TGA Industry News Briefs

April 15, 2021

Calling All Travel Products for Pint-sized Travelers

Traveling with kids requires special preparation – and gear. From backpacks, carry-ons and cases sized and scaled for smaller hands and bodies to kids’ comfort items like blankies and pillows to practical items like headphones and water bottles and more – we’re looking for travel gear that is made for – and made to appeal to – kids. If you manufacture kids’ travel gear, we’d love to feature your product in the digital pages of Travel Goods Magazine. If you are a retailer with an opinion or story about kids’ travel gear, we want to hear from you as well. To be considered for coverage, please email product details, MSRP, and product photo to kim@travel-goods.org by April 27, 2021.

TOP NEWS

Calling All Travel Products for Pint-sized Travelers

TGA

Traveling with kids requires special preparation – and gear. From backpacks, carry-ons and cases sized and scaled for smaller hands and bodies to kids’ comfort items like blankies and pillows to practical items like headphones and water bottles and more – we’re looking for travel gear that is made for – and made to appeal to – kids. If you manufacture kids’ travel gear, we’d love to feature your product in the digital pages of Travel Goods Magazine. If you are a retailer with an opinion or story about kids’ travel gear, we want to hear from you as well. To be considered for coverage, please email product details, MSRP, and product photo to kim@travel-goods.org by April 27, 2021.

Who’s in the HUB Spotlight This Week?

TGA

This week, in the Travel Goods HUB Spotlight – wait…do travel and self-care cancel each other out? Not with these ergonomic essentials – a company that gets world travel isn’t for fashion wimps, and crafts cases for living it up with luxury – and one built to best the bottom line that holds your hand from drawing board to shop room floor. Pop into the Travel Goods HUB to check out brand-new travel gear – from the comfort of your desk and free of charge. Register today and put the Travel Goods HUB to work for you!

U.S. Government Proposes Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Travel Goods Imports from a Number of Countries over Digital Services Tax

TGA

On March 26, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposed a 25% tariff on U.S. imports – including a number of travel goods – in retaliation for a digital services tax (DST) imposed by Austria, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. USTR terminated its investigation on Indonesia since Indonesia did not adopt a DST. TGA plans to comment in opposition to new tariffs on U.S. travel goods imports.

TGA Urges Members to Contact their Members of Congress on Shipping Crisis

TGA

As shipping delays continue to grow, from Asia to the U.S. West Coast and beyond (See American Shipper, WSJ), TGA urges members to contact their members of Congress to urge them to address the crisis. The easy-to-use system allows you and your colleagues to send multiple letters to your members of Congress in just a couple of minutes. Please send letters, and encourage your colleagues to do so.

U.S. Travel Goods Imports Remain Way Down in First Two Months of 2021

TGA

On April 7, the U.S. government published January-February 2021 import data. U.S. travel goods imports (as described under HTS Heading 4202 – luggage, backpacks, flatgoods, handbags, business cases/laptop bags, and travel bags) slid 24.8% (by volume) in the first two months 2021 (versus January-February 2020). U.S. travel goods imports fell by double digits in every category, led by a 41.8% decline in U.S. luggage imports. In addition to the obvious impact of COVID-19 on sales and on travel, the latest import numbers show the accelerating trend away from China. In January 2021, U.S. travel goods imports from China fell 32.5%, with China accounting for only 53.8% of total U.S. travel goods imports. For comparison, in 2016, China accounted for 84.7% of all U.S. travel goods imports. U.S. travel goods imports from every major supplier also fell in the first two months of 2021 – #2 Vietnam (-2.2%), #3 Cambodia (-16.0%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (-24.0%), and #5 India (-23.1%). Despite the declines, most top suppliers gained import share from China, with U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam now accounting for 21.9% of all U.S. travel goods imports, followed by #3 Cambodia (7.7%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (4.5%), and #5 India (3.6%). U.S. imports of travel goods account for approximately 99% of the U.S. travel goods market.

What’s Next for Retail Once the Pandemic is Over?

TOTAL RETAIL

COVID-19 has changed the way retailers do business now and into the future. Today’s consumer essentially has three core demands: make my life easier, make my life better, and make my life more fulfilling. Retailers are responding to these consumer requirements with more urgency in the wake of COVID-19. READ MORE

What’s the Best Rolling Luggage?

NEW YORK MAGAZINE

As vaccinated folks plan their first trips since the start of the pandemic, it’s only right to go all out for it – from new vacation wardrobe to new vacation luggage. We called upon some of the most well-traveled people we know (who also happen to be smart and stylish), and asked them about their favorite rolling luggage, from hard-shell to soft-case styles in both carry-on and checked sizes. READ MORE

International Travel is Getting Easier – Except for the Unvaccinated

CNBC

Traveling abroad is getting less complicated for vaccinated travelers. A growing list of countries is reducing or eliminating quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements for those who have been fully vaccinated, while keeping restrictions in place for those who haven’t. READ MORE

Hardest Hit: Who is Still at Risk After Last Year’s Retail Tribulations?

RETAIL DIVE

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has given both Americans in general and retailers reason for hope. Even so, foot traffic and sales to many discretionary retailers remain below 2019 levels. That has made previously healthy businesses seem more wobbly than they did in 2019, and heavily indebted or weaker operators are even more vulnerable. For those hit hardest financially from the pandemic, it can be an endurance contest to stay afloat until the world returns to some kind of normal. READ MORE

2021’s Top U.S. and International Summer Travel Destinations

TRAVEL PULSE

After a year hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are growing in confidence and eyeing long-awaited summer getaways to warm-weather destinations, including Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Allianz Partners recently analyzed more than 985,000 flight itineraries for trips of five to eight days to determine the most popular domestic and international destinations for summer travel in 2021. READ MORE

Is LA’s Platform the Future of Retail?

VOGUE BUSINESS

In Culver City on the west side of Los Angeles, a shopping development is experimenting with retail, mixing traditional strategies with new. Called Platform, the new quarter defies many of the terms by which we define retail. It’s neither mall nor department store, neither traditional Main Street nor high street plumbed with independent owners. It’s an appealing array of these elements, with unusual merchandise partnerships and online connectivity thrown in. READ MORE

Why Good Leaders Fail

MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW

Leadership failure is a significant financial and reputational risk for organizations but can be prevented with the help of early detection and better support systems. READ MORE

Why Your Social Media Strategy Needs Less Automation

CMS WIRE

Many brands are quite reliant on scheduled content and automation, but the argument could be made that a dedicated team could create more value, be a better use of resources and have a more positive impact on the bottom line. READ MORE

Find the Right Words to Inspire Your Team

HAVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

As the leader of an organization, group, or project, one of your top jobs is to inspire and galvanize your team through a variety of targeted communications, including live expressions, emails, videos, chats, social media posts, and presentations. These communication opportunities are critical. According to leadership expert and former CEO Douglas Conant, “Even a brief interaction can change the way people think about themselves, their leaders, and the future.” READ MORE

TGA

This week, in the Travel Goods HUB Spotlight – we’ve got three words for you: sleek, sophisticated, stressless; here’s three more: upscale, utile, urbane – weekenders, messengers and laptops luscious in leather and backed by four generations of insider know-how – and cases for kids as colorful as confetti and equally as fun. Pop into the Travel Goods HUB to check out brand-new travel gear – from the comfort of your desk and free of charge. Register today and put the Travel Goods HUB to work for you.

