MADRID, Sept. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Travel-Awards.Org invites you to the virtual event World Travel Summit 2020that will take place as an online conference, with a live broadcast, accessible from anywhere in the world.

The Conference will feature talks with top travel leaders, who will lead us on what the future may look like for the travel industry. This is the global event essential for all hospitality industry professionals to attend in order to learn how to work towards recovery.

Date:Monday, September 7th, 2020

Time:09:00 EST - 18:00 EST (Eastern Timezone)

Featured talks:

Listen to leaders of the global travel and tourism industry from: ASIA & OCEANIA

AMERICAS

EUROPE & AFRICA

Can't attend live?Recordings will be available on-demand later on http://www.travel-summit.com

Travel-Awards.Orgrepresents the global sector of Travel & Tourism, with a mission to recognise and award the best hospitality practices. Changing the world's best hospitality practices one step at a time. Travel AwardsInternational Advisory Board of Directors,a uniquely influential groupfrom private and public travel sector,have the great honor and responsibility for guiding the travel industry withglobal ratings toward more sustainabletravel & tourism sector. Travel-Awards.OrgAdvisory Board of Directorsapproves the global rating guideline and the 9 judge panel for the The World's Best Luxury Awards (TWBLA)& Travel Awards (TA). Enjoy unlimited benefits from publishing your business with Travel-Awards.Org - the world's best luxurytravel award program of professional recognition. http://www.travel-awards.org

Media Contact:Theo Nanea, Travel-Awards.Org[emailprotected]+34/644210337

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Travel-Awards.Org to Host the Virtual Conference World Travel Summit 2020, Under the Theme "Travel - In The New Normal" - PRNewswire

Q&A

There are less than 100 luxury spas worldwide with a Forbes' five-star rating. We chatted with the spa director, Verena Lasvigne-Fox, on the heels of the announcement.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

Theres no denying that Philly has seen a boom in alternative healing esoteric practices like crystal healing and reiki, tarot reading, and sound baths are on the rise. And, in this case, theyre literally on the rise: appearing in full force on the top of the Comcast Center, in what is now one of the most highly-rated luxury spas in the world.

Yep, thats right: The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and the Spa at Four Seasons just became the first hotel and spa in the city to receive a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranking. Theyll both be appearing in the upcoming Forbes 2021 guide. With this announcement, the Spa joins an elite group of less than 100 luxury spas across the world with a five-star rating. (Forbes Travel Guide has long been a global authority on luxury hospitality their inspectors travel the magnificent spaces of the world incognito, assessing restaurants, spas, and hotels based on 900 objective standards. Tough life.)

The new Four Seasons, helmed by general manager Ben Shank, opened its doors last August to great fanfare: It was called the most-anticipated hotel of the decade, and stands as highest-situated hotel in all of North America. It boasted fine dining from the likes of Greg Vernick and Jean-Georges Vongerichten oh, and a spa way, way up in the air it sits high above the honking and jaywalking of Philly streets, perched on the 57th floor, with an infinity-edge pool and 700 pounds of healing crystals concealed in its walls.

The luxury-meets-New-Age spa design plan came about based on a vision from Verena Lasvigne-Fox, the senior director of the spa. She was born in Germany, speaks three languages, and has done stints at tony Four Seasons hotels in Paris, Seychelles, and Marrakech. In short, she has a practiced eye for trends with staying power, which is probably why its not just the expected silky soft robes, expert body and facial treatments, and deftly curated lounge areas that youll find here though those are all present, too. Instead, The Four Seasons Spa is a whole vibe, man. The crystals, by the hundreds, are not only invisibly embedded in the walls, but a common thread on the menu, with signature treatments focused around the purportedly therapeutic gemstones.

We chatted with world-traveling spa expert Lasvigne-Fox on the heels of the award to find out more about therapeutic crystals, luxury service, what makes her spa here in Philly such a knockout and how shes running things during COVID-19.

Crystals in the walls of the Four Seasons Spa; spa director Verena Lasvigne-Fox. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

Phillys spa scene has been expanding over the last several decades. What makes the Four Seasons Spa a unique experience?

Certainly the location on the 57th floor the stunning view of Philadelphias North, East and South sides. We have an amazing indoor Infinity Edge pool. Theres a 30-foot high ceiling. Then, of course, theres our crystal theme. We have over 700 pounds of crystals embedded into our walls that spread positive energy and vibes throughout our floor. They were placed there by our crystal healer, Ms. Rashia Bell. Shes a native Philadelphian and a previous Pennsylvania Ballet dancer, and also works in our New York location.She re-energizes the space every six months to make sure that the crystals are activated again. She also provides energy healing services to our guests.

The crystal vision speaks to our time people are very compelled by alternative methods of healing. I think its a smart incorporation into a luxury spa like this. How did that vision come about?

I came up with the crystal theme, and then I reached out to others to help make this a meaningful concept. The idea of the crystals in a wall was really born between Rashia Bell and I. I think there was an authentic wish to create something that made sense with the location. Were on top of the Comcast Technology Center that actually uses crystals than you can think of microchips, phones there was clearly this balance to strike between high-tech and low-tech. The choice of crystals clearly was justified by the location. It was logical for me.

A sound bath session at the Four Seasons Spa. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

Crystals and sage-burning at the Four Seasons Spa. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

A treatment room at the Four Seasons Spa. | Photography courtesy Four Seasons.

How does this theme play out in the treatments?

We have seven treatment rooms named after specific crystals like citrine and amethyst, and then in each room, a crystal singing bowl that starts each treatment. Its played to activate and harmonize the crystals that are in the walls of that room. We have signature treatments like a crystal oil massage. At the end of those treatments, the guest leaves with a crystal, to take this moment home with them. We have a relaxation lounge with a set of calming soothing stones, like rose quartz, moonstone, and green and blue calcite.

What else will visitors notice that stands out while visiting the spa?

