If 2020 was the summer of the pandemic-enforced road trip,
many people seem to be hoping that 2021 will be the summer they can travel
overseas. But that’s a big “if.”
اضافة اعلان
Roadblocks abound, among them the rise of variant cases in
popular destinations like Europe and confusion about the role that vaccine
“passports” will play as people begin crossing borders. The recent pause on
Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine adds a new wrinkle.
Still, there is reason for optimism. Globally, the number of
shots has been rising, with more than 840 million vaccines administered
worldwide.
Currently, Americans are restricted from entering many
countries for nonessential trips. Travelers can check the US State Department
website for specific country entry restrictions, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) website to view recommendations for international
travelers (vaccinated and unvaccinated), and the
CDC COVID Data Tracker to
monitor country conditions.
Here is how some major airlines, international hotel
companies and big tour companies are planning for the resurgence of
international travel.
Air Travel
In April 2019, there were about 1,400 international routes
served by direct flights, according to John Grant, a senior analyst at
OAG,
which provides global travel data. That number dropped to 567 in April 2020 and
has bounced back a bit to about 850 direct routes now, he said.
“We are unlikely to see all or even the majority of
international markets that were served from the United States fully opened
during the summer season, despite the best hopes of the airlines,” Grant said.
Still, the market is very much in flux, Grant said, so even
though airlines may be increasing their flight schedules, they will continue to
adjust to demand, possibly consolidating some of the flights.
United Airlines plans to increase international flights, but
will still be operating just about half of its 2019 schedule.
Patrick Quayle, vice president of United Airlines’
international network, said the company has been adding more flights to
countries that are open, but he was uncertain when additional destinations like
Canada would be added to that list. United is trying to be nimble, he said, so
“if something were to open up, we can put our aircraft in the sky quickly.”
One airline that has been focusing on flights between the
United States and international destinations is not a US carrier but a Middle
Eastern one: Emirates. The United Arab Emirates opened to leisure and business
travelers last July, and Emirates is offering direct service to Dubai from Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Washington, DC, New York, and
Boston. Passengers can also connect from there to other destinations in the
Middle East, Africa, and West Asia.
The company recently announced it would resume its flight
between Newark, New Jersey, and Athens on June 1.
Hotel Stays
While global hotel companies are preparing for more guests,
they are also keeping their focus on the health and cleaning protocols they put
in place during the pandemic. Some have been adding on-site virus testing. In
addition, so-called touchless technology, like phone apps for ordering food,
will continue to be rolled out.
A report by Medallia Zingle, a communications software
maker, found that 77 percent of consumers surveyed said the amount of in-person
interaction required at a business will factor into their decision on whether
or not they visit that business.
Marriott, one of the world’s largest international hotel
companies, with some 7,600 hotels under 30 brands, has implemented a set of
practices it calls Commitment to Clean that includes sanitizing properties with
hospital-grade disinfectants, using air-purifying systems and spreading out
lobby furniture to facilitate social distancing. Some properties offer free
coronavirus testing.
Recently the company announced a pilot program introducing
self-serve check-in kiosks that create room keys and allow guests to bypass the
front desk. It is also adding more “grab and go” food options.
Hyatt, another major international brand, is also continuing
to focus on cleanliness.
The company announced at the end of March that it was
reopening its Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, France, one of its last remaining
closed properties. Almost all Hyatt properties have been open since last
December.
IHG’s Kimpton brand, with 73 hotels in 11 countries, plans
on modifying its protocols this summer where it feels they are safe and local
ordinances allow — for example, bringing back the manager-hosted social hour, a
guest favorite.
The four Kimpton hotels in Britain that closed because of
the pandemic are scheduled to reopen by the end of May. A new Kimpton property
in Bangkok that opened in October 2020 to local guests will welcome
international travelers this fall. The company also plans to open a new hotel
in Bali and one in Paris later this year.
Tour Companies
Despite the uncertainties, demand for international tours is
building, and like the airlines, tour companies are ramping up. Trips that
emphasize the outdoors and uncrowded places are especially popular.
Abercrombie & Kent restarted its small-group and private
trips last fall and early winter to places like Egypt, Costa Rica, and
Tanzania, and is continuing to expand choices as countries open up.
“There’s been a noticeable spike in people calling who have
had their first vaccine,” said Stefanie Schmudde, vice president of product
development and operations.
Bookings in March rose more than 50 percent over
bookings in February, according to the company.
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