VIETNAM AIRLINES, VITA LAUNCH DOMESTIC TOURISM STIMULUS PROGRAMME

The programme is expected to create an opportunity for
 tourists to newly experience all the regions of the country.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) has launched a programme to stimulate domestic tourism until the end of 2020.

The programme calls for tourism enterprises to build new and unique tourism products and services at affordable and discounted prices while ensuring the quality of services.

Permanent Vice Chairman of VITA Vu The Binh said that more than 150 enterprises representing Vietnamese tourism in all three regions of the country are determined to restore tourism activities and gradually bring Vietnam’s tourism sector back to the growth rate of the past four years.

Under the “Vietnam Tourism – Bright Destination” programme, Vietnam Airlines in coordination with the VITA and prestigious travel companies, including HanoiTourist, Saigontourist, Vietrans Tour, Vietravel, and Redtour, will build tours with discounts of up to 40% applied for groups of tourists with at least six people.

The programme will be applied to all domestic routes operated by Vietnam Airlines with departure dates from May 15 to December 31, 2020.

The programme is expected to create an opportunity for tourists to newly experience all the regions of the country and visit their famous and safe destinations.

Read the full article at Nhan Dan: https://en.nhandan.org.vn/travel/item/8673002-vietnam-airlines-vita-launch-domestic-tourism-stimulus-programme.html

#inboundmarket, #Tourism, #vietnam

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

NEW ANTI-COVID PHONE APP FOR USE WHEN ENTERING SHOPS

People buy food at CentralFestival EastVille shopping centre
in Bangkok on Wednesday. The government will on Friday
launch a new phone app to facilitate disease control at shops. 
Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool

The government will launch a new mobile phone app to facilitate disease-control tracking of customers as shops reopen with the easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Thursday that shop owners would register online for a QR code that would be placed in front of their shop.

Customers would use their mobile phone to scan the code as they enter and leave the premises.

“The ‘Thai Chana’ application will tell customers if their targeted shop, such as a barber, is still vacant enough to welcome them,” Dr Taweesilp said.

“Shopping centres will use the application when they open their rest areas, in addition to their already opened supermarkets and electrical appliance sales.”

Dr Taweesilp said the Thai Chana app would serve 70-80% of people based on the number of mobile phone users, who account for 70-80% of Thailand’s population.

“Young children and elderly people who do not use mobile phones will be able to use manual registration,” he said.

The app would facilitate the government’s attempts to quickly track people infected with Covid-19 and those in close contact with them. Its effectiveness would lead to the further reopening of businesses and activities, he said.

Dr Polawat Witoolkollachit, inspector-general of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said the new app would be launched on Friday afternoon, along with details of how to register. All kinds of shops could use it, including street vendors.

He said customers could also use the app to tell the government if the shops they visited followed Covid-19 control measures.

He said customers’ privacy would be protected. Only the Disease Control Department would have access to customers’ information, and only for the sake of disease control.

“The system will help prevent a second wave of Covid-19. Those who come in close contact with infected people at shops will be called in for testing.

Read the full article at Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1918092/new-anti-covid-phone-app-for-use-when-entering-shops?fbclid=IwAR3nTo5YXi048A-pUmquvwgBHJP1LkBvo0cO7AFmzAITKUDqGBK-DSLERYM

#application, #COVID19, #Thailand, #TheThaiChana

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

Grand Palace to Reopen on 4 June 2020

According to the Royal Office, the Grand Palace in Bangkok will be open again to the public from 4 June 2020, after having been closed since March because of the nationwide lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 situation, service providers, business operators, and the public are encouraged to follow the disease control measures, including wearing face masks, washing hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel, and keeping physical distancing, as well as complying with hygiene procedures of the establishments to prevent a second wave of the outbreak.

Source: The Royal Office, https://www.royaloffice.th/…/2…/05/25/the-grand-palace-will-
normally-be-open-on-june-4-2020/

WORLD TOURISM FACES WORST CRISIS SINCE RECORDS BEGAN, SAYS UNWTO

Empty arrivals hall at Heathrow airport … Visit Britain has
forecast a decline in inbound tourism of 54% for 2020
Photograph: Ilya Dmitryachev/TASS

International tourism faces its worst crisis since records began, with up to 1.1bn fewer people taking trips globally in 2020. The scale of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact is outlined in a report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which predicts a decline in international arrivals of between 58% and 80% this year.

