Naturally, as the pandemic hit, many hotels ended up seeing plummeting numbers. Marketing budgets were affected, and many hotels were figuring out next steps in how to survive.

Is it too early to think about holiday travel? Not entirely.

They provided some great insight regarding revenue and development strategies both in the current climate and as we move past this unprecedented period into a new normal and beyond.

Before diving into the trends, let’s take stock of where we are now. Labor Day weekend proved to be very interesting and very successful, at least in 2020 terms. The TSA reported its highest number of travelers since the pandemic began in March. On Sept. 4, 968,673 people passed through TSA checkpoints across the country. But that’s still nowhere near the 2.2 million passengers that the TSA processed exactly one year earlier, coming in at only 39% of the number of travelers screened during the same period in 2019.

In today's interview, I got to chat with a dear friend and bonified cruise industry expert, Stewart Chiron, AKA the Cruise Guy. Stewart and I have been connected on social media for over six years and finally met for the first time two years ago. It was on one of my first cruises that I finally met Stewart and was immediately impressed by his knowledge on the industry, the ships, and the trends. If it has anything to do with cruising, Stewart is the man to know. After all he has been on 275 cruises.

The cruise industry has com to a complete halt--not unlike many other parts of the travel industry. Realistically, it seems cruises might not start operating again from the United States until at least late September or October. Given that all continues to go as planned. Regardless, restarting operations is going to be a huge feat.

The industry has repatriate over 200,000 crew members... which means, the cruise lines are going to have to get all of those crew members back to their ships.

We will see some changes in cruising, at least in the shorter term.

Cruise lines will aim to have lower than max capacity. They are also looking to have shorter cruises. Pre-boarding protocols will be enhanced. Those cruise lines that have their own private islands will include stops there--particularly in the Caribbean. Cruises will start in some of the major ports, like Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston, TX.

There has been a lot of demand for 2021 sailings. Why not 2020? The biggest reason is because sailings aren't announced for 2020. Studies have shown that as soon as dates are announced--people will sign up--and destination is not even a big factor. People just want to cruise. Demand is very much based on "wait-and-see."

Prices are not going to drop as there is only going to be a limited number of cabins available. The confidence level in cruising is high. So for those hoping there will be discounts--think again.

The cruise lines will be looking to what hotels and airlines are doing--and will take the best business practices and apply them moving forward.

For those worried about the buffets, good news. The buffet on cruises will remain! It is the most efficient way to feed the number of people on a ship. They will have stations and there will be a gloved crew member at each station to help serve passengers.

All in all, the cruising experience will look a little different. But it is not going anywhere. At this point we just have to wait and see when the industry will get the green light from the CDC. Of course, there will be some trial and error at the beginning, but the industry will certainly thrive again.

For more on Stewart, check out his site at www.cruiseguy.com.

In usual form, John dove right in to talk about the big travel news of the day. Qantas Airlines just announced they would be ceasing all international flights until March of 2021. This is HUGE! Of course, with such a big airline taking such a big stance on operations, the question at hand is who else will follow suit? Time will tell.

For those eager to figure out a way to get to Europe this summer. So long as the travel ban is on, don't bother. As per a recent attempt by a few travelers who chartered a private plane to Italy, only to be fined and grounded long enough to let the pilots sleep. They were forced to come back immediately. The EU travel ban is a serious situation.

On a recent trip to Vegas, John shared his experience at Cesar's Palace as well as the Wynn. Biggest lesson: those hotels that stayed open throughout the pandemic are far more ready to handle guests right now.

Ultimately, if you are itching to get out of town, it is proving to be the summer of road trips. There are so many places to explore that aren't that far away. As airlines still try to figure out how to properly accommodate passenger loads and states continue to require quarantines--road trips seem to be the best options for those looking to get out of their homes.

Find him online to book a fab trip at www.surfcitytravel.com

Or on instagram at @johndekkertravel

As of July 1, European nations have opened their borders to residents of several countries deemed sufficiently under control. The US is not one of them. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, are some of the 15 countries allowed to enter.

This will be reviewed every two weeks. So the US could be added if the situation gets better. Also countries can be taken off the list if their situation worsens.

There are exceptions are for essential travel—specifically for health care workers, diplomats, transit passengers, students and “passengers traveling for imperative family reasons.”

For those still jonesing to get to Europe this summer?

Americans can still fly to Ireland and Britain. However, all visitors are required to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival or be subject to a hefty fine. If you think it’s a workaround by completing Britain or Ireland quarantine, and then try to travel onward to Europe from there… it’s not. You will have to prove you are a resident or have immediate family links in Europe. Quit trying while you’re ahead!

The great news is that Europeans will be able to move travel around the EU fairly freely, but the ramifications on the tourism industry will be huge. Much of Europe relies on American tourism dollars—More than a third of the annual spend happens during the peak summer travel season in Europe.

Large American based hotel chains, think Hilton and Marriott, will be hit hard—as they tend to have more luxury and upscale hotels in the market. Whereas, European-based companies like Accor have more midscale and budget properties within the EU—which is in their favor.

