Say Yes To Travel: Recent Episodes
MarketScale
Say Yes to Travel, hosted by award-winning concierge and travel expert, Sarah Dandashy, explores all things travel for hospitality professionals, including trends and what makes the industry tick.
Steve Sinclair appeared on “Say Yes to Travel” to discuss with host Sarah Dandashy an aspect of traveling that many people might not consider: lost and found. Everyone has had to deal with losing something somewhere at some point while on a trip, and Sinclair’s company, Bounte, helps reunite people with lost… well, bounty.
The journey for Sinclair began when he was vacationing with his family and his young son’s blankets were lost at a hotel. The blankets were, mercifully, found, but the ensuing hassle and confusion chain-of-command to get them mailed and returned was too complicated. Sinclair saw a missing link in an industry. Inquring on how the hotel staff was keeping up with these kinds of issues, he discovered it was all down to “Excel and post-it notes.”
“The guest experience is so critical, you got to get the technology right to deliver that guest experience,” said Sinclair. Dandashy pointed out the importance of a company like Bounte, since oftentimes “the lost and found process” is often “only as good as the person on the phone.”
Sinclair deconstructed the issue into three pieces. The first point is logging, which Bounte has a simple picture-method where whomever sees an item can simply log it by taking a picture with a phone that is then captured into a company’s cloud. The item is also automatically recognized and labeled.
This leads to the second problem: searching capabilities. Many places don’t even know what’s in their lost and found. They always have to go back and search. “You’re basically fumbling the ball right in front of the guest,” said Sinclair. “We have a system so that you can go and search through it really quickly.”
The third issue Sinclair found is returning items. Oftentimes, this can be a nightmare. With Bounte, the guest is able to use an online system to check out and choose a shipping option, just like they would be able to do when ordering from a retailer like Amazon.
When it comes to having places like hotels choose a company like Bounte to help streamline their lost and found needs, Sinclair stresses that “not making a decision about technology is making a decision about technology.”
Why is a nurse being featured on the Say Yes to Travel podcast? Well, Kelly Greytok, RN concierge nurse specializing in plastic surgery recovery, started out as a golf course coordinator straight out of college and then became a nurse. Greytok explained to Host Sarah Dandashy that she combined her love for travel with nursing by helping plastic surgery patients recover in hotels. She proudly maintains the motto of “exceeding the expectations of every guest every time.”
However, as one can imagine, the pandemic made Greytok’s job a little tricky with traveling and elective plastic surgeries nearly coming to a halt. Alternatively, plastic surgeons pivoted and adapted quickly, like hosting Zoom consultation sessions, and Greytok is ecstatic to see that change lasting.
Just in the U.S. this year alone, surgeons performed 15.6M cosmetic and almost 6M reconstructive surgeries, even with COVID-19 regulations. Greytok has noticed an increase in surgeries above the neck and believes it’s largely due to looking at oneself so frequently on Zoom meetings.
Greytok added that patients desire a seamless experience and the most qualified doctors since there is a hefty price tag associated with plastic surgery.
“More than ever, especially since the pandemic, people want safety, they want comfort, and they want connection,” explained Greytok. “And so I’m finding that instead of being at a house with all the other people and the crossover of nurses, they want to be in a private, luxurious hotel room… they want the privacy, and they want the great experience on their own terms.”
Interested in more information and tips on plastic surgery caregiving? Subscribe to the channel and check out Greytok’s website for bookings, videos, checklists and other resources.
Celebrating stories of love in beautiful locations sounds like a dream job, and it is for Karen Bussen, the exclusive designer for Weddings by Palladium. Bussen joined Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy to talk about her experience and what’s trending for destination weddings in 2022.
Bussen’s roots are in the hospitality industry, and that’s where her journey to wedding planner extraordinaire began. “I was working at a restaurant in New York City, and a couple loved the floral arrangement I did and asked to help with their wedding. From here, I was hooked.”
Bussen learned on the job, making early morning trips to the city’s floral market. Over time, she did more than just design, helping couples plan their special day. She then joined the Palladium Group. “We had the same commitment to quality and service, and it was an opportunity to deliver an experience to couples across the world,” she said.
Now, she helps brides and grooms create their dream wedding days at Palladium resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.
“Each resort has its own personality. The Riviera Maya is lush and natural. In Jamaica, the backdrop is the turquoise waters. The essence of the place is part of every celebration,” Bussen shared.
In talking trends for 2022, Bussen mentioned that since many couples had postponed their nuptials, they're going all out. “They are adding on events and experiences like welcome parties at the beach or farewell brunches.”
Another trend Bussen noted is couples wanting to incorporate the culture of the location into their festivities. “They want to integrate the flavors of the place in authentic ways. At Riviera Maya, there’s a shaman experience where they issue a blessing, which ties back to Mayan culture.”
The hospitality industry continues to evolve, and the people behind it do so, too. Joining Sarah Dandashy on Say Yes to Travel was Dan Ryan, Co-Founder of Agency 967. Ryan is a lifelong entrepreneur, industry expert, and host of the podcast Defining Hospitality.
After falling in love with hospitality, Ryan spent 20 years selling and sourcing custom furniture and fixtures for hotels. Managing all aspects of it became chaotic, so he founded Agency 967 to be an intermediary. “I needed to simplify everything and work with the best in category companies, so I can shorten everyone’s journey. I’m a connector between brands and hotel designers.”
Ryan used those words “shortening the journey” throughout the show and are huge for his personal brand and agency. He took on new ways to do this during the pandemic, starting Blue Canary, a cleaning training platform for hospitality. “We created a culture of safety,” he added.
Ryan also started his podcast, which he was excited to do because of his natural curiosity. “It’s called Defining Hospitality because it means something different to everyone, and it even made me rethink what hospitality is.”
Ryan and Dandashy also discussed trends. “Smaller rooms are here to stay. The mature hospitality industry has much to learn from Airbnb. They can equally inform each other.”
On the minds of hospitality leaders, Ryan said, “The hiring crisis was a problem before and is now a serious structural issue. What work looks like after the pandemic will impact both business and personal travel.”
While travel is ramping up this year compared to 2021’s holiday season, it is doing so to a much greater extent than anyone had anticipated. Host Sarah Dandashy from Marketscale’s podcast Say Yes to Travel shared, “AAA projects that more than 53.4 million people with travel this Thanksgiving.” Surprisingly, she added that “This is just 3 percent shy of pre-pandemic levels.”
If you are planning on traveling this Thanksgiving, Dandashy noted that the best time to leave and return home is before 11 AM on Friday or Saturday and before 12 PM on Sunday. These tend to be the best times to avoid traffic jams, as traffic is projected to be about 40 percent higher nationwide this year.
Even the TSA has been noticing this trend. On November 19, they recorded the busiest day since the start of pandemic, screening over 2.2 million passengers.
Another industry experiencing the impact of the rise in travel is hospitality. There is still a hiring struggle for this industry, especially within businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and airlines. Dandashy’s tip: Be mindful and appreciative of your staff if you are in this industry. She added that it is important “even more so this year just given those circumstances with those long hours not as many people working so those people are feeling overlooked and overworked. So whatever you can do to show that appreciation and be mindful for the employees you do have will go a long, long way.”
Dandashy expressed her appreciation for all podcast guests and clients and added that there will be a few more episodes of Say Yes to Travel the remainder of the year featuring some phenomenal guests. As always, continue to say, “yes” to travel
In this episode of Say Yes to Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy invited John Wolfe, CEO of House Advantage on the show. The two discuss Wolfes’ background in the gaming industry, his move to owning businesses that center on consumer loyalty and understanding consumers’ habits. They later dive into the importance of using the current pandemic-associated challenges to see the opportunities for growth and new ways of doing things.
Wolfe says the data they collect in how people make buying decisions and understand consumer habits is essential in loyalty. But also, so is the security of that data. In establishing a cyber-security company, Wolfe says, “if our whole lives are immersed in technology as it has been during the pandemic,” cyber-security is a safe counter bet. “People wake up every day in other countries and spend their entire day looking for ways to plunder companies wealth.”
Wolfe doesn’t consider his work as a job but an extension of his passions and lifestyle. “I tend to invest, build where I live and spend all my time.” Wolfe attributes the success of his companies to viewing things from a consumer-first attitude and mentality.
Wolfe admits that “My companies don’t look related, but understanding lifestyle consumer habits, data, the laws around protecting data and the technology of protecting that data all fit.” Wolfe said there wasn’t a science in how things came together but more of seeing opportunities and going after solutions to needs.
" We look for things we have to offer during the shutdowns and challenges.” For example, Wolfe developed a new home unit called Hack Trap. With internet lifestyle technology connected to appliances, cameras, and monitors at home, they saw a need for home data protection. “With people working from home, and all of the technology, there was a convergence of needs that we’ve met,” says Wolfe. It’s essential to embrace new areas as a business. Wolfe believes, “There isn’t a concern that doesn’t have an opportunity tied to it. If you look at it the right way, you can exploit an opportunity. I’ve never seen a problem that doesn’t have an opportunity.”
The pandemic pushed the hospitality industry to the brink. However, crisis often breeds innovation and creativity. So, what’s next for the hotel ecosystem? Brian Esposito, CEO of Esposito Intellectual Enterprises, is developing a new cryptocurrency-focused hotel concept. He joined Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy to discuss it.
Esposito’s holding company includes 75 entities operating in over 25 different industries, two of those being hospitality and crypto. He founded his company to build a world as he sees it and wants to contribute to it. “I want to add value, connect the dots, and enhance the guest experience.”
Esposito noted that several areas of hospitality are booming post-pandemic, including private aviation and wellness travel. He said that it’s an exciting time and the perfect one to do something completely different.
“I’m working on a new hotel concept with digital assets. Properties are at a discount now, and this could be a source of new profitability when the currency is crypto,” Esposito said.
Travelers may spend more in digital currency but need a space to do that. Reinventing the traditional hotel infrastructure is part of the concept. “It would likely include private residencies for the crypto community. But it’s bringing this abstract concept into a familiar environment.”
Another idea for these hotels is to remove the ballroom and replace it with a digital exchange floor. “Ballrooms are a burden and often bleeding money. The model would be to create a crypto exchange trading floor. It’s using an institutional model people know to introduce something new so people will want to get involved,” Esposito shared.
The cruise industry was always a favorite for travelers, and it’s finally resurging after the pandemic. What does this new cruise experience look like, and what are guests now expecting? To answer this, Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy spoke with Paul Rutter. Rutter is a customer service expert, author, speaker, and spent 40 years as a cruise and entertainment director.
Rutter’s path to the industry was unexpected. He graduated from college with a teaching degree, with plans to travel before starting his career. A chance meeting turned into an offer to work on a ship. “I worked on multiple lines, received education from all these, and was traveling all over the world and getting paid.”
Rutter pointed out what makes cruising unique across hospitality and any other sector. “We live with our customers 24/7 and our coworkers. So, culture onboard is important. There are so many nationalities, so everyone has to be taken care of—happy crew, happy guests,” Rutter shared.
Cruises went dormant during the pandemic and are now back on the waters. Rutter explained that the cruise lines got together to create plans and procedures. “The cruise industry has been light years ahead of others in health and safety. Now with the plans and requiring vaccines or negative tests, there have been few outbreaks.”
The operational model had to adapt to the new reality, with contact tracing, crew-served buffets, and cordoning off potential cases.
Even though the environment is somewhat different, the commitment to exceed expectations and care for crew is still the same. Rutter’s More Than Perfect Customer Service Model drives satisfaction, retention, and loyalty. He combined this model and anecdotes from his 40 years in the business in his new book, “You Can’t Make This Ship Up.”
On November 1, 2021, Palm Beach opened its newly renovated Town Marina. Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy chatted with Assistant Town Manager Carolyn Stone and dockmaster Mike Horn to explore this exciting project.
The dock, originally from the 1940s, was at the end of its life. As the only public marina on the island, rebuilding was a process. Stone said, “We really started from scratch, and my role, which includes oversight for revenue that’s not tax dollars, was to oversee the project.”
Horn, who has been with the city for eight years, echoed that the old docks were beyond repair. “We ripped it down and started over, upgrading everything.”
The marina’s history is rich, and since the town owns it, residents had input on the project, which also meant it took a bit longer. “We are a boating community, and most of those with slips are residents for at least part of the year,” Stone added.
The new marina delivers an upgrade in most every way. Horn said, “We now have adequate shore power, which we didn’t have in the old facility. We have floating docks and can accommodate boats up to 296 feet. It’s a well thought out design with Wi-Fi, wastewater removal, and utility pads.”
While the process to get to the construction was lengthy, it started in May 2020 during the pandemic. “There were lots of questions around construction in the pandemic, but we started on time. Weather was also a factor, as were concerns about the economy,” Stone noted.
The project kept moving, and they’re glad it did, considering it seems to be an impressive and successful project already, as Horn reported they already have 86% occupancy.
The passion for travel can inspire more than just memories—it can also become a successful career. That’s the story of Tara Cappel, Founder and CEO of For the Love of (FTLO) Travel and Sojrn. She joined host Sarah Dandashy on Say Yes to Travel to talk about travel trends and her launch of Sojrn.
“Travel has always been a driver in my decisions in life, so I wanted to help others see the world,” Cappel said.
