05/22/2020

Weekly Updates for Ohio's Travel Economy

Reopening News and Guidance

OHIO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION INDUSTRY BOARD REQUESTING GUIDELINES AND REOPENING DATES

Guidelines for many of our travel-related entertainment businesses have been completed and are awaiting approval from the Governor. Recognizing that many of our businesses need reopening dates as soon as possible to be ready to open as soon as permitted, members of the Ohio Travel Association board have sent a letter to the Governor and Lt. Governor requesting that guidelines and reopening dates are released as soon as possible. 

Dear Governor DeWine:

Thank you for everything you, the Lt. Governor and Dr. Acton have done to keep us all safe. We recognize the enormity and complexities of the tasks, particularly as the economy is reopened.  

One sector of the economy, however, is still at a painful standstill. We respectfully request reopening guidance and reopening dates as soon as possible for Ohio’s museums, entertainment venues, attractions, recreation providers and other similar businesses who remain closed.  

Ohio’s travel businesses are prepared to open, and most have detailed safety plans in place already. These businesses actually have even greater control over customer interactions than many of the businesses already opened. As an example, 

• Capacity can be reduced/managed to allow for appropriate social distancing.
• Exposure time is limited. Guests generally move throughout their experience. Most guests are not sitting in a single location, elbow-to-elbow, for an extended period.
• A large percentage of attraction attendance is made up of family members and others who live in the same home and thus do not need to be physically distanced from each other.

These businesses require notice of reopening so they can stock supplies and hire employees. So having reopening dates soon allows them to prepare so they are ready to go when permitted.

Many of these businesses depend heavily on the next three months to maintain payroll throughout the year. Every day counts. Thus far, more than half of all travel-related jobs have been lost in the US, and the unemployment within these businesses represent 38% of overall national job losses.

As of May 9, year-over-year travel expenditures in Ohio this week are down $522 million or 86%. This reduced spending has led to $15 million in lost state tax revenues. More than 430,000 FTEs are employed in Ohio’s travel economy.     

Because of the seasonality, the need to be ready to open as soon as they can is vital for these businesses and their employees. Using the guidelines already developed, the Ohio Travel Association has been working with more than 400 businesses throughout the state thus far in helping them adapt safety protocols for their customer experiences. Upon release of new guidelines, we will continue to work with those businesses to ensure they are ready.

As industry leadership for the Ohio Travel Association, we thank you for your consideration.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS EASED, MASS GATHERINGS STILL LIMITED TO 10 

Earlier this week, Governor Mike DeWine indicated amendments to the Public Health Order issued May 1 would be released and that an Urgent Health Advisory would be issued. Both the Urgent Health Advisory and Public Health Order were released the evening of May 20. The existing Stay Safe Ohio Order expires May 29 and is still in effect except for those items rescinded and amended in the new order. 

Here are the changes you need to know:

• Ohioans are no longer required to stay at home. Those not at high-risk are advised to take precautions to limit the spread of the disease and it is recommended (but not required) to stay at their place of residence 
• Elderly and those with pre-existing conditions that make them more vulnerable are strongly urged (but not required) to stay at home and to avoid places where they may be exposed
• Those entering the state no longer have to self-quarantine for two weeks
• Any gathering of more than 10 persons is still prohibited, except for weddings, funerals, and religious gatherings as outlined in the original order. Wedding receptions are still restricted to 10 (although we heard this week that the governor is considering lifting that restriction if venues follow restaurant guidelines). 
• Business guidelines for reopening must be followed
• Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or who have tested positive shall not enter the state unless for medical reasons as outlined in the new Public Health Order. 

CLARIFICATION OF RESTAURANT ORDER TO MANDATE SEATED PATRONS, LIMITS RESERVATIONS TO GROUPS OF 10 

For those of you planning on processes for food service, take note!  The original restaurant guidelines developed by the taskforce did not require patrons to be seated; however, the Ohio Public Health Dine Safe Order released May 14 states, "Customers must be seated when consuming food, beer, wine and liquor on the premises of the business." 

Also included in the Dine Safe Order but not the guidelines is "Reservations are to be limited to no more than 10 persons."   

OTA highly recommends that you review the original Dine-Safe Order as well as the guidelines.  

NONCOMPLIANCE CAN RESULT IN REVOKED LIQUOR LICENSES AND LEGAL ACTION

The governor spoke this week about how Ohio’s economic recovery is directly linked to how well businesses maintain social distancing and create safe places. As a result of some noncompliance issues over last weekend, an Ohio law enforcement unit has been activated to conduct safety compliance checks with businesses, particularly bars and restaurants. They will issue citations that could result in revocation of liquor licenses and will work with municipal prosecutors to take potential criminal action against those not in compliance. Individuals can also be cited. 

BWC TO DISTRIBUTE FACIAL COVERINGS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES

Employers participating in Bureau of Workers Compensation will receive packages with at least 50 facial coverings for your employees.

A REMINDER OF GUIDELINES POSTED

New guidelines for businesses and activities are available at Responsible RestartOhio.

We remind you to consider the visitor experiences you offer at your place of business. For example, if you are an attraction, you likely have retail, general office operations and food service. Resorts are likely to have tennis courts, pools, restaurants, etc. Take a look at the guidelines already approved to make sure your reopening plan is in compliance. 

