US inbound travel from the UK and Ireland will restart in 2021, leisure travel will recover first and wider international recovery will pick up in 2022 – just some of the key lessons that came out of Brand USA’s recent focus on UK & Ireland. For two days (20-21 April), the Brand USA Global Marketplace platform welcomed upwards of 200 US partners as well as British and Irish travel agents and tour operators for panel discussions hosted by industry experts, networking and a special USA training session.
The conference came at an opportune time. Yesterday’s reports of Ursula von der Leyen’s comments to the New York Times about the prospect of international travel resuming this summer between the United States and Europe struck the most optimistic note in months and so it is entirely fitting that the industry begin preparations for a return to some kind of normality.
“This event was a fantastic opportunity to reunite more than 225 UK and Irish travel agents and tour operators, and show that the U.S is ready to welcome friends and visitors back with open arms. It was uplifting to hear that the U.S. tops the list for U.K. and Irish travellers and that in the post-COVID-19 era, travellers are eager to return to their favourite U.S. destinations as well as explore more of what our country has to offer,” said Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA.
And, just in case you weren’t able to attend the event, the key learnings from Focus On the U.K. & Ireland include:
- The U.S is one of the earliest long-haul destinations to bounce back, and interest exploded following the successful roll-out of the U.S.’s vaccination programme (The Telegraph)
- Given higher-than-average savings coupled with pent-up demand and the desire to experience bucket-list holidays in 2021 and beyond, U.K. and Irish travellers will return stronger and better than ever before
- As borders reopen, the Visiting Friends and Relatives market will be one the first to return, resulting in a surge in travel as friends and relatives are finally able reunite
- Flexible booking policies, reassurances on health and safety, as well as the financial stability of the company will be key considerations for consumers when booking holidays
- U.K. and Irish travellers are spending more on holidays and staying for longer, opening beyond the gateway cities and creating demand for lesser-known destinations
Accelerated Media Trends
During a live media panel, editors from the Irish Independent, National Geographic Traveller and Travel Weekly discussed key trends emerging from the pandemic such as wilderness and the great outdoors, sustainability, experiential travel, and the desire to take epic trips in 2021. From the conversation, it is clear that while COVID-19 was a disruptor for media, it is also a trend accelerator, and the U.S. is poised to take advantage of new-found opportunities that appeal to all types of travellers.
The Booking Trifecta: Flexible Booking Policies, Safety, and Financial Stability
Sharing hope and optimism for the future of travel, three of the U.K. and Ireland’s leading tour operators, British Airways Holidays, Contiki and dnata, joined a panel focusing on the return of U.S. inbound travel, addressing what consumers want and what type of trips consumers are booking. The panel noted that higher than average bank deposits and savings means that British and Irish travellers have more money—approximately £180 billion worth of savings in addition to what they normally would have saved during the pandemic, according to Lisa McAuley, managing director at dnata—to spend on leisure trips. Before leisure, the first segment to return will be Visiting Friends and Relatives. Adam Armstrong, CEO at Contiki, continued to provide insight on booking trends, saying that ultimately bookings will “Come down to availability and accessibility of getting into the country in the first place. That’s where the United States have got the advantage over many parts of the world.”
Transatlantic Aviation Charts a New Course
As travellers take flight, airlines will respond to changes in consumer behaviour to ensure that aviation returns at the right level, at the right time and the right speed. Joined by representatives of Airport Strategy & Marketing, Aer Lingus, and Virgin Atlantic, Bob Schumacher, director of the U.K. & Ireland at United Airlines stated the importance of examining aviation through a refreshed lens. “We’re not going back to what we did before. We’re going back to something new, and we need to be able to adapt to what that new is,” commented Schumacher.
Confidence is Key
Trust is the key currency between consumers and tour operators and there is a renewed confidence and vigour to book with a reputable travel agent. Carolyn Stead, continental destination manager for North America, at Trailfinders reinforced this sentiment saying, “As the confidence has built a bit in the last few weeks, we have seen a slight swing back to 2021 (from 2022) with 60 per cent of business for 2021 and 40 per cent for 2022.” Clarity and transparency are going to be paramount to consumers as they want to fully understand what their travel experience will entail from logistical questions to emotional motivations, including immersive and transformative experiences that allow them to connect to the destination.
Digital Continues to Soar
Over the last 12 months, viewership of Brand USA’s Samsung TV Plus doubled as people look to escape from the comfort of their homes as they wait for travel to return. The platform gives viewers a much wider choice of content, channels and recognisable programmes.
Reconnecting with U.K. & Irish Travel Agents and Tour Operators
The USA Training Day marked the first-ever event for U.K. and Irish travel agents on the Brand USA Global Marketplace platform, providing an opportunity to connect directly with many of the U.S. destination and attraction partners to help align recovery campaigns and messaging. USA Training Day featured panel discussions, informing, updating and educating agents and tour operators on the wonders of the great outdoors, gateway cities and beyond.
