This document summarizes the key takeaways from Connect Travel's virtual roundtable discussions with domestic tour operators and other travel industry experts about the return of travel during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. There is cautious optimism that domestic leisure travel will begin ramping up in late summer/early fall 2020. Travel is expected to change with new health and safety protocols. Consumer confidence will be important to stimulate demand as travelers will want assurances they can travel safely. Tour operators are creating new offerings and value added incentives to entice consumers and help the industry recover. Communication and partnership across the industry will be important to reach new audiences and rebuild travel.

1. Shari Bailey
Vice President, Connect Travel
C: 813.486.4277
SBailey@ConnectTravel.com

2. The Question: When and How will travel return?
• Summer, Q4, 2021?
• Close to Home? Road Trips? Great
Outdoors? Short Getaways?
• Self Catering Units? RVs? Small Hotel?
• Ask an expert, expect a myriad of answers.

3. Connect Travel – Virtual Round Table Series
Domestic Tour
Operators
International
Tour
Operators
Air Service
Development
Experts
Airports
Receptive Tour
Operators
U.S. Suppliers

4. Virtual Round Table Series – Key Takeaways
Cautious
Optimism
Expect
Change
Consumer
Confidence
Value Added
Enticements
Broaden
Your Reach
Connect

5. Cautious Optimism
• March – June 2020 programs rescheduled to Q4 or
2021
• July – December 2020 remain scheduled
Positive Outlook
• Operators feel domestic leisure travel will begin in late
summer/early fall
Domestic Positioned
to Recover First
• Tour operators are reviewing all programs & creating
new offerings
• 2021 & 2022 contracting is underway
Contracting

6. Expect Change
• Social distancing, health screenings, wait times,
masks, fees, etc.
New Protocols
• Changes in travel patterns and length of stay are expected
• Staggered openings of communities, states, and regions
are an emerging concern
Timing
• Operators see a change in their clients methodologyBehavior

7. Consumer Confidence
• Travels need assurance they will safe and healthy to
travel
• Operators need your messaging to prove it
Open & Safe
• Confidence levels in communities/regions will help
stimulate demandDemand
• Endorse your tour operator clients programs and
operationsEndorsements

8. Value Added Enticements
• Roll over 2020 rates to 2021
• March – June 2020 programs rescheduled to Q4 or
2021
Pricing Matters
• Create offerings based on the customer at hand; one
size does not fit allBe Creative
• Many operators are creating or asking for
programs to entice consumers to book now. Free
nights, experiences, etc.
Programs to
Book Now

9. Broaden Your Reach
• Develop messaging with your airports, partners, colleagues, and
competitors
• Partner with your local, regional and state tourism offices to distribute
Reach Across
the Aisle
• Partner with colleagues and DMOs to create a virtual training or virtual
FAM trip
• Create a virtual site inspection
Training
• Look to different audiencesNew Markets

10. Connect
• Tour operators want to hear from you. Share any
authentic messaging you are using to make visitors
feel safe and welcome
Communicate
• Co-op marketing, social media, unique or exclusive
offerings, and promotional opportunities are just
some of the ways to partner
Partner
• Updated contacts, continue personal interactions,
and create authentic messaging. (i.e. Hidden Gems,
Live Like a Local, Curated Experiences)
Stay Connected

11. What are your clients saying?
“There is no way to underestimate the gravity of what our industry has been through in the last 60 days,” said
Executive Vice President Jacki Marks. “More than ever before, tour operators, destinations, hotel and resorts, and the
travel advisor community needs to band together to rebuild.”
“We believe that May and June are an opportunity to get clients dreaming about vacations through social media,
videos, and emails,” Marks said. “When we start to see changes in border permissions and stay at-home rules, I think
there will be consumer demand for travel, and we want everyone to be prepared.”
Apple
Leisure
Group
Communication is Key. There are some confusing messages out there regarding Florida. The Delta Vacations product team
requests the facts about properties that are open, beach, attraction, and restaurant openings.
“We need to know about updates to policies, and what’s going on at the property and city level. Help us find ways to
communicate “cleanliness” actions being taken. Most people will need to feel safe before traveling again, “ said Tyler
Oberdeck, Director, Product Development – Florida, Hawaii, Nevada “May through July bookings don’t look good; August
onward is looking a little more positive.”
Delta Vacations is confident they will get through this and come out even stronger in years to come!
Delta
Vacations
“My feeling is, and this is in places like Southeast Asia,
Australia, North America, the domestic side of things will
start picking up, start returning to normal, mainly on
government dictates, in June,” said Graham Turner, Managing
MD & CEO
Flight
Centre

12. www.ConnectTravel.com/Webinar
s
Influencing Travel Post-COVID-19
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Josh Collins, Director Destination Activations and Marketing,
Streetsense
• Jade Broadus, Vice President & Creative Director, Travel Mindset
• Matt Maxey, Associate Director of Public Relations, Visit Franklin
• Kristin Luna, Media & Grits Conference
Connect with Domestic Tour Operators Virtual
Roundtable
Thursday, April 30, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Julie Gagnon, General Manager, Jolly Tours and Travel
• Dennis Lyons, Assistant Vice President / Coach & Tour
Group, DATTCO
Upcoming Sessions
For More Information: www.ConnectTravel.com/Webinars

13. Shari Bailey
Vice President, Connect Travel
C: 813.486.4277
SBailey@ConnectTravel.com