Coronavirus.
One word that is pretty much inescapable these days. Everywhere you glance -
your TV, your phone, newspaper stands, emails– it is front and center as the
headline more and more with each passing day. And with good reason – the World
Health Organization has officially proclaimed it to be a pandemic.
We here at New York City Vacation Packages (NYCVP) are in the business of sending thousands of
visitors to NYC each year. As travel advisors however, you send people to
destinations all over the world. So,
when you come to us – you are coming to us as the experts in all things
New York City. That includes monitoring the practices the City is implementing
to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We want to make certain that we can give you
peace of mind that you in turn can pass on to your clients. That being said – you
can be rest assured that we have been keeping a watchful eye specifically on
the Big Apple during this worldwide crisis.
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So, what
exactly is New York City doing to make it safe for the millions that live and
visit there? Simply put – a lot. We have
received updates from museums, hotels, attractions, tours, the MTA, Broadway
and more – all addressing what steps they are taking to prevent the spread. Below
is a very condensed sampling of the precautions being taken - as
quoted from the sources (that were received either via emails or taken straight
from their official website):
Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum: “The Museum is following and will continue to follow all CDC and NYC Department of Health recommendations and guidelines. We have instituted even more vigilant cleaning practices and have increased the number of hand sanitizing stations throughout the Museum.”
Broadway
League: “(New
York, NY) – March 12, 2020 - Under the direction of Governor Andrew Cuomo,
Broadway shows in New York City will suspend all performances immediately in
support of the health and well-being of the theatre going public, as well as
those who work in the theatre industry. Performances will commence the week of
April 13, 2020.”
Hyatt Corporation: “The precautionary and response measures are helping us continue to provide a safe and clean environment:
- Comprehensive COVID-19 guidance is in place at Hyatt hotels globally, detailing how to protect against transmission of the virus (including implementing hand sanitizer stations and frequent cleaning of high-touch areas), and procedures in case there is a suspected or confirmed case among our guests or colleagues
- Cross-functional, global response teams, including infectious diseases and occupational health experts, provide guidance to our hotels and help address specific needs and situations when needed”
Hilton Worldwide: “We take great pride in maintaining
the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. In response to the
coronavirus, we have taken additional measures developed in consultation with
global and local public health authorities (including the WHO and CDC) to make our
cleaning and hygiene protocols even more rigorous:Our hotel teams are receiving ongoing briefings and enhanced operating protocols.
- We have increased the frequency of cleaning our public areas (including lobbies, elevators, door handles, public bathrooms, etc.) and have continued the use of hospital-grade disinfectant.
- We will continue to adjust food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations.
- We have increased the deployment of antibacterial hand sanitizers.
- We have activated our regional and global response teams to provide around-the-clock assistance to our hotels and are prepared to act swiftly should we be alerted to a case of coronavirus at one of our properties.”
New York Historical Tours: “All of our tours are private tours and we are taking extra precautions further limiting group size, avoiding crowds and following the guidelines as directed by official experts and local authorities."
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On your end – if your clients are still a bit leery – you
can always suggest some alternatives to situations where they will be grouped
together with larger crowds – often in enclosed spaces. For example – instead
of booking them on a shared shuttle from the airport – book them private
transfers where they will have a vehicle just for those in their party. Instead
of booking a public motorcoach tour – suggest they try a private tour complete
with their very own tour guide for a more intimate setting. Even small group
walking tours where they limit the number of participants is a great
alternative.
New York City has been faced with many challenges over the
decades that have impacted tourism. With each new challenged faced – they have
always come back – bigger and better. We see no reason to expect any
differently with the latest crisis. Our partners are all on the same page - to
prevent the spread of Coronavirus and eventually stop the outbreaks.
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