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Recovery: Busiest Air Corridors, Best Airports, Cheapest Gas, Florida Funding, California Cities, Cool Chicago, and National Parks

March 12, 2022 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

A few facts and figures at your fingertips and a green river, too.

OAG reports that significant capacity has been added this month by all the US major airlines. These top 10 airport and city pairs are currently the busiest air corridors in the nation.

New York (JFK) – Los Angeles (LAX)	Honolulu (HNL) – Kahului (OGG)
New York (LGA) – Chicago (ORD)	Las Vegas (LAS) – Los Angeles (LAX)
Atlanta (ATL) – Orlando (MCO)	New York (LGA) – Miami (MIA)
Atlanta (ATL) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)	New York (JFK) – Miami (MIA)
Denver (DEN) – Phoenix (PHX)	Honolulu (HNL) – Los Angeles (LAX)

Source above and below: OAG

Airports Council International revealed the findings from its annual ASQ Awards to recognize excellence in customer experience worldwide based on data from ASQ’s Departures and Arrivals Surveys of over 370,000 passengers in 2021. The nine airport winners in North America are:

As of Monday, “The most expensive state to buy gas is California, where a gallon costs an average of $5.74. That’s almost $2 more expensive than what you’d pay in Kansas, the cheapest state to buy gas.” — Make It, CNBC.com

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has created the first-ever Tourism Cabinet. The “initiative brings together a wide range of City departments to address the most critical issues impacting the visitor experience,” said Adam Burke, President & CEO Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “From infrastructure to mobility to public safety and a host of other areas – and as part of the City’s Tourism Master Plan – this unprecedented level of focused collaboration across City agencies will help ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital driver of our local economy.” The One of the main focuses of the cabinet will be to support the growth of tourism and the hospitality sector in Los Angeles. Doane Liu is the new Executive Director of LA City Tourism Department.

*photo: San Francisco Travel Association*

San Francisco Travel Association President & CEO Joe D’Alessandro has penned an opinion piece for CalMatters, a nonprofit nonpartisan news platform. Calling for continued tourism investment for recovery — “particularly in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego,” he writes, “Recovery in urban centers, where the largest percentage of tourism jobs exist, still lags. Cities disproportionately depend on large meetings and events to generate tourism spending and drive employment. California’s meeting market was unable to operate for most of 2020 and into 2021 and has been slow to return.”

More from Joe: “Hotel data from STR Inc. further illustrate the divide: Room revenue in California’s rural and outdoor recreation areas exceeded that of 2019’s record year. The four gateway cities, however, fell significantly short. In San Francisco, room revenue reached just 45% of 2019 levels.”

Visit Florida has a funding extension that cleared its final hurdle with the legislature and is headed to Gov. DeSantis for signature. In an agreement reached between the state’s house and senate, the extension will be for five years. Initially, there was support for an extension until Oct. 1, 2031. However, that was adjusted to Oct. 1, 2028. Lawmakers also reached an agreement on funding at $50 million as a one-time budget, rather than on a recurring annual basis. Meanwhile, in other Florida matters…

Visit Florida has long had an inclusive focus, reaching out to the LGBTQ community in its marketing efforts. A web page reads, “There’s a sense of freedom to Florida’s beaches, the warm weather and the myriad activities–a draw for people of all orientations, but especially appealing to a gay community looking for a sense of belonging and acceptance.”

Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young commented in a statement reported by The Washington Post, “We like to say at VISIT FLORIDA that Florida’s sunshine is for everyone—no matter where you are from, what you believe, whom you love, or what your abilities. We want all travelers within the LGBTQ community to know that Florida is a place for everyone. We pride ourselves on welcoming every visitor with the same hospitality and friendliness.”

Visit Florida market research shows 3.4 percent of the 117.2 million domestic visitors to the state in 2019—or nearly 4 million people—identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or another orientation that was not heterosexual. Those visitors represented billions of dollars in spending.

Connect THRIVE Summit takes place June 4-5, 2022 in Orlando, co-located with IPW and eTourism Summit. Registration is open now.