The spa also contains a fitness center, relaxation lounge with zero gravity chairs, a hair and nail salon, dry sauna, and steam room. We offer a variety of treatments, and a wide-ranging menu of facials designed for darker skin tones by Dr. Barbara Sturm like the 90-minute Super Rejuvenating Facial. (Note: Allfacials are currently on hold due to COVID-19 precautions.) I am also proud of our lifestyle boutique. We work together with different jewelry brands and a brand that does leather handbags from Italy she is very exclusive. People love to shop here, because of the offers we have you can not find somewhere else in the city. Our relaxation lounge is stunning. The wave lounger in our relaxation lounge overlooking South Philadelphias cityscape feature a sleek, zero gravity design with the manufacturers (Living Earth Crafts) renowned Strata memory cushioning system.

Youve worked all over the world. What is it like managing a spa in Philadelphia, as opposed to Marrakech or Paris?

Im German, and my eleven years in Paris for my first employment it was such a refined hotel. It develops your eyes for details and your taste for refinement and your knowledge on refinement and both physically connection with guests and experience. I think that was clearly an important milestone in my career. Marrakech was a totally different experience; I just love the way of life in that country. The craftsmanship of the locals was just outstanding. It was a very inspiring place to be for two yearsand Philadelphia I love it here. I love how open and heart-warming people are. Its amazing to see how vast the city is.

See a video of Rashia Bell explaining the crystal healing properties in the video below:

T

The Forbes award is a huge honor. What does it mean for you, and for the spa?

Theres not a higher recognition that you can get today in the travel industry. Obviously were very humbled by this honor, especially after not even a year after the opening. Forbes Travel Guide is the gold standard for service, and weve worked towards best-in-class service, which is always our goal. We have very diligently selected our team members from the attendant to the receptionist. For me, this just confirms that what were doing is at the level where we naturally wanted to be.

How has COVID-19 changed the way you operate the spa? What precautions are being taken so guests feel safe?

We work alongside international experts to inform our health and safety decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic as we focus onstrengthening our already stringent health and safety measuresthrough our newLeadWithCareprogram. Our team has been trained to ensure that there is cleanliness and safety throughout the spa with highly specific COVID-19 disinfecting and sanitizing protocols and procedures. We are in line with state orders; we have capacity limitations; we also wear a mask throughout the entire guest experience including doing treatments. We offer the same service, same amenities, but now they are upon request, versus being available for self-service a critical part of my team is not changing who we are and our service level.

The infinity pool at the Spa at Four Seasons. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

The infinity pool at the Spa at Four Seasons. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

Lounge area at the Four Seasons Spa. | Photography courtesy of Four Seasons.

The Spa at the Four Seasons is open on the 57th floor of the Comcast Technology Center, 1 N 19th Street. You can book your visit here.

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Phillys Four Seasons Spa Was Just Named One of the Best in the World - Philadelphia magazine

Like so many other beloved traditions, this years official Oktoberfest celebration may be canceled, but audiences worldwide can still indulge in its signature brand of Bavarian revelry thanks to the vision of EF Go Ahead Tours, which curates small-group travel experiences.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented people from physically traveling the world, EF Go Ahead Tours has come up with a way to bring some of the worlds most celebrated experiences directly to travelers.

Trending Now

Its Online Escapes is a collection of live, interactive online sessions that allow participants to access unique global experiences hosted by local experts. These specialist guides do more than educate about such subjects as food, wine, art or fitnessthey reveal secrets of their culture and deliver to audiences the authentic gifts of world travel.

For the Oktoberfest edition, one of EF Go Ahead Tours most experienced Tour Directorswho is also a Munich resident and Oktoberfest expertAlex Peterson, will lead several one-hour Online Escapes, interactive and live from Germany, from mid-September through mid-October 2020. This small-group experience will closely mirror tour elements that would typically be part of the companys in-person itineraries.

Himself a native of Germany, Peterson is uniquely qualified to host the online small-group tour and share his insider knowledge about all things Oktoberfest, having led tours in Munich for decades, as well as hundreds of tours across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Northern Italy and more.

Peterson will begin with a brief history of the festival (the origins of which were a wedding celebration that took place over two centuries ago) and then dish about traditional food and beverages that attendees can replicate at home, plus recommend which songs participants will want to raise a glass to. Because the event is live and interactive, participants can ask questions along the way.

Here are the available dates for this special Online Escape (additional dates will be added upon demand), which is priced at $19 per device:

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Sunday, October 4, 2020

If you prefer to plan your own gathering, all Online Escapes can also be scheduled as private small-group experiences for a small additional charge.

For more information, visit goaheadtours.com.

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Attend a Live, Interactive Virtual Oktoberfest Celebration This Year - TravelPulse

Christopher Elliott, Special to USA TODAY Published 7:00 a.m. ET Sept. 4, 2020 | Updated 7:49 a.m. ET Sept. 4, 2020

Here are 6 tips to know before you book your flight during the COVID-19 pandemic. USA TODAY

So you had a terrible vacation. Whose fault is that?

As the busy summer travel wraps up, it's too easy to point the finger somewhere at an airline, hotel, or travel agent. Or, if all else fails, you can blame the pandemic. But the truth is a little more complicated.

"Trips are highly anticipated events in our lives," says Joseph Tropper, a clinical therapist who specializes in trauma issues. "They bring the promise of adventure, exploration, or just rest and relaxation. What people often forget, though, are the stress and hassles that come along with a trip."

A recent poll suggests that, although vacations occasionally go off-course, relatively few of them go entirely off the rails. The survey, by travel insurance company World Nomads, says that a majority of trips (57%)are "mostly" fine. But just over a quarter say their vacation had "moments," and just under 1% described their vacation as a "total disaster."

"The reality of travel is there is always something that goes a little wrong," says Phil Sylvester, a spokesman for World Nomads.

A closer look at the vacation horror stories reveals a surprising truth. Occasionally, the mishap is the traveler's fault. Yet travelers are reluctant to take responsibility. That makes them look like the worst kind of entitled consumers.

