Travel Week in Review – January 8, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic hampered international travel for much of 2020 but as vaccines are distributed and more countries reopen their borders to foreign tourists there’s hope that Americans will regain a sense of normalcy in 2021. Safety will be the top priority for many and while conditions can change in a hurry in the time of COVID-19, there are a handful of potential destinations that stand out when it comes to offering travelers both protection and peace of mind. Read More…

Facial recognition technology is one of the fastest-growing trends in airports across the world. Biometric scanning systems, which include fingerprint and retina scans as well as facial recognition, are only predicted to become more widespread in the wake of the pandemic as touchless interactions gain in popularity. Now, there are entire terminals in U.S. airports that offer a touchless experience, using passengers’ facial scans to do everything when checking in for a flight. Read More…

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, announces the launch of a new global committee. The Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Committee, comprised of global members, will strive to bring to light many of the issues facing travelers and coworkers in the workplace, whilst traveling or attending meetings, or handling travel needs. Read More…

New data suggests that Americans have flocked to Mexico during the ongoing coronavirus for a vacation or to escape the U.S. According to The New York Times, the lack of stringent COVID-19 requirements when traveling between the U.S. and Mexico has led to an influx of visitors, including over 500,000 Americans arriving in November. In addition, visitor data showed the number of people arriving from the U.S. doubled from June to August. Read More…

Marriott International will offer new optional health protocols for meetings and events as part of its Connect with Confidence program, beginning in January 2021, the company announced. Marriott will make the new protocols available initially at its Gaylord Hotels and Resorts properties in Colorado, Florida, Tennessee and Texas, and expects to offer them at additional select Marriott-branded hotels throughout the United States shortly thereafter. Read More…