Welcome to 2021! Which at this point is just a continuation of 2020. I don’t need to remind you of all the challenges we face, and that our beloved Tourism industry has been hit harder than most. But tough times don’t last; tough people do. And you are tough and ready to tackle whatever we are facing.
Yearly Trends Report
Every year I create a Trends article and share it with my readers. ( If you want to check out past years, they are located in the Free Resources area of my Tourism Pro Academy.) I will be honest, 2021 seems to be a thick fog. It might be great on the other side, or it might be challenging for a longer time than we ever thought possible. But I have seen some trends that I think will impact our industry long term.
Over the next few weeks, I will talk about each trend a bit more in-depth. I will share some articles and links that back up my thoughts. But I would love to hear from you as well! Click on this link for a short survey on what you see as trends. I will share those as well. None of us can know as much of all of us.
Dog Adoptions
This trend started as the pandemic began, and it makes sense. We were all stuck at home, and in need of a diversion. What better answer than a new dog! Puppy and Dog adoptions rose around the U.S. Shelters were emptying out for the first time and breeders had waiting lists for puppies. People who had never had time for dogs before suddenly had all kinds of time. Sales of pet toys and accessories have gone through the roof.
How does that impact Tourism you might wonder? Well, when people are ready to travel again, many of them now have a new family member to consider. They will have to add in the costs of boarding or a pet sitter. ( For the record, pet sitting is a great side hustle, according to this article!). Any of you who have boarded dogs know that it can be expensive. Will that cause people to cancel a vacation? Doubtful.
Traveling with your Pet
But I also think a lot of travelers will now want to travel with their dogs. So that brings me to how this trend impacts us. We should all be thinking of ways to accommodate pet families. Sure, there are plenty of hotels that are pet friendly, as well as campgrounds and Airbnbs. Could lodging businesses take it up a notch and add pet treats and other amenities?
When I worked at a museum, we often had families that wanted to bring in their dogs. We only allowed service dogs so many families had a dilemma. Leave their pet in the car (bad idea), or have a family member sit with the pet and miss the experience. So for attractions, restaurants, and other non-pet friendly businesses, I would suggest creating a list of Doggy Day Cares, or local professional pet walkers. Your Chamber of Commerce might be able to help with this. And be proactive by listing this information on your website so people can make plans in advance.
Destinations- this would be a great service for you to provide to your members. A list of businesses that can take pets temporarily will allow your partners to get more visitors through their doors.
Retail ideas for Pets
Did you know Americans spend over $95 Billion on their pets every year? Crazy, I know. But you can capitalize on this by offering some pet-friendly items in your retail spaces. Just like grandparents like to bring home gifts for the grandkids, pet parents like to bring home presents for their fur babies!
Trend links
Pet Products sales ‘Boom’ during Covid
Dog Adoptions Soar During the Pandemic
America’s Pet Spending reaches Record high
What Tourism Trends are you seeing? Click here to let me know!
How Can I help you in January 2021?
DMOs/Tourism Organizations:
Are you looking for a way to provide value to your partners during this challenging time? Check out the Online Tourism Training Program with this link. I can help you provide monthly virtual training for you to offer to your partners/members.
Here’s a testimonial from Janet Kasic, Director of Circle Michigan: My company, Circle Michigan, recently contracted with Sally Davis Berry for her Online Tourism Training Program. I am grateful to have been able to offer these educational webinars to our membership. We had phenomenal feedback to the three webinars we participated in. And Sally made it so EASY!
My team will take care of registration, reminders, and even a post-webinar survey! Let me know what topics your partners need help with and we will develop impactful training. I am booked through the end of February but am booking new clients starting in March 2021. Prices start at just $995 for each training. Click here to email me and we can set up a time to talk!
Looking to increase your Tourism knowledge and skills?
Then check out Tourism Pro Academy. I created this platform in 2019 as a one-stop-shop for Tourism Professionals like you! You can check out free resources, courses, and other ways to work with me. I am adding new offerings this month. Click here to see what’s available.
Can I ask a Favor?
I am a goal setter and I want to have 2000+ readers this year! Can you forward this email to two other tourism professionals you know? If you work at a DMO or Tourism Organization, I would love it if you would encourage your partners to sign up to receive my weekly posts. Thank you! Just click here to be added to the mailing list.