Travel Tech Essentialist #25: Character
“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it” —James Lane Allen
The travel sector, one of the most profoundly impacted by the CV19 crisis, is sure revealing a character full of generosity, hope and resilience.
1. My take on the new normal in travel after CV19
Some parts of life will return to normal quickly, but the travel industry will undergo a fundamental reset. My article highlights four variables that will define the travel industry’s post pandemic new normal.
2. Cloudbeds founders launch #hospitalityhelp program
Beds are needed as field hospitals, for quarantine, for social distancing, and for health professionals. #hospitalityhelps connects healthcare and government agencies with lodging providers ready to supply beds in this time of need. Great initiative by Cloudbeds. Beds pledged so far 1,223,452.
3. #PayitForward to the travel industry: a call to action for business leaders
Philippe Gelis, CEO of Kantox (a currency risk tech company), is calling on firms with healthy cash positions to support their travel industry partners by not hoarding cash. Kantox leads by example by vowing to pre-pay part of its 2020 travel budget to its travel partners to help restore business confidence, ease supply chain disruption, and boost cash flows. This is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart business move. Read more.
4. Travel Tech Essentialist Survey 🙏
I would greatly appreciate your input on this quick survey regarding how CV19 will impact different players in the industry. The intention of this survey is to take the pulse of travel industry professionals (and those interested in the sector) about this topic. I will share the results with you in a future issue of this newsletter. All answers are anonymous. Take survey (thanks!).
5. When things do start to return to normal, travel will look very different.
Insightful article by TravelPerk CEO Avi Meir on 9 very specific changes he sees coming once travel starts going back to normal. By the way, TravelPerk is still in hiring mode with multiple positions available in their product and engineering teams.
6. China travel app analysis is used to predict how long it will take for other countries to rebound
How long will it be until people are allowed to travel again? And when they are, how long will it take for travel bookings to return to pre-crisis levels? Lufthansa Innovation Hub analyzed Chinese travel app download trends across all travel categories to seek answers. The results are promising and provide some much needed optimism. Read more - LIH.
7. Hospitality sector teams up online to help
The hotel and lodging industry has been pulling together online resources to trade operational insights and to share ways to help their communities during the coronavirus crisis. Read more - Skift.
8. Airbnb hosts organize to help provide housing to 100,000 COVID-19 responders
Airbnb launched a global initiative that will provide free or subsidized housing for healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first responders to allow them to be closer to their patients and safely distanced from their own families. Read more.
9. Hoteliers open doors to help those who help us
Some examples of hotels in the US stepping up to the challenge:
The American Hotel & Lodging Association announced the launch of Hotels for Hope, an initiative aimed at connecting hotel properties with health workers and first responders in need of temporary housing. At least 6,500 properties have signed up.
Oyo Hotels announced it would offer free accommodations in all its hotels in the US to doctors, nurses and other medical first responders.
10. Plug and Play launches a global CV19 accelerator
Plug and Play launched a global CV19 accelerator dedicated to scaling the world’s most promising startups who can help address the coronavirus pandemic. Join the program.
Startups concerned about fundraising might be interested in joining a webinar on April 16th that Plug and Play is putting together with VC fund Inven Capital to guide startups on which steps to take. More information.
❗️P.S. Friendly reminder to please complete this short survey for Travel Tech Essentialist readers. Very much appreciated.
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Mauricio
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