FTLO Travel is modern group travel for young professionals. The company takes care of all the planning, including curated inclusions and slow sustainable travel. When the pandemic hit, the business halted.
“We stopped running trips in March 2020 and turned back to community and bringing people together to maintain that excitement for travel,” Cappel explained.
During this time, Cappel and her team began to think about the long-term impact of the pandemic on work, life, and travel trends. That path took them to Sojrn, a “work from home meets study abroad” experience. Travelers spend a month abroad at one of their chapter destinations, where they can work, play, and connect. They started with chapters in Athens, Tuscany, Bali, and Medellin, with plans to add Cape Town, Mexico City, Rome, and Barcelona in 2022.
“We take care of accommodations and a workspace. Each chapter has a culturally relevant theme. We sold out immediately and have 5000 people on the waitlist,” Cappel shared.
Next, Cappel offered some thoughts on trends. “I think people are reprioritizing things in their lives and looking at those bucket list trips. There’s going to be a lot of demand.”
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked with Jason Fudin, Co-Founder and CEO of WhyHotel, a hospitality platform, and operator focusing on multifamily buildings. It operates pop-up hotels out of the vacancy of newly built luxury apartments during the initial lease-up process. They talked about Fudin’s career, his time at Vornado Realty, and WhyHotel.
Fudin’s background is in high-rise institutional real estate development. He worked on large real estate developments for Vornado Realty that at times were worth more than $2 billion. Focusing on innovation realty, he tended to work with companies such as WeWork and how they could make space more efficient and better utilize it. While he was at Vornado, he piloted WhyHotel, and they spun it out to become its own independent, venture-backed company in 2017.
“The real estate world is kind of archaic in that highly siloed, and it has no flexibility,” Fudin said. “I was in the unique position of spending those 100s of millions and billions to build products while seeing a changing set of consumer preferences so spaces could be more flexible.”
WhyHotel brings a hospitality-style product into apartments, according to Fudin. Their first business line is a pop-up hotel. In some ways, it was the right place at the right time, as Vornado gave Fudin the freedom to build this new platform.
“If you’re a guest of ours or resident, you get to stay in high-quality apartment homes in great neighborhoods, but you get hospitality services,” Fudin said. “You get that hospitality experience.”
Hyatt Hotels made a splash this week by announcing that it has agreed to buy resort operator Apple Leisure Group for $2.7 billion in cash.
Sarah Dandashy, host of MarketScale’s Say Yes to Travel, weighs in about the state of the industry and what we can expect as 2021 marches on.
In this soundbite, she shared her thoughts on the looming uncertainty of the hotel industry and how the big players might be looking at the Delta variant as an opportunity to expand their footprint.
Will hospitality ever be the same? Should it be? What has the industry and world learned since the pandemic? These are some of the topics Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy discussed with hospitality expert and TV and podcast host Anthony Melchiorri.
Melchiorri is well-known in the hospitality industry, which he said allowed him to “use all my personality.” He worked at storied hotels and eventually became a hotel “fixer,” turning around properties no one else could. This success led to multiple Travel Channel shows, including Hotel Impossible.
"Managers are getting crushed. They are high performers, and we need to reimagine the role of that level going forward.”
Melchiorri talked about what the last year-plus has been like for the industry. “It was shock, and we were all going to zero together and had to figure it out, but in the end, I’m grateful.”
He also found himself home with all that energy, which lead to Checking in with Anthony and Glenn that he co-hosts with Glenn Haussman. “It became bigger than just something to do like a touchstone for the industry. We’re bringing people together and teaching the industry,” he said.
Dandashy asked Melchiorri about the trends he’s seeing. “On the good side, people appreciate travel more. The incorporation of technology and getting it right because hospitality is usually behind has pushed ahead much sooner than without the pandemic.”
However, he also has concerns. “It’s the people. Supervisors are getting crushed, and that’s hard. There’s a void there, and I’m working on some concepts to address it.”
The state of travel for both business and leisure is still largely in flux as reopening unfolds. With that in mind, Sarah Dandashy, host of MarketScale's Say Yes to Travel, answered a few questions about the state of the industry and what we can expect as 2021 marches on.
In this soundbite, she shared her thoughts on pricing's impact on travel decisions.
"Have people stopped making travel decisions based on price? It's a great question. Certainly, if you have been trying to plan a trip this summer, you probably realize, wow, travel is getting pretty expensive.
Now, arguably, over the past year, maybe you haven't traveled as much. You saved up a little bit, but price will always play into travel decisions.
Now, what we are seeing is, per a recent study by American Express, about 33% of Americans are actually spending more on their travel experiences now, mainly because they have saved up for it.
So, certainly, travel is more expensive. But, you know, people are taking that into consideration as they are planning their travel and moving ahead. So, no, people have not stopped taking into consideration pricing or pricing when it comes to travel. That will always be part of the equation."
The COVID-19 pandemic didn't officially stall all business travel, but much of the world's business has been conducted remotely for more than a year.
So, with reopening underway, has there now been a shift in the way we perceive the necessity of traveling for business? MarketScale Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy weighed in.
"Have we seen the shift in the perception of business travel? I think so. I definitely think so.
Very famously, last year, at the end of 2020, Bill Gates actually came out saying that this was the death of business travel. But what we've seen since then is, absolutely, we will be going back to business travel now.
It is a longer sort of runway for us to get back to those numbers that we saw before, and maybe we don't ever quite see the exact same numbers, but I think we will. We are creatures of habit.
People can always argue that in-person meetings are invaluable. So, business travel will certainly rebound. It's just going to go at a slower pace, especially as, right now, things are still very, very fluid in regards to the pandemic.
At the end of the day, it comes down to liability, and businesses want to be careful what they're liable for. So, it will come back, it'll just be that slow sort of recovery. But I know that people are excited to get back out there and to travel for business."
With reopening marching forward, many organizations are looking to get their team members back on flights and back to in-person events where they can network, close deals, highlight products and more.
But what's the status for traveling for business to Europe? What does your organization need to know?
Sarah Dandashy, host of MarketScale's Say Yes to Travel, weighed in.
"Well, the short answer is it's actually been open pretty much this whole time — throughout the pandemic. You just need to have proof that you were actually traveling for business.
Now, there are a couple of different technicalities when it comes to that. Certainly now, as Europe has opened up for leisure travel, it has made it a bit easier in that you don't actually have to have proof that you're necessarily traveling for business. You just have to have proof of whether you've been vaccinated or of a negative COVID test.
Obviously, a lot of this depends on where you are traveling to in Europe. So, keep in mind, depending on the destination, every country has different rules.
Also, if you are going to Europe and you start at one country and you need to travel to another country, you also need to do your research, as every country has its own set of requirements.
Once you return to the United States, you have to have proof of a negative COVID test to come back, whether you have been vaccinated or not."
With supply chains around the world struggling under the weight of the past year, will airlines be next in line to feel the effects?
MarketScale Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy weighed in.
"American Airlines is telling pilots to conserve fuel.
Now, this is really interesting for those that might not know. There is actually a jet fuel shortage that is happening right now within the United States, particularly the Western United States.
What's been going on? Well, we obviously know, in the world of travel and hospitality, there has been an employment shortage. That's also trickled down, [to] a lot of truck drivers who normally would deliver the jet fuel to a lot of these smaller airports. They do not have as many people working those jobs right now.
So, as a result, there is this jet fuel shortage. It's happening now. If things go as planned, obviously, they are trying to fix this — they are looking to be out of this shortage by the middle of August.
But, right now, between now and then, it's something to keep in mind, especially if you are traveling. ... It could have some impacts on flight delays moving forward."
European travel is opening back up, and as travelers head to some of their favorite destinations, Paris will most certainly be on the list. On the list of best places to stay is FAUCHON L’Hotel Paris.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked with Jerome Montanteme, GM, Hotel Fauchon Paris, and Maud Welter, Director, Sales & Marketing. Hotel Fauchon Paris is a luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of Paris and the new epicenter of a contemporary Parisian epicure and luxurious hospitality. The trio talked about the five-star hotel, travel during the pandemic for French guests, and what European travel will look like post-pandemic.
While many five-star hotels in Paris had been shut down since last year, FAUCHON L’Hotel Paris has been open, welcoming French guests — even ranking on TripAdvisor as the #1 Hotel in Paris. On either side of the pandemic, though, the goal of both Welter and Montanteme is to make the hotel visitors happy.
“We have the same spirit together on hospitality,” Montanteme said of his and Maud’s vision on how to treat their guests. “Hospitality for us is being happy to make the clients happy. This is really the sense of our job. If you’re not happy to make the clients happy, it is better to find another business.”
Listen to hear more about the decisions they made to survive the pandemic and their plans for the future as Euro travel reopens.
Traveling is one of the most rewarding endeavors, but it is also one of the most challenging. One hurdle is storing things while traveling, but English startup Stasher is looking to change how travelers store their luggage.
Joining Host Sarah Dandashy to discuss on this episode of Say Yes To Travel is Jacob Wedderburn-Day, the CEO and Co-Founder at Stasher, a travel tech startup that is the world's first luggage storage network that connects travelers with hotels and stores that can keep luggage safe while users enjoy their time in a city.
"Storage in cities is a genuine problem." - Jacob Wedderburn-Day
Wedderburn-Day launched Stasher as a happy accident when one of his friends wanted to store stuff with another friend. The friend joked about charging people for this service. An idea was born. They launched a website where folks could keep things in their flats. The model has since evolved, but the basic idea remains.
"Storage in cities is a genuine problem," Wedderburn-Day said. "If you remember at the time, and it's still the case, Airbnb at that time had gone from this interesting idea to a household name, and everyone was starting to do it. It was also creating an even bigger opportunity in this space."
What was a joke of an idea is now in over 250 cities worldwide, though they took a bit of a hit during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Hotels and businesses use the site to market their storage space, and travelers can store their things in a secure location. As a former concierge, Dandashy noted the need for travelers to store items while they're traveling.
"There's a kind of simplicity to the idea, which makes it great," Wedderburn-Day said. "It is not reinventing anything, and it's taking that sharing-economy model that we've seen work so well with taxis and rentals. It is really just making use of space that exists already."
While travel slowed the past year, innovation and technology in the travel space hit hyper-speed, as founders and innovators used the time to create new travel solutions.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked with Vito Pagano, President and CEO of GettinLocal, the first travel app and technology of its kind that works with GPS-positioning that’s able to give a curated end-destination travel experience to hotel guests and local residents. It acts as sort of a concierge in your pocket. In addition, the duo talks about the possibilities of geofencing as an answer to traditional hospitality tools.
“All within one platform, a guest can discover and book everything that’s happening around the hotel, or if they’re visiting different pockets of the city, the app is dynamic, and it changes based on their physical location." - Vito Pagano
“Think of it as similar to a Google search engine, where Google connects to different websites,” Pagano said. “We created one comprehensive app that pulls in Viator, OpenTable, our own curated content, and we marry into Google for reviews. So all within one platform, a guest can discover and book everything that’s happening around the hotel, or if they’re visiting different pockets of the city, the app is dynamic, and it changes based on their physical location.”
The app can be used from the safety of a visitor’s hand. It acts as a digital guide, similar to how a concierge would curate end-destinations for a hotel guest. Users can find things that are physically around them. The app also drives income to local municipalities, as guests visit and spend money in these destinations.
“In the future, we’re able to engage with that past visitor or local resident to come back to the city and promote things such as a food festival,” Pagano said. “We’re able to get people back into destinations once they’ve left.”
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked with Juan Otero, Co-Founder, and CEO of Travala, a leading blockchain-based travel booking platform offering +2,000,000 properties in 230 countries with prices up to 40 percent cheaper than mainstream booking sites. Dandashy and Otero dug into Otero's career, Travala and blockchain, and what changes are brewing in the travel industry post-COVID.
"We were the first movers in applying blockchain to a traditional online travel agency." -Juan Otero
Otero's career combines a solid combination of tech and travel. He even spent some time working at Booking.com. He served as the CEO and Founder of Restaurantes.com, Europe's leading online restaurant reservation service, named by Wired Magazine one of Europe's fastest-growing digital companies in 2012. In 2015, he got his start in blockchain and really became interested in how it could impact the travel industry.
"That's how we came up with the idea for funding Travala in 2017," Otero said. "We were the first movers in applying blockchain to a traditional online travel agency."
While Otero didn't necessarily see a pain point when he started Travala, he understood the power of blockchain. Blockchain allows the travel industry to decentralize a lot of the processes that are in place. These processes include better pricing, more flexibility, and more payment options. Otero said this goes for other industries, as well.
"Obviously, my experience in the travel industry allowed me to see pretty clearly there was an opportunity there, not just to decentralize a lot of the processes or relationships between travel suppliers and travelers, but to bring a more fair and transparent relationship to the different participants," Otero said. "... and to enhance the whole booking experience with blockchain technology."
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, I talk to Andrew Lock, the Founder and Host of The Travel Pro Show, a travel show for frequent flyers and business travelers or anybody looking for luxury travel. The duo talked about Lock’s background, his love for travel, and the international flights during a pandemic.
Lock is British-born and now a dual British/American citizen. After his first time on a plane, he got the travel bug at the age of 7 - on a family vacation to Bulgaria. He established a travel agency in his mid-teens, booking flights and travel experiences for friends and family. He started The Travel Pro Show when he noticed the lack of humor on travel content on YouTube and blogs.