This is due to widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and borders worldwide. The prediction of a 58% decline is based on the gradual reopening of international borders and easing of travel restrictions in early July; the 80% figure is based on early December.

Globally, the crisis threatens the livelihood of up to 120 million people who directly rely on tourism for work – and millions more indirectly – while representing a financial loss in export revenues from tourism of between £736bn and £971bn. The predictions are based on UNWTO figures for the first three months of this year, which show a worldwide decline in international arrivals of 22%. Following the start of the lockdown in many countries, arrivals dropped by 57% for March alone.

“The world is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis,” Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO secretary general said. “Tourism has been hit hard, with millions of jobs at risk in one of the most labour-intensive sectors of the economy.”

The figures are in line with the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) predictions of more than 100m job losses in the travel and tourism sector, with three quarters of these in G20 countries.

“This is a staggering and deeply worrying change in such a short time,” said Gloria Guevara, CEO of WTTC. “In just April alone, our research shows an increase of 25m in the number of job losses in travel and tourism. The whole cycle of tourism is being wiped out by the pandemic. Travel and tourism is the backbone of the global economy. Without it, global economies will struggle to recover in any meaningful way and hundreds of millions of people will suffer enormous financial and mental damage for years to come.”

The impact will vary in different regions at different times, with Asia and the Pacific expected to rebound first. According to the UNWTO Panel of Experts survey, some recovery is expected in the final quarter of 2020 and into early 2021, while domestic tourism is expected to recover faster than the demand for international travel.

In the UK, Visit Britain has forecast a decline in inbound tourist numbers of 54% for 2020, which equates to 21.9m fewer arrivals and a loss of £15.1bn in tourist revenue. This scenario assumes a recovery of international arrivals from August, and is subject to revision as the situation develops. In terms of domestic tourism in the UK, if the sector starts to open up in June, the annual loss will be an estimated £22.1bn (£14.1bn from day trips and £7.9bn from overnights).

Global airline revenues are forecast to drop by more than half – $314bn (£249bn) – in 2020, according to the latest estimates by the International Air Transport Association’s (Iata). This is almost three times worse than its “worst-case scenario” in March.

Last month, the WTTC outlined what the “new normal” could look like as lockdown rules and travel restrictions are eased, pre-vaccine. New protocols and standards are being mapped out in collaboration with various associations – among them the UNWTO, the World Health Organization, European Travel Commission, and Iata – including global hygiene standards and intensive cleaning regimes in hotels, aircraft and cruise ships.

Read the full article at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/07/world-tourism-faces-worst-crisis-since-records-began-says-unwto-report?fbclid=IwAR0y7Nyn9CGGr2LIBvv2e-ODtWJt69Crn6fUE5SPKytOtxeqdID6Pl8qbfQ

#crisis, #globaltourism, #UNWTO

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

Launching 'We Care Clean': BWH Hotel Group Introduces Enhanced Health and Safety Protocols to Ensure Guest Wellbeing

BWH Hotel Group, encompassing SureStay Hotel Group, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and WorldHotels Collection, has introduced an enhanced hygiene and cleanliness program, 'We Care Clean', to safeguard guests' and employees' health and safety in response to the pandemic.

Graham Perry, Managing Director of BWH Hotel Group, Australasia, highlights the importance of the We Care Clean program.

“Based on international best practice and complying with all relevant government requirements, We Care Clean covers all areas and aspects of the hotel for our guests , including public spaces, guest rooms, restaurant and breakfast offerings whilst ensuring the work, health & safety of our valued staff,” explains Perry.

“While we are already recognised for our thorough approach to cleanliness, we have further enhanced our rigorous cleaning protocols – as we believe hotels can never be 'too clean'.”
“In a time when our guests are seeking greater reassurance about their health and safety, we're now in a position to provide peace of mind as they resume travelling, all the while ensuring that the comfort and quality of their stay is not compromised.”

Judy McDermott, the Manager of Best Western Plus The Stirling Rockhampton, concurs, and appreciates the support of the program.

“Guest feedback is that cleanliness is exceptionally important at the current time,” says McDermott.

“The policies serve to solidify what we are doing and amplify that. It permits us to act with certainty about the product and service we're delivering for our guests. During these uncertain times, guests want to feel safe. The least we can do is make them feel safe and to reinforce that we take their health and wellbeing exceptionally seriously.”