Free Benefit Alert: We Want YOUR Packed in a Minute Video!

TGA

Ever wonder how you can get more out of your TGA membership? Now is the time to share a video on your hottest new product or your company and be featured among our members’ Packed in a Minute submissions. Buyers and media want to learn all about you; share a video that’s 60 seconds or less and appear on the Travel Goods Magazine website. We highlight and promote the videos on the contents page and through email blasts to our buyers and media lists. Please send your video to TGA’s Kate Ryan, kate@kateryanpr.com.

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination, Tests Should Only Be Temporary Travel Requirements, Industry Group Says

CNBC

Travel restrictions that require proof of COVID-19 vaccines or negative tests should be lifted once the pandemic is under control, the new head of the International Air Transport Association said yesterday. READ MORE

Swyft Raises $17.5 Million to Bring Same-day Delivery to All the Retailers That Aren’t Amazon

TECHCRUNCH

Thanks to major players like Amazon and Walmart, we’ve become accustomed to next- or same-day delivery. But the pandemic has also renewed our interest in buying from smaller businesses and retailers. Swyft, a company that has just raised $17.5 million in a Series A, helps retailers of any size provide affordable same-day delivery. READ MORE

What You Need to Know About Your Vaccine Card

THE NEW YORK TIMES

For now, the best way to show that you’ve been inoculated against the coronavirus is a simple white card. Here, your key questions answered. READ MORE

Instagram Shares Tips on Effective Influencer Marketing

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

Looking to tap into the power of influencer marketing to maximize your social media marketing efforts? The right collaboration could give your brand a major boost – and if you are looking to get started with influencer marketing, Instagram recently shared some tips to help. READ MORE

Want to Be a CEO? These 5 Morning Reflections Are Proven to Make People Better Leaders

FAST COMPANY

A minute of morning reflection can strongly improve your management performance during the day. Employees who did so reported providing more strategic vision and help to teammates, as well as feeling more power and influence in the office on the days they reflected in the morning. This was true for both current leaders and aspiring leaders. Researchers suggest the following prompts to help you conjure up your “best possible leader self.” READ MORE

Ditch the Travel Clichés, Says New GEN Z Survey

TRAVEL DAILY NEWS

With the summer holiday season just around the corner, the research reveals that Gen Z is looking to switch up how they portray their next travel adventure on social media. 42% of young people stated that social media posts, including cliché captions such as ‘catch flights, not feelings’ and ‘my Monday is better than yours’ were the worst to share and would not be replicated on their next travels. READ MORE

4 Trends Driving the Future of Retail

ADAGE

Welcome to the new era of retail. COVID-19 forced retailers to adapt or go out of business; many introduced new ways of interacting with consumers, including delivery methods and products that met new shopper needs. Such changes may have been spurred by the pandemic, but they’re expected to long outlive it. READ MORE

The Pandemic Is Changing Employee Benefits

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

In mid-February 2020, I became the CEO of Care.com. In conversations I’ve had with business leaders, many have told me that, in order to better support their employees and the business, they plan to revise their benefit strategies. To better understand exactly how these changes will manifest, Care.com developed “The Future of Benefits” report, in which we asked 500 human resource leaders and C-suite decision-makers from across the U.S. what employee benefits they plan to keep, get rid of, add, and expand as a result of lessons learned during this crisis. Here’s what they told us. READ MORE

Retail Leaders Set Their Sights on Better-trained Workers to Drive Operational Efficiency

MY TOTAL RETAIL

When thinking about how to drive additional productivity within a retail operation (e.g., distribution, customer support, store support), it’s easy to assume that adding more digitalization and technology is the fastest and most cost-effective way to move the needle. While technology can indeed inspire and drive productivity, many leading retailers are going back to basics by focusing on enabling their best assets: people. READ MORE

Amtrak Is Offering Buy-one-get-one-free Tickets for Summer Travel

THRILLIST

Amtrak is trying to make a case for being the vehicle of choice as people start considering travel again. It’s offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal (BOGO) on traveling in a private roomette this summer. READ MORE

TGA/TRAVEL GOODS MAGAZINE

Clever Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
Whether you’re a coffee-fueled commuter, a long-haul traveler, or planning a staycation, these reusable bottles and tumblers are a match for your high-adventure, low-impact lifestyle. READ MORE

Shop Via Snappy 60-second Videos
Featuring Indio Hardside from Ricardo Beverly Hills, a stylish collection of beautifully coordinated luggage and travel accessories that offers complete organization, and RAINRAP, fashionable rain gear that is reversible, lightweight and fast-drying. READ MORE

Have You Heard the Latest Industry Buzz?
Learn who’s leading which companies and teams, check out brand-new products, and read about just-announced licensing agreements and notable awards. Read it here first! READ MORE

Trade Is Allowed Between the United States and Myanmar…for Now

TGA

TGA wishes to clarify this week’s U.S. government announcement on Myanmar (Burma). Many press outlets incorrectly described the announcement as suspending all trade between the U.S. and Myanmar. Trade is still allowed between the United States and Myanmar. Instead, the announcement only suspends trade talks between the U.S. and Myanmar under the U.S./Burma Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). Further, the announcement states that the Biden administration will attempt to remove Myanmar as a GSP beneficiary when Congress renews the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program later this year. Please note that while trade is allowed to continue between the United States and Myanmar, refunds of duties paid since GSP expiration could be in jeopardy if Myanmar is not part of GSP renewal. Further, if the situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, the U.S. might decide to impose further sanctions in Myanmar. Myanmar is the 4th largest supplier of travel goods to the U.S. market.

President Biden Signs PPP Extension Act Into Law

TGA

On March 30, President Biden signed into law the TGA-supported bipartisan PPP Extension Act of 2021, which extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) filing deadline by two months, to May 31, to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the current health crisis.

Suez Canal Reopening Triggers Rush on Ports Around the World

AJOT

The prospect of resumed passage through the Suez Canal has the maritime cargo industry bracing for the next phase of the crisis – a race to ports around the world. Data from supply chain visibility company project44 indicates that consumer goods will be delayed as the canal incident creates worsening congestion at ports. READ MORE

Inventory Levels Tumble, Threatening Retailers’ Spring and Summer Sales

SUPPLY CHAIN DIVE

Companies across industries have been dealing with supply chain bottlenecks for months now, and they’re starting to result in lower inventory for some companies at a time when they’d normally be bringing in items for spring collections. READ MORE

Average Easter Spending Expected to Be Highest on Record

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

Consumers plan to spend an average of $179.70 this Easter, the highest figure on record, according to results of the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. A total of 79% of Americans will celebrate the holiday and spend a collective $21.6 billion, down slightly from last year’s pre-pandemic forecast of $21.7 billion. READ MORE

‘Upsizing’ Could Become a Major New Travel Trend

TRAVEL PULSE

Tourism companies and travel advisors should be aware that not everyone is looking to save a ton of money when they do decide to travel again. Instead, with the high pent-up demand for travel, people may be more eager than ever before to splurge on that bucket-list trip they’ve been dying to take since lockdowns began. READ MORE

3 Tools to Help Leaders Steady Their Teams During a Transition

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

When we experience a big change, we need support to help us make it to the other side. Developmental psychology, and particularly the seminal work of D.W. Winnicott, offers a way to do this: through transitional objects. These objects – whether they take the form of a physical item (like a security blanket) or something more abstract (like a routine, habit, or action) – provide the necessary grounding to help us navigate uncertainty. READ MORE

