Canadians are somewhat more skittish about travel than our American friends. Also, AirBnB has brought in new health and safety protocols, and a new study shows younger folks are more willing to travel than older ones. I also look at how New York City will enter phase 2 on Monday, and I have cruise news from Paul Gauguin and UnCruise. All in my Future of Travel blog for June 18.
CANADIANS AND TRAVEL: MORE CAUTIOUS THAN AMERICANS
You’ll find a stylized Canadian flag at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario; the southernmost point of Canada at around 42 degrees of latitude. JIM BYERS PHOTO
As Canada settles into slowly reopening its economy, are people ready to jump back into everyday life? A new study by Accenture shows that compared to the rest of the world and the US, maybe not quite yet. The survey — which has been tracking consumer priorities, purchasing decisions and behavioural patterns in the wake of COVID-19 on a monthly basis starting in March — found that:
- Two-thirds (63%) of Canadian consumers said they would feel uncomfortable to visit a bar or club (56% of global consumers and 54% in the US);
- Nearly two-thirds (61%) of Canadian consumers said they feel uncomfortable using public transit (compared to 51% globally and 58% in the US);
- Two-thirds (63%) of Canadian consumers said they would feel uncomfortable attending a sporting event or concert in the next two months (compared to 50% in the US and 56% globally);
- 43% of Canadian consumers said they feel uncomfortable about visiting public places in the next two months (41% for global and US consumers);
- 46% of Canadian consumers said they would feel uncomfortable to visit a restaurant or coffee shop in the next two months (compared to 42% of global consumers overall)
- However, only 20% of Canadian consumers (versus 56% of US consumers and 40% of global consumers) said they would feel uncomfortable to visit a grocery store or pharmacy. Isn’t that strange? Why do Americans fear pharmacies and grocery stores? Maybe because nobody wears a mask?
Interesting stuff. Which goes to show that, yes, there are sometimes quite significant differences between Americans and Canadians.
AIRBnB: A NEW CLEANING PROTOCOL IN CANADA AND 11 OTHER COUNTRIES
Airbnb’s enhanced cleaning protocol—the first overarching standardized guidelines for cleaning and sanitization in the home sharing industry—is now available to support hosts and governments in advance of reopening communities for travel. Educational materials and tools are now available for hosts in Canada and 11 other countries: Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the coming weeks, resources will be available to more hosts around the world.
The standards are informed by guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and Europe and advice from former Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy. Airbnb has also partnered with Diversey, a leading cleaning and hygiene technology company, that has endorsed the enhanced cleaning protocol and will help develop more solutions for the Airbnb community moving forward.
All hosts in these twelve countries can access the enhanced cleaning educational materials in their local languages through the Resource Center, including a Quick Start Guide and Cleaning Handbook with guidance on the use of personal protective equipment, how to clean every room in a home, what to sanitize, and what supplies to have on hand.
In addition to cleaning guidelines, hosts should ensure they comply with guidance from governments or health authorities in their local jurisdictions.
To enroll their homes in the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol, Canadian hosts can go directly to their Airbnb accounts, where they can review the guidelines, and complete a quiz and an attestation. Hosts who commit to following the cleaning protocol will receive a special call-out on their listing in the coming days so guests know they are committed to an enhanced cleaning and sanitization routine.
If hosts are unable to commit to our cleaning protocol, they can also choose to opt into a new feature called booking buffer, to create a longer vacancy period between stays, with no activity other than cleaning, which should follow recommended guidelines. Reservations will be automatically blocked during that time frame, currently set at 72 hours. In an effort to ensure hosts are equipped with the best practices for cleaning, we will continue to develop new education materials and features to help get them up to speed.
AEROPLAN: GREAT DEALS FROM AIR CANADA
As part of their efforts to engage members while they’re at home and give them new ways to earn miles, Aeroplan just completed our six week Aeroplan Travel at Home campaign which enabled members to reach Altitude status without leaving the ground. Each week they had new offers – and there were some pretty incredible ones including: A Mega event with the Aeroplan eStore, extra bonuses on credit card spend, matching miles’ campaigns and of course their buy miles’ promotion in which members were able to get a 115% bonus.
“This campaign illustrates that our members are indeed thinking about and planning future travel and we’re here to support them every step of the way. Aeroplan is a part of everyday life and we’ll continue to serve up offers both for you at home and when you’re heading back to the skies.
Of note, our members earned 5.5 billion miles through traveling at home – that’s more than 220,000 long-haul trips in North America this summer or when they are ready to travel!
“As you continue to stay at home, we’re broadening our focus and adding travel promotions to the mix! We’re launching an incredible promotion today – in fact, it’s our best redemption offer EVER. We’re going back to pricing you haven’t seen since 1984. Members who book an Air Canada Flight Reward between now and July 1st for all routes within Canada and the US will get 50% miles back! This is a great deal – if you’re booking two flight rewards, you’re getting one for free. Visit aeroplan.com for more information. (Note, travel must be taken between July 1 – October 15, 2020).
