Jun 26

Jun 26 Friday Findings: Pandemics Geography

Providing ideas and insight that can inform agency and partner strategies for improvement of park, recreation and hospitality operations and assets
Map Courtesy of Boston Globe

Mid Summer: Pandemic’s Geography and its Impact on Travel Patterns and Recovery

This week we have heard reports of heightened concerns about a new spike in COVID-19 positive cases and hospitalizations. This comes after an apparent lull in the spread of the disease, and a decline in some of the U.S.’s initial hot spots for impacts from the virus. Houston’s ICU bed capacity hit 100% capacity today, and New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced they would require self-quarantining measures for residents returning from Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and other states with high positive COVID test ratios.

At the same time, after months of staying inside, many Americans are desperate for some sun and a vacation. Indeed, bookings for Miami Beach hotels are at near capacity for the 4th of July weekend.

SKIFT’s Global Recovery Travel Index compares year over year and year to date travel patterns on a monthly basis. A summary of this data indicates that in the U.S. the June index is flat, meaning recovery has stalled in the last month.

CHMGS’s data scan of visitor sentiment, travel drive times and the Skift Recovery Index, all confirm that the month of July will undoubtedly bring hyper local and in-state visitors to your public places. As you head into this month and look at your overnight accommodations’ reservations, check out the zip codes. If there are large percentages of reservations from out of state, you should be prepared for some additional cancellations. Your marketing should be targeted to existing local customers, in-state geography and mid-week demand.

Opportunities continue to exist. The way forward requires agility, so keep yourself flexible!

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