In this edition of the Direct Travel News Brief… REAL ID full enforcement date, new airline flight schedules, United returns to JFK, TSA extends mask mandate, re-opening New York City, tips for staying connected in a virtual world, traveler tips, Savannah Convention Center expansion, smart planning for hybrid meeting experiences and more!
Department of Homeland Security — DHS is extending the REAL ID full enforcement date by 19 months, from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023, due to circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
Business Travel News — More than half of business travelers from North America and the Asia-Pacific region would be comfortable flying domestically now amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new survey, but far fewer business travelers from Europe, the Middle East and Africa would say the same. Read More
Afar Magazine — The wait is over: American travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 may soon enter the European Union, the head of the European Commission said. Read More
Travel Market Report — Delta will be the first airline to resume service to Athens with daily flights from New York-JFK and Atlanta. Read More
Insider Travel Report — Delta will outfit nearly all of its domestic mainline fleet with best-in-class high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2022. Read More
Insider Travel Report — United Airlines said in June it will fly its largest schedule since before the pandemic to meet growing demand for summer travel. Read More
Afar Magazine — After a five-year hiatus, the airline has started offering service to San Francisco and Los Angeles from the New York hub again. Read More
Wheels Up Network — All U.S.-based airlines that served Costa Rica before the pandemic have resumed service to the Central American country or have plans to do so in the near future. Read More
Travel Market Report — The TSA has not seen a day of fewer than one million passengers since March 10. Read More
NPR — The federal mask mandate, which was set to expire on May 11, will remain in effect through Sept. 13, according to updated guidance issued by the Transportation Security Administration on Friday. Read More
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Business Travel News — Lyft has agreed to sell its Level 5 self-driving car division to a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. for about $550 million in cash, the company announced this week. Read More
Hilton.com — Whether you’re an eco-friendly traveler or just looking to stay at a unique property that is sustainable and making a positive impact in their local community, consider these 10 properties on your travel bucket list. Read More
Business Travel News — Extended-stay brand Homewood Suites by Hilton this week unveiled a new brand refresh and prototype design, about two years after it updated its public spaces and suite interiors, according to Hilton Worldwide. Read More
Afar Magazine — If the vaccine rollout continues apace, the city could return to normalcy this summer—here's what that means. Read More
Afar Magazine — With these free iPhone and Android apps, you can easily learn how to say “please” and “thank you” in any language necessary. Read More
Afar Magazine — When traveling by plane, there are some ways to minimize the spread of germs. Read More
Travel Pulse — Vioguard, a leader in UV-C technologies for infection control, has just released the results of a consumer survey aimed at better understanding the importance of elevated sanitization protocols in the minds of travelers, especially as post-pandemic travel begins to open up. Read More
Afar Magazine — Just in time for summer, masks are no longer required for the vaccinated when in an uncrowded environment outside. Read More
Creative Group — In a recent study, 1/3 of employed people reported feeling disconnected from their coworkers during COVID-19. Here are Creative Group’s tips for staying connected in a virtual world. Read More
Creative Group — As the world opens up to face-to-face events again, it will be critical to determine where live, virtual, and now hybrid events fit within your portfolio. Here are eight Key Considerations of Smart Planning for Hybrid Experiences. Read More
Northstar Meetings Group — Creative Group’s very own Melissa Van Dyke, VP, Design and Insights, breaks down the behavioral science behind how COVID-19 impacts the travel and event experience in this latest Northstar Meetings Group article. Read More
Successful Meetings — Top tips for reducing contagion and keeping attendees safe at face-to-face meetings. Read More
Creative Group — After the darkness that defined much of 2020… you may be feeling a little worn out. But just like after every night, a new day eventually dawns. Here’s why Creative Group believes weaving gratitude practices into your next event is so important. Read More
Northstar Meetings Group — The project will add a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 100,000 square feet of exhibit space to the Georgia events venue. Read More
Looking for guidance on planning your next convention, incentive, or group trip? Direct Travel will assist with all your meetings and event details! Whatever your needs may be when it comes to your event, you can always depend on us to design streamlined travel arrangements, plan strategic meetings, and deliver real-time results. For details, please send a message to: MeetingInquiry@dt.com.