Sustainability to the fore

As we celebrate world tourism day under the theme “Rethinking tourism” Sammy Musa, Chief Executive Officer at Gulf Reps, “Post Covid the tourism landscape and the consumer mindset has inevitably changed, as has the approach to tourism of governments, airlines, hotels and the tourism industry.  Whilst the world adapts, it has begun to feel like pent up tourism bubbles are being satisfied and governments are making tourism to their destinations easier, particularly when you consider the Electronic Visa Waiver that the UK introduced for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. One thing covid has taught us is the power of our environment is stronger than anything we could’ve imagined, and sustainable tourism needs to be at the forefront of our industry’s thinking. Offsetting carbon footprint should become a standard for all airlines and sustainable hotels and electric vehicles should be the norm meaning that even the least environmentally conscious traveler is by default not harming the environment in their quest to see the world. ”

Julie Wagner,  Chief Executive Officer at Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau (BHCVB) reiterated, “Our organization’s culture is based on innovation and staying current with the latest trends and technology.  What happened during the Covid shutdown played on some of our greatest strengths – being nimble and innovative.  Moving forward, we are certainly plugged into some of the shifts in how people book their travel and are aware of a renewed reliance on travel agents, etc., as well as some of the nuances that are required to travel. However, we have always been a destination about service. In Beverly Hills, the hotels, restaurants and retailers are trained to anticipate the client’s every need, maybe even before a client even knows they need it.  So, in a post-Covid world, from a service standpoint, we will continue to focus on our guests’ requirements. And, from a marketing perspective, we will continue to produce great content that continues our main mission of celebrating what is tried and true while featuring it in a new and exciting way.”