The Best Western We Care Clean program was developed incorporating World Health Organisation (WHO), the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Australian Government Department of Health and the New Zealand Ministry of Health guidelines.

Website: www.bestwestern.com/oceania

Wayfarer Executive Travel & Lifestyle Magazine Makes Global Debut

The popular Wayfarer Executive Travel and Lifestyle brand has expanded, with the launch of a new bi-monthly digital magazine.

On the back of Wayfarer's popular global television show, website and weekly newsletter, the brand stable now includes a digital magazine published six times per year featuring executive travel and lifestyle news, features and reviews from across the world.

Wayfarer Executive Travel and Lifestyle magazine Editor-In-Chief and TV show Host, James Wilkinson, said the publication would be distributed to the brand's audience of 75,000 executive travellers and the launch of the digital magazine was on the back of demand for a high-end, stylish and informative publication for the business travel market.

“We have seen increasing demand for our newsletter on a weekly basis and quite a number of subscribers have asked if we would produce a publication,” he said.

“There is a clear demand for a stylish executive travel magazine both here in Australia and across the world and we look forward to delivering a bi-monthly product tailored to the business travel market.

“In every issue, we will include the latest airline and hotel reviews and news, as well as destination guides, interviews with prominent frequent travellers, accessories and lifestyle features and much more,” Wilkinson said.

He said while the launch came at a time when people couldn't freely explore the world at present, the premise of Wayfarer was to inspire travel and showcase some of the best experiences the globe has to offer.

“We had planned to release the inaugural issue earlier this year, however we quickly faced a crisis that would cripple the travel industry,” he said.

“But now, as we look to the future and a rebound of epic proportions, we want to be at the forefront of inspiring and showcasing the best in executive travel, from reviewing some of the world's best airlines and hotels to uncovering some hidden bars and cafes in some of the most exciting destinations across the globe.

“We also want to do our part to promote travel in all of its glory and help the global industry to recover, reboot and return in spectacular fashion,” Wilkinson said.

The new digital magazine – the only one of its kind based in Australia that's aimed at the executive travel segment – is completely interactive.

In a travel publishing industry first, the launch issue is loaded up with over 30 original videos filmed on location around the world – from interviews to reviews and destination guides – bringing the brand's popular TV show to life throughout the magazine.

Content comes from the successful Wayfarer TV show, which has been broadcast to over 3 million viewers in 30 countries across the world since it debuted in 2018 and has also been popular on YouTube, with over 151,000 views and 1.4 million impressions.

The Wayfarer TV show was originally broadcast on the Sky News Business channel in Australia and on the Australia channel throughout Asia-Pacific. It has since been launched by Flame Distribution into the United States and Canada on the Roku Channel, on ViacomCBS' PlutoTV in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and onboard WestJet in Canada and Flynas in Saudi Arabia.

The May-June launch issue of Wayfarer includes a 2020 Luxe Hotels List cover story featuring some of the top business, luxury and boutique hotels across the world; a comprehensive guide to Austin in Texas and St. Moritz in Switzerland; features and reviews on luxury flying with American, Delta and United; reviews of the Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu and Equinox Hudson Yards in New York; the latest airline and hotel news, accessories, motoring, bars, restaurants and much more.

The Wayfarer digital magazine will be distributed to over 75,000 executive travellers – primarily in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia – every two months.

Wayfarer is produced and published by The Intermedia Group, a leading Australasian publishing, event management and technology business that specializes in the B2B sector and has an extensive active database of over 400,000 people.

Featuring one of the most comprehensive SME audiences of any business in Australasia, The Intermedia Group's brands are a vital source of information for Australian and New Zealand businesses, falling within 12 vertical markets.

The launch issue can be viewed here: https://wayfarer.travel/presenting-the-inaugural-issue-of-the-wayfarer-executive-travel-and-lifestyle-magazine/

For more information, visit wayfarer.travel

Four Ways to Explore Hokkaido's Natural Beauty in 2021

Patchwork Road - Biei, Hokkaido

We acknowledge the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and encourage all travelers to follow official health advice and closely monitor government advisories. In this unprecedented situation, we hope the destinations featured in this media release act as a source of inspiration for those seeking new experiences and adventures to embark upon when it is safe to recommence travelling.

