The travel industry in action

Newport Beach

Travel PR agency Black Diamond explains how some of its clients are doing their bit during the COVID 19 crisis.

Newport Beach, California 
Following an order to close its doors, Malarky’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach set up a drive-through toilet paper operation where locals could purchase toilet roll at highly discounted rates. Mario Marovic, who owns Malarky’s and 10 other restaurants around Orange County, sold thousands of rolls at 50 cents per roll. www.visitnewportbeach.com

San Diego, California 
 At the Grande Colonial Hotel set up an programme for managers to donate any unused Paid Time Off (vacation time) to the hourly staff. The hotel converted those hours into immediate cash in hand for hourly employees and has already received nearly $5,000 in converted PTO hours. www.sandiego.org

Sonoma County, California 
SingleThread is a source-focused, farmdriven three-star Michelin restaurant Owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton have launched an initiative that brings their industry contacts together to purchase meals that SingleThread chefs would prepare for 200 or more needy families per day. These donated meals will be distributed to local families through Sonoma Family Meal, as well as Corazon Healdsburg, a local organisation that supports hospitality workers. www.sonomacounty.com

Winter Park, Colorado 
After Winter Park ski resort closed its doors on 15 March, staff from the closed restaurants and bars delivered food and drink to the Mountain Family Center in nearby Granby, which provides help and assistance to families in need. www.winterparkresort.com

Denver, Colorado 
With a “stay at home” order in place, VISIT DENVER, Boulder CVB, Eat Denver and the Colorado Restaurant Association have collaborated to create ToGoDenver.com, a free resource that enables nearly 650 eateries and breweries to offer convenient, safe takeout and home or curbside delivery. www.denver.org

Portland, Oregon 
Following the closing of all restaurants, a hand sanitiser shortage prompted Shine Distillery to use its “gin heads” to make mini hand sanitiser bottles to give to customers along with their food orders. Moda Center - the city’s largest indoor sports and events arena - donated 2,800 pounds of food to Portland-based non-profit Urban Gleaners and multiple restaurants around the city are providing free lunches for minors, including Kachka and Laughing Planet. www.travelportland.com

Cherry Blossom in Kyishu

Kyushu, Japan 
A silk fabric maker in south western Japan is giving out free masks made from local Hakata-ori weaved material and has plans to distribute 3,000 of the Hakata-ori silk masks across the city. www.welcomekyushu.com