I have been a follower of SKIFT since I first heard about them in 2012. I was a fangirl and got to meet founder Rafat Ali early on at a China Tourism program held in Flushing NY. Once I even took gifts to their new offices in NYC a few years back – I think they were concerned I was a stalker. But I really like the way they take complex tourism topics and make it understandable to everyone. Their daily brief always has at least one piece of information I can tuck away for later reference.
They have grown in both size and stature and have held SKIFT Forums around the world. But their articles are still timely and relevant for small tourism businesses, smaller DMOS, and individual business owners like me. That’s why I always tell my clients to sign up for their free newsletter. And you should too.
One of the elements I enjoy most about SKIFT is how they imagine the future. They ask big questions so they can see the possibilities. That is especially important in times like this when there is no real road map for recovery and none of us have been through the type of future we are looking at. Their tagline: Defining the Future of Travel helps them ask the big questions. And that’s where we come in.
The Coming Future of Travel, in 100 Questions.
Skift released this post: The coming Future of Travel in 100 questions, and asked many of the questions that I think we have all been thinking.
You work in the industry every day ( or you did until recently). Your on the ground first-hand knowledge and insight is valuable. You are someone that deals with customers directly every day. Some of you work with consumers, and some of you work with tour operators and other business owners. Either way, you have the information we need.
And here’s where all of you come in: we are going to help Skift by giving our insights into their questions.
They have broken their 100+ questions into categories. Some questions might be ones you have had as well I have chosen a few questions from each category but feel free to check out all the questions and choose the ones you are most passionate about.
Big Policy Questions
1. Travel is the most consequential sector in the world, as we learned by the complete stoppage of travel over the last few months. Does it finally register to the rest of the world after, or does it become more inconsequential because people realize how they can do without it?
2. What shape will the travel economy recovery take? Will it lead or lag the general economy rebound?
Policy & Seamless Travel Questions
27. Will industry associations see a resurgence in membership and fees because companies that are members of it see the value on lobbying with government and policymakers?
28. Will travel and tourism finally make it as policy issue and agendas of political candidates during elections around the world?
Airlines & Airports
29. How does the check-in process at airports, hotels, cruises, theme parks or any other attractions in travel change? Will it change for the worse or for better?
30. How do airlines that have restricted and constricted space for economy travelers over the years change as the need for social distancing continues for a while to come?
Hotels/Accommodations Questions
42.Will a certification for the cleanliness of a hotel catch on?
43. Do mobile keys finally become a reality at hotels?
44. Does hotel F&B make a comeback as people want to stay on premises?
Tourism And Destinations Questions
56. Does even domestic travel within countries get more limited as states or provinces put up more barriers to those outside its jurisdictions?
57. Do remote and rural locations get overwhelmed as that’s the only place people want to travel from here on for a while to come?
61. Will Chinese travelers remain the global force that they had become? Or do they become even more important?
Travel Agents/Tour Operators/Booking Questions
81. Does this change travel insurance forever, with clarity instead of lots of terms and conditions? Will travel insurance (and travel booking financial protection services) flourish?
82. Will the travel booking windows shrink, as we have seen early evidence in China and will this be a long term shift in behavior?
83. Will packaged travel make a come back as people want more self-contained holidays? Will all-in inclusive resorts see a resurgence for the same reason?
Meetings & Events Questions
90. The era of giant conventions with acres and acres of land over forever? What will virtual look like for these conventions and trade shows?
91. What does a hybrid physical and digital conference or event look like and how do you make it interesting for everyone involved?
92. What will be the role of Convention and Visitor Bureaus going ahead in a virtual or hybrid events world?
Now its time for Your Homework
There are other categories and questions you can check out here.
Your homework is to pick between 3-5 questions and noodle on them for a bit today. Then send your answers (along with the question numbers for easy reference) to 100questions@skift.com and CC me ( sally@sallydavisberry.com). All of us need to provide input for our industry recovery. Let’s use this time constructively to imagine our future!
How can I help you this month?
Have you checked out Tourism Pro Academy? There are free resources, online courses and more. Take some time to learn something new during our National “Pause”. I am adding new courses this month so check it out! Click here to access the site for free.
DMO’s – Are you looking for ways to provide some value to your members during this time? Would you like to offer a live webinar “Continue your Career from Your Couch” that I will host? Join organizations such as SYTA, Circle Michigan, Pennsylvania Bus Association, and Visit Baton Rouge who have hired me this year to educate and inform their members. Click here for additional information on the Online Tourism Training Program.
New! Profile Sheet 911.
We know that your profile sheet is your sales ambassador in the Group Tour market. Is yours doing it all it should? Is it effective in answering tour operator questions and making your business sound appealing? Get ready now for when group tours start picking back up. Get ready now for the upcoming trade show season! Sign up for the new Profile sheet 911 program. For only $69 you will get a customized review that is also recorded. Click here for more details. This will be fun!
My friend Jonathan Elkboubi has teamed up with some other Tourism Pros and created HTTA and asked me to share:
If you have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed and furloughed of the US Hospitality, Travel, Tourism and Activities Industries, we invite you to register now at www.HTTA.us. HTTA is a benevolent, confidential and secured database meant to allow you to remain connected to the Trade Associations and DMOs you were involved with, which are unaware of your current work status. We will be adding new functionalities to benefit you once recovery starts, such as industry job boards, a continuing education resource center, and a recovery information repository.
Can I ask a favor? Could you share this post with at least 2 of your colleagues who would benefit from reading it? And then they can sign up here to receive my posts directly to their inbox. Thank you!
2. Tourism will rebound faster. People are used to traveling and aside from business travel, most consider it a luxury to visit other places, or visit family.
29. Check- in processes for all may include a temperature/health check until a vaccine is available. This could make for long lines!
30. Airlines will have to reduce capacity to allow space around pax. Reduced loads will increase fares.
42. You betcha, cleanliness certifications will be proudly announced in hotel advertising
Joanie – thanks for taking the time to respond. As a tour operator, you know first hand what changes will need to happen to make your customers confident to travel again.