As the agricultural pillar of Japan, Hokkaido's landscape is marked with rolling hills and flowing rivers backdropped by distant mountain ranges. With temperatures averaging 22 °C and wide expanses of pristine nature to explore, it is the perfect scenic destination for an active holiday – fitting considering it often hosts major sporting events and will do so in 2021. Whether travelling as a family or going solo, here are four ways to refresh the body and enjoy Hokkaido's summer landscapes.

Take in the views from above
When venturing to Hokkaido, it makes sense to seek out an experience unique to the area. In the secluded region of Shimukappu forms the natural phenomena 'Sea of Clouds'. Backdropped by the Tokachi and Hidaka mountain ranges this scene only appears when warm winds off the coast create fogs that coat the mountain ranges and are gradually pushed upwards.

Blue Pond - Hokkaido

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is the best viewing point for the Sea of Clouds, equipped with a Cloud Walk; a terrace that allows visitors to almost walk within the wispy clouds, and UNKAI Terrace; an observation space with a nearby café that offers panoramic views. Viewers can enjoy a refreshing hike up to the vantage points, although, as this is a natural phenomenon an ounce of luck is needed for all the perfect conditions to compound on the morning you visit!

Water sports to invigorate the body
After an early morning start where you may or may not have been lucky enough to see the Sea of Clouds, river rafting can inject some adrenalin into the day and refresh tired tourists. Close to Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU, there are a number of river tours with options for gentle paddles or invigorating rides along small rapids. The Sorachi River offers water flowing from the Daisetsuzan Mountain ranges and canopied by greenery, offers a fun, scenic experience. Hokkaido also offers large lakes with still, clear water such as Lake Toya in the west, or Lake Kussharo, a striking cobalt blue caldera lake in Akan National Park.

Pedal your way through the landscape
The area of Furano is surrounded by the Daisetsuzan mountain ranges and dotted with blooming flower fields, wide meadows and lakes, creating a varied landscape to explore. Cycling is one of the best ways to get around, with rentals starting from as little as 200yen/hour.

Sorachi River Rafting - Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Depending on your starting point a number of picturesque destinations will be within reach, including the Shirogane Blue Pond which catapulted to fame as a wallpaper for Mac's OS X Mountain Lion. It sits along the Biei river and is a stroll away from a dessert store which offers Blue Pond themed sweets. There are also a number of scenic roads to pedal through, such as the 4km Roller Coaster road, dubbed the 'Provence Road' of Japan, and Patchwork Road which offers expansive views of the patterns created by local agricultural fields.

Energise with freshly picked produce
Hokkaido is an oasis of quality produce. Fruit picking offers the chance to make a small contribution to the local economy while enjoying the freshest harvest possible. Contrary to the traditional image of fruit picking in Australia, fruit-picking in Japan often allows guests to stroll around and eat as much as they please for a fixed fee. Produce can be taken for an additional price, so many leave well fed but empty handed – ideal for travellers!

Wakoto Peninsula - Lake Kussharo

Fruit picking orchards include the 15 hectare Yamamoto Sightseeing Orchard in Yoimachi, offering an array of fruits from strawberries to pears and even chestnuts or the Sobetsu Fruit Village which is an association of 18 fruit farms in the south west of Hokkaido.

Reputed as a recluse for nature and quality food, Hokkaido is a popular weekend destination for domestic travellers. For those embarking on an international trip, we recommend at least a week to take in the picturesque landscapes, enjoy the delightful cuisine and enjoy an active retreat from the city.

About Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
Surrounded by 1,000 hectares of vast nature, Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is one of Hokkaido's largest resorts to enjoy sightseeing and activities in the Tomamu region, all year round. In winter, it is regarded as Japan's most family-friendly ski resort with its convenient ski-in ski-out accommodation and world class facilities. With high-quality dry powder snow gracing a diverse terrain, the resort caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. During the summer, guests can further explore the region through a variety of outdoor activities including river sports, cycling and hot air balloon rides, and witness a beautiful “sea of clouds” from the UNKAI Terrace.

For more information visit: https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific Fast Tracks Resort Refurbishments

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific has been fast-tracking refurbishments and comprehensive cleaning programs across its portfolio, while its resorts have been closed under travel restrictions designed to curb COVID-19.

Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific serves almost 60,000 members of Club Wyndham South Pacific – the region's leading timeshare club – and manages a collection of 54 properties across Asia Pacific, some of which are mixed-use hotel and timeshare developments.

