U.S. Amusement Parks Make a Long-Term Bet on Season Passes After Standstill Year

SeaWorld

Mako is a steel roller coaster located at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Amusement park operators in the U.S. are in an awkward spot, as they must convert more one-off visitors into season pass holders. SeaWorld

Skift Take: The pandemic slammed revenue at amusement parks, but it was a one-off problem. Looking ahead, operators must market the appeal of season passes to help cope with flatlining attendance.

— Sean O’Neill

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This Tour Guide Keeps Muhammad Ali’s Legacy Alive by Sharing His Lessons of Racial Justice

Photo courtesy of Erin Herbert/Ali Center  / Skift

Educational programming director and tour guide Erin Herbert poses in front of a Muhammad Ali mural at the Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Erin Herbert/Ali Center / Skift

Skift Take: The foundation for positive change laid down by Muhammad Ali’s character and conviction rings as true today as the day his gold medal story came to life in the 1960s. Erin Herbert says she is grateful to be able to impart his messages to tourists at the Louisville museum created to honor The Greatest.

— Ruthy Muñoz

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Saudi Arabia May Close Borders to Overseas Hajj Pilgrims for the Second Time

Ibrahim Uz  / Unsplash

Saudi Arabia is considering barring overseas pilgrims from the annual hajj as worries grow about the emergence of new variants. Ibrahim Uz / Unsplash

Skift Take: There’s still time until July 17 for the kingdom to make the call, but with uncertainty around the new Covid variants, it would be unwise.

— Matthew Parsons

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Hilton Glimpses a Recovery in Decimated Conventions and Corp Travel Business

Matti Blume  / Wikimedia

Leisure travel still leads the recovery at Hilton, but business and group travelers are signaling a return to booking rooms. Matti Blume / Wikimedia

Skift Take: If Hilton sees reason to be optimistic around a faster-than-expected travel recovery, that’s a major boost to all hotel companies, especially ones with less exposure to convention and business-transient customers.

— Cameron Sperance

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Nearly Half of U.S. Travelers Plan to Use Travel Advisors Post-Pandemic, Survey Shows

C Watts  / Flickr Commons

A bigger number of U.S. travelers interested in international trips will use travel advisors post-pandemic. C Watts / Flickr Commons

Skift Take: There’s cause for optimism for this at-risk segment of the industry, just as National Travel Advisor Day hits. Travel agencies that are quick to adapt have the potential to capture a new customer base that outlasts the travel recovery years.

— Lebawit Lily Girma

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Majority of Airlines Miss Environmental Efficiency Targets: New Skift Research 🔒

Sylvia Gorajek  / Unsplash

Airplane flying over natural vista in the U.S. Sylvia Gorajek / Unsplash

Skift Take: Fuel efficiency is integral to the bottom line of airline operators. Skift Research found that efficiency improvements fluctuate considerably by year and between companies. Most were unable to achieve efficiency goals set by the industry.

— Wouter Geerts

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