Family Travel Gets Complicated Without a COVID Vaccine for Kids

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Amid the chatter of travel’s long-awaited rebound one year into the pandemic, many families with children feel largely left out of the conversation. READ MORE

Why You Might Want to Pack Two Wallets the Next Time You Travel

THE POINTS GUY

The next time I hit the road, I’ll carry two wallets instead of just one and keep them in separate locations for the duration of my trip. I’ll keep a small card holder with a flexible credit card, a debit card, a nonessential ID and a little cash on me at all times, and I’ll pack a full-size wallet with my driver’s license, a second bank card and my other credit cards in my carry-on and store it in a hotel room safe. In addition to having a backup in the event that one wallet gets lost or stolen, it can also be helpful to keep a decoy wallet in the event of an unpleasant encounter with a mugger. READ MORE

How Digitalization Has Revolutionized Social Media Marketing

INFLUENCIVE

The phenomenon of social media has ushered in a cultural revolution on an international scale, and it seems that this dynamic has also been transferred to the way in which businesses operate. The intent behind the creation of platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter may have initially been to enable story-telling and interpersonal connections, but they have since evolved to become fundamental marketing tools. READ MORE

Emerging Trends in Retail, Payment Methods and Open Banking

PYMNTS.COM

A much slimmer version of JCPenney is aiming to put itself on an even keel months after it emerged from bankruptcy, while the new owner of Lord & Taylor is reportedly close to reintroducing a streamlined and digital-only version of its store. In payment methods, buy now, pay later (BNPL) appears to have particular sway among younger U.S. shoppers and has attracted consumers around the world. READ MORE

‘I’m Vaccinated’ Merch Gives Etsy Sellers Another Shot at Profits

MARKETWATCH

COVID-19 vaccines are doing more than just protecting people from the virus, they’re also giving some small businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic something to celebrate – and another shot at profits. READ MORE

Permanent Funding for Amtrak?

RAILWAY AGE

U.S. Sen. Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep. Davis (D-Ill.) have introduced the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act to create a dedicated funding stream for Amtrak. The Act would establish a new federal trust fund to which approximately $5.4 billion would be added annually in grants for “repairs, trip time optimizing investments, improving service, modernizing the fleet and other needs,” the two legislators said, noting that 40% would be reserved for the Northeast Corridor (Washington-New York-Boston service) and 60% for state-supported and long-distance service lines. READ MORE

Americans Spent 176 Hours Scrolling Social Media for Travel Inspiration

HOTEL BUSINESS

The average American spent 176 hours scrolling social media for travel inspiration throughout the past year, according to new research from Motel 6. On the heels of the one-year anniversary of the health crisis, the economy lodging brand released a survey revealing that 60% of Americans experienced a stronger desire to travel in the past 12 months than in a normal year and hope to turn that into a reality in 2021. READ MORE

29 Finches Discovered in Hair Rollers in Man’s Luggage at JFK Airport

THE HILL

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 29 finches concealed in hair rollers in a man’s baggage at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The officers discovered the birds during a baggage examination on Sunday at the New York airport after a 26-year-old man arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana. READ MORE

TGA

When you claim your space on the HUB, buyers and media can find you. And when you take it a step further and sign up for a Premium Profile? You steal the spotlight. Take center stage. And get your brand blasted to TGA’s thousands of verified buyers and media. Travelers are bursting to travel, and buyers are stocking their shelves. The HUB connects you. Don’t get left out.

Hey, Buyers: It’s Time to Get Into the HUB

TGA

This week, in the Travel Goods HUB Spotlight – plushy products that have all the feels – a system of bags and gear that pack together like a puzzle; think Tetris for travelers – and a little something-something we didn’t even know we needed until a global pandemic hit. (P.S. It’s not a facemask.) Pop into the Travel Goods HUB to check out brand-new travel gear – from the comfort of your desk and free of charge.

TGA Urges New U.S. Trade Representative to End Punitive Tariffs on China

TGA

On March 18, TGA joined hundreds of other organizations in urging new U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to end all punitive tariffs on U.S. travel goods imports from China.

The Latest, Must-Read Features from Travel Goods Magazine

TRAVEL GOODS MAGAZINE

No Travel Required: Get to the HUB
The HUB is the place for buyers to connect with manufacturers, to learn about emerging industry trends, what’s to come and what to watch for to be prepared for travel’s new demands. READ MORE

Do We All Need to Get Into RVs?
Fifty percent or more of the consumers who have adopted the RV lifestyle are brand-new to the experience – but have spent tens of thousands of dollars to adopt this new way of traveling. These are the customers to whom we should aspire to “pivot.” READ MORE

Capital Beat: What Matters for YOU in DC
TGA works daily to advocate for our industry in Washington. Stay abreast of matters that impact you and your business, all summarized in succinct news items. READ MORE

‘Fundamentally at Odds’: China, U.S. Retreat to Their Corners After Alaska Talks

POLITICO

The first showdown is over, and each side came out throwing punches. Now China and the U.S. will huddle with their partners in hopes of building international support to pressure the other on multiple fronts. Senior officials from the two countries held three sessions in Anchorage, Alaska, last week – the first high-level gathering of U.S. and Chinese officials since President Joe Biden took office. The gathering began with bitter exchanges, and ended with somber words. READ MORE

Myanmar Garment Workers Urge Global Brands to Denounce Coup

AP

Tin Tin Wei used to toil 11 hours a day, six days week sewing jackets at a factory in Myanmar. But she hasn’t stitched a single garment since a coup in February. Instead, the 26-year-old union organizer has been protesting in the streets – and trying to bring international pressure to bear on the newly installed junta. Her union, the Federation of Garment Workers in Myanmar, and others have been staging general strikes to protest the coup and are urging major international brands like H&M and Mango, which source some of their products in Myanmar, to denounce the takeover and put more pressure on factories to protect workers from being fired or harassed – or worse, arrested and killed for participating in the protests. READ MORE

Three Steps to Protect Port Workers and America’s Supply Demands

MORNING CONSULT

During the past few months, the United States has seen the biggest port backup since the longshore contract dispute of 2014-2015. This time the backup – like most problems these days – can be attributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outbreaks plus safety restrictions that have been put in place to prevent further spread of the virus – and a number of systemic problems – have created the perfect storm we face today. READ MORE

Americans Have $1.7 Trillion to Burn in Revenge-spending Binge

BLOOMBERG

Shoppers are out for vengeance. A year into a pandemic that’s devastated lives, jobs and the economy, those who are lucky enough to have disposable income are ready to go out and splurge – even if they still have nowhere to go in that stunning dress or those brand-new sneakers. Some are calling this “revenge spending.” READ MORE

Gartner: Top Trends in Retail for 2021

TECH RADAR

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is driving global retailers to fundamentally reassess how they do business. Due in part to its many challenges and threats, 2020 has accelerated digital transformation across the retail industry. According to Gartner’s 2021 CIO survey, nearly two-thirds of retail CIOs said their relationships with their CEOs strengthened in 2020, as CIOs have helped guide their businesses through significant disruption. READ MORE

‘Vaxications,’ Catch-up Trips and Pent-up Demand Fuel Travel Surge

NBC NEWS

A growing wave of relaxed restrictions, along with an increasing number of vaccinated Americans, is leading to a surge in “vaxications” and other trips, after a year of pandemic-induced lockdowns. READ MORE

Rent Is Cheap, Vacant Space Is Everywhere: Retailers Seize the Moment to Open Stores

CNBC

For the first time in years, retailers across the country are planning to open more stores than they are closing. From Ulta Beauty and Sephora to Dick’s Sporting Goods, Five Below and TJ Maxx, businesses are rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic and dusting off expansion plans that were put on hold. READ MORE

Why Aren’t Social Media Managers More Respected?

