America offers no shortage of sensational national parks to choose from but the freedom these protected lands offer also means that there's the potential for abuse. Nonetheless, being a responsible park visitor and setting an excellent example for the next is incredibly easy if you keep in mind these dos and don'ts.  Let's block ads! (Why?)

Safe travel is not only possible but commonplace in the time of coronavirus, according to the latest reports from travel advisors affiliated with leading host agency Travel Experts.Overall, advisors painted a positive picture for curious travelers, detailing the enhanced health and safety measures in place in most destinations as well as the various ways airlines, hotels and other travel suppliers are working to keep customers safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Trending Now Pamela Walker of Walker Adventures in Palm Coast, Florida celebrated the lack of crowds at the airport and a return to more blissful air travel. "Once at the airport, the plastic shields are everywhere. What wasn’t everywhere were people," she said. "Check-in was on your phone. Boarding the flight was easy. Much better now than before. Deplaning was excellent. Delta asks you to remain seated until the person in front of you has collected their bag and exits the plane. Believe it or not...everyone was respectful of that rule and it worked much more quickly than the old pushing and shoving to get off the plane.""I cannot state enough that flying is like it was years ago," added Walker. "People very quiet and polite and standing in line like they are asked too. I would not hesitate to fly again soon...even with my mask on."Meanwhile, Nashville Luxury Travel co-owners Leslie Horn and Jennifer Martin described a positive experience abroad in Turks and Caicos despite the new protocols in place to combat the spread of coronavirus. "While we know all too well the skepticism of traveling, being on a plane, COVID testing prior to travel, selecting travel insurance that offers the right coverage, we can say firsthand it went perfectly," said Martin."We felt very safe on the plane. It was clean and the service was good. Everyone wore their masks and sanitized before and during flights. Temperatures were not only taken on arrival but at every resort and restaurant. Resorts even took the temperatures of drivers before they pulled into a resort to drop us off. The whole island is implementing incredible effort and technology in cleaning," she added.Laura Madrid of Resort To Laura Madrid in Atlanta said that she was "impressed with how each state and each property she visited this summer were handling re-opening, adding that the role of travel advisors has never been more important. "Our job as travel advisors has gotten that much more complex, not only are we having to keep track of international border openings and traveler requirements, we have to understand what each state’s protocol is as well," said Madrid.Travel is undoubtedly different at the moment but as travel advisors can attest, not all of the changes are for the worse. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Like so many other beloved traditions, this year’s 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 world’s 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 fitness—they 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 Directors—who is also a Munich resident and Oktoberfest expert—Alex 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 company’s 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, 2020If 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. Let's block ads! (Why?)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Travelers can take advantage of a number of ways to save this fall.

WHY IT RATES: The organization has been helping members navigate uncertain times. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior WriterThe premier travel media organization in North America is once again on the move, embracing change and pivoting with the times. From October 14 to 17 this year, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is hosting its first-ever virtual travel convention, opening its doors to qualified non-members and taking the lead on embracing the language of diversity in all aspects of its membership. Why Now Times always change, and the present challenges from COVID-19 are no exception. The SATW wants to be part of a solution and believes that networking and solidarity within the entire travel industry is the key to success for all participants. To serve the wider travel industry—including travel—trade media, travel agents, tour operators and brands—SATW is opening its doors to qualified non-members to its 2020 Convention.MORE Features & Advice The MembershipFounded in 1955 before the Internet was born and when print media reigned, SATW and its members have adapted continually to meet an ever-changing media