Travel's Reopening and Coronavirus Recovery

Airlines shed jobs at the fastest rate since 1990 this fall as they slashed costs to weather the coronavirus pandemic. With prospect of additional federal relief still mired in politics, very real questions remain about the industry's ability to ramp up flights once travelers — and the economy — return.

Uncontrollable crowds and travel-induced community disruption happen in even less-visited tourist destinations, says a leading tour operator. His message: Don't waste an opportunity like the pandemic. Please don't rebuild to just the way things were at the end of 2019.

The Covid crisis seems to have softened some of the hostilities between cities and short-term rental players. The idea of the two sides working together was once anathema, but certainly seems possible as long as their thinking keeps evolving.

Every company goes through growing pains, but Airbnb can't forget what initially drew so many travelers away from hotels and into the short-term rental sector.

Shaikha Mai could become the first woman to lead the United Nations World Tourism Organization. She's a triple threat: a trailblazer in sustainability through heritage preservation, decades of public-private leadership, and an influential Arab female in global tourism. Mai could be just what the industry needs as it seeks to “build back better” post-Covid.

The U.S. hotel sector continues to add jobs since its worst-performing month of April, but there are likely a rough few months ahead for unemployment until a vaccine is in widespread distribution.

Marriott still sees Homes & Villas as a small part of its entire business. But the platform grew by eight times its launch size in less than two years and added 4,000 listings just since October — a rare hotel industry silver lining for 2020.

Airbnb likely isn't shaking in its boots over Accor ramping up short-term rental offerings. If anything, it shows hotel companies increasingly recognize travelers expect brands to offer more variety than the four walls of a typical hotel room.

The hotel industry should have reason to celebrate no matter what kind of economic relief Congress passes — but passage won’t come easy if Senator McConnell is willing to ignore even the bipartisan bill announced this week.

The lack of clarity surrounding EU-UK travel regulations in 2021 is causing concern among European Union destinations as well as tourism service providers. But the biggest deterrent to consumer confidence could be the continued lack of consensus on travel health protocols.