It's easy to blame an airline for the delay that caused you to miss your next flight. But if you planned the trip, maybe you bear some of the responsibility for the too-close connection.(Photo: RTimages/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sometimes, there's an obvious villain in your vacation story. It's an airline with a mechanical problem or an agent who mixed up your dates. I deal with these problems every day as a consumer advocate.

But they're rarely as cut-and-dried as that.

For example, consider one of the most common airline problems, the missed connection. It's far too easy to blame an airline for the delay that caused you to miss your next flight. But take a step back. If you planned the trip, do you bear some of the responsibility for the too-close connection? Maybe.

Here's another common travel problem: visas and passports. People arrive at the airport and aren't allowed on board. They blame their travel agent or the airline. And certainly, those parties should shoulder some of the responsibility. But in the end, having the right passports and visas is your responsibility not theirs.

"Believe it or not, the blame is pretty shared," says Zach Smith, CEO of the travel site Anywhere.com. "In the digital age, collective expectations have soared as we've grown accustomed to getting what we want, when we want with the click of a button."

In the end, having enough validity left on a passport and the right visas are the traveler's responsibility.(Photo: YinYang/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A lot of the vacation horror stories I hear sound like Lindsay Nieminen's. Last summer, she visited the pyramids in Egypt with her two young kids, and almost everything went wrong. Nieminen and her guide didn't click, she missed a museum because it closed, and she almost didn't see the Sphinx.

"I ended up in tears," remembers Nieminen, who publishes a blog about traveling to the Middle East.

But when she inventories all the things that went wrong, there's an inescapable conclusion: "This one was my fault," she says.

It's true. Everything that went wrong, she could trace back to her lack of planning. That's an expensive lesson learned. But her admission is also rare. When I hear from readers, they're more likely to pin the blame on everyone but themselves.

The result of this collective denial is that travelers look like entitled jerks. When everything isn't perfect, they take it out on their travel advisor. They unleash a barrage of obscenities when the hotel has the room reservation for the wrong night a room they booked online. And they blame the airline for everything, including the weather.

Let me be clear: This is an "us" problem. The first step to fixing it is to accept some responsibility for our planning, or lack of it.

That's not to let the travel industry off the hook. For every one poorly planned tour, there are probably a hundred cases where blame all of it falls squarely on the shoulders of an incompetent travel company.

But sometimes, it's just you. Jeremy Bassetti, a college professor and travel blogger from Orlando, says too many people are looking in the wrong place when assigning blame for a terrible vacation. "People with bad attitudes will have the same attitudes back home or abroad," he says.

Or, to paraphrase the Roman philosopher Lucius Seneca, your faults will follow you wherever you go.

To paraphrase the Roman philosopher Lucius Seneca, your faults will follow you wherever you go.(Photo: izusek/Getty Images)

Experts recommend looking at the big picture when your vacation is a bust. For example:

Where did you get your vacation advice? Was it a tip from a friend? Did you work with a travel agent or advisor? Or did you pick something up from one of those travel blogs that try to sell you a credit card? From some sources like an agent there's accountability. For advice received online, not so much.

Did you screen the travel company? Did you carefully vet your airline, car rental company or hotel to make sure you're working with a reputable operator? Or did you choose the cheapest one without reading any of the reviews?

Who helped you plan your trip? Did you do it yourself? Did you have help from a reputable travel professional? Are you working with a tour operator? If you're working with a pro, you might have some recourse. And if you have a finger to spare, you can point it at them.

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So you had a terrible vacation. Whose fault is that: The airline's? The hotel's? Or yours? - USA TODAY

Nothing has been normal in a Major League Soccer season interrupted by COVID-19. So why should the way MLS teams travel be any different?

When times were normal, teams used commercial flights, arrived the day before a game and generally booked two players to a room. Not now.

In an effort to lessen the risk of contacting the novel coronavirus, MLS has adopted a detailed COVID-19 protocol that has drastically altered what teams do on the road.

The Galaxy will try the new procedures Wednesday when they travel to Portland for their first regular-season road game since the schedule was suspended in March. LAFC, which traveled to Utah and back last week without playing after its match with Real Salt Lake was postponed, will be at home Wednesday, taking a two-game losing streak into its game against San Jose.

Zack Murshedi, who is in his eighth season managing the Galaxys travel arrangements, said what normally would be a two-day trip to Portland, Ore., will be completed in about 17 hours.

Well leave in the morning, go to the hotel, have lunch, go to the game, play the game, and then well fly back home, he said. For the most part its pretty straightforward.

Making it happen smoothly is far more complex, however. And because a COVID-19 breakout could ruin the rest of the season, the league has left little to chance.

Rather than driving themselves to the airport and waiting for their flight in the terminal, the Galaxys 35-person traveling party will meet at Dignity Health Sports Park and ride to the airport in two buses the extra bus needed to assure social distancing.

The buses will drive onto the tarmac so the players can transfer immediately to a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 plane, which has 30 rows and 187 seats, guaranteeing ample space between players for the 2-hour 15-minute trip. The charter flight is scheduled to leave at 10:30 a.m., and when it gets to Portland two more buses will take the team to a downtown hotel where the players who must wear masks on the plane, bus and whenever they are in public spaces will be confined to their rooms apart from a team meeting and lunch.

Its pretty strict, Murshedi said. Its basically just stay in your room to limit the exposure.

Its also pretty expensive. Round-trip charter flights between L.A. and Portland can cost as much as $80,000, more than four times what it would cost for 35 people to make that trip on a commercial flight. The Galaxy will be spending twice as much on buses and will need twice as many hotel rooms as well.

MLS, Murshedi said, is helping teams with those additional costs.

The setup at the stadiums also has changed, with many teams, including the Galaxy, adopting an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that allows for the opening of auxiliary locker rooms, doubling the space available to players and providing for social distancing.

The protocols were drawn up while the league was quarantined in a protective COVID-19 bubble near Orlando, Fla., for this summers MLS Is Back tournament. The league wanted teams to return from Florida and play in their home markets, which meant travel. But other leagues that tried that notably Major League Baseball and soccers second-tier USL Championship wound up postponing multiple games when players were infected.

