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.

Arrival Recovery Survey found local and domestic travel accounted for 90% of summer 2020 bookings for operators in the U.S. and Canada. European operators had nearly two in three bookings come from local and domestic guests. Read more.

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.

EI concludes aviation could take four years to recover, while travel agencies and hotels may take more than five years to bounce back.

Read the full report at Travel Industry Today.

According to Reuters.com, White House coronavirus task-force members, public health and other federal agencies are backing a plan to lift the entry ban on Brazil, Britain, Ireland and 26 other European countries.

Entry bans on non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in China or Iran will not be lifted.

Administration officials believe lifting the bans could provide a boost to airlines in the U.S. that are struggling as a result of international travel falling by an estimated 70 percent. The timetable for a final decision remains unclear, as President Trump could still reject the plan.

The rising number of coronavirus cases around the world and the likelihood that European nations would likely not immediately allow Americans to visit could impact Trump’s decision to lift the bans.

Almost every European country still bans most U.S. travelers from visiting. While Britain and Ireland allow American visits, they are required to quarantine for two-weeks upon arrival. Brazil also allows U.S. travelers.

On Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new travel and testing recommendations for international flights. It suggests being tested for COVID-19 before traveling and quarantining for seven days at home and taking another test upon returning.

An Airlines for America spokesperson told Reuters the CDC’s guidance is a “step in the right direction,” but it needs to be “followed by a recognition that testing can be used to safely reopen borders without quarantines.”

This article originally appeared in Travel Pulse on Nov. 25, 2020.