WTTC: Millions of People from Travel Sector Go Extra Mile to Help Combat Covid-19

Photo Source: @WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently praised millions of people around the world from the travel & tourism sector for going the extra mile to lend crucial help to combat the global coronavirus pandemic.

“We recognise their quiet heroism and phenomenal dedication through using their incredible people skills developed during their normal working lives and wealth of experience to step up and offer essential help and assistance to those on the front line fighting this terrible virus,” WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara said.

According to the WTTC, millions of people employed by its member companies, large and small, have volunteered their time and expertise, many putting their own lives on the line, to provide essential help to their beleaguered communities with relief efforts.

“Whether its tending to the sick, opening hotels for health workers or manning foodbanks, they, like countless others have risen to the challenge and shown with their hearts and actions that we are stronger together and we will win this battle.” – Gloria Guevara

• Hotel giants like Hilton have teamed up with American Express to launch their Rooms for Responders initiative, offering free accommodation to more than a million healthcare professionals across 10 medical associations fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Employees working for Carnival, one of the world’s largest cruise operators, have offered a number of its ships to act as floating hospitals to treat patients suffering from less-critical, non-coronavirus related conditions.
• In the US and Spain, Room Mate has also offered up hotels in New York, Madrid and Barcelona, to be transformed into temporary hospitals to help in the Covid-19 fight.

Photo Source: @Room Mate Hotels

• United Airlines, the fourth largest carrier in the world, has offered free flights to New York and California to medical personnel.
• Spanish flag carrier Iberia is working with the Spanish Federation of Healthcare Technology Companies (Fenin) and the Oesía Group to bring medical supplies from China to fight COVID-19.
• Furloughed airline cabin crew have responded in numerous ways. In the UK, those working for TUI Airways have provided essential support to the health systems, in order to help relieve pressure on health workers.
• In China, Trip.com has donated more than three million surgical masks to more than 25 countries around the world.

As underlined by the WTTC, the travel & tourism sector, like many other industries, has faced near collapse and a battle for survival due to the extensive travel restrictions and lockdowns ordered by governments across the world to stop the spread of the pandemic.

Latest WTTC research reveals up to 75 million travel & tourism sector jobs are at risk globally.