So MLS scheduled only short regional trips for the first six-game phase of its season reboot, allowing players to start and finish game days at home. As a result, LAFCs longest trip of phase one was Sundays 1,110-mile flight to Seattle, while the Galaxy are going no farther than Portland.

Its going to be interesting, said midfielder Joe Corona of the Galaxy (2-3-2), who take a two-game winning streak to Portland (3-2-2), where they will play on artificial turf for the first time since season. Our job as players is to adapt to every situation. Its not easy to travel the same day as you play, but we have to adapt to that.

After Wednesdays game, Corona and his teammates will file onto their two buses for the trip back to the airport and the charter flight home. If there are no delays, Murshedi says the players could be at home and in bed by 3 a.m.

Its better to sleep in your own bed, he said. Everyone prefers that.

Link:

It's a new world of travel in MLS for the Galaxy and LAFC - Los Angeles Times

LCCs the right model for post-Covid world; recovery is not near, but out of creative destruction may emerge new entities 04/09/2020, by Vera Lye, in Featured,Marketing,News,Sectors

Low cost carriers might just be the right model for the post-Covid world, said Scoots CEO Campbell Wilson, but recovery is still some distance away.

Speaking atCAPAs virtual Australia Pacific Aviation Summit, Wilson suggested this is agood time to be an LCC for a few good reasons.

One, weare typically point-to-point operators and not hugely reliant on hubaggregation. Two, we mostly carry leisure and are not so reliant on corporatebudgets and business class travel; three, typically its regional travel soits close to home and peoples risk perception follows familiarityhousehold budgets, annual leave, quotas will all play into regionaltravel; four, it is low-touch service model and people dont like touch at themoment; its lower cost and lower price.

For all those reasons, at the moment, I feel the LCC model is probably going to recover faster and more strongly than perhaps the full-service model, but obviously contingent on borders being open and people being able to travel, said Wilson (pictured).

But here iswhere the harsh reality emerges. Wilson said he doesnt see a rapid recovery inthis area since almost all the borders remain closed. We started out with alot of optimism, but weve been disappointed repeatedly throughout the pastnearly eight months, he said.

From thegovernments perspective, it is hard to see what would trigger them totake a more progressive approach because this is very much driven by domesticpolitics, added Wilson.

Questions around each governments political capital, eachcountrys dependence on trade and tourism, the degree of isolationism thatresides within the populace at the moment (and there are many that have becomevery isolationist) will impact the decisions governments make.

To whom they open up is probably a function of familiarity,and proximity and economic ties. Were going to see neighbours open up toneighbours more than from far afield, suggested Wilson.

He said the rest of this year will likely not be muchdifferent to what weve seen thus far, and looking ahead, it is more a questionof how far into 2021 before we see material recovery.

As far as demand goes, Wilson is optimistic. People stillwant to travel, and they are at least somewhat assured by the steps that theindustry is taking to make travel safe.

However, the changing regulations around quarantine (willthe quarantine regulations change whilst Im away?) presents a big concern fortravellers.

Addressing questions around the survival chances ofairlines, Wilson said while flag carriers have the support of governments,private carriers will have a more difficult time.

How long can carriers hold their breath without governmentinvention and still stay conscious?

Most carriers are enjoying some degree of support orconcessions, but these are winding down or will wind down. The variable coststhat can be controlled have been controlled for the most partthe consequencewill be that almost all airlines will shrink a bit. Some will shrink a lot, andsome will disappear, said Wilson.

But Wilson said the cycle will continue, because while theappetite for launching new airlines is obviously weak at the moment, aircraftand fuel are cheap, and staff are available.

Whether its green fields or relaunches as in the case ofVirgin Australia, the cycle will continue. Weve been here before, saidWilson. The cycle of creative destruction will happen.

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LCCs the right model for post-Covid world; recovery is not near, but out of creative destruction may emerge new entities - Web In Travel

Frank Cerabino|Palm Beach Post

When it comes to taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, consider Canada.

Canada doesnt screw around.

This week, Canadas top public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, advised budding romantics in that country to avoid face-to-face contact or closeness with their new heartthrobs, and if things got intimate, to wear masks during sex.

Im guessing this will create a run on Darth Vader costumes in Canada. (Insert name here), I am your father daddy.

"Current evidence indicates there is a very low likelihood of contracting the novel coronavirus through semen or vaginal fluids, Tams statement said. However, even if the people involved do not have symptoms, sexual activity with new partners does increase your risk of getting or passing Covid-19 through close contact, like kissing.

More: Cerabino: The shady dealings at Trump's Mar-a-Lago deserve a warning sign for visitors

And so in an abundance of caution, Canadas top public health officer had another subtle suggestion.

The lowest risk sexual activity during COVID-19 involves yourself alone, she said.

She didnt explain. But she didnt have to.

This was exhaustively covered by musical raconteur Tom Waits in the talk-up to his 1975 song, Better Off Without a Wife.

I've always kinda been partial to calling myself up on the phone and asking myself out … Well, one thing about it, youre always around …

You ask yourself out, you know some class joint somewhere, The Burrito King … Then take yourself out for a couple of drinks maybe, then some provocative conversation on the way home.

And park in front of the house … you smoothly put a little nice music on, then slide over real nice and say, Oh, I think you have something in your eye.

I take myself up to the porch, take myself inside, maybe get a little something in a brandy snifter … Would you like to listen to some of my back records? …

Well, usually about 2:30 in the morning youve ended up taking advantage of yourself. There aint no way around that, you know.

Canada could just release the lyrics to Waits song as a public health document.

Compare that level of concern to what we have now in Florida.

While Canadas top health official was talking down kissing and talking up solo sex, Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner felt the need to issue a No Nazi Salute rule at this weeks county commission meetings.

More: Falwell Jr. and wife turn being a South Florida 'pool boy' into a lucrative new profession

The meetings have become circuses marred by shouting from mask-detesting residents who imagine its their constitutional right to share their water droplets with everyone.

