooks, Director of Group Services & Special Projects at Visit Mesa; and Nicole King-Smith, Hospitality Training Director, Lee County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Also, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Scott White and Visit Modesto CEO Todd Aaronson will address cannabis tourism with Brian Applegarth, Founder, Cannabis Travel Association.

Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks joined the Montana Office of Tourism, Glacier Country Tourism and local tourism groups in launching their “Recreate Responsibly” campaign supported by a webpage, airport signage, statewide television and radio advertising, billboards and fuel media videos. It also includes social media advertising and a “Recreate Responsibly” pledge. The state’s tourism office created a toolkit of resources and a mini grant program for DMOs to help produce online and print materials.

Courtesy LATCB

Did you know? The new logo from the LA Tourism & Convention Board was designed by the legendary street artist Shepard Fairey. It’s the first new logo in a decade and is being used in LA Tourism’s first-ever national campaign from July 5 airing across multiple formats, from cable TV and digital video to HULU, Roku, display advertising and social media.

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect to unveil a fresh look for LA and welcome back our visitors,” said William Karz, vice president of brand and digital marketing. “Coming out of tourism’s lost year, “we have a new look to start LA’s comeback story,” Karz said of the campaign that has the tag line, ‘Your comeback starts here.'” #yourcomebackbeginshere

World’s Most Powerful Passport Will Be a Vaccination Certificate and How Hotels Can Help

January 19, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Stephen Perry, CEO of New Orleans & Company, isn’t too optimistic about the resumption of British Airways flights resuming in early March, as planned. Furthermore, restrictions on international flights currently mean that only U.S. citizens and permanent residents may fly inbound to New Orleans and only British passport holders may board for Heathrow.

“Everyone here wants BA back, but we know that is likely to be delayed depending on what happens in the COVID world,” Perry told The Times-Picayune.

The CDC has issued a new ruling that air passengers flying to the U.S. from a foreign country will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than three days prior to the flight. The order goes into effect on Jan. 26, 2021.

Can a Vaccination Certification Kickstart International Travel?

“A testing requirement provides yet another layer of safety for international travel, and should be accompanied by other risk-based policies—including lifting international inbound travel restrictions and dropping any post-arrival quarantine requirements.

“With an international testing requirement in place, international visitors and returning residents would be tested at much higher rates than the general public and pose a much lower risk of transmitting the disease. So it would make sense to lift international travel restrictions and quarantine requirements at the same time.

Ahead of a meeting on Jan. 21, 2021, the European Commission’s president has come out in favor of a vaccination certificate that would be recognized in all 27 member states.

As more and more governments, businesses, and universities demand proof of Covid-19 inoculation, health and tech groups have started developing digital “vaccination passports.”

Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce have teamed up with healthcare organizations such as the nonprofit Mayo Clinic to create an internationally accepted digital card that can store information on negative tests and proof of vaccination. CommonPass, supported by The World Economic Forum, is one of the SMART Health Cards now in trials. More at Vaccination Credential Initiative.

While many professional groups and industry associations are voicing support, there are objections. In addition to privacy and discriminatory issues raised by the WTTA and WHO, questions that cannot yet be answered arise: How long will the vaccine be effective? How long should the passport remain valid? What if there’s a new vaccine for a new strain?

Meantime, we’ve got a winter to get through.

Test, Quarantine, Test: Country-by-Country

Last week, Canada began requiring all inbound travelers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test in addition to its two-week quarantine requirement.

All travel corridors to/from the United Kingdom have closed as of Jan. 18 through at least Feb. 15. Anyone entering the UK will have to present a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before boarding. On arrival, a strict 10-day self-quarantine is required unless a second negative test is produced after a second test on day five of self-isolation. Flights from South America and Portugal are banned altogether, due to another variant identified in Brazil.

*Eerily empty. Piccadilly Circus tube station mid-afternoon.*

England is currently under a national lockdown. Stay-at-home orders mean going out only for grocery shopping, exercise, or essential work. Similar measures are in place across much of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This past weekend, France extended the Paris curfew (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) throughout the entire country. The prime minister warned people to be prepared for another possible lockdown.

Sabatini Gardens and north facade of the Royal Palace of Madrid (Spain) after a snowfall.

In Spain, where the biggest snowstorm in decades hit Madrid, infection rates are outpacing much of Europe. Restrictions and curfews are being imposed on a regional basis, with travel restricted between regions.

On Jan. 16 in Italy, the prime minister announced coronavirus extension to March 5 and Covid-19 national emergency status until at least April 30.

Forget the Easter holidays. In Germany, the government has warned that people will only be able to go on holiday after Whitsun (May 24).

Austria tightened controls at its border and from Jan. 15, every person, including citizens and residents of Austria, will be required to register online before crossing.

In the Netherlands, a negative Covid-19 test was made compulsory from Dec. 15, including drivers arriving via the Eurotunnel and passengers on Eurostar trains.

Denmark temporarily banned all inbound flights and announced that a vaccination passport is being developed. Sweden imposed entry bans on Denmark and United Kingdom arrivals. Norway has made Covid-19 testing obligatory for all arrivals.

Japan has announced a second Covid-19 emergency state, effective Jan. 8, 2021, putting tourism recovery in jeopardy. Postponed for a year until July 23-August 8, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are looking iffy for 2021.

