COVID-19 “passports” to help revive the airline and tourism industries. Plus a look at what the future holds for cruising, a new rewards plan from CIBC that will help local restaurants, and great advice from the Canadian Automobile Association on summer road trips. That and more in today’s Future of Travel post.
CORONAVIRUS PASSPORTS? COOL IDEA
Pangea’s Covid-19 Pass Card/Passport.
A company called Pangea has introduced an end-to-end platform for issuing a Covid-19 immunity ‘passport’ based on a biometric ID. The smart card holder will be granted free access to public areas including airport terminals and planes, as part of the effort to revive the global airline and tourism industries.
Israel’s Pangea, which specializes in digital transformation of government and business services, is at the forefront of efforts to reopen airports and facilitate travel in the age of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Herzliya-based company has devised an end to end platform that will enable countries to reopen their airports and the entry of tourists while at the same time protect their population from a resurgence of the virus. The comprehensive solution would enable governments to issue a biometric smart card to verify that the holder is virus free or has immunity.
Global health experts concur that without some sort of viable solution, the airline and travel industries, which have been severely affected by the pandemic, will find it difficult if not impossible to recover. Countries around the world are scrambling to find a solution to remove the bottlenecks and expedite the flow of passengers abroad. Pangea’s solution involves the use of a smart card which serves as an immunity ‘passport’ allowing the holder to enter airport terminals and airplanes and removing the fear of spreading the virus to others. The card comprises a photo of the holder, a digital signature, a chip, and a hologram. The card can be securely linked to the country’s medical database and includes up to date encrypted data on the holder’s Covid-19 profile.
The issuing process would be overseen by the health ministry of each country and in cooperation with local health providers and hospitals. In addition, the issuing of the card would require the close cooperation of tourism ministries, airports, airlines, and insurance companies. The issuing of this type of card will necessitate close coordination of the countries whose citizens will be traveling between them.
Pangea’s solution is flexible and will support the protocol of each country, including that of Israel, which is currently in the process of being developed. The company’s sophisticated search engine will review each case and determine whether the card holder meets the necessary requirements for entry. The engine is dynamic and would be capable of making real time updates as countries revise their requirements to deal with a changing health environment.
Pangea is in talks with several governments on the use of the smart card in their countries.
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER EXTENDS SUSPENSION
Riding the Rocky Mountaineer in British Columbia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Ugh. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued government travel and health restrictions, Rocky Mountaineer says it will extend the suspension of its 2020 travel season to include all departure dates up to and including August 30, 2020. This suspension is in addition to the previously announced suspended departures from April 13 to July 31.
It’s discouraging, but I’m sure Rocky Mountaineer will rebound soon enough. My wife and I took a magical trip with them a couple years ago, travelling from Vancouver to Banff. The Rockies were, of course, amazing, but I found the trip from Vancouver to Kamloops entrancing, as well.
FUTURE OF CRUISING: A VERY MIXED MESSAGE
Small ships and river cruises are likely to rebound before the big ships get full again, experts say.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings on Tuesday extended its suspension of voyages to cover most trips in August and September for Norwegian, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. It’s a pattern we’ve seen across the industry. And it’s not looking a whole lot brighter today with new coronavirus outbreaks in China and the U.S.
I listened in on a Society of American Travel Writers cruise seminar on Tuesday, and most of the messages weren’t terribly positive.
Gene Sloan, a cruise expert extraordinaire who writes for The Points Guy website, said small cruise ships are making a comeback, but that bigger ships likely won’t be plying the oceans of the world for “many months.”
“If things go badly (with COVID-19) some cruises may not come back until 2021.”
“Every time someone puts a plan into place, the virus does what it’s going to do,” said Hannah Sampson of the Washington Post.
But Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner of Cruise Planners, said bookings for next year are up 20% over 2019 levels.
Seems to me there’s reason to be optimistic for the long term if the world can keep the virus in check. But, right now, that’s a pretty big “if.”
CAA ROAD TRIP ADVICE: GREAT TRAVEL TIPS FOR SUMMER
Sauble Beach, Ontario makes for a great road trip destination. JIM BYERS PHOTO
As restrictions in Ontario continue to ease and more people head out on the roads, the Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario is encouraging drivers to plan ahead to ensure road trip travel is as safe and stress-free as possible.
“People are looking forward to getting out of the house now that some restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifting, but it is important that we remain focused on safety and proper preparation,” said Tony Tsai, vice president, communications & services, CAA Club Group. “Day trips and road trip travel remain one of the safer travel options for people to enjoy, as long as people are taking the proper precautions.”
Road Trip Travel Tips:
- Planning is more important than ever. When looking for places to stay, search for hotels with free or flexible cancellation policies.
- Check local and provincial websites and public health updates and local news for up to date information on COVID-19 closures and cases and continue to do so while on the road.
- Be sure to pack face coverings, gloves, cleaning supplies, like disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer, and a thermometer.
- If you can’t find gloves, bring some plastic sandwich bags. They can serve as an effective barrier between your hand and a fuel pump handle, doorknob, hotel remote control, etc.
- Also, consider packing extra snacks to reduce the need to stop at restaurants – which may not be open or might be operating at reduced capacity.
