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Transformed Tourism
Why not even a global pandemic can tamp travel to our sunny shores for long
By Skye Sherman
If you’re an avid traveler or among the millions employed by the tourism sector, you know that the hospitality industry suffered one of the pandemic’s hardest hits. Travel was dealt a serious blow, but it has risen again from the ashes—at least in Palm Beach County. Keeping it Clean
Local institutions have been forced to evolve, adjusting long-established practices for welcoming and cleaning up after guests and the way basic procedures like food service and safe transit are handled.
“As an enduring 125-year-old property, we know very well that change is necessary to thrive, not just survive,” says Paul Leone, CEO of The Breakers. As an organization that has made “rigging for bad weather” part of its long-term strategy, The Breakers chooses not to judge the changes wrought by COVID-19 as good or bad, he adds.
When the resort reopened in May 2020, its leadership launched the comprehensive B SAFE Health & Safety Initiative, which aims to quell the spread of COVID-19 through updated employee practices and cleaning protocols. Leone says the procedures “will remain embedded in our culture for the foreseeable future.”
Laura Beebe, director of airports for Palm Beach County, also sees permanent changes to the status quo. While airports have always prioritized the security of passengers, she says, the pandemic led to a broadened focus on the safety of the airport environment itself.
“Early in the pandemic, [Palm Beach International Airport] developed a comprehensive plan to ensure best practices were implemented in line with rapidly evolving industry standards to reduce the spread of germs and viruses in the airport environment,” Beebe shares. Along with many other local businesses, PBIA was awarded a GBAC STAR Accreditation, which signifiesthat the facility is equipped to handle infectious disease outbreaks and biohazardous situations. According to Beebe, the measures PBIA adopted as part of this plan are permanent.
Paul Leone
Getting There
The travel experience—getting to your destination, checking in, and getting comfortable—has changed, perhaps forever in some scenarios. But not all of tourism’s forced evolutionary leaps are negative. Consider the accelerated embrace of nextgen technology like touchless transactions and temperature screenings; enjoy the lax cancellation policies while they exist. Mask
Jorge Pesquera
mandates and social distancing rules may flutuate with the surges, but pandemic-wrought changes to operational practices—think rigorous sanitization schedules, reservations for certain amenities, and hygiene kits upon check-in—are likely here to stay. Shifting Demographics
Another shift in PBC tourism comes in the form of who is visiting our area—and for how long. “We have seen heightened interest from the drive market looking for staycations, especially among local, tri-county, and statewide visitors,” says Leone. In addition, longer-lead reservations are coming in at a record pace, and domestic travel is at peak levels, especially from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
“With growing confidencein air travel, we are already experiencing a rise in bookings from other U.S. markets as well, notably from Texas and California,” he says. Adds Beebe, “The decline in international travel resulted in an increased demand for domestic travel, particularly to strong leisure destinations like the Palm Beaches.” Plus, reduced demand for business travel has led airlines to focus more on the leisure traveler—a trend Beebe predicts will continue.
Overall, the outcomes of the pandemic have been inconvenient at best—there’s no denying that. Many once-popular destinations have been on life support, but fortunately, Palm Beach County has bounced back and remained abuzz—with some Q2 metrics, (like room nights sold) surpassing 2019’s numbers.
“The pandemic has shown us how resilient of a community we are,” says Jorge Pesquera, CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches. And the road ahead looks bright: “During Q2, visitation from traditional drive markets was up significantl, as were many of our key flymarkets. International travel and group business have not yet recovered, but we expect the same demand surge from these markets once conditions are more favorable.”
Courtesy of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
Laura Beebe
