Safety First

Many of us are wondering if it is safe to travel yet. As some parts of the world have reopened, travelers and guests are weighing the odds whether to get on a plane, stay in a hotel or rent a car.

Booking flights is something we all love to do. It’s exciting to go somewhere new or a familiar place to learn and explore. It’s important to remember that we are still in a pandemic. It’s going to be interesting when arriving at an airport to wait in a queue among other individuals. I would imagine that airlines are doing what they can to minimize contact through your airport experience. Contactless check in kiosks and self placed bag drops might be a good idea. For instance, British Airways is providing protective measures to ensure passenger safety. Then Delta is redefining their cleaning methods to meet passenger expectations. Lufthansa is implementing change to make sure sustainability is in place. Although these are confined spaces, once on the plane, the air is constantly being cleaned and filtered. Therefore it’s possible to manage travel right now. Regardless, wear a mask at all times.

Photo: Stefano getting ready to fly across the pond.

“Recently, I took an American Airlines flight from Dallas to London. The airlines did confirm in an email prior to the flight, rules for safety regarding masks. Airport navigation was easy with short queues at security. I flew home as my ESTA was expiring, the trip to Dallas was to avoid lockdown in London. I enjoyed the trip and will go back once allowed to again,” said Stefano Andrean, 31, company founder and business consultant.

Then visiting a hotel will be interesting. Arriving there, checking in and mingling among other guests. Then there’s the elevator, room inspections, restaurant vibes, spa treatments and pool areas. Hopefully, there are automatic doors everywhere. Either way, Marriott impressively created a cleanliness council. Four Seasons rolled out a Lead With Care program. Clearly, the hotels are stepping up their game in hopes to welcome guests soon again.

Photo: Cole enjoying the day in beautiful Bermuda.

Here’s an example from one of the world’s top travel destinations. Cole Simmons, 30, guest relations supervisor said, “Although Bermuda airport is closed. Hotels have had an extremely successful month. Many guests want to be catered to by having room service while still having the option to use private beaches. I would recommend staying at a hotel as hotels think long term and focus solely on today’s guests. We’ve all adjusted. Seating has changed for all restaurants in Bermuda. Guests and employees must wear masks. Food and beverage sales are a focus for all hotels. This is to ensure revenue remains as high as possible while maintaining necessary precautions. Although I am excited to travel again, I think all of us have a new appreciation for the cities, towns, jurisdictions we call home such as discovering new hiking trails and beaches. My next travel destination is Saint Lucia. I think the natural beauty and relaxed approach is something I have experienced over the last few months and it would be good to experience that but within a new travel destination.”

Additionally, renting a car would be a lower risk activity as long as you wipe down everything properly and don’t touch your face. This is more of a common sense thing to protect yourself and others. Also, rental car businesses are using cleaning measures to ensure areas are sanitized as advised by international health organisations. Avis is paying attention to specific areas of the car to enhance protocols. Enterprise is committing to a new way of curbside rentals. Budget is there as alternative transportation as well.

Moreover, each company is monitoring with healthcare guidelines in mind to provide the best service to their clients and guests. All we can do is observe how things unfold as we manage this new normal.