A big question I have been getting. If you have a flight to Europe, will you be able to get a refund? You should be entitled to either a flight credit or a refund, depending on when and type of ticket. Try to hold out for the airline to cancel your flight first for best chances on getting a refund.

Hope that explains the EU travel ban in more depth. Now let’s do our part—and reduce our numbers.

As the pandemic hit, it took many by surprise.

"Friday, March 13th I worked. And by the end of the weekend, the hotel was closed and I was asked to not come back."

Measures were strict from the start. No one was allowed to leave their homes unless it was to go grocery shopping or go to a doctors visit. Fast forward a few months, it has become clear that those strict measures helped as the number sin Spain have dramatically gotten better.

Although the hotel was closed, and Klaus was instantly removed from a normal schedule, he chose to focus on things that he could focus on. He made a program for himself where he concentrated on things he always wanted to do, but never had time to do. From yoga to piano courses to learning German, he found it gave him structure.

In Spain, their unemployment is structure that they get paid 70% of their salary. The Mandarin made a generous move and added an additional 10% to his unemployment pay. So in total, different hospitality workers were compensated 80% of their salary (before tips).

The country has also chose to take their time in reopening. With Spanish borders opening at the end of June, and the rest of the country opening in phases, the Spanish government recognized that reopening should be done cautiously. Of course the Spanish people--just like in the US--are ready to move on and get back to life as usual.

Some hotels are starting to open back up, but as the Mandarin has such a huge international clientele, they do not plan to fully open until September or so. Prior to that they will open their terrace on July 15th. Of course, there is so much that is uncertain, that things may change.

With recovery of the industry taking all forms and durations, for those of us in the industry, we often ask, how can we stay relevant. Klaus shared a few pieces of advice:

We have to remember, in a large company, we are just a number." On one hand, decisions are not personal. But on another hand, this is a great time for reassessing how much one wants to keep their job. If you want to go back to work soon, you have to prove your value to your property. He suggested taking the initiative to research and learn while being away from the hotel. Once a hotel is ready to have employees back, the best way to provide value is to stay informed, solidify your contacts, and actively provide a sense of security for guests.

He believes local and leisure travelers will be the first to lead the way in travel recovery--a sentiment shared by many others. This will also be a great way residents to experience local attractions they might not have ever taken the time to do.

But at the end of the day, we all are taking our time to Say YES to Travel as we will all be looking for experiences to continue enriching our lives.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-klaus-heldt-alonso-92b86470/

https://www.instagram.com/klausconcierge/

https://www.instagram.com/mo_barcelona/

https://www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona/passeig-de-gracia/luxury-hotel

Being the first female Les Clefs d'Or Concierge, and mind you, not that long ago, Holly so graciously explain: "It wasn't about being the first female. For me, it was about being passionate about my career. The fact that I was the first female was just a bi-product of being at the right place at the right time."

A true leader, Holly shared some interest insight on how the travel industry has changed over the years. Using the concierge as an example, it was about connection and access in the past. Now, as there is an abundance of information, it has now become curating special access. The change has been from information to experiences and curating information and special, unique, bragging rights things Ease, Access and Recognition.

"I think the essence has changed to Safety with Trust from Fun and Leisure." With the pandemic, the new currency of luxury travel is "safety" and trust.

During this time where we have been given a chance to "pause," Holly advised to really tap into our emotional intelligence and being conscious of everyone's circumstances. "We are all in the same storm, but we aren't all in the same boat."

She also suggests taking advantage of this time and making a point to be present. This is a time to surrender as we have never experienced anything like this before.

As the industry moves forward, Holly explained that hotels really need to think about how to provide "thoughtful" experiences. More than just paying attention to our guests, hotels should focus on their employees as well.

The key to not being replaced is by doing things that a robot can't do. A great concierge is all about relationships and human connections.

Although there is no definitive answer to what the future holds, she believes that younger people will lead the way and roadtrips will be all interesting.

"Again, we are guessing but first is the reluctant business traveller and then the super wealthy who can fly private. I think travel will change significantly and be like what it was in the 50’s a treat and for the rich."

Advice or thoughts on the travel recovery process:

"I have hopes about having a reciprocal relationship with Service Providers and Customers now that we have seen their value. It also depends on the demographic. People over 65 are pretty much staying put and playing it safe. Younger people will be happier to risk. It is about the belief system. There are people who think it is a hoax and many are not interested in complying."

Even though there is no definitive route to recovery, Holly knows that travel will make a comeback. The whole point is to just surrender to the process.

For more details on how to work with Holly Stiel and on her new course, Holly Now, visit her website.

https://www.thankyouverymuchinc.com/

https://www.hollynow.com/

"What has been so interesting about the pandemic is that has removed us from our borders."

Anna Endrihovskaia, a Les Clefs d'Or Concierge and Chef Concierge at the Moss Hotel in Moscow, shared on our recent talk. And she is right.

A long time friend through my concierge network, I was really eager to speak with Anna about her experience through the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly enough, there were parts of it that were very similar to our experience here in the United States. For one, as soon as the pandemic hit, the stores were all out of toilet paper.