In Downtown Chicago last Saturday, it was in the single digits with the wind chill, but that didn’t stop the annual dyeing of the Chicago River, a tradition since 1962. Thousands braved the chill to celebrate the Chicago St. Patricks’s Day Parade after two years of pandemic cancellations. In this city with deep Irish roots, “Everybody is Irish today in Chicago,” said Mary Linehanfoley, visiting from the Emerald Isle. “It’s just amazing here. You have a great country and everybody is so welcoming and every year. Nice good people.” Cathal Rasmussen, also visiting from Ireland, told local TV reporters, “It’s unbelievable. Super city and we’re so happy and so proud to be here. We’ve had a great week and we’re hoping to come back again next year.”

Hurray, tourism! (FAQs: How long does the Chicago River stay green? Answer: 24-48 hours…long enough for overnight visitors!)

The National Park Service has published its official annual visitation statistics for 2021 indicating that 25 of the most popular parks accounted for 50 percent of all visits throughout the system of 423 parks. Twenty-five percent of all visits occurred in the top eight most-visited parks. Blue Ridge Parkway remained the most-visited, a linear national park that runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Photo: Mary Ann Baker – Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville, Sylva, and Franklin, North Carolina. Overlooking Cowee Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains flickr.com/photos/floridahalfbacks/8923649963

For an in-depth look at visitation statistics, visit the NPS Social Science website. For national summaries and individual park figures, please visit the NPS Visitor Use Statistics website.

Blue Ridge Parkway – 15.9 million

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 14.1 million

Golden Gate National Recreation Area – 13.7 million

Gateway National Recreation Area – 9.1 million

Lake Mead National Recreation Area – 7.6 million

George Washington Memorial Parkway – 6.8 million

Natchez Trace Parkway – 6.4 million

Lincoln Memorial – 5.8 million

Gulf Islands National Seashore – 5.5 million

Zion National Park – 5 million

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park – 5 million

Yellowstone National Park – 4.9 million

Grand Canyon National Park – 4.5 million

Rocky Mountain National Park – 4.4 million

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area – 4.3 million

Acadia National Park – 4 million

Cape Cod National Seashore – 4 million

Grand Teton National Park – 3.9 million

World War II Memorial – 3.7 million

Vietnam Veterans Memorial – 3.6 million

Yosemite National Park – 3.3 million

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area – 3.3 million

Cape Hatteras National Seashore – 3.2 million

Indiana Dunes National Park – 3.2 million

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area – 3.1 million

Visit Duluth Gets Axed Plus More People & Places News

August 17, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

People

Brad Dean, Chief Executive Officer of Discover Puerto Rico, has been named State Travel Director of the Year by U.S. Travel Association at last week’s ESTO meeting. Since taking the lead of the destination marketing organization in 2018, Dean has guided the Island’s tourism industry through a remarkable period of recovery and growth following various setbacks from hurricanes to the pandemic.

Michael Heckman has been named by Mayor Sylvester Turner as the Chief Executive Officer of Houston First Corporation. He has held the interim position since August 2020.

Lisa Oliveira, CDME, has recently been named President & CEO of the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau in California. She joined the organization in 2016.

Sarah Hupp Foster has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Madden Media. She joined the company in 2012 and was most recently serving as VP of Account Strategy.

Kirsten Lynch has been appointed CEO at Vail Resorts, Inc., the world’s leading mountain resort company at iconic locations. She has served in the role of EVP and CMO for the past 10 years.

Julie Holmen is the new Project / Program Lead for Membership Engagement at Destinations International. She joins from MPI and as a former team member at Destination Toronto.

In Tennessee, Matthew Bolas, former director of Discover Bristol, has been tapped as director of the new Bristol Regional Tourism Marketing Corp. For the past four years, Bolas led the tourism development division of The High Road Agency.

Stefanie Zinke moves from Senior International Tourism Sales Manager at The Beaches of Fort Meyers and Sanibel CVB to Director of Global Trade Sales at Visit Tampa Bay.