landscape. Today, SATW remains the nation's premier professional travel media organization comprising 1,000 of the travel industry's most experienced journalists, photographers, editors, broadcast/video/film producers, bloggers, website owners, media relations experts and hospitality industry representatives from the United States, Canada and beyond. All members must meet and maintain the industry's highest standards of productivity, ethics and conduct, and support SATW's mission of "Inspiring Travel through Responsible Journalism."The SATW Annual Convention The SATW annual Convention brings members together for extensive professional development programs, unique marketing opportunities and to cement friendships and working relationships that are productive and sustaining."Many organizations have been forced to cancel their conventions this year. Because we will be virtual, we are able to reach out to the broad travel community to invite others to join an event that is usually reserved for our members," said Jane Wooldridge, SATW president. "We look forward to welcoming them at a rate far reduced from our in-person meetings."SATW brings together journalists and travel media professionals who are vetted and certified, resulting in high-quality and productive exchanges, meetings and relationships that have measurable and lasting value. The destinations appreciate the fact that the media are recertified regularly, while the media appreciate that the public relations professionals must have active and meaningful clients in the travel industry. Mutual respect and trust and established track records breed successful business relationships and even friendship that results in an unparalleled group of peers in the travel industry.This year's agenda includes keynote addresses by Longwoods International President Emir Eylon and hospitality entrepreneur Chip Conley; panels on the future of the industry; discussions on sustainability and diversity; hands-on tutorials on communications metrics, SEO, writing and running your own business; destination tours presented by sponsors; and networking happy hours. Confirmed speakers include Carnival CEO Arnold Donald, Travel+ Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Gifford and Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Visit Minneapolis.The Marketplace at the ConventionSATW-member journalists and SATW-member media representatives also meet one-to-one in SATW's signature marketplace. Qualified nonmembers who apply for membership by Sept. 3 and receive approval may also participate. Nonmembers this year will pay $250 for qualified content creators, $275 for travel media representatives. Members pay $50 less. All those who register by Sept. 8 get a $25 discount.Also this year at the convention, informal and formal networking of the SATW's famous convention will take place through webcasts and face to face Zoom discussions. COVID-19 has brought about intense demand on the part of the media as well as the public relations professionals to connect with one another about their products, clients and destinations.Always RelevantAgain and again, SATW has shown that it is ahead of the curve. In 1969, it established the still- popular Phoenix Awards that recognize conservation and preservation efforts of individuals and organizations. SATW members can nominate individuals, communities, or organizations that have contributed to a quality travel experience through conservation, preservation, beautification or environmental efforts. The Phoenix Awards as well as the SATW's distinguished photography and writing competitions, the fill! Muster Photo Competition and the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, are presented at the annual Convention.This year in particular, the SATW has been very busy on all fronts during this vital time. Along with ongoing professional development, SATW is formally supporting the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It has also issued a statement of diversity, equity and inclusion publicly welcoming all races, religions, ethnicities, physical abilities and the LBGTQ community. This initiative is supported by an active Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Committee, which presents programs on diversity and seeks to ensure membership is inclusive and welcoming to all professionals.A Welcoming and Vibrant CommunityThe SATW is a vibrant resource in and to the travel industry for bringing travel media and destinations together. It is a community where professionals have meetings that result in business but also where peers can come together to share peer-to-peer best practices, experiences and build relationships. SATW welcomes its travel trade media colleagues who are interested in participating in the October 2020 convention. Please click here to register for the 2020 convention. SOURCE: Society of American Travel Writers press release. Let's block ads! (Why?)