More than that, as the Pandemic took over Russia, their "lockdown" seemed to happen overnight--around March 28th. The rules were far more strict than in the United States. They were only allowed to leave their homes twice within a week and had to fill out a form for a pass.

Times have been tough. A consummate professional, Anna always held an optimistic viewpoint. She used this time to spend with her family, but also shift into a more structured way of living.

All too often, hospitality professionals live a life based off of requests. Guest requests guide the day. Now, at a time when there are no guests, Ann learned to shift to a schedule that she made.

And in that she found appreciation for this "pause." Although, on the day of this interview, it was her first day back at her hotel. Unique to hear situation is that she is coming to work and not getting paid currently. In her case, she will have to work until her hotel starts generating money again to then pay her. They've chosen to pay certain employees, and managers are taking a pause from making money. It truly shows that hospitality runs in her soul.

The Moss Hotel in Moscow is Russia's first boutique hotel. Being a boutique hotel they have really been able to make some bold and unique choices, from their decor to their guest programming. And guests have really enjoyed it. One of their most recent endeavors has been creating short videos cooking with the chefs as well as sharing a brief history of boutique hotels while weaving in the Moss Hotel story.

Her advice to concierge and hospitality professionals during this time: take ownership of your hotel and get creative when it comes to designing new experiences.

Now is such a time for hotels to think outside of the box, and those that are doing so will come out of this pandemic as real winners. Of course, there will be no replacement for human connection. That above all will trump everything--even if we just have to get creative in how we make those connections.

https://www.mosshotel.ru/en/

https://www.instagram.com/aendrihovskaia/

https://www.instagram.com/mosshotel.moscow/

Don Mooney is the Head Concierge at the Fairmont Banff. More than that he is the President of Les CLefs d’Or Canada. For those who are unfamiliar, Les Clefs d’Or is the elite organization of hotel concierge. You know them when you stay at a hotel and they have golden keys on their lapels. I too am part of this organization.

Don’s hotel is truly a castle. I had the chance to go last year and it was incredible. They have been closed for the last few months and have only just reopened at the beginning of June. Imagine, normally a team of 30 concierge, Don is the ONLY concierge working now.

Of course, with doors opening they are starting to see leisure travelers come back. In this interview we talk about what the experience has been like during the off time and what it is like moving forward.

A true leader, Don mentioned that this “off” time was a great time to stay connected and stay supported. The concierge community is so passionate and proactive, that it has been so exciting to see a group of individuals stay so committed to their profession, especially when there is so much uncertainty around returning.

We touch on mental health as well, as these certainly are trying times. All too often in the hotel industry we gloss over mental health, but the issue is a big one–and one that Don has taken a point to always address. From guests to service workers, mental health is real and shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially now, many are struggling being home, some are devastated by not having work, and others are challenged with being alone. All are valid.

As for the experience in hotels now, Don shared what the new experience is like at the Fairmont Banff. From a near touchless check-in to no a valet, certain parts of the hotel are closed off and the restaurants are limited. Most guests seem to understand. A true spa destination, they are awaiting when they are able to offer those services again.

Of course, all of this is temporary, but it is interesting to hear from the ones on the ground. Hopefully once boarders between the US and Canada open again, you all can experience the incredible destination of the Fairmont Banff. And if you do, definitely say hi to Don Mooney.

Although many details are still being sorted out, ultimately, when it comes to dining, restaurants and guests are going to have to use their noodle—but maybe not figuratively as they did in this café in Germany.  

Here are five ways that the restaurant experience will change… even if just in the short term.

Less Tables and More Patios

In compliance with social distancing, restaurants will have to reduce their capacity by 50% or so, much of this by removing and rearranging their dining tables. In cases where they can, restaurants will also rely on their patio spaces or even look to building out patio space to expand both capacity and offerings.

Take-Out Windows

As many diners have gotten used to eating at home, takeout and delivery will become a larger part of the dining-out experience. Eateries will need to consistently deliver high quality takeout orders by updating their menus with dishes that travel well. This will be a shift for higher end restaurants, but as we have already seen with restaurants that remained open during lockdown, there is a proven demand for this.

More Combo and Pre-Fixed Options

We have seen this even in the world of food delivery, restaurants were starting to offer more combos and in the case of higher end restaurants, pre-fixe dining options on their menus. As restaurants open back up, there will be more of these offerings to target the budget conscious crowd.

Capping Large Parties

In the short term, restaurants will not be able to accommodate dinner restaurants for large parties. It seems likely that they will need to pause on accepting reservations of parties of more than 6 people—not only due to space, but just in an effort to manage social distancing.

Reservations Only

Long gone are the days of packed waiting areas for in-demand restaurants. Local hot spots will shift to being “reservations only” as a means to manage an even flow of diners throughout the evening. Restaurant goers will be encouraged to reach out to their favorite restaurants before just showing up once things reopen.

Well, those are five ways dining out will change moving forward.

So how do you see dining out changing? What will you miss most about eating in restaurants?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to share this video.

Until next time, see you then!

