DMOs scored a round two victory with the Payroll Protection Program of the Small Business Administration. The embattled massive Covid-19 relief legislation enacted in late December allows eligibility for PPP to DMOs in the 501(c)(6) category.

U.S. Travel Association will provide regular updates on their Travel Industry Relief Resources webpage. Get a summary in the link below from an earlier issue of The Travel Vertical.

Related: Finally. (It’s 5,593 Pages Long.)

Webinars for DMOs:

Destinations International and Civitas will have a webinar on PPP for DMOs on Jan. 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT. Key points: What is PPP Funding? Who is eligible? How does the application for PPP funding work? And, how to work with a local community bank for funding? Register here.

“Understanding and Accessing COVID-19 Relief for the Travel Industry” is a U.S. Travel Association webinar taking place on Jan. 7, 2021 at 12 p.m. ET. The government relations team will walk through the relief package and answer any questions about what is provided in the legislation, how to access relief and when funds will be made available. Register here.

It’s complicated. Travel Pulse has published a state-by-state Covid-19 travel restrictions as of January 2021…subject to change, of course. Check it out here.

U.S. Travel Association is offering “Let’s Go There” toolkits for National Plan for Vacation Day, on Jan. 26, 2021. The objective is to encourage Americans to start planning how to use time off in the year ahead while traveling safely. Get the toolkits on U.S. Travel Association’s website.

Destination Analysts‘ survey of American travelers during the first week of January shows the majority do not plan any travel during the first quarter of 2021. Of the 37.5% who do plan travel in the coming three months, 84.5% of these trips will be overnight trips, with over one-third staying with friends or relatives. Get the findings here.

TSA numbers indicate that 1.3 million-plus passengers traveled through the nation’s airports on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 — more than on any single day since March 15, 2020.

What’s Tier 5? It’s not good. With widespread areas, including London, already in Tier 4 since before Christmas, England, Scotland, and Wales have now gone into a full national lockdown expected to remain in place at least through the middle of February. People must leave home only for essential reasons. All schools, colleges move to remote learning and year-end exams are cancelled. Outdoor sports venues must close. International departures are now limited to those who have “a legally permitted reason,” such as work. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel has just announced that German nationwide Covid-19 lockdown is being extended at least until the end of January.

In Minnesota, a proposal to merge Visit Duluth with the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center has been shelved for now. This year, the 85-year-old DMO will continue with a reduced budget of $1.5 million in tourism tax funding from the city — $500,000 less than pre-Covid. Duluth’s mayor announced her intention to submit a request for proposals from organizations interested in marketing the city from January 2022. Visit Duluth’s executive director, Anna Tanski, expressed confidence in her organization’s track record.

In Virginia Beach, local news reports that city council members voted 8-3 to ask the general assembly to allow them to create a new hybrid public-private organization to handle the city’s tourism marketing efforts. Council members added a resolution to the upcoming agenda allowing for the creation of Virginia Beach Tourism Authority.

Brand USA is holding its largest-ever Global Marketplace for Canadian travel agents, “Focus On Canada,” on Jan 13-14, 2021. Intended to promote diverse U.S. destinations to our #1 source international market (21 million visitors in 2019), Brand USA president & CEO Chris Thompson said, “When it is safe to do so, travel will resume and we are excited for the day when we can welcome back our Canadian friends. Our industry remains resilient, and through events like, Focus On Canada we’re working together to build the future of tourism.”

With training camps in Florida and Arizona due to open in mid-February, the MLB has announced its intention to stick to the spring training schedule. Will there be a full season? Some say the key is the crowds and whether MLB owners want to play games in empty ballparks again as they did in 2020. 

The 63rd Grammy Awards are cancelled. Soaring coronavirus cases in Los Angeles have led organizers of this year’s event to postpone the music awards ceremony which was due to take place in Southern California on Jan. 31, 2021. The surging virus numbers have led the union representing 160,000 entertainment industry workers to call for a “temporary hold” in Los Angeles to shut down all film and television production until cases decline.

According to STR, the Florida cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg had a 51% hotel occupancy, highest among major U.S. destinations in 2020 through November. Phoenix was in second place at 50.3%, followed by San Diego (50.0%), Los Angeles (49.9%), and Norfolk/Virginia Beach (49.8%).

Residents of Los Angeles will be able to add proof of a Covid-19 vaccination to their smartphone’s Apple Wallet. LA County is partnering with software company Healthvana to begin offering the vaccination records to the Wallet app on iPhones or the competing Google platform.