BUILT IN

In the past couple of years the work that social media professionals are doing has gained much more respect among their marketing colleagues, and in the tech industry more broadly. That’s because business leaders finally realized that social is extremely important to their companies. They can’t afford to neglect it. READ MORE

All Those Things You’ve Hated About Airplane Travel? Gone.

TOWN & COUNTRY

The colossal disruptions of the pandemic have eliminated the most unpleasant elements of flying – a consumer-friendly by-product of COVID-19, if you will. The pumpkin has been turned into a chariot. Like all such chariots, however, it has an expiration date, and some of the irritants, will, over time, return. But if you’ve had your shots or are otherwise comfortable flying, this year may just be your moment to travel. READ MORE

5 Big Signs That Travel Is Roaring Back

CNN

Vacation deprivation is about to be replaced by a travel boom, according to Expedia CEO Peter Kern. He told CNN’s Julia Chatterley earlier this week that people are beginning to think about their future travel “very quickly.” Reservations on the travel website for some parts of the U.S. this summer are “all booked up” and he expects Europe will soon follow as the number of vaccinations grow. READ MORE

The Best Carry-on Luggage of 2021: Amazon, Away, ROAM and More

NBC NEWS

If you’re planning on travel soon or in the near future, you could be looking for carry-on luggage that won’t take up too much space or slow you down on your journeys. To help you find the right carry-on for you in a sea of options, we consulted with experts about what to look for in a carry-on, including the difference between hard-side and soft-side suitcases. READ MORE

TGA

This week, the Travel Goods HUB Spotlight shines upon several innovative, brand-new travel products, including:

An innovation that helps packed clothing step out of the suitcase wrinkle-free and ready-to-wear
Bags that let you tap into your inner Mary Poppins or Miss Marple, sans the magic and murder
Powerful vitamins that command, “Jet lag be gone!”

Pop into the Travel Goods HUB to check out this new gear and more, all from the comfort of your desk, and free of charge.

TGA Pushes Congress to Retroactively Renew GSP ASAP, Instructions to Ensure Refund of Duties Paid During Expiration

TGA

TGA believes that Congress will retroactively renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade preference program by the end of the summer. GSP expired on Jan. 1, meaning that U.S. travel goods imports from a wide range of developing countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Pakistan, no longer enter the U.S. duty-free. Any GSP renewal would be retroactive to Jan. 1, which means companies would receive refunds for duties paid since Jan. 1. To prepare for refunds, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the following instructions, which enables importers to retain the right to collect refunds of duties paid if GSP is retroactively renewed. GSP renewal has been delayed because of a fight over adding new eligibility requirements for countries that benefit from GSP, including human rights, environment, rule of law, and women’s empowerment. TGA is pushing Congress to reach a compromise to get GSP renewal over the finish line. U.S. travel goods imports from GSP countries increased 8.4% in 2020, supplying 14.9% of all U.S. travel goods imports during 2020. TGA urges you to write your members of Congress to urge them to retroactively renew GSP as soon as possible. It only takes a couple of minutes.

TGA Urges Congress to Approve PPP Extension Act

TGA

On March 15, TGA joined with dozens of industries in urging Congress to approve the bipartisan PPP Extension Act of 2021, which would extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) filing deadline by two months, to May 31, to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the current health crisis.

U.S. Travel Goods Industry Faces More California Prop 65 Notices; TGA Prop 65 Best Practices Guidance

TGA

Over the last few months, dozens of new California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) “60-day” notices have been issued alleging that brands and retailers sold luggage (Notice 1), totes (Notice 1, Notice 2), backpacks (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7, Notice 8), crossbody bags (Notice 1), handbags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7, Notice 8, Notice 9, Notice 10, Notice 11), wallets (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3), cosmetic/toiletry bags, travel/garment cases/carry bags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7, Notice 8, Notice 9, Notice 10, Notice 11, Notice 12, Notice 13, Notice 14, Notice 15, Notice 16, Notice 17, Notice 18, Notice 19), phone/tablet cases/holders/sleeves/dry bags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7), and fanny packs (Notice 1, Notice 2) in California that contained di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Bisphenol A (BPA), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and/or di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in violation of a California law known as Proposition 65 (Prop 65). The notices serve as intent to bring lawsuits against those companies that made and sold these products. Check out TGA’s member-only California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) Best Practices Guidance on the Prop 65 page on the TGA website. This member-only guidance details best practices in developing your company’s Prop 65 testing and warning label protocol, including recommendations on which warning label text to use, where to place the warning label text, and how to test for Prop 65 listed chemicals in your products. For more information on Prop 65, please contact TGA’s Nate Herman, nate@travel-goods.org, 301-775-7633.

Myanmar’s Military Is Killing Peaceful Protesters. Here’s What You Need to Know

CNN

Daily protests have been ongoing for a month and a half in towns and cities across Myanmar after the military seized control of the Southeast Asian country in a coup on Feb. 1. Security forces, made up of police and military personnel and under the command of coup leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, have responded to demonstrations with increasing brutality, launching a countrywide systematic crackdown that includes shooting peaceful protesters and enforced disappearances. READ MORE

Sullivan: Tariffs Not a Focus in Next Week’s China Talks

POLITICO

U.S. officials plan to raise concerns about China’s behavior toward Hong Kong and Taiwan, which many see as anti-democratic, as well as human rights violations against Uighur Muslims. READ MORE

American Rescue Plan Extends Employee Retention Credit

JD SUPRA

Prior to the passage of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in March 2021 (the “Rescue Act”) the employee retention credit, as amended by the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (the “Relief Act”), was set to expire for wages paid after June 30, 2021. The Rescue Act extends the employee retention credit to qualifying wages paid through December 31, 2021. Consequently, qualifying employers may be eligible to claim an additional $14,000 of credits per employee in 2021. READ MORE

TravelBits – Travel News, Curated Just for You

TRAVEL GOODS MAGAZINE

TGA scours the most fascinating, diverse news in travel – and condenses and compiles it in TravelBits, just for your reading pleasure. Read on for an overview of 20 news tidbits, each in 20-second, easy to absorb paragraphs. READ MORE

Is the RV Crowd Travel’s Most Overlooked Market Segment?

