PCU Blog
OPTIMISM PERSISTS AMID UNCERTAINTY
After a year in which the World Travel & Tourism Council reported a loss of $4.5 trillion in receipts and witnessed the industry’s contribution to global GDP falling to 49.1%, many pinned their hopes on the Summer of 2021 for a long-awaited recovery. The travel and tourism industry stood as an enduring symbol of the post-quarantine movement […]
AFFLUENT AUTHENTICITY
The definition of luxury travel is evolving. From grand adventures to secluded islands in the Maldives to private jet tours to locations straight out of a James Bond film, upper-echelon travel requires a level of affluence unavailable to ordinary tourists. Thirty-somethings account for 20% of all international tourists and have placed authenticity and sustainability at […]
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
Surprise! An average person’s idea of “adventure” or “extreme” sports may differ from those forged in the seas of insurance company cubicles. When it comes to adventure and sports-based travel, some caution and unique concerns may apply. It’s impossible to predict what may occur on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, from the mundanity of misplaced luggage to the […]
VARIANCES FOR THE VARIANT
As the last days of summer cool, positive cases of COVID-19 are heating up. The Delta variant is clamoring for attention. Current studies indicate the Delta strain is as contagious as its predecessor, but the threat of hospitalization is low. Is the Delta variant causing travel restrictions? Not yet. Travel Insurance Review released a newsletter detailing the […]
TRAVEL IN A TRIBE
As the world continues its grand reopening, the allure of undertaking a journey with like-minded individuals offers the promise of adventure and tangible experiences for many travelers. Whether embarking with friends and family, a significant other, or select groupings of both, traveling with in a tribe provides a myriad of opportunities to see the wonders […]
TO-DO’S AND DON’TS
Whether it’s a solo vacation, an all-inclusive resort with the family, or a short trip taken over a long weekend, traveling can be nerve-racking! Many would-be travelers become so mired in planning and scheduling their trips; they need a vacation from their vacations! The best ways for managing pre-journey stress include packing checklists, travel advisors, […]
A CASE OF YOLO-ISM
A new malady is spreading across the globe; doctors are referring to it as YOLO-ism. Research shows Millennials are at the highest risk, with its most telling symptoms including a “You Only Live Once” mentality and an intense desire to travel! According to Condor Ferries, infected with a yearning for once-in-a-lifetime itineraries and destinations dripping in […]
NETFLIX AND GO!
Where to? This question clouds the mind of adventure-seeking individuals everywhere. As we enter the waning days of summer, travelers can still grasp a memorable experience or two, and of all the demographics, the Millennials know where to find it! Netflix has released a new series titled, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. The series, aimed at […]
REMOTELY COMFORTABLE TRAVEL
The era of the global pandemic has been rife with challenges ranging from the tragic loss of life, economic collapse, and political unrest to the inconveniences of masking canceled events and sheltering in place. Healthcare professionals are raising awareness of the mental and physical strains resulting from lock-down policies. Isolation anxiety has pummeled the general […]
LGBTQ+ TRAVELERS WELCOME
The crimes of the COVID pandemic are innumerable, resulting in a collective loss of, well, the list is too long! The plague year saw more than 500 Pride events scuttled, postponed, or moved online. As the world begins to turn once more and the dark cloud of the coronavirus break, hope is dawning worldwide in […]
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
It may come as a shock to learn adventure travel comes with risk or rather risks! Adventure is a good thing. The enterprises people choose, and their reasoning, say a lot about them. After all, adventure separates the wheat from the chafe of daily life. Since the pandemic, the quest for authentic experiences has given a boost […]
KICK THE BUCKET!
A key lesson many learned from the events of 2020 is to not take anything in life for granted. The trials of the global pandemic exposed the vulnerability of economies, the impermanence of material lifestyles, and the fragility of loved ones. But, if anything was to be gained through it all, it’s perspective. A collective […]
WORKCATION
According to the Urban Dictionary, a ‘workcation’ is working in the morning and vacationing in the evening someplace fun. You’re still working while on vacation from the office. As the world reopens, the definition is evolving to accommodate the changes in our understanding of remote working. In the wake of the year-that-shall-not-be-named, the travel industry has witnessed […]
ALL ABOARD!
Once upon a time, the cruise industry delivered fairytale experiences across endless seas of commercial tourism profitability. In 2020, the Love Boat was rechristened as the Titanic when an iceberg named COVID-19 ripped through global travel, leaving a wake of destruction in the cruise industry to the tune of $1.1 trillion in losses. How will […]
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
Travel insurance provides extra protection when vacation plans go sideways. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most overlooked trip-planning necessities. International travel medical insurance is a Swiss Army knife of policy protection for anyone traveling abroad. The past year has shown the need for travel insurance and the importance of finding policies tailored to the […]
VACCINATION INEQUITY
Recovery efforts to restore the health of citizens, economies and an iota of collective sanity are yielding changes across the globe. But, as is often the case with change, unintended consequences have arisen. The implementation of vaccine programs has the travel industry rejoicing over prospects of inoculation from the grip of COVID-19 as immunized tourists […]
REVENGE TRAVEL
The global doldrums appear to be lifting, and travelers are restless! After more than a year of ‘2 weeks to stop the spread,’ would-be vacationers have not been wasting their time stuck at home. Assailed by the nonsense of 2020 and the frustrations of COVID-19, travel planners are not-so-secretly plotting their revenge. Consumers are ready […]
QUARANTINED FAR FROM HOME
What happens if a traveler tests positive for COVID-19 while abroad? Vacationers receiving less-than-desired results may be required to isolate and delay their return to the United States. Scoring a positive for COVID-19 means finding a place to recover during the quarantine period. Some hotels offer complimentary rooms for COVID-positive guests of up to 14 […]
GLOBAL INDUSTRY EVENTS CANCELED
Throughout the ‘year that wasn’t,’ one event after another fired out cancelation or postponement emails on a seemingly weekly basis. Event professionals watched the global $235 billion conference industry crumble before their eyes as everything from international conferences to local insurance agent meetings was canceled or shifted to online. The Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the largest […]
WOMEN IN TRAVEL!
In celebration of Women’s History Month, let’s examine the influence and leadership women are contributing to the travel industry. For starters, they make up the bulk of domestic and international travelers and the majority of the tourism workforce. Women are emerging as business owners, innovators, and leaders who are challenging the status quo and harnessing […]