New Hotel key systems
The Future of Travel
As temperatures rise and summer fast approaches, Americans are beginning to look for travel options. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, Montanans, especially, are looking to escape to a much-needed vacation after a long quarantine. Unfortunately, the CDC is still discouraging all unessential travel. That does not mean that U.S. citizens cannot travel abroad. However, many nations have specific varying entry and exit requirements, not to mention getting there by sea or via the friendly skies will be wildly different than before!
Major airlines have drafted new policies amidst the Coronavirus. The most vital and controversial change is the enforcement of face-covering on board. Airlines such as American, United, Delta, Alaska, Southwest, JetBlue Airways, and Hawaiian require passengers to wear masks that cover their nose and mouth. Failure to comply will result in an incident report being filed and subsequently placed on a no-fly list for an amount of time to be determined. Other airlines such as Delta have rolled out new measures; they call the Delta Care Standard. This program strongly suggests downloading the airline app to upload your digital boarding pass to reduce touchpoints at the airport. They will also require passengers to scan their pass upon boarding and at the TSA pre-check.
The check-in process includes floor decals on the floor in the line area to ensure social distancing and plexiglass barriers on the counters separating the passengers from the airline personnel. Stringent cleaning measures will be regularly enforced, including sanitizing surfaces frequently on the aircraft and all of the boarding, waiting, and check-in areas. One of the most unique updates is using an electrostatic sprayer to sanitize the plane before every single flight! The sprayer utilizes a specialized solution that is combined with air and thus converted into very fine droplets that are spread throughout the inside cabin. Likewise, teams will follow up, wiping down and sanitizing heavy touched surfaces before each flight. Passengers will also be required to sanitize hands upon boarding. Another interesting feature is that according to their website, Delta claims that their air is refreshed 10-30 times per hour by way of extracting outside air and filtering it through high-grade HEPA filters. Currently, Delta, like other major airlines, are booking 50% capacity in first-class seating and 60% capacity in the main cabin, where middle seats are blocked. The only exception being groups or families that choose to sit together. In-flight snacks come in pre-packaged bags, and provided flight reading material will not be available to reduce contact. Many airlines are effecting similar protocols in sanitation and distancing. Emirates airlines are the first airline to conduct onsite Covid-19 testing. The blood test conducted by the Dubai Health Authority is said to be quick with results in about 10 minutes.
Hotels and resorts are implementing similar cleaning and distancing procedures. American hotels are currently averaging at about 40% capacity. On top of that, they now have to deal with newly created protocols by both the American Hotel and Lodging Association, as well as the World Travel & Tourism Council. Key guidelines include limiting contact at check-in, payment, and room service. Like the airline business, hotels are going to great lengths to educate their staff and enforce strict disinfecting measures. Marriott chain hotels are adopting the electrostatic sprayer used by Delta to sanitize rooms. Another big chain hotelier, the Hilton brand, introduced the Hilton Clean Stay experience this month. In partnership with the makers of Lysol and the Mayo Clinic, this chain of hotels promises to thoroughly sanitize and disinfect all high touch areas such as tv remotes, menus, door handles, and light switches. They will also provide a seal on the outside door alerting the traveler that their room has been thoroughly sanitized. Some of the more popular All-Inclusive resorts in Mexico that are due to open later this month and at the beginning of July have expressed efforts to create safe spaces for their future guests. They have shared some of the changes that will take place upon reopening, some of which include public areas such as pools, bars, and dining rooms opening to a mere 50% capacity, to-go meal options will replace buffets and room service will be left outside the room.
The branch of travel that has been hit the hardest is the cruise industry. In March, the CDC issued the first no-sail order for ships sailing in U.S. waters. According to Royal Caribbean, their earliest sailing in China will resume in July, and Canadian itineraries are said to continue in November. All other sailings have been canceled until further notice. However, this ban of large ships has created a temporary market for small ships to travel to Alaska as early as July and through the Alaskan season clear to September. This is an unprecedented time to experience the wilds of Alaska without the huge crowds at the ports of call! American Cruise Lines commenced their sailings last month and have also put into effect comprehensive guidelines for enhanced cleaning efforts, including sanitizing luggage, an hourly schedule of sanitation rounds of public highly touched surfaces and a simultaneous list for distancing and avoiding contact, such as replacing buffets with individual meals and keeping hors d'oeuvres and cocktails behind a transmission barrier. Also, all sailings will include a brief medical screening, and all passengers with flu-like symptoms will not be allowed on board.
The theme parks will be opening soon! Disneyland theme park announced it would reopen its gates on July 17. According to their official website, in addition to similar sanitation protocols seen in the hotel and airline industry, guests can expect to see fewer people inside the park. It will be open to half-capacity, and they can expect to undergo a temperature screening upon entering the parks and the surrounding Downtown Disney District. They will have a mandatory face mask rule and are strongly discouraging cash transactions.
Many countries are set to open their borders to international travelers as of this month, such as the Bahamas, St. Lucia, and Mexico, to name a few. Other Caribbean Islands are set to open in July, as well as many European nations. However, traveler beware; every nation has very different and defined guidelines for international guests. Some such as Italy will require a 14-day self-isolation upon arrival; many will require health or temperature screenings. I strongly suggest diligent research before making travel arrangements or contacting a travel advisor for assistance to avoid any confusion.
Although some of these changes are outrageous, to say the least, many of the cleaning procedures, in my humble opinion, are greatly appreciated. Many Americans are looking to travel domestically with heavy restrictions on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and entry and exit requirements to travel to Europe and the Caribbean. It's time to discover the beauty of our nation! In such a high tension in society, perhaps it's time to go back to simplicity and embark on a Great American Road Trip! See the wonders of our National Parks, camp in one of the many beautiful landscapes of our majestic country, and maybe visit a charming small town such as Littleton, New Hampshire, or Kennebunkport, Maine. I am still hoping that many of these procedures will take lax a bit by the fall; in the meantime, there are remarkable places to discover from sea to shining sea!
