News
State Economy Comparisons
The COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the U.S. economy, leaving no corner of the country untouched by those consequences. However, some states have emerged better off than others. To determine the states with the best and worst economies, Wall Street created an index of five measures—a 5-year economic growth, 5-year employment growth, the poverty rate,…
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Urge to Splurge Powers Massive Gains for Three Large Retailers
American consumers are eager to start spending as life inches closer to normalcy again, and this is shown in wowing results posted by three different retailers—Walmart, the Home Depot and Macy’s. Total revenue for Walmart climbed 2.7% to $138.3 billion, with comparable sales in the U.S. advancing 6%. The Home Depot benefited from an unprecedented…
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Business Travelers Willing to the Hit Road Again, With Stipulations
SAP Concur, in partnership with Wakefield Research, recently conducted a global business travel survey that polled nearly 3,900 business travelers across 25 worldwide markets. The survey revealed that business travelers are willing to hit the road within the next year—but only if their employers implement measures that enable them to do so safely and comfortably.…
Read MoreTruth Behind American Labor Shortage
As the demand for traveling and visiting attractions begins to boom, an American labor shortage has become very apparent. While there are plenty of employment opportunities available, workers have no desire to go back to the way things were before the pandemic and are hoping that the labor shortage is viewed as the chance for…
Read MoreGlobal Tourism Industry Looks For Swift Rebound
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is giving many government officials across the world a new confidence to reopen borders and welcome visitors in order to revive their tourism-reliant economies. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the sector lost nearly $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs worldwide last year alone, so many countries are…
Read MoreSummer Travel Forecast: Pack a Little Patience
After a year of lockdowns and stringent COVID-19 restrictions, many travelers are filling their calendars with vacations this summer. However, a severe worker shortage brings about a warning for travelers: expect delays and pack a little patience. While Americans are more than ready to venture out and return to normal summer fun, staffing issues threaten to…
Read MoreDisneyland to Reopen to Out-of-State Visitors
Come mid-June, Disneyland fans won’t need a California address to be able to visit. Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will begin welcoming out-of-state visitors beginning June 15. The state of California does not require that all guests be fully vaccinated or obtain a negative COVID-19 test before visiting, but does require face coverings be…
Read MoreAsheville Approves $15 Million Marketing Budget
By the start of April, Buncombe County in Asheville, North Carolina saw its lodging sales regain the ground lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority now seeks to fan the flames of recovery with its biggest-ever annual marketing spend: more than $15 million (+55% from current budget). This marketing spend would…
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Post-Pandemic Attractions: Transform or be Transformed
There is not going to be a “new normal” for the attractions industry, and whether that is good news or bad news depends on the attraction. The pandemic did not impede change but acted as an accelerator of transformation and proved that the idea of collective normalcy is not a reality. Here are three key…
Read MoreAmerican Airlines Debuts Vaccine Passport Feature
American Airlines recently took proof of vaccination into their own hands, adding a vaccine passport feature into the mobile app they have been employing since November. This feature will allow flyers to securely upload their CDC vaccination card before a trip to a destination requiring vaccination, where it will then verify and process the card…
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