TRAVEL GOODS MAGAZINE

Today, there are 11.2 million RV-owning households in the U.S., according to rvtravel.com. That’s up 62% over 20 years ago. Longtime TGA member and seasoned retailer and product developer Chuck Weisbart thinks we should start paying more attention to the RV set. Here’s why. READ MORE

Grab Your Lanyard. Trade Shows Are Plotting a Comeback

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The roughly $11 billion U.S. tradeshow and exhibition industry is slowly coming back to life after a largely lost year due to coronavirus. A full recovery isn’t expected for about two years, industry executives say, and many questions now face organizers and the businesses that rely on lanyard-clad masses: How quickly can shows, which require months of planning, come back on the calendar? Are attendees ready to crowd into expo halls and hotel bars with strangers again? And, after a year of remote networking, do they feel they need to? READ MORE

High-end Retail Stocks Are Showing Signs of More Upside, Jim Cramer Says

CNBC

The latest round of stimulus spending from Congress could be a big boost for various high-end retailers, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said. Retail stocks have been trading higher as optimism grows about the U.S. economy reopening from coronavirus restrictions. READ MORE

What Is Agile Leadership? How This Flexible Management Style Is Changing How Teams Work

ZD NET

Traditional command and control leadership styles are being replaced by Agile management techniques, which encourage collaboration and foster accountability. READ MORE

Las Vegas Restrictions on Large Gatherings Eased to 50% Capacity

TRADE SHOW NEWS NETWORK

Last week, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced he is further loosening restrictions on large gatherings, including meetings and conventions, entertainment venues and large group gatherings by increasing capacity to 50% as of March 15. The state also will streamline the process for submission and approval of large gatherings. READ MORE

7 Instagram Statistics Every Social Media Manager Should Know in 2021

BUSINESS 2 COMMUNITY

For companies to excel on Instagram, they need to keep a close eye on how the patterns of use are changing and what they mean for their marketing campaigns. The latest Instagram statistics can offer a useful insight into your social media strategy. Here are some of the Instagram statistics you need to know in 2021. READ MORE

TGA

This week, in the Travel Goods HUB Spotlight – collapsible water bottles that let travelers show Mother Earth some TLC while keeping themselves hydrated – a collection of wallets as rugged as the American West and as safe as Fort Knox – and bags and backpacks so in step with travelers that they can practically pack themselves. Pop into the Travel Goods HUB to check out brand-new travel gear – from the comfort of your desk and free of charge.

Three Months for $300

TGA

Travel Goods Magazine is now paper-free and live online. The benefits of a digital magazine abound, and our readership has excitedly adopted the new, interactive format. Now that the magazine team has shifted gears to paperless publication, we can offer you significant budget-friendly opportunities to get the word out on your company and its products. Place a rotating digital ad in Travel Goods Magazine for just $300 for three months worth of exposure. Your ad will rotate continuously and appear on all magazine pages for 90 days. And if you act by March 31st, we will give you a complimentary ad placement – effectively two ads for the price of one – and we’ll post your ads as soon as we receive them. Contact Cathy Trecartin at cat@travel-goods.org today to reserve your space!

TGA Urges Members to Contact their Members of Congress on Shipping Crisis

TGA

As shipping delays continue to grow, from Asia, to the U.S. West Coast, and beyond (see Marketplace, NYT, Footwear News, Supply Chain Dive, Sourcing Journal, Loadstar, American Shipper, LA Times), TGA urges members to contact their members of Congress to urge them to address the crisis. The easy-to-use system allows you and your colleagues to send multiple letters to your members of Congress in just a couple of minutes. Please send letters, and encourage your colleagues to do so, too.

2021 Starts How 2020 Ended for U.S. Travel Goods Imports

TGA

On March 5, the U.S. government published January 2021 import data. U.S. travel goods imports (as described under HTS Heading 4202 – click links to get specific import data on luggage, backpacks, flatgoods, handbags, business cases/laptop bags, and travel bags) slid 31.3% (by volume) in Jan. 2021 (versus Jan. 2020). In addition to the obvious impact of COVID-19 on sales and on travel, the latest import numbers show the accelerating trend away from China. In Jan. 2021, U.S. travel goods imports from China fell 41.1%, with China accounting for only 54.2% of total U.S. travel goods imports. For comparison, in 2016, China accounted for 84.7% of all U.S. travel goods imports. U.S. travel goods imports from most major suppliers also fell in Jan. 2021 – #2 Vietnam (-2.9%), #3 Cambodia (-23.5%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (-12.0%), and #5 India (-29.3%). Despite the declines, most top suppliers gained import share from China, with U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam now accounting for 21.8% of all U.S. travel goods imports, followed by #3 Cambodia (7.6%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (4.8%), and #5 India (3.4%). U.S. imports of travel goods account for approximately 99% of the U.S. travel goods market.

Trade Fairness and Economic Recovery on Biden’s National Security Agenda

THE WASHINGTON POST

The Biden administration pledged Wednesday to place American economic security at the center of its decisions about international engagement, trade and the U.S. response to an increasingly assertive China. That gentler version of President Donald Trump’s “America First” protectionism is part of a strategy to marry U.S. foreign policy with domestic imperatives, starting with the coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn it caused. READ MORE

Myanmar Military Occupies Hospitals and Universities Ahead of Mass Strike

CNN

Troops in Myanmar have occupied hospitals and university campuses, and ramped up nighttime raids ahead of a nationwide strike to protest against the military coup, according to local media reports. It’s the latest move by the military junta, which seized power on Feb. 1, to consolidate its control of the country in the face of mass protests and resistance to its increasingly violent rule. READ MORE

Company Uses YouTube Video to Mock Amazon for Making Camera Bag Strikingly Similar to One It Sells

GEEKWIRE

Amazon is being called out again for allegedly copying the product of a company that sells on Amazon, but rather than taking legal action, San Francisco-based Peak Design is taking to YouTube. The maker of travel bags and camera accessories alleges in a video that an Amazon Basics bag is basically a knock-off version of a bag Peak Design sells called the Everyday Sling. Amazon even named its bag Everyday Sling, before changing the name to Amazon Basics Camera Bag. READ MORE

Travel Guidance Won’t Come Until More People Are Vaccinated, CDC Says

CNN

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has so far declined to issue new guidance on travel for vaccinated Americans due to concerns about travel-related surges but is “looking forward” to updating guidance once more people get protected. READ MORE

Luxury Travel Will Be Different After COVID. We’re Predicting These 5 Trends

FODOR’S TRAVEL

With spring and summer approaching, a time when travelers would normally be jetting off on trips around the world, the world’s attention is instead focused on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic to gauge when travel will return to pre-pandemic levels. While the pandemic has created a dynamic shift in the way people travel, what’s particularly interesting is the way it’s shifted perceptions of luxury travel. READ MORE

University Offers Students $75 to Avoid Spring Break Travel

ABC NEWS

The University of California, Davis is offering students $75 to be used for “staycations” to encourage them to avoid nonessential travel during spring break. Students who choose to stay home during the March 22-26 break will get the money in gift cards. Student response has been “awesome,” the university said in statement. READ MORE

Inner Peace – A Powerful Leadership Virtue

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Economic recovery, of course, is the rallying cry of leaders in 2021. Yet the most experienced executives know, recovery after an upheaval calls for a change in leadership style. It requires a “whole new mindset and a whole new skill set,” said Edward Hess, business professor and author of “Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt at the Speed of Change.” READ MORE

The 10 Most Innovative Retail Companies of 2021

FAST COMPANY

When COVID-19 lockdowns shuttered brick-and-mortar stores, people flocked to e-commerce like never before: IBM estimates that the pandemic accelerated the consumer shift from shopping in person to shopping online by five years. Many of the companies that stood out in this environment innovated to create a seamless experience between physical and digital spaces, building communities as well as customer bases. Here are some of the most innovative examples of the year. READ MORE

9 Most Beautiful RV Campgrounds in the U.S., According to Experts

TRAVEL + LEISURE

With plenty of newbies getting on board (literally) with RV life, there are a few practical things to know, like how to pick the right RV, what to pack, and mistakes to avoid. But, as any longtime RVer knows, half the battle is finding a campground that has the amenities you need, the space you crave, and the views you want. To cut out some of the legwork, we asked experts to share some of the best and most beautiful RV campgrounds they’ve ever experienced, and then added a few of our favorites – because one of the best things about a home on wheels is waking up to a million-dollar view. READ MORE

Snapchat Shares New Research into How Gen Z Will Shape Future Market Trends

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

Snapchat has published a new report, in partnership with Oxford Economics, which examines the role that Gen Z will play in driving the post-pandemic recovery, and how this generation will become a key focus for marketers moving forward. READ MORE

TGA

The HUB is live, and we’re thrilled to report buyers are registering every day to gain access to view YOUR products. Is your brand on the HUB? There has never been easier – or more affordable – access to TGA’s exclusive list of buyers, media contacts, and travel insiders. If you haven’t reserved a profile page for your brand yet, now is the time.

