Monthly analysis & insight on policy issues affecting the travel technology industry

Throughout the summer, Travel Tech aggressively advocated for additional relief for the American people and the countless businesses that have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on travel and tourism and the millions of people who work in this vital industry has been particularly significant. The Trump Administration and members of Congress must find a way to agree on additional economic relief in 2020, whether it is before or after the election. 
 
Travel Tech continues to support measures that would specifically assist the travel and tourism industry in the United States, including:

• Offering Americans a travel tax credit;
• Providing targeted liability protections for businesses that follow proper health and safety guidelines to protect against COVID-19;
• Expanding and enhancing the Employee Retention Tax Credit included in the CARES Act; and
• Establishing pandemic risk insurance.

While Travel Tech’s members and key stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry have implemented comprehensive safety measures to protect travelers and boost consumer confidence, it is ultimately Congress that must take action to help spur travel and bolster the industry. Travel Tech will continue to urge all policymakers to provide more relief for all Americans affected by this pandemic without delay.

Opinion: Compromise on Short-Term Rentals Will Move San Diego Forward
Pete Fuentes, Times of San Diego

Sabre Gets Level 4 NDC Aggregator Certification
Michael B. Baker, Business Travel News

Skyscanner’s Travel Confident webinar: the full recap
Anne Marie Crosthwaite, Skyscanner

Analysis by Travel Tech President Steve Shur

Travel Technology Ushering in the New Era of Travel, Post-COVID

The way travel used to be isn’t going to happen again for a while, and the travel industry as a whole will need to work together and adapt to meet this challenge or face a grim fate. Fortunately, some travel technology companies are doing just that and already innovating to make the future of travel even better than it was before. Read more from Steve Shur on how the travel industry is adapting to keep travelers safe, healthy, and confident.

Tripadvisor Launches Contactless Menu Creator

Tripadvisor is extending an innovative helping-hand to restaurants so they can provide customers with a safe dining experience during COVID-19. Tripadvisor launched a free Contactless Menu creator on their website for any restaurant that has added a menu link to its Tripadvisor listing.

The Contactless Menu creator creates a QR code that links to the restaurant’s Tripadvisor online menu. Restaurants can then print out the QR code and display it on tables, counters, host and hostess stands, and windows. Guests scan the code with their phone cameras and the menu is uploaded to their phone for them to peruse. Viewing the menu contactlessly decreases germ transmissions, increases the safety of the customers and staff members, and makes the customer feel safer. 

Customers feeling safe and seeing that restaurants are taking safety seriously is paramount during this critical time. Tripadvisor found that more than 35% of customers say they will prioritize dining at restaurants that they feel keep customers safe. 

In addition to providing restaurants with the Contactless Menu creator, Tripadvisor also launched a new Travel Safe search-engine filter so customers can search for restaurants that take extra safety precautions. 

The pandemic is requiring industries to find innovative solutions to address customers’ safety concerns. Tripadvisor’s Contactless Menu creator is a phenomenal example of how the travel industry is meeting customers’ needs and supporting local partners worldwide that are struggling during the pandemic.