Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
DESPITE SOME RECENT upticks in travel, the U.S. is expected to see a 45 percent decline in travel spending this year, according to a study from the U.S. Travel Association. To try to stem the losses, USTA is holding a “Virtual Hill Week” to connect members to lawmakers to raise more federal financial support.
Domestic travel spending is forecast to drop 40 percent from $972 billion in 2019 to $583 billion in 2020, according to USTA, and international inbound spending is expected to fall 75 percent from $155 billion to $39 billion. Total domestic trips taken by U.S. residents are expected to fall 30 percent from last year to 1.6 billion, the lowest figure since 1991 during a previous recession.
“The data is telling us that travel and tourism has been more severely damaged than any other U.S. industry by the economic fallout of the health crisis,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA’s executive vice president for public affairs and policy. “Given that travel employed one in 10 Americans and was the No. 2 U.S. export before the pandemic, supporting this industry through to the recovery phase ought to be a national priority. Our asks for lawmakers are substantial, but they’re also simple: we need relief, protection, and stimulus for the travel industry to make it past the worst of the crisis and help power an economic recovery.”
For “Virtual Hill Week” this week, nearly 300 industry members will participate in 75 online meetings with lawmakers in both the House and Senate. The topics of virtual discussion will include:
Extending Paycheck Protection Program eligibility to destination marketing organizations that are currently ineligible for aid because they carry a non-profit or quasi-governmental designation.
Tax incentives for restarting the travel economy, including a temporary travel tax credit; restoring the business entertainment deduction; support for the meetings and events sector; and tax credits for personal protective equipment and facilities sterilization.
Protection from frivolous COVID-19 related lawsuits for businesses that follow proper health and safety guidelines.
A federal backstop for the issuance of pandemic risk insurance to give businesses financial cover from future outbreaks or another wave of infections, similar to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act enacted after 9/11.
There does appear to be some appetite for travel among consumers. As many as 62 percent of respondents to Fuel’s recent COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Study said that they will take a vacation in 2020 and 16 percent said they would in 2021. Only 3 percent said that they had no desire to take a vacation.
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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