Although uncertainty still remains about what the fall may look like, travel will still be an essential part of doing business in college sports. As the NCAA and colleges around the country come to terms with the challenges and unique opportunities of a potential football season during a global pandemic, CollegeAD spoke with travel industry insiders about what traveling safely during the COVID-19 crisis looks like.

“It can be done safely, but you do have to think about things differently than just a few months ago,” explains Christy Bruce with Sports & Entertainment Travel. “There are precautions you can take, there are ways to make this safe and relatively painless.”

Bruce, along with Kyle McDonald, also of Sports & Entertainment Travel offer these tips to athletic departments, donors, and fans who will be planning to travel as fall football season inches closer.

“It’s a good idea to brush up on basic guidelines before you schedule your trip,” explains McDonald. “Remember to practice social distancing, try to stay outdoors for events, wear a face mask, and wash your hands as often as you can.”

He also says it’s a good idea to seek out contactless payment and mobile ticketing options. Things like kiosks at the airport or setting up your Apple Pay or EZ-Pay for other interactions in shops or stores. For the organizer of an event, McDonald and Bruce stress planning and preparation.

“Contactless interactions are best, plus you need to make sure there is enough space to set up at least 6 feet of social distance,” he says.

“You’re going to want to know what the situation will be before you arrive at your destination,” stresses Bruce. “Look into the travel restrictions that might impact where you’re headed. Some states, like New York, are asking travelers from other states to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. You need to realize that before you book travel.”

Hitting the Road or Taking to the Skies

According to Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, flying can actually be safer than other everyday activities during this crisis. Airlines and airports have measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Still, flying doesn’t come without risk, here’s what Bruce and McDonald recommend before taking to the skies.

• Check airline policies beforehand. Choose an airline with precautionary measures you’re comfortable with.
• Try to book seats without other people nearby. Many airlines are blocking middle seats to keep more distance between passengers and reduce COVID-19 spreading.
• Bring disinfectant wipes with you, and clean your area carefully before sitting down.
• Wear your mask the entire flight, except for when eating or drinking.
• Don’t wait in line for the restroom. When you use the restroom, bring a paper towel or disposable wipe to touch common surfaces. Then, sanitize your hands again when you return to your seat.

“It’s really about thinking ahead at this stage. We know there are concrete things like wearing a mask, wiping down surfaces, washing hands, and maintaining distance, that slow and stop the spread of COVID-19,” explains McDonald. “Now it’s a matter of putting those things into practice.”

If you’re traveling via a van or bus, make sure there is social distance set up between each row. Pack your sanitizer and wipes and use them frequently. Wear your mask while in the vehicle and when the caravan stops touch as little as possible while stretching your legs. Remembering these trips can increase your chances of traveling safely during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The same is true if you are alone traveling in your car when you stop, wash your hands frequently and touch as little as possible,” says Bruce. “If you can bring your own food and drinks in those situations, that’s also ideal.”

“Keep your hand sanitizer within reach,” explains McDonald, “on the passenger seat of your car or even on your keychain. For things, you must touch, like door handles and faucets, use a paper towel and throw it out before you get back in your car. Always wear a mask at gas stations and rest stops.”

Once You Reach Your Destination

“Before you book your stay anywhere,” says Bruce, “check the protocols they have in place because a lot of shared facilities at hotels are closed right now.”

She also says not to assume your space is clean. Wipe down all hard, nonporous surfaces regularly. If you’re renting a house or condo, her suggestion is to prioritize cleaning high-touch surfaces, like keys, TV remotes, nightstands, handles on sinks and doors, the fridge (inside and out), light switches, cups, and plates.

They also suggest:

• Bringing clean sheets for your bed.
• Visiting shared spaces at off-peak times. Wear a mask unless you’re outside and there’s no one nearby. Leave if you can’t maintain social distance.
• Skipping indoor shared spaces, especially bars, unless it has been set up for social distancing
• Steer clear of any communal food and drink, like cookies at a reception.  Make sure items are individually wrapped.

