Chip Rogers Archives - The Travel Vertical

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.

New Industry Protocols: ‘Stay Safe,’ by AH&LA and ‘Safe Space’ by Connect Travel

May 26, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Everyone knows things are going to look and feel different out there. In two key areas of travel—hotels and conferences—progress has been made in developing best practices and standards. These published guidelines are ready for sharing.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released its coronavirus Stay Safe guidelines.

Endorsed by Accor, Marriott International, Hilton, Choice Hotels, Hyatt, InterContinental, Disney Resorts, Loews, Omni and other hotel major groups, the industry-wide initiative enhances standards and provides greater transparency. The initiative is designed to change hotel industry norms, behaviors and standards to ensure both hotel guests and employees are confident in the cleanliness and safety of hotels when travel resumes.

The industry’s enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols will continue to evolve to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19.” — Chip Rogers, CEO, AH&LA

AH&LA says: “The hotel industry has a longstanding commitment to cleanliness and safety for our employees and guests. We continue this commitment during the public health crisis. The following health and safety guidelines represent best practices for the hotel industry, in accordance with CDC guidelines, during the re-opening phase of the economy. It is anticipated that these guidelines and protocols will evolve based on the recommendations of public health authorities and must be done in compliance with any federal, state and local laws.”

The eight pages of “Safe Stay” guidelines cover:

Employee & guest health
Employee responsibilities
Cleaning products and protocols
Physical distancing

Connect Travel is taking a leadership stance in showcasing safe conference protocols that allow attendees to enjoy themselves and book business.

Designed and developed by Connect Travel, the “Safe and Clean” brand, or Safe Space 2020, debuts August 17-19 in New Orleans.

*New York Times Travel Show during set-up, Jacob K. Javits Center, NYC, in Jan. 2020*

Connect is committed to implementing conscious and intentional processes to not only combat this virus, but also to promote healthy best practices that you can adopt at your own events. These will become a consistent priority for events during high- and low-risk time periods alike.

Get the Safe Space guidelines here.

Catch Up with People, Recruitment Updates, and DMO News

January 7, 2019 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

In news from Florida, newly inaugurated Gov. Ron DeSantis named former state Sen. Dana Young, (R-Tampa), as his pick to lead Visit Florida. Her appointment was unanimously approved by the DMO’s board on 1/7/2019.

Young told local reporters that her first order of business is to visit the local tourism organizations across the state. Young, a former state representative, had recently lost her re-election bid to the Florida State Senate.

Ken Lawson is leaving his role as CEO of Visit Florida for the past two years to take over the reins of the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

Kurt J. Krause is the new President & CEO of Visit Norfolk. A Virginia native, Krause has served as managing director for several local hotels as well as vice president of business affairs at Virginia Tech. He has also held a leadership position in consumer advocacy for the TSA. For the past year, Sam Rogers has served as interim CEO.

Travel Tacoma + Pierce County has merged with Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission, appointing Dean Burke, from the commission, as president and CEO of the joint organization. The merger allows the two organizations to share operating expenses while jointly marketing Pierce County as a destination for leisure tourism, meetings, and sporting events.

Eric J. Lund has been appointed President & CEO at Visit Estes Park in Colorado. Lund hails from San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce where he served in that capacity. Previously, he had been a VP at San Diego Tourism Authority and also in the top job at San Diego East Visitors Bureau for 14 years.

In Texas, Todd Bertka has joined Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Convention Center as the new director. He has previously served in roles as vice president of sales in both Virginia Beach CVB and Greenville CVB and an earlier associate sales position at Nashville CVB.

In Napa Valley, Calif., Troy Campbell takes on the position of executive director at Calistoga Chamberof Commerce. Previously, he spent eight years as executive director of Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District in San Francisco.

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced Chip Rogers will succeed Katherine Lugar as president and CEO, effective in the new year. Since 2014, Rogers served as president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. He is on the board of directors for United States Travel Association and California Hotel & Lodging Association. Prior to joining AAHOA, Rogers served in the Georgia General Assembly for 10 years and was unanimously elected as Senate majority leader in 2008 and 2010.

Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO of San Francisco Travel, announced it “on time and on budget.” At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $551 million expansion of the Moscone Convention Center, city officials said 2019 will be a banner year. High tech? Clients like Oracle and Salesforce are assured that 60,000 delegates’ devices downloading and streaming at once are A-OK.

On Jan. 22, 2019 in NYC, HSMAI will honor Visit North Carolina with a Gold Adrian Award for “Firsts That Last,” an integrated campaign featuring real-life travelers making their first visit to the state for first-time experiences. Site traffic in target media markets was up 85 percent during the initial spring 2018 run. In newer target markets, growth was up as much as 400 percent. The campaign was designed and produced by Luquire George Andrews in Charlotte.

Simpleview has acquired JackRabbit Systems, a tourism-focused software company, following a recent merger with UK-based Tourism Media Group (The Travel Vertical, 12/3/2018). Simpleview adds approximately 135 new DMO clients with the acquisition, expanding its customer base to more than 900 destinations.

Westchester County Tourism & Film in NY State has named Mower its agency for travel and tourism integrated marketing and public relations. The agency has offices in NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, New York, as well as Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Cincinnati.

The State of Rhode Island, with a $5 million tourism campaign budget, seeks a chief marketing officer.

Visit Loudoun—tagline “DC’s Wine Country®—has an opening for a VP of Marketing Communications with 10+ years’ experience. Application deadline 1/18/2019.

More people news from Greater Boston CVB: Following the appointment of Martha Sheridan as president & CEO (The Travel Vertical, 11/19/2018), the bureau is searching for a new executive vice president. SearchWide Global is retained.

Love Boston? TripAdvisor seeks a B2B Content Marketing Manager, a mid-senior level role, at headquarters in Needham, Mass. Love San Francisco? TripAdvisor require a Social Media Manager for two products: TripAdvisor Experiences and Viator. See LinkedIn for more TripAdvisor jobs.

Discover San Angelo in West Texas seeks a digital marketing and communications manager with DMO experience.

Visit Anchorage has an opening for a full-time content specialist.

The City of San Antonio requires a marketing manager within the Department of Parks & Recreation, minimum 5+ years’ tourism-related experience.

P.S. — Getting started in the DMO world? Visit Denver and Visit SLO in sunny San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast each require a marketing coordinator.