• Campgrounds
• Day camps
• Retail
• Restaurants
• General offices 
• Pools and aquatic operations
• Manufacturing
• Tennis court operators
• Golf course and miniature golf operators
• Adult and youth baseball and softball leagues 
• Charter fishing
• Fishing

EVENT CENTERS CAN OPEN JUNE 1 WITH 300 MAXIMUM CAPACITY 

Catering and banquet centers can reopen under the restaurant guidelines on June 1. Capacity is limited at 300 persons.  

 Your Action Needed

The U.S. House and Senate may soon vote on legislation to amend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and we need YOU to act TODAY to ensure DMOs, chambers and other 501c6 organizations are included.

Next week, the House will likely vote on the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (HR 6886), sponsored by Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Chip Roy (R-TX). The Senate may also consider similar legislation very soon. While HR 6886 makes several positive changes to PPP, the bill does not expand eligibility to nonprofits and other travel organizations not already covered.

Please contact your Representatives and Senators and ask them to make all 501c6 nonprofit and quasi-governmental destination marketing organizations eligible for the PPP in these bills. The very mission of these organizations is to help others, yet they have been excluded from relief.

Show Support Here

Travel Research Updates

TRAVELER SENTIMENT SHOWS DIVISION

Longwoods International's weekly survey of traveler sentiment reveals the following:

• Americans are still very much divided about welcoming visitors back – 31% in favor and 45% against
• Only about a third of Americans indicate they feel comfortable dining in restaurants, while almost half say they are not comfortable in doing so
• More travelers are changing their plans from fly to drive vacations/getaways
• The percentage of American travelers who say that coronavirus will greatly impact their travel decisions in the next six months ticked up slightly for the first time in six weeks to 60%, while concerns about the economy impacting their travel decisions declined a bit. This is reflecting the increasing debate and worry over re-opening too soon 

AMERICAN TRAVELER SENTIMENT SURVEY SHOWS UPTICK IN COIVD-19 IMPACT ON TRAVEL

• View full report here
• Americans are still very much divided about welcoming visitors back – 31% in favor and 45% against
• Only about a third of Americans indicate they feel comfortable dining in restaurants, while almost half say they are not comfortable in doing so
• More travelers are changing their plans from fly to drive vacations/getaways
• The percentage of American travelers who say that coronavirus will greatly impact their travel decisions in the next six months ticked up slightly for the first time in six weeks to 60%, while concerns about the economy impacting their travel decisions declined a bit…  This is reflecting the increasing debate and worry over re-opening too soon

AMERICAN TRAVELERS SHOWING INCREASED INTENT

Destination Analysts surveys 1,200 American travelers weekly. Key findings of their May 18 results follows:

• 32% who say they are willing to engage in activities in their own community is at a 9-week high
• Increasing numbers of Americans are feeling it’s safe to go shopping (36.0%), visit friends and relatives (43.5%), take a road trip (49.3%) and engage in (non-team) outdoor recreational activities (56.9%).
• Travelers in the Midwest and South have the relatively least concerns about the virus, are most optimistic that the coronavirus situation will stay the same or improve in the next month and demonstrate the most agreement that they will be traveling in the fall.
• American travelers are demonstrating increased comfort with (or in spite of) their concerns surrounding COVID-19.
• Travel planning is happening.
• Marketing could be effective in swaying travelers to choose a specific destination.
• Travelers need destination-level information on safety.
• Rural residents are the least comfortable with tourists presently, setting up potential tensions with travelers desiring the types of assets found in these places.
• Travel remains recognized for its positive emotional benefits for families.

Economic Impact Updates

TRAVEL-RELATED UNEMPLOYMENT NOW AT 51%

More than half of the 15.8 million travel-related jobs in the U.S. have disappeared since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic—driving an unemployment number (51%) that is more than twice the 25% rate the country as a whole experienced at the worst of the Great Depression, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Travel Association.

Prepared for U.S. Travel by the research firm Tourism Economics, the painful jobs figures arrive just days before the Memorial Day holiday weekend—the unofficial start of the summer travel season, for which many travel businesses would have typically prepared with a round of seasonal hiring.

For this Memorial Day holiday weekend, Tourism Economics projects that travel spending in the U.S. will tally just a third of last year’s levels—$4.2 billion this year versus $12.3 billion in 2019.

“The travel industry has exhibited the ability to lead a national economic recovery, bouncing back well ahead of expectations after both 9/11 and the financial crisis of the late 2000s,” said U.S. Travel Association's Roger Dow. “But to do that this time, travel-reliant businesses need to survive until a recovery can truly begin. Not only are structural changes and expanded eligibility to the PPP critical for the most impacted travel businesses just to keep the lights on, but ultimately stimulative measures will be important.”

U.S. Travel has submitted policy proposals that would help the industry restore jobs and economic activity quickly once travel begins to rebound. One significant challenge is that aid measures provided by Congress so far just aren’t working for the hardest-hit businesses that have been without customers or revenue for as many as 10 or more weeks. The intent from Congress was good, but changes are necessary to bring these jobs back.

Click here for a fact sheet on the latest travel-related economic data.