Vancouver Trump closes for good
The Trump Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, has permanently closed, citing the pandemic. The land and building are owned by Malaysian multinational TA Global Berhad, which licensed rights to use the Trump name. TA Global said its two of its Canadian subsidiaries, which leased and ran Trump Hotel and Tower Vancouver, are insolvent after the pandemic hobbled the hotel business.
Read more in the Vancouver Sun
Amadeus: Positives ahead of US Labor Day holiday
Data from Amadeus shows continued improved demand compared with the summer holidays in 2019, and that daily picked-up occupancy in the 14-day booking window exceeds the same time last year for the upcoming Labor Day holiday. Some highlights:
- Forty-two markets are over 30% occupancy ahead of Labor Day compared with only five markets over 30% occupancy two weeks prior to Memorial Day
- U.S. booked occupancy achieved 135% of the occupancy that was picked up the same time last year
- Texas, Arizona, Wyoming and Utah have the highest occupancies leading into the holiday
- In the top five markets, most of the business is coming from domestic travel: McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, are all within Texas; in Sierra Vista and Yuma, Arizona, the majority of travelers are coming from Arizona and California; in Jackson, Wyoming, travelers are all domestic but more diverse, originating from Utah, California, Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., to name a few
Thailand plans to open to long-term tourism
Thailand is finalizing a plan that would make it possible for some Europeans to spend the upcoming winter months in the country. The country’s borders have been closed to most foreigners since late March to fight the pandemic, but the government plans to grant visas to foreigners who want to stay in Thailand for up to nine months. Visitors will undergo a 14-day quarantine and virus tests in Phuket; after three weeks total, they could travel elsewhere in the country. Thailand has seen 3,411 coronavirus cases and 58 deaths.
Vail Resorts’ plan for skiing this winter
Vail Resorts has announced safety protocols, including health screenings, face coverings and a new reservation system, for all of its 34 North American resorts. In a recent letter, CEO Rob Katz detailed the new safety precautions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vail will require face coverings in order to access all of its mountains and inside all buildings. Staff will also enforce physical distancing inside all buildings, including at restaurants and all sales will be cashless.