Destinations
Estimated Job Losses Continue To Grow: WTTC
Based on its own research, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says that the number of job losses due to COVID-19 have increased by over 30% in the last four weeks, growing to an estimated 100 million job losses in the travel and tourism sector. The WTTC has alerted G20 tourism ministers to the staggering extent of the crisis, as they gathered by virtual conference late last week. Of the 100.8 million jobs at risk, almost 75 million of them are in G20 countries. Its analysis also shows a sharp escalation in the economic loss to the world economy, up to US$2.7 trillion of...
No Confidence
The latest pulse check survey – conducted by the BC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and the Business Council of British Columbia – revealed the depth of concern that businesses have over the prospect of re-opening should the COVID-19 pandemic continue for the foreseeable future. Key findings of the survey include: 43% of those surveyed stating they can only continue to operate for up to three months under current restrictions For businesses temporarily closed, only half (53%) expect to re-open once the restrictions are eased on workplace...
IPW Taps Vegas To Host Event In 2021
In a message to delegates, Malcolm Smith, general manager of IPW advises them that Las Vegas will now welcome IPW May 10-14 of 2021, and Chicago, which had been slated for 2021, has agreed to serve as IPW’s host site in 2025. Smith observes: “We greatly appreciate the flexibility of our upcoming host cities. Other scheduled locations for IPW (Orlando in 2022, San Antonio in 2023, Los Angeles in 2024) remain unchanged.” And he continues: “When we meet next May, we'll be convening in the newly constructed West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center following its major...
Wild Times In Harrison Hot Springs
It’s Friday and we all need a bit of a lighter look at the world around us. Too much COVID-19 all the time. So, a tip of the hat to True Key Hotels & Resorts who brings a touch of humour to us today. The BC hospitality company reports that with COVID-19 keeping everyone close to home, the world is seeing the rewilding of animals in cities and towns. It points to stories of dolphins returning to Venetian canals; wild boars wandering the streets of towns in Italy and … yes, believe it or not … the return of the legendary Sasquatch to its natural habitat of the village of...
COVID-19: PATA By The Numbers
In newly updated forecasts, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicates that the most likely scenario for international visitor arrivals into and across Asia Pacific in 2020 is that visitor numbers are likely to reduce by 32% year-on-year. PATA says that taking into account the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume of arrivals is now expected to reduce to fewer than 500 million this year. And that effectively takes visitor volume back to levels last seen in 2012. At this stage, PATA says that growth is expected to resume in 2021, returning to forecast levels by...
Caribbean Gets Ready For The Bounceback
During a recent webinar, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) CEO and director general, Frank Comito talked about how the Caribbean hospitality sector and destinations were marshaling their crisis management experience to be able to bounce back stronger and better once the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has subsided. Comito commended resort owners for using the opportunity to refresh their offerings and facilities and train staff on advanced aspects of the sector - albeit at a social distance - while the region remains closed to new visitors. He also...
A Pledge To Collaborate On Earth Day 2020
To mark Earth Day 2020, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are joining together to share their collaborative intent to emerge from the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) crisis and help rebuild a stronger, more resilient Caribbean for the environment and the people that depend on it. CHTA president, Patricia Affonso-Dass said the reopening of the region's shuttered tourism sector is an important opportunity to address head-on the challenges posed by climate change, which she described as “the biggest challenge to the future of the...
Ski Industry Struggling In Wake Of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, ski resorts have closed in response to government interventions and the decreasing number of skiers. Now, Oxford Ski has released research on how much the Coronavirus is likely to cost the ski industry and what’s being done to help it. The research indicates that in the average year, 38% of all ski bookings are from after late February; in which 132 million people around the world would usually be heading to the slopes for the end of the Northern hemisphere seasons and the start of the Southern. In dollars and cents, 132 million...