Sanitized and Safe – The New Normal in Travel

As some parts of the country are slowly starting to reopen, major companies in the travel and tourism industry are hoping to encourage consumers to take a much-needed vacation. But, what do hotels and airlines have to do to ensure travelers that it is safe to travel again? As the movie Jaws taught us, tourists are not likely to dip their toes into proverbial waters until assured it is safe to go back in.

The majority of Americans (63%) say that they can’t wait to get out and start traveling again.  However, 79% say that their personal travel habits will change to include gloves/masks, carrying hand gel, wiping down seats and tray tables after boarding, and other common-sense routines for the foreseeable future.

While American’s clearly miss traveling, there are hurdles to overcome to make these travelers feel safe.  Roughly two-thirds (64%) are uncomfortable flying as part of their next leisure trip; 49% are uncomfortable staying in a hotel.

So, what can hotels and airlines do to help alleviate these concerns?  It is all about sanitization, social distancing practices, and clear communication about these efforts:

This begs the question – have hotels and airlines done enough? While most major hotel and airline companies have already enhanced their cleanliness and safety protocols in light of the pandemic, is it sufficient?  The data shows just how polarizing these current times are – while half agree that airlines have done enough to reassure them that future air travel will be safe – half disagree.

Key takeaway:

While consumers definitely miss traveling, they are still very concerned about safety. Airlines and Hotels need to go above and beyond to communicate sanitation and cleaning procedures to guests to help alleviate this fear.