Todd Mitsuhata has been promoted to Director of Global Business Development at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. He joined the DMO in 2016.

Sarah Waggoner is the new Tourism Manager at Visit Springfield in Illinois. She joins from the City of Litchfield where she was tourism coordinator for seven years.

Ariel Washington is the new Social Media Coordinator at Visit Tybee in Georgia. She comes to digital tourism marketing with a background in social media and communications.

Places

Duluth, Minn. — Mayor Emily Larson announced plans to pass up longtime Visit Duluth for the city’s next tourism marketing contract worth $1.8 million and instead choose Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners and its partner, Sioux Falls-based Lawrence & Schiller. The decision comes after a months-long application process that included two local finalists – Visit Duluth and the DECC.

Visit Duluth has held the contract since 1935. In recent years, the DMO has received $2.2 million to provide promotion, marketing and convention sales.

The RFP sent out in May brought in 28 applications – 5 from Duluth, 15 from throughout the state and eight from outside Minnesota. Some local advertising executives have questioned how none of the Duluth firms are selected.

Bellmont presented to the Duluth city council on Aug. 17, 2021 and the agency was approved. Larson has offered Visit Duluth a much smaller $400,000 contract for next year to handle convention coordination and the visitor’s center, but that discussion has been tabled. Read the latest local reporting here.

In Travel Smart News, industry observer Brian London writes, “the situation in Duluth is a good reminder that destination organizations are contracted agencies. Their contract is not promised forever. No need to wait for elected officials in your destination to pull the fire alarm. Take some time to be sure your activities are aligned with the goals and priorities of those who determine your future funding.”

*User:Dough4872, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Ocean City, Md. — Tom Perlozzo, Tourism and Business Development Director, City of Ocean City told the local tourism commission that his office is continuing its efforts to identify and rebrand Ocean City’s image.

They have engaged Zartico as a partner to collect data on the visitor base, also working with AirDNA, which provides a snapshot of short-term rental platforms, as well as with Opinionworks, an Annapolis-based independent research organization to conduct the surveys.

Monterey, Calif. — On California’s Central Coast, the Monterey Visitors Center has closed, due to steadily decreasing visitor traffic. Rob O’Keefe, president & CEO of Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which ran the center, indicated to a local reporter that the DMO was spending about $400,000 a year on staffing and maintaining the facility. The services provided will be replaced by an app.

Sedona, Ariz. — Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau has agreed to suspend their destination marketing effort for at least one year. The council voted unanimously to approve a $2.1 million budget minus $250,000 that could have used for destination marketing. The effort to discourage tourists from coming to Sedona stems from council and community members objecting to increased traffic, the trampling of hiking trails, disrespect of Sedona’s sacred sites, overcrowding, the proliferation of Airbnb. Source: Sedona Biz

*credit: Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau*

Boston, Mass. — The local tourism industry in Boston is pushing for a tourism destination marketing district. The district would be able to charge overnight hotel guests an additional 1.5% of the guest’s bill, projected to raise $10 million in its first year, dedicated to a new fund to promote the city.

The fund would be managed by a 15-member committee composed mostly of lodging industry representatives.

Fort Collins, Colo. — The city council agreed to form a tourism improvement district, doubling the lodging tax to 6% and expected to raise $800,000 a year. Three-fourths of annual income from the new fee is budgeted for sales, marketing, communication and destination development. Visit Fort Collins, separate from the Tourist Improvement District, gets 70% of the current 3% fee; the rest goes to the city’s Fort Fund arts and culture grants. Source: Loveland Reporter-Herald

Sonoma County, Calif. — Sonoma County Tourism announced the debut of the “Sonoma Sound,” the destination’s first-ever official soundtrack. Created by local GRAMMY-recognized songwriter Cliff Goldmacher (Keb’ Mo’, Lisa Loeb, Ke$ha), the ‘Sound’ was developed through a collaboration between Goldmacher, Creative Sonoma, and Sonoma County Tourism, with partial funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Featuring local artists and recorded at a local studio, the soundtrack is part of an ongoing effort to promote Sonoma County’s brand attributes (“Life Opens Up”) and creative talent.

