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May 2020
Dear MOTT Partners,
We kick off the month of May with National Travel Week (May 3-9), an
annual celebration of America’s travel and tourism industry. Now
more than ever, the travel and tourism community must come
together, support each other, and remind our country that even
through the most difficult times, the Spirit of Travel and
the Spirit
of Massachusetts cannot be broken.
We are celebrating ArtWeek
(May 1-10) virtually across the Commonwealth as an annual event
that underscores the value of arts and culture in Massachusetts.
The Baker-Polito Administration is working with industry partners
on a Reopening Advisory Board that will recommend strategies to
reopen the economy in phases based on health and safety
metrics. We’ll keep you informed of all updates.
For now, please stay safe and healthy as we battle through this
pandemic. Thank you for your partnership, diligence, and
pride in Massachusetts’ travel and tourism community.
Sincerely,
Keiko Matsudo Orrall
Executive Director
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MOTT Contacts:
MA Office of Travel and Tourism staffers are working remotely, see
contact information:
John Alzapiedi, Web
Manager, john.alzapiedi@mass.gov
Phyllis Cahaly, Director
of Partnership Marketing, phyllis.cahaly@mass.gov
Tony D’Agostino, Research
Director, tony.dagostino@mass.gov
Daniela De Caro-Heavey, Special
Projects Manager, daniela.decaro@mass.gov
Keiko Matsudo Orrall,
Executive Director, keiko.m.Orrall@mass.gov
Michael Quinlin,
Executive Director, Commonwealth Marketing Office michael.quinlin@mass.gov
Maria Speridakos, Director
of International PR, maria.speridakos@mass.gov
Marc Zappulla, Grants
Coordinator, Marc.Zappulla@mass.gov
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COVID-19
Resources & News:
- Nonessential
businesses are closed in Massachusetts until May 18. Here is a
list of updated COVID-19 Essential Services
categories for businesses and organizations permitted to
operate brick & mortar facilities at this time.
- The Department of
Public Health’s (DPH) stay-at-home advisory remains in effect.
Residents are strongly urged to stay home and avoid
unnecessary travel and other unnecessary person to person
contact during this time period.
- The Baker-Polito
Administration created a Reopening Advisory Board, which is
meeting with key stakeholders to develop a report by May
18 that will include DPH approved workplace safety
standards, industry frameworks and customer protocols and
guidelines, including enforcement mechanisms and coordination
with municipal leaders. See details here.
- Beginning
Wednesday, May 6, Massachusetts is requiring the use of masks
or face coverings in public places where people cannot
socially distance from others. See details here.
- All travelers
arriving to Massachusetts must self-quarantine for 14 days. See details here.
Below is a list of COVID-19 Resources & News:
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International
Update
CANADA
The Canadian border remains closed and only Canadians citizens and Canadian
permanent residents are currently allowed into the country. Air Canada plans
to resume service to the U.S. May 22 (Montreal to Boston to
resume one flight per day and Toronto to Boston with two
flights per day as of May 22. Halifax and Ottawa suspended until
May 31), subject to any further government restrictions beyond that
date and AC has suspended most international flights outside
of the U.S. until June. Air
Transat and Sunwing are
cancelling all trips until May 31 and Porter Airlines has
pushed back its temporary suspension of flights by four weeks, with
flights set to resume on June 29. Westjet will
likely resume Toronto to Boston service on June 8.– VoX
International
GERMANY
The German Federal Foreign Office has extended border controls
until May 14, has banned non-EU travel until at
least mid-June and warns against unnecessary tourist
trips abroad until at least June 14, 2020.’ Source: German
Interior Ministry & German
Federal Foreign Office & German
Federal Police
DER Touristik, TUI and FTI are
following the global travel warning issued by the Federal Foreign
Office and are suspending international travel until
June 14. Source: TRVL
Counter
Canusa Touristik has launched a
series of early booking offers for 2021. For example, customers
save 15 % on a two-week motorhome trip from/to Los Angeles. Source: lifePR (press
release) – Marketing Services
International GmbH
FRANCE
Given the evolution of the health crisis and the latest
developments and decisions regarding travel restrictions, the SETO
(Tour Operators Union) has again met with the main tour operators
operating on the French market and it recommends to its members the
postponement of all departures until May 29, after having already
postponed the date three times. This recommendation may change at
any time depending on the evolution of the situation and in the
interests of customers, travel agencies and tour operators, also
said the union. –
Express Conseil
JAPAN
Japan restarted too early
and experienced a recurrence of COVID19. The country
went back into a lock down until May 8. The total
number of new cases peaked on April 1 and has been on
decline since then. Japan National Tourism Council announced
that they will provide financial support to travel companies for
their loss. JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents) is
planning a tourism recovery campaign. Travel companies are
starting to book tours to certain overseas countries including the
US beginning July 1. –
Global Consulting
SCANDINAVIA
Many travel agencies have no or limited sales these days. The
booking period has been shortened and the agencies see an interest
for the winter season instead of the summer season, as a lot of
things are still uncertain for summer, such as the opening of
borders and the situation in the rest of the
world. Travel agencies experience an interest for the
near markets, such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, and the
international markets and travel are still characterized with a lot
of uncertainty.