However, few are speaking out publicly, as CEOs of other major brands have chosen to address their companies internally.

I’ve had a few people ask me, “Why isn’t the travel industry doing more?”

Let’s look at the travel industry. It’s an industry trying to keep from drowning.

The U.S. travel industry is bogged down in its own business survival at the moment. With thousands of restaurants and hotels shuttered and airlines grounded, many of which may never reopen or fly commercially again, these businesses are occupied with figuring out how to keep paying bills.

We certainly can’t ask for money. Many are on the verge of bankruptcy and need that money for employees. But we could ask for them to pledge to hire more people of color moving forward and to promote more people of color from within.

Do they feel like their hands are tied? With big government bailouts, are big gestures too polarizing for an industry that needs all the customers it can get? I am not saying this is right, but I am exploring the possibilities.

So maybe it is not what the travel industry can do for the movement (though it can and will do more), but how we can USE the travel industry for the movement?

I come back to the purpose of travel. Why do we travel, and what can we learn from it? Travel is a means of breaking down walls and barriers.

A Skift article recently addressed this, and it is worthy of sharing:

“After all, the travel industry — in theory —should be built on inclusivity, because the foundation of travel is discovery, meeting and doing business with people from different cultures, races, ethnic groups, genders, and viewpoints, and breaking down barriers. Whether it is travel agents, flight attendants or hoteliers, travel staff should be almost inherently progressive if they believe in their companies’ missions, right?”

This is not to say that the travel industry is perfect.

“Even among some of the prominent companies that ‘talk the talk’ about diversity and inclusion, board membership tends to be majority white men, and too often, the old boys’ network is still running the show behind the scenes.

Let’s face it, too: With leisure and hospitality unemployment officially running close to 40% in the U.S., COVID-19 has wiped out diversity as a priority almost across the board. It’s often the way things go in business — last hired, first fired. Women and minorities in the travel industry find themselves disproportionately represented on socially distant or virtual unemployment lines these days.”

THE TAKEAWAY:

Don’t be too quick to judge the travel industry. And don’t get me wrong, there are so many part of the industry that need to be fixed, and from the top down. The travel industry has been knocked to the ground with the whole pandemic—before we kick them while they are down, let us see how they rise and address the elephant in the room.

This is not to give an excuse, but to look at the bigger picture as a whole. I expect some big announcements to come.

The travel industry needs to step up to support and nurture the forces of change — and it would be much better off for doing so.

All I can say is let’s see what they do and say and let’s continue to travel ourselves to open our minds, not only for ourselves but to the people we encounter.

Continue to say YES to travel, because that is the best way to move forward.

Stay Informed

Do not panic. Stay informed and be smart. Listen to the suggested precautions: wash hands frequently, avoid touching your face, reduce going to places with large crowds and practice social distancing. Assess your health honestly. Also, stay on top of new developments as this situation is VERY fluid.

And with this, consider the whole travel ecosystem. Travel is more than just planes and hotels, it is about the destination as well.

Best Way to Increase Your Chances of a Refund

Be specific with WHY you are cancelling. Everything is on a case by case basis right now. If you are cancelling because you are sick or you have a pre-existing health condition that puts you at high risk, let the company know. You will likely have to prove it with a doctor’s note, but companies are making exceptions for these cases. If you are just cancelling because an event got cancelled, you might be out of luck. Regardless, most companies are trying their best to work with everyone, given the circumstances.

Consider Postponing Instead of Cancelling

Especially if you are having a hard time getting a refund–get credit where you can and plan something later. There is no point in trying to push through and travel now. With so many attractions and activities closed, it is likely your destination will not be fully operational. Do you really want to go to a destination where everything is closed?

And don’t know when? Err on the side of safety and push it to early 2021.

Wait to Book

Have something you really want to book for? Aim to travel later–and by later, I mean much later– this year. The impact this is having on the travel industry is huge. I say focus on immediate needs, and then look to book closer to the date. Or snag a super cheap rate if you see one now–just triple check the cancellation policies.

Consider a Staycation or a Road Trip

Play up the staycation! Go to a fun hotel in your city, or drive to a nearby destination and escape for the weekend. This is a great way to scratch that travel itch while dipping your toes back into the travel waters. Check out local hotels, many are offering discounts.

Book Direct with Hotels and Airlines to Minimize Cancellation Fees

Hopefully you haven’t had to learn this the hard way, but if there is one tip you HAVE to take away from today, it is BOOK direct. Third parties usually add fees and extra red tape that no one needs if you are trying to change or cancel a flight.

Communication is Key

This applies to so many parts of travel, but it is so important. For example, uncertain about safety precautions where you will be staying? Check out the hotel’s website. Many are sharing what they are doing in regards to cleaning.

Call and Speak with someone at the hotel. Don’t just rely on notes made if/when you book online. State your preferences, allergies, sensitivity to chemicals ahead of time as there might less flexibility in moving rooms. There is more thought going into the preparation of your room. Might not be easy so change rooms. So be patient!

You also want to find out more about the destination. What are you planning to do while you are there? Contact the concierge at the property to get an idea on what might be open, from restaurants to activities. This way you can work together with a local.

