Feimster was highlighted among a group of women who have led training programs for the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retail.

Established in 1994, The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres, with its newly branded name The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECS+R), has grown over the years and has a strong and closely connected member base of over 1,100 industry professional from all over the Middle East & North Africa representing Retailers, Shopping Mall Owners, Developers, Marketing Managers, Leasing Managers & Specialists, Consultants, Property Managers, Financiers, Accountants, Government Officials, and Industry Suppliers. MECS+R provides its members with unparalleled local and international business contacts and support through its network of international affiliates.

The poll, which surveyed more than 1,100 Canadians, revealed that they want to immerse themselves in local culture and want to vacation in less-visited places.

To read the full report, visit Travel Industry Today.

Travel Pulse writer Patrick Clarke shares the industry’s reactions to President Joe Biden’s executive orders, which includes a mask mandate and self-quarantine restrictions.

Biden’s executive order addresses the face covering requirements for individuals in national parks and on airplanes. The executive order also requires U.S. bound international travelers to self-quarantine upon arrival. Biden also lifted the travel ban from certain Muslim-majority countries.

Read the full report at TravelPulse.com.

Experts Reveal Outlook for Travel in 2021

Travel advisers remain optimistic about 2021, although some are concerned about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s requirements. Read the full report at Travel Pulse.

Study: Consumers Plan to Travel Abroad in 2021

Trip Advisor’s recent study found that 1 in 9 consumers already have booked an overseas trip in 2021, with nearly half planning to travel abroad in 2021. The report states that overseas travel should increase heading into the summer months. Read more at Travel Mole.

5 Traveler Trends for 2021

Travel Daily Media revealed the top 5 traveler trends for 2021 based on Trip Advisor’s latest report: travelers are planning overseas trips in mid-to-late 2021, vaccinations will impact traveler confidence, domestic trips remain in demand, travelers are spending more time researching future trips, and consumers will continue to use takeaway and delivery services from restaurants. Read the full breakdown at Travel Daily Media.

A majority of travelers feel that a proven COVID-19 vaccine would make them feel safe to travel again, according to Allianz Partners‘ latest survey of its U.S. travel insurance customers.

The award-winning travel insurance and assistance provider’s study found that 58 percent—up as many as six points from Allianz’s spring survey just after the pandemic began—of customers would feel safe to travel again with a proven vaccine.

Travelers over the age of 65 placed more importance on the vaccine compared to customers under the age of 45.

Beyond an effective vaccine, travelers want to see health officials declare that it is safe to travel (48 percent) and also know that hotels, airports and other suppliers are taking enhanced safety measures such as advanced sanitization (47 percent). The latter is the most important factor among customers under the age of 45.

Additionally, Allianz determined that nearly one-third of respondents (32 percent) are uncertain when they’ll travel next. However, the results show that age will ultimately play a key role, with nine percent of customers over the age of 65 planning to travel this season, compared to 18 percent of customers under the age of 45.

What’s more, the research shows that most travelers (70 percent) plan to fly for their next trip rather than drive (19 percent), which could mean good news for the reeling airline industry.

“The promise of a highly-effective COVID-19 vaccine could be a substantial step toward recovery for the travel industry, and as our survey found, a key factor in customers feeling more confident booking trips for 2021,” said Daniel Durazo, Director of Marketing and Communications at Allianz Partners USA. “With pent-up travel demand at a seemingly all-time high, we anticipate Americans will be looking to book their ultimate itineraries in 2021 to their favorite destinations.”

Allianz’s study results reflect a random sample of 3,500 OTA, B2C, airline and retail customers who purchased a policy between November 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020, and responses were gathered from October 27 to November 9, 2020.

This article originally appeared in Travel Pulse on Dec. 2, 2020.

Fast-forward to 2020’s trending list: Lincoln, New Hampshire. Lake Havasu, Arizona. The Hamptons, New York.

Whether it was by necessity or design, it’s clear Americans spent 2020 exploring small towns, scenic drives, nearby lakes and beaches, or in some cases, their own backyards. Today, Expedia.com^® released its 2021 Travel Trends Report, analyzing traveler data to uncover the biggest takeaways from an unprecedented year, and what travelers can expect in the year ahead.

In addition to tapping into its own massive database of search and demand data, this year Expedia partnered with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for a deep dive on the effect of the pandemic on air travel.

“It’s no secret that air travel changed this year in ways we have never seen before, but people are still flying, and they will continue to fly. We are keeping a close eye on these changes to help travelers get the most from their journeys,” says Chuck Thackston, Managing Director of Data Science and Research for ARC. “Expedia and ARC are teaming up again to get to the bottom of what’s changed and equip travelers with new trip-planning insights to use when they do fly again.”