And anything short of relaxing all attempts to stop the spread of COVID-19 is equated with government fascism and Hitlers Germany, as evidenced by the ironic Nazi salutes aimed at county commissioners.

Meanwhile, Floridas tourism arm is beginning a new push to get Floridians to travel more within the state as a way to beef up the states tourism industry.

Our data has determined that people right now, even though many are ready to travel, they feel more comfortable traveling closer to home, Dana Young, the head of Visit Florida, said this week.

Translation: If we cant get out-of-state visitors to spread the virus in our state, well just have to work harder to spread it among ourselves.

More: Palm Beach billionaire, Dolphins owner raised millions for Trump, but will he vote for him?

Its pretty clear that the more Floridiansmove around and mingle, the more likely the virus will spread. So, encouraging more travel during this pre-vaccination period, whether its in-state or out of state, is just bound to take things in the wrong direction.

Even so, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida is back this week, saying the in-state tourism push is going to make that clear.

Im sure if we work hard enough, the higher infection rate in South Florida can be shared with the rest of the state.

A casual observer looking at the juxtaposition of these official actions might assume that the pandemic must be raging in Canada while it has all-but-disappeared in Florida.

And yet, here are the numbers.

In all of Canada, a nation of about 38 million people, there have been a total of about 132,000 cases and 9,188 deaths due to COVID-19 as of Thursday.

More: Cerabino: Time for Floridians to become sunbirds and migrate north to Canada for the winter

And the latest seven-day average of new cases in the whole country is fewer than 500 per day.

In Florida, which has slightly more than half the population of Canada, there have been a total of 633,000 cases and 11,500 deaths thats 2,365 more deaths than the toll in all of Canada.

And Floridas latest seven-day trend of new infections is about 2,800 new cases per day, which is more than five times higher than the rate in the whole country of Canada.

So, it would make more sense if our attitudes toward the pandemic were reversed, with we Floridians being the advocates for less travel and more solo sex.

fcerabino@pbpost.com

@FranklyFlorida

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Cerabino: In world of COVID-19 precautions, it's Florida, not Canada, that should be advocating solo sex - Palm Beach Post

Aug 31st 2020

IT HAS been a gloomy year for the travel business. The covid-19 pandemic has wrecked airlines, cruise-ship operators and many other parts of the industry. With the end of the northern hemispheres summer holidays, things may get gloomier still. The World Travel & Tourism Council, a trade body, this summer increased its forecast of the number of travel jobs that will be lost because of the pandemic worldwide to 197.5m, or around 60% of the total before coronavirus hit.

Even as lockdowns have been relaxed, and some travel has resumed, airlines, cruise lines and tour operators are all still losing money hand over fist. But one sector is proving more resilient: travel accommodation. Hotels and home rentals were not hit as hard by the pandemic, and appear to be bouncing back faster. This is in part thanks to staycationers, ie, people holidaying in their own countries.

In America in the three months to June, total airline revenue from passengers fell by 91% compared with a 70% drop in earnings for hotel rooms. Gross operating profit per available room, a standard measure for the hotel industry, went positive in July, according to data from STR, a research firm. Airlines can only dream of reaching such a position. Some executives in America say that air-passenger numbers will need to double from current levels before their carriers stop burning cash. However, many forecasters think they could in fact drop in the coming months as the school holidays end and travel restrictions, particularly in Europe and Asia, intensify to stem a second wave of infections.

When people in Europe and America were told to stay at home earlier this year, hotels and home-sharing platforms were whacked. Revenues fell year on year in the second quarter by 54% at Wyndham, 72% at Marriott and 77% at Hilton, three of the worlds biggest hotel chains. Airbnb, the world biggest home-sharing platform, did no better, with a tumble of 70%. The online travel agents were hit harder still. Expedia, the worlds biggest online travel agent, saw turnover plunge by 82%. Its arch-rival, Booking.com, did worse still with a drop of 84%.

Analysts think that some listed hotel firmssuch as Wyndham, the worlds biggest chain (by number of hotels)may well make profit in the current quarter as they cut costs through lay-offs and demand recovers somewhat. Still, there remains a lot of red ink in the industry. Most of the companies, whether old-fashioned hotel chains or zippy tech startups such as Airbnb and Expedia, use an asset-light model. Airbnb owns none of its properties to rent; it is a platform for users and owners to meet. Likewise, the big hotel chains do not own most of their locations; they franchise their brands to independent hotel owners and operators. If bookings overall recover the big brands will earn a share of the revenues and can return to profit. Many independent operators whose hotels and properties are in left-behind locations, such as city centres, are still in trouble. But it is the banks which have lent them money, not the chains that have lent them their name, that have most to fear if they default.

In America, no-frills hotels with car parking have done best of late as household budgets, crushed by high unemployment or fear of it, switch from pricier foreign holidays to cheap staycations with the car. Unlike planes, getting behind the wheels helps people keep their distance from others. In China, where the pandemic has increased the wealth gap, luxury hotels have done better than budget inns, as rich travellers unable to fly abroad spend the money on swanky accommodation at home.

Of various providers of lodgings, home-sharing platforms seem to have done best in the recovery so far, notes Alex Brignall of Redburn, a broker. A 90% drop in future bookings in April pushed Airbnb into an existential crisis and forced the startup to shelve a planned stockmarket listing. In the three months to June it lost $400m before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. In May the companys chief executive, Brian Chesky, burst into tears in a video conference call as he culled a quarter of his workforce.

But the companys turnaround has been remarkable. In Europe, demand for non-hotel accommodation is now down by just 20% year on year, compared with a whopping 60% for hotels. In some parts of America, such as rural areas, demand is up by as much as 25% year on year. As if to celebrate the recovery, in August Airbnb filed for its initial public offering. Expedias and Booking.coms home-sharing divisions have also reported booming sales.

