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With new guidance issued in late February by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that relaxes many COVID-era policies—including indoor mask-wearing—the US Travel Association, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Airlines for America, and the US Chamber of Commerce are appealing to the Biden administration to follow suit for travel. In a letter to White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients , the associations urge the administration to replace current requirements with endemic-focused policies that enable travel to resume fully and safely and the American economy to accelerate its recovery. Mask-wearing on transportation will continue to be enforced at least through March 18.
According to the associations, these policies are crucial to restoring the US economy and workforce as travel was the largest services-based US export prior to the pandemic. In 2021, as many other sectors of the economy reached a full recovery, business travel spending was approximately down 50 percent and international travel spending was down a staggering 78 percent compared to 2019.
The associations assert that given travel’s slow economic recovery, and considering the improved public health metrics in the US and medical advancements to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID, the Biden administration should now take steps to normalize travel conditions, which include repealing both the pre-departure testing requirement for vaccinated inbound air travelers and the federal mask mandate for public transportation, among other key policies. The associations note that effective, risk-based policies can be reinstated at any time if new variants of concern emerge or the public health situation deteriorates.
Other recommendations:
- Remove the pre-departure testing requirement for all fully vaccinated inbound international arrivals.
- By March 18, repeal the federal mask mandate for public transportation networks or provide a clear roadmap to remove the mask mandate within 90 days.
- End “Avoid Travel” advisories and the use of travel bans.
- Work with other countries to normalize travel conditions and entry requirements.
- By June 1, develop benchmarks and timelines for a pathway to the new normal that repeals pandemic-focused travel restrictions.
- Send a clear message to the American public and the world that it is safe to travel again, particularly for vaccinated individuals.
Visit ustravel.org for more information.
[03.01.22]
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The Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) was focused on looking ahead with its Spring Forward Conference held on February 22 at the Grand Event Center in Long Beach, Calif. Attended by nearly 100 industry veterans and industry newbies, the one-day event was designed to be both informative and fun.
The morning kicked off with an upgraded continental breakfast and networking exchange as operators from all corners of the state ascended to Long Beach for the annual meeting. GCLA President Robert Gaskill of Motev opened the event laying out the goals and objectives of the association for the coming year. Dave Uziel of Urban Worldwide, who is also a National Limousine Association board director, followed Gaskill with a national update of what is going on at the federal level. GCLA Executive Director Sara Richardson held a comprehensive State of the Industry address, which defined the buying trends for ground transportation this year. She also presented research on operational costs, including driver pay in the state.
One of the hottest topics—electric vehicles—was discussed in detail by a panel representing both the automakers and operators who are already steeped in electric fleets. The session featured a virtual presentation of a pre-production Cadillac, which was beamed into the conference so the audience could have a live guided tour of an all-electric 2023 luxury vehicle.
The meeting concluded with the always-popular afternoon roundtable groups, which offer GCLA members some face-to-face personalized education.
The next large event for the association is its 2022 Expo, which is scheduled for September 6-7 in Los Angeles.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
[03.01.22]
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ABC Companies, a provider of motorcoach, transit, shuttle, and electric passenger transport vehicles in the US and Canada, promoted fleet diversification at last week’s UMA Expo 2022 in Long Beach, Calif. Joining the company’s flagship Van Hool CX45 model, a new Turtle Top shuttle option—the Terra Transit medium-duty shuttle bus—was featured on the show floor.
2022 Van Hool CX45 motorcoach
“We are attuned to the changing demands of passenger transport and operator needs, especially in the current environment,” said ABC President/Chief Commercial Officer Roman Cornell. “We think that versatility is today’s game changer and we’ve added new OEM categories, like minibuses and more to the ABC portfolio to help owners be proactive in diversifying their business model. Knowing the needs of our customers means we focused on adding brands like Turtle Top and others, who provide superior products and support in their categories. Whether they need a full-size coach, smaller coach model, transit vehicles, or shuttle cutaways, we’re ready to help them make any size passenger move.”
ABC’s booth at UMA Expo 2022
Cornell says that fleet diversification is key to ABC’s growth strategy, which is reflected in its current lineup. With passenger configurations for 12-81 passengers, ABC’s offerings from OEM category leaders offers choices that support large group moves, provide alternatives for smaller groups, and address emerging trends for micro-transit and alternative mobility.
“We’re seeing a lot of creativity in how operators are running their fleets today,” said Cornell. “We’ve positioned our portfolio and moreover, our entire platform of support services to help them be flexible and thrive. Though our expanded services, a broader equipment offering, and decades of expertise, we can help owners capitalize on the changing face of ground transportation.”
2022 Van Hool CX45 features and amenities:
- Soft touch and textured finishes throughout driver’s area and passenger cabin
- Modular passenger entry with downlit accent lighting and brushed metal finishes
- Low-profile parcel rack end cap design
- Maximized footprint side entry restroom w/inset design elements and frosted window
- Driver’s area has an integrated low-profile ELD mounting point; cup holders, 12V outlet, and USB port
- Digital dash integrating high visibility driver alerts; output for speed, tach, pressure, temp readings and much more; touchscreen REI entertainment system featuring HDMI-E A/V and Bluetooth connectivity
- New to 2022—IMMI V4S Smartwheel Tritouch Steering Wheel: Bringing dashboard controls to the driver’s fingertips the V4S Smartwheel adds a new level of functionality via integrated center control pod; 27-function driver facing buttons and four 2-sided paddles; customer-specific graphics; LIN-based to work with CAN-based vehicles
Turtle Top Terra Transit Shuttle features and amenities:
- Availability on Ford or Chevy chassis
- 29” or 36” front door entry
- Large A-pillar window
- Available in flat and lowered floor
- Flexible seating options up to 34 passengers
- Variety of floor plans integrating storage, seating preference, and wheelchair accessibility (front or rear lift location)
Visit abc-companies.com for more information.
[02.28.22]