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1. IHG’s Barr Believes Leisure Demand Could Exceed Supply in Some Markets
As bookings rise along with the number of vaccinations globally, IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Keith Barr said travel and tourism could come back so strong it may exceed the supply in certain locations, MarketWatch reports. The company’s newly opened Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles, is already running at 80% occupancy with record average rates.
“I think leisure demand could outstrip supply in some markets in the short to medium term,” he said. “Talking to some of the airlines, they’re concerned about their ability to get capacity fast enough, if things really do open up.”
2. GBTA Poll Finds ‘Positive Signs for Business Travel Recovery’
A poll conducted by the Global Business Travel Association found that almost a quarter of respondents said their company has resumed non-essential business travel or it has a plan in place to resume travel, according to a news release. Almost two-thirds believe their employees are “willing” or “very willing” to travel for business in the current environment.
Half of the U.S.-based corporate travel buyer and procurement respondents said they believe the updated travel guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have a “major” or “some” influence on when their company resumes non-essential domestic business travel.
“This latest poll shows multiple positive signs for business travel recovery, including an increase in willingness to travel, a decrease in trips canceled and a more optimistic view towards returning to the road as travel bookings continue to increase,” the release states.
3. New York City To Launch $30 Million Tourism Campaign
New York City will launch a $30 million tourism campaign in June to bring back visitors to the city and restore an essential part of its economy, The Wall Street Journal reports. In a normal year, the city spends about $3 million on its tourism campaigns.
“Tourism accounts for hundreds of thousands of jobs in this city, and building a recovery for all of us means welcoming tourists back,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The city’s tourism marketing arm, NYC & Co., forecasts the number of visitors will rise to 36.5 million this year compared to 22.3 million in 2020, reports Andria Cheng of CoStar News. That number is expected to rise to 69.3 million by 2024, topping the 2019 record of 66.6 million.
4. India Sets Record for New COVID-19 Cases
India today reported 332,730 new COVID-19 cases within a 24-hour period, CNBC reports. This is the second day in a row the country has reported “the world’s highest single-day increase in infections.”
The country is considering entering another strict lockdown to slow the spread out of concern for overwhelming medical facilities as well the possibility of new strains that are potentially more contagious, the article states. India’s vaccination program is facing supply challenges as it has administered more than 135 million doses.
5. Hoteliers Find New Ways to Welcome Guests with Pets
After more than a year of staying close to home, travelers are ready to hit the road, and they’re bringing their pets with them. HNN’s Danielle Hess reports that hoteliers are on top of this travel trend, making their hotels as welcoming for pets as they are for people.
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, welcomes cats and dogs, and the hotel offers complimentary dog walking and doggie bags. It also partners with a local doggy day care service and has a partnership with a company that offers stand-up paddleboarding and swimming lessons for dogs. Humans are welcome there, too.