“For rental homes, ask your host how much time will pass between you and the previous guest. If possible, delay your stay so there’s a 2 to 3-day buffer. If that’s not possible, doing your own cleaning is much more important,” says Bruce.

The bottom line is that travel will have to happen as economies around the country and world open up. Business can’t always be conducted online or via a phone call, as fall approaches, every sector will have to learn and adapt to traveling safely during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Things will be different traveling during a global pandemic, you’ll have to stay on alert and know the protocols ahead of time, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting where you need to go,” explains Bruce. “Leaving your house comes with an extra layer of planning right now, the same is true for travel. Planning ahead and making a few tweaks to how you do things while traveling will help lower the risk of being out in the world.”

With a stay-at-home-order issued for most of the United States and the world, the travel industry is being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. In a global economy, travel is a necessary part of doing businesses, from finance and healthcare to sports travel and entertainment, traveling is a must to keep any number of industries afloat.

Since travel is such an integral part of college sports as we know it, CollegeAD talked with travel industry insiders, Christy Bruce and  Kyle McDonald of Sports & Entertainment Travel, to gauge how this sector will weather the crisis, get a look at the current state of the industry, and gain insight into how the travel space could look once the pandemic is over.

State of the Travel Industry

“While the industry may be taking it a hit, it will bounce back. The travel industry is integral to just about every other industry, especially higher education and sports programs. There will be changes on the horizon but for now there are a few things people in the sector can do to assure clients.”

Christy Bruce says now is the time to be transparent and helpful while remaining realistic and optimistic. SET is a full-service travel and tour management company dedicated to offering fan travel experiences. They cater to college sports, an industry virtually on pause during the pandemic. She says those in the travel space should continuously be in contact with their clients and offers tips for those travelers that must travel during the pandemic. Reminding people that masks, gloves and hand sanitizer should be standard while traveling and realizing that even after the immediate danger has passed, sanitation and hygiene will be paramount.

“There won’t be a switch that flips one day, life will get back to normal, but all indications are that it will be a gradual return to traveling,” Kyle McDonald explains. “Take this time to remind people why they travel with you in the first place, then reassure them all precautions are being taken now, and those precautions will continue for the foreseeable future.”

A Look to the Future

According to Bruce and McDonald with SET the short-term ramifications of the COVID-19 shutdown will be toughest on airlines and cruise lines, but there are some major opportunities that will emerge from the crisis.  

First to the new normal and what that means for the future. Bruce says initially they expect to see business travel down from previous numbers.

“People will struggle getting back to the confines of an airplane, train or bus. Investment in fast modes of travel will start to look very appealing. Also, many of these business people will now be adept at the virtual meeting, not everyone will want to give that up right away.”

She says that younger people will likely be the first to venture out, but they will be looking for fast, efficient, and clean service. People that work in the travel space will need to be innovative and competitive to notice an uptick in their clientele.

For the people in the travel industry who can offer fast, clean, efficient service there will be opportunities that grow from this crisis. Bruce says there will also be an emphasis on self driving vehicles, technology that is available but has so far been out of reach for the everyday traveler.   

“It’s going to be the time for innovation,” she explains. “Domestic travel will pick up first and we’ll have to remind people that there is more to experience within our own borders. Those who can focus on the experience of travel and how special it can be will emerge on the other side of this pandemic.”

Sports Travel

Traveling for college sports comes in a few varieties. Teams must travel to compete; fans travel to watch their favorite teams compete, and there are unique experiences like donor trips. According to SET, these will continue, but at a pace that is safe and comfortable for staff, athletes, donors, and fans.

“The health and safety of student-athletes, donors, fans, and staff become even more of a top priority. We could see a fundamental change in the behavior of how these sporting events come together,” McDonald tells CollegeAD.

He says being mindful of social distancing within stadiums will also come into play as will cleanliness. While health concerns will take priority, so will the bottom line. Athletic departments have taken a real hit during the pandemic, many have instituted pay cuts, implemented a hiring freeze, and some have laid off staff; department budgets will be impacted for the 2020 and 2021 season.

McDonