TGA Industry News Briefs

July 16, 2020

Industry News NOW

Digital delivery of the new Travel Goods Showcase means you get immediate access to the latest news, like the second half of the 2-part series on COVID-19 and the Travel Goods Business; and an updated Trends story from The 2020 Travel Goods Show. Learn how retailers are banking on road trips and leveraging customer outreach, while manufacturers are coping with new products and operational shifts – and pick up smart moves you can emulate as we all learn to navigate this ever-changing sea.

TOP NEWS

Industry News NOW

TGA

Digital delivery of the new Travel Goods Showcase means you get immediate access to the latest news, like the second half of the 2-part series on COVID-19 and the Travel Goods Business; and an updated Trends story from The 2020 Travel Goods Show. Learn how retailers are banking on road trips and leveraging customer outreach, while manufacturers are coping with new products and operational shifts – and pick up smart moves you can emulate as we all learn to navigate this ever-changing sea.

U.S. Travel Goods Imports Significantly Down in First Five Months of 2020 as Trade Shifts Away from China

TGA

According to new data published last week, U.S. travel goods imports (as described under HTS Heading 4202 – luggage, backpacks, flatgoods, handbags, totes, etc.) fell 20.6% (by volume) in the first five months of 2020. In addition to the obvious impact of COVID-19 on the industry, the latest import numbers show the accelerating trend away from China. In the first five months of 2020, U.S. travel goods imports from China fell 38.5%, with China accounting for only 55.8% of total U.S. travel goods imports. For comparison, in 2016, China accounted for 84.7% of all U.S. travel goods imports. Meanwhile, despite the pandemic, U.S. travel goods imports from #2 supplier Vietnam (28.7%), #3 Cambodia (52.1%), and #4 Burma (Myanmar) (230.3%) surged in the first five months of 2020. In fact, U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam now account for 19.0% of all U.S. travel goods imports, followed by Cambodia at 8.2% of all U.S. travel goods imports. U.S. imports of travel goods account for approximately 99% of the U.S. travel goods market.

U.S. Government Warns Companies of Nexus with China’s Xinjiang Province and Allegations of Forced Labor

TGA

Last week, the U.S. government issued a business advisory warning companies to review any nexus their supply chains might have with Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), a province in northwestern China. The business advisory and accompanying letter highlight allegations of forced labor in supply chains with a nexus with XUAR.

Trump Says U.S.-China Relationship is ‘Severely Damaged,’ Phase 2 Trade Deal Not a Priority

CNBC

President Donald Trump said last week that he isn’t thinking about a possible next stage of the U.S. trade deal with China, adding that the relationship between the two nations has been “severely damaged” by the coronavirus pandemic. “They could have stopped the plague. They could have stopped it. They didn’t stop it,” Trump said on Air Force One en route to Florida, according to reporters present on the plane. READ MORE

USTR Announces Duties on $1.3B in French Goods in Tax Dispute

POLITICO

The Trump administration announced Friday a 25% tariff on $1.3 billion worth of French handbags, cosmetics and soaps in retaliation for a digital services tax on U.S. internet giants, but said it would suspend imposing them for up to six months. READ MORE

Hazmat Suits for Air Travel Are Here

BLOOMBERG

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially recommended widespread use of face masks to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the minimalist medical mask quickly got reimagined as a fashion accessory. Then model Naomi Campbell – a famous germaphobe – and musician Erykah Badu stepped it up a notch, sporting custom hazmat suits for stylish social distancing. Now, with the novel coronavirus pandemic showing no sign of slowing, travelers are taking note. READ MORE

Is It Time for Another Round of Extensions for Airline and Hotel Travel Certificates?

THE POINTS GUY

When the coronavirus first came to the U.S., many travelers began wondering what would happen to their hard-earned elite status. It took some time, but airlines and hotels across the board extended status for another year in recognition of the fact that travel isn’t returning to normal anytime soon. As part of the extension spree, airlines and hotels also announced that they’d be extending the validity of travel certificates. READ MORE

Retail Sales in Europe Are Rebounding

QUARTZ

In the past few months, countries around Europe have been emerging from their coronavirus-imposed lockdowns. As they’ve done so, shoppers have returned to spending. In May, total retail trade jumped 17.8% in the Euro area of 19 countries compared to the month before, according to official statistics released last week. READ MORE

Emergency Grant Program for Small Businesses is Out of Money

CNBC

A pot of money meant to help prop up small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic has run out of funds. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance program, a federal measure offering grants of up to $10,000 to entrepreneurs, has ended after reaching the $20 billion funding limit allowed by Congress, the Small Business Administration announced Saturday. READ MORE

If You Can’t Answer ‘Yes’ to 3 Simple Questions, Your Leadership Intelligence is Lower Than You Think

INC.

The best of leaders in the most desirable companies aren’t characters in some rose-colored Hollywood script. In these turbulent times, they are real human beings with a wholehearted commitment to their people. To know whether you fit the bill of a leader, ask yourself three simple questions. READ MORE

I Visited Cancun Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic – Here’s What It Was Really Like

TRAVEL + LEISURE

Whether you’re prepared to plan a vacation or you’re simply curious about what’s going on south of the border, here’s everything you need to know about traveling to Cancun right now. READ MORE

With Retail Reopening, Demand for Contactless Technology is on the Rise

GLOSSY

As retailers across the country reopen, many are grappling with a tough question: how to provide a quality experience with minimum physical contact between customers and products. There were already a number of contactless solutions out on the market before the pandemic began. For example, contactless payments and curbside pick-up have been a part of the retail landscape for years. But the pandemic has forced retailers to get creative and fast-track the launch of additional contactless alternatives to everyday retail practices. READ MORE

Nursing Home Residents Recreate Classic Album Covers While in Lockdown

GOOD NEWS NETWORK

These grandmas deserve a Grammy for their photo remakes of classic rock albums. After so many months in lock-down with no family visiting their senior care home in north London, their activities coordinator came up with a gem of an idea. Robert Speker, charged with keeping them entertained during the COVID crisis, decided to use his photography skills to recreate album covers. READ MORE

TRENDING ARTICLES

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

Major Retailers to States: Mandate Face Masks Now (ABC NEWS)
I’m a U.S. Citizen. Where in the World Can I Go? (THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Adventures in Alternative Work Arrangements (HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW)
Deal Alert: Book a Private Room on Amtrak, Bring a Buddy for Free (MSN)
Hard-hit Industries Clamor for Regulations During Pandemic (THE WASHINGTON POST)

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July 09, 2020

What’s Happening Out There?

Discover successful strategies and best practices – at the retailer and manufacturer level alike – in Part I of Travel Goods Showcase’s special feature on COVID-19 and the Travel Goods Industry. We dig into the ground-level impact of COVID-19, and learn how manufacturers and retailers across the industry are adapting to weather the crisis with new products, pivots and reopening plans.

TOP NEWS

What’s Happening Out There?

TGA

Discover successful strategies and best practices – at the retailer and manufacturer level alike – in Part I of Travel Goods Showcase’s special feature on COVID-19 and the Travel Goods Industry. We dig into the ground-level impact of COVID-19, and learn how manufacturers and retailers across the industry are adapting to weather the crisis with new products, pivots and reopening plans.

TGA Urges Congress to Renew GSP Program, Restore GSP Benefits to India

TGA

On July 1, TGA joined over 200 business groups to urge Congress to immediately renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which expires at the end of this year. The letter also called on Congress to restore GSP benefits for India. GSP provides duty-free access for U.S. travel goods imports from most developing countries.

TGA Makes Another Plea to U.S. Government to Create Backstop for Commercial Credit

TGA

On July 1, TGA again joined more than 20 other associations in urging the Trump Administration to create an emergency, temporary federal backstop for commercial credit.

TGA Urges Congress to Eliminate China Tariffs and Make Section 301 Process Work Better

TGA

On July 1, TGA joined hundreds of other organizations from across the business community to urge Congress to end the punitive China tariffs and fix the Section 301 process, through which the Trump administration rejected virtually all the exclusion petitions on travel goods.

Hard-hit Industries Clamor for Regulations During Pandemic

THE WASHINGTON POST

America’s most influential power brokers in business increasingly feel that they are fighting more than just the deadly coronavirus to revive the economy. These business interests see a short-term battle against two hard-to-influence forces: individuals acting irresponsibly and a Trump administration that is reluctant to lay down the type of guidelines that would mandate individual behavior during the pandemic. READ MORE

U.S. Trade Groups Urge China to Increase Purchases of U.S. Goods, Services

REUTERS

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and over 40 trade associations on Monday urged top American and Chinese officials to redouble efforts to implement a Phase 1 trade agreement signed by the world’s two largest economies in January despite pandemic-related strains. READ MORE

Major Retailers to States: Mandate Face Masks Now

ABC NEWS

Retailers have a message for state governors: Please make everyone wear a face mask. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Target, Home Depot and other major chains, believes that the hodgepodge of rules around the country have created confusion for shoppers and that has led to conflict between customers and workers trying to enforce store rules. READ MORE

I’m a U.S. Citizen. Where in the World Can I Go?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Even as many countries remain off-limits to American visitors because of the high rate of coronavirus within the United States, about two dozen others have started to welcome, and in some cases woo, U.S. citizens to come spend their tourist dollars. Still, would-be vacationers generally face a host of conditions and a lot of traveler beware. READ MORE

What is ‘TikTok Made Me Buy It’?

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

While it’s hard to say when the “TikTok made me buy it” trend truly began, people with more time to scroll online and looking for ways to quell their boredom are prime targets. Most highlighted purchases are relatively inexpensive, which could be due to most users being between the ages of 10 and 29 and lacking much disposable income, or people wanting to save money during the pandemic. Either way, the affordability likely increases the purchases and popularity of these items. READ MORE

Deal Alert: Book a Private Room on Amtrak, Bring a Buddy for Free

MSN

If you’ve been looking for alternative ways to travel this summer, Amtrak is offering a buy-one get-one deal on private rooms: Book an Amtrak Roomette, bring a companion for free. READ MORE

‘N95 Mask and Hand Sanitizer at the Ready’: The COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Future of Gen Z Travel

USA TODAY

Thirty-five percent of 18 to 34-year-olds don’t plan on going on vacation this year, according to a Morning Consult online poll last month commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association – though 27% have taken a non-business trip, including an overnight stay, since March. Members of Generation Z will approach travel differently by being much more cautious about stepping on a plane, washing their hands frequently and otherwise mitigating risks, concerned for their families and themselves. READ MORE

Adventures in Alternative Work Arrangements

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

Before having kids, we tend to envision ourselves as the devoted company worker, always present, fully committed, and willing to give extra effort to get the job done. But with kids come new demands, especially for the majority of us who are in dual-career households. Our commitment and career ambitions hold true, it’s just harder to fit life around traditional work structures. It would seem that alternative work programs create a win-win for employers, employees, and families. Unfortunately, alternative work is a bit of a ruse. Most employers offer it, but it’s often an empty gesture as few employees ever use these options. READ MORE

Disney World Draws Excitement and Incredulity as Reopening Nears

THE NEW YORK TIMES

The pandemic has devastated Disney’s businesses, and reopening its signature tourist attraction – with restricted capacity and government approval – is a major part of the company’s comeback attempt. But in doing so Disney is stepping into a politicized debate surrounding the virus and efforts to keep people safe, where even the wearing of masks has become a point of bitter contention. READ MORE

TGA

There’s a lot more to reopening than simply unlocking the doors. Consumers need to be made to feel welcome – and safe. Rules specific to your locale must be adhered to. And you must communicate with customers to give them confidence to return. It’s a lot, but TGA’s COVID-19 industry updates page can help, with aggregated resources such as the National Retail Federation’s list of Coronavirus Retail Restrictions by State, updated daily; and Best Practices for Communicating Health and Safety at Businesses, by the U.S. Travel Association. Check back often for the latest guidance to help you move forward.

TGA Tells Congress to Make Tax Credits Refundable

TGA

On June 25, TGA joined over 100 organizations in urging Congress to temporarily make general business tax credits refundable.

U.S.-China Feud Gets Nasty with Red Tape as Stealth Weapon

YAHOO

The U.S. and China are moving beyond bellicose trade threats to exchanging regulatory punches that threaten a wide range of industries including technology, energy and air travel. The two countries have blacklisted each other’s companies, barred flights and expelled journalists. The unfolding skirmish is starting to make companies nervous the trading landscape could shift out from under them. READ MORE

China Passes Sweeping Hong Kong National Security Law

CNN

Beijing has passed a wide-reaching national security law for Hong Kong, which many fear could be used to override existing legal processes and further erode the city’s civil and political freedoms. Beijing’s top lawmaking body, the National People’s Congress (NPC), passed the law unanimously on Tuesday morning local time, bypassing Hong Kong’s legislature, Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The passing of the legislation has been clouded in secrecy and details of the law itself remain scant. READ MORE

Coronavirus Retail Restrictions by State

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

This state-by-state map outlines coronavirus-related laws, executive orders, regulations and guidance governing store operations for retailers. This resource is a part of Operation Open Doors, which provides guidance and tools that NRF members can use as they navigate operating stores across the country during this international health crisis. READ MORE

A Plan for Managing (Constant) Interruptions at Work

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

Interruptions have always been a reality of work, as meetings, text or chat messages, emails, and conversations with coworkers endlessly fragment our time and thus our attention. As the COVID-19 global pandemic forced many of us to work from home, the concurrent management of work/non-work responsibilities have added to this already fragmented time. If interruptions are so frequent and seemingly unavoidable, how do they affect our work and what can we do about them? READ MORE

Overhead Bins Are Now Banned for All Flights in Italy – Will Other Countries Follow?

THE POINTS GUY

In recent weeks, the coronavirus outbreak has slowed in continental Europe. However, health and government officials remain on high alert, especially in previously hard-hit countries like Italy. After a strict months-long lockdown, select European residents can now travel freely to and from Italy. Those travels now have a new type of restriction, however. Last week, Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority announced a decree intended to prevent people from congregating while onboard planes by banning the use of overhead bins. The measure is thought to prevent crowds from clogging aisles while passengers place and retrieve overhead items upon boarding and deplaning. READ MORE

Reimagining Luxury Travel for 2025

SKIFT

At the Skift Forum Europe earlier this week, Arnaud Champenois, senior vice president, brand and marketing at Belmond, and Tom Marchant, owner and co-founder of Black Tomato Group, spoke with Skift President Carolyn Kremins about the how the luxury travel experience could change after the current health crisis. READ MORE

4 Signs Your Team Can’t Work from Home Long-term

INC.

A recent Gartner survey of 229 HR leaders showed that 41% of employees are likely to work remotely at least part-time post-COVID. That’s compared with 30% of employees who worked remotely at least part-time before the pandemic. But for all the plans many companies are making to shift to a work-from-home model long-term, some simply can’t – and I’m not just talking about jobs that require a physical presence. These are some of the signs your business, your workforce, or both, are not equipped to adopt this trend. READ MORE

As COVID-19 Mask Debate Rages on, Retailers Reluctantly Take Brunt of Enforcement

MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

While many retailers say they don’t want to be “mask police,” varying mandates and opinions on public health have led to challenges. READ MORE

The Summer of the Road Trip: AAA Travel Forecast for Summer 2020

KCRA 3

“This year will be the summer of the road trip,” said Aldo Vazquez, public relations spokesman for AAA. Each year, AAA issues a travel forecast for the big summer holidays, but for the first time in 20 years, it didn’t for Memorial Day weekend or the Fourth of July. The travel organization did however give an overall outlook for the summer. READ MORE

Adorable Artwork Shows Up on Times Square Billboard to Thank Essential Workers

GOOD NEWS NETWORK

Three kids got the surprise of a lifetime when their artwork showed up on a giant billboard, as a colorful reminder to frontline workers that we all thank them for their service. Shutterfly chose the designs from more than 450 works of art submitted from children across the nation during the company’s #CreateThanks campaign on Twitter and Instagram. READ MORE

TGA

Masks and other personal health safeguards are the new consumer attention-getter. And a lot of them can be sourced from fellow TGA member companies. Turn to TGA’s COVID-19 Resource Page to find masks, portable hygiene kits, sanitizer sprays and other items to protect your staff and draw consumers in as you reopen. If you make personal protective equipment and aren’t on the list please contact Cathy Trecartin to be added: cat@travel-goods.org, 877-842-1938, x-702.

TGA Urges U.S. Government to Create Backstop for Commercial Credit

TGA

On June 23, TGA signed on to a letter with more than 20 other associations urging the Trump Administration to create an emergency, temporary federal backstop for commercial credit.

TGA Again Urges Congress to Expand Employee Retention Tax Credit

TGA

On June 17, TGA again joined over 100 other organizations in urging Congressional leadership to approve the bipartisan JOBS Credit Act (H.R. 6776). The legislation would expand the employee retention tax credit (ERTC) by expanding the credit percentage from 50% to 80% of qualified wages; increasing the per-employee limitation from $10,000 for all calendar quarters to $15,000 per calendar quarter (and an aggregate of $45,000 for all calendar quarters); and creating a phased-in credit, which will allow employers with more than a 20% decline in gross receipts to be eligible for a portion of the credit.

Trump Says China Deal ‘Fully Intact’ After Navarro Roils Markets

BLOOMBERG

U.S. President Donald Trump said the phase one trade deal with China was “fully intact” after his adviser Peter Navarro sowed confusion and spurred a temporary stock slump with comments interpreted as a decision to end the agreement. “The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!” Trump said in a Twitter post earlier this week. READ MORE

The U.S. is Hurtling Toward Another Trade War – But This Time It Isn’t with China

POLITICO

Europe and the U.S. are hurtling toward a trade war over who has the right to tax Google, Facebook and Amazon. After Washington confirmed last week that it had pulled out of talks on global rules for taxing the digital economy, officials including Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, and Paolo Gentiloni, the European economy commissioner, threw their weight behind national or EU-wide digital levies – plans that would likely bring retaliation from the U.S. READ MORE

Thank You Gifts for Shelter-in-place Kindness

TRAVEL BAGS WITH ANNITA

Our shelter-in-place gift list features items perfect while home sheltering in place and organizing our time at home, and as each state lifts their mandates, the group of gifts offers items for traveling, ready to get you on the road again. Take a look at our list and find a gift that will express the sentiment you want to share. READ MORE

Free Event Alert: National Retail Federation to Host Free Virtual Expo

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

NRF NXT All Access is a 3-day online event from July 20-22 for retail ecommerce and digital marketing professionals. The program features 9 keynote and case study sessions, a virtual Expo with the latest tech solutions and numerous ways to interact with peers and partners. Mark your calendars and register now! READ MORE

The New Escapism: Isolationist Travel

THE NEW YORK TIMES

As travelers seek safety amid social distancing, the travel industry is adapting with outdoor trips, remote lodgings and private camps. READ MORE

Facebook Launches ‘Summer of Support’ Program to Provide Digital Marketing Training to Businesses

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

With more businesses looking to shift their operations online in order to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 shutdowns, Facebook has announced a new, six-week series of digital marketing education courses, starting this week, in order to provide key tips, insights, information and support, primarily for SMBs. READ MORE

Rethinking Skift’s 2020 Travel Megatrends in a Pandemic World

SKIFT

Right before coronavirus brought the travel industry to its knees, we released our Megatrends Defining Travel in 2020. We’ve gone back and looked at those trends through the prism of the pandemic. Check out how things have changed. READ MORE

Hospitality Startup Sonder Raises $170 Million at a $1.3 Billion Valuation During COVID-19 Travel Collapse

FORBES

Sonder appears to have broken out of the hospitality slump. As COVID-19 has pushed traditional hotel occupancy rates below 20%, shrunk airline demand by 95%, and all-but obliterated business travel – the short-term apartment rental company has closed a $170 million Series E round. READ MORE

Integrated Corporate Governance: 6 Leadership Priorities for Boards After the COVID-19 Crisis

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

The COVID-19 crisis is accelerating a shift toward a more integrated approach to corporate governance that has been gathering force for some time. The pandemic has put people’s lives, livelihoods and learning at the center of the public policy and business response in almost every country and industry sector. And, it has highlighted companies as stakeholders themselves with an intrinsic interest in and shared responsibility for the resilience and vitality of the economic, social and environmental systems in which they operate. READ MORE

What Will the Retail Experience of the Future Look Like?

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

In this environment, reading “future of” pieces can feel like a trip to the World’s Fair. There are hundreds of new gadgets and designs being dreamed up to keep us safe from biological threats, mediate our hesitancy to socialize again, and further the integration of our digital and physical lives. As much as this excitement will help us in the long run, what retailers need most right now are tested solutions they can deploy immediately. But brands need more than a checklist of sanitization practices. They need actionable vision that will set them apart and entice people back inside their stores. READ MORE

Bipartisan Senate Passes Great American Outdoors Act to Finally Fund Maintenance Backlog in National Parks

GOOD NEWS NETWORK

In a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate voted 73-25 to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, a funding bill that one lawmaker called the “single greatest conservation achievement in generations.” The Outdoors Act creates a fund into which not less than 50% of all revenues made from energy production on public lands – from oil and gas drilling and renewables – to be dedicated to finally funding over $20 billion worth of delayed maintenance projects in America’s national parks and public lands. READ MORE

TRENDING ARTICLES

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

Will a $4,000 Tax Credit for Travel Be in the Next Stimulus Package? (FORBES)
Flying Now: Not So Crowded, Not So Germy, Not So Friendly (LOS ANGELES TIMES)
Looking at the Post-Pandemic In-store Experience (NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION)
Clothing Stores, Not Bars and Restaurants, Took the Biggest Sales Hit from the Coronavirus (MARKETWATCH)
Worried About Social Distancing When Traveling? Join the Crowd and Rent an R.V. (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

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June 18, 2020

Travel Goods Showcase is Now Digitized and Available Everywhere!

The new issue of Travel Goods Showcase ushers in a whole new reading experience – the industry’s official news source is now 100% digital. It’s all your favorite stories, columns and departments, in an immersive presentation that’s automatically optimized across all viewing devices: phone, desktop and tablet; with active links to featured companies and products. Post comments and share articles straight to social media, right from the page; and enjoy stronger visuals free from the confines of print. Discover the all-new, interactive, delivered-on-demand Showcase HERE!

TOP NEWS

Travel Goods Showcase is Now Digitized and Available Everywhere!

TGA

The new issue of Travel Goods Showcase ushers in a whole new reading experience – the industry’s official news source is now 100% digital. It’s all your favorite stories, columns and departments, in an immersive presentation that’s automatically optimized across all viewing devices: phone, desktop and tablet; with active links to featured companies and products. Post comments and share articles straight to social media, right from the page; and enjoy stronger visuals free from the confines of print. Discover the all-new, interactive, delivered-on-demand Showcase HERE!

TGA Urges Congress to Expand Employee Retention Tax Credit

TGA

TGA joined over 100 other organizations in urging Congress to approve the bipartisan JOBS Credit Act (H.R. 6776). The legislation would expand the employee retention tax credit (ERTC) by expanding the credit percentage from 50% to 80% of qualified wages; increasing the per-employee limitation from $10,000 for all calendar quarters to $15,000 per calendar quarter (and an aggregate of $45,000 for all calendar quarters); and creating a phased-in credit, which will allow employers with more than a 20% decline in gross receipts to be eligible for a portion of the credit.

How Trump Tried to Change China’s Trade Policies and Failed

FORBES

A new book by Wall Street Journal journalists Bob Davis and Lingling Wei is a must-read for anyone interested in what happened between China and the United States, likely the world’s most important economic relationship. It details behind-the-scenes negotiations between the two countries and within the Trump administration itself. Donald Trump told his advisers to “bring me tariffs,” report Davis and Wei, and White House staff complied, at enormous cost to U.S. companies and consumers. READ MORE

Clothing Stores, Not Bars and Restaurants, Took the Biggest Sales Hit from the Coronavirus

MARKETWATCH

Places where customers linger will have the hardest time recovering completely. Restaurants and bars, of course, but also destinations such as clothing stores, bookstores, housewares and antique stores. It’s hard to follow social distancing guidelines when you are lingering in the stacks and not paying attention to what other customers are doing. READ MORE

How COVID-19 is Impacting Boomers’ Shopping Behavior

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

The coronavirus pandemic has forced consumers to adapt many aspects of their lives, from daily routines to how they safeguard themselves and their families. Even as many communities look to reopen, it is likely that the pandemic will continue to impact how consumers of all ages socialize and shop. This is particularly true for baby boomers, those ages roughly 56 to 74. New data from NRF’s Spring Consumer View study shows key ways the pandemic has shifted this demographic’s priorities and what it means for their interactions with brands and retailers. READ MORE

Will a $4,000 Tax Credit for Travel Be in the Next Stimulus Package?

FORBES

The tourism industry loves the idea and so does President Trump, but will Congress get on board? If approved, the “Explore America” Tax Credit would dangle up to $4,000 in front of Americans for vacation expenses spent in the U.S. at hotels, theme parks, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses through the end of 2021. The credit would cover up to 50% of a household’s total vacation expenses, up to a maximum of four grand. READ MORE

Could Airline Fees Be Permanently Eliminated Post COVID-19?

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

As summer travel kicks off, airlines are once again extending change fee waivers for new bookings as they try to attract back nervous fliers. In fact, most carriers have made it free to change flights since the coronavirus outbreak began. So, it’s not far-fetched for consumers to wonder: Why can’t airlines nix these fees – which can run as high as $200 – for good? READ MORE

The Travel Deals That Have Fallen Victim to the Pandemic

SKIFT

Don’t count your deals before they’ve hatched. Coronavirus has killed valuations of many companies, and deals along with them. On the other hand, some companies, such as Grubhub, are in the right place at the right time. READ MORE

Good Leaders Can Overcome Institutional Inertia in a Crisis

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

Although COVID-19 is clearly a catastrophe, it offers what every social scientist craves: a “natural experiment” that allows us to compare different responses to similar shocks. We have already learned much about what does and doesn’t work in tackling the virus itself. We can also glean profound lessons about the role of leaders. READ MORE

Flying Now: Not So Crowded, Not So Germy, Not So Friendly

LOS ANGELES TIMES

During my 20-plus years as a travel writer, I’ve had plenty of weird flights. But none has been stranger than my first pandemic-era flight. Even though it lasted only 47 minutes. Maybe you thought air travel was already as grim as it could get, the same way you might have thought that 2019 would go down as the worst year ever. Yeah, well. READ MORE

Looking at the Post-Pandemic In-store Experience

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

Stores are reopening, slowly but surely. Retailers are absorbing CDC- and state-issued guidelines for keeping staff and shoppers safe from the novel coronavirus. As they enact social distancing and install hand-sanitizer stations and acrylic barriers, how are they considering the in-store experiences many brands are known for? Design and strategy experts agree in-store customer experiences won’t go away completely, but the type and amount offered is up for debate, especially for those retail brands known for remarkable customer service or time-saving conveniences. READ MORE

PayPal: The Pandemic’s Digital Shift and Retail’s ‘Super Bowl’

PYMNTS.COM

The pandemic didn’t create the great shift to digital spending that has been observed over the last 12 weeks, despite the fact that it is often awarded much of the credit. A fairer assessment of the situation, PayPal’s Vice President and General Manager of North America and Australia Marcy Campbell told Karen Webster in a recent conversation, is that the pandemic has tremendously accelerated a shift away from physical purchasing and toward digital transactions that was already underway. READ MORE

How to Get Results on Social Media Without a Million-dollar Budget

SEARCH ENGINE JOURNAL

People are tired of businesses marketing to them on social media only to sell them new products and services that they don’t want or need. It’s turning people away from our businesses and brands because we are not taking the time to meet our consumers where they are. Businesses are trying hard to speed up the selling process that they forget about the customer and what the customer wants and needs. READ MORE

Worried About Social Distancing When Traveling? Join the Crowd and Rent an R.V.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Recreational vehicles were gaining in popularity before the pandemic. Now, with travel restrictions loosening, a surge of travelers is drawn to the relative solitude that R.V.s offer. READ MORE

TGA

Coming up with a reopening strategy is a lot simpler when someone else has done the work for you. Look to TGA’s COVID-19 resource page for useful tools like:

The National Retail Federation’s Operation Open Doors checklist (remember, TGA’s small and mid-size retail members receive a complimentary NRF membership)
The U.S. Travel Association’s Best Practices for Communicating Health and Safety Guidelines at Businesses
And best practices examples such as 14 Email Marketing Tactics to Test Now

For more tips, check in with TGA’s COVID-19 resource page, updated frequently, for the latest best practices and reopening info.

TGA Letter Urging U.S. Government to Establish Uniform Regulations for Protecting American Flying Public During Pandemic

TGA

TGA has drafted a letter urging the Trump administration to immediately implement uniform safety regulations to protect the flying public as our country emerges from this pandemic. Without uniform regulations, Americans will face a myriad of conflicting regulations that differ by airport and differ by airline, creating confusion, and instilling fear that America’s skies are not safe to fly just as we enter the critical summer travel season. Please let TGA’s Nate Herman know by this Friday, June 12 whether TGA should send the draft letter and, if so, what other organizations could/should join TGA on the letter.

Trump Signs Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act into Law

TGA

On June 5, President Trumped signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act. The law will modify the PPP by extending the expense forgiveness period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks; reducing the 75% payroll ratio requirement to 60%; expanding loan repayment restrictions from 2 years to 5 years; and extending the June 30 rehiring deadline to December 31, 2020.

Should TGA Support Fixing the Employee Retention Tax Credit?

TGA

TGA would like to sign a letter endorsing the bipartisan JOBS Credit Act (H.R. 6776), legislation that would fix the employee retention tax credit (ERTC) by expanding the credit percentage from 50% to 80% of qualified wages; increasing the per-employee limitation from $10,000 for all calendar quarters to $15,000 per calendar quarter (and an aggregate of $45,000 for all calendar quarters); and creating a phased-in credit, which will allow employers with more than a 20% decline in gross receipts to be eligible for a portion of the credit. Please let TGA’s Nate Herman know by this Friday, June 12 whether TGA should sign the letter endorsing the legislation.

13 Travel Experts on the Luggage Brands They Swear By

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

Here at Traveler, we know that a reliable suitcase can make or break a trip. Whether it’s tossing and turning in the cargo hold or packed into your trunk as you hit the road this summer, it’s what you trust to keep your belongings safe and organized. Fortunately, we have a clued-in network of constantly traveling industry experts that we rely on to point us toward the brands and pieces they trust most. READ MORE

25,000 Stores Are Predicted to Close in 2020, As the Coronavirus Pandemic Accelerates Industry Upheaval

CNBC

U.S. retailers could announce between 20,000 and 25,000 closures in 2020, according to a tracking by Coresight Research, with 55% to 60% of those situated in America’s malls. That would also mark a record – which was previously the more than 9,300 locations in 2019. READ MORE

EU Set to Reject Cambodia Tariff Relief Plea

NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW

Cambodia’s garment industry, already pummeled by the coronavirus pandemic, is set for a “one-two punch” after the European Union signaled it will not suspend its decision to curb trade privileges for the vital sector. The EU announced in February that it will suspend duty-free access for 40 products from Cambodia, effective Aug. 12, because of “systematic” human rights violations. READ MORE

This Map Will Show Where You Can and Can’t Travel Due to Coronavirus

TRAVEL + LEISURE

There’s now an easy way to peruse your vacation options as the world begins recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. The International Air Transport Association, an authoritative trade association for airlines around the world, has created an interactive Travel Regulations Map that allow both airlines and travelers to quickly see current COVID-19 travel restrictions for each country around the world. READ MORE

Leaders Must Have the Courage to Choose the Future

MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW

In a crisis, it’s easy to unconsciously prioritize the past. But crises are also when leaders need to look forward. READ MORE

COVID-19 Will Curtail These 10 Coveted Travel Amenities

SF GATE

As travel demand creeps back over the next year, there will be a lot of changes when we hit the roads and skies again. One of the biggest changes will be the absence of things travelers, especially those in business class, might have taken for granted in the pre-pandemic days. From something as basic as a welcoming smile or a warm meal, to a shower at 35,000 feet, here are 10 things that might not be around when you are ready to travel again. READ MORE

14 Email Marketing Tactics to Test Now

SAILTHRU.COM

Every retailer is navigating waters so uncharted they may as well be in their own respective oceans. Some fortunate brands are experiencing a surge in sales, overwhelming their supply chains, while others have to shutter their stores and furlough employees as sales decrease. You already knew the spread of coronavirus is having an unprecedented and unpredictable impact on the retail industry. What you don’t know is how or when it will end. READ MORE

This ‘COVID-free’ Italian Town Wants You to Buy a $1 House

TRAVEL + LEISURE

Italy’s famed $1 homes are back on the market. In 2019, several small Italian towns put up their abandoned homes for just $1 in an effort to lure more residents in and to rebuild the communities. Now, the community of Cinquefrondi, located in the southern region of Calabria, is doing the same. But it’s got one more selling point for you: It’s also COVID-free. READ MORE

TGA

Retail may not be restarting where you are, but now’s the time to prepare so you’re ready when re-opening day comes. There’s a lot more to it than simply outfitting employees with masks and placing 6-foot spacing indicators in the checkout line. Look for pointers and sources in Restarting Retail: The Unofficial Guide to Reopening Your Store, just one of the useful links on TGA’s COVID-19 industry updates and resources page.

Give Your Brand a Head Start

TGA

Retailers are slowly prepping to re-open – maybe not immediately, but hopefully soon – and the time to reach them is now, while they’re gearing up. Let them know you’re in this with them; put your brand top of mind, and you could find your goods at the front of the store. Advertise in Travel Goods Showcase, which reaches more industry retailers than any other publication. Contact Cathy Trecartin, cat@travel-goods.org; 877-842-1938, x-702.

