Toronto moves to stage two of its COVID-19 recovery plan tomorrow, while the city’s main airport has introduced a new health and safety plan. New York City moved to stage two on Monday, and Chicago is moving to stage four on Friday. I also look at American and Quebec travel attitudes and the top 10 small cities in the U.S.
Stage Two for Toronto: At Last!
Toronto sign at the CN Tower. The province of Ontario is part of the new WTTC Safe Travels health and safety program. JIM BYERS PHOTO
One of Canada’s most popular cities for tourists (and my place of abode) is beginning to waken from its long slumber. After some three months of lockdown, Toronto restaurants with patios are allowed to re-open beginning Wednesday, June 24. Of course, not all restaurants have patio space, and likely not all restaurants have staff and new protocols in place to make it possible. But the fact that the city is finally moving ahead is cause for celebration for folks in the Toronto tourism biz.
Hani Roustom, Managing Director at the lovely and stylish Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville says their patio, one of the best in the city, will be open on Thursday, June 25. The hotel will be open in mid-July.
“We were working on our floor plans over the last few days,” Roustom told me. “To avoid situations that will put pressure on our team, we decided to remove tables (versus leaving them with a decorative item on them). We are also trying to focus on the flow of the guests creating a point of exist to avoid the crossing in our main entrance.”
Roustom said they’ll be at nearly 50% capacity on the patio.
“We had to take many tables out. We tried to push the limits of the patio as much as we can on The Hazelton Avenue side to make up for any lost capacity. (Space that is on our hotel property. We didn’t try to expand limits on sidewalks).”
I also have some comments from Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President, Destination Development, for Destination Toronto.
“There is no doubt tourism will be a much more local experience this summer,” Weir said in an email. “Clearly the volume of business will be well below recent years and in many cases it may not be enough to sustain some businesses at all, which is challenging from a business perspective and heartbreaking for the entrepreneurs and staff who put so much passion into building these businesses.
“That said, there is an opportunity for many Torontonians to discover areas of the city they haven’t fully explored, restaurants and shops they have never visited and experiences they have never tried. Often residents of a city look elsewhere for experiences that we have right here and the fact that travel is more restricted opens the door for more people to discover some of them.
“In fact it will be vitally important for Torontonians to re=engage with their city and share those experiences with their friends and family. That sharing of pictures and stories will help build demand for more travel and show people from further away that Toronto is up and running safely.”
Expedia Canada Study: Hotel Booking Interest Climbs
The new lobby design at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
While Canadian domestic travel searches steadily dropped throughout March and into April, Expedia Group data indicates average gains of nearly 20% week-on-week since mid-April on domestic travel searches for trips in August. In addition to rising domestic travel intent, data from Canadian based market research firm Leger reveals favourable sentiment among Canadians to reopen hotels across the country.
- 3-star lodging accommodations are most searched option during trip planning
- Expedia Group data from mid-April to mid-May shows nearly 45% of travelers looking for hotels in August are seeking 3-star lodging accommodations.
- Alternatively, the data shows a higher propensity to spend on 4-star properties with searches coming in just under 30%, compared to the 2-star searches at nearly 25%.
- Recommendation: To meet traveller expectations on price, hoteliers should consider offering a mid-level price point while adding flexible rates and promotions to draw attention to their listings.
- Travellers opt for wheels over wings in 2020
- According to Leger data, Canadians are more apt to travel by car this year for their next vacation, with 65% of consumers preferring a vacation they can drive to versus 25% taking a vacation that requires a flight.
- And only 24% of consumers polled plan to take a trip abroad in 2020.
- Recommendation: With the staycation proving to provide accessible travel opportunities for Canadians in 2020, lodging partners should consider marketing strategies to attract customers within driving distance.
- Canadians comfortable with hotels reopening if proper cleanliness measures are in place
- According to Leger, 67% of Canadians are comfortable with hotels reopening, but would like to see certain steps taken as part of the reopening process, including practiced social distancing and increased cleanliness measures.
- Across the provinces, British Columbians are most eager to see hotels reopen at 76%, while 68% of Quebecers and 64% of Ontarians would like to see hotels reopen.
- Recommendation: To ensure customers can book with confidence, Expedia Group created a new feature for lodging partners to highlight their health and hygiene measures including contactless check-in and check-out, hand sanitizer available to guests, enhanced cleaning measures and social distancing plans.
Toronto Pearson Launches New “Healthy Airport” Program
Toronto Pearson Airport.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates and maintains Toronto Pearson, today launched its “Healthy Airport” commitment, a comprehensive program that outlines the steps the airport and its partners are taking to be ready for the new realities of air travel, and to lead the aviation industry in advancing the future of healthy travel corridors. Today’s announcement also includes a strategic partnership with BlueDot, a leader in advanced data analytics and technologies to predict and monitor infectious disease risks.
Toronto Pearson’s Healthy Airport commitment and health measures are aligned with the global aviation measures established by the International Civil Aviation Authority, International Air Transport Association, and Transport Canada’s framework for addressing COVID-19 and the recovery of the aviation sector.
“Toronto Pearson is an international leader in the aviation sector, having set the standard for exceptional passenger service among large North American airports for three years in a row,” said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the GTAA. “As government restrictions on air travel begin to be lifted and flights increase, Toronto Pearson is ready, and we are intent on exceeding international standards. Everyone who works at Toronto Pearson is dedicated to playing a leadership role in fulfilling the health protection measures and adapting quickly to changes and future standards. We are dedicated each day to providing the pathway for Canadians who are dreaming of the day they can travel again.”
Passengers will experience the airport’s five point Healthy Airport commitment, which includes the highest standards for cleaning and hygiene, clear communications and the introduction of innovative technology advancements, including touchless check-in, a disinfection corridor for airport workers, facility monitoring for congestion, autonomous floor cleaning machines and air quality monitors. Additionally, the GTAA has partnered with BlueDot to monitor and manage risk from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The Canadian technology company’s world-leading insights platform will power the GTAA’s commitment to preparedness and resilience.
New York City and Chicago Moving Forward, Too
New York City. JIM BYERS PHOTO
New York City moved into stage two on Monday of this week, a huge relief for residents of the Big Apple (and for U.S. tourism officials).
More than 3,000 Big Apple restaurants qualified to allow dining outdoors over the weekend and are now free to serve patrons, Mayor de Blasio said Monday, according to the New York Daily News.
“I’m very excited that this day has come,” the mayor said. “I’m very excited for these folks who have put their whole lives into their restaurants. It’s just so much a part of life of this city, but it’s something that gives me a tremendous amount of joy.”
I somehow missed that Chicago did quite well over the past few months/weeks, and on Friday is moving into STAGE FOUR. According to the Chicago Tribune, that means restaurants are allowed to resume a range of services and activities as long as they follow public health guidelines. Movie theaters, health clubs and retail stores will also be allowed to open with limits in place for capacity. All outdoor recreation is allowed open in phase four. The 606 Trail (like the High Line in New York City but a little outside of downtown) and the city’s Lakefront Trail opened on Monday.
CAA Quebec Study: Cautious Quebecers Look to Travel Locally
North Hatley is one of the prettiest villages in Canada and is a great gathering spot in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. JIM BYERS PHOTO
According to the latest CAA-Quebec travel plans survey, Quebecers want to start travelling again but are in no rush and would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to COVID-19 risks.
Asked about their plans once the government travel advisories have been lifted for six months, two-thirds (66%) of respondents say they are excited about taking a vacation, proving once again that travel is sacred.
But the survey shows that COVID-19 has changed how people expect to travel. After the crisis:
• 80% will avoid crowded destinations, even six months after the government advisories are lifted.
• 73% will stay closer to home, even six months after the government advisories are lifted.
• 41% will expect special health precautions.
• 40% will make safety a higher priority.
• 27% will look for destinations that bring them closer to nature.
CAA-Quebec travel agents know what will be required and make a point of telling each client exactly what to expect. The role of travel counsellors will be more important than ever.
In recent weeks the number of visitors to the CAA-Quebec Travel website has tripled, and CAA-Quebec travel counsellors report that more and more would-be travellers are impatient to pack their bags. Counsellors stand ready to assist with vacation planning and help their clients adapt to the tremendous upheavals in the travel industry.
Most Americans Still Cautious, Too
According to the most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travellers, 69% of American travelers say they are changing their travel plans because of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on travel had been declining from a peak of 85% on April 8, but it is unchanged from two weeks ago at 69%. Additionally, the percentage of American travellers who say the pandemic will greatly impact their travel plans in the next six months remains unchanged at 46%, while still below the peak of 67% on April 1.
“News of increasing coronavirus cases in multiple states in the South and West may be responsible for a more cautious outlook by American travellers,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “The impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry likely will rise and fall with perceived progress against the disease.”
According to the survey, travelers are more likely to support tourism businesses which demonstrate a clear, thorough cleaning and hygiene plan (43%), which test staff and the use of PPE by staff (34%), and those that have controls on social distancing at the business (34%).
Top 10 Small American Cities
Myrtle Beach. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Small cities are a big deal. Given the appeal of smaller urban centers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the folks at Resonance Consultancy decided to highlight the 100 U.S. towns with 100,000 to 500,000 people—places to live, work, invest in and (when safe to do so) travel to.
Here’s their list:
1. Reno, Nevada (My grandparents used to live there. Great nature/fishing/mountains nearby)
2. Naples, Florida (Excellent food, lovely beaches and great weather in winter)
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico (Fabulous history and arts scene. Love the green chili burgers!)
4. Savannah, Georgia (One of most handsome cities in the U.S.)
5. Asheville, North Carolina (Artsy spot, but I’ve never been)
6. Anchorage, Alaska (Never been)
7. Boulder, Colorado (Sorry, never been)
8. Trenton, New Jersey (Ditto)
9. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Fun town with a great beach, fab kayaking spots nearby)
10. Ann Arbor, Michigan (A classic American college town; very pretty and liberal minded)
Also making the top 100 were a few other cities I know and enjoy, including
11. Santa Cruz, California (Gorgeous scenery, redwood forests, great food/coffee scene)
12. Napa (Amazing wine of course, plus fabulous, local food and a vibrant downtown)
17. Kahului, Maui (Outstanding and affordable food, fab weather and a couple nice beaches)
