Skift Take
In Skift's top travel stories this week, travel industry leaders are outraged about the Congressional impasse over additional relief monies, Skift Research captured the impact of the pandemic in one GIF, hotels are partnering with co-working companies, and various companies are advocating for digital health passports.
Throughout the week we are posting original stories night and day covering news and travel trends, including on the impact of coronavirus. Every weekend we will offer you a chance to read the most essential stories again in case you missed them earlier.
Leaders of Devastated Travel Industry Lash Out at President Trump’s Decision to Delay Relief Talks Until After Election: Donald Trump’s tweet on Tuesday afternoon was stunning even for this president. You could feel the anguish throughout the travel industry, which had still had been holding out hope for more federal relief to help its workers and to keep others in their jobs.
The Fall of Travel in 2020 in a Single GIF: By early April, the travel industry’s performance stood at 16 percent compared to last year. Since then, recovery has taken shape differently in each of the 22 countries Skift tracks, but still no country records above 60 percent of pre-Covid performance.
Hotels Partnering With Co-Working Companies Signal a Pandemic Trend Could Be Here to Stay: The hotels-as-office trend is exploding, but partnerships with a workplace provider like Industrious could give the trend longevity well beyond when hotel rates and occupancy go back to pre-pandemic levels.
Hotel Giant IHG Data Shows Younger Travelers Now Prefer Much Shorter Booking Windows: Hotel booking trends have shifted to much smaller gaps between making a reservation and check-in during the pandemic. That’s a forecasting headache for labor and costs, even if you are focused on the stronger drive-to travel sector like IHG.
Big Names In Travel Back CommonPass, New Digital Health Passport to Restart Travel: Several big names are linked to this pilot, not the least of which are the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and The Rockefeller Foundation, and to other schemes afoot. But are they the answer to restarting travel, and can they convince governments that Covid-19 testing, not quarantines, is the best way to reopen borders?
United Tests Bundling Flights With Meeting Space for Remote Workers in Subscription Model: As many companies opt out of their long-term leases for some of their offices, they face a new need for more team gatherings to ensure collaboration and company culture among distributed teams. This trend is an opportunity for the travel sector.
Selina Nabs Remote Year in Bet on Subscription Travel for Digital Nomads: This deal between the lodging brand and the co-working program could not have come at a better time. Selina has the real estate that Remote Year needed to be cost-effective, and Remote Year has the digital nomads Selina could use to drive its growth.
This Company Is Travel’s First to Emerge From a Major Pandemic Bankruptcy The European and Chinese backers of travel agency WorldStrides seem to think there’ll be a rebound for international student travel. Do they know something we don’t?
Brazilian Airline Azul Embarks on an Unconventional Path to Recovery: All airlines are unhappy in the pandemic. But Azul is unhappy in its own way. Its strategic verve stands out.
A Return to Sailing Still in Flux for Major Cruise Lines as Grim New Reality Sets In: While cruise companies grapple with another no sail order extension from the U.S., offering up clear communication about heightened health protocols could steer the industry into a better position with regulators.
More Destinations Start Offering Free Medical Coverage to Attract Travelers: Will It Bring Them Back?: With continued uncertainty, destinations, airlines, and hotels are offering free or low-cost Covid medical coverage to boost consumer confidence. That’s all great. But it will take additional innovative safety measures to attract tourists in large numbers for the upcoming winter season, as travel remains a risky proposition.
Embattled Carnival CEO Boasts the Cruise Giant’s Universal Covid Tests Are Unmatched in Travel: Initial test sailings in Italy have boosted the cruise company’s confidence. The U.S. will no doubt be watching Carnival’s next sailings in Germany with interest.
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Tags: azul, carnival, coronavirus, cruise, destinations, ihg, roundups, top stories, united airlines
Photo credit: Pictured is the U.S. Capitol on October 7, 2020. Travel industry officials are upset about the lack of a Congressional agreement to provide more coronavirus-relief aid to forestall furloughs and layoffs. Thomas Dwyer / Flickr.com