“We had a construction project and two refurbishments underway in Australia pre-COVID-19 and we opted to continue these with our contractors adhering to social distancing, while our resort teams took the opportunity to bring forward our deep cleaning programs,” said Vice President of Operations, Warren Cullum.

“When we start a phased reopening of our resorts, from June onwards, our guests will experience new spaces to enjoy and stay in apartments and rooms restored to as-new condition. Keeping these projects going has also enabled us to share the work among a larger workforce.”

At Ramada Resort by Wyndham Flynns Beach at Port Macquarie, a five-stage project to expand the resort by adding 53 one to four-bedroom villas has been able to continue. The development also includes a new café, gym, games area, kids' pool, common area pavilions and car parking.

The project was expected to finish in late 2020 and, because it has kept going during this period, is slated to finish in September.

At Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island, in Victoria, the refurbishment of 83 new villas acquired last year for Club Wyndham South Pacific timeshare owners has progressed. This project includes the installation of upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, and the creation of deluxe and grand villas that will bring a new level of luxury to the property for club owners and resort guests.

At Ramada Resort by Wyndham Dinner Plain Mt Hotham, a renovated reception area has recently been completed in time for the alpine region's ski season. The new space at the resort utilises Australian timber and locally sourced materials, including new stonework, which are inspired by the high country huts the region is renowned for.

The resort is a unique concept featuring a lodge and chalets in the village of Dinner Plain. The external seating and entrance areas outside the lodge were renewed, access to the carpark was improved and a new external fire pit and pathways with underfloor heating were also installed.

A number of smaller projects to enhance the experiences of guests and club members across the portfolio have also begun. At Ramada Resort by Wyndham Seven Mile Beach, a new hobby farm – which will include a chicken coop and a small flock of sheep and alpaca – is under construction.

It will be an eco-friendly attraction, which children can tour at a leisurely pace, help feed the animals and take photos with them.

Finally, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific's property development team has commenced the preparation of “sample refurbishment rooms” at other resorts, including Ramada Resort by Wyndham Dunsborough, Ramada Resort by Wyndham Golden Beach and a member favourite, Club Wyndham Kirra Beach, in preparation for future refurbishments.

Additionally, while resorts are closed, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific has brought forward and almost concluded 'deep cleans' of more than 1,200 Club Wyndham South Pacific apartments, while another 206 more will undergo extensive cleaning as part of refurbishments. Club Wyndham South Pacific apartments undergo deep cleans according to a roster, where all maintenance, cleaning and sanitisation required to bring the apartment to as-new condition is carried out.

“While this work has been going on, our operations team has also enhanced our hygiene procedures to ensure our resorts provide the highest standard of cleanliness for our guests, timeshare owners and team members. Among our new practices will be the use of virus-killing products providing guests with access to hand sanitiser, redesigning common areas to enable social distancing and tighter protocols in housekeeping,” said Mr Cullum.

“While travel has been restricted, our teams have been busy preparing our properties so our vacation club members and guests can enjoy the best experience they have ever had at our resorts when they next visit.

In June, and subject to government travel conditions, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific will start a staged reopening of two resorts in New Zealand and 10 resorts in Australia. All will be opened at a limited capacity initially.

#wyndhamdestinations, #lifeatwynd, #tourism, #resort, #hotel, #refurbishment, #DinnerPlain, #portmacquarie, #phillipisland

Website: www.wyndhamap.com

VIETNAM AIRLINES, VITA JOINTLY LAUNCH TOURISM STIMULUS PROGRAM

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on May 16 partnered with the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) to launch a programme to boost domestic travel demand until the end of 2020.

The programme calls on all travel and hospitality firms to develop new and distinctive tourism products and provide quality and value-added services at affordable or discounted rates to attract holiday-makers.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, VITA Vice President Vu The Binh said so far, over 150 companies across the country have registered to take part in the programme, showing the determination to recover tourism and help the industry to return to its pre-pandemic level of growth over the last four years.