“There was nothing that was a t.v. show and entertaining,” Lock said. “With my background in video production and working for the BBC, I felt like I could bring something different to the table that was high quality.”
As did the rest of the world, Lock didn’t do much traveling over the past year. His dual citizenship allowed him to travel between the U.S. and England during the Pandemic, which turned out to be unique. He also took a trip to Malta, Sweden, and Denmark, which required COVID-19 tests.
“That, in itself, was quite a surreal experience,” Lock said. “Basically, for the last year, I would say, at the most, there have been about 12 people on the international flights.”
Listen to hear more about Andrew’s show and what trips he has planned for this year.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, I talk to Randall Kaplan, Founder, and CEO, of Sandee, considered The Yelp of beaches. We talk about his career as a serial entrepreneur, Sandee, and the time we connected at The London In West Hollywood. I have been interviewing hospitality professionals worldwide who have been fighting to stay afloat during the pandemic, talking about the past year and where the hospitality industry goes from here.
Kaplan briefly practiced law before starting his own technology company. He jumped into venture capitalism while he ran a few other companies along the way. For the last seven years, his focus has been on Sandee, which has cataloged 94 categories of data for the world’s 50,000 plus beaches located in 212 countries.
“The global tourism business is a 9 trillion dollar a year business, and the beach percentage of that is a tiny percentage - it’s only 5 trillion dollars,” Kaplan said jokingly. “We’re filling that niche.
Previously, there was no definite source of beach information globally, but Sandee has created one, which allows people to choose their perfect beach. “If you think about your beach vacations, you’re always looking for the right beaches wherever you go,” Kaplan said. When going to a location, people want to see pictures of the beach to determine the quality of the beach. There are also other things to consider, such as if a beachgoer has kids, what is around the beach, or maybe a romantic or a surfing beach. With Sandee, you can find this information.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, host Sarah Dandashy sits down with Hermann Elger, the executive vice president of travel, entertainment, and health security at Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place. Dandashy has been interviewing hospitality professionals worldwide who have been fighting to stay afloat during the pandemic, talking about the past year and where the hospitality industry goes from here.
“Just letting the traveler know that everyone in the city is on the same page from a health and security perspective.” -Hermann Elger
Elger’s father worked in the hotel industry, so diving into the career path seemed natural. He served as general manager for Baccarat Hotels and Resorts, overseeing operations and the guest experience at luxury properties such as The St. Regis New York and Montage Beverly Hills. He also spent 18 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he supported the development of new hotels as an opening team leader for The Ritz-Carlton Aspen Highlands, Philadelphia, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.
Sharecare popped up on my radar when Los Angeles became the first Sharecare verified city in the United States. This verification process aims to unify messaging from hotel to consumers that the hotels in the area are clean and safe.
“It is a way to build that consistency and consistent messaging from a marketing perspective,” Elger said. “Just letting the traveler know that everyone in the city is on the same page from a health and security perspective.”
After a difficult year in tourism, travel is recovering. While safety is still top of mind, the experience of luxury travel is changing, too. Discussing trends in the space and what her company is seeing, Florence Li, Director of International Sales and Marketing for Songtsam, joined Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy.
Li explained a bit about the Songtsam portfolio. “We are a boutique, high-end chain with lodges and hotels in the Yunnan province in China and Tibet.”
“People realized because of the pandemic that we are one world and interconnected. In the future, travelers will focus more on connections in destinations. They want immersive, authentic experiences, not just to buy something.” - Florence Li
Li shared that all properties were closed in the first part of 2020, but they bounced back with high occupancy by the end of May. To ensure traveler safety, Li said, “We implemented new high standards for hygiene. We continue to keep up with the pace of changes, as well.”
One thing the Songtsam properties are known for is sustainability. Most are in local villages, and the company emphasizes using local materials, having symbiotic relationships with villages, and a reverence for nature. “Sustainability isn’t just about the environment. We want to preserve the culture of the local village and support their development and economic growth,” Li said.
Their close ties to villages are reflected in their staff, which is 92% from these areas. The organization works hard to develop its employees, which furthers their drive to deliver outstanding hospitality to guests.
Li also talked about trends and predictions for luxury travel. “People realized because of the pandemic that we are one world and interconnected. In the future, travelers will focus more on connections in destinations. They want immersive, authentic experiences, not just to buy something.”
With the pandemic putting a lid on traveling over the past year, it’s no wonder that consumers are ready to hit the road and the open sky. So, what are some of the things travelers should expect as they head back out into the world?
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked to Konrad Waliszewski, Founder & CEO of, TripScout about traveling after the pandemic and the pent-up demand for travelers. They also dug into vaccine passports and the first post-covid trip.
"I wanted to create a company, TripScout, to lead the way for the next generation of modern travelers.” -Konrad Waliszewski
Waliszewski made his name as a travel blogger and early YouTube travel influencer. It’s something he’s passionate about, having traveled to over 100 countries. Entrepreneurship has also been his calling. He noticed changes and trends in the way people traveled, and he started combining his skillset of travel and entrepreneurship. TripScout filled a gap in the market.
“Every product and service you use hasn’t changed in the past 20 years since the internet came around,” Waliszewski said. “So, I wanted to create a company, TripScout, to lead the way for the next generation of modern travelers.”
TripScout is the number one ranked trip planning app in the app store. They index all the world’s travel content from local bloggers and top publishers. Then their technology extracts every point of interest and every recommendation made by those pieces of content. Then, they curate a feed for each traveler.
If you’ve traveled before, you most likely had to have vaccines, so the COVID-19 Passport isn’t that different from other things, such as Yellow Fever Passport. Waliszewski thinks it’s a bit exaggerated, and proving you have had a vaccine isn’t a big deal. He also thinks we’re on the cusp of the biggest travel boom ever.
Listen to the episode to hear more about vaccine passports, pent-up demand, and the first post-COVID trip.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, I talk to Adam Bussell, the General Manager of The LINE In Austin. I have been interviewing hospitality professionals from around the world who have been fighting to stay afloat during the pandemic, talking about the past year and where the hospitality industry goes from here.
This week’s guest is special because Adam used to be my boss at The London West Hollywood. When I first applied for the job, he passed on me, but he finally wised up and hired me. After giving him a hard time, I talked to him about The LINE, a boutique hotel in Austin, Texas.
Adam dove into his storied career, which has included working at some pretty cool hotels. He started modestly working as a bellman, then at the front desk, as he rose the ranks into a night manager at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. During this time, the hotel’s bar, The Skybar, was at its peak. To say it was wild would be an understatement.
“Honestly, that was the best thing to happen to me because that was the hardest job I’ve ever had,” he said.
Maybe it was his youthfulness, but he didn’t realize how crazy the night shifts were at the hotel until later. Some of the best stories and memories he has of working at hotels occurred during that period. None of his experiences to date have compared.
“My top ten hotel stories, however you want to look at them, best or worst, happened during that time,” he said.
In a career that has spanned from Hollywood to New York, to Las Vegas, he landed in Austin in the summer of 2019. The LINE Hotel started in Los Angeles, with another in Washington, D.C., and they plan on opening one in San Francisco next year. What makes The LINE Austin unique is that it’s large for boutique hotels. There are large rooms and conference space for meetings.
The LINE Austin is housed in a former Radisson. They updated the hotel and added a bar and meeting space. Of the 400 rooms, 100 of them are suites.
When the pandemic hit, it crushed Austin. The shutdown happened during March, which is when it’s the Austin hospitality industry’s busiest month. But, with the cancellation of SXSW, the future was uncertain. The LINE Austin was able to reopen Memorial Day weekend in 2020, but with rising cases, they faced additional restrictions and shutdowns during the summer.
Adam shared more of his experience overcoming the pandemic and what they plan to do in the future.
Falling in love with hospitality is what leads many into the field. Those that find that true connection often go on to make a huge impact. Such is the story of Christine Trippi, CEO of The Wise Pineapple. Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy had an uplifting and insightful conversation on the industry. Trippie started her career at only 17 and managed properties for some of the biggest hotel brands. Now, she’s an author, trainer, speaker, and energizer.
“I started at 17, and the next year, I was opening a new hotel as a GM, and my romance with hospitality never waned,” Trippi commented.
Trippi credits showing up with the right effort and attitude to her success, including placement on the Global Gurus list. Spreading the message of service and delivering actionable advice to hospitality leaders is her passion. She commented, “It’s not about the four walls; it’s about who is inside them creating energy, love, and excitement.”
Trippi urged hospitality professionals to eliminate these three words “because of Covid.” She believes they impact the ability to deliver great service. “Tell guests what you do have, not something that makes you less valuable than you were before. Instead of saying we don’t have shuttle service because of Covid, say this is how we recommend getting to and from the airport.”
The biggest challenge for service right now is R&R—recruiting and retention—according to Trippi. She said it’s the worst hiring crisis for the space, even before the pandemic. That made the problem worse with people leaving the industry or retiring. She offered this recommendation. “Go to your associates right now and ask them if they were looking for a job where would they look. I guarantee you’re posting in the wrong place.”
Say Yes to Travel looks at the topic of wellness in travel and its new place in the industry’s evolution. Joining host Sarah Dandashy is Brian Chappon, CEO of Centred Travel Wellness. The company connects consumers to specially curated services relating to wellness in cities across the world. The app’s objective, Chappon said, is “taking wellness with you” with telemedicine services, fitness/yoga options, wellness retreats, and more.
Chappon always had the travel itch and called his success with Centred the culmination of “22 years of entrepreneurial failures.”
The app was picking up momentum pre-pandemic, and now it’s growing even more, in part because of it. Chappon explained, “Without the pandemic, we would never have gotten the time and attention of CEOs. We onboarded 40,000 suppliers.”
The company also purchased a concierge app and beauty app to match stylists. Chappon chided those in the industry that were wait and see. “Some see it as a risk; we see it as an opportunity.”
Their platform drives revenue for small businesses and provides the best recommendations for keeping wellness top of mind in travel. “There’s a lot about the travel industry that wasn’t working, and this is the chance to fix it. Those that do will be relevant; those that don’t won’t.”
Centred is a collaborator within the travel ecosystem. Chappon called his team “doers” because they aren’t just building a brand; they are executing and acting.
Dandashy also asked Chappon about his predictions for the future of luxury travel. “We don’t know yet, but we’re seeing trends of people saving up so they can spend more than normal. Also, people are taking longer trips with a more focus on wellness and the ability to work. The experiential add-ons will be more important, and bookings will change to be more bespoke,” he added.
Is it possible to improve and enhance the guest experience during a pandemic? Yes, with the right mindset and creativity. Talking about this subject today, Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy welcomed her former colleague, Jeff Kulek. Kulek is the Area Vice President and General Manager of The London West Hollywood. He has over 30 years of hotel experience and shared his story of reimaging the guest experience.
Kulek had Hollywood dreams, but when he didn’t catch a big break, he found a new one—working in hospitality. “In hospitality, you are on stage and want to put on a great show. I love interactions with people.”
Kulek’s love of people became even more important during the pandemic. The hotel never closed. “We wanted to be available to guests and see how we could help.” They hosted essential business travelers, healthcare workers, and patients.
In November of 2020, LA was back on lockdown, and Kulek was worried and knew he needed to keep motivating staff. “I had to be a change agent and work toward getting everyone in the mindset to provide great service and care for one another.”
Kulek wanted to get back into interactions, so he moved his desk to the lobby. He spoke with every guest, hearing their stories, filled with both hope and sadness. He and his team began to do little, unique things for guests, from special gifts to a penthouse giveaway for a couple unable to afford a honeymoon.
Kulek began to share the tale of the newlyweds and others on his LinkedIn profile to inspire other hospitality workers. He went viral, and publications began to print stories about the hotel’s ability to serve guests in new ways. “I didn’t want accolades, just wanted to throw a pebble into a pond and watch the ripples, to make the world a better place.”
Say Yes to Travel featured a special guest recently, Mr. Scott Eddy. Host Sarah Dandashy excitedly welcomed her friend and hospitality expert, influencer, and entrepreneur Scott Eddy. Eddy’s unique stories began with his days as a stockbroker. He then said goodbye to the corporate world and took a fateful trip to Southeast Asia.
For the next 17 years, he lived in Europe and Asia, creating relationships and learning from other cultures. He entered back into the business world by starting one of the first digital agencies in Southeast Asia, where hospitality brands came to know and trust him. He’s an OG digital nomad that now consults with the travel industry under his own brand.
When asked about his pivot during COVID, Eddy said, “You can stick your head in the sand or not. There’s never been a better time, if you’re smart, to launch something.”
In lessons learned during COVID, Eddy noted, “If the pandemic didn’t teach you to go all-in on technology and social media, then nothing will. Those are the brands that one. Those that didn’t are dinosaurs in the way they think. You’ll never beat technology.”
The pandemic inspired Eddy to create a new kind of conference for the industry. He’ll be hosting Hospitality 2021 on March 25 and 26. It’s free and designed to support professionals that need the right tools and guidance. “It’s not a conference; it’s a conversation. I want to instill some confidence in planning for an uncertain future.” Eddy explained.
In 2021, most people expect to engage with technology. So why are some processes stuck in the past? That’s been true for the hospitality industry, and Say Yes to Travel is breaking down the story. Host Sarah Dandashy welcomed Ken Patel, CEO and Founder of EV Hotel Group and EV Human, a turnkey software solution for hotel management and guest experience.