To highlight how music and well-being intermingles in the region, Sonoma County Tourism and its partners are giving away a truly refreshing and rejuvenating escape to Sonoma County for two with the “Reawaken Your Senses” Experience. Learn more about the project here.

New York City — Despite ticket sales open for a few months, blockbuster shows such as Hamilton, The Lion King and Wicked, all of which have been dark for more than 18 months, have yet to sell out their opening week of shows in mid-September.

Producers attribute the sluggish ticket sales to industry volatility caused by the delta variant and industry experts say the muted response is not good news for New York City’s ongoing tourism challenges.

San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to mandate the presentation of proof of full Covid-19 vaccination to access certain venues and activities: indoor restaurants, bars, clubs, fitness facilities, theaters, cinemas, entertainment venues, and large events having 1,000 or more attendees. The updated health order is set to take effect on Aug. 20.

New York City has put a similar restriction in place, however proof of only a first vaccine is required and will be enforced from Sept. 13. There are two official apps, the Excelsior Pass and NYC Covid Safe, but paper is fine too.

In New Orleans effective since Aug. 16, proof of vaccines or a negative Covid-19 test taken within less than 72 hours will be required to enter indoor venues citywide, including bars, restaurants, gyms and music halls.

Los Angeles City Council has voted in favor of drafting a new law to require at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to enter facilities including indoor restaurants, gyms, stores, movies and theaters. Palm Springs City Council is taking similar steps regarding indoor dining.

Starting this week, Puerto Rico hotels and other lodging require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test from within 72 hours for guests and staff alike. This adds another layer of peace of mind, according to Discover Puerto Rico, since the island already has such requirements in place for arriving visitors.

New Orleans & Company has paused its national “Concierge” advertising campaign featuring local actor Wendell Pierce, tagline: “When you’re ready to come back, we’re ready to host.” Metro area and regional dining-centric ads will continue.

Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation has made a similar decision, indicating they’ll review on a month-to-month basis. Source: The Lens NOLA [H/T Travel Smart News]

Sydney, Australia — The new ad campaign from Tourism Australia isn’t about going on vacation…it’s about getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. “It’s Our Best Shot for Travel” campaign launched in Australia on August 16 in newspapers, on TV, online and across social media.

Another vaccine-related campaign featuring celebrity Aussie chefs is in the works for later this year. “Put a Jab on the Menu.”

Steal This Idea: Summertime — Part II

July 20, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

VisitPITTSBURGH Unveils KidsBURGH®, a gamified savings pass with Bandwango.

An extension of “Only in Pittsburgh,” the kid appeal promotion will run through September to target families with children ages 3-17 in key drive markets including: Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnston/Altoona, Morgantown, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

No kidding, no app needed. Visitors who sign up for the pass and check into five KidsBURGH attractions through the end of 2021 are entered to win a KidsBURGH getaway including a two-night stay and four passes to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Gateway Clipper Fleet, National Aviary, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Sandcastle Waterpark, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. Press release here.

Columbus, Ohio is going all-in with Museums For All. How long will it last? Forever!

Six museums are joining forces to offer significant discounts to admission ranging from free to $3.45 per person: Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Ohio History Center and Ohio Village and the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Museums for All is a national program focused on removing barriers to visiting museums and cultural centers by finding a way to make museum visits low or no cost for people that get food assistance. Columbus museums are making a commitment to become one of a few Museums for All Hub Cities. Each museum made a pledge to dig deeper to understand the additional barriers that prevent people from visiting museums.

Visit Spokane has announced two interesting transportation-related initiatives.

1) Spokane is the only airport in the world that offers complimentary car washes to people who park in the parking garage.

2) Double-decker buses are promoting the 2021 Leisure Campaign strategy emphasizing wide-open outdoor spaces. Notice the child-friendly character illustrations that set the branding apart from traditional campaigns while showcasing Spokane places.