At first glance, this trend is puzzling. The pandemic has increased the importance of cleanliness, and surveys show that travellers associate branded hotels with a relatively high and consistent level of cleaning. Hilton, for instance, has made a great fuss about using household cleaning products such as Lysol and Dettol in all its 18 brands. Marriott has promised to use baffling electrostatic sprayers across its properties. The amount of elbow grease that goes into Airbnb and other vacation rentals, conversely, is hit-or-miss at the best of times.

One reason vacation rentals have taken off is that they are a way to maintain social distance, says Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group. Rentals of guest rooms with shared facilitiesthe concept of renting out the spare guest airbed that gave Airbnb its nameare still devastated. But the rental of entire properties has soared. Even if the cleaning is not up to scratch, Mr Harteveldt observes, many travellers have realised that this option avoids other risks such as the need to talk to human receptionists, meet others in shared lobbies or touch dirty lift buttons.

Has covid-19 permanently tipped the balance against the big hotel brands? Richard Clarke of Bernstein, a research firm, argues not. Some chains, such as Hilton, are developing and expanding new homestay brands that have kitchens and other facilities, to challenge the likes of Airbnb. Stronger chains will also continue to grow by squeezing out weaker rivals. Accor and Premier Inn, for instance, are waiting to devour the market share of Travelodge, a heavily indebted British chain that is trying to restructure its liabilities.

And although hotels in city centres that rely on international visitors are doing badly, those serving domestic markets, or that can be driven to, are benefitting from the staycation boom. Wyndhams share price is almost as high as it was before covid-19. And no wonder: 96% of Wyndhams guests are domestic travellers and 87% of its American hotels are in driving distance of suburbs, cities, or motorways.

A big question is whether the likes of Airbnb are really taking market share from the core business of hotel chains: one-night stays and business travellers. Demand from the latter has been devastated by the pandemic. Events and conventions, former money-spinners, are currently dead. But the hotel brands are confident that if and when business travel resumes, visitors will choose hotels again. There will always be some form of business interaction that cant be done over a Zoom call, says Phil Cordell, Hiltons global head of new brand development. Moreover, some firms and insurers still insist that business travellers stay in hotels rather than rented homesa position that has hardened since the pandemic began.

Luring business travellers away from hotels used to be Airbnbs next ambition. But when the pandemic hit, it axed these initiatives and decided to retrench to its core business of longer leisure lets. The resurgence of home-sharing since the pandemic has been impressive. But Airbnbs recovery appears to be built on a thinner segment of the market than before covid-19. Insider Intelligence, a research firm, forecasts that the number of Americans who will use Airbnb this year will drop by 60%the first time that the company has experienced negative user growtheven as bookings increase. Chekitan Dev, a hospitality-industry expert at Cornell University, notes that if Airbnb set out to destroy the hotel industryas its founders used to promisethey havent broken it yet.

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Staycationers are saving hotels and Airbnb from covid-19 - The Economist

(CNN) Just a day after marking the significant milestone of 100 days without local coronavirus transmission, the virus has reared its head once again in Thailand.

News of a fresh infection came as the Thai government faces growing pressure from businesses to reopen borders to international tourists, as months of travel restrictions have devastated its heavily tourism-dependent economy.

The latest case was revealed to be a 37-year-old man who was arrested in Bangkok on drugs charges and tested positive after arriving at a Bangkok correctional center. Health officials say that he had no recent travel history and that his quarantine cellmates had all tested negative.

"This case is a local transmission case after over 100 days were passed with no report of locally transmitted infection," Dr. Suwannachai Wattanayincharoen, director of Thailand's Disease Control Department, told a press conference on Thursday.

Until the announcement, the Southeast Asian country has not recorded any local infections since late May. It is still finding coronavirus cases in overseas arrivals, who are subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Patients remain in quarantine until they've recovered.

So far, the country of 70 million people has a caseload of just 3,427, with 58 deaths. More than 28% of the reported infections are overseas cases, according to the Health Ministry.

People donning facemasks walk along Khao San Road, a popular area for tourists in Bangkok, Thailand on March 6, 2020.

JACK TAYLOR/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

The country had first refrained from banning Chinese tourists, but in late March, when its caseload surged close to 1,000, the Thai government declared a state of emergency and banned all non-resident foreigners from entering.

The border closure has helped protect the country while the virus rages across the world, but it has also dealt a huge blow to its tourist sector, which according to the World Bank normally contributes close to 15% of Thailand's GDP.

In June, the Tourism Council of Thailand said it expected to see an estimated 8 million foreign tourists this year, an 80% drop from last year's record number of 39.8 million.

"We hope that we can find ways to bring back tourists in the future. Bringing tourists back is one of the key factors to revive the Thai economy in the remaining part of this year and next year as well," said Don Nakornthab, Senior Director of Economic and Policy Department at the Bank of Thailand.

"But we have to do it carefully, because if the second wave happens, especially as a result from opening up for tourists, it will put Thailand into trouble again," he said at a press conference Monday.

"Safe and Sealed"

"I have asked the prime minister for approval to set October 1 as the date to allow (inbound) tourists to enter," he said. "I also have requested to use Phuket as a pilot model ... and have received approval from the Center for Economic Situation Administration."

If successful, the project will be expanded to include other destinations.

In the beginning, tourists will be permitted to fly into Phuket -- Thailand's largest island -- and will need to quarantine in a designated resort for 14 days.

Phiphat cited popular Patong Beach as an example of an area where this could work. Special one-kilometer zones consisting of three-to-four resorts could be set up there, allowing quarantined tourists to spend time on the beach -- so long as they stay in their designated area.

Travelers will need to get tested for Covid-19 at the beginning and end of their quarantine period. Then, they will be free to travel on the island.

But the minister says tourists who wish to travel beyond Phuket will have to stay in quarantine for an additional seven days and will have a third Covid-19 test at the end of that 21-day quarantine period.

Hotel staff who work in these designated zones will not be permitted to leave without first going into quarantine and will be tested regularly for Covid-19 as well to prevent the spread of the virus.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told CNN Travel last month the plan had been approved by the government and the next step involves holding a public hearing to get approval from local residents -- which is expected to take place in early September.

