NTA COVID-19 CENTRAL
Below you’ll find a compilation of industry information, advocacy updates, best practices, and resources available to everyone.
For NTA members, you also may access NTA’s interactive online community, Engage. We encourage you to go to Engage to contribute your strategies and best practices, to ask questions of fellow members, and to be a part of the conversation to move through this crisis together.
Financial Assistance Information
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- PPP Second-draw Loans: 2021 Relief Act
- NTA Letter to Congressional Leadership
- NTA Member PPP Letter to Congress Template (right-click and click save link as to download)
Canadian Resources:
- The Business Development Bank of Canada is offering flexible and tailored financing solutions and advice to help through the Coronavirus crisis.
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) represents small business in Canada on government issues.
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Official COVID-19 Resources
State Department
Travel Industry
- Delta: Coronavirus Testing Locations (delta.com)https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-update-center/flying-what-you-need-to-know/coronavirus-testing-locationsSkyTeam: Information Center (skyteam.com)(https://www.skyteam.com/labslocator/home)
- US Travel Resources:
- Delta Coronavirus Travel Update
- Smith Travel Research (STR)
- Destinations International
- American Hotel & Lodging Association
Public Health
NTA Resources
Below are some of the resources available to NTA members.
- Get the latest information from your NTA tour supplier and DMO partners (member login required)
- Virtual Tours and Educational Resources
- Connect with industry friends, colleagues and peers who have been displaced due to COVID-19: https://htta.us/
- Upcoming NTA Webinars and recordings (member login required)
- White Paper: Crisis Management for Tour Companies, by Catherine Prather, CTP (2017)
- Courier Article: Finding Balance in Adverse Times
U.S. Advocacy Updates
NTA’s Washington, D.C., consultants at Elevate Government Affairs are closely monitoring all things COVID-19 on the legislative front. Please click a date below to go to that day’s update from Elevate.
Canadian Tourism Advocacy Update
The Travel Industry Association of Canada continues to advocate for the tourism sector daily. TIAC is committed to the most up-to-date information to help businesses navigate this difficult time.
Advocacy Updates
Member Strategies, Best Practices and Travel-related Updates
Travel Updates & Resources
- U.S. States Re-opening Statuses (NY Times)
- U.S. States Travel Restrictions (CNN)
- Considerations for Travelers (CDC)
- International Travel Information (U.S. State Department)
Tour Operators:
- Review and adjust your reschedule/refund policies. Encourage travelers to reschedule instead of cancel. Work with tour suppliers to renegotiate cancellation/reschedule to minimize loss.
- Cut or postpone overhead and administration costs (office supplies, pay cuts, postpone new hiring, fewer business trips, etc.). Shift markets to less-impacted destinations. Reduce the number of products and tours offered for the immediate future.
- Review and better understand your insurance policy. Communicate with peer tour operators and learn from their best practices.
- Be patient with the situation. Communicate accurate and clear information from the industry and with trade partners. Keep calm. Stay updated on the situation with accurate information, not media hype. Be positive and send out positive messages.
- Work with suppliers and destinations for more flexible terms and policies.
- Reduce cost for the short term, review business, and adapt for the long term.
- Actions taken on cancellations include refunds and rescheduling:
- Either waiting for refunds from suppliers before refunding clients or refunding clients and working to get refunds from suppliers.
- Urge clients to postpone rather than cancel.
- Refunding deposits if the client does not reschedule or agree to postpone.
- Refunding deposits less a charge for a nonrefundable airline, theme park, or theater tickets.
DMOs:
- Gather accurate and updated information and get a better understanding of the risks.
- Use open and transparent communication with trade partners and consumers; keep them updated.
- Stay calm and do not overreact. Do not stray from your core business of destination.
- Be prepared to change marketing/advertising plans.
Tour suppliers:
- Offer flexible reschedule/refund policies. Offer extra incentives.
- Provide accurate and updated information. Communicate with trade partners and consumers with clear information.
- Provide extra protection (hand sanitizers etc., special waivers).
- Reduce business trips, trade show exhibitions, and sales missions.
- Keep updated with current and accurate information.
- Ensure that employees are following safe practices to mitigate contamination.
- Keep calm and be patient and positive.
China Market Update
Beijing Culture and Tourism Global Online Strategic Forum
1) Rebuilding Tourism from the Ground Up: China Travel in a Post-COVID World
2) The Return of the MICE Sector in Uncertain Times
3) Getting Travelers Back on the Road – How to Attract the Youth Travel Market
Keynote speeches:
1) Answers to the Biggest Challenges in Selling China Tourism
2) Welcome Back to Beijing: Post-COVID Leisure Travel Trends and Products for Beijing
3) Research Report Release – Recovery Trends and Travel Sentiment in the Post Epidemic Period
4) Beijing Winter Olympics, a Glimpse into the Future of Beijing
· Gui Lin – Director of Master Planning Division, Venue Planning & Construction of BOCOG
- Travel Exchange is worth every penny. The networking is great, and there is always business to be made to show ROI for your decision makers. The investment is worth the reward. Cory Mace, Badger Bus
- What NTA does is provide the right buyers. They provide the right people who make decisions. This is what makes this organization one I can’t afford to take off my list. John Stachnik CTP, Mayflower Tours, NTA member since 1979
- I came to NTA to build a business, and that’s exactly what it did for us, as sales came in. For me, it’s the only outlet for new ideas. Matthew Squire, Select Travel Service (UK), NTA member since 2002
- The No. 1 member benefit of NTA has to be all the great professional and personal connections we’ve made over the past decade. Taunya Wolfe Finn, CTP, Wolfe Adventures & Tours, NTA member since 2005
- We have not found a more reliable, more profitable or more consistent tourism venue in which to acquire new business than NTA. Diane Hohnstein, Hospitality Management Services, NTA member since 1999
- You guys at NTA have the best bunch of members I have ever come across. I had one of my best shows ever. Everybody was so nice and welcoming, and the organization of the event was spectacular. I am so happy to be a member and be assured of my continued support in the future. Bernard O'Reilly, Joe O'Reilly Ireland DMC
- NTA events provide us with beneficial networking with many top tour operators. It’s national and international in scope providing a global perspective. Tim and Elaine Moulder, Brilliant Edventures, NTA member since 2015