Highlights from the report include:

• Air travel trends and hacks
• Traveler priorities in 2021
• The top trending destinations of 2020
• All the islands (and other dreamy destinations) on travelers’ 2021 bucket lists

“What we learned by looking at traveler behaviors in a year as unusual as 2020 is that travel will always be an integral part of our lives,” says Christie Hudson, Senior PR Manager for Expedia brand. “Travelers responded to the uncertainty and restrictions by finding ways to safely explore closer to home, and the result is a bigger emphasis on flexibility and a list of trending destinations that are inspiring and attainable for the year ahead.”

Airfare Booking Hacks for 2021

For six years running, travelers have relied on the annual Expedia ARC report, which analyzes billions of flight segments, to provide insider tips and tricks for getting the most out of air travel. Considering the atypical year, a new cheat sheet is needed now more than ever.

Based on ARC data, average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights hit their lowest in late April 2020 but have since started to recover. From May to October, prices were between 25-35 percent lower year-on-year but followed the usual seasonality curve. Meanwhile, ATPs for international flights briefly spiked in April before normalizing to 2019 levels in mid-June and finally settling between 30-35 percent lower year-on-year during the fall months.

What this means for travelers is that while average ticket prices are historically low for both domestic and international flights, prices rise during peak travel periods such as spring break, summer and the holidays. To get the best deal, travelers need to know when to book and start their trip.

• Best day of the week to book¹: Sunday
  • For domestic flights, book on Sunday, not Monday to save around 15 percent
  • For international flights, book on Sunday, not Friday to save more than 20 percent

• Best day of the week to depart²: Thursday or Friday
  • For domestic flights, start your trip on Friday, not Monday to save around 20 percent
  • For international flights, start your trip on Thursday, not Sunday to save nearly 25 percent

Traveler Priorities in 2021

• Flexibility isn’t a “nice-to-have”, it’s required: In 2021, flexibility will continue to be top of mind for travelers, who booked refundable rates 10 percent more often this year compared to last. Luckily, flexibility is more affordable than ever: Expedia lodging data shows average daily rates for refundable bookings were 20 percent cheaper in 2020 compared to 2019.
• Health and safety advancements: In the year to come, concerns about staying safe while traveling will continue to impact every aspect of trip planning, from what type of accommodations to choose to where to go to who to travel with. Since May, nearly 300,000 properties have added health and cleanliness information on Expedia.com, including enhanced cleaning, contactless check-in, social distancing and other guest safety measures.
• Majority of travelers booking less than a month out: According to ARC data, in 2019, the average U.S. traveler booked flights around 35 days in advance of their departure date, but during the onset of the pandemic, that window lengthened to 46 days. The new normal (since August) is just 29 days out – the average advance purchase dropping below the 30-day mark for the first time in years – and illustrating how travelers have adapted to the rapidly changing environment. However, with airlines eliminating change fees travelers may feel more confident booking further out, knowing they can always change their plans down the road.
• Growth in alternative accommodations: While the most popular lodging type in 2020 was hotels, the types of accommodations showing the biggest growth compared to last year were castles, ranches, cabins, chalets and cottages.³ These types of retreats, typically found outside of big cities, were the perfect getaway spots for travelers in search of wide-open spaces, nature and privacy. This trend is expected to continue as people look to travel safely amid the pandemic. Whether it’s a hotel, vacation rental or chalet, Expedia lodging data shows the cheapest days to stay are Sunday through Tuesday, so try scheduling a long weekend trip at the start of the week instead of the end.⁴
• Maximizing the trip: During lockdown, many travelers relied on virtual tours and activities to satisfy wanderlust. But once able to roam again, whether it was just within their own cities or on a proper getaway, travelers resumed looking to activities as a way to get the most out their trips. These are a few of the top trending activities booked on Expedia.com: the nation’s largest and longest-running flower show, this boat tour in Miami’s Biscayne Bay and this ATV and ziplining adventure in the Cenotes.

2020’s Trending Destinations

This year’s list⁵ might look a bit different than last year’s, with backyard beaches and outdoorsy escapes taking the place of exotic international destinations. Still, these domestic gems are proof there’s plenty to explore even when travelers are staying closer to home.