*By Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66304976*

In San Francisco, the signature cable cars are coming back after 16 months, and they’re plying the crazy hills for free through the month of August.

And a pandemic silver lining: Thanks to an unanimous vote by city supervisors, SF’s beloved sidewalk-adjacent parklets that popped up everywhere (before there was a shortage of lumber), spilling out onto the pavements and into parking spaces, are now going to be a permanent fixture.

San Diego is doing a Candlelight Concert Series of classical music in magical, intimate locations, modeling on success in places like Paris, Barcelona, and New York. The concerts run throughout 2021 at spaces like San Diego’s Seaport Village; Chapel by Liberty Station Park; and J11, San Diego’s Premier East Village event space.

What You Will Enjoy
🕯️ An intimate ambience in a beautiful venue bathed in candlelight
🎻 A talented string quartet performing classical pieces by Vivaldi
⛪ The stunning architecture of the iconic chapel
✔️ A safe, comfortable and socially-distanced event

*By Sebalolo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45647825*

Chicago is re-launching the Year of Chicago Music. Originally set for 2020, the ‘extension’ includes a first-ever Chicago in Tune festival beginning mid-August, a genre-hopping, month-long event featuring free and ticketed shows throughout the city. Other events include music festival Lollapalooza starting July 29, plus the classical Grant Park Music Festival in August.

Related: Steal This Idea? DMO Initiatives

“On the border between Louisiana and the Lone Star State, Beaumont is a little bit Cajun, a lot Texan, and 100% unique for the South.” — Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau organized a one-day summer event, the Beaulympics, in partnership with 40+ local partners and the United Way. The five rings represent the major travel themes that best exemplify Beaumont with events in the categories of food/drink, kid-friendly, active/adventure, art, and Cajun culture. The event is expected to morph into a summer field day of sorts next year.

Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois launched a new multi-media paid advertising campaign, “Greatness Around Every Turn” running through Labor Day. The bureau partnered with Shift Agency to create videos highlighting active lifestyles and road trip adventures, plus ‘Live Like A Local’ themes focusing on the growing craft brewery and distillery culture, for example. The targeted campaign runs on Connected TV, social, and digital channels throughout the summer, targeting potential leisure travelers within in a four-plus-hour drive.

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Oklahoma is hosting The Thunderbird Drone Festival, a first-and-only event on Aug. 13-14, 2021 in Woodward, OK to showcase drone filmmakers from all over the world. There are FPV drone races, a 48-hour scavenger hunt contest from the air, and a drone technology expo at the in-person event taking place in a restored century-old arts theatre plus a 50,000-square-foot industrial warehouse.

Places in Recovery: Joints for Jabs, a Mega-Concert, 25 Skateboarders, and Bullet Point News Bites

June 15, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Washington State is handing out free marijuana with Covid-19 vaccinations because, why not? NPR reports that, ‘”Joints for Jabs,’ runs until July 12 and allows state-licensed dispensaries to give qualifying customers one pre-rolled joint at an in-store vaccination clinic.” An ABC news video reel here.

The program is run by the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board, which also “announced an incentive that allows breweries, wineries, and restaurants to offer free drinks to vaccinated adults.” There are more weed initiatives in other locations: Arizona‘s “Snax for Vaxx” campaign provides free joints and gummy edibles. In Washington, D.C., a cannabis advocacy group distributed joints at vaccination sites on April 20.

(*Christopher Postlewaite / NYC & CompanyCentral Park, Upper West Side, Manhattan*)

Its working title is: “The Official NYC Homecoming Concert in Central Park.” New York City is planning a mega-concert on the Great Lawn in Central Park, tentatively planned for August 21. Mayor de Blasio has called on the music producer guru, 89-year-old Clive Davis, to pull the all-star headliner acts together. It is likely that 60,000 people will attend in person and the three-hour concert will be streamed live on television as well. Sponsorship deals are in the works. Source: NYT

San Francisco may be the first American city “to reach the much-vaunted status of ‘herd immunity…'” say experts. This occurs when a significant percentage of the overall population is immune either through vaccination or from surviving a previous infection. People without immunity to a disease are indirectly protected by herd immunity. Source: The Guardian

Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is launching a $600K campaign, “Meet the Moment,” targeting meeting planners in key markets throughout the mid-Atlantic drive corridor.