Are you a buyer or journalist? Register for FREE access to the HUB today to check out the latest travel products, all in one, easy-to-access place. Countless brands are sharing their latest wares to the HUB, long before they hit stores. Get access today to see them first.

We Want to Hear from You: Send Us Your Backpacks!

TGA

Travel Goods Magazine is taking a deep dive into backpacks – from fashion handbags to pint-sized packs to backpacks for every variety of sport imaginable – and we want to hear from you. Share product details, images, and stories – and you may find yourself featured on our digital magazine pages!

Myanmar’s Neighbors Press for Suu Kyi’s Release, Restoration of Democracy

NBC NEWS

Myanmar’s neighbors pressed its ruling military on Tuesday to release ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and cease what Singapore called the disastrous use of lethal force against opponents of their Feb. 1 coup and work out a solution to the crisis. The calls from fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came as Myanmar police again opened fire to disperse crowds after weeks of demonstrations against military rule. READ MORE

Biden’s Team Says It Will Use ‘All Available Tools’ to Fight China’s Unfair Trade Practices

CNBC

President Biden’s team will use “all available tools” to fight China’s unfair trade practices, according to a report outlining the new U.S. administration’s trade agenda. The document released earlier this week did not specify the tools that the administration will use, but it formalized statements made by Biden and members of his team in the last few months on how they will handle China and other trade priorities. READ MORE

Trade Won’t Be on ‘Back Burner’ for Biden, USTR Pick Tai Tells Senate

POLITICO

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai pushed back on concerns the Biden White House will “stand still” on trade policy during her confirmation hearing Thursday, telling senators she does not expect to be sidelined in policymaking. Senators from both parties pressed Tai on the Biden administration’s pledge to not negotiate any major new trade deals until it secures domestic economic stimulus from Congress. “You must make the President understand that trade is a domestic priority,” Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) told the nominee. READ MORE

U.S. Retailers See Millions in Sales Delays Amid Shipping Logjam

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Overwhelmed U.S. ports, elevated freight costs and accidents that sent goods plunging to the bottom of the ocean are causing headaches for U.S. retailers already reeling from the pandemic. Corporations of all sizes are reporting logistics struggles, especially on trans-Pacific trade routes. Although they haven’t yet translated into widespread sticker shock for consumers, the ongoing shipping issues threaten to disrupt inventories of appliances, shoes, fitness equipment and more if they persist much longer. READ MORE

2021 Could See Record Retail Sales Growth but Economy Still Hinges on Coronavirus

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

A wide array of economic indicators points toward potentially record retail sales growth during 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic remains the biggest challenge for the year, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said yesterday. READ MORE

These Are the Retail Trends in Ecommerce for This Year

ENTREPRENEUR

The social distancing and closure of physical stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused electronic commerce and virtual communication channels to grow exponentially in the last year. Retailers made or are making major changes that lead them to use new technical solutions, which help them manage the transition or application of a model that harmonizes physical stores with virtual stores. READ MORE

Pinterest Announces New Marketing Tools, Including ‘Pinterest Premiere’ Video Ads

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

As part of its first-ever ‘Pinterest Presents’ marketing and advertising summit, Pinterest has announced several new ad tools to provide more insight into campaign performance, and enhanced opportunity to reach the right audience. READ MORE

Your Leadership Style Needs a User Manual – Here’s How You Do It

THE NEXT WEB

A few years ago, I read an article that advocated for managers to create their own user manual to share with their new team or co-workers. It struck me as a great idea given how much time we spend trying to figure each other out when we work together for the first time. The manual would provide a more explicit description of your character, personal values, and how you like to work with other people. The idea would be for you to share it when you start working with new team members to help shorten the learning curve of having to decipher ‘you.’ READ MORE

The Tokyo Olympics Reportedly Won’t Allow Fans from Abroad

TRAVEL + LEISURE

The Tokyo Olympics may be played to near-empty stands with fans from abroad banned from attending, according to a report. “In the current situation it is impossible to bring in foreign spectators,” a government official said. The Associated Press reported the news on Wednesday, citing a Japanese newspaper. The decision to exclude foreign fans from the previously-postponed games – which remain set to kick off July 23 in Tokyo – could cost upwards of $800 million in lost ticket sales, according to The AP. READ MORE

What Kind of Plane Am I Flying on?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

After engine debris from a Boeing 777-200 rained down on a Denver suburb, some fliers may want to know more about plane safety and maintenance. Here are some answers. READ MORE

What Will We Want When We Can Travel Again?

THE ATLANTIC

Two new TV travelogues find themselves butting up against a reality they hadn’t anticipated. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, a six-part series on CNN hosted by the actor and cookbook author, presents itself as escapism, even as it half-acknowledges the reality of the pandemic – its first episode, set mainly in Naples, was filmed after the first Italian lockdown ended last year. Men in Kilts, a half-hour series on Starz, follows two actors from the show Outlander as they traverse Scotland in a camper van. Although it was filmed almost entirely pre-pandemic, its concept seems to have anticipated a particular truth about this moment. READ MORE

TGA

Visit the new Travel Goods Magazine for articles that will keep you in the know, like:

Revenge is a Trip Best Served with Bold Travel Gear – The pandemic shook the travel goods industry – and the world – for nearly a year. We’re all going stir crazy and need to escape. Cue “revenge travel” – the trips we’ll take once we break free. And here’s what we’ll carry when we hit the road.
Change Equals Opportunity: The Case for Business Transformation – 2020 was the great accelerant to socio-economic change. What percentage of businesses will be able to return to sustained growth and profitability, and how will they get there?
Have Two Minutes for New Friends? – Meet Pacsafe and Blisslets, featured in two recent Packed in a Minute videos – you won’t want to miss these brand-new TGA member products, available now and ready to order.

Guidance for Members Sourcing from Myanmar (Burma)

TGA

TGA’s sister organization, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, has published detailed guidance for members sourcing from Myanmar (Burma) in light of the recent military coup (see related article below). TGA recommends that any member sourcing from Myanmar review the guidance.