Patel spent over 20 years working in hotels and witnessing the archaic system. From his experience, he knew there had to be a better way. “I wanted to create a company that’s innovative and would revolutionize the industry,” he said.
The pain points of hotels are mostly the same, no matter the city. Employees have too heavy a workload, causing disengagement and turnover. Guests have to wait in check-in lines or use outdated communication channels to get what they need.
Patel’s platform seeks to bridge the gap between technology and old hospitality. The reality is that many don’t want to change. However, technology yields efficiency and many other revenue-specific benefits.
Technology adoption is no longer an option to stay competitive. Patel shared, “Airbnb isn’t a hospitality company but a technology one, and it took 30% of revenue from hotels last year.”
Convenience and ease matter to guests, and most consumers are even bigger tech users now because of the pandemic. What’s eye-opening for any hotel group is that more technology correlates to higher guest satisfaction. “With technology, employees can focus on the guest. Phase one is all about guest-facing technology for check-in. Then they can use a QR code to connect to the guest portal and communicate with any employee this way,” Patel explained.
It also supports profitability. Patel said, “The data shows that 89% of hotels in the world have a lower operating cost when they implement tech and AI.”
In honor of International Women’s Month, Say Yes to Travel brings listeners to the story of Dolores Lopez Lira and her daughter Samantha Frachey. Lopez Lira is the founder and owner of Lomas Travel and El Dorado Resorts, while Frachey is the director of the hotel division.
Lopez Lira spent many decades working for a hospitality brand before she and her husband started their own. They began in destination management, then transportation, then on to resorts throughout Mexico. “When we started the business, many clients came with us. We had a desire to create jobs in Mexico and offer the Mexican dream,” she shared.
Even with the business's growth, Frachey said, “It’s still family-owned, and each property is unique.”
In growing their hospitality empire, it was always a conscious decision to empower and support women. Lopez Lira said, “Women by nature are multi-taskers and responsible.” That’s a big reason why they have many women in leadership roles in the company and at the resorts.
One of the most important ways they help women is through their human development center. “There are many single mothers who must leave their children behind to work. We help these women by empowering and educating them but also giving them a safe place for their children,” Frachey said.
In the spirit of supporting families, the company has big news—the opening of Nickelodeon’s first Mexican resort. It will open later this summer. Construction never stopped on the project during the pandemic. It’s sure to be a must-visit for families when it launches.
Host Sarah Dandashy chatted with Evan Kharrazi, founder of Kharrazi Natural Health, a health coaching service for overworked hospitality professionals.
Kharrazi has an interesting background as both a dancer and a hotel operations expert. He started this new journey last year after losing his hotel revenue manager job due to the pandemic. “I was depleted and went to Israel to reconnect. I found my purpose to help others who put others first,” he said.
Kharrazi’s intent is to help hospitality workers prioritize self-care through his programs. He also wants to help their employers. “I want to help hotels take this on, so they can bring back staff to be in a headspace and physical space to deliver authentic service.”
Kharrazi offered some tips on integrating self-care, including making it a habit, setting small achievable goals, and finding activities that people are passionate about. He also touched on the areas of nutrition, talking about the Integrative nutrition circle of life. “You’re looking at the full picture of what nourishes you, both off the plate and what you actually eat.”
Kharrazi shared that he’ll be releasing a new app soon for self-care that includes everything from guided meditation to dance. For hospitality professionals, he wants to make self-care an easy, accessible process for all.
This episode's topic is private transportation, and host Sarah Dandashy spoke with David Seelinger, CEO of EmpireCLS. Dandashy, during her time as a concierge, often worked with the company.
For over 30 years, he’s been a pioneer in the industry, which didn’t change due to COVID-19. “The pandemic hit the industry hard, but we saw it as an opportunity to redesign our business.”
Seelinger and his team started a journey to revise driver protocols and cleaning.
“It’s a pretty touchless process now. Our chauffeurs wear N95 masks. We have HEPA filters in all cars and offer guests a mask that’s individually wrapped,” he explained.
They’ve also been using UVC light for sterilization. It’s now part of the AC and heating systems of buses. In the cars, drives use UV wands throughout the interior.
Another new option is passengers can request a chauffeur take a COVID test before pickup. “We’ve had a lot of calls for this, which aligns with the business we have now, which is mostly private aviation,” Seelinger shared.
EmpireCLS partnered with International SOS and worked with two infectious disease doctors to develop the standards, which they have certified.
What makes his business different than other alternative transportation is that all drivers are employees, not independent contractors. Thus, the protocols are standardized and applicable to all drivers, no matter where they are.
Seelinger is optimistic about recovery. The company took the downtime in the past year to develop a unique app with new features for customers. They are beta testing it right now and look forward to its launch once travel rebounds.
Lund spent 30 years with a large hotel brand, starting in operations then shifting to financial roles. What he learned was that non-financial folks in the business had no understanding of the numbers. This epiphany resulted in leaving his day job and starting The Hotel Financial Coach, training, teaching, and speaking on financial leadership.
Lund stressed that every department head needs financial literacy. “Leaders need to be fully functional, managing their departments and their numbers,” he said.
That insight is more important now after a disruptive year, one that came after 100 straight months of gains, leaving many hotel leaders complacent. “After so much demand, now brands have to reinvent themselves,” Lund noted.
During the pandemic, he thought about what hospitality would look like if it didn’t exist and someone was dreaming it up. “What we wouldn’t see is the departmentality and silos. Instead, the model would be more multi-functional.”
To do that, he offered some great tips. “Embrace technology and get a hold of your numbers. Half the hotels I talk to don’t get monthly financial statements, only once a year. How can you improve when you don’t know the score?”
Lund also emphasized that an accounting degree isn’t a necessity to learn the numbers. He said, “Know your staffing formulas and how to manage expenses. Get fascinated by what your expenses are and control them. Being able to speak to the bottom line and strategy—that’s financial leadership.”
Looking ahead to recovery for the industry, Lund replied, “It depends on your location and segment. So, recovery is from a segmentation point of view. Extended stays and resorts had good years in 2020. Next will be those that serve business travelers, and the last will be international business.”
Driven by consumer desires for new experiences, innovative technologies and environmental impacts – travel is changing. Host Sarah Dandashy explores the technologies and logistics that power travel and the brands that build unforgettable experiences.
While most suitcases didn’t make it out of the closet in 2020, there’s optimism at the next stop in the travel industry. With more insights on travel’s challenges and opportunities, Say Yes to Travels’ Sarah Dandashy sits down with Zeke Adkins, Co-Founder of Luggage Forward. Luggage Forward is a doorstep to destination service for baggage that eliminates the need to check bags.
Adkins explained, “We pick up luggage at your door and deliver it anywhere in the world. It’s a stress-free experience. Now with less demand, the added value is it minimizes risk at airports.”
The pandemic put a halt on most trips, whether for work or pleasure. Cruises are some of the most popular types and a significant partner to Luggage Forward.
“Cruisers are very loyal and can’t wait to cruise again. Demand is there, and hopefully, with the vaccine, we’ll turn the tide,” Adkins said.
They also work closely with hotels, and Adkins is optimistic that both cruises and hotels will rebound. As for the message his company is presenting to customers. “We’ve recalibrated our marketing to be more we’re here if you need us. We want to be respectful of our position,” he commented.
In looking forward, he agrees that COVID has changed things about travel, possibly forever. “Businesses were forced to see if remote work works, and it does. We’ll probably never see business travel numbers as we did in 2018. On the other side, leisure travel demand will be greater, with people wanting to take that trip of a lifetime,” Adkins shared.
Many are anxiously awaiting a time when they can roam the world again, experiencing moments they only imagined. Hear more of Adkins' thoughts on travel trends by listening to the episode.
Hospitality has proven itself as one of the most resilient industries in the last year. The challenges have been massive, but many companies have rallied. Sharing thoughts on this topic, host Sarah Dandashy welcomed Pilar Arizmendi, VP of Sales and Marketing for the Palladium Hotel Group, Americas. Arizmendi leads a team that focuses on promoting properties to North American consumers. Palladium is a global hotel group with an impressive portfolio that includes many all-inclusive resorts.
Dandashy first asked Arizmendi about how Palladium responded to the pandemic. She said, “We’ve been evolving, changing, and innovating to ensure the health and safety of travelers and employees, beginning with our White Book of health and safety protocols.”
The book was once only 22 pages, and now it’s 350. The properties worked to ensure they were compliant with all government regulations and best practices. Arizmendi explained many of the new procedures. “
“A few examples include disinfecting of rooms and sealing them after and only opened at guest check-in, social distancing, contactless menus, and assisted buffets.”
One unique offering of the organization is COVID-19 insurance for guests. They provide it at no cost and covers medical expenses should someone contract the disease while on property.
Despite the chaotic year, Arizmendi was excited to talk about some of the awards properties won. They received numerous accolades in 2020, including Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, Conde Nast Traveler recognitions, and the TravelAge West Wave Editor’s Pick.
Arizmendi credits the culture and the company's drive to redefine the travel experience for these awards. She also spoke about the company’s values and that ultimately, “We want to give guests peace of mind but also ensure they are comfortable and enjoy their vacation.”
As for the future, Arizmendi is hopeful. “We will recover and bounce back as most of the population receives the vaccine. We look forward to welcoming you back,” she said.
The cruise industry has a devoted following, but the pandemic has kept most ships at port. As travel begins to rebound, what’s next for cruising? Host Sarah Dandashy hopes for a fresh outlook in 2021 and invited cruising industry veteran Bill Panoff, CEO of PPI Group and editor in chief of cruise magazine Porthole Magazine, to discuss what’s next.
Panoff, inspired by the TV show The Love Boat, knew he wanted a career on a cruise boat. He got his first break by being persistent, hyping his magic tricks. “Eventually, I wore the cruise director down, and he put me on an 800-passenger ship,” he said.
His magic career bombed, but the connections he made with passengers and his likability kept him on board. He eventually became a cruise director but realized he wanted a more normal life on land. Not willing to give up his love of cruising, he started Porthole Magazine, the first of its kind.
Of course, cruising had a trying year due to the pandemic, but Panoff is optimistic about the future.
“The cruise lines are rethinking the experience, keeping safety in mind. But the consumer demand is there, as cruisers are very loyal,” he added.
He expects cruising to pick back up this spring with shorter itineraries, fewer port stops, lower capacity, and changes inside the ship.
“Cruises to nowhere could be popular, as many ports remain closed to ships. Private island stops will work. Theaters will have a lower capacity, and dining will be different with no buffets,” Panoff said.
Cruising is an experience-driven type of travel, so they’ll be looking at new ways to make connections but ensure safety. For cruise fans, they can get updates on when cruises will be back, what to expect in the future, and more at porthole.com.
Last year, the travel industry experienced disruptions like never before due to COVID-19. This trillion-dollar global industry was more than just a business—it was a part of the human experience. With lockdown orders and basically no ability to travel outside one’s country, consumers began to find creative ways to see beyond their back door. Frank Martini, President of Yankee Leisure Group, a rail vacation agency, witnessed some notable trends in 2020. One of which was a revival in train travel.
Train travel fit perfectly for what people were looking for in 2020. Trains aren’t just for commuting, a misconception. In a normal year, AMTRAK moves about 33 million people a year. “About 90% of the travel we book on AMTRAK Vacations is in private sleepers, and around 70% is travel to national parks, so as the pandemic happened, we were perfectly positioned,” Martini commented.
Train travel has a somewhat nostalgic sense about it; many counting it as something on their bucket list. It also doesn’t have some of the negatives of air travel. Martini said, “I don't think I've ever met anyone who, when they hear rail travel, whether they've traveled or not by rail, it doesn't put a smile on their face."
The “train effect” became popular for travelers in 2020, as Martini explained, “One, rail travel lends itself to private travel, and second, many of the routes have destinations at national parks, which were very popular in 2020.”
Travelers possibly perceived trains to be safer because of the private cars, separate boarding, and meal delivery to rooms. There was no group congregation like other modes of travel. These positives, along with the allure of a train experience, gained many new travelers, with 67% of the company’s bookings being first-timers.
Another unique aspect of Yankee Leisure Group is that itineraries come from travelers. Every week, their analysts review common combinations that consumers created. If it makes sense, they package it as an itinerary. They can do all this within only 48 hours, so it’s an almost real-time response to customer demand. “We launched 175 new itineraries since COVID, all designed by what customers were purchasing,” Martini added.
Human connection will always be at the center of hospitality. Bashar Wali is the quintessential hotelier with a long history in the hotel industry. He is the CEO and Founder of This Assembly, Partner at Provenance Hotels, and Founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality (a Hotel Management company that he fondly refers to as a Nurture Company). More than just focused on the business of hotels, Wali always emphasizes the human element of the hospitality industry. Acknowledging that hotels can offer many unique experiences, at the end of the day, it is how we, as hoteliers make guests feel. Wali has even done a TEDx on Human Connection.
"The business that we're in is hospitality. And the clear distinction is: Service is what you deliver. Hospitality is how you make people feel," Wali said. And he has a point. All too often, hoteliers focus on the bottom line and forget what the real essence of hospitality is.