As October draws closer, however, Yuthasak said on Thursday that Phuket might not be able to receive tourists on October 1 as planned.

"There is still a lot to be done. The prime minister has just said that we have to make preparations," he said.

Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said most members of the association strongly support the program and hope to see tourists returning to Thailand in the last quarter of the year.

"This must be done urgently, (otherwise) Thailand will really be in deep trouble. There will be even more people losing their jobs," he said.

Balancing risks

While the tourism and hospitality sectors are keen to reopen borders, many Thai residents remain concerned about the potential health risk.

According to a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration in July, over 55% of the 1,251 people surveyed across Thailand were against a proposed "medical and wellness" program, which would open the country to foreigners who test negative for Covid-19 for medical treatment.

Thais don't need to look far for a cautionary example of how easily the virus can resurface in countries where it has seemingly been eliminated.

In June, Thailand proposed the idea of a "travel bubble" with select countries where infection numbers were kept low. The plan would have allowed travelers to move between those destinations without having to go through quarantine.

However, the proposal was shelved after new waves of infections hit multiple potential destinations under Thailand's consideration, including Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Yuthasak told CNN on Thursday that the plan hasn't been revived. "We are not looking at that option for now," he said.

CNN's Karla Cripps contributed to this report.

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Thailand managed 101 days without local coronavirus cases. Will it open borders soon? - CNN

Africa Travel Week (ATW) is blitzing into Tourism Month with the launch of their Meetings & Masterclasses: a virtual offering set to keep the industry engaged and connected during the build-up to their live event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 0709 April 2021.

ATW comprises World Travel Market Africa (WTM), International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTMA), EQUAL Africa, ibtm Africa and Travel Forward, a string of B2B trade shows expected to generate an estimated $451-million worth of business at the 2020 edition, which was postponed until April next year.

At the heart of our efforts to reimagine the live shows lies a common goal of #makingtravelhappenagain. In other words, giving tourism a real chance to recover, and offering stakeholders every opportunity to rebuild their business ties and networks within the sector, explains Megan Oberholzer, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism and Creative Industries at Reed Exhibitions.

The result is their online platform, Africa Travel Week Connect, and Meetings & Masterclasses a series of virtual sessions running from September to October.

Weve moved away from panels and PowerPoints. Instead, were tapping into our solid network of industry experts and experienced travellers who can share their insider tips and help businesses strike the right balance between implementing necessary safety measures and delivering authentic experiences, she explains.

Part one will focus on how businesses can better position themselves within new or often overlooked market segments predicted to travel first to Africa as restrictions ease. It kicks off with The Luxury Traveller on 09 September, led by luxury traveller and consultant, Anthony Berklich, who is currently visiting Kenya and whose travels average around 200,000 miles per year and tally to over 80 countries.

This session will be followed by The African Diaspora traveller on 15 September with Naledi Kabo, CEO of the African Tourism Association and The LGBTQ+ traveller on 16 September with Tanya Churchmunch, the founder of MuchPR, an independent PR firm focusing on travel, lifestyle and LGBTQ markets.

The Post-COVID traveller on 17 September will be hosted by special guest, Anita Mendiratta, strategic advisor to the Secretary General of the UNWTO, The World Bank Group, WTTC, IATA and ATAG in Tourism, Aviation and Development.

In addition to ATWs Meetings & Masterclasses, the travel and tourism community can also sign-up for WTM Virtual. This two-day event organised by WTM London will run from 0204 November and is filled to the brim with virtual networking sessions, conferences, and roundtable discussions.

Designed for those who cant travel to the live show in London, this virtual show will be based on one platform, leveraging the global reach of Reed Exhibitions, and welcoming all of the WTM shows exhibitors and buyers, says Oberholzer, It is set to be one of the largest gatherings of travel professionals from around the world.

And while the digital experience of ATWs Meetings & Masterclasses will bring together a range of travel operators, lodge owners, media and travel marketers seeking to learn, engage and connect this Tourism Month, Oberholzer emphasises that it is not meant to replace live trade shows, but rather enhance the synergy between physical and digital events and opportunities.

The conversations with our international buyers from South Africa and Africas top source markets have been ongoing, and the feedback as to their attendance at the live show is a resounding yes. It all just depends on the travel advisories in place during that time.

On the live show front, Oberholzer explains that while Reed Exhibitions is working hard to ensure that the venue retains all the magic of the travel marketplace feel, the safety of the attendees remains their number one priority.

The format for the 2021 trade shows is expected to change, allowing for greater distance between stands and seating areas. We are fortunate, says Oberholzer, That a venue like the CTICC in our Host City of Cape Town offers multiple venue spaces and facilities in one location for ease of access and greater networking opportunities.

We hope that Tourism Month coinciding with our industrys gradual recovery at the start of spring, along with our Meetings & Masterclasses will give our industry a much-needed boost to become travel and trade show ready, she concludes.

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Africa Travel Week focuses on creating opportunities for the industry this Tourism Month - Travel Daily News International

Technogym at-home bike

Fitness people tend to divide into tribes. Cross-fitters dont consort with Pilates enthusiasts; runners dont understand yogis, and so on. But now theres a whole new way to experience class-based exercise: from home.

Based in Italy and founded in 1983,Technogymhas long created clever fitness equipment used in private homes, gyms, high-end hotels and more. And this year, the sophisticated fitness brand has launched a new at-home bike fitted with an interactive platform allowing the rider to cycle along to live classes hosted by the high-intensity London-based gym One Rebel.

1Rebel has made its mark as a disruptor brand with a loyal following, noted 1Rebel co-founder James Balfour when the bike launched. Now, we want to extend our fitness as entertainment concept directly into consumers homes.

Technogym bike in session

No two live classes are the same. Most of the trainers here have a performance backgrounddancers, actors, singers, you name it. And they are equal parts cheerleader as they are fitness instructor. The bike allows users to search by teacher, as well as other useful terms, with the idea being that youll find an instructor, or two, whose methods work for you and develop a routine.