ABM Industries, a leading provider of turnkey janitorial systems for many of the U.S.’ largest airports and airlines, recently launched its new EnhancedClean program, which will prove instrumental in the travel industry’s battle against COVID-19 in the aviation space.A global company, ABM provides comprehensive facilities management solutions to not just the aviation sector, but in hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, manufacturing plants and data centers. Client companies, small and large, turn to ABM as a single-source to supply janitorial and custodial service, supplies and technologies. Trending Now In the air travel industry, ABM is contracted by airlines and airports to take care of everything from aircraft and airport terminal cleaning to janitorial for parking facilities, shuttle buses, transportation services, passenger services and retail venues.Abruptly faced with new challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, ABM brought in its interdisciplinary Expert Advisory Council—comprised of board-certified experts in infectious disease and industrial hygiene—and partnered with outside specialists and esteemed schools of medicine to formulate its new EnhancedClean program. It’s a three-step, rigorous, next-level sanitation, disinfection and hygiene system that can be tailored to meet the needs of any given facility to answer today’s heightened cleaning demands.“We recognized very early on that what we provide, in terms of our janitorial services, are going to be even more critical than they were before for rebuilding the trust in travel, in the experience,” ABM's President of Aviation, Alex Marren, told TravelPulse. “As you know, the airports and airlines didn’t really shut down. A lot of businesses either closed their offices or schools closed, but—in our world, in travel and aviation—although it was much reduced, we’ve been open since all of this really started back in March.” PHOTO: Electrostatic disinfectant sprayer being used in an airport terminal. (Photo courtesy of ABM) “Whether it’s an airplane or an airport, the cleaning protocols really have become the top priority. Obviously, we have flight safety, we have servicing on time, but—just like what happened with 9/11 and the focus on security—now we have the focus on ‘how do we help our clients achieve a clean, healthy and safe travel experience?’; and we really see that as the ‘new normal’ in the industry and rebuilding the trust of the traveler,” she explained.The EnhancedClean process consists of three steps:1. Return Safely: Step one, ABM performs a comprehensive site assessment in order to create a customized strategy for a safe return to business; plus, a one-time, completely thorough disinfection of the premises.2. High-Touch Disinfection: Next, site-specific recommendations are issued on frequent, thorough disinfection protocols for high-touch areas to be performed throughout the day; to simultaneously keep germs at bay, and reassure building occupants and customers that the utmost is being done for their protection.3. Broader Disinfection: Lastly, a plan is established for implementing large-scale disinfection strategies, using such tools as UV devices and electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade EPA-registered products, for broader disinfection coverage to be applied at after-hours or at set intervals.While not a step unto itself, one element of ABM’s overall EnhancedClean strategy also goes a long way towards re-establishing trust and confidence among air-travel customers: visible reassurance materials.[embedded content]“’Safety Seen’ is our mantra here at ABM,” explained Marren. “People want to know that more is being done,” and ABM has all kinds of ready-made communication tools that can be branded by clients—including signage that might be placed in restrooms, waiting areas or at gates—that detail what’s being done on-site and visual reminders of how passengers can do their part to help everyone stay healthy.In this climate, consumers are thinking, “‘Give me some proof points that you’ve done something more and different’, and that’s another big part of what we do as part of our program,” Marren explained.ABM currently serves 20 airlines and 75 airport locations around the world, including 27 of the top 30 busiest U.S. airports, such as Atlanta International, New York’s LaGuardia, and the international terminals at JFK International and Los Angeles International Airport. Its major U.S. airline clientele includes United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest.All of ABM’s team members undergo specialized, in-depth training to ensure absolute comprehension and consistent program delivery, with higher-level training for those who’ll be using electrostatic sprayers and other newly-adopted disinfection techniques. Employees must pass written exams and demonstrate the ability to perform requisite tasks to be registered and work as Certified Disinfection Specialists. For more information, visit enhancedclean.com Let's block ads! (Why?)

