Members of the NTA Owners Network communicate frequently by email, but they recently gathered on Zoom to discuss hot topics and, following that, to enjoy a cold drink. The network is composed of principals at tour companies of various sizes and specialties. Ordinarily, they meet in person twice a year, but 2020 changes everything, hence the Zoom session.
During the June 23 online gathering, the owners discussed issues that ranged from force majeure clauses and contract terms to engagement strategies. Their focus, though, was on when and how their tours will restart, said Theresa Nemetz, owner of Milwaukee Food & City Tours.
“We discussed the many legalities and new issues presented by resuming trips,” Nemetz said. “They ranged from how do we want tour directors to respond if a guest develops an illness mid-tour—and who is financially responsible—to what do our customers need and want to be comfortable in touring again.”
Nemetz, who hosted the online meeting, polled the 20 attending owners with a series of questions. The results, while not taken from a large sample, nevertheless provide insights into tour operators’ expectations for how and when they will resume tours:
- Asked when they expect to conduct their first overnight trip, one-fourth of the operators anticipate a July/August departure, 41% projected a September/October time frame, a small number said November/December, and the remaining fourth don’t envision starting tours until next spring.
- Just over half of the 20 operators conduct day trips, and most of them expect to restart those this year between July and October.
- In regard to the number of passengers that operators plan to take on a full-size motorcoach, the majority answered between 21 and 29, and most of the others checked the box either for 31–35 or for 36–45. None plan to operate a motorcoach with a full complement of 55 passengers.
- Considering the use of safety equipment, nearly all respondents (91%) said they will require their tour directors and drivers to wear masks, and 77% will require passengers to wear them. Questioned about visiting hotels or attractions where face masks are not required, the group split evenly in half.
The owners view returning to travel in 2020 with equal measures of optimism and doubt, according to Nemetz.
“While many operators are still hopeful to run tours this year, many others are increasingly pessimistic about keeping reservations on the books, receiving final payments, and getting on the road in 2020,” she said. “The recent spikes of COVID-19 around the U.S. reinforce the fact that the virus is not going away, and travelers may decide to put off traveling until they deem it safer.”
Members of the Owners Network are planning to restart their in-person meetings in mid-October. Until then, they’ll have plenty of topics to discuss via email.
Top photo ©Andrew Bayda/Adobe Stock