TGA Endorses Legislation Adding Pandemics to Business Interruption Insurance

TGA

Last week, TGA endorsed H.R. 7011, legislation that would require pandemics to be added to covered issues under business interruption insurance. Many travel goods companies with business interruption insurance received no benefits because pandemics were not covered.

TGA Supported Fixes to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Passes House

TGA

On May 28, the House approved by a vote of 417-1 the TGA-supported Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which would make much-needed fixes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including: extending the expense forgiveness period from eight weeks to twenty-four weeks; reducing the 75% payroll ratio requirement; eliminating 2-year loan repayment restrictions for future borrowers; allowing payroll tax deferment for PPP recipients; and extending the June 30 rehiring deadline. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation shortly.

China May Not Be Delivering on Its Trade Deal – Here’s Why

CNBC

News that Beijing has ordered state firms to halt purchases of farm products could well be an opportunistic political maneuver stemming from fundamental weakness on the demand side in China, said analysts. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that China has asked main state firms to suspend large-scale purchases of major U.S. farm products like soybeans and pork. That came in response to President Donald Trump, who said last week he would strip Hong Kong of its special status with the U.S. But soybean demand has not been strong in China anyway. READ MORE

Airlines Say It’s Safe to Travel. But is It?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Airlines and airports around the world are doing everything they can to instill confidence that it is safe to fly again, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines are requiring face masks, imposing new cleaning procedures, and using social distancing to board flights. As to the airports, they are screening passengers’ temperatures, using biometric screening to speed check-in, and using autonomous robots to clean terminal floors. But none of it is consistent. And it’s unclear whether the measures are enough. READ MORE

Don’t Leave Millions of Vacation Days on the Table

CNN

Use it or lose it. For workers lucky enough to receive paid time off, that phrase is shorthand for corporate policies that don’t allow employees to carry unused PTO days into the next year. During the coronavirus pandemic, it also carries a mental health warning. Time away from work – even if you don’t go anywhere – is more important than ever in managing stress and maintaining a sense of well-being. READ MORE

Laid-off Corporate Travel Agents Become Consultants: Will Clients Follow?

SKIFT

As governments call time on coronavirus and wind down financial aid for furloughed workers, the jobs market is set to become flooded with corporate travel consultants and account managers. As a result, industry observers predict a new type of so-called “micro agency” will appear – independent consultancies formed by laid-off corporate travel agency staff. They’ll embrace the work-from-home model, be well connected, and well placed to cater to those corporates downsizing their own travel programs. READ MORE

Coronavirus Pandemic Forces Adoption of Online Retail for Business Owners and Consumers

WTHR 13

Online shopping continues to grow exponentially. Most recently, that is due in part to shoppers having desperate needs during quarantine for things like groceries and toilet paper. James Thomson, a partner at Buy Box Experts – a company that helps build brands on Amazon – said the COVID-19 pandemic helped speed up many people’s perceived resistance to online shopping. READ MORE

Spending Starting to Improve, Some Retail Sales Rising

KSTP.COM

With countries starting to loosen lockdown restrictions, many nations are beginning to show spending improvements, according to Visa. Total U.S. payments volume dropped 5% in May from a year earlier. That’s a 13 percentage point improvement from April. Debit grew 12% and credit declined 21% year-over-year in the period. That’s a 17 percentage point and 9 percentage point improvement over April, respectively. READ MORE

History Teaches 3 Essential Leadership Lessons for Our Current Crisis

FAST COMPANY

These Harvard Business School co-authors of a forthcoming case study on the Cuban Missile Crisis argue that current U.S. leaders are neglecting three essential tactics that enabled the Kennedy administration to avoid global annihilation nearly 60 years ago. READ MORE

Three Reasons Video Marketing is Important on Social Media in 2020

FORBES

As more businesses turn to Facebook for marketing campaigns, the more expensive it will cost advertisers to advertise, based on Facebook’s auctioning algorithm, and the more difficult it will be to capture attention on social media. Here are three powerful reasons why video marketing is important in 2020 and how you can get better results with less of a marketing budget. READ MORE

The Most Important Word in the Hospitality Industry? ‘Clean’

THE NEW YORK TIMES

According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, an industry group, the coronavirus outbreak has cost hotels in the United States more than $23 billion in room revenue since mid-February. As these properties prepare for a new operational reality – one that must balance federal, state and local laws and consumer anxiety about getting sick – the world’s largest hotel companies have all come forward in recent weeks to announce new cleaning playbooks. READ MORE

Autonomous Cars Are Now Delivering Meals and Medication to At-risk People in Quarantine

GOOD NEWS NETWORK

In what is being hailed “the ultimate form of social distancing”, a trio of autonomous cars are set to begin delivering thousands of meals to families suffering from food insecurity in Washington, DC. Optimus Rides, a startup that specializes in developing driverless vehicles for urban transportation, has announced that they will be deploying three of their cars for contactless grocery deliveries to low-income households. READ MORE

TGA

Retail is changing unimaginably quickly. Learn how to reach customers and adapt to the new normal, with online webinars from Stand Up 4 Retail such as:

These webinars are free, although you must register to view. See the full roster of 10 available seminars here.

More China Tranche 3 Tariff Exclusions for Travel Goods

TGA

Last week, on May 22, the U.S. government announced that it has granted new exclusions from the punitive China tariffs for three travel goods items (NO luggage) – certain plastic handbags (see description on page 8, #36; see petition), certain plastic coin purses (see description on page 8, #37; see petition), and certain MMF travel bags (see description on page 8, #38; see petition). Anyone importing products matching these descriptions no longer pays the punitive 25% tariff (until Aug. 7, 2020). Previous tariffs paid are eligible for refunds, retroactive to Sept. 24, 2018. The U.S. government also denied thousands of petitions over the last week. In fact, USTR has reviewed all 30,283 Tranche 3 petitions submitted – denying 28,786 petitions to date and only granting 1,497 petitions to date (a 4.9% approval rate). For travel goods, out of 868 petitions filed, USTR has granted only 25 petitions, and rejected 843 of those petitions (a 2.8% approval rate).

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

TGA

Despite the pandemic, dozens of new California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) “60-day” notices have been issued over the last few months alleging that brands and retailers sold totes (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), travel bags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3), duffle bags (Notice 1), passport/ID holders (Notice 1, Notice 2), handbags (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), wallets (Notice 1), backpacks (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7, Notice 8, Notice 9, Notice 10, Notice 11, Notice 12), cosmetic 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), phone armband holders (Notice 1)/cases (Notice 1)/holders (Notice 1)/dry bags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3), fanny packs (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3), PVC bags (Notice 1), weekly planners (Notice 1), travel kits (Notice 1), and toiletry bags (Notice 1) in California that contained di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and/or diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in violation of a California law known as Proposition 65 (Prop 65). The notices serve as intent to bring lawsuits against the 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, 202-853-9351.