Vietnam Airlines Deputy Director-General Le Hong Ha said after the domestic market, the carrier is developing plans to return to foreign markets and create more attractive tourism products for travellers when the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

As part of the programme, Vietnam Airlines is cooperating with the VITA and six leading tour operators – HanoiTourist, SaigonTourist, Vietrans Tour, Vietravel and Redtour – to offer a holiday package with up to 40 percent discount for groups of six people or more./.VNA

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/travel/vietnam-airlines-vita-jointly-launch-tourism-stimulus-programme-641740.html

#domesticmarket, #partnership, #Tourism, #Vietnam, #Vietnamairlines, #VietnamTourismAssociation

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

TravMedia Launches New Luxury Travel Webinar: 'Looking Beyond the Coronavirus Crisis'

As experts predicted luxury travel would be the first to rebound and is vital to kick-starting the global tourism industry, TravMedia's CEO & Founder, Nick Wayland, invited five leading US travel editors, PR professionals, and luxury travel advisors for a panel discussion on 'Luxury Travel: Looking Beyond the Coronavirus Crisis'.

“On a day when the World Health Organization (WHO) reported global cases topped 5 million, and on the heels of yesterday's U.S. Travel Association announcement that 51% of travel and tourism jobs in the US have disappeared, we were looking for signs of hope for our industry which today's luxury industry experts delivered,” Wayland said.

Panelists included leading luxury travel experts Annie Fitzsimmons, Luxury Travel + Advisor editor for AFAR; Jack S. Ezon, Founder and Managing Partner of luxury travel advisory Embark Beyond; Contributing editor to Conde Nast Traveler and editor-at-large for Robb Report, Mark Ellwood; Melanie Brandman, Founder and CEO, The Brandman Agency; and Misty Ewing Belles, Managing Director, Global Public Relations for Virtuoso.

Annie Fitzsimmons shared insights from AFAR and key takeaways from the recent ILTM industry study 'Why the $2.05tn Global Luxury Travel Universe Will Kick Start Economies Post Covid-19'. In today's webinar, Annie highlighted “how vital luxury brands are for recovery. It's not just fluff for rich people; some of the key points to come out is that it supports 170 million jobs globally of which 90% are small businesses, and (relatively speaking), it's much larger than other industries”.

Nick posed the question that “perhaps exclusivity is the ultimate in social distancing, like private jets, private islands, private villas?” to which Mark Ellwood responded, "Private, private, private” with the rationale that private jet destinations are going to be the first to open up, and he also shared insights on St Barts and Mustique's travel protocols. Tune in to the webinar recording for more details on the 'Second Cleaners, Second Coming', as coined by Mark. Mark went on to say he would expect more people to fly private in Q4 2020 than ever before.

Jack S. Ezon added to Mark's comments that private jets are going to be cheaper in 2020 citing “another factor is the price of oil and lack of lift now because it's harder to get from A to B”. He also announced that they “recently launched two programs that are really resonating, one is a Private Summer Camp program… and Private Journeys, primarily for singles who have been locked up alone, and they are traveling together with eight or ten people max, and we are keeping them in a semi-private situation to be able to reunite… it's so much anticipation and needs in that solo market, it's just a great opportunity”.

Melanie Brandman, Founder and CEO, of the Brandman Agency, and doyenne of the travel industry who represents a number of luxury clients globally, reiterated, among a lot of key industry insights that “While your doors may be closed, your brand is not”.

Misty Ewing Belles, Managing Director, Global Public Relations for Virtuoso, talked to the importance of having a travel advisor, and also that no one should be traveling without one. She also shared, Virtuoso Travel Week will be Virtual for 2020, and, the magazine that has been digital in May and June, will resume print publication in July.

Today's webinar was the tenth in TravMedia's global webinar series with valuable insights previously shared by top-tier media and PR industry panelists in Asia, Australia, and the UK markets. Germany will launch their webinar series next Thursday, May 28, followed by TravMedia France in the coming weeks. Future panels in the luxury series are already planned for Australia and Asia with dates to be announced soon.

To watch the recorded webinar view here.

For more information and recordings of previous webinars, visit: https://travmedia.com/webinars/

A recording of the TravTraining on TravMedia for Media, held in late April, is now available to view here: https://travmedia.com/HDVideo/Show/1470

Future U.S. webinars will assemble National and International Tourism Boards to share insights on how each destination plans to reopen and recover from COVID-19.

TravMedia also recently launched the 'At Home With… webinar series providing a platform for publishers and editors to share their current updates and the best way of working with them during this challenging time for our industry.

For more information on TravMedia or our global webinar series, please contact:
Lauren Michod
Vice President, Communications & International Relations
Lauren.michod@travmedia.com