Seeing Past a Crisis and Emerge Better Than Before

Sometimes crises emerge which seem so overwhelming, it can be difficult to think about much else.

Seeing Through Crisis

This crisis will recede, as all crises do. The travel industry has been here before. It has always rebounded, and emerged better than before.

Sometimes crises emerge which seem so overwhelming, it can be difficult to think about much else.

I remember 2008 very clearly. Travel demand had been slowing that year, but then suddenly in the 4th quarter the bottom fell out. The Wall Street collapse, triggered by the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in September, turned the slowdown into a full-blown financial crisis overnight. It quickly spread like a contagion, affecting financial markets, business outlook and travel worldwide.

Airline Traffic Annual Change 2008-09

By early 2009, the travel industry was in free fall, declining at twice the rate of U.S. GDP. A quarter of a million people in the U.S. travel industry would lose their jobs. At the company where I worked at the time, my colleagues and I were understandably anxious.

The CEO called an all-company meeting. Every employee was there, all of our remote employees dialed in.

But there was no panic. He didn’t show much emotion. He didn’t hold anything back. 

“We are in the depth of a recession, and travel is being hit hard. Our pipeline is weak, and our forecasts don’t look good,” he said. “So I am asking all of you for ideas. What are things we can do to grow revenue and manage expenses to see all of us through this?”

We then spent the better part of an hour discussing how things were looking and what we could do. I still remember how I felt coming away from that meeting, and three things I learned:

  1. I learned about the power of confronting a challenge without emotion.
  2. I learned about the impact transparency and authenticity can have on a team and motivation.
  3. I learned about confronting the uncertainty ahead with the certainties we had.

Rather than come away nervous and full of worry about our own jobs, we came away charged up, ready to do what we could. 

Corona Recession?

As concern over coronavirus accelerated over the past week, as conferences and events were cancelling around the world, I thought more and more about that meeting 11 years ago.

The impact coronavirus is having across our industry has been sudden, and already quite deep. We are hearing from too many tour, activity and attraction operators and distributors who are seeing significant cancellations and ominous signs for future bookings. The underlying economic fundamentals of the global economy do not seem dire as they did in 2009, but the near-term risk to travel and tourism could be as great—or even greater.

It’s already wreaking havoc on the meetings and conferences industry. Events are cancelling or postponing in Europe, Asia and the U.S. This causes enormous hardship on event organizers and all of their vendors, not to mention the disruption and impact on attendees and sponsors. 

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In Arival’s case, we were left with no choice but to cancel. Just one-and-half days before our event was scheduled to kick off, the German Federal Ministry of Health issued guidelines for large events and gatherings, including screening all attendees and coordinating directly with local health authorities, among other guidelines. With nearly 700 registered attendees from 50 countries, including those with elevated risk, we knew we could not comply.

Not long after we communicated to our attendees, ITB, the world’s largest travel trade event, announced the same difficult decision. The Berlin Travel Festival, whose team reported contact with an individual infected with the disease associated with coronavirus, soon followed.

Our sympathies go out to the organizers of ITB and the Berlin Travel Festival, and to the many event organizers who have made the same difficult decision, or who are facing it now. We wish them only a fast recovery and future success. 

What Comes Next (You’re Not Alone)

Back in 2009, as our team walked out of that meeting, the recession and uncertainty about the future was all still there. But we came out of that meeting a little different. How we thought about the uncertainty was a little different. We didn’t implement  a single, simple solution. Instead it was 100 small things, done by 25 or so employees, that we did each day, to stay focused and see us through the hardship.

The recession ended. Travel returned (as it always does), growth returned and the business flourished. And by the way, that CEO was Philip Wolf, the founder of Phocuswright.  

Whether you are a tour or activity operator, an attraction, an online travel agency or technology provider, whatever your role in our industry, if your business is now under stress, know that you are not alone. The team at Arival, and many thousands of operators and organizations in our industry are with you, going through what you are going through. 

As difficult as it may seem to see beyond the current crisis, especially now as it appears to be accelerating, remember that this crisis will recede, as all crises do. The travel industry has been here before. It has always rebounded, and emerged better than before. 

The Best Part of Travel will emerge from this too, and it will emerge better than ever. We’ll be right there with you, just as we are now. 

We’re working away to reschedule Arival Berlin, and we will announce dates once we are confident the risks posed by coronavirus have lessened. 

We’ll see you soon.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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THE ARIVAL INSIDER PRO ACCESS MEMBERSHIP; YOU GET ALL THIS TO HELP YOU ADVANCE YOUR BUSINESS.

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20% Discount on all Arival in-person events (save up to $300)* based on business type

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Access to tailored insurance solutions by Granite Insurance is available exclusively for Arival Insider Pro Access Members. Insider Pro Access Members also have access to a suite of resources from Granite Insurance including templates, forms and other informative documents.

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Paid membership-only webinars to deepen your understanding of important industry topics.

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Small, focused and intimate discussions exclusive to Arival Insider Pro Access members.

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Up to date, deep analysis of tourism topics ranging from Self-guided Tours to Sales & Distribution Trends and Outlooks, based on the data that defines the industry.

The latest on-demand videos
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Save money on additional tools, services and learnings you need to run your business. Exclusive to paid members.

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ARIVAL CODE OF CONDUCT​
CONFERENCES AND COMMUNITY SPACES​

At Arival, we believe travel can make the world a better place. Our mission is to establish and inspire a diverse community of individuals and companies in the In-destination Industry by providing opportunities to gain insight, share knowledge and build connections. To make it possible for true collaboration, creativity, innovation, and idea exchange to thrive, we are committed to facilitating a welcoming and respectful community for all. This Conference Code of Conduct shares our community expectations and applies to all attendees, employees, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and other participants at Arival- produced and sponsored events. We empower all participants in our community to actively engage in creating a friendly, inclusive and safe environment for all.

Arival’s core values include the following, and create an expectation for conduct at our events and in online community spaces:

We demonstrate a deep respect for human beings inside and outside our company and for the communities in which they live.
We value integrity and strive to consistently interact with others in ways that are authentic, ethical, and fair.
We are dedicated to transparency, committing to clear, open and honest communication.
We actively pursue and advocate for inclusion, diversity and representation of varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives and ideas

Arival welcomes people from all cultural backgrounds, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender (including pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, religion (including religious dress and grooming), marital status, domestic partner status, genetic information, age, national origin or ancestry, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Accordingly, participants must refrain from displaying any demeaning, harassing, aggressive, or intimidating behavior or materials that would interfere with others’ experience and participation in our community.

If you witness or are subjected to inappropriate or disruptive behavior or have any other concerns, notify an Arival staff member as soon as possible.

Inappropriate or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Arival reserves the right to refuse entry to or remove any party from any event or community space at any time when participation or behavior create a disruption or hinder the event or enjoyment of the event by other participants. All determinations are at the sole discretion of Arival, and the decision of the Arival team will be final. Severe breaches of this Conference Code of Conduct may result in disqualification from participating in future events. Individuals expelled due to violating this Conference Code of Conduct will not be eligible for a refund or other consolation.

If you have questions regarding this Conference Code of Conduct or its implementation, please contact us at [email protected].

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