Why are hotels successful? It is because they know their “why”. They know their purpose and they think long term. "I want to be able to say, look, we are in the business of creating an incredible place for people to work and an incredible place for people to call home away from home,” Wali said. And that, as Wali said, defines success.
Looking ahead, Wali shared a few of his thoughts on the future of the industry. Instead of focusing on trends, he dove into the notion of human behavior and understanding how we, as humans, shift and influence future changes.
The sanitation craze will be temporary. But hopefully, hand washing is here to stay.
People have become more empathetic. After surviving 2020, we all have grown a little more in the emotional intelligence department.
Technology will be a big focus in the world of hospitality—but not to eliminate humans—to eliminate friction.
Business travel is forever changed and we will continue to see it evolve.
Of course, Wali shared a bit on what hoteliers should be focusing on moving forward. First, the booking process should be smoother. Hoteliers need to focus on being better retailers. Secondly, hoteliers should also remember that they are in the "feelings business." If they focus on anything else, hotels just become a commodity. And hotels are so much more than that—they are an experience.
If you were still trying to figure out what gift to give this holiday season, consider giving the gift of travel. Especially for this year. It is a gift that is often overlooked, yet it is creative, thoughtful, and memorable.
We have seen this shift towards “experiences” over the past few years. And in a year where we missed having so many of our usual experiences, 2020 accelerated this shift. So truly, there is not a better time than the present to consider the gift of travel.
According to research by Destination Analysts, 47% of Americans would feel either happy or very happy to receive a travel-related gift this holiday season. And nearly 60% of respondents agreed that getting a vacation scheduled in the next six months would make them feel there is something happy to look forward to.
Here are five reasons to consider giving the gift of travel.
Gift that Keeps on Giving
It is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only will the recipient enjoy it when they receive it, but they will continue to get enjoyment looking forward to the trip, going on the trip, and then post-trip. With all of those variables and the number of times that gifting a trip can spark joy in the recipient makes it a gift with one of the best values.
It is Win-Win
Let’s be honest. If you are gifting your loved one a trip, you might very well be joining them on the trip! Win-win! Not only will your recipient enjoy the gift, but you will get to reap the benefits as well. You’ll not only enjoy planning a trip together, but you’ll also make lasting memories. Creating a dream vacation that not only your loved one will enjoy, but you will as well.
Buy Now, Travel Later
For many reasons, we might not be traveling this holiday season. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan to travel later, when you’re ready. In fact, I HIGHLY recommend that you start planning now. First of all, there are so many deals going on. (Just take a look at Karisma’s Holiday Sale!) Secondly, when it comes time to travel again, there is going to be a huge rush of other travelers looking to book as well. So get ahead of the wave and book when there is plenty of availability. And third, let flexible cancellation/rebooking policies be your peace of mind in booking ahead. Of course, you’ll want to pay attention to the specific rules of your plane ticket or resort reservation, but now more than ever, there is more flexibility.
Travel Themed Gifts
Have fun with the gift! It doesn’t have to be a simple plane ticket or gift card (which are A-OK in my book), you can get creative with the presentation. For example, maybe pair a sunny, vacation reservation with some cute flip-flops and some sunscreen. Or sunglasses and a sarong with a gift card. Or better yet, a margarita mix with a tropical escape. You get the idea. And seriously, how can you go wrong with any of these?
Get the Best Deals
What makes planning a vacation even sweeter is knowing that you got a great deal. Traditionally speaking, planning at least six months in advance gets you some of the best rates on a future trip. Planning ahead combined with Holiday Sales means you can get even better deals! Or even go the route of an all-inclusive. And as I mentioned before, you’ll want to get ahead of the travel rush.
Stay tuned to next week where I'll be covering the biggest changes in travel in 2020. Until then, wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!
Without a doubt, the hospitality industry is in an evolutionary state of sweeping change. While many in the sector are seeing transformations occur daily, others are watching from the proverbial sidelines, eager to bring back in to play the game of hospitality they’ve loved and known so well. But for those accustomed to providing high-touch service in a hotel setting, what does the future of hospitality truly look like? One of the best examples to examine is the traditional hotel concierge role.
The word concierge is French, meaning the ‘keeper of keys’, and during the Middle Ages, a concierge did just that. When castles across Europe hosted visiting nobility, the concierge kept the keys to the castle rooms while ensuring that guests had everything they needed during their stay. Fast forward to more recent times, and the concierge has become the ‘go-to’ person with the connections, resolve and composure to execute any request, regardless of how peculiar. A position within a hotel that is more than just customer-facing, the hotel concierge is the guest’s liaison to the property itself, as well as the neighborhood and community that lies beyond the front doors.
When considering the future of both hospitality and the concierge profession, no one is better qualified to discuss the topic and offer insider insights than Robert Marks, former President of Les Clefs d'Or USA and current Director of the Americas Les Clefs d'Or International (also known as UICH). Based in San Diego, a city reliant upon convention business, Marks has seen first-hand the challenges that the industry faces. With a convention center that’s been temporarily transformed into a shelter to help house the homeless—indeed, a noble effort by the city’s leadership—this move is unquestionably indicative that San Diego is not expecting convention business any time soon.
Say Yes To Travel has a New Episode Every Thursday!
Today's episode is a “can’t be missed” for hoteliers. Chris Hartley, CEO of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), shared not only the organization’s backstory, but provided a deep dive into the role independent hotels play in travel, future travel trends, and the importance of loyalty programs.
The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2004 with just four brands. Since that time, they’ve grown to represent over 35 independently- and privately-owned brands. Like much of the world these days, GHA member properties have been undeniably impacted by the pandemic. In response, the GHA has shifted gears with much of what they’ve focused on during 2020 aimed at COVID-recovery preparation.
It’s interesting to note, though, that as the world comes out of the pandemic, independent hotels are finding themselves in a surprisingly opportune position. Travelers in the new normal are seeking properties that are more unique than the traditional hospitality offering. To understand why, it’s important to take a look at the two segments of travel—business and leisure.
For those looking to find out more about the Global Hotel Alliance and their DISCOVERY program, head to their site for more.
Say Yes To Travel has a New Episode Every Thursday!
In today's episode, Serge Ethuin, the General Manager of the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo shared a bit of his journey through the coronavirus crisis—from the trials and tribulations to the small victories as well. Serge, a true leader with over 35 years of hospitality experience under his handsome leather belt, had a few “firsts” in his long-time career to contend with during 2020—not just a pandemic, but also, the decision to shut down the hotel and inform 250 team members that the hotel would be closing. Endearingly referring to his team as "collaborators," it’s exceedingly obvious that the Hotel Metropole truly views its staff as so much more—they’re considered family. Thus, the closure process—not so much technically, but rather, emotionally—was challenging, to say the least.
Amy Draheim, Podcast Host and Hospitality Marketing Consultant, joined us for today’s episode. It was exciting to sit down with Draheim and explore both her long history in Hospitality Marketing and the remarkable way she managed to pivot during the pandemic.
Naturally, as the pandemic hit, many hotels ended up seeing plummeting numbers. Marketing budgets were affected, and many hotels were figuring out next steps in how to survive.
In late September, we saw through a series of studies that people were still very eager to travel. But, as the fourth quarter of 2020 kicks off and we start winding toward the holidays, will that trend continue?
Is it too early to think about holiday travel? Not entirely.
On this week’s episode of Say Yes to Travel, we got to sit down with Jonathan Capps, Vice President of Revenue, and Gavin Royster, Director of Development, at Charlestowne Hotels.
They provided some great insight regarding revenue and development strategies both in the current climate and as we move past this unprecedented period into a new normal and beyond.
It is an interesting time in travel. We are shifting from summer into fall, and, with that, there are many trends and campaigns happening.
Before diving into the trends, let’s take stock of where we are now. Labor Day weekend proved to be very interesting and very successful, at least in 2020 terms. The TSA reported its highest number of travelers since the pandemic began in March.On Sept. 4, 968,673 people passed through TSA checkpoints across the country.But that’s still nowhere near the 2.2 million passengers that the TSA processed exactly one year earlier, coming in at only 39% of the number of travelers screened during the same period in 2019.
Welcoming back Calvin Tilokee, the brain behind the famous Instagram page RevParblems. The last time we had him on, Calvin shared with us the affects the pandemic has had on the hotel industry. Since then, Calvin has now started his own social media management company Revpar Media.
Typically, summer months bring lots of travelers to the sunny shores of California. 2020’s guest list looks slightly different, as the coronavirus continues to be a global health crisis. Concierge Timothy DeRodeff, who is also vice president of the Los Angeles Concierge Association, shares his story about the shutdown and getting back to work.
As the world has been swept up in the madness of the pandemic, one of the industries that has been it the hardest has been the cruise industry. Many travelers have had their attention on flights and hotels, but avid cruisers are eagerly awaiting for the green light to cruise again.
In today's interview, I got to chat with a dear friend and bonified cruise industry expert, Stewart Chiron, AKA the Cruise Guy. Stewart and I have been connected on social media for over six years and finally met for the first time two years ago. It was on one of my first cruises that I finally met Stewart and was immediately impressed by his knowledge on the industry, the ships, and the trends. If it has anything to do with cruising, Stewart is the man to know. After all he has been on 275 cruises.
The cruise industry has com to a complete halt--not unlike many other parts of the travel industry. Realistically, it seems cruises might not start operating again from the United States until at least late September or October. Given that all continues to go as planned. Regardless, restarting operations is going to be a huge feat.
The industry has repatriate over 200,000 crew members... which means, the cruise lines are going to have to get all of those crew members back to their ships.
We will see some changes in cruising, at least in the shorter term.
Cruise lines will aim to have lower than max capacity. They are also looking to have shorter cruises. Pre-boarding protocols will be enhanced. Those cruise lines that have their own private islands will include stops there--particularly in the Caribbean. Cruises will start in some of the major ports, like Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston, TX.
There has been a lot of demand for 2021 sailings. Why not 2020? The biggest reason is because sailings aren't announced for 2020. Studies have shown that as soon as dates are announced--people will sign up--and destination is not even a big factor. People just want to cruise. Demand is very much based on "wait-and-see."
Prices are not going to drop as there is only going to be a limited number of cabins available. The confidence level in cruising is high. So for those hoping there will be discounts--think again.
The cruise lines will be looking to what hotels and airlines are doing--and will take the best business practices and apply them moving forward.
For those worried about the buffets, good news. The buffet on cruises will remain! It is the most efficient way to feed the number of people on a ship. They will have stations and there will be a gloved crew member at each station to help serve passengers.
All in all, the cruising experience will look a little different. But it is not going anywhere. At this point we just have to wait and see when the industry will get the green light from the CDC. Of course, there will be some trial and error at the beginning, but the industry will certainly thrive again.
For more on Stewart, check out his site at www.cruiseguy.com.
John Dekker is the one of the best Travel Agents I know. He was a guest on this podcast back in April--he is so knowledgeable, I figured it would be great to have him on again. As the pandemic is still in full swing three months later (with no signs of letting up--at least in the Los Angeles area), I figured a sit down with "Uncle John" to discuss where we are now.
In usual form, John dove right in to talk about the big travel news of the day. Qantas Airlines just announced they would be ceasing all international flights until March of 2021. This is HUGE! Of course, with such a big airline taking such a big stance on operations, the question at hand is who else will follow suit? Time will tell.
For those eager to figure out a way to get to Europe this summer. So long as the travel ban is on, don't bother. As per a recent attempt by a few travelers who chartered a private plane to Italy, only to be fined and grounded long enough to let the pilots sleep. They were forced to come back immediately. The EU travel ban is a serious situation.
On a recent trip to Vegas, John shared his experience at Cesar's Palace as well as the Wynn. Biggest lesson: those hotels that stayed open throughout the pandemic are far more ready to handle guests right now.
Ultimately, if you are itching to get out of town, it is proving to be the summer of road trips. There are so many places to explore that aren't that far away. As airlines still try to figure out how to properly accommodate passenger loads and states continue to require quarantines--road trips seem to be the best options for those looking to get out of their homes.
Find him online to book a fab trip at www.surfcitytravel.com
Or on instagram at @johndekkertravel
We have all heard the news by now. The EU has issued a ban on travelers from The United States, Brazil, and Russia. But more than missing out on your summer gelato fix, what does this really mean?
As of July 1, European nations have opened their borders to residents of several countries deemed sufficiently under control. The US is not one of them. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, are some of the 15 countries allowed to enter.
This will be reviewed every two weeks. So the US could be added if the situation gets better. Also countries can be taken off the list if their situation worsens.
There are exceptions are for essential travel—specifically for health care workers, diplomats, transit passengers, students and “passengers traveling for imperative family reasons.”
For those still jonesing to get to Europe this summer?Americans can still fly to Ireland and Britain. However, all visitors are required to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival or be subject to a hefty fine. If you think it’s a workaround by completing Britain or Ireland quarantine, and then try to travel onward to Europe from there… it’s not. You will have to prove you are a resident or have immediate family links in Europe. Quit trying while you’re ahead!
The great news is that Europeans will be able to move travel around the EU fairly freely, but the ramifications on the tourism industry will be huge. Much of Europe relies on American tourism dollars—More than a third of the annual spend happens during the peak summer travel season in Europe.
Large American based hotel chains, think Hilton and Marriott, will be hit hard—as they tend to have more luxury and upscale hotels in the market. Whereas, European-based companies like Accor have more midscale and budget properties within the EU—which is in their favor.