The Travel Goods HUB Launching March 2021

More Myanmar Protests Follow Strike Amid Foreign Concerns

AP

Protesters against the military’s seizure of power in Myanmar were back on the streets of cities and towns on Tuesday, a day after a general strike shuttered shops and brought huge numbers out to demonstrate. In Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, a funeral was held for 37-year-old Thet Naing Win, one of two protesters shot dead by security forces on Saturday. READ MORE

Ports Continue to Set Records; Congestion Worsens on West Coast

TRANSPORT TOPICS

More than 60 containerships sat in San Pedro Bay on Feb. 18, at the entrance to the sprawling ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The vessels are waiting for a slot to sail into those facilities to begin unloading their cargo and then start the nearly two-week trip back to China. But because of the historically high volume of imports, a shortage of warehouse space, and now COVID-19 concerns among longshoremen, the backlog to move freight is worsening. READ MORE

Biden Says U.S. and Europe Must Push Back Against China’s Economic ‘Abuses and Coercion’

CNBC

President Joe Biden said late last week that the U.S. and its international partners must hold China to account for its economic practices. “We have to push back against the Chinese government’s abuses and coercion that undercut the foundations of the international economic system,” Biden said in a speech to the Munich Security Conference, delivered virtually from the White House. READ MORE

Trade Group: Retail Sales Should Grow 6.5% to 8.2% This Year

SF GATE

The nation’s largest retail trade group is forecasting strong retail sales growth this year that could surpass last year’s pace as more individuals get vaccinated and the economy reopens. The National Retail Federation said yesterday it anticipates that retail sales will grow between 6.5% and 8.2% to more than $4.33 trillion this year. READ MORE

Top 7 Trends in Retail Digital Transformation and Innovation for 2021

RETAIL DIVE

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, digital transformation is accelerating at unprecedented speeds across the global retail industry, requiring retailers to build adaptable, composable business models to scale in disruptive environments. The crisis has also made clear the importance of technology to the industry: according to the Gartner 2021 CIO Survey, nearly two-thirds of retail CIOs believe their relationships with their CEOs have been strengthened during the past year, as CIOs have helped guide their businesses through significant disruption. READ MORE

Airbnb Offers New Flexible Search Based on Travel Location

PYMNTS.COM

Airbnb is now offering flexible travel options based on location instead of specific travel dates, a solution the company said should appeal to people who will continue working from home in the near future. READ MORE

Leaders, This is Why You Should Embrace Overcommunication

FAST COMPANY

It is one of the key principles of leadership: there is no such thing as overcommunication. All leaders have to repeat the strategy relentlessly and remind employees of the “why” behind the work they are doing, no matter how redundant the messaging may feel to them. READ MORE

Airplane Seat Revolution Creates One of Biggest Beds in the Sky

CNN

One of the largest beds in the sky is set to debut in just a few months’ time when JetBlue starts flying its A321neos from Boston and New York to London. It’s a game changer for business class travel. READ MORE

Will Clubhouse Be the Next Social Media Platform for Marketers?

MARKETING DIVE

The parent company of Burger King and Popeyes jumped on the buzzy new app last week, opening the possibility of another digital channel for brands. READ MORE

NASA Sent a Secret Message to Mars. Meet the People Who Decoded it

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Engineers hinted they had hidden a code in the parachute that landed the Perseverance rover. Within hours, puzzle enthusiasts cracked it. READ MORE

TRENDING ARTICLES

Missed last week’s issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.

Coup in Myanmar Continues to Raise Concerns for Industry (THE HUFFINGTON POST)
TGA is Proud to Announce an Exciting Change, Inspired by YOU (TGA)
4 Charts Show the Effects of West Coast Port Congestion and Supply Chain Delays (SUPPLY CHAIN DIVE)
What Awaits Retail on the Other Side of the Pandemic (RETAIL DIVE)
A Different Early-Bird Special: Have Vaccine, Will Travel (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

Read Less

February 18, 2021

TGA is Proud to Announce an Exciting Change, Inspired by YOU

TGA is excited about the new and different offerings we’ve debuted over the past months: the Travel Goods HUB, Packed in a Minute videos, and all-digital Travel Goods Magazine. As an association, we wanted every tool available to our members to be easy to access and all in one place. We’ve been eager to share this months-in-the-making “pandemic project,” and it’s finally time: Welcome to the brand-new Travel Goods Association website! Here, Association news and membership information, the new Travel Goods HUB, Travel Goods Show news and exhibitor information, and Travel Goods Magazine digital content will live on one website. Please, come explore! Click around, acquaint yourself with what’s new, and drop us a line to let us know what you think. READ MORE

TOP NEWS

TGA is Proud to Announce an Exciting Change, Inspired by YOU

TGA

TGA is excited about the new and different offerings we’ve debuted over the past months: the Travel Goods HUB, Packed in a Minute videos, and all-digital Travel Goods Magazine. As an association, we wanted every tool available to our members to be easy to access and all in one place. We’ve been eager to share this months-in-the-making “pandemic project,” and it’s finally time: Welcome to the brand-new Travel Goods Association website! Here, Association news and membership information, the new Travel Goods HUB, Travel Goods Show news and exhibitor information, and Travel Goods Magazine digital content will live on one website. Please, come explore! Click around, acquaint yourself with what’s new, and drop us a line to let us know what you think. READ MORE

Travel Goods Magazine Wants to Hear from Backpack Makers and Sellers

TGA

The humble backpack, once the domain of serious outdoor adventurers, has become ubiquitous, permeating every area of our lives. Travel Goods Magazine will be taking a deep dive into backpacks – from fashion handbags to pint-sized packs to backpacks for every variety of sport imaginable – and more. If you manufacture backpacks of any variety, we’d love to feature your product in the digital pages of Travel Goods Magazine. If you are a retailer with an opinion or story about backpacks, we want to hear from you as well. READ MORE

Coup in Myanmar Continues to Raise Concerns for Industry

TGA

On Feb. 11, President Biden imposed sanctions against the perpetrators of the Feb. 1 military coup in Myanmar (Burma), which overthrew the democratically elected government in the country, and detaining its leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup has led to massive protests and is starting to impact production and transportation. TGA will continue to keep members apprised of the impact of any potential sanctions on the industry and whether the situation on the ground in Myanmar is impacting production. Myanmar is the 4th largest and fastest growing supplier of travel goods to the U.S., growing 65.2% in 2020. Even so, U.S. travel goods imports from Myanmar still account for only 4.1% of total U.S. travel goods imports. Please let us know if your production has been impacted in the country.

2020 Not a Good Year for U.S. Travel Goods Imports

TGA

On Feb. 5, the U.S. government published full year 2020 import data. U.S. travel goods imports (as described under HTS Heading 4202 – click links to get specific import data on luggage, backpacks, flatgoods, handbags, business cases/laptop bags, and travel bags) slid 22.7% (by volume) in 2020. In addition to the obvious impact of COVID-19 on sales and on travel, the latest import numbers show the accelerating trend away from China. In 2020, U.S. travel goods imports from China fell 35.6%, with China accounting for only 56.0% of total U.S. travel goods imports. For comparison, in 2016, China accounted for 84.3% of all U.S. travel goods imports. Meanwhile, despite the pandemic, U.S. travel goods imports from #2 supplier Vietnam (12.1%), #3 Cambodia (4.9%), and #4 Burma (Myanmar) (65.2%) surged in 2020. In fact, U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam now account for 19.6% of all U.S. travel goods imports, followed by #3 Cambodia (7.3%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (4.1%), #5 India (3.7%), and #6 Indonesia (1.5%). U.S. imports of travel goods account for approximately 99% of the U.S. travel goods market.