Well those are a few travel tips for now and post-pandemic–but as I mentioned before, these are really great all around.

That being said, the two key components to travel recovery will be heavily reliant on “young” travelers (aka millennials and Gen Z) as well as domestic travel. Interestingly enough, the two do overlap, but they are significant enough that they need to be examined on their own.

So let’s go ahead and break down some interesting numbers shared this past week.

The Youth Will Lead the Travel Rebound

According to Trip.com, travelers born after 1990 accounted for more than half of the total bookings during the recent May Day break in China. Indicating that the industry as a whole should look towards millennials and Gen Z travelers to be the first to travel after the pandemic.

The Timeline for Air Travel

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that domestic air travel will return to 2019 levels by 2022. International long-haul travel on the other hand is not expected to match 2019 traffic until 2024.

I found this really interesting:

Last Monday, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson shared some interesting insights shared by travel analyst and executives—European Hotels might be among the last to recover. Understanding that domestic and drive-to destinations will rebound first, those destinations that rely heavily on air travel will simply not have the traffic. China and the U.S. will recover sooner as they have a stronger domestic traveler base than European countries. The exception being Germany. Germany only relies on 18% of it’s tourism to come from International Countries. And if we are to see similar rebounding patterns to what we saw with the recent Labor Day holiday in China, the strong domestic travel base is likely a benefit for German hotels, which are expected to begin reopening to tourists later this month.

46% of tourism to Paris and Istanbul, stems from long-haul travel, the highest percentage of any European cities in the Tourism Economics data. For Lisbon it is 44 %, Rome is 43%, and Barcelona and Madrid get 40% of their tourism from longer, international flights. On the other side of the spectrum, and why I brought up Germany, is that Berlin is the only German city came up in the top 15 European cities for international travel. Berlin gets only 21 % of it’s tourism from long-haul traffic.

That’s it’s for today’s dive into travel industry numbers. I hope you learned something new, or were inspired to think about the travel industry recovery in a different way.

“At first, I didn’t think it was that serious… but then as more people were getting the virus… I started to panic because our occupancy was about 3%… at then at some point I thought, I don’t think we should be open. I don’t feel safe anymore.”

April’s story is not unlike many people who work in hotels and even airlines. The pandemic was thrust upon us, and as the world tried to figure out the severity of the virus, many hospitality workers continued to go to work. Until the very last minute, people like April had to go to work and risk coming into contact with the virus. It was certainly a very challenging time.

Coming out of this, April figured that Los Angeles might not open back up until August. This interview happened in the last week of March, and just now in the middle of May, Los Angeles has just announced extending Stay At Home orders until the end of July.

There is no question the severity of COVID-19, and although we are well into two months of shut down, we still are cautious about what the future holds.

The Biggest Life Lesson From the Pandemic:

Make sure you save your money as you never know when something like this will happen.

April was also one of the first wave of people in Los Angeles to take a corona virus test. It proved to be challenging because at the beginning, tests were not readily available. But it was about taking ownership of the fact that she worked at a hotel and around people–so she knew she needed to be responsible and get checked. Once she found out that she was not positive, it was naturally a big relief.

April, like many other travel lovers, is looking forward to stay at hotels in the future. Yes the experience might change, and cleanliness is of the utmost importance, but for her, she travel is about the experience.

That being said, that is a big part of what we are looking for in the future–the experience of travel. As we all know it will change, but we will be able to explore the world again… it just might take some time.

If you want to find out more about April Blackwell, find her online at:

Instagram @april_is_b.well.mgmt

Of course, we all love to travel, but now is simply not the time for it. Yet, it is a really great time to “child’s pose” and reset. This is a time where we are shifting schedules, priorities, and rediscovering the gift of time. And in this time, hopefully we can explore making better health decisions.

People take their health for granted when they are traveling, sacrificing quick and easy over healthy–and that is not always the best choice.

So often we tend to think about what we can’t have. But with a mental shift, she encourages people to think about what they can gain. Of course, this is not to say that times are tough and difficult, but a mindset shift is so important. And the silver lining, we are in this together.

As an industry, it will take a solid year or more to get back to where it was. And of course, we are all panicking. The underlining sentiment is: When you focus on what you CAN control, you feel empowered.

Travel is not going to go back to being the same. This is a wake-up call that we need to start implementing healthier travel habits and for businesses to take ownership and duty of care for their employees. Companies will have to be more mindful of sending their employees on business trips after the pandemic. The change will be slow coming out of it, but ultimately, it will change for the better.

She also shares that this might even inspire airlines to look at their offerings in a different way. Of course, there will be a high focus on cleaning standards, but what about snacks and in-flight offerings. With a whole shift towards health, she hopes that airlines will make better decisions on behalf of their passengers.

Healthy Travel is so much more than free yoga classes. From to snacks offered in the lobby, room services menus, dining options, there is so much opportunity for hotels to make change. And we think travelers will be there to embrace it.

All in all, she believes that travelers will be expecting healthier options. Only time will tell if the industry step up to the plate.

