AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Mexican airlines | May 10, 2021
Tourists are flocking to the United States for Covid-19 vaccination shots, and airlines and travel providers are leveraging on the opportunity to market and develop services, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Though New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has stated that the city will soon give tourists coronavirus vaccines at mobile vaccination centers this summer as the city prepares to open, tourists, mostly from Mexico, have been visiting the US and getting vaccinated.
According to the Journal, tens of thousands of visitors from Mexico and other countries have already traveled into US states such as Texas and Florida to get a shot. Many states in the United States, including Texas, do not need proof of residency to get the coronavirus vaccine.
Thousands of affluent Latin Americans, including politicians, TV celebrities, and business leaders, had previously traveled to the United States for Covid-19 shots, according to USA Today. Many people were using charter planes or buses to get the vaccine.
Virginia Gónzalez and her husband traveled from Mexico to Texas, then took a bus twice to a vaccination center to get all doses of the vaccine. They covered a total of 2,250 kilometers to get the shots.
"It's a matter of life and death," Gónzalez said. "Officials in Mexico could not purchase enough vaccines. It's as though they don't care for their people."
According to the Journal, Mexico has fully vaccinated 6% of the population and only people above the age of 60 are eligible for a dose at this time. They have mentioned that some travel agents are advertising vaccines as part of their packages.
According to the Journal, one Mexico travel agency ad said, "Enjoy Dallas, Includes Covid Vaccine." Mexican airlines have also expanded the number of flights between Mexico and South Texas.
Another Thai travel company is promoting a vaccination package to California. According to a Thai travel agent, her organization has already booked 200 people on a vaccination trip to the United States. A 10-day journey to California with a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine costs each tourist $2,400, excluding airfare.
According to the Journal, vaccine tourism, especially travel from Mexico, is helping to revive the economy in many Texas cities, as travelers who book hotels shop locally and visit attractions while being there.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Qatar Airways | February 19, 2021
Qatar Airways is featuring its steps towards offering full touchless in-flight technology onboard its aircraft in a further indication of how airlines are adapting their product and marketing in light of customer sensitivities to flying in the post-pandemic environment.
The Gulf carrier is introducing technology enabling passengers to navigate the onboard IFE across its Airbus A350 fleet utilizing their own electronic devices, just as the offering the option to utilize their own headphones to get to access onboard through Bluetooth technology on its Boeing 787 fleet.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker says: “The introduction of the state-of-the-art zero-touch technology, and enabling passengers to use their personal Bluetooth headset on board is an important step in taking our already rigorous and stringent Covid-19 precautions to another level, limiting passenger surface contact and preventing any possible spread of infection on board.
“We hope it provides yet further assurance of the safety of air travel, as well as offering passengers on board increased confidence that they are enjoying the most consistently advanced customer experience available in the sky.”
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DESTINATION AND TOURISM
the well | March 14, 2022
The Lodge at Blue Sky, an Auberge Resorts Collection small luxury resort located outside of Park City, and THE WELL, a comprehensive ecosystem for wellness and holistic health care, are partnering together to host an exclusive retreat from May 30 to June 2, 2022. Personalized sessions conducted by visiting masters like Craniosacral Therapist and Educator Michelle Stoppi and Plant People Founder Gabe Kennedy will explore best practices in mindfulness, movement, nutrition, and medicine over four days. The Week of WELL is a guide to a more aware and connected life.
GREET SUMMER WITH FRESH PERSPECTIVE
The retreat will welcome summer with a renewed perspective after taking time to cleanse, ground, empower, and discover grace, in a perfect marriage of eastern and western practices and the Lodge's wild-crafted approach to wellbeing.
The four-day schedule begins with a sacred sage blessing inspired by the indigenous soil and includes movement lessons, meditations, trail rides, and private meals. Michelle Stoppi, a licensed craniosacral massage therapist and the leading educator of craniosacral professional continuing education in the United States, will facilitate sessions that examine the nervous system and its relationship to the Earth's biomagnetic energetic field in order to alleviate stress and achieve peace.
These include a Plant People-inspired plant and mushroom lunch, a sunrise trek to mountain top yoga and breakfast with Blue Sky's health specialists, and a six-course dinner featuring Executive Chef Galen Zamarra's food as medicine. Guests can also book private craniosacral treatments with Michelle Stoppi for a more customized therapeutic experience.
LUXURY AS NATURE INTENDED
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection is about 35 minutes from Salt Lake City airport but feels a world apart. On-site sustainable farm, restaurant with James Beard Award-winning Chef Galen, and transforming experiences like horseback riding and a network of onsite hiking trails will be part of the Week of WELL.
Utah's no 1 resort (Travel + Leisure) is also a premier wellness destination. It is home to Edge Spa, which offers a menu of all-natural body and skincare treatments, as well as energy healing and Ayurvedic consultations. The property also offers immersive wellness journeys, which include in-room sleep rituals, equine healing at the Arena, yoga and meditation in the forest, and DIY bloom-to-bottle products made on the farm.
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