Business Traveler, July/August 2020

J U LY A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m 4 9 C O V E R S T O R Y A s the global pandemic or at least the global panic thats accompanied it begins to ebb and the world starts to chart its course back we travelers are entering some murky and unfamiliar territory We cant go back though so the only choice is the way forward Now the way forward for the travel industry will appear mystifying at first and there is no timeline yet for how long these new measures will endure There are masks and plastic barriers disinfectants and UV robots and truckloads of hand sanitizer There is also more apprehension and often some confusion But the way forward is also hopeful and bright There is opportunity for improvement and energy for making the world a better and healthier place There is also the desire for a robust economy in which travel plays a fundamental role There is a cautious way to approach travel as businesses and organizations churn back to work Perhaps the most important thing to remember however is that we must see things differently We need to take a half glass full approach and be aware of the potential we do have rather than ticking off the things that are different or missing from the travel experience Lets be mindful of the freedom and joy that travel can bring Making a list of all the things we dislike about the new normal is certainly a recipe for disappointment There will be many things that are not like they once were but travel can still deliver fruitful results for commerce for relationships and for the curious among us With that in mind there are sure to be some changes on your next trip Plexiglas Perplexities The International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International have partnered to produce what they call a joint approach to multi layered biosecurity measures to protect health and safety In a statement introducing the measures ACI World director general Angela Gittens said There is currently no single measure that could mitigate all the risks of restarting air travel But we believe a globally consistent outcome based approach represents the most effective way of balancing risk mitigation with the need to unlock economies and to enable travel Certainly technology will play a role online check in and mobile boarding passes were already popular and will become more so However some travelers will still need to check in at the airport if they have bags or need to have international documents checked There Plexiglas shields protect people at various touchpoints like ticket counters but they are transparent which means a smile and a kind word can still go a long way in humanizing this abnormal experience The way forward will require patience humility and a sense of humor for sure Transportation Security Administration checkpoints are different too In addition to plastic barriers there are fewer hands touching our belongings but to achieve that travelers will need to make some preparations Remember to remove things like liquids electronics and food items from your bags if you do not have TSA Pre Check This will make screening go smoother One thing that has not changed are those grubby plastic bins you must use at security Despite efforts to sanitize them regularly they are still dirty because some people place their shoes in them instead of on the conveyor belt Remember to bring plastic bags to protect food and toiletries that have to go in those bins This is smart practice even in the old normal Luckily liquid restrictions have been eased to allow more than 34 ounces of hand sanitizer to be carried through security All The New Normal in travel hardly seems normal at all but the journey is still worth the effort IMAGE Kempinskis new protocols dubbed Kempinski White Glove Service