U.S. Challenge in Penalizing China: Hurt Beijing, Not Hong Kong

BLOOMBERG

The Trump administration has promised strong action against China over its national security law in Hong Kong, but its options may be limited because any harsh penalties aimed at Beijing would likely also harm both Hong Kong – and the U.S. READ MORE

Many SMB Retail, Restaurants ‘Don’t Have the Wherewithal to Reopen’

PYMNTS.COM

Stephen Ross, chairman of Related Cos., said bankruptcy could be the future for many retailers as the effects of the pandemic continue to play out. Ross, speaking with CNBC earlier this week, said retail and hotel industries were the hardest-hit by the pandemic, and the closures and reduced travel would force closures and bankruptcies beyond those like J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew that have filed already. Related CEO Jeff Blau, also recently talking with CNBC, reported that 35% of its retail tenants had been able to make rent payments on time, and only 20% of enclosed mall locations had been able to do so. Rent payments have been a point of contention with big real estate owners as companies have had to try to make ends meet amid plummeting sales due to job losses and fear of the coronavirus. READ MORE

The Pandemic Could Change Air Travel Forever

RECODE

Air travel is in the midst of another sea change, not just because of the public health crisis but also the corresponding economic collapse. Schaberg, author of The End of Airports and several other books about air travel, believes that even the essential elements of flying that have always remained the same – boarding at the gate, drinks on ice in the air, waiting at baggage claims – will never be the same. Even as the effects of the pandemic ease, air travel as we know it probably won’t ever return. READ MORE

8 HR Leaders Share the Crucial Management Insights They’ve Learned During COVID

FORBES

It’s during these challenging times that great leadership is so crucial. We need people who can help teams navigate their new normal, adjust to a different way of living and working, and look forward to an increasingly uncertain future. So, what does great leadership look like in times like this? I reached out to eight brilliant Chief People Officers and other HR leaders, who shared the top insights they’ve learned so far during the pandemic. READ MORE

Who Decides When Employees Are Fit Enough to Travel Again – And How?

SKIFT

For travel managers worldwide, the first phase of the crisis was about bringing staff back home safely. Now it’s time to see who’s ready to go back out. Checking the fitness of employees used to be reserved for high-risk sectors, such as mining where staff would spend long periods away at remote work camps. But today, nearly every destination can be classified as a hotspot. READ MORE

The Latest Trend in Vacation Rentals: Long-term Stays

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Like a barbershop newly opened from lockdown, vacation properties are experiencing a surge of bookings. But instead of a week or two on the beach, people are looking for a month or more. READ MORE

How to Sanitize Your Luggage

PETER GREENBERG WORLDWIDE

When we start traveling again, we’ll be wearing masks and some of us will wear gloves. All of us will be carrying some form of antiseptic wipe or antibacterial hand sanitizer. But what about our bags? Our suitcases pass through many hands when we travel. READ MORE

Should You Save Your Miles for Future Travel or Cash Them Out Now?

THE POINTS GUY

While no one knows exactly when travel will begin to return to normal, experts around the world are predicting a slow recovery and that it will take several years for demand to return to pre-pandemic levels. Many award travelers are using this time to build up their account balances and plan for future trips, but some are considering cashing out their points and taking a different approach. READ MORE

Beyond Vanity Metrics: Measuring Social Media Success

CMS WIRE

Brands continue to invest more in social media marketing each year. In fact, HubSpot found that 74% of global marketers currently invest in social media marketing. And with this adoption, there’s been enormous amounts of data collected in an effort to measure the success of social media campaigns. But for many marketing teams, it’s becoming a challenge to sift through the wide range of metrics to understand if their social media campaigns are effective. That’s why we’ve asked social media experts how they determine success and what metrics you should track that actually matter. READ MORE

Hotels vs. Airbnb: Has Covid-19 Disrupted the Disrupter?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Airbnb, born in 2008, famously disrupted the hotel industry. It stole market share, put pressure on hotel rates, inspired the creation of affordable brands and saw hotels across the spectrum create restaurants, bars and lobbies that channeled the local vibe. Airbnb’s recent layoff of a quarter of its work force indicates the financial strain the company is under. Now the question is: Has Covid-19 disrupted the disrupter? READ MORE

TGA

The new issue of Travel Goods Showcase, the industry’s premier news source, hits inboxes – not mailboxes – in June. That’s right, Showcase just stepped up to an all-digital format, so you’ll reap the benefits of electronic presentation and lightspeed digital delivery. That means more timeliness and the ability to provide more in-depth coverage when warranted, without the constraints of page dimensions and printing schedules. Get the full scoop on the all-digital Showcase here, and discover the new advertising possibilities it presents here.

Getting Back to Business

TGA

Travel Goods Showcase is looking for industry news to share in its upcoming issue, especially regarding evolving best practices and product pivots, plus local press coverage and humanitarian work your company might be undertaking. Please send your info, photos and press releases to kim@travel-goods.org by Friday, May 29 for editorial consideration. More details can be found here.

U.S. Mulls Paying Companies, Tax Breaks to Pull Supply Chains from China

REUTERS

U.S. lawmakers and officials are crafting proposals to push American companies to move operations or key suppliers out of China that include tax breaks, new rules, and carefully structured subsidies. President Trump has long pledged to bring manufacturing back from overseas, but the recent spread of the coronavirus and related concerns about U.S. medical and food supply chains dependency on China are “turbocharging” new enthusiasm for the idea in the White House. READ MORE

U.S. Retail Sales Plunged a Record 16% in April As Virus Hit

AP

U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened the viability of stores across the country and further weighed down a sinking economy. READ MORE

Here’s What China’s Coronavirus Shutdown Did to Global Supply Chains

MARKETWATCH

China’s coronavirus lockdown earlier this year to combat the epidemic saw the country take a hit when it comes to its market share of U.S. imports, likely strengthening a trend that will see manufacturers bring some activities home, or at least move to ensure their supply chains are less dependent on a single country, according to a New York Federal Reserve economist. READ MORE

The Future of Travel: An Optimist’s View

TRAVEL WEEKLY

How does one find the light at the end of the tunnel when many political leaders, scientists and some travel company CEOs speak as if travel will never come back? These pessimists base their predictions on the combination of fear and further contagion. Some even believe the soaring use of Zoom is contributing to a lack of desire among people to get off their couches and move around the world again. I emphatically and respectfully disagree. Here is why. READ MORE

Onboarding a New Leader – Remotely

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

It’s quite possible to onboard new leaders effectively into a remote-working environment. The biggest barrier is probably mindset. We are all being tested to adapt to new ways of working, and it’s no different with virtual onboarding. Here are some principles to guide you. READ MORE

Retail Has a Ticking Debt Bomb Set to Explode

COMMERCIAL OBSERVER

Perry Mandarino has been working in business restructuring and turnarounds since 1987, including in retail. He’s seen waves of changes in that industry, including the rise of big-box stores such as Home Depot and Best Buy and those same stores swallowing their smaller rivals. But what’s happening now to retail due to the novel coronavirus pandemic is something else entirely. “You have retail Darwinism, retail survival of the fittest as the bigger get bigger and the smaller disappear,” said Mandarino. READ MORE