“Our ads are hitting on digital platforms, and we will be positioning Philadelphia all summer long,” said Joe Heller, VP Marketing & Communications. “And we hope to be able to see an uptick in activity as far as our calls with people testing the waters.”

“Meet the Moment” campaign is supported by email and print communications plus in-person marketing efforts by sales staff.

*(Wonky camera angle, but straight-talking **Pres. & CEO Julie Coker**:*
*ABC8.com screen shot from an interview)*

In July, San Diego Tourism Authority will debut an $8 million marketing campaign running through 2021. Targeted largely on Western USA, the theme is “Happiness is calling you back,” with advertising on digital platforms, social media, broadcast and online television.

Kerri Kapich, COO, reported last week to San Diego City Council members, “It won’t be until 2025 when we will see a return to average daily rates. So as we have a very competitive market, much like what happened post 9/11, it takes time for all sectors of the tourism economy to return. Right now, we’re very dependent on leisure travel, and as we are able to see meetings and conventions, corporate travel, and international travel return, that is what will drive the revenues for the industry.”

Twenty-five of the world’s best skateboarders will meet in Jacksonville, Florida for the inaugural Street League Skateboard Championship, expected to draw 6,000 spectators in November. Duval County Tourist Development Council has agreed $175,000 in support from the city’s bed tax collections. Kona Skatepark (est. 1977) claims the world’s oldest operating skatepark from the Guinness Book of World Records.

*(www.commerce.alaska.gov/dcra/DCRArepoext/repoPubs/Photos/JUNEAU_003.jpg)*

In Alaska, the future of Travel Juneau, founded 35 years ago, is under discussion as the local assembly voted that the city’s arrangement with the DMO should move to a competitive bid. In local news coverage, President & CEO Liz Perry pointed out a “track record of bringing independent travelers and meetings to our community, and has long-standing relationships with media, meeting planners, travel agents and group tour operators.”

Visit Duluth is in the midst of an RFP process with their City…and news out of Juneau AK indicates that its DMO will be facing a similar gauntlet.” — Read an opinion from Bill Geist, “The Folly of Fair,” 6/10/2021.

::: Bullet Point News Bites :::

The CDC has created an updated and simplified mask guideline chart.
Some National Parks are closing their gates by 9 a.m., tweeting out “we’re full.” Others have two-hour lines.
TSA throughput passenger count topped 2 million last Sunday for the first time since pandemic hit.
U.K. has extended Covid lockdown, pushing out the planned re-opening date from June 21 to July 19.
American Express CEO says in May, U.S. travel bookings reached 95% of 2019 levels, dining at 85%.

Roundup: Louisville Gets the Coolest Airport Name & Québec City Has the Strangest Ad

June 1, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

“Fly like a butterfly…” Starting this June, you can fly into the newly named Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport that honors its native son. Even the airport logo, unveiled two years ago, is cool. It features a silhouette of Ali, arms held aloft in victory against the backdrop of a butterfly’s wings.

“It’s ironic that a man who left this city to embark on his first international trip with a fear of flying now has the airport, the place where he was welcomed back from that trip from the Rome Olympics as an Olympic gold medalist, now will bear his name,” Lonnie Ali said at the 2019 announcement. She said airport visitors “will feel that same welcoming embrace from the city and its citizens that everyone felt who met Muhammad.”

Québec City, closed to visitors, has produced a 3-minute YouTube video titled, “Let’s Enjoy Québec City While They Can’t.” It features people (actors) with cancelled plans chiming in (with English or French subtitles) from South Korea, France, and Mexico to look at the upside of not going there, saying things like, “Québec City isn’t really the place to lose weight.” The closing chorus of voices lament, “I’m super jealous. I wish I could be there. You’re so close, so get going. Go, go, go for all of us who can’t…” And finally, “What, you’re still here? It’s go time,” laughs a Frenchman (who cannot find history in France?)

https://youtu.be/UlGEa9f4B_Q

Created and produced by LG2 and NOVA Films, the campaign from Québec City Tourism (described as “disappointed travellers speak up on behalf of would-be visitors”) is aimed at residents in the province. With a budget of $3 million, it will appear on a variety of platforms, including TV, through media content partnerships, and on social media through September 26, 2021.