4 Charts Show the Effects of West Coast Port Congestion and Supply Chain Delays

SUPPLY CHAIN DIVE

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been overburdened with a deluge of container imports over the last few months. As a result, cargo heading into and out of the ports has slowed to a relative crawl, as the ports deal with record-breaking volume alongside a reduction in staff related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This slowdown resulting from high levels of imports has created congestion at terminals and in surrounding areas. These charts show the impact of record imports and congestion at the Southern California port facilities. READ MORE

What Awaits Retail on the Other Side of the Pandemic

RETAIL DIVE

As the White House and Congress work out yet another COVID-19 economic relief package and medical experts try to figure out what variants of the coronavirus mean for the effectiveness of vaccines, people are trying to just hang on until things get back to normal. That goes for businesses, too. READ MORE

The History of U.S. Travel Advisors

TRAVELPULSE

Here’s a look at key events that have played a role in the evolution of U.S. travel advisors over the last 130-plus years. READ MORE

Retail Sales Burst Higher in January As Consumers Use Stimulus Checks to Spend Heavily

CNBC

Consumers flocked to spend their stimulus checks in January, sending retail sales for the month up 5.3% in a blockbuster start to 2021, according to a government report yesterday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were expecting a rise of just 1.2%. Excluding autos, sales rose 5.9%, also far ahead of the 1% estimate in a display of unexpected strength from the consumer. READ MORE

Millennials Are the Generation Most Likely to Travel in 2021

TRAVELPULSE

According to a new survey by HealthCareInsider.com, which focused on Americans’ perceptions of the pandemic’s end, Millennials are 50% more likely than Gen-Xers and 15% more likely than Baby Boomers to feel comfortable traveling by at least Fall 2021. READ MORE

How ‘Granfluencers’ Are Shaking Up Social Media Representation and Influencer Marketing

PR DAILY

It wasn’t the usual aspirational 20-something with perfect home decor and a massive following that was Aura Frames’ most successful influencer partnership last year. It was a collaboration with Charlotte Simpson, a 65-year-old retired guidance counselor. Her work accounted for our best-performing ad in 2020, bringing in nearly five times more conversions than any influencer ad, with six times more engagement than any ad creative. READ MORE

Leaders Matter. So Do Followers

FAST COMPANY

If the leadership industry is to realize its promise and potential, it will have to evolve. It will have to become, like the rest of America, more inclusive. READ MORE

A Different Early-Bird Special: Have Vaccine, Will Travel

THE NEW YORK TIMES

People over 65 have been among the first in line to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. And they are leading a wave in new travel bookings. READ MORE

TGA

The HUB – TGA’s brand-new conduit between manufacturers of all sizes and buyers from across the globe – is packed with unique pages with details on the hottest, newest travel products. Showcase your new products on your very own page, and attract eyeballs from all corners of the travel goods universe.

On March 1, over 11,000 verified buyers will be invited to access and peruse the pages of the HUB, free of charge. Don’t miss out on this surge of activity and act now.

Due to requests by new members, TGA has extended our deadline to provide content for your HUB Company Profile to February 16. Contact Cathy Trecartin at cat@travel-goods.org for pricing and details – and check out an example of what your HUB page could look like here.

Coup in Myanmar Should Raise Concerns for Industry

TGA

On Jan. 31, the military in Myanmar launched a coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government in the country, and detaining its leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup has led to massive protests. Feb. 1 statements from President Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell implied strong bi-partisan support for U.S. sanctions if the military does not reverse course quickly. TGA will keep members apprised of the impact of any potential sanctions on the industry and whether the situation on the ground in Myanmar is impacting production. Myanmar is the 4th largest and fastest growing supplier of travel goods to the U.S., growing 66.5% in 2020. Even so, U.S. travel goods imports from Myanmar still account for only 3.8% of total U.S. travel goods imports. Please let us know if your production has been impacted in the country.

U.S.-China Trade War: Phase One Trade Deal Largely a ‘Failure’, As Purchases Fall Well Short of Targets

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

China and the U.S. signed their phase one trade deal in Jan. 2020, with China committing to buy $200 billion more goods and services over the next two years. According to a report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, U.S. exports of phase one goods in 2020 fell more than 40% short of the target. READ MORE

Biden Treads Carefully Around Trump’s Combative Trade Policy

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In his first weeks in office, President Joe Biden has wasted no time in dumping a batch of major Trump administration policies. He rejoined the Paris climate agreement. He ended a ban on travelers from mostly Muslim countries. He canceled the Keystone XL oil pipeline. He reversed a ban on transgender people serving in the military. And so on. Biden and his team are tiptoeing, though, around one of Donald Trump’s most divisive signature legacies: His go-it-alone moves to start a trade war with China and bludgeon some of America’s closest allies with a gale of tariffs on their steel, aluminum and other goods. READ MORE

Senate Approves Amendment Pledging Support to Hospitality Industry

TRADE SHOW NEWS NETWORK

A bipartisan proposal geared toward assisting the travel and tourism industries passed a crucial first step with the U.S. Senate’s approval earlier this month. The measure, put forward by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), prioritizes the devastated hospitality sector, as Congress works through President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package. READ MORE

Should You Book Travel Now for Later in 2021? What You Need to Know

THE HUFFINGTON POST

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the globe, non-essential travel is still off the table. But if you’re thinking ahead to potential travel later this year, should you go ahead and book things now – or wait until you have a better sense of what’s feasible down the road? Read on for advice. READ MORE

COVID-19: 10-Year Jail Term for Travel Lies Defended

BBC NEWS

A maximum 10-year jail term for lying about recent travel history has been defended by the British government. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the British public “would expect pretty strong action” and the maximum sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime. It was criticized by former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption who said lower tariffs exist for sex offenses. Beginning this week, people arriving in England from “red list” countries must isolate for 10 days in hotels, costing upwards of $2,000. READ MORE

Just Press Buy: Buy Buttons Impact Retail Performance During Q4

PYMNTS.COM

Buy buttons – click-to-purchase payment innovations that have reduced checkout times by as much as 50% – have remained nearly ubiquitous among leading retailers since PYMNTS began tracking them in 2016. However, the past year saw a dramatic shift with a record 76% of all retailers offering them in Q4 2020. READ MORE

How Consumers Are Thinking About Travel in 2021

TRAVEL PULSE

Scott’s Cheap Flights recently published its second annual State of Cheap Flights Report. The email subscription service, which sends cheap flight alerts to its millions of members, surveyed more than 5,800 travelers to shed new light on how consumers are thinking about travel in 2021 and the trips they expect to take this year. Here are some of the key takeaways ahead of what is poised to be a pivotal year for travel. READ MORE

6 Unquestionable Behaviors Separating Top Leaders from Toxic Bosses

INC.

Organizations looking to boost their leadership effectiveness can start with pursuing the practice of these six traits across all levels of management in order to have an impact on the people they employ and the customers they serve. READ MORE

How the Pandemic Changed Restaurant Leadership

NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS

Three things we’ve learned for certain in the last 11 months since COVID-19 hit: 1) the foodservice customer has changed; 2) the foodservice team member has changed; and 3) the systems and process we deploy to serve each of those constituencies has changed too. And in case you haven’t noticed, that includes leadership. READ MORE

7 New Social Media Marketing Opportunities on Facebook and More

SEARCH ENGINE JOURNAL

Feeling lost with all the social media changes this year? The questions flooding through your head right now might include:

Why does Facebook work differently?
Should I be on Clubhouse?
What Is Twitter Spaces?

With so many social media platforms and features now available, it can be overwhelming to determine which opportunities are optimal for your business growth this year. We’ve got you. READ MORE

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