A big question I have been getting. If you have a flight to Europe, will you be able to get a refund? You should be entitled to either a flight credit or a refund, depending on when and type of ticket. Try to hold out for the airline to cancel your flight first for best chances on getting a refund.
Hope that explains the EU travel ban in more depth. Now let’s do our part—and reduce our numbers.
Spain, as we have seen, was one of the countries that was hit the hardest from the pandemic. In today's episode, I chatted with a concierge friend of mine Klaus Heldt. Klaus is the Concierge Supervisor at the Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona. This hotel is stunning. And only 120 rooms, it was at one point one of the most expensive hotels in all of Spain.
As the pandemic hit, it took many by surprise.
"Friday, March 13th I worked. And by the end of the weekend, the hotel was closed and I was asked to not come back."
Measures were strict from the start. No one was allowed to leave their homes unless it was to go grocery shopping or go to a doctors visit. Fast forward a few months, it has become clear that those strict measures helped as the number sin Spain have dramatically gotten better.
Although the hotel was closed, and Klaus was instantly removed from a normal schedule, he chose to focus on things that he could focus on. He made a program for himself where he concentrated on things he always wanted to do, but never had time to do. From yoga to piano courses to learning German, he found it gave him structure.
In Spain, their unemployment is structure that they get paid 70% of their salary. The Mandarin made a generous move and added an additional 10% to his unemployment pay. So in total, different hospitality workers were compensated 80% of their salary (before tips).
The country has also chose to take their time in reopening. With Spanish borders opening at the end of June, and the rest of the country opening in phases, the Spanish government recognized that reopening should be done cautiously. Of course the Spanish people--just like in the US--are ready to move on and get back to life as usual.
Some hotels are starting to open back up, but as the Mandarin has such a huge international clientele, they do not plan to fully open until September or so. Prior to that they will open their terrace on July 15th. Of course, there is so much that is uncertain, that things may change.
With recovery of the industry taking all forms and durations, for those of us in the industry, we often ask, how can we stay relevant. Klaus shared a few pieces of advice:
We have to remember, in a large company, we are just a number." On one hand, decisions are not personal. But on another hand, this is a great time for reassessing how much one wants to keep their job. If you want to go back to work soon, you have to prove your value to your property. He suggested taking the initiative to research and learn while being away from the hotel. Once a hotel is ready to have employees back, the best way to provide value is to stay informed, solidify your contacts, and actively provide a sense of security for guests.
He believes local and leisure travelers will be the first to lead the way in travel recovery--a sentiment shared by many others. This will also be a great way residents to experience local attractions they might not have ever taken the time to do.
But at the end of the day, we all are taking our time to Say YES to Travel as we will all be looking for experiences to continue enriching our lives.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-klaus-heldt-alonso-92b86470/
https://www.instagram.com/klausconcierge/
https://www.instagram.com/mo_barcelona/
https://www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona/passeig-de-gracia/luxury-hotel
Holly Stiel is a Concierge legend in both the United States as well as Internationally. A speaker, author, hospitality consultant, and service educator, Holly truly embodies the spirit of service. even the name of her company says it all--Thank You Very Much Inc. As she has always said, she is in the Thank You business.
Being the first female Les Clefs d'Or Concierge, and mind you, not that long ago, Holly so graciously explain: "It wasn't about being the first female. For me, it was about being passionate about my career. The fact that I was the first female was just a bi-product of being at the right place at the right time."
A true leader, Holly shared some interest insight on how the travel industry has changed over the years. Using the concierge as an example, it was about connection and access in the past. Now, as there is an abundance of information, it has now become curating special access. The change has been from information to experiences and curating information and special, unique, bragging rights things Ease, Access and Recognition.
"I think the essence has changed to Safety with Trust from Fun and Leisure." With the pandemic, the new currency of luxury travel is "safety" and trust.
During this time where we have been given a chance to "pause," Holly advised to really tap into our emotional intelligence and being conscious of everyone's circumstances. "We are all in the same storm, but we aren't all in the same boat."
She also suggests taking advantage of this time and making a point to be present. This is a time to surrender as we have never experienced anything like this before.
As the industry moves forward, Holly explained that hotels really need to think about how to provide "thoughtful" experiences. More than just paying attention to our guests, hotels should focus on their employees as well.
The key to not being replaced is by doing things that a robot can't do. A great concierge is all about relationships and human connections.
Although there is no definitive answer to what the future holds, she believes that younger people will lead the way and roadtrips will be all interesting.
"Again, we are guessing but first is the reluctant business traveller and then the super wealthy who can fly private. I think travel will change significantly and be like what it was in the 50’s a treat and for the rich."
Advice or thoughts on the travel recovery process:
"I have hopes about having a reciprocal relationship with Service Providers and Customers now that we have seen their value. It also depends on the demographic. People over 65 are pretty much staying put and playing it safe. Younger people will be happier to risk. It is about the belief system. There are people who think it is a hoax and many are not interested in complying."
Even though there is no definitive route to recovery, Holly knows that travel will make a comeback. The whole point is to just surrender to the process.
For more details on how to work with Holly Stiel and on her new course, Holly Now, visit her website.
https://www.thankyouverymuchinc.com/
https://www.hollynow.com/
As Americans, we only hear limited information on how the pandemic is affecting the rest of the world. We see numbers in the news. And some places don't even appear in the news all that much--Russia, for example.
"What has been so interesting about the pandemic is that has removed us from our borders."
Anna Endrihovskaia, a Les Clefs d'Or Concierge and Chef Concierge at the Moss Hotel in Moscow, shared on our recent talk. And she is right.
A long time friend through my concierge network, I was really eager to speak with Anna about her experience through the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly enough, there were parts of it that were very similar to our experience here in the United States. For one, as soon as the pandemic hit, the stores were all out of toilet paper.
More than that, as the Pandemic took over Russia, their "lockdown" seemed to happen overnight--around March 28th. The rules were far more strict than in the United States. They were only allowed to leave their homes twice within a week and had to fill out a form for a pass.
Times have been tough. A consummate professional, Anna always held an optimistic viewpoint. She used this time to spend with her family, but also shift into a more structured way of living.
All too often, hospitality professionals live a life based off of requests. Guest requests guide the day. Now, at a time when there are no guests, Ann learned to shift to a schedule that she made.
And in that she found appreciation for this "pause." Although, on the day of this interview, it was her first day back at her hotel. Unique to hear situation is that she is coming to work and not getting paid currently. In her case, she will have to work until her hotel starts generating money again to then pay her. They've chosen to pay certain employees, and managers are taking a pause from making money. It truly shows that hospitality runs in her soul.
The Moss Hotel in Moscow is Russia's first boutique hotel. Being a boutique hotel they have really been able to make some bold and unique choices, from their decor to their guest programming. And guests have really enjoyed it. One of their most recent endeavors has been creating short videos cooking with the chefs as well as sharing a brief history of boutique hotels while weaving in the Moss Hotel story.
Her advice to concierge and hospitality professionals during this time: take ownership of your hotel and get creative when it comes to designing new experiences.
Now is such a time for hotels to think outside of the box, and those that are doing so will come out of this pandemic as real winners. Of course, there will be no replacement for human connection. That above all will trump everything--even if we just have to get creative in how we make those connections.
https://www.mosshotel.ru/en/
https://www.instagram.com/aendrihovskaia/
https://www.instagram.com/mosshotel.moscow/
Over the next few weeks on Say Yes To Travel, I will be interviewing a series of concierge from around the world. The goal is to shed some light on what travel recovery is looking like from an operations standpoint and from those individuals on the ground.
Don Mooney is the Head Concierge at the Fairmont Banff. More than that he is the President of Les CLefs d’Or Canada. For those who are unfamiliar, Les Clefs d’Or is the elite organization of hotel concierge. You know them when you stay at a hotel and they have golden keys on their lapels. I too am part of this organization.
Don’s hotel is truly a castle. I had the chance to go last year and it was incredible. They have been closed for the last few months and have only just reopened at the beginning of June. Imagine, normally a team of 30 concierge, Don is the ONLY concierge working now.
Of course, with doors opening they are starting to see leisure travelers come back. In this interview we talk about what the experience has been like during the off time and what it is like moving forward.
A true leader, Don mentioned that this “off” time was a great time to stay connected and stay supported. The concierge community is so passionate and proactive, that it has been so exciting to see a group of individuals stay so committed to their profession, especially when there is so much uncertainty around returning.
We touch on mental health as well, as these certainly are trying times. All too often in the hotel industry we gloss over mental health, but the issue is a big one–and one that Don has taken a point to always address. From guests to service workers, mental health is real and shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially now, many are struggling being home, some are devastated by not having work, and others are challenged with being alone. All are valid.
As for the experience in hotels now, Don shared what the new experience is like at the Fairmont Banff. From a near touchless check-in to no a valet, certain parts of the hotel are closed off and the restaurants are limited. Most guests seem to understand. A true spa destination, they are awaiting when they are able to offer those services again.
Of course, all of this is temporary, but it is interesting to hear from the ones on the ground. Hopefully once boarders between the US and Canada open again, you all can experience the incredible destination of the Fairmont Banff. And if you do, definitely say hi to Don Mooney.
Dining Out is such an important part of tourism and it would be remiss of me to not cover it. After all, restaurant recommendations are a concierge’s number 1 request.
Although many details are still being sorted out, ultimately, when it comes to dining, restaurants and guests are going to have to use their noodle—but maybe not figuratively as they did in this café in Germany.
Here are five ways that the restaurant experience will change… even if just in the short term.
Less Tables and More PatiosIn compliance with social distancing, restaurants will have to reduce their capacity by 50% or so, much of this by removing and rearranging their dining tables. In cases where they can, restaurants will also rely on their patio spaces or even look to building out patio space to expand both capacity and offerings.
Take-Out WindowsAs many diners have gotten used to eating at home, takeout and delivery will become a larger part of the dining-out experience. Eateries will need to consistently deliver high quality takeout orders by updating their menus with dishes that travel well. This will be a shift for higher end restaurants, but as we have already seen with restaurants that remained open during lockdown, there is a proven demand for this.
More Combo and Pre-Fixed OptionsWe have seen this even in the world of food delivery, restaurants were starting to offer more combos and in the case of higher end restaurants, pre-fixe dining options on their menus. As restaurants open back up, there will be more of these offerings to target the budget conscious crowd.
Capping Large PartiesIn the short term, restaurants will not be able to accommodate dinner restaurants for large parties. It seems likely that they will need to pause on accepting reservations of parties of more than 6 people—not only due to space, but just in an effort to manage social distancing.
Reservations OnlyLong gone are the days of packed waiting areas for in-demand restaurants. Local hot spots will shift to being “reservations only” as a means to manage an even flow of diners throughout the evening. Restaurant goers will be encouraged to reach out to their favorite restaurants before just showing up once things reopen.
Well, those are five ways dining out will change moving forward.
So how do you see dining out changing? What will you miss most about eating in restaurants?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to share this video.
Until next time, see you then!
We have seen Delta, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Royal Caribbean, Four Seasons, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, Hyatt, Hilton, Best Western, Salamander Hotels and others share messages during the latest nationwide protests.
However, few are speaking out publicly, as CEOs of other major brands have chosen to address their companies internally.
I’ve had a few people ask me, “Why isn’t the travel industry doing more?”
Let’s look at the travel industry. It’s an industry trying to keep from drowning.
The U.S. travel industry is bogged down in its own business survival at the moment. With thousands of restaurants and hotels shuttered and airlines grounded, many of which may never reopen or fly commercially again, these businesses are occupied with figuring out how to keep paying bills.
We certainly can’t ask for money. Many are on the verge of bankruptcy and need that money for employees. But we could ask for them to pledge to hire more people of color moving forward and to promote more people of color from within.
Do they feel like their hands are tied? With big government bailouts, are big gestures too polarizing for an industry that needs all the customers it can get? I am not saying this is right, but I am exploring the possibilities.
So maybe it is not what the travel industry can do for the movement (though it can and will do more), but how we can USE the travel industry for the movement?
I come back to the purpose of travel. Why do we travel, and what can we learn from it? Travel is a means of breaking down walls and barriers.
A Skift article recently addressed this, and it is worthy of sharing:
“After all, the travel industry — in theory —should be built on inclusivity, because the foundation of travel is discovery, meeting and doing business with people from different cultures, races, ethnic groups, genders, and viewpoints, and breaking down barriers. Whether it is travel agents, flight attendants or hoteliers, travel staff should be almost inherently progressive if they believe in their companies’ missions, right?”
This is not to say that the travel industry is perfect.
“Even among some of the prominent companies that ‘talk the talk’ about diversity and inclusion, board membership tends to be majority white men, and too often, the old boys’ network is still running the show behind the scenes.
Let’s face it, too: With leisure and hospitality unemployment officially running close to 40% in the U.S., COVID-19 has wiped out diversity as a priority almost across the board. It’s often the way things go in business — last hired, first fired. Women and minorities in the travel industry find themselves disproportionately represented on socially distant or virtual unemployment lines these days.”
THE TAKEAWAY:
Don’t be too quick to judge the travel industry. And don’t get me wrong, there are so many part of the industry that need to be fixed, and from the top down. The travel industry has been knocked to the ground with the whole pandemic—before we kick them while they are down, let us see how they rise and address the elephant in the room.