Meeting News

Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board has formed a partnership with CLEAR to use the Health Pass for secure screening at conferences. Meeting and event planners can take advantage of priority access to Health Pass, available free within the CLEAR app, to ensure expedited entry to events.

Las Vegas Monorail has started operating again and the convention center is preparing for the first large-scale convention in the USA since pre-pandemic times. The 2021 World of Concrete event will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center June 8-10. While expectations don’t run to the 50,000 – 60,000 attendees as in past years, “Las Vegas is seeing a surge of visitors again: ‘It’s like somebody turned on a light switch,’” reports The Washington Post.

On May 21, Washington, D.C. fully reopened for in-person meetings, conventions, trade shows and special events.

In San Francisco, the city’s largest convention, Dreamforce, re-booked for September 21-23 with a maximum of 5,000 attendees (per current guidelines) and mandatory vaccination. In previous years, there were 171,000 in-person attendees. Last year, streaming captured 140 million views, so that aspect of the Salesforce event is now baked in. “Salesforce worked with epidemiologist Larry Brilliant to develop safety standards and is also partnering with Marriott, the biggest hotel operator in San Francisco, on cleaning plans,” reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

In May 2020, VisitDallas became “the first destination to receive Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation designating Dallas hotels, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas and selected city-owned arts and cultural institutions as sanitary and safe.” Hyatt is the clear leader in accommodation. A list of about 50 accredited convention centers in the U.S. is found here and more about GBAC is found here.

Cruise News & Flight News

Cruises:
The CDC has relaxed requirements and protocols, dropped mask and distancing rules on cruises where passengers and crew are vaccinated to 95% or better and at least two weeks past their final dose of an approved coronavirus vaccine. Parts of the ship, such as casinos, spas and restaurants, can be designated for vaccinated individuals.

Crew vaccinations must be in accordance with CDC guidelines, at a minimum of 98%. Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Carnival Cruise Line have all announced plans to resume cruising this summer. — Source: Travel Weekly

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act has been signed into law, allowing large cruise ships to enter the state, relieving restrictions requiring a stop in Canada. In 2019, Alaska got about 60 percent of its summer tourists from cruise ships. — Source: Anchorage Daily News

Airlines:
TSA throughput shows over 1.95 million travelers on the Friday ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the highest figure reported since March 2020. Monday’s numbers also topped 1.9 million. In 2019, daily numbers were routinely more than 2 million daily. — Source: TSA

IATA projects air traffic during 2021 will be 52% of 2019, up slightly from the 50% that was forecast six months ago. Looking further ahead, IATA projects global passenger numbers will hit 88% of 2019 levels next year and exceed 2019 levels in 2023. — Source: IATA

American Airlines is working with mobile health partner Daon and its app VeriFLY to help customers verify they are vaccinated and ready to fly before they even set foot in an airport. Customers can download the app for free from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The VeriFLY mobile health passport is also available for American’s partners: Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Air Lines, and Qantas. — Source Insider Travel Report

Breeze Airways, headquartered in Salt Lake City and founded by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, commences operations to nonstop city pairs in underserved domestic air corridors such as: Norfolk to Charleston, Tampa, New Orleans, Columbus, Hartford, Pittsburgh, and Providence. From now through July 22, 39 routes are starting up priced from $39 one-way including one personal item and one carry on bag of <35 lbs. that fits into the overhead bin.

