A return to fuller airplanes. Toronto hotel openings. And a potential return to Europe for Canadians. Here’s my Future of Travel blog for today. Middle Seat Occupation Returning on Some Airlines I hope nobody who’s been flying lately was getting used to the space around them. Because you can kiss it goodbye. For the past few months, many airlines have been blocking off middle seats to enforce social distancing. But with COVID-19 somewhat under control in some places, that is coming to an end. In Canada, both Air Canada and WestJet say they will no longer block off seats. Ditto Read more
physical distancing
Great to see that a number of top Alberta attractions will re-open for visitors soon, including the Banff Gondola. It’s also encouraging to see that both Tourism New Zealand and the Accor Hotels Group are resuming their marketing and advertising campaigns. I’ve also got great news about a hotel re-opening in New York City and a great program to give hotel nights to frontline heroes. All in today’s Future of Travel blog. TOURISM NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN I got this note today from the folks at the New Zealand tourism office. “100% Pure New Zealand is reconnecting with friends Read more
THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL Stories and studies about the future of travel are rolling across my laptop every day. Sometimes every hour. We’re all curious about what the future looks like for air travel, hotels, destinations and cruise lines. Not to mention travel agents and travel journalists like me. With that in mind, and given my 11 years as a full-time travel writer and now 42-year (yikes) career as a full-time journalist, I’m going to be writing a “FUTURE OF TRAVEL” blog pretty much every weekday, or maybe every day, from now until we get a better picture of what’s Read more
A rebound will come some day. But I think it will take quite a long time before travel is back to normal. Given what’s been happening with social or physical distancing, we’re not going to flick a switch on July 1 (or whenever) and go back to crowded airports and jam-packed airplanes. Some things will simply have to change. Writing in the Globe and Mail recently, esteemed urbanist Richard Florida talked about new ways being needed to run airport check-in counters, baggage carousels and airlines themselves. Further to that, Delta Airlines today issued a statement saying that, starting April 13 Read more