Weighing Whether to Travel This Summer During the Coronavirus Pandemic? What to Consider

USA TODAY

As states reopen and travel restrictions ease, you’re probably wondering whether it’s safe for you and your family to travel this summer. The short answer? Travel still isn’t recommended, at least according to federal guidelines. But as some states are pulling back stay-at-home orders put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, travelers must grapple with the choice to venture out. Suddenly, that beach trip you planned or that hotel you booked might be enticing for you to escape your home. READ MORE

Four Social Media Trends for Connecting with Customers During Coronavirus

THE STORY EXCHANGE

Let’s face it: Staying engaged has never been more important. As scientists race to invent new vaccines and treatments, the old way you normally conducted your business is a thing of the past. So, while we’re still in uncharted territory, it’s smart for business owners to stay connected with customers as frequently and openly as possible. We’ve rounded up four timely social media marketing tips that have helped women entrepreneurs thrive amid unprecedented circumstances. READ MORE

Travel in the ‘New Normal’: When Coronavirus Restrictions Loosen, What Will Travel Be Like?

WWTOP NEWS

What will travel be like once coronavirus-related restrictions put in place since March finally ease? With the traditional start of the summer travel season – Memorial Day weekend – approaching quickly, WTOP spoke with CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg about what will likely be changing for airlines and airports, hotels and cruise lines. READ MORE

How Travel Bubbles Could Define Where We Go in 2020

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Croatia. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Soon, travelers in each of these trios may be able to travel freely within their partner countries – salvaging some part of the summer travel season for Europe and the Mediterranean’s less-affected countries. The partnerships, called “travel bubbles” and “corona corridors” by some, are popping up across the continent as coronavirus restrictions lift and locals look to leave not just their homes, but their countries all together for a much-needed change of scenery. READ MORE

TGA

As parts of the country explore opening up, local delivery and curbside pickup will become part of the new retail lexicon. Explore this Stand Up 4 Retail webinar about best practices around this new normal, and find other COVID-19 news and resources at TGA’s COVID-19 News and Resources web page. It’s an ever-shifting landscape, and now more than ever it pays to stay informed.

TGA Urges Congress to Not Tax PPP Relief

TGA

On May 7, TGA joined more than 150 other organizations in urging Congress to ensure that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) relief is not subject to income tax.

Trump ‘Not Interested’ in Reopening U.S.-China Trade Deal After Report of Beijing Discontent

REUTERS

President Donald Trump said on Monday he opposed renegotiating the U.S.-China “Phase 1” trade deal after a Chinese state-run newspaper reported some government advisers in Beijing were urging fresh talks and possibly invalidating the agreement. Trump, who himself has considered abandoning the pact signed in January, told a White House press briefing he wanted to see if Beijing lived up to the deal to massively increase purchases of U.S. goods. READ MORE

45% of Apparel Buyers Working with Suppliers to Cut Costs

SUPPLY CHAIN DIVE

Most apparel sourcing organizations are taking a mixed approach to the demand shock dealt by the coronavirus pandemic, reducing order frequency and size and in some cases canceling orders of finished goods, according to a McKinsey report released last week. In a survey of 116 apparel sourcing executives administered by the consultancy, 49% of respondents said they had canceled less than 25% of upcoming orders and 22% said they had canceled none. READ MORE

Getting Back to Business Post COVID-19

RETAIL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

In this week’s HP-sponsored podcast on how COVID-19 is impacting the retail segment, Retail Customer Experience contributing podcast host Bradley Cooper shares how retailers are slowly gearing up to get back to business and expert insight on why customer loyalty is now more important than ever. READ MORE

Refunds or Credits? Travelers and Businesses Face Off

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Travel screeched to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, and millions of would-be travelers are demanding refunds for canceled trips and now-unreachable destinations. But even while pressured by that sentiment, some independent businesses, from tour operators to hotel owners, are offering credits. Credits, they feel, are a fair way to roll forward trip prepayments and deposits, which under normal circumstances might be nonrefundable. And rebooking guests for the future means cash flow now, the only way to survive the period of dormancy. READ MORE

How Coronavirus Could Burst the Social Media Influencer Industry

THE HILL

Imagine becoming rich without showing up at an office or answering to a boss. You have no commute except for occasional paid flights to some of the most exotic locations on the planet for photos in the sun. Think about staying home and receiving shipments of designer clothes and jewelry to promote online. It may sound like a dream to you, but for a huge number of young adults who make money as influencers, this is their own reality. But this $8 billion social media influencer industry is probably a bubble, and the coronavirus may finally burst it. READ MORE

Two-Week Quarantine: Summer Vacations with Strings Attached

CNN

As restrictions around the world begin to ease and as economies slowly reopen, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions prepare once again to welcome international travelers. However, it’s definitely not business as usual. Australia and New Zealand were among the first nations to introduce self-isolation measures for people (both nationals and foreign visitors) entering their countries. READ MORE

Consumers Lead Industry Transformation

THE ROBIN REPORT

People are coping with their “new normal,” and their purchase behavior reflects this. When comparing March 2020 to March 2019, there has been a 397% increase in soup, 377% on packaged foods and 190% on toilet paper sales. In contrast, travel, resort wear, and event supplies have seen double-digit declines ranging from 30% to 77%. Shoppers are demonstrating that their new priorities have shifted given the uncertain climate and even brand names are less critical when making a purchase. READ MORE

DOT Again Warns Airlines Over Ticket Refunds After ‘Unprecedented’ Surge in Complaints During Pandemic

CNBC

The Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it has received thousands more complaints over airline refunds than usual during the coronavirus pandemic and issued another warning to carriers who skirt their obligations to customers. “The Department has received an unprecedented volume of complaints from passengers and is examining this issue closely to ensure that airlines’ policies and practices conform to DOT’s refund rules,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a news release. READ MORE

COVID-19: How Leaders Can Create a New and Better Normal

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations around the globe have demonstrated remarkable agility, changing business models literally overnight: setting up remote-work arrangements; offshoring entire business processes to less-affected geographies; initiating multi-company cooperation to redeploy furloughed employees across sectors. In each situation, the urgency for results prevailed over traditional bureaucratic responses. READ MORE

3 Baltic States Announced a ‘Travel Bubble.’ What is It and Could It Work in the U.S.?

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to open their internal borders for citizens to travel between the three countries beginning on May 15, a decision that creates the first “travel bubble” among European Union countries as coronavirus-related travel restrictions begin to ease. READ MORE

10% of Retail Demand Might Be Lost Forever

CNBC

The coronavirus pandemic is sure to leave many lasting effects on the retail industry, including bankruptcies, store closures and layoffs. It could also mean a healthy fraction of consumer demand for clothes and shoes is lost forever, according to one analyst. Five percent to 10% of pre-COVID-19 demand could be decimated permanently, as “lost store volume can’t entirely be made up online,” Wells Fargo retail analyst Ike Boruchow said in a note to clients yesterday. READ MORE

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