But if that doesnt sound like you, it isnt required to choose the live classes. You can also choose a pre-taped workout from the vast on-demand library. Designed for competitive spirits, you can watch as you climb the leaderboard each class. And for those days you really just want to meander, there are a series of self-guided rides filmed in picturesque locations, such as Yosemite National Park and the French Alps.

Still-life Technogym Bike

Beyond the new immersive bike, Technogym has launched its new Live console, which includes a complete library of trainer-led Technogym Sessions, the new on-demand digital classes available across all cardio products. The extensive library includes videoswith different durations and focusesled by leading trainers from London, New York, Milan and Los Angeles. Technogym Live also includes TV channels, social media, Netflix and a wide range of gaming and news-based apps.

Over the last 35 years, innovation has been a key priority for Technogym to make the entire fitness and wellness industry grow, described Nerio Alessandri, Technogyms Founder and CEO in a company press release. Today, within our unique digital ecosystem, Technogym Live represents a key milestone of our innovation trajectory to offer end users engagement, variety and personalisation.

And, in addition to the library, there is an option to use the brand-new Technogym Coachan AI-based virtual assistantwho guides users through the different training options using their taste and requirements. As for what might be the most innovative element of Technogym Live? Its the tool that allows users to create their own digital contentlive or on-demand classesand stream them to members at home (or wherever they are).

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Travel The World From Your Living Room With The New Technogym Bike - Forbes

WILMINGTON, MASS. According to Ketchum Travel, a global communications consultancy, 80 percent of Americans say they are willing to pay more for privacy and distancing. With this increase in consumers looking for private villa accommodations, Villas of Distinction, the worlds premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, is increasing its portfolio of white-label partners.

While we already work with travel agency partners, the increase in popularity of private home rentals have many travel agencies looking to take their villa sales to the next level by having us provide a white-label solution through offering a villa-specific page on their website, said Willie Fernandez, vice president of Villas of Distinction. Travel agencies can feel confident when partnering with us because we offer a reputable product with villas that are vetted and following extensive health & safety guidelines from the Villa Rental Management Association.

The white-label partnership program provides travel agencies with the support they need to sell villa vacations. It offers a custom webpage on the agencys site; access to a Travel Agent Portal, which contains a library of marketing assets including images, videos, print pieces, social media ads and training webinars; and marketing support to assist travel advisors in crafting best-in-class and engaging marketing. In addition, travel agents will have access to Villa Specialists and Concierges who are available every step of the way through the booking and planning process.

As a result of COVID-19, our agents are seeing increased interest from their clients who want to stay in a private villa with friends and family they trust, instead of a resort with hundreds of guests, said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. The villas-specific page on our agents website as well as the support our agents receive from Villas of Distinction gives them the tools they need to sell villa vacations to their clients.

In addition, through Villas of Distinctions #WithYouToStay campaign, the company is encouraging its guests to book with a travel advisor, offering bonus commissions of up to $1,500 and rich promotions throughout the year, and is committed to making the planning process seamless for the travel advisor and their clients.

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Villas of Distinction offers white-label partnerships to Travel Agencies - Travel Daily News International

The largest cruise lines are engaged in a battle to save their industry, which like other travel sectors is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Airlines, hotels, resorts and even the travel agents who sell them have been devastated by leisure travels coronavirus-driven collapse.

Yet cruise lines appear particularly vulnerable, with the popular view that cruise ships are coronavirus hotspots waiting to sail. U.S. government authorities have clearly linked cruise ships with the spread of coronavirus, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stating current scientific evidence suggests cruise ships pose a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission than other settings because of the high population density onboard ships.

That view seemed to receive confirmation earlier this month when four ships that were among the earliest to re-start service following cruisings global shutdown ended their voyages early after COVID-19 cases were reported onboard.

MORE Cruise Line & Cruise Ship

Yet scientists have since pointed out this is expected. There will be cases as operators resume operations, even with strict protocols in place. It is the very observation and study of those cases, and the measures utilized to fight them, that provide critical knowledge to help develop more effective preventative practices.

Furthermore, it pays to recognize the Hurtigruten and SeaDream cruise ships involved in August COVID-19 incidents had sailed since June without any reported cases. Hurtigrutens CEO attributed the outbreak to weaknesses in several of our internal procedures.

Like other travel operators, cruise lines are working to formulate standard practices to allow cruising to resume. The World Travel & Tourism Council has launched a Safe Travels stamp designed to establish standardized COVID-19 health and hygiene protocols across the travel spectrum, including cruise lines. Arnold Donald, Carnival Corp.s president and CEO, said recently cruise lines are working with Caribbean destinations to establish a model for the resumption of service in the region.

Im no scientist, but after personally having taken more than 100 cruises, I know this: there is no cleaner travel environment than a modern cruise ship.

Even before the pandemic, cruise ships Ive sailed aboard were singularly more sanitary than many of the far more than 100 hotel and resort rooms in which Ive dwelled as part of my journeys.

Ive stayed in hotel and resort rooms that have ranged from sparse to unkempt to downright shameful. Ill spare you the details, but Ill never forget one room I likened to a medium-security jail cell.

Thats never been the case on any cruise ship Ive sailed aboard. Cleaning is a fetish aboard cruise ships, and you wont fail to see some crewmember cleaning something aboard your ship on every single day of your voyage.

Cruise ships calling at U.S. ports are subject to unannounced health and cleanliness checks by the U.S. Public Health Service (ironically a division of CDC) and ranked according to cleanliness. If only that were the case for some of the hotels in which Ive stayed.

Millions of people take cruises every year, or at least they did prior to the pandemic, and often come back for more. Donald has said there is currently demand, and if CDC allowed it, there would be more cruises sailing with guests now.

While theres no question health authorities should ensure guests can embark in the safest possible environment, Im one of those folks who thinks cruise ships will develop the right environment to safely accommodate guests again soon.

Theyve already got the cleanliness part down. While theres no cause to rush, Ill be pleased to walk up the gangway again for my next seagoing voyage.

Continued here:

Cruise Ships Are the Cleanest Travel Environments - TravelPulse