Travel awaits for all of us.
Like many of you, our team at The Group Travel Leader Inc. enjoyed a successful fall and winter filled with fruitful, enjoyable trips. And like many of you, we were stunned when forces beyond our control ground travel to a halt.
As we began to wrap our heads around what was going on, two things became clear to us. First, despite the current difficulties, travel will make a comeback. And second, in a season filled with an incessant stream of bad news, our industry needs a voice of hope to remind us all that there are better days ahead.
That’s why we decided to launch the #TravelAwaits initiative.
We want to spread a message of endurance and optimism. We want to inspire people to look forward to a future full of travel. We want to rally people in unity and solidarity.
We want to start a movement, and we want you to be a part of it.
In print, online, on social media and in your community, you can come together with us to remind the world that #TravelAwaits. Together, we’ll share our best creative ideas, encourage each other with uplifting messages and shine a spotlight on the amazing people working tirelessly through challenging times to secure the future of travel.
To help you do that, we’ve compiled a wealth of positive messages, bright ideas, useful tools and other resources on our website. You can find them at
grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits.
In the next few pages, we’re going to highlight some ways you can take advantage of these tools and support our tourism community through uncertain times. Look to see how you can find inspiration for yourself and share it with others.
We hope you’ll join us in spreading the message of hope and fueling a hunger for travel. Our comeback day is coming. And when it does, we can’t wait to see you on the road.
— The Group Travel Leader Inc.
Hear Messages of Hope
When the news is mostly negative, messages of hope can help you hold on until brighter days arrive. At grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits, you’ll find encouraging video messages from members of our team, including publisher Mac Lacy and Brian Jewell, VP and executive editor. Tune in to hear why we’re confident about the future of travel and discover how you can help make that future a reality.
Watch Uplifting Videos
People may be staying home for now, but destinations around the country have begun creating amazing travel videos to encourage and reassure their visitors. Check out the #TravelAwaits web page to watch some of the most inspiring travel videos we have found from across the country and around the world. These videos will keep you in good spirit and help you start planning your travel for the future.
Find Creative Ideas
Unexpected challenges can bring out the creativity in all of us. On our #TravelAwaits page, we’re collecting some of the most clever and creative uses of social media and other online efforts that we’ve found from around the travel industry. Check it out to find ideas for how you can keep your own organization thriving online until people begin traveling again.
Take Virtual Tours
Many attractions have taken advantage of digital technology to showcase their experiences even while their doors are closed. Museums are offering virtual tours of blockbuster exhibits. Zoos and aquariums are doing live “quaran-streams” that introduce virtual visitors to their amazing animal residents. Theater and music companies are taking their shows live online and performing from home in creative ways. Our #TravelAwaits page has listings of numerous virtual tours and performances to give you some ideas. Check them out here.
Read Positive News
Had enough of depressing headlines? Check out our #TravelAwaits page for a collection of positive articles from across the travel industry. From encouraging stories of tourism organizations helping their local communities to editorials from industry experts charting the path to recovery, these stories will fill you with optimism. Read more here.
Show Your Support
Around the country, travel planners, destination representatives and attraction professionals are joining the movement by adding the #TravelAwaits photo frame to their Facebook profile photos. We have links to photo frames in three different colors on our website, grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits. You can pick the one that fits your photo best and add it with the click of a button. Dress up your profile photo to show your support and remind your friends that travel awaits.
Download the Logos
Want to use the #TravelAwaits graphics in your own print or online communications? They’re free to download in a variety of color schemes on our website. Add the logo to your email signatures, videos, social media posts and other online communications, or use it in your printed newsletters, brochures and catalogs. The more people see the #TravelAwaits logo, the more excited they’ll be to hit the road again. Click here to download the graphics.
Hashtag Your Posts
Are you posting travel information, videos, photos or other content to social media? Use the hashtag #TravelAwaits with all your travel-related posts so others in the tourism industry can find them, too. We may even share your post with our community of fans and followers around the country.
Subscribe for Updates
Throughout this season, we’re sending #TravelAwaits update emails to our online subscribers several times a week. Those emails include positive stories, creative ideas, uplifting videos and other content to keep you inspired and encouraged about the future of travel. You can subscribe free of charge at grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits to ensure you never miss an update.
Share Your Story
Do you have a great story of unity, support or creativity from your corner of the travel industry? We’d love to hear it. Send your ideas, links, press releases or videos to executive editor Brian Jewell at brianj@grouptravelleader.com. We’ll continue sharing the best of what we find with our readers in print and online.