Black to the Future

National Blacks in Travel & Tourism Collaborative is partnering with the Cultural Heritage Alliance for Tourism, Inc., a Black-owned receptive tour operator based in Miami to launch the Black Cultural Heritage Road Trip. The Black Cultural Heritage Tours team is traveling throughout the U.S., curating local, immersive Black cultural heritage tour itineraries and experiences. “As the only Black-owned receptive tour operator in the U.S., our mission is to create inclusion and engagement of local Black cultural heritage community assets in the multibillion-dollar tourism industry, spurring economic growth and sustainability for small businesses and cultural institutions in underserved Black communities,” said founder Stephanie Jones.

Charlottesville and Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau has created Discover Black Cville following a series of meetings with about 50 stakeholders. The initiative aims to elevate local Black community storytelling while promoting local Black-owned businesses and attractions. Discover Black Cville is launching on Facebook and Instagram, as well as a landing page on the DMO’s website that highlights Black-owned businesses and Black historic sites. It also links to the Charlottesville Black Business Directory. The Daily Progress reports, “Courtney Cacatian said that when she started as executive director of the CACVB in August 2019, she began to meet with as many people as possible to find out how the tourism bureau could better serve the community.”

*African Meeting House,*
*National Park Service*

In Boston, a self-guided walking path, the Freedom Trail, has been drawing millions since 1951. Similarly, The Black Heritage Trail® covers 15 pre-Civil War sites around Beacon Hill, including the 1806 African Meeting House, the nation’s oldest surviving Black church and The Hayden House, a stop on the Underground Railroad. The walk includes a recently restored 19th century bronze relief facing the state house at the Boston Common, a tribute to the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 54th Regiment, one of the first African American regiments of the Civil War.

On its website, “Experience Bourbon City’s Black Heritage,” Louisville Tourism highlights 1-, 2-, and 3-day itineraries. Newest is the Roots 101 African American Museum opening on June 12, 2021 “…dedicated to telling the story of the African American Journey from Africa and all ports between.”

“Marriages“

Tech and Hollywood are committing to a landmark union; the Twitterverse is wondering if they did it for the future rights to Bond movies. Amazon is buying MGM Holdings for $8.45 billion. Keeping track of Amazon acquisitions?

Simpleview has invested in Stroll, a location-based marketing platform, aimed at helping destinations engage with visitors in real time based on interests and location.Stroll, founded in 2019, is developing Vibe Guide, a television show hosted by “Strollers,” or influencers who provide travel inspiration on destinations. Butch Spyridon, CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, a Stroll and Vibe Guide customer, adds: “Having the ability to deliver information based on a visitor’s location and interests will not only enhance the visitor experience, but it will also allow our member businesses to target their offer.” — Source: Phocuswire

*Photo: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:WikiPedant*

City Experiences [by Hornblower] continues its expansion of water- and land-based experiences with the acquisition of Niagara Falls’ leading whitewater jet boat tour experiences provider, Niagara Jet Adventures. The newly rebranded company operates dining, sightseeing and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S., Canada and the UK plus cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island, and Niagara Falls.

Trendspotter News

Last week, Google Travel announced an update that brings vacation rental properties into hotel search results for accommodations. While there is a vacation rentals filter, the default now combines both types of accommodation. Phocuswire reports, “Google says results are ranked organically based on relevance to the user’s query. The company would not provide a list of current supply partners, but searches on the site show listings from Tripadvisor, Vacasa, Red Awning, Sonder, Rentals United and others.” Expedia had pulled Vrbo listings in February; it’s “unclear,” says Phocuswire, whether Bookings.com or Airbnb are participating and that publication had no reply to a request for comment.

The Out-of-Doors Is In: According to Travel Weekly, tour operators specializing in outdoor adventures are saying: “We are literally filled up and can’t get any more space.” At Pleasant Holidays where 180 additional properties were added to tour package offerings, CEO Jack Richards said, “Our bookings for the USA are very close to 2019 levels, which was a record year for the company.” Also, “At the adventure company Backroads, founder and president Tom Hale said summer trips are mostly sold out,” reports TW. “‘We are overwhelmed,’ said Hale, who noted bookings are at ‘an absolute all-time high—by a long shot. We’re up over 40% than in 2019, which was our previous high watermark.'”