This is not to give an excuse, but to look at the bigger picture as a whole. I expect some big announcements to come.
The travel industry needs to step up to support and nurture the forces of change — and it would be much better off for doing so.
All I can say is let’s see what they do and say and let’s continue to travel ourselves to open our minds, not only for ourselves but to the people we encounter.
Continue to say YES to travel, because that is the best way to move forward.
This week on Say Yes To Travel, Sarah Dandashy gives her tips for travel NOW as well as Post-Pandemic. When sharing these tips, it became really obvious, that the tips that apply to travel now are really best practices that you can apply moving forward.
Stay InformedDo not panic. Stay informed and be smart. Listen to the suggested precautions: wash hands frequently, avoid touching your face, reduce going to places with large crowds and practice social distancing. Assess your health honestly. Also, stay on top of new developments as this situation is VERY fluid.
And with this, consider the whole travel ecosystem. Travel is more than just planes and hotels, it is about the destination as well.
Best Way to Increase Your Chances of a RefundBe specific with WHY you are cancelling. Everything is on a case by case basis right now. If you are cancelling because you are sick or you have a pre-existing health condition that puts you at high risk, let the company know. You will likely have to prove it with a doctor’s note, but companies are making exceptions for these cases. If you are just cancelling because an event got cancelled, you might be out of luck. Regardless, most companies are trying their best to work with everyone, given the circumstances.
Consider Postponing Instead of CancellingEspecially if you are having a hard time getting a refund–get credit where you can and plan something later. There is no point in trying to push through and travel now. With so many attractions and activities closed, it is likely your destination will not be fully operational. Do you really want to go to a destination where everything is closed?
And don’t know when? Err on the side of safety and push it to early 2021.
Wait to BookHave something you really want to book for? Aim to travel later–and by later, I mean much later– this year. The impact this is having on the travel industry is huge. I say focus on immediate needs, and then look to book closer to the date. Or snag a super cheap rate if you see one now–just triple check the cancellation policies.
Consider a Staycation or a Road TripPlay up the staycation! Go to a fun hotel in your city, or drive to a nearby destination and escape for the weekend. This is a great way to scratch that travel itch while dipping your toes back into the travel waters. Check out local hotels, many are offering discounts.
Book Direct with Hotels and Airlines to Minimize Cancellation FeesHopefully you haven’t had to learn this the hard way, but if there is one tip you HAVE to take away from today, it is BOOK direct. Third parties usually add fees and extra red tape that no one needs if you are trying to change or cancel a flight.
Communication is KeyThis applies to so many parts of travel, but it is so important. For example, uncertain about safety precautions where you will be staying? Check out the hotel’s website. Many are sharing what they are doing in regards to cleaning.
Call and Speak with someone at the hotel. Don’t just rely on notes made if/when you book online. State your preferences, allergies, sensitivity to chemicals ahead of time as there might less flexibility in moving rooms. There is more thought going into the preparation of your room. Might not be easy so change rooms. So be patient!
You also want to find out more about the destination. What are you planning to do while you are there? Contact the concierge at the property to get an idea on what might be open, from restaurants to activities. This way you can work together with a local.
Well those are a few travel tips for now and post-pandemic–but as I mentioned before, these are really great all around.
I personally love studying numbers and trends. And right now with the travel industry being so bleak, it is a hard time. Which is why I’ve chosen to dive in deep into studying trends and looking at stats and facts. It’s in these figures that I really think we can have a better understanding of the future.
That being said, the two key components to travel recovery will be heavily reliant on “young” travelers (aka millennials and Gen Z) as well as domestic travel. Interestingly enough, the two do overlap, but they are significant enough that they need to be examined on their own.
So let’s go ahead and break down some interesting numbers shared this past week.
The Youth Will Lead the Travel ReboundAccording to Trip.com, travelers born after 1990 accounted for more than half of the total bookings during the recent May Day break in China. Indicating that the industry as a whole should look towards millennials and Gen Z travelers to be the first to travel after the pandemic.
The Timeline for Air TravelThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that domestic air travel will return to 2019 levels by 2022. International long-haul travel on the other hand is not expected to match 2019 traffic until 2024.
I found this really interesting:
Last Monday, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson shared some interesting insights shared by travel analyst and executives—European Hotels might be among the last to recover. Understanding that domestic and drive-to destinations will rebound first, those destinations that rely heavily on air travel will simply not have the traffic. China and the U.S. will recover sooner as they have a stronger domestic traveler base than European countries. The exception being Germany. Germany only relies on 18% of it’s tourism to come from International Countries. And if we are to see similar rebounding patterns to what we saw with the recent Labor Day holiday in China, the strong domestic travel base is likely a benefit for German hotels, which are expected to begin reopening to tourists later this month.
46% of tourism to Paris and Istanbul, stems from long-haul travel, the highest percentage of any European cities in the Tourism Economics data. For Lisbon it is 44 %, Rome is 43%, and Barcelona and Madrid get 40% of their tourism from longer, international flights. On the other side of the spectrum, and why I brought up Germany, is that Berlin is the only German city came up in the top 15 European cities for international travel. Berlin gets only 21 % of it’s tourism from long-haul traffic.
That’s it’s for today’s dive into travel industry numbers. I hope you learned something new, or were inspired to think about the travel industry recovery in a different way.
So often we hear about the travel industry from corporate executives and analysts, but it is important to hear the story of those working on the “front lines” of the travel industry. Today we sat down with April Blackwell, an Assistant Front Office at a a top hotel in Los Angeles, who shared some insights on what it was like to work in an operational position in a hotel while the pandemic brought the travel world to a screeching halt.
“At first, I didn’t think it was that serious… but then as more people were getting the virus… I started to panic because our occupancy was about 3%… at then at some point I thought, I don’t think we should be open. I don’t feel safe anymore.”
April’s story is not unlike many people who work in hotels and even airlines. The pandemic was thrust upon us, and as the world tried to figure out the severity of the virus, many hospitality workers continued to go to work. Until the very last minute, people like April had to go to work and risk coming into contact with the virus. It was certainly a very challenging time.
Coming out of this, April figured that Los Angeles might not open back up until August. This interview happened in the last week of March, and just now in the middle of May, Los Angeles has just announced extending Stay At Home orders until the end of July.
There is no question the severity of COVID-19, and although we are well into two months of shut down, we still are cautious about what the future holds.
The Biggest Life Lesson From the Pandemic:Make sure you save your money as you never know when something like this will happen.
April was also one of the first wave of people in Los Angeles to take a corona virus test. It proved to be challenging because at the beginning, tests were not readily available. But it was about taking ownership of the fact that she worked at a hotel and around people–so she knew she needed to be responsible and get checked. Once she found out that she was not positive, it was naturally a big relief.
April, like many other travel lovers, is looking forward to stay at hotels in the future. Yes the experience might change, and cleanliness is of the utmost importance, but for her, she travel is about the experience.
That being said, that is a big part of what we are looking for in the future–the experience of travel. As we all know it will change, but we will be able to explore the world again… it just might take some time.
If you want to find out more about April Blackwell, find her online at:
Instagram @april_is_b.well.mgmt
Sitting down with 15-year cancer survivor and author, Sara Quiriconi, share shares with us the importance of health. An avid traveler as well, Sara has mastered the art of keeping health and wellness a priority while traveling. Now more than ever her advice is resonating with those look to make the shift to a healthier lifestyle as the pandemic has many questioning their own health.
Of course, we all love to travel, but now is simply not the time for it. Yet, it is a really great time to “child’s pose” and reset. This is a time where we are shifting schedules, priorities, and rediscovering the gift of time. And in this time, hopefully we can explore making better health decisions.
People take their health for granted when they are traveling, sacrificing quick and easy over healthy–and that is not always the best choice.
So often we tend to think about what we can’t have. But with a mental shift, she encourages people to think about what they can gain. Of course, this is not to say that times are tough and difficult, but a mindset shift is so important. And the silver lining, we are in this together.
As an industry, it will take a solid year or more to get back to where it was. And of course, we are all panicking. The underlining sentiment is: When you focus on what you CAN control, you feel empowered.
Travel is not going to go back to being the same. This is a wake-up call that we need to start implementing healthier travel habits and for businesses to take ownership and duty of care for their employees. Companies will have to be more mindful of sending their employees on business trips after the pandemic. The change will be slow coming out of it, but ultimately, it will change for the better.
She also shares that this might even inspire airlines to look at their offerings in a different way. Of course, there will be a high focus on cleaning standards, but what about snacks and in-flight offerings. With a whole shift towards health, she hopes that airlines will make better decisions on behalf of their passengers.
Healthy Travel is so much more than free yoga classes. From to snacks offered in the lobby, room services menus, dining options, there is so much opportunity for hotels to make change. And we think travelers will be there to embrace it.
All in all, she believes that travelers will be expecting healthier options. Only time will tell if the industry step up to the plate.
This pandemic has only proven how connected the world is. Each of our decisions can and does have an impact on others–even if it is halfway around the world.
More about SaraEveryone loves the story of a survivor but the road to becoming one requires the curiosity, strength and courage of a warrior.
“Living Cancer Free” is an auto-biographical story by 15-year cancer survivor, Sara Quiriconi, Live Free Warrior. Self-proclaimed the modern day Holden Caulfield with a cancer twist, Quiriconi cites her history and real-life “cancerous” struggles with anorexia, bulimia, alcohol addiction, lymphoma cancer, divorce, PTSD, unfulfilling jobs, and more. This true story is not just for someone experiencing an actual diagnosis, but rather anyone seeking the light within their own darkness, or “cancers”.
Be sure to find her online:
https://www.instagram.com/livefreewarrior/
https://saraquiriconi.com/.
Alex Bittner is a certified Physician’s Assistant and the President & Assistant Medical Director of AM~PM DOC. He has worked with clients from all over the world in numerous hotels as an on-call house doctor. They have been offering five star medical service for years, working with the top hotels as well as high-profile patients.
As the pandemic started and travel restrictions started falling into place, it was pretty clear that the United States was going to be hit pretty hard. Hindsight is always 20/20. Could we have locked down earlier? Sure? But we have never been in this situation before. Instead of focusing on what we could have done better or faster, it is important to focus what we can do now.
Businesses being closed and travel restrictions are not an over-reaction. It is appropriate. Again, this is a situation that we have never been in before, so it is paramount that we are cautious and following the guidelines of the WHO, CDC, and the government. How long it will take to “flatten the curve” depends on so many factors, but it is important to follow Stay At Home orders to help alleviate the medical system, minimize exposure, and ultimately passing on the virus.
Interestingly enough, when we think about the medical industry, many of us assume it is insanely busy everywhere. But that is not the case. ER volume is down in smaller markets, like in Cleveland. People are scared to seek medical attention for things that are not coronavirus-related. So the medical system is in an interesting place right now. It is operating at max capacity in hotspots like New York City, but in other cities, not as much.
Ultimately, there is no vaccine yet, and that is where we stand. Or course, there has been talk about different medications, such as the famed Malaria drug. But it is always important to remember that with every medication, there are side effects. Prescribing any sort of medication must be carefully weighed. Currently this Malaria drug is not a sure thing, as testing is still underway.
There have been so many misconceptions regarding the virus. From age to chronic health conditions, there hasn’t been one factor that guarantees you will be sick. As our understanding of this disease has changed, and continues to change, we have to remember that no one is immune to it. On the other side of things, we have to remember that is not an automatic death sentence if you get it. We have to keep things in perspective.
Alex left us with some great advice:
Remember, the best thing is to avoid contact with other people. Be aware of what you are touching, from items to your face. Wash your hands often. And use common sense. It is OK (even encouraged) to be outside to get fresh air and to work out, just be mindful of being around others.
For more info on Alex and his company, check out:
888 AM~PM DOC~ Toll Free Emergency Hotline
www.ampmdoc.com
https://www.instagram.com/dabittnah/.
It’s no question that the airline industry has been hit hard due to the corona virus pandemic. With the industry coming to a near standstill, what is it like for those still working? Host Sarah Dandashy got to chat with Captain Ryan Hunter, a pilot with United Airlines. Having been a pilot with the airlines for over 15 years, he knows all the ins and outs of the industry. He shared with us some insight on what it is like to work as a pilot right now.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. But we are going to get through it. I am just trying to remain positive and supportive of everyone in the travel industry right now.”
Airlines within the US are averaging passenger loads operating at 97% down. “On planes 1that can carry 150-190 seats, I’m seeing them only carry 1-30 people.” These numbers are staggering. Without a vaccine or an end in sight, it is really tough planning for the future.
“Being a Captain and being a leader, I have to promote positivity. We will bounce back stronger… This is a tough reality. There are so many people losing jobs. It’s about everybody. It’s hard for me to see.”
The biggest changes that he has seen are airports that are just empty. What used to be an exciting, bustling hub connecting people, airports are now ghost towns.
He hopes that by the summer, people will want to get back to “normal.” “I believe humans want to travel, they want to see, they want to make money.
As far as getting back to the numbers we were operating at before the pandemic, realistically it might take 18 to 24 months.
Naturally, there will be more regulations moving forward. What those actual changes will be has yet to be determined, but it is fair to hope that most people will be a little more mindful of their behaviors on plane.
