01/15/2021
Updates 01/15/2021: Ohio's Travel Industry and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Economic Relief Updates
ZOOS, SOME MUSEUMS, LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUES AND OTHERS: INFORMATION PENDING ON SBA SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATOR GRANTS
The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act, signed into law on Dec. 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Initial information also says that qualified entities can't have received PPP funding in the latest round.
Eligibility details are forthcoming, but the website states the following are eligible:
- Live venue operators or promoters
- Theatrical producers
- Live performing arts organization operators
- Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria
- Motion picture theater operators
- Talent representatives, and
- Each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements
Travel Research Updates
NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW OPTIMISM: 51% OF AMERICAN TRAVELERS REPORT THAT THEIR FIRST TRIPS IN 2021 WILL BE VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Key findings from Longwoods International fielded Jan. 6-12, 2021:
- 51% of American travelers report that their first trip this year will be to visit friends and relatives (The vast majority of this will be by car.)
- Only 9% of American travelers indicated that they do not currently have travel plans for 2021.
- 63% of American travelers have plans to travel in the next six months, up from 57% (+6%) back in mid-December.
- Only 35% have completely cancelled upcoming travel plans due to the pandemic, down from 41% (-6%) in mid-December.
- 41% of Americans now support opening up their community to visitors, up from 32% (+9%) in early December.
TRAVEL SENTIMENT INCHES UPWARDS
Key findings from Destinations Analysts fielded Jan. 8-10, 2021:
- Americans’ openness to travel inspiration (measuring 6.0 on a scale of 0-10)
- Those in a travel readiness state-of-mind (58.6%)
- Excitement levels about travel in 2021 (6.1 on a scale of 0-10)
- The percent of American travelers who believe the COVID-19 vaccines are safe (67.8%)
- The percent of American travelers that will be getting vaccinated against COVID-19 (61.4%)
- The proportion of American travelers who are more optimistic about being able to safely travel in the next six months due to vaccine availability (56.4%)
- The percent of American travelers saying they have begun planning and booking trips specifically in anticipation of vaccines being available (33.7%)
- The percent of American travelers who say discounts and price cuts can motivate them to take a trip they had not previously considered (43.0%)
- The percent of American travelers that said they would be happy if they saw an advertisement promoting their community as a place for tourists to come visit when it is safe (40.3%)