Red Lion Hotels, a Denver-based company that focuses on the franchising, management and ownership of upscale, midscale and economy hotels, has agreed to a $90 million all-cash acquisition by Sonesta International. This is big news in the hotel world; the combined portfolio will have 1,200 properties.

Through mid-2020, the South has 10 of the top 15 fastest-growing large U.S. cities with a population of 50,000 or more. Frisco, Texas tops the list of the fastest-growing large cities with a growth rate of 71.1%, increasing its population by more than half since April 2010. Thirty miles north of downtown Austin, Leander, Texas has catapulted up the charts, growing 24 times faster than the U.S. average of 0.5%.

California’s famously beautiful Big Sur on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway is fed up with selfie tourism and poor behavior. Monterey County officials unanimously adopted a 120-page plan from the Community Association of Big Sur that outlines new restrictions and measures for controlling access by up to several millions of tourists. Read more about the destination management plans.

Now you can walk or bike from New York City to the Canadian border (it’s 750 miles) and from Albany to Buffalo, NY. Three years and $200 million later, the Empire State Trail is complete and officials estimate 8.6 million people will use at least parts of it every year.

Among the first to experience repeat Coronavirus fallout, the Honolulu Festival scheduled for March 12-14, is canceled for the second consecutive year. The event celebrating cultures across the Pacific Rim typically draws thousands of visitors to the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, International Market Place, Waikiki Beach Walk and other locations. Meantime on the Big Island, Kilauea is having none of it; an eruption on Dec. 20 saw Paradise Helicopters’ business triple overnight.

David Jackson, CMP, HMCC, has joined KKD Tourism Advisors, a tourism consulting firm specializing in destination development, sports tourism and convention sales and marketing. He is Managing Partner based in Greater Philadelphia. Jackson was previously VP-sales at Pocono Mountains CVB and director of sales at Bucks County CVB.

Leslie Hooper has been named Chief People Officer at Entrada Insights. Currently based in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, she recently had a global people management role at Adara.

At Facebook, the advertising integrity chief has abruptly resigned. Rob Leathern had been in the role for four years after joining via the acquisition of a leading Facebook Ads API partner company. Referring to Facebook, Rob Leathern’s LinkedIn page says, “The team works to protect the people and businesses who use Facebook’s commercial products by enforcing its policies and preventing abuse. We built enhanced advertiser authenticity and transparency (e.g. Ad Library) for all ads across Facebook/Instagram including for ads about social issues, elections & politics.”

MMGY NextFactor has released an updated OrganizationNEXT Report. Takeaways include:

• A new section on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with commentary from industry leaders
• An overview of how destination organizations are reimagining their roles and key performance indicators
• Updated global rankings of strategic priorities relating to community building, customer engagement and organization sustainability

MMGY NextFactor says, “There are signs that the global visitor industry is moving in a positive direction as we head into 2021. We believe that OrganizationNEXT provides a high-level overview to inform how destination organizations can stay in front of these transformational times effectively…Almost all of the destination leaders we’ve engaged this year are focused on how their organization’s mandate and impact needs to evolve in 2021, both internally and within their communities.”

Greg Oates, SVP Innovation at MMGY NextFactor, says, “Launching a new report that explores equity, diversity and inclusion strategy in the visitor industry, post-George Floyd. Thank you Melissa Cherry, Elliott Ferguson, Julie Coker, Bennish Brown and Timothy P. Bush for your insight into how we can increase equitable opportunities in our organizations and the communities where we live and work.”

Download the report here.

NEW JOB LISTINGS

Director of Marketing — Washington Tourism Alliance (open to state residents through Jan. 27)

Senior Officer, Strategy Planning & Management, Division Office of the President — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle (applications close Jan. 19)

Senior Content Marketing Manager — Epsilon, Chicago

Senior Project Manager / Business Analyst— Herschend Family Entertainment, Peachtree Corners, GA

Chief Brand Officer and Director of Marketing Communications — University of California-Office of the President, Oakland, CA

Vice President — See Source, Ogden, UT

Public Information & Marketing Program Manager — City of Austin, TX

Director, Regional Integrated Marketing — American Cancer Society, Dallas, TX

Integrated Digital Manager AND Visitor Experience & Programs Manager— Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, Alton, IL

LAST WEEK’S JOB LISTINGS

VP, Research & Market Analytics — Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

CEO — Grenada Tourism Authority

CEO — Moscow Chamber of Commerce, Idaho

CEO — Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, Ellijay, GA

Executive Director — Tucumcari/Quay Co. Chamber of Commerce, NM

Manager Marketing & Communications — Discover Albany, GA

Advertising & Promotions Sales Manager — Galveston Island, TX

VP, Marketing & Digital Strategy — Omni Hotels & Resorts, Dallas

Account Executive — MMGY Global, Shawnee KS

Events Producer — Skift (Remote)

