Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

President Biden says resuming Europe-U.S. travel under discussion

Coalition of travel industry organizations says science supports easing restrictions

President Biden says resuming Europe-U.S. travel under discussion

PLANS ARE IN the works to possibly reopen travel to and from the U.S. and Europe, according to comments by President Joe Biden. The statements came as a relief to the U.S. Travel Association, part of a coalition of 24 trade organizations that recently called for an end to all travel restrictions worldwide.

Biden’s comment came during a press briefing at the White House with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in response to questions about why the restrictions were still in place when scientific data indicated they were no longer needed.


“It’s in process now.  And I’ll be able to answer that question to you within the next several days,” he said. “What is likely to happen, I’m waiting to hear from our folks in our COVID team as to when that should be done.”

Merkel said she had raised the issue during the two leaders’ meeting that day. She also urged caution and patience in light of the recent spread of the Delta variant of the corona.

“The Delta variant actually being on the increase, that is, again, a new challenge to both of us. And obviously, before such a decision, one has to reflect, and it has to be a sustainable decision,” she said. “It is certainly not sensible to have to take it back after only a few days. I have every confidence in the American COVID team.”

Biden and Merkel’s statements are welcome because the impact of continuing restrictions on many countries in Europe is too great, said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA’s executive vice president of public affairs and policy.

“The science says we can safely reopen international travel now, particularly for countries that have made considerable progress toward vaccinating their citizens. With proper safeguards in place, studies by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University have all independently concluded the safety of air travel today,” Barnes said. “Each day that outdated restrictions on travel exist wreaks economic damage on our nation, not to mention the personal toll on individuals separated from their families and loved ones. Travel bans related to Canada, Europe and the U.K. alone cost the U.S. economy $1.5 billion every week—enough to support 10,000 American jobs.”

The U.S. economy loses $1.5 billion in spending just from Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom for each week that travel restrictions remain in place, USTA said in a previous article. That’s enough money to support 10,000 American jobs.

Last week, USTA joined a coalition of 24 trade organizations in calling for the lifting of restrictions on international travel. The coalition had asked for the restrictions to be lifted by July 15.

More for you

AHLA members meet with U.S. lawmakers to discuss key hospitality legislation impacting hotel owners and workers

AHLA shares priorities with lawmakers

AHLA Members Unite on Capitol Hill to Advance Hospitality Legislation

MORE THAN 250 American Hotel & Lodging Association members met with lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House to discuss legislative priorities critical to the hospitality industry. They raised concerns about tax and trade policies impacting hotel operating costs and travel demand amid ongoing budget reconciliation and tax negotiations.

Members also discussed expanding and upskilling the hospitality workforce through measures such as adjusting the H-2B visa cap and protecting the franchise model, which supports more than half of all U.S. hotels and 2.8 million jobs, the association said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
CBRE: US Hotel RevPAR to Grow 1.3 Percent in 2025

CBRE: RevPAR to grow 1.3 percent in 2025

U.S. HOTEL REVPAR is expected to grow 1.3 percent in 2025, supported by urban markets from group and business travel and increased demand for drive-to and regional leisure destinations, according to CBRE. Occupancy is forecast to rise 14 basis points and ADR 1.2 percent year-over-year.

This represents slower growth than CBRE’s February forecast, which projected 2 percent RevPAR growth based on a 21-basis-point increase in occupancy and a 1.6 percent rise in ADR, the commercial real estate and investment firm said.

Keep ReadingShow less
AHLA ForWard Conference 2025 held in Atlanta

ForWard Conference held in Atlanta

NEARLY 1,000 HOSPITALITY professionals attended the AHLA Foundation’s ForWard Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. With a theme centered on recognizing, accessing and amplifying power designed to elevate women in hospitality, the two-day event included professional development and networking opportunities.

The conference featured speakers from across the hospitality industry and adjacent industries. They included Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent The Runway; Lamiaa Laurene Daif, worldwide strategy leader at Apple; and Grammy-nominated songwriter Makeba Riddick.

Keep ReadingShow less