THE BRIGHT FUTURE
The new adventures of 2021.
Of all the industries hit hardest by the pandemic we didn’t see coming, the travel sector took one of the most savage blows. As travel slowed to a near-complete stop in 2020 and we all stayed home to bake banana bread, planes were grounded, hotel rooms emptied and cruise ships around the world dropped anchor.
While the setback was undeniably tough, travel fanatics should take heart – the comeback is going to be spectacular. The challenges of 2020 motivated the industry to pause, consider how it had been doing things, and come up with creative solutions to make tourism better, cleaner and more sustainable in 2021. Travel will be different when the world opens up again, and we as travellers will appreciate the experiences more than ever.
PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE
This is the time to explore your own country. Domestic travel is expected to boom in 2021. Holiday here this year, and you’ll be rewarded with stunning islands, natural wonders, cultural festivals and some of the world’s best restaurants. There are so many off-the-beaten track New Zealand destinations, and bucket-list locations such as Stewart Island will increase in popularity.
Expect, too, greater flexibility than ever before when booking travel, as airlines and hotels respond to consumer demand for contingency plans. There will be more last-minute travel, as we have learned it can be complicated to plan for the future.
“Flexibility is something we’ve really changed our focus to, which has meant contracting specific flexibility terms and conditions to make sure we’re able to provide our customers with that peace of mind if things don’t go to plan,” says Kelly Spencer, of Flight Centre Travel Group. “For example, some of our deals allow changes without penalty up to five days outside of travel.”
Spencer says insurance will also become a must-have for travellers, even those who had previously not taken a policy or had relied on the complimentary insurance offered by credit cards. “Currently there are no policies that cover quarantine, but we are in discussions with our suppliers to see what [incorporating that sort of provision] could look like, in order to meet the current needs of today’s travellers,” she says.
In light of new border rules, COVID-19 risks and complex refund policies, travel will need to be more tightly planned than ever, so Spencer also expects to see more travellers seeking out the expert knowledge of travel agents. “Customers want the comfort of knowing their booking is being looked after, and that if anything goes wrong they’ll have someone to call,” Spencer says. “Once, they might’ve been more inclined to book online and then rely on a call centre to chase things up. We want to remind people that we’re not only a one-stop shop, but a one-stop support if things don’t go to plan.”
FIRST STOP
The timeline for widespread resumption of international travel hangs on the success and availability of a COVID-19 vaccine. That much is certainly true for travel to Europe, the United States, Brazil and many other regions that have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Spencer believes summer 2022 will be huge for Europe when the continent opens up again.
In the meantime, there is great optimism for corridors of overseas travel to open in the first half of 2021, among countries that have managed to stamp out the virus.
Asia is firmly in our sights, as potential bubbles with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan take shape. Experts say we’ll see many people returning to Japan for second and third visits, this time perhaps focusing on less-explored destinations such as Fukuoka and Okinawa. The lure of fresh seafood, hot springs and welcoming locals will encourage longer stays .
South Korea will benefit from bragging rights, or the desire of Kiwi travellers to be the first among their friends to visit the hot new destination. Famous for its cuisine, temples, K-Pop and K-beauty, expect to hear more about this intriguing nation in 2021.
The South Pacific is expected to be one of the first regions to resume international travel with New Zealand. With short trips close to home in demand, island nations within a three-hour flight – think New Caledonia and Vanuatu – will be a hot ticket for lush, long weekends.
Anticipating our return and pulling out all the stops to ensure visitors feel safe, local operators such as Care Fiji will place wellness ambassadors onboard the national carrier Fiji Airways, at properties and at attractions. Strongly enhanced sanitation and social distancing measures will also be enforced.
Part of this plan is to entice travellers to the Yasawa Region, quieter than the Mamanuca Islands and featuring amazing dive and snorkel spots.
Multi-generation accommodation is another high-value proposition in Fiji, giving families the space to get away together. Marquee openings and refurb reveals, including Sofitel Fiji Denarau’s $30million upgrade, will give us all plenty of reasons to say ‘Bula!’
HOTEL ROOMS OF THE FUTURE
Expect more from your next hotel stay, as pandemic protocols lead to lasting improvements for guests such as greater flexibility when booking, strongly reinforced cleaning practices, and rapidly fast-tracked in-room technology.
Heidi Kunkel, Hilton’s vicepresident of operations for Australasia, says there was always going to be something positive to come out of 2020. “At Hilton, we’ve really listened to customers from early on. Overwhelmingly, their main concern was flexibility, so we’ve since built that into reservations,” she says. “The other really important thing for our guests has been around cleanliness, heath and hygiene, and we launched Hilton CleanStay as a result of that.”