This pandemic has only proven how connected the world is. Each of our decisions can and does have an impact on others–even if it is halfway around the world.

More about Sara

Everyone loves the story of a survivor but the road to becoming one requires the curiosity, strength and courage of a warrior.

“Living Cancer Free” is an auto-biographical story by 15-year cancer survivor, Sara Quiriconi, Live Free Warrior. Self-proclaimed the modern day Holden Caulfield with a cancer twist, Quiriconi cites her history and real-life “cancerous” struggles with anorexia, bulimia, alcohol addiction, lymphoma cancer, divorce, PTSD, unfulfilling jobs, and more. This true story is not just for someone experiencing an actual diagnosis, but rather anyone seeking the light within their own darkness, or “cancers”.

Be sure to find her online:

https://www.instagram.com/livefreewarrior/

https://saraquiriconi.com/.

As the pandemic started and travel restrictions started falling into place, it was pretty clear that the United States was going to be hit pretty hard. Hindsight is always 20/20. Could we have locked down earlier? Sure? But we have never been in this situation before. Instead of focusing on what we could have done better or faster, it is important to focus what we can do now.

Businesses being closed and travel restrictions are not an over-reaction. It is appropriate. Again, this is a situation that we have never been in before, so it is paramount that we are cautious and following the guidelines of the WHO, CDC, and the government. How long it will take to “flatten the curve” depends on so many factors, but it is important to follow Stay At Home orders to help alleviate the medical system, minimize exposure, and ultimately passing on the virus.

Interestingly enough, when we think about the medical industry, many of us assume it is insanely busy everywhere. But that is not the case. ER volume is down in smaller markets, like in Cleveland. People are scared to seek medical attention for things that are not coronavirus-related. So the medical system is in an interesting place right now. It is operating at max capacity in hotspots like New York City, but in other cities, not as much.

Ultimately, there is no vaccine yet, and that is where we stand. Or course, there has been talk about different medications, such as the famed Malaria drug. But it is always important to remember that with every medication, there are side effects. Prescribing any sort of medication must be carefully weighed. Currently this Malaria drug is not a sure thing, as testing is still underway.

There have been so many misconceptions regarding the virus. From age to chronic health conditions, there hasn’t been one factor that guarantees you will be sick. As our understanding of this disease has changed, and continues to change, we have to remember that no one is immune to it. On the other side of things, we have to remember that is not an automatic death sentence if you get it. We have to keep things in perspective.

Alex left us with some great advice:

Remember, the best thing is to avoid contact with other people. Be aware of what you are touching, from items to your face. Wash your hands often. And use common sense. It is OK (even encouraged) to be outside to get fresh air and to work out, just be mindful of being around others.

For more info on Alex and his company, check out:

888 AM~PM DOC ~ Toll Free Emergency Hotline

www.ampmdoc.com

https://www.instagram.com/dabittnah/.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. But we are going to get through it. I am just trying to remain positive and supportive of everyone in the travel industry right now.”

Airlines within the US are averaging passenger loads operating at 97% down. “On planes 1that can carry 150-190 seats, I’m seeing them only carry 1-30 people.” These numbers are staggering. Without a vaccine or an end in sight, it is really tough planning for the future.

“Being a Captain and being a leader, I have to promote positivity. We will bounce back stronger… This is a tough reality. There are so many people losing jobs. It’s about everybody. It’s hard for me to see.”

The biggest changes that he has seen are airports that are just empty. What used to be an exciting, bustling hub connecting people, airports are now ghost towns.

He hopes that by the summer, people will want to get back to “normal.” “I believe humans want to travel, they want to see, they want to make money.

As far as getting back to the numbers we were operating at before the pandemic, realistically it might take 18 to 24 months.

Naturally, there will be more regulations moving forward. What those actual changes will be has yet to be determined, but it is fair to hope that most people will be a little more mindful of their behaviors on plane.

This current periods feels more like a pause. It almost doesn’t seem real. But Captain Hunter remains a positive outlook. Hopefully with this time away from our normal routines, experiences will be a priority for travelers. “We will travel again.”

With over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, he knows everything about the industry. John Dekker dives into the interview sharing tips that all travers can immediate use.

TRAVEL TIP: If you have a flight and need to cancel, wait. If you cancel now, you will get a credit for a future flight, but if you wait, the flight might get canceled. If an airline cancels a flight, you are due a 100 percent refund.

Another great way to get in touch with airlines when the phone lines have long waits is via social media. Twitter is a great way to get in touch with someone from an airline.

Travel Agents are the way to go when it comes to booking travel. OTAs (Online Travel Agents) are much trickier to get refunds and can often times charge additional change fees.

Dekker sees airline travel becoming more expensive in the future. There are great deals now, so if you can, take advantage. But as travel comes back, he sees airlines not coming back as quickly as the demand–thereby making airfare more expensive.

Dekker believes that domestic travel will come to a full stop. The hope is that we come out of this at the end of May, but this is still a big question. Domestically, travel will prove to be tricky as different parts of the country will be on different timelines in regards to the pandemic.