Local Phoenix Expert — WishTrip

Digital Marketing Manager — Columbia Hospitality, Seattle

Customer Success Manager, West — Milestone Inc. (Remote)

Tourism Data Sales Associate — Idealab, Pasadena, CA

Head of FB App Brand & Strategic Marketing Insights — Facebook, San Francisco

Internal Communications Manager & Events Producer — Google, San Francisco

CHRISTMAS WEEK – JOB LISTINGS

Executive Director — Visit Estes Park, CO

Chief Marketing Officer — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, SC

Chief Marketing Officer — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Sales & Services Manager — Destinations International, Remote

Chief Executive Officer — Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing

President & CEO — Visit Orlando

President & CEO — Destination Madison

President — Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau

President & CEO — VisitGreenvilleSC

Vice President of Marketing — Visit Florida, Tallahassee

Executive Vice President & Chief Sales Officer — San Francisco Travel Association

SVP, Multicultural & Community Development, Broward County — Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

Director of Finance — West Virginia Tourism Office, Charleston

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer — Bermuda Tourist Authority, NYC

Director of Sales — Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, AR

Vice President, Sales AND Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy — Visit Corpus Christi

Deputy Director of Marketing — Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Director of Research & Market Intelligence AND Tourism Partnership Manager — Virginia Tourism Corp., Richmond

Business Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager — City of South Padre Island, TX

PR & Communications Manager, Tourism Division — Collier County, Naples, FL

Public Relations Manager — Destination Cleveland

Finance & HR Manager AND PR & Communications Manager — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Marketing Manager — Tulsa Regional Tourism

Director, Sports Sales — Visit Mesa, AZ

Director of Tourism — Muskogee Tourism Authority, OK

Convention & Tourism Rep — Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

CVB Marketing Coordinator — Mesquite Convention & Visitor Bureau, TX

CVB Communications Coordinator AND CVB Director of Media Relations — City of Grapevine TX

Cooperative Marketing Program Coordinator — State of Missouri, Division of Tourism, Jefferson City

Conference Sales Director — Valdosta-Lowndes Co. Conference Center & Tourism Authority, GA 

Communications & Marketing Manager — Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, NY

PR/Content Marketing Manager — Visit Clarksville, TN

Manager, Paid Media — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Digital Marketing Manager — Visit Central Oregon, Sunriver, OR

Operations Manager — Explore Georgia, Atlanta

Communications Coordinator — San Diego Tourism Authority

Marketing Communications Specialist — City of Austin

Social Media Manager — Pinehurst, Southern Pines Aberdeen Area CVB, NC

Marketing Manager — Lake George Regional CVB, NY

Executive Director — Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce, WA

Business Services Manager — City of Richmond, VA, Department of Economic Development 

Marketing Manager AND Marketing Coordinator — Connect Travel, Greater Atlanta

Email Marketing & Automation Coordinator — MMGY Global, Overland Park, KS

Travel & Hospitality PR Account Director AND Account Executive, PR — MMGY NJF, NYC

Account Strategist — Madden Media, Tucson, AZ

Data Scientist AND Probability Statistician AND Data Engineer AND Data Advisor — Entrada Insights, Salt Lake City

Advertiser Marketing Specialist AND Creative Services Coordinator AND Product Manager — Simpleview, Tucson

Integrated Marketing Manager AND Programmatic Sales Director — Leaf Group , NYC / LA

Copywriter — Destination Counsellors International, NYC

Chief Experience Manager — Brightline Trains, Miami

Sr. Manager, Marketing / CBM Product Strategy — Universal Orlando Resort

Digital Marketing Director — Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co., PA

Director of Tourism — Six Flags, Valencia, CA

Marketing Project Manager — The Mob Museum, Las Vegas

Director Sales & Marketing — Legends, Atlanta

Director of Sales & Marketing — Novotel Miami Brickell

VP of Marketing — OpenTable, San Francisco

Senior Strategist — The New York Times, NYC

Travel Editor — SFGate (San Francisco Chronicle)

Director of Marketing & Communications AND Email and Social Marketing Manager — Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Director, International Marketing — Warner Music Group, NYC

Digital Marketing Lead, Partnerships — Facebook, Menlo Park, CA

[new] Chief of Staff, Go-To-Market Strategic Operations — Google, San Francisco

Senior Marketing Manager (12 months) — The Presidio Trust, San Francisco