Tune in to PeterGreenberg.com   from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET for the latest Eye on Travel on Saturday, August 8, 2020

Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. E-mail him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #AskPeter).

Brynne Anne Besio, CEO of the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, speaks about how this museum in Bradenton offers learning experiences for adults and kids. There’s a spin on global concepts but with Florida twists like learning about Saber-toothed tigers that lived in the area. The museum is also home to a rehab center for manatees. The manatee habitat serves to keep injured manatees in a safe space while they fatten up before getting released in the wild. The museum also has a 50-foot dome planetarium that shows a 3D live version of the universe. The museum closed down at the governor’s order during the COVID-19 pandemic, but opened again on July 3, 2020. The spacious museum makes social distancing easy and is set up for a one way tour. The planetarium is even still in use with up to 30 people in the large theater, and sanitizing occurs after every show.

Rick Piccolo, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, talks about the recent success of one of the fastest growing airports in America before coronavirus hit. The airport has nine airlines and was growing at a rate of 53% this year, even though it is surrounded by five other airports in the area. Right now, this airport is at around 40% of normal traffic and hasn’t lost any airlines in the process. It’s one of the few airports with no debt so it has enough reserves to keep afloat for another five to six years.

Janene Amick, Chief Executive Officer of the Manatee Performing Arts Center, talks about the center’s pivot in how it has performances during the coronavirus pandemic. The center has had three months experimenting with concerts, movies, and live theater. It recently did a production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” with seven actors all on stage in the parking lot, socially distanced, and wearing face shields. Audiences parked cars in the parking lot and sat outside in a space next to the car to watch while following social distancing protocol. With drive-in service, it can fit 100 cars per performance. Movies are also being shown in the parking lot as well.

Laura Finaldi, Retail and Tourism Reporter at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, has seen first hand local businesses adjusting during the pandemic. They are doing what they can to stay open like having curbside pickup or investing in online sales. She says safety is a big concern for customers so stores are taking all of the necessary precautions. Anchor stores in malls around the area are closing which will eventually lead to the collapse of the malls. There is however a hand sanitizer company that is having sales going through the roof.

Charles Hunsicker, Parks and Natural Resources Department Director in Manatee County, discusses the preserves in Florida that never closed. During the pandemic, it offered a getaway for folks who need a break. Wildlife has returned to the preserves with traffic being down. His department is also responsible for new sand on beaches for beach restoration efforts. Not only do people enjoy the beaches, but turtles and shorebirds do as well. You can also see animals like manatees and bald eagles at the preserves. Hunsicker says to be sure to come early morning or late at night to be able to spot all of the wildlife.

France Langan, Vice President of Operations and General Manager of the Compass Hotel, discusses why Florida is the perfect spot for his new hotel. Just recently opened, Langan is excited about the opportunities this hotel will offer like being able to connect with customers on a more personal level. The hotel is very much focused on the water with a view from every room. Water activities include boats for compass customers, paddle boards for rent, and charter fishing boat rides. If you catch a fish on one of the charters, you can even have it cooked in the hotel’s restaurant. The hotel’s next step is to look out for more ways to connect with the community like joining a manatee or turtle organization.

David A. Banmiller, Former Airline CEO, Aviation Expert and Author, talks about the grounding of the 747. In just the last few weeks, almost every major airline has decided to no longer fly this former queen of the skies. Banmiller actually managed the first 747 that ever came into LAX. Then, he speaks about other major changes that we are going to see across airlines including more fleet changes and management changes. He says that airlines will see more layoffs come October. He also discusses airline bankruptcy and what that means for the traveling public as well as the U.S. economy. One of the biggest factors of travel, business travel, probably won’t be back to thriving for at least three years. He says that companies are used to letting employees work from home and conducting telecalls instead of sending employees out of town. Since companies won’t want to take on the liability, he explains that this sector might not come back until there is a coronavirus vaccine.

Andy Cooper, Senior VP of Research, Development and Engineering for Ecolab’s Global Institutional and Specialty groups, explains the importance and science behind making sure hotels’ main spaces are sanitized properly. He says that certification is intended to produce a higher level of confidence in the consumer about being back at a hotel. He further discusses how this confidence needs to be restored in order for travelers to be okay about going out again. Cooper then gives key ways travelers can be on the lookout for their safety. The training and protocol has to be completely changed both for employees and travelers.

Ed Chiles, Owner of Chiles Group Restaurants & Managing Partner of Pine Avenue Restoration, explains some of the key steps in moving forward. PPP has been a major factor of his business staying open, but that is about to run out, and so there has to be a coordinated strategy in next steps. A large part of this is putting the visitor’s health and safety first. He says that ample outdoor seating puts the restaurant in a much better spot and encourages people to go out and support their local restaurants in the safest ways possible. He also encourages people to support locals when they can. One of the big things that has changed for him during this time are the demographics of the restaurants’ guests. Normally at this time of year, he’d see a much larger influx of out of town visitors. Now, he says that more people are enjoying their hometown and eating locally because the locals aren’t traveling away like they typically would be during the summer.

John Horne, Owner and CEO of Anna Maria Oyster Bar, talks about having restaurants for 25 years in the Bradenton community. He grew up in Florida, started with an independent restaurateur when he was younger, and now owns four restaurants with over 300 employees. One of the other ways that he’s involved in the community is through his summer reading program for grade school kids. Like almost everything else, this also looks different this summer and is done online and via Zoom. This has led to less kids being able to participate, but the program is able to continue.