OTAs will suffer greatly from this pandemic, but he foresees more companies selling direct-to-consumers on discounted platforms.

Cruising is expected to bounce back as there are die-hard cruising fans that will not be deterred by the pandemic and the bad press the cruise industry has had.

Airbnb/VRBOs should do well coming out of the pandemic. There is a different mindset when it comes to staying at a home versus a hotel.

Ultimately, this pandemic will shake out the low hanging fruit of the travel industry. The businesses that were doing well before will continue to do well afterwards.

Find him online to book a fab trip at www.surfcitytravel.com

Or on instagram at @johndekkertravel.

Numbers are down over 70%. This is a very eerie time, as the whole travel industry is coming to a complete stop. But what can we expect in the future? Higher cleaning standards, that’s for sure. In the meantime, if you have extra money, take advantage of cheap prices and flexible cancellation policies.

Faver predicts that it will take some time getting out of this and about 18 to 24 months to see numbers where they were before. People will either come out of this needing to travel or come out of this with a more cautious attitude. Ultimately, there is so much uncertainty, it is hard to pinpoint.

There could also be a shift in mindset when it comes to business travel, with more businesses potentially opting for virtual meetings.

Another big question is how the industry will return to normal on a global level, since all countries will come out of the pandemic on a different timeline.

With everything being cancelled, from big concerts to sporting events, there are few reasons to travel right now other than to visit family or if you are a medical professional looking to go to other markets to help.

Generally, airlines average $10-12 billion per month. So, with percentages dipping by as much as 80-90%, we can get a picture of the immense numbers we are dealing with.

Companies that hold off on laying off people will be in a better position when they come out of this, as they will still have employees to go back into work.

Look for record deals as we come out of this, but ultimately keep personal finances in mind, and expect business travel to come back first, then leisure travel.

A big thank you to Chris Faver. Find him online at https://www.instagram.com/chris.faver/.

With no end of the Stay at Home mandate in sight, this is a scary time for hoteliers. What does the future hold? How will things change? What can we expect? Though there is some speculation on how this all will play out, with a long 18 month recovery, there is still much that is up in the air. Calvin shares his insights on what lessons we can learn from Covid-19.

The travel and tourism sector makes up 1/10th of the global job market. The hit is taking will inevitably have a huge economic impact that will take years to fully recover.

Regardless of when we are able to go back to work, this will be a slow climb back to the bustling travel world we once knew–anywhere from 18-24 months.

New protocols will likely develop from this, especially new cleaning requirements and possible hybrid roles to cut costs until occupancy comes back.

Business travelers will be the first to get back on the road and travel. Leisure travelers, influenced by financial struggles and COVID-19 wariness, will trickle back into the market.

It is safe to assume that domestic travel and roadtrips will be popular in the months after resolving the Pandemic.

The hospitality industry has become ravaged, coming to a complete standstill until the spread of the virus is contained. Airlines are operating at 30% of their capacity and many of the largest travel destinations in America such as New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas have closed their hotels and furloughed their employees.

How are we going to recover? What is the timeline? What can we expect? The big thing with all of this is the unknown. With unknown variables about the virus still in the air, when can we expect to go back to work and what will the long term ramifications of coronavirus be on every industry? Dandashy gives her perspective on how the industry should react and make it out the other side intact.

Despite a climate of political and health-related fear globally, air travel rates are currently up for 2020. Dandashy said “people still want to escape winter into warm getaways.” Listing popular warm-weather destinations, Dandashy noted international locations like Mexico, The Bahamas, and Jamaica are favored this year.

“How much we see whether it’s in film or TV, it actually affects where we want to travel to,” Dandashy pointed out, especially referring to Jamaica as it is featured in an upcoming James Bond movie. Another “interesting choice people are making,” Dandashy said, is London and the United Kingdom.

As for domestic destinations for spring break travel, Orlando is the number one trend. People are “looking for theme park capital of the world,” Dandashy highlighted. Other popular domestic destinations include Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York City, Ft. Lauderdale, and more. Dandashy talked about her own great experiences traveling to Florida for spring break as a child.

“Take advantage of your spring break,” advised Dandashy, even offering the advice to “take a staycation,” to those who can’t travel far or for a lengthy time this year. The “notion of spring break shouldn’t die with getting out of school,” she also advised working professionals without children. Even if it’s just a long weekend, Dandashy said, there are “so many ways to travel and explore…it’s quite refreshing.”

“When thinking about luxury, especially luxury hospitality, a lot has changed,” said Dandashy. “It has changed immensely. And I think for the better. People are now looking for different things out of luxury travel.”

As to what specific things people are looking for, Dandashy mentioned the experiences people seek out are now geared towards meaning and uniqueness over luxury at any cost. Even the way people receive their experience is different, with technology playing a role in everything from how dinner reservations are made, to matching up a travel client’s preferences with new experiences. “There is always going to be an element of someone looking for that ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ travel experience,” Dandashy said, “But today, for most luxury travelers, it’s so much more than that. It’s about finding meaning in those experiences.”

Get more tips and great information from Sarah Dandashy by subscribing to the podcast and catch all of the episodes of Say Yes to Travel.