In addition, we’re extending our flexible policy for cancelling Aeroplan Flight Rewards through to August 31. Members can cancel free of charge and receive all of their Aeroplan Miles back in their account, plus a full refund of any associated taxes, fees and surcharges on the unused value of your travel.
At Air Canada, we’re ready to help members plan more comfortably for their future travel with our enhanced biosecurity measures (including CleanCare+) and flexible booking options. Learn more at aircanada.com/readyfortakeoff.
WHO’S FLYING NOW? NOT SENIORS
Young people on vacation. VITOR PINTO PHOTO/UNSPLASH
One of the clearest illustrations of the COVID-19’s effect on consumer travel is the age of those choosing to take flight during a pandemic. According to CheapOair’s data, bookings for individuals 18-24 years old have risen 29% since March while there has been a 27% decrease in the amount of people over the age of 65 planning air travel.
Interestingly, there has also been an uptick in solo travelers, with an 8% increase of people opting to fly alone as compared to the totals of pre-COVID-19 travel data.
“It’s clear that anyone who is perceived to be more ‘at risk’ is erring on the side of caution,” said Sam S. Jain, Founder and CEO of Fareportal. “We want to see the travel industry invigorated, but what’s most important is that we all take strides to ensure that passenger health and safety is the number one priority.” .
“Most airlines have implemented precautionary measures which will increase consumer confidence,” Jain said. “We observe airlines are increasing capacity, which is a signal of growing consumer demand. We believe leisure travel will rebound more quickly than business, as customers take advantage of lower prices and better deals for travel, and we are anticipating an ongoing increase in the number of people traveling in 2021.”
DOUBLE DECKER AIRPLANES? WILD IDEA
Here’s a crazy story I found this morning on CNN’s website.
“A design that reconfigures airplane cabins with double-decker lie-flat seats in premium economy is being touted as a possible solution for fliers looking for more protection from the spread of Covid-19.
NEW YORK CITY ENTERING PHASE TWO
New York City and Bryant Park. JIM BYERS PHOTO
New York City will move to Phase 2 on Monday, Mayor de Blasio announced Thursday.
Phase 2 opens outdoor dining, in-person retail, office-based jobs, hair salons, barbershops and more; NYC playgrounds will also reopen Monday, while team sports like basketball and football remain prohibited.
Up to 300,000 more people are expected to return to work
Mayor de Blasio previously said he did not expect the city to enter Phase 2 until July.
PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES RETURNS TO SOUTH PACIFIC
Canoeing near a Tahiti Guesthouse. PHOTO COURTESY TAHITI TOURISME
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is pleased to announce the resumption of its Tahiti and French Polynesia small-ship voyages starting in July 2020 and extensive “Covid-Safe Protocol.”
French Polynesia is officially re-opening to international tourism on July 15, 2020. Paul Gauguin Cruises will offer 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands voyages departing July 11 and July 18, 2020, for the local French Polynesian market. The Tahiti & the Society Islands itinerary highlights the natural wonders and rich culture of the islands, departs and returns to Papeete, Tahiti, and features visits to Huahine and Motu Mahana (the line’s private islet off the coast of Taha’a), along with two days in Bora Bora (with daily access to a private beach), and two days in Moorea.
Paul Gauguin Cruises will welcome both local and international guests on its 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus voyage departing July 29, 2020, from Papeete, Tahiti. In addition to sailing the islands of Huahine, Bora Bora, Motu Mahana, and Moorea, this itinerary also features calls at the atolls of Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu Archipelago which are known for their stunning lagoons that teem with marine life. In August 2020 and beyond, Paul Gauguin Cruises resumes its previously scheduled 7- to 14-night Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific sailings.
I recently spent a week in Tahiti and was, naturally, overwhelmed by the beauty. Here’s a blog post about the island of Raiatea. And here’s one focusing on the magnificent Four Seasons Bora Bora resort.
As always, the safety and security of guests and crew members remains Paul Gauguin Cruises’ top priority. The small size of The Gauguin, the medical infrastructure and teams on board, protocols and the professionalism of crew, ensured that there were no cases of Covid-19 contamination, officials said.
UNCRUISE VOYAGES BACK ON TRACK
The American owned, U.S. flagged small-ship adventure company, UnCruise Adventures has confirmed that its 2020 Alaska sailings will commence August 1st. “As one of the first companies to restart service, this is a pivotal moment for the travel industry and Alaska,” states UnCruise Adventures Owner and CEO Dan Blanchard. “These initial departures represent a re-framing of what adventure travelers are increasingly looking for, small groups, inclusion, and human connection.”
The initial Alaska sailing will take guests roundtrip from Juneau to Juneau on its 7-night Glacier Bay National Park Adventure with an enhanced wilderness itinerary. Two days in Glacier Bay make this one of the company’s most popular adventures and, free from a large-ship presence all season, offers a rare moment of Southeast Alaska solitude not experienced in decades. Eager guests can experience active adventures daily with remote wilderness hikes, shoreline kayaks, and their choice of nature-based activities.
I didn’t get to travel with them, but I did inspect an UnCruise ship in Hawaii last year and was impressed by the decor and tour offerings they have.