As the 2020 summer season wanes, COVID-19 continues to affect Americans’ ability and willingness to travel and upend many of the arrangements that are usually made around national holidays. A recent survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet, investigated how the ongoing pandemic is shaping U.S. travelers’ Labor Day vacation plans.It found that just under half (49 percent) of Americans who had Labor Day weekend getaway plans had canceled their trip thanks to COVID-19. Although it seems that many have replaced their original plans with at least an overnight stay somewhere they deem safe to travel. Details of the findings include: MORE Features & Advice —While about two in five (41 percent) of Americans said they have or had plans for a Labor Day weekend getaway, Millennials emerged as the generation most likely to have Labor Day 2020 travel plans.—Sixty percent of the Millennials (age 24 – 39) surveyed reported that they have/had travel plans for the holiday weekend, while Gen Z (ages 18 – 23) came in second with 48 percent, Gen X (ages 44 – 55) with 38 percent and Boomers (56 – 74) with 27 percent.—Families with kids were split almost evenly in their decisions to forego or push on with Labor Day travel plans. Just over half (53 percent) of parents with children under the age of 18 who previously had plans to travel over Labor Day weekend said that they’d canceled their trips, while 47 percent said that they’d be keeping their plans, despite COVID-19 concerns.—Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents with overnight travel plans for Labor Day Weekend also intend to stay at a hotel, resort or motel. Another 31 percent said they would stay with family or friends, and 22 percent chose to go with a vacation rental property.—Parents with children under 18 emerged as the most likely consumers to insure their trips. Of those with planned Labor Day weekend travel that includes an overnight stay, 38 percent said they’re purchasing travel insurance to protect their trip. Parents of minors were shown to be more likely to have bought insurance (61 percent) than those without kids under the age of 18 (20 percent).—Among those with an overnight stay planned during Labor Day weekend, more than half (55 percent) said they plan to pay their travel costs using a credit card, while only seven percent reported that they’d be using funds on account from a previously planned trip that was canceled due to COVID-19. For more information, visit nerdwallet.com. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Formation.ai's new report, Brand Loyalty 2020: The Need for Hyper-Individualization, shows that brands aren't doing enough to help build loyalty with their consumers. The report also states the need for hyper-individualization.Christian Selchau-Hansen, founder and CEO of Formation.ai, unpacks the importance of brand loyalty for the travel and tourism agency in a Q&A with TravelPulse. MORE Features & Advice TravelPulse (TP): Why are loyalty programs so important for brands, especially travel and tourism brands?Christian Selchau-Hansen (CSH): Our recent study found that 73 percent of consumers are more likely to engage with a brand that offers a loyalty program over one that doesn’t. In an era of uncertainty for the travel and tourism industry, engagement is crucial to customer retention long-term. Loyalty programs are often thought of as simply a way to increase purchase frequency, but there are numerous opportunities to leverage loyalty programs to activate and reinforce experiences that improve a customer’s view of the brand and help meet business objectives.After the pandemic travel lag, hotels are looking to fill rooms and encourage repeat visits, while a majority of customers are looking for a safe and comfortable stay. Hotels can offer guest points or rewards to customers who fill out a pre- and post-stay survey regarding the cleanliness of their room and overall experience, reinforcing to the customer the commitment to safety while motivating the guest to make a repeat visit. This win-win offer addresses both operational challenges and customer motivations, and is only possible through a robust loyalty program.TP: Formation.ai's new report, Brand Loyalty 2020: The Need for Hyper-Individualization, shows 79 percent of consumers agree that personalization drives brand loyalty. What kinds of tactics could travel and tourism companies be doing in order to help grow consumer loyalty?CSH: Our report also found that 77 percent of consumers don’t think brands are doing enough to earn their loyalty. The gap is in relevance as the majority of personalization efforts are not achieving the level of relevance that consumers require. This gap means there’s a significant opportunity for travel and tourism companies to invest in hyper-personalization and that those investments will create more engagement and thus, more loyalty.From there, brands can encourage valuable long-term customer engagement by rewarding key behaviors, like prepaying checked baggage or signing up for pre-board notifications. The rewards should also be personalized, so that the more a customer interacts with the brand, the more they benefit, leading to repeated engagement. Customers are more likely to become loyal to a brand if its offers are relevant and valuable. Blanket coupons are often dismissed by shoppers, so brands should personalize offers and rewards to inspire customers to return and continue to engage.TP: What is hyper-individualization