- Call ahead to restaurants and attractions to understand capacity limits and where possible make reservations in advance.
- If you choose to eat-in, consider wiping down your table with a disinfectant wipe. Use hand sanitizer after interacting with servers or cashiers.
- Drive-thru or curbside pick-up might be quicker and will reduce contact with other people.
- If you need to use a restroom, try not to touch anything. Use gloves or a plastic sandwich bag as barriers between your skin and surfaces. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you leave.
- Enjoy the great outdoors, pack a picnic and if possible, eat outside to help reduce contact.
Don’t forget to also check your car’s headlights, brake lights and turn signals, and to top up your fluids and change your oil. Also, be sure to replace worn wiper blades, check your tire pressure and perform other, standard maintenance work (the kind many of us forget about far too often). Oh, and check your battery. CAA Battery Service will test, boost or replace your battery for you in a jiffy.
CAA roadside assistance is another great way to stay safe this summer. I’ve been a member for nearly 40 years, and it’s saved our life on several occasions.
CIBC REVIVAL REWARDS: HELP RESTAURANTS AND DOUBLE YOUR POINTS
Now more than ever, it’s important to support our local restaurants, like these in Halifax. JIM BYERS PHOTO
CIBC is launching a new program to support these business owners and help them bring back customers.
Through the Revival Rewards program, clients who use their CIBC rewards credit cards, including Aeroplan, Aventura and Dividend to dine in, order take-out (including curbside pickup), or order delivery from local restaurants will receive double the rewards on their purchase.
Over the last three months, credit card spending at restaurants has declined over 60% and was down more than 70% during the peak of the pandemic, according to CIBC data, highlighting that restaurants were some of the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic.
“From patio nights out with friends to weekend brunches with family, local restaurants serve as mainstays in our neighbourhoods. As restaurant owners start to re-open their doors while observing public health measures to keep guests safe, we want to help revitalize these important businesses,” said Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Group Head, Personal and Business Banking. “Our Revival Rewards program is designed to help restaurant owners get back on their feet and underscores our commitment to providing support for small business owners.”
Card holders will receive double the rewards on up to $1,000 spent at restaurants from June 15 – August 4. To learn more, visit: www.cibc.com/revivalrewards
USA TRAVEL EXPECTED TO DROP 45%
A cable car in San Francisco. Suzanne-Emily-O’Connor-Unsplash Photo
Total travel spending in the U.S. is predicted to drop 45% by the end of this year, spurring renewed calls for federal measures to support the industry that was one of the top U.S. employers and exporters prior to the pandemic.
According to a forecast prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by Tourism Economics, domestic travel spending is forecast to drop 40% (from $972 billion in 2019 to $583 billion in 2020) while international inbound spending is expected to freefall a whopping 75% ($155 billion to $39 billion).
Total domestic trips taken by U.S. residents are expected to fall 30% from last year to 1.6 billion—the lowest figure since 1991, another recession year.
The grim forecast numbers arrive as U.S. Travel commences its first-ever “Virtual Hill Week,” connecting members of the industry with lawmakers to discuss travel priorities and needs. Nearly 300 industry members will participate in 75 online meetings with lawmakers in both the House and Senate.
“The data is telling us that travel and tourism has been more severely damaged than any other U.S. industry by the economic fallout of the health crisis,” said U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes. “Given that travel employed one in 10 Americans and was the No. 2 U.S. export before the pandemic, supporting this industry through to the recovery phase ought to be a national priority.
“Our asks for lawmakers are substantial, but they’re also simple: we need relief, protection, and stimulus for the travel industry to make it past the worst of the crisis and help power an economic recovery.”
SHANGRI-LA HOTELS CLEANLINESS PROGRAM
The Lobby Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Shangri-La Group introduces the Shangri-La Cares commitment that elevates the rigorous health and safety protocols for all Shangri-La, Kerry, Jen and Traders properties worldwide. Protocols include:
- Increased frequency and full attention to deep cleaning of all high-touch surfaces and areas used by guests throughout the hotels;
- Use of medical grade sanitizers and disinfectants, which are approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency;
- Increased cleaning frequency of air filters and air-conditioner systems to ensure optimal air quality;
- Safe dining, meetings and events with extra precautions to respect physical distancing and enhanced food safety practices.
To reinforce the strong culture of health and safety, the Group has enhanced training, learning and development resources for colleagues certified by long-term partner and global hygiene solutions provider, Diversey, a leading global hygiene and cleaning company specializing in developing cleaning and hygiene technologies across industry sectors. Colleagues will also be equipped with personal protective equipment where necessary.
In addition to health and safety protocol enhancement, Shangri-La Group updated its cancellation policy and loyalty program status. Shangri-La will waive the cancellation charges regardless of booking channels for all reservations made prior to April 1, 2020, including advanced purchase rates, travelling to any of our hotels globally (exceptions apply for Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo) before July 31, 2020, if cancelled more than 24 hours prior to arrival date.
I’ve stayed at a couple of Shangri-La properties around the world and always enjoy them. The Toronto hotel is particularly beautiful, with a tremendous lobby and great food.