For over a decade, Allianz has compiled their Vacation Confidence Index, surveying travelers on their vacation plans and spending while monitoring consumer perspectives on emerging travel trends. The trends and statistics that surfaced for 2019 were quite surprising:

• 57% of Americans did not take a leisure trip longer than four nights in 2019.
• In fact, 72% of the Millennial, 69% of the Gen-Xer and 60% of the Baby Boomer generations took advantage of at least one micro-cation instead.
• Further, mini-vacations are rapidly replacing the traditional week-long vacations of the past, with almost 2 in 10 Americans (18%) stating that their longest trip in the last year was 3 to 4 nights, while 1 in 10 (11%) took trips that lasted no longer than 1 or 2 nights.
• With 25% of the general population and 29% of Millennials (1 in 3) saying that they took at least three micro-cations in the last year, micro-cations seem to be allowing Americans to travel more frequently.

A huge fan of combining business and leisure trips—BLeisure trips, as she calls them—Dandashy states, “What we’re basically seeing is people just aren’t taking advantage of their vacation time, and so they’re really looking to add on to weekends and to really kind of like increase these little vacations.” She goes on to say, “Personally, what I love about this is it allows you to explore more destinations. Instead of now choosing that one long week a year or, you know, a week and a half and then you decide to go to whatever city, now, you can have these mini-vacations, and next thing you know, you’ve gone to five different cities in a year. And maybe you use like the same vacation time, but you got to experience so much more.”

Hear Sarah Dandashy as she explains what drives longer vacations for the more seasoned generations, how micro-cations allow you to diversify your vacation eggs into several baskets, the untapped U.S. cities that lend themselves to micro-cations, and more by listening to the podcast.

Among the trends discussed, a few are not surprising because they’ve been developing for the past couple of years. For example, “microcations,” which are now dubbed “tiny trips,” have been growing in popularity. They are expected to continue to rise as people squeeze travel in long weekends instead of taking a whole week off for vacation.

Other trends that are continuations of recent fads include vegan-friendly options and traveling with pets. Evidence of the pets trend can be seen as some hotel even adopt animals as their mascots to encourage visitors to bring their fluffy companions along.

New trends are also discussed. “Country coupling,” for instance, is a term for squeezing two trips into one. Travelers start their trips in one location and then move onto a second one nearby in order to gain multiple experiences conveniently. This is especially popular in Europe, where traveling from country to country is quick. In larger countries, like the United States, “country coupling” may involve visiting two states or cities in one trip.

The rise of train travel, new types of cruise experiences, and “Spartan travel” are also shared in this episode. Tune in to get the details of these trends and share your thoughts.

You can also listen to previous episodes of Say Yes To Travel here.

However, coronavirus is somewhat unique. While it’s not been as deadly as SARS, it’s much more contagious and has spread rapidly in a short period of time from first recorded cases in Wuhan, China. Its quick expansion has put a damper on what was shaping up to be a huge travel year.

So, what should travelers know? First, there are some best practices you should always consider when traveling like proper handwashing, sanitizing common areas on airplanes, and covering your mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing. This behavior can keep you safe from all kinds of germs or from spreading them yourself.

If you have plans to travel to China or other parts of Asia, you will likely have to reschedule, as many airlines have grounded flights, and hotels are allowing customers to cancel without penalty. Having travel insurance for such this kind of emergency is never a bad idea.

With travel halted to and from China, the global travel economy is taking a huge hit. Chinese travelers represent the fourth largest market for outbound travel, spending $275 billion in 2019. That means that destinations across the world will see a hit to their bottom line.

The best-case scenario is that things are contained, and travel bans are lifted. Be sure to keep an eye on the news from the World Health Organization. Become part of the discussion by listening to the podcast and sharing feedback or stories about the virus’ impact on travel.

Sarah shares that travel is on the uptick as people have begun to focus on experiences over things.

Here are her tips to make sure 2020 is a year of travel for you.

• Use your vacation days: Did you know that 55% of U.S. workers don’t use all their vacation days? Crazy, right. We often get caught up in the day to day and forget to take a break, but taking the time to relax, explore, and change your view can help you reset.
• Take micro-cations: Maybe you don’t have the time or money to travel across the world, but you can plan shorter trips to nearby cities and states. Make use of those long weekends where you already have a day off.
• Start to save: Cost is one of the biggest inhibitors to travel. Make a point to put aside a small amount regularly, and soon you’ll have the cash you need to say yes to travel.
• Use your points: There are so many great travel credit cards out there that can help you with flights and hotels. Don’t forget about your frequent flyer miles and free hotel nights, either.
• Travel solo: If finding the perfect travel companion is keeping you from seeing the world, do it on your own. Then it’s truly your vacation.
• Get help: If you aren’t sure where to go or how to get there, work with a travel agent. Their knowledge and expertise can assist you in making decisions.
• Book responsibly: Plan ahead and think about travel insurance to protect your trip in case something happens.

Get more tips and great information from Sarah by listening to the podcast and stay tuned for new episodes of Say Yes to Travel.