Eye on Travel

Eye on Travel — New York — April 9, 2021

Locations in this article:  New York City, NY

This week’s broadcast of Eye on Travel — from New York — has Peter’s update on the vaccine passport, the cruise lines sailing away (literally) from the U.S. (ships are being repositioned to the Bahamas, Bermuda, St. Martin, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and starting July 3rd, Seabourn will sail from…Greece (Peter talks with Seabourn President Josh Leibowitz). And, as we approach the 50th birthday of… Amtrak, Peter talks with CEO William J. Flynn, with his situation report on the last year and what new federal funding and support means for Amtrak going forward. Then, a global discussion of hotels and hospitality with Keith Barr, CEO of InterContinental Hotel Group, how he’s managed to keep nearly all of the 6,000 IHG hotels open amidst the pandemic and how things are changing in the hotel business. And Helen Joyce, Deputy Foreign Editor at The Economist, dives deep into the new implications of passports and vaccination information in the digital age. There’s all this and more on this week’s Eye on Travel.

 


 

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


 

 

William J. Flynn, President and CEO of Amtrak, joins the program to give us a situation report for the last year and what the new federal funding and support will mean for Amtrak going forward. Taking COVID-19 precautions doesn’t just mean hand sanitizer and masks, and the CEO expands on the protocols that have been implemented to ensure the safety of its passengers and employees. He discusses pandemic fares, a surprising uptick in a particular passenger demographic and the essential bargain between the freight railroads and Amtrak when the company began almost 50 years ago. Then, he has more on the future of high-speed rail and infrastructure, new routes and Amtrak’s long-term goals in the next 20 years.

 

Bob Johnston, Passenger Train Expert and Columnist for Trains Magazine, joins the program to speak about all things Amtrak — its 50th anniversary, old routes, the long-haul train service and much more. He shares some surprising information about specific routes, the resurgence of private rooms on board, and the communities across the country that have insisted that long-haul services continue. Bob then dives into some challenges at Amtrak and why these need to be addressed sooner than later. He says that people are rediscovering trains, and it’s crucial that people know about all the available routes.

 

Keith Barr, CEO of InterContinental Hotel Group, describes how he has worked to keep nearly all of the 6,000 IHG hotels open amidst the pandemic and plans to reopen the few that are still closed. He describes how working with governments worldwide on the gradual reopening of travel is difficult considering the variety of stages each country is at, but overall, he shares that people feel more comfortable traveling when their governments lift restrictions. Barr also notes the positive impact travel has on mental health. And he explains the steps that the travel industry is taking to recover.

 

Helen Joyce, Deputy Foreign Editor at The Economist, dives deep into the new implications of life in the digital world and the transition from cash to digital banking. She discusses how passports and vaccination information will most likely be transitioning to digital. Helen and Peter also talk about the potential dangers of problematic data sharing. Would there be new opportunities for forgery and fraud because of new procedures and technology? It’s a complicated topic. The two also talk about outrageous COVID-19 test fees and how America’s fragmented healthcare system plays into all of this.

 

Josh Leibowitz, President of Seabourn Cruise Line, gives us some insights into the current state of the cruise industry and how it’s now repositioning its assets to prepare for the return of cruising — outside of U.S. ports. Leibowitz speaks about the new cruising requirements that are being put in place, the logistics making it all possible and the things to be mindful of as American citizens traveling abroad. The protocols will continuously evolve and adapt based on the changing science. And so, the policy put in place today may be different in a couple of months. The Seabourn president then discusses the challenges of starting up again and why it’s ironic that American ports will likely be the last that we will hear about.

 

Gary Leff, Founder of ViewfromtheWing.com, warns travelers about the dangers of traveling with large amounts of cash at airports. Peter and Gary discuss several cautionary tales of the government seizing money from travelers carrying over $10,000, and many of them were not being able to get it back. Whether travelers are leaving the country or traveling domestically, they are still at risk of having their money taken on the grounds of suspicion of illegal activity. On the 40th anniversary of the American Airlines Advantage program — the first airline program to offer free flights and upgrades — Gary brings up how now is the time to use unredeemed miles.