1. Lake Havasu, Arizona
2. New Bern, North Carolina
3. The Hamptons, New York
4. Ocean City, Maryland
5. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
6. Panama City, Florida
7. South Padre Island, Texas
8. Lincoln, New Hampshire
9. Sun Valley / Central Idaho
10. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The Next Big Trip: Top-searched destinations for 2021 and beyond

While nearby escapes and road trips are likely to remain popular as travelers navigate the ongoing realities of life amid a pandemic, search data⁶ proves that aspirations persist for grander, far-flung vacations. More specifically, it seems vacation-deprived Americans dreaming of their next trip fall into one of two categories:

Island escapists. Looking at the top 20 destinations, half are islands and another third are popular beach resorts. After a year like 2020, it’s not hard to imagine why so many travelers want to escape to an island the next chance they get.

• Cancun (#1)
• Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (#2)
• Punta Cana (#5)
• Oahu (#6)
• Maui (#7)
• Los Cabos (#9)
• French Polynesia (#10)
• Maldives (#11)
• Montego Bay (#12)
• Aruba (#13)
• Puerto Vallarta (#14)
• Key West (#16)
• Nassau (#18)
• Bali (#20)

The urban returner. Larger cities haven’t seen their usual tourist bustle over the past year, but search results make it clear that travelers are eager to return and enjoy all the culture, activities and experiences that you can only find in these iconic U.S. cities.

• Las Vegas (#3)
• Orlando (#4)
• Miami (#8)
• New York (#15)
• Los Angeles (#17)
• New Orleans (#19)

With COVID-19, it’s important to stay safe and up to date on the latest travel guidance and restrictions. Find out what to expect, how to find flexible travel and other information on the Expedia COVID-19 travel guide.

About Expedia.com 
Expedia.com^® is one of the world’s largest full-service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps.

© 2020 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company.  All rights reserved.  Expedia and the Airplane logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST# 2029030-50.

Visit our web site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our mobile app to book cheap flights and hotels.

About Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)
An industry leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing flexible settlement solutions, innovative technology and access to the world’s most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than $97.4 billion in transactions between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 302 million passenger trips. For more information, please visit www.arccorp.com.

¹Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through early October, for both 2019 and 2020, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

²Best day of the week to travel recommendation based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through early October, for both 2019 and 2020, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. Departure date determined by the first date of travel in an itinerary.

³Based on lodging demand on Expedia.com from Jan 1, 2020 – Sept 12, 2020 compared to the same timeframe in 2019

⁴Based on lodging demand on Expedia.com for travel between Jan, 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020. 

⁵Trending destinations are some of the markets seeing the best growth year-over-year, based on lodging demand on Expedia.com between Jan. 1, 2020 – Sept. 14, 2020 compared to the same timeframe in 2019.

⁶Top searched destinations based on lodging interest on Expedia.com between Jan 1, 2020 – Sept 12, 2020 for travel in 2021.

Carolyn J. Feimster, Founder & Owner of CJF Marketing International

Our New Website Is Live!

We are excited to announce that our new website is now live, and we invite you to visit. This new site includes relevant information such as COVID-19 resources and recovery ideas, as well as access to blogs on all sorts of marketing topics.

In addition to information on all of our CJFMI company platforms and services, there is a special section dedicated to our newest platform, “Investment Tourism,” launched with RMA pre-COVID. This is an excellent strategy to help economic recovery from COVID-19 for municipalities, downtown districts, developers of mixed-use properties, counties and even states to generate that much-needed, incremental revenue.

For the Travel Trade, Tour Operators and other travel trade professionals now have access to our SHOP*DINE*PLAY*USA client collateral, sales sheets, royalty-free images, videos, packages, itineraries, etc. with just a click of the mouse to include in their brochures, websites, packages, social media, destination promotions, etc. Plus, we are just an email or phone call away for that personal attention to whatever you need for your tours, packages and itineraries as we navigate our way through recovery and travel begins to resume.

So much gratitude for RealTime Marketing Group, both Terra and Irin for all your design work, programming, etc. and for Michele at Dyenamic Media who kept the project going throughout this busy COVID-19 recovery time…you guys ROCK!

SHOP*DINE*PLAY*USA Updates

As soon as the initial shock wore off of realizing the lock-down was going to be more than two weeks, we carefully crafted and launched our “Tour Operator Engagement” Campaign that consisted of a series of e-blasts supported with social media posts. Some of the content was even picked up by the trade media!

The topic of each blast was appropriate for the time of the lockdown and initially was merely a way to check in with our trade partners.

The most popular blast and social media uploads, which are still seeing traction today, was our “We Miss You” campaign with heart-felt video messaging from our clients.