While travel agencies are not expecting new bookings in the coming
weeks, Danish tour operator USA Rejser and MyPlanet prepares
for a change in demand and amend package tours to focus on
nature, national parks and self-drive tours by car and RV
in California and Florida. – Atlantic Link
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Industry
News
National
Travel Week
National Travel Week (May 3-9) is an annual way for America’s
travel and tourism professionals to take pride in our industry and
to celebrate the value travel holds for the economy, businesses and
personal well-being. This year, the COVID-19 emergency is
having an unprecedented impact on the travel industry and the
entire economy. Now more than ever, the travel and tourism
community must come together, support each other and remind our
country that even through the most difficult times, the Spirit of Travel
and the Spirit
of Massachusetts cannot be broken.
As part of National Travel Week, the U.S. Travel Association is coordinating
a #VirtualRoadTrip
initiative today, so tourism destinations and businesses across the
country can share a positive virtual message on social
media. All 50 states are participating, and the Massachusetts
time slot is this morning from 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Expect to
see wonderful scenes and materials from around the state throughout
the day and especially for our 15 minutes of fame. Destinations,
businesses and even residents can get involved by joining the
conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #VirtualRoadTrip.
Feel free to share with your colleagues, partners and staff to join
in as well to make sure your destination is highlighted during the
scheduled stop in Massachusetts.
North
of Boston CVB Roundtable Discussions
North of Boston CVB is celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week
by hosting industry conversations every day from 4 -5 p.m. Please
feel free to register through the links below or contact Executive
Director, Ann Marie Casey for more
information.
#ArtWeekAtHome
#ArtWeekAtHome is the reimagined format
replacing the original ArtWeek, an annual
celebration featuring hundreds of creative events in over 170
communities across the Commonwealth. This year, #ArtWeekAtHome will post links on social media
to online content including tours, concerts, at-home activities, or
other creative programs while tagging #ArtWeekAtHome
and @ArtWeekMA. See details here.
Massachusetts
Arts & Culture Bulletin
The 16 Regional Tourism Councils have a very creative addition in
their Massachusetts Arts & Culture Bulletin this month. #PostcardsFromMA
features beautiful views showcasing that their favorite
Massachusetts destination is "thinking of them" during
this time. Thanks to Kristen
Mitchell Hughes of the Cape Cod Chamber for pulling
together this wonderful idea.
Massachusetts
Celebrates Women Trailblazers
MOTT has posted its Historic Women Trailblazers
digital page to celebrate the achievement of women in the
Commonwealth. This initiative marks the 100th anniversary of
the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowing women the
right to vote, and the 200th anniversary of
Massachusetts native and women’s rights leader Susan B.
Anthony.
MOTT
Online Virtual Tours
Massvacation.com has a Virtual Massachusetts page for
visitors who want to enjoy virtual tours, interactive sites and
beautiful images of Massachusetts from afar. To add virtual
tours to this page, please contact John
Alzapiedi. Massvacation.com has a list over 50 places across the Bay State
offering at home virtual experiences and we would
love to highlight tours in your area.
Mass
Lodging
Follow the Massachusetts Lodging Association
for updates, information and resources on this important
Massachusetts hospitality industry.
50
Great Things to do Under $50
MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ special deals
page is consistently ranked as one of our Top 5 visited web
pages each month. To list a special deal offered by your
organization, the offer must be valid for a two month duration and
the admission of $50 must cover: two adults only and/or two adults
with two children age 12 and under. We are currently accepting ’50
Under $50’ offers for July/August and September/October. Please send
your offers for consideration to: Phyllis M. Cahaly.
The Big
E
Save the date for the 2020 Big E Celebration scheduled for
September 18 through October 4, 2020. The Big E, held annually at The
Eastern States Exposition Fairground is billed as “New
England’s Great State Fair,” and is the largest agricultural event
on the eastern seaboard and the 6th largest fair in
the nation. The 2019 fair set an all-time historic attendance
record of 1,629,527! Come see what’s new at The Big E this fall.
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By the
Numbers
COVID-19 Infographic
Related to the Massachusetts Tourism Industry:
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