Hotels Are Ready to Vaccinate America

Hospitality for Hope Initiative

AHLA launched the Hospitality for Hope initiative in early 2020, identifying more than 20,000 hotels with 2.3 million rooms to provide temporary housing for emergency and healthcare workers.

“With the next phases of vaccination distribution underway, hotels have the unique capability to help provide additional locations to assist with the administration of the vaccine,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. In a letter to the incoming president, he suggested 50,000+ hotels across the US have the geographic reach, access, rooms, staff support, cleanliness protocols, refrigeration, parking lots, etc. to serve as vaccine distribution centers in partnership with public health authorities.

For the Dream Stage: “The New York Times 52 Places”

Instead of travel writers, The New York Times asked readers “the spots that have delighted, inspired and comforted them in a dark year.” The resulting 52 entries were curated from 2,000+ worldwide suggestions. “52 Places to Love in 2021” was published last week featuring these U.S. destinations.

Big Sky Country, Montana
Lake Michigan
East Haddam, Connecticut
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Santa Rosa, California
The Hudson River at Tappan Zee, New York
Northern Arkansas
Gate of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska
The Rawah Wilderness, Colorado
The Methow Valley, Washington

Three Industry Leaders: On Trends Shaping Travel Decisions Right Now

December 15, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Hear from American Hotel & Lodging Association, Expedia Group Media Solutions and MMGY Global.

Seven in ten Americans will not travel for Christmas, says a study released by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

“This holiday season will be an especially difficult time for all Americans, and our industry is no exception.

Fewer people will be traveling, and business travel remains nearly non-existent. That’s why it’s so important for Congress to pass a relief bill now. Millions of Americans are out of work, and thousands of small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open. We cannot afford to wait until the next Congress is sworn in for relief. They need help now.” — Chip Rogers, president and CEO.

The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted November 2-4, 2020 by Morning Consult on behalf of AHLA. Read more here. Plus this.

At the annual partners conference last week, Expedia Group revealed research conducted in October 2020 by Northstar Research Partners involving 11,000 people in 11 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the U.S.

“In short, our research revealed some good news: Though consumer confidence in travel varies by country and generation, 1 in 2 travelers feel optimistic—comfortable or even excited—about taking a trip in the next 12 months. The importance of hygiene measures, flexibility, and financial peace of mind is more universal: seventy five percent of travelers said measures such as mask enforcement, reduced capacity or contactless services, and flexibility (like easy refunds or cancellation policies), will inform where they stay on their next trip.” —Monya Mandich, VP – Marketing

Pandemic fatigue is setting in and pent-up demand continues to grow as people seek leisure travel to rejuvenate and recharge. Inspire travelers who are still dreaming and engage those who may be ready to travel with content and messaging highlighting rest and relaxation.
Travelers want to minimize risk to their health and protect themselves and their loved ones from financial setbacks. Information on pandemic measures should be at the forefront of brand communications, supported by reservation flexibility or full refunds to provide travelers with financial peace of mind,.
Use multiple channels—including news media, travel sites and advertising—to share reassuring content and imagery, demonstrating social distancing or reduced capacity, contactless service, mask enforcement policies, and heightened hygiene measures.

Get more study highlights here.

In related news:

Expedia Group brands recently launched the COVID-19 Travel Advisor, an interactive tool powered by Sherpa, that helps travelers find up-to-date information about travel restrictions in the destination they plan to visit, such as quarantine, face mask and COVID-19 test requirements. Travelers can enter details such as their origin and destination, departure date and the country that issued their passport to learn more before their trip.

“As the travel industry turns its eyes toward recovery in 2021, DMOs have an opportunity to evolve to a more community-centric model. At MMGY Global, we see this taking shape across four key pillars. And, CEOs in the industry like Cathy Ritter, Elliott Ferguson, Paul Nursey and Gretchen Hall are starting to lead the charge.

Tourism is the world’s front door.” — Craig Compagnone, COO

Community Stewardship
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Responsible and Regenerative Tourism
Evolving the Model

Read more here.

In related news:

Some 1,200 American leisure and business travelers were surveyed in mid-November for the “Travel Intentions Pulse Survey” by MMGY Intel.

Findings reveal that one-in-two would take the Covid-19 vaccination as soon as possible, a rise from 45% in the previous survey. Also, 40% percent would wait at least a few months to see if it is effective; 9% said they would not get the vaccine. More key findings:

Respondents likely to take a domestic leisure trip during the next six months remained steady (at 41%) after the six-point decline observed in November.
Respondents likely to take a domestic business trip during the next six months increased to 38% from 34%. One-in-five (21%) business travelers likely to attend a conference or convention, up from 17% last month.
One-in-four (24%) is likely to attend an off-site business meeting, up from 22%.
Respondents likely to take an international flight during the next six months rose to 25% this month, reaching the highest level observed to date.
Respondents likely to take a river cruise also increased from 17% to 21%, surpassing their likelihood of taking an ocean cruise.
Respondents likely to travel by personal car during the next six months rose to 67% following a two-month decline.
Travel by car remains the most likely form of transportation. One in 5 travelers (20%) is willing to drive more than 500 miles (each way) for a leisure trip.