An AirBnB study finds that searches for properties in the Kawarthas topped the charts for Canada. I also have a surprising report on how some Canadian insurance companies actually ARE offering travel insurance for COVID-19, as well as a story on what women want in travel. Finally, I have items on how Air Transat is back in action today, and an item on how a top Canadian business person says it’s time for Ottawa to support Canada’s aviation industry. My Future of Travel blog for July 23.
Kawarthas Tops the Canadian AirBnB Charts
Sunrise over Rice Lake at Elmhirst’s Resort. .JIM BYERS PHOTO
The August long weekend is just around the corner and many Canadians are looking to responsibly discover destinations in their own backyard – highlighting rural retreats + off-the-grind stays. According to Airbnb, the top trending search results for travel are: Kawartha Lakes in Ontario, Osoyoos in B.C. and also Lanaudiere (north of Montreal) and Charlevoix (a wonderful area east of Quebec City). All four areas showed an increase in searches of 50% or more compared to the same time last year.
Here are the details with search increase percentages:
- Kawartha Lakes 113%
- Georgian Bay 95%
- Osoyoos 69%
- Lanaudiere 57%
- Charlevoix 50%
- Penticton 42%
- Mt Tremblant Laurentides 38%
- Muskoka 35%
- Bracebridge 33%
I’ve written blog posts on several of those areas, most recently on Muskoka (two great lodges and a fabulous kayaking experience) and Peterborough and the Kawarthas (here’s a post about the lovely town of Millbrook).
Muskoka and the Kawarthas also each get two chapters in my new book, called “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now.” I also have a chapter on the Georgian Bay region in Grey County. All five chapters have great information about things to see and do in the area.
As guests look to travel safely this holiday weekend, Air BnB says the increase in searches indicates not only the increasing popularity of more isolated stays in Kawartha Lakes and other regions as travellers look to get away, but also that Airbnb listings meet guests’ new, emerging needs for increased cleanliness and privacy.
94% of all Airbnb reviews show that guests are satisfied with cleaning, scoring it at 4 or 5 stars after their stays. In addition, roughly 3/4 of four guests recently surveyed by Airbnb said they would be more comfortable staying with their families in a listing than in a hotel with other people — as listings provide amenities like private kitchens and laundry, along with offering guests more control over their environment and travel experience.
Travel Insurance for COVID-19 Turns Out Canadians Can Get it
I’ve been under the impression that Canadian insurance companies weren’t offering COVID-19 protection to travellers. But the Globe and Mail today said a couple of them are doing so.
The Globe Report on Business story said that two major travel insurers “are reinstating out-of-country medical coverage for COVID-19 even as the federal government continues to advise Canadians against non-essential travel outside the border.”
“Medipac Travel Insurance and the Canadian Association of Blue Cross have both restored medical emergency coverage for the novel coronavirus in their travel insurance policies this month. Three other major Canadian insurers are notifying customers they will restore coverage for COVID-19 but only once travel advisories are lifted by the Canadian government.”
So, there you go. Interesting.
Canadian Aviation Industry Still Waits for Support Package
WestJet
The COVID-19 crisis has been with us more than four months. Governments around the world have poured money into their aviation sectors to help airlines – and their employees – stay afloat.
The government of Canada has lent all companies a hand with various programs, but Ottawa and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have done pretty much diddly squat for the nation’s aviation industry.
One top business official says that has to change.
“Unlike other countries… which have offered direct financial support to the aviation sector, we have seen little-to-no direct government support,” Grant McDonald, the global head of aerospace and defence at KPMG in Canada, told SkiesMag. “To recover more quickly and ensure long-term viability, the industry requires a government-supported strategy which may include various forms of investment, including subsidies, loans and loan guarantees, including support for small suppliers to help them through the pandemic.”
Air Transat Returns to the Skies Today: Great to See This
It’s great to see Air Transat planes back flying commercially again. Here’s a release they sent out today.
Transat, one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada’s holiday travel leader, is making its first commercial flights today, the day it is resuming air operations after four months of inactivity. There will be three international flights (Montreal–Toulouse, Montreal–Paris and Toronto–London) and three domestic flights (Montreal–Toronto, Toronto–Montreal and Toronto–Vancouver). Transat’s entire reduced summer schedule of 24 routes to some 20 destinations will be up and running by August 2.
“July 23 is, and will remain, a very special day in the history of Transat. We are gradually resuming our flight operations after a 112-day shutdown,” said Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer, Transat. “There will be excitement in the air during our carrier’s first takeoffs this evening. The entire Transat team, starting with our on-duty flight crews, is very pleased to return to action and to offer our passengers a restyled experience adapted to the situation. The skies are slowly clearing and that is encouraging, but it in no way means that the crisis caused by COVID-19 is over.”
Women Worrying About Travel Safety: Seek Trust and Transparency
A new study conducted by JourneyWoman™, the world’s first solo women’s travel community, shows that women lack the trust and transparency they need to feel comfortable to travel. The global study, titled “Embracing the Unknown: The Risk and Reward of Travel”, surveyed 1,513 highly experienced women travellers in the highly influential 55-75+ demographic to assess shifts in travel, including the impact on of the pandemic on decision-making criteria, reputation and trust, and destination choice.
“Trust is fundamental to every relationship and transaction, and it’s even more important when it comes to travel,” said Carolyn Ray, CEO + Publisher, JourneyWoman. “Our study shows that we’re not only having a public health and travel crisis; we’re having a trust crisis. The pandemic has given the travel services industry an opportunity to demonstrate a deep commitment to women’s safety, yet it is clearly not meeting the expectations of the world’s most seasoned and influential travellers. Experienced women travellers, those who understand both the risk and reward of travel, will not travel until they believe that their safety and health come before corporate profits.”
Women are the primary travel decision makers, and research destinations, plan travel and influence recommendations of friends and family through their own experiences. In the study, which was conducted in June, the majority of respondents are not planning to travel internationally until 2021, with most planning to wait until the second half of 2021. Seventy-three per cent of respondents said they would pay more to feel safe when travelling.