and how can it be useful to the brand and the consumer?CSH: Most brands utilize personalization in some shape or form. Companies can easily put a user's name into an email or recommend a product by referencing past purchases — “I know you traveled to Florida, so I’m going to show you more flights to Florida.” But this kind of personalization is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to adding real relevance. Hyper-personalization moves beyond basic segmentation models to enhance messaging and offers on an individual level.For example, take two customers in a hotel loyalty program. One customer used to travel on a weekly basis for their job, but hasn’t searched for a room since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, another customer, though entry-level, is actively searching for room availability. This likely indicates that the second customer is eager to start traveling, while the first has not yet reached that point. Rather than making a broad assumption about these two guests based on the historical segment they fall into, hyper-personalization empowers companies to recognize how different customers engage with offers and incorporate data reflecting local markets, regulations, and timing. Through 1:1 personalization at scale, brands can create relevant offers that recognize each customer’s unique motivations to strengthen and deepen the customer relationship.TP: What features of a loyalty program are most attractive to a consumer? In other words, what are the main features that draw consumers to join loyalty programs?CSH: Loyalty programs in travel have always been about providing value for a deeper level of engagement. The challenge right now is that even travel enthusiasts may hesitate to hop on a plane or stay in a hotel. Consumers are weighing their travel decisions based on a variety of new factors, from government travel rules to safety and health concerns to financial changes. The brands that recognize these changes in customer motivations and offer relevant changes in value to customers will be successful in re-engaging customers when they are ready. Let's block ads! (Why?)

With virtual learning and working from home, the summer travel season is being extended into the fall.MMGY Global has found that Americans are looking to recoup lost summer vacation time spent in lockdown and are feeling more comfortable venturing out. This time, MMGY is calling “Stretch Season,” an extension of the summer travel season into the fall months driven by pent-up travel demand and the ability to travel while working and learning remotely. MORE Features & Advice “The season following Labor Day provides travelers an opportunity to extend their travel budgets during a more value-oriented period, especially in their own cities, regionally and in destinations that feature outdoor activities like beaches and parks,” said Clayton Reid, CEO of MMGY Global. “This new reality creates an opportunity to boost the travel industry and help stimulate economic recovery.”MMGY Travel Intelligence’s ongoing Travel Intentions Pulse Survey, which measures the impact of COVID-19 on American travelers’ attitudes and changes in travel behavior, found that this could be a lucrative time for the travel industry.Sixty-four percent of travelers expect to take a leisure trip within the next six months, and 54 percent of travelers say that they are more likely to travel in the fall this year than in previous years.The research found that leisure trips planned for late July and August have shifted to the fall thanks to loosened cancellation policies and travel brands adapting quickly to the new marketplace.Road trips remain popular with 73 percent of travelers feeling safe traveling in their cars. Families with kids doing remote learning can extend vacations and work and learn in their travel destinations.Only 29 percent of business travelers are expecting to take a business trip in the next three months which creates an opportunity for those road warriors to extend time with friends and family and dedicate more time (and loyalty redemption points) to leisure.Budget-minded travelers can take advantage of fall deals and savings by traveling during a typical shoulder season, stretching their budgets farther in sought-after destinations such as beaches and national parks. Let's block ads! (Why?)

SatelliteInternet.com is paying $1,000 to one lucky person who stays two nights in an RV in a national park, and the selected person gets to choose which park it is.MORE Features & Advice The catch?It requires giving up all forms of technology, including cell phones and the internet.The applicant chosen will be paid $1,000 while staying in a reimbursed RV rental for two nights on a digital detox in whichever national park the person chooses. Laptops, cell phones and the internet (yes, that includes Netflix) will be forbidden for two whole days and nights.On the third night, the detox will end, and the person will share the experience online.The pandemic has caused many of us to log more screen time than ever. The entire digital detox experience is aimed at getting away from the virtual life for a few days and reconnecting with the world in a stunning natural environment.Applications are open until September 23, 2020. Full details can be found on the official job posting. SatelliteInternet.com is an online resource committed to helping people compare the satellite and rural internet providers in their area. Let's block ads! (Why?)