Fifth + Broadway Nashville – Construction continues on this unique mixed-use project in downtown and is scheduled to open Spring 2021. The Museum of African American Music is opening Fall 2020, and we look forward to welcoming them!

The City of North Miami Beach recently approved the Branding and Marketing Plan created by RMA, partner of CJFMI. This included our Travel & Tourism program that identified appropriate assets to launch a program which will include a new platform called “Nostalgia Tourism.” Identified and created pre-COVID-19, never is Nostalgia Tourism more important than it is now as we emerge from the pandemic.

Outlets at Tejon – The Outlets at Tejon have been active in their community through their Fashion for the Frontline initiative. As a way to honor and thank their community’s healthcare heroes, the Outlets at Tejon awarded a $250 shopping spree, complete with a style consultation, to three amazing healthcare workers. The recipients were honored at an awards ceremony and enjoyed a personal styling session with Outlets at Tejon Fashion Ambassador Laurie B.

Old Town Entertainment District Kissimmee/Orlando has brought back the famous Old Town Muscle and Classic Car Shows and Cruise, a favorite for the locals and visitors.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace/Quincy Market is in the re-opening process and details can be found on their website. Plus, enjoy their Neighborhood Guide for all kinds of interesting information about this outstanding historic destination.

Dining Spotlight

Sophie’s Bistro in Somerset, N.J. Kudos to owner Peter Mack for their launch of Bistro – A – Go – Go Curbside, complete with not only curbside delivery of their awesome cuisine but also cocktails served through the car window. And, they recently private labeled their own wine. Now that is the way to keep the customer engagement going! Indoor dining is coming soon!

Canlis, one of Seattle’s premier restaurants, is offering family meals to go with a twist. The restaurant offers a YouTube Live Stream of its in-house piano player so that customers can eat their family meal at home with the melodic sounds of the restaurant’s signature live piano performance.

Trade Show Updates

After we completed ABA, IITA and NAJ Summit West earlier this year, the trade show world completely changed. Some postponed, some canceled and some have gone virtual, like Go West Summit which was a five-day, 24-hour virtual show that started Monday, Aug. 31. Representing the Outlets at Tejon, we had 31 appointments during this virtual trade show. Thank you to our U.K. partner, Kevin Brett of HAT Marketing, who took the 2-8 a.m. appointment time slots opening up more opportunities for us to meet with tour operators. Considering this is a new format, we were very pleased with the results.

Other shows that are still scheduled for this year that we are attending include WTM in London – a virtual show this year, Connect TOUR – an in-person, domestic trade show in Orlando in November and NTA, which will also be virtual.

For 2021, ABA is on and in person in Baltimore! We are certainly looking forward to seeing our trade show friends and colleagues. IITA and Go West Summit will both be virtual. All Connect Travel shows, which includes RTO Summits, are planning to be live in-person events. IPW is confirmed to be live May 10-14, 2021 in Las Vegas.

Information changes frequently so we will keep you posted.

Articles of Interest

• Travel Industry Today: WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER: Uplifting Community Stories During COVID-19
• Travel Pulse: New Study Reveals Consumers’ Growing Desire to Spend on Travel
• Forbes: New Hotels to Visit in 2021
• The Dope: Here’s Why Millennials Are Key To The Recovery Of Tourism Post COVID-19
• Travel Daily Media: Of Sunshine and Vitamin Sea: Barbados is letting people move there to work remotely.
• MSN: Domestic Travel Increases During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Travel Pulse: Los Angeles Leads Among U.S. Markets for Total Hotel Construction Pipelines
• Daily Mail: Global Poll of Luxury Hoteliers Reveals Most Believe Business Will Return to Normal within a Year and Nearly Three-Quarters Plan to Reopen Their Property by September
• Forbes: Travel Pods: the New Pandemic Vacation Trend
• Travel Pulse: New Travel Trends Shaping the Future of Travel
• U.S. News & World Report: U.K.-U.S. in Talks to Introduce ‘Air Bridge’ Between London and New York

Meanwhile, the industry is dealing with an estimated $519 billion decline in spending, and a $1.2 trillion projected economic loss for the year. Unemployment for the U.S. was 25%, but for the travel industry it was 51%, twice that of the Great Depression.

CJFMI can guide your organization through the recovery process. Please feel free to utilize any of our resources:

• Roadmap to Recovery Power Point
• List of Valuable Resources
• Status of Openings by Country from the US Department of Commerce
• Projected New Travel Lifecycle and the Timetable for Recovery by Markets
• An opportunity for you to share your insights. Please submit to Carolyn (click here)