The CleanStay program, Kunkel says, is about meeting customers’ expectations in terms of standards of cleanliness, disinfection of the properties, and keeping team members and guests safe. Arriving guests will find a hygienic seal across their front door to indicate that nobody has entered the room after the housekeepers have cleaned. Special attention will have been given to disinfecting the 10 most frequently handled touchpoints in each room, including light switches and the TV remote.
“People want to see those visible signs of cleanliness, they want to see that all of our protocols have been adapted, whether it’s in the public spaces, the lifts and lobbies, or the food and beverage areas,” she says.
For now, it’s bye-bye breakfast buffet, as Hilton strictly adheres to all government regulations. In time, and when it’s safe, Kunkel says the buffet will make a return. “The most important thing is to make sure that our guests are feeling safe,” she says.
The need for less face-to-face contact has effectively sped up the introduction of hotel-specific technology. Kunkel says guests in many Hilton properties can now download an app to their phone and, from that app, check in to their rooms using a digital key, skipping the front desk altogether. “The hotel room of the future will be one that guests can personalise,” Kunkel says. “So when you walk in, you’ll have chosen your room type in advance, stocked it with your favourite
“THE HOTEL ROOM OF THE FUTURE WILL BE ONE THAT GUESTS CAN MAKE THEIR OW N.”
amenities, adjusted the aircon to your preferred temperature and set the lighting the way you like it.”
It’s clear that Hilton has faith in the future of travel, with 2021 plans to open new hotels in Melbourne, Western Australia, New Zealand, Noumea and Tahiti. “People will always come back to travel,” Kunkel says. “We know it will take some time, but we’re still absolutely committed to growth and opening new hotels.”
CRUISE CONTROL
It’s been rough seas for the cruise industry this year, but many insiders see smooth sailing ahead. Tony Archbold, director of sales for Holland America Line, says forward bookings and enquiries are encouraging, and speak to the love guests have for cruising.
“First and foremost, guests need to feel confident that Holland America Line’s priorities are always going to be compliant with regulations put in place by governments for the health and safety of our guests, crew and the places we visit,” he says.
Cruising will still be the fun and indulgent holiday it’s always been, just with new safeguards in place for everyone’s benefit. Shore excursions, for example, will only be possible through the ship’s accredited operators to prevent guests mingling with individuals who have not been COVID-tested. “There’s going to be pre-testing, physical distancing, and some mask-wearing where we can’t maintain physical distancing,” Archbold says. “We’re also going to have to redesign our common areas, entertainment programmes and restaurants, but it’s this kind of activity that will allow people to book with confidence.”
Facilities in the award-winning clinics onboard Holland America ships will be stepped up to cover the latest training and therapeutics, while ventilation systems throughout the ships will be upgraded. Onboard, many things won’t change, according to Archbold. “You’re still going to have great food, great service, incredible entertainment and we’ll still visit incredible ports.”
Michelle Black, Australia/New Zealand managing director at Viking Cruises, says Viking is on track to become even more successful in the future than they were in the pre-COVID heyday of 2019. With robust future bookings for river and ocean cruises – Black says Viking has had to open 2023 river bookings early – it seems travellers are hungry for something to look forward to. And she predicts those who have previously enjoyed ocean cruises will want to try river cruising, citing the appeal of smaller passenger loads and daily shore excursions. “I think that will give people a sense of security in that they can step off the ship if they choose to,” she says.
The first cruise line to suspend sailings in 2020, Black expects Viking to lead the way with its new health and safety protocols. These include on-board daily testing labs (on ocean vessels) and science-backed hygiene policies. But while an effective vaccine will speed up the recovery of the industry, with Viking anticipating European river cruises will be sailing in 2021, it’s doubtful New Zealanders will be permitted to travel over before the end of the year. “Our risk-free guarantee is giving people peace of mind to book 2022-2023,” Black says. “Our guests like to have lots booked into their travel diaries.”
GROUPED TOGETHER
The appeal of group tours is likely to grow for those travellers looking for expert guidance and assistance if anything goes wrong.
James Hewlett, head of marketing for touring company Collette, says many things have been changed operationally to ensure safety for guests. Expect to see smaller group sizes, pre-departure medical screening, mask wearing and social distancing. Hewlett says that the company has become adept at managing ‘the new normal’.
He says travellers should expect to be using app technology such as CommonPass, which will record medical status, vaccinations and test results in a centralised location.
And by the time 2022 arrives, will we be ready to again feel the world is our oyster? “I’d certainly like to think so,” he says.