This current periods feels more like a pause. It almost doesn’t seem real. But Captain Hunter remains a positive outlook. Hopefully with this time away from our normal routines, experiences will be a priority for travelers. “We will travel again.”
John Dekker is the one of the best Travel Agents I know. He’s been in the game for over 20 years with his company, but has worked for airlines, created model airplanes, and grew up with a father in the travel biz. He knows everything about travel!
With over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, he knows everything about the industry. John Dekker dives into the interview sharing tips that all travers can immediate use.
TRAVEL TIP: If you have a flight and need to cancel, wait. If you cancel now, you will get a credit for a future flight, but if you wait, the flight might get canceled. If an airline cancels a flight, you are due a 100 percent refund.
Another great way to get in touch with airlines when the phone lines have long waits is via social media. Twitter is a great way to get in touch with someone from an airline.
Travel Agents are the way to go when it comes to booking travel. OTAs (Online Travel Agents) are much trickier to get refunds and can often times charge additional change fees.
Dekker sees airline travel becoming more expensive in the future. There are great deals now, so if you can, take advantage. But as travel comes back, he sees airlines not coming back as quickly as the demand–thereby making airfare more expensive.
Dekker believes that domestic travel will come to a full stop. The hope is that we come out of this at the end of May, but this is still a big question. Domestically, travel will prove to be tricky as different parts of the country will be on different timelines in regards to the pandemic.
OTAs will suffer greatly from this pandemic, but he foresees more companies selling direct-to-consumers on discounted platforms.
Cruising is expected to bounce back as there are die-hard cruising fans that will not be deterred by the pandemic and the bad press the cruise industry has had.
Airbnb/VRBOs should do well coming out of the pandemic. There is a different mindset when it comes to staying at a home versus a hotel.
Ultimately, this pandemic will shake out the low hanging fruit of the travel industry. The businesses that were doing well before will continue to do well afterwards.
Find him online to book a fab trip at www.surfcitytravel.com
Or on instagram at @johndekkertravel.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, host Sarah Dandashy sat down with Chris Faver, an operations manager at a major airline based out of San Diego, to break down what they are seeing in the airline industry amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Numbers are down over 70%. This is a very eerie time, as the whole travel industry is coming to a complete stop. But what can we expect in the future? Higher cleaning standards, that’s for sure. In the meantime, if you have extra money, take advantage of cheap prices and flexible cancellation policies.
Faver predicts that it will take some time getting out of this and about 18 to 24 months to see numbers where they were before. People will either come out of this needing to travel or come out of this with a more cautious attitude. Ultimately, there is so much uncertainty, it is hard to pinpoint.
There could also be a shift in mindset when it comes to business travel, with more businesses potentially opting for virtual meetings.
Another big question is how the industry will return to normal on a global level, since all countries will come out of the pandemic on a different timeline.
With everything being cancelled, from big concerts to sporting events, there are few reasons to travel right now other than to visit family or if you are a medical professional looking to go to other markets to help.
Generally, airlines average $10-12 billion per month. So, with percentages dipping by as much as 80-90%, we can get a picture of the immense numbers we are dealing with.
Companies that hold off on laying off people will be in a better position when they come out of this, as they will still have employees to go back into work.
Look for record deals as we come out of this, but ultimately keep personal finances in mind, and expect business travel to come back first, then leisure travel.
A big thank you to Chris Faver. Find him online at https://www.instagram.com/chris.faver/.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, host Sarah Dandashy sat down with Calvin Tilokee, the Director of Revenue Management at a 5 star boutique hotel in New York City to discuss the current state of the hotel industry. Numbers are down everywhere, but major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have been hit particularly hard. With a good number of hotels opting to close, the few that remain open are seeing anywhere from 5-11% occupancies. These numbers are unprecedented! Some hotels have laid off their employees, others have been furloughed, and there are a few that are able to make sure with a bare minimum.
With no end of the Stay at Home mandate in sight, this is a scary time for hoteliers. What does the future hold? How will things change? What can we expect? Though there is some speculation on how this all will play out, with a long 18 month recovery, there is still much that is up in the air. Calvin shares his insights on what lessons we can learn from Covid-19.
The travel and tourism sector makes up 1/10th of the global job market. The hit is taking will inevitably have a huge economic impact that will take years to fully recover.
Regardless of when we are able to go back to work, this will be a slow climb back to the bustling travel world we once knew–anywhere from 18-24 months.
New protocols will likely develop from this, especially new cleaning requirements and possible hybrid roles to cut costs until occupancy comes back.
Business travelers will be the first to get back on the road and travel. Leisure travelers, influenced by financial struggles and COVID-19 wariness, will trickle back into the market.
It is safe to assume that domestic travel and roadtrips will be popular in the months after resolving the Pandemic.
On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, host Sarah Dandashy doesn’t want to just discuss the effects of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry; she wants to help give voices to other people in the industry.
The hospitality industry has become ravaged, coming to a complete standstill until the spread of the virus is contained. Airlines are operating at 30% of their capacity and many of the largest travel destinations in America such as New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas have closed their hotels and furloughed their employees.
How are we going to recover? What is the timeline? What can we expect? The big thing with all of this is the unknown. With unknown variables about the virus still in the air, when can we expect to go back to work and what will the long term ramifications of coronavirus be on every industry? Dandashy gives her perspective on how the industry should react and make it out the other side intact.
Spring break season is here. Say Yes to Travel’s expert host Sarah Dandashy shared what trends to expect for spring break 2020 as well as a few tips for enjoying spring break as a working adult.
Despite a climate of political and health-related fear globally, air travel rates are currently up for 2020. Dandashy said “people still want to escape winter into warm getaways.” Listing popular warm-weather destinations, Dandashy noted international locations like Mexico, The Bahamas, and Jamaica are favored this year.
“How much we see whether it’s in film or TV, it actually affects where we want to travel to,” Dandashy pointed out, especially referring to Jamaica as it is featured in an upcoming James Bond movie. Another “interesting choice people are making,” Dandashy said, is London and the United Kingdom.
As for domestic destinations for spring break travel, Orlando is the number one trend. People are “looking for theme park capital of the world,” Dandashy highlighted. Other popular domestic destinations include Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York City, Ft. Lauderdale, and more. Dandashy talked about her own great experiences traveling to Florida for spring break as a child.
“Take advantage of your spring break,” advised Dandashy, even offering the advice to “take a staycation,” to those who can’t travel far or for a lengthy time this year. The “notion of spring break shouldn’t die with getting out of school,” she also advised working professionals without children. Even if it’s just a long weekend, Dandashy said, there are “so many ways to travel and explore…it’s quite refreshing.”
For those looking for a luxury travel experience, what has changed over the past 5 to 10 years? Say Yes to Travel’s host and expert, Sarah Dandashy weighed in on what’s changed with luxury travel, and why the changes excite her.
“When thinking about luxury, especially luxury hospitality, a lot has changed,” said Dandashy. “It has changed immensely. And I think for the better. People are now looking for different things out of luxury travel.”
As to what specific things people are looking for, Dandashy mentioned the experiences people seek out are now geared towards meaning and uniqueness over luxury at any cost. Even the way people receive their experience is different, with technology playing a role in everything from how dinner reservations are made, to matching up a travel client’s preferences with new experiences. “There is always going to be an element of someone looking for that ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ travel experience,” Dandashy said, “But today, for most luxury travelers, it’s so much more than that. It’s about finding meaning in those experiences.”
Get more tips and great information from Sarah Dandashy by subscribing to the podcast and catch all of the episodes of Say Yes to Travel.
In this episode of Say Yes to Travel, Sarah Dandashy, Hospitality Concierge extraordinaire, discusses the rise of the ‘micro-cation’. A micro-cation is a term coined by Allianz Travel Insurance, and is defined as a leisure trip lasting fewer than 5 nights.
For over a decade, Allianz has compiled their Vacation Confidence Index, surveying travelers on their vacation plans and spending while monitoring consumer perspectives on emerging travel trends. The trends and statistics that surfaced for 2019 were quite surprising:
- 57% of Americans did not take a leisure trip longer than four nights in 2019.
- In fact, 72% of the Millennial, 69% of the Gen-Xer and 60% of the Baby Boomer generations took advantage of at least one micro-cation instead.
- Further, mini-vacations are rapidly replacing the traditional week-long vacations of the past, with almost 2 in 10 Americans (18%) stating that their longest trip in the last year was 3 to 4 nights, while 1 in 10 (11%) took trips that lasted no longer than 1 or 2 nights.
- With 25% of the general population and 29% of Millennials (1 in 3) saying that they took at least three micro-cations in the last year, micro-cations seem to be allowing Americans to travel more frequently.
A huge fan of combining business and leisure trips—BLeisure trips, as she calls them—Dandashy states, “What we’re basically seeing is people just aren’t taking advantage of their vacation time, and so they’re really looking to add on to weekends and to really kind of like increase these little vacations.” She goes on to say, “Personally, what I love about this is it allows you to explore more destinations. Instead of now choosing that one long week a year or, you know, a week and a half and then you decide to go to whatever city, now, you can have these mini-vacations, and next thing you know, you’ve gone to five different cities in a year. And maybe you use like the same vacation time, but you got to experience so much more.”
Hear Sarah Dandashy as she explains what drives longer vacations for the more seasoned generations, how micro-cations allow you to diversify your vacation eggs into several baskets, the untapped U.S. cities that lend themselves to micro-cations, and more by listening to the podcast.
This week, on “Say Yes to Travel,” host Sarah Dandashy shares about a recent Forbes article outlining 8 travel trends to expect in 2020. Working in the travel and hospitality industry, Dandashy shares her views as a professional as well as a traveler. Which travel trends will excite you most?
Among the trends discussed, a few are not surprising because they’ve been developing for the past couple of years. For example, “microcations,” which are now dubbed “tiny trips,” have been growing in popularity. They are expected to continue to rise as people squeeze travel in long weekends instead of taking a whole week off for vacation.
Other trends that are continuations of recent fads include vegan-friendly options and traveling with pets. Evidence of the pets trend can be seen as some hotel even adopt animals as their mascots to encourage visitors to bring their fluffy companions along.
New trends are also discussed. “Country coupling,” for instance, is a term for squeezing two trips into one. Travelers start their trips in one location and then move onto a second one nearby in order to gain multiple experiences conveniently. This is especially popular in Europe, where traveling from country to country is quick. In larger countries, like the United States, “country coupling” may involve visiting two states or cities in one trip.
The rise of train travel, new types of cruise experiences, and “Spartan travel” are also shared in this episode. Tune in to get the details of these trends and share your thoughts.
You can also listen to previous episodes of Say Yes To Travel here.
In this week’s episode of “Say Yes to Travel,” host Sarah Dandashy talks about the coronavirus and its staggering impact on travel. Viruses and infectious are nothing new, and we’ve seen before other illnesses impact tourism, including SARS.
However, coronavirus is somewhat unique. While it’s not been as deadly as SARS, it’s much more contagious and has spread rapidly in a short period of time from first recorded cases in Wuhan, China. Its quick expansion has put a damper on what was shaping up to be a huge travel year.
So, what should travelers know? First, there are some best practices you should always consider when traveling like proper handwashing, sanitizing common areas on airplanes, and covering your mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing. This behavior can keep you safe from all kinds of germs or from spreading them yourself.
If you have plans to travel to China or other parts of Asia, you will likely have to reschedule, as many airlines have grounded flights, and hotels are allowing customers to cancel without penalty. Having travel insurance for such this kind of emergency is never a bad idea.
With travel halted to and from China, the global travel economy is taking a huge hit. Chinese travelers represent the fourth largest market for outbound travel, spending $275 billion in 2019. That means that destinations across the world will see a hit to their bottom line.
The best-case scenario is that things are contained, and travel bans are lifted. Be sure to keep an eye on the news from the World Health Organization. Become part of the discussion by listening to the podcast and sharing feedback or stories about the virus’ impact on travel.
Welcome to the first episode of Say Yes to Travel, hosted by award-winning concierge and travel expert, Sarah Dandashy. Sarah will be exploring all things travel, including trends and what makes the industry tick. Today’s show focuses on tips to ensure you keep your 2020 travel resolutions.
Sarah shares that travel is on the uptick as people have begun to focus on experiences over things.
Here are her tips to make sure 2020 is a year of travel for you.
- Use your vacation days: Did you know that 55% of U.S. workers don’t use all their vacation days? Crazy, right. We often get caught up in the day to day and forget to take a break, but taking the time to relax, explore, and change your view can help you reset.
- Take micro-cations: Maybe you don’t have the time or money to travel across the world, but you can plan shorter trips to nearby cities and states. Make use of those long weekends where you already have a day off.
- Start to save: Cost is one of the biggest inhibitors to travel. Make a point to put aside a small amount regularly, and soon you’ll have the cash you need to say yes to travel.
- Use your points: There are so many great travel credit cards out there that can help you with flights and hotels. Don’t forget about your frequent flyer miles and free hotel nights, either.
- Travel solo: If finding the perfect travel companion is keeping you from seeing the world, do it on your own. Then it’s truly your vacation.
- Get help: If you aren’t sure where to go or how to get there, work with a travel agent. Their knowledge and expertise can assist you in making decisions.
- Book responsibly: Plan ahead and think about travel insurance to protect your trip in case something happens.
Get more tips and great information from Sarah by listening to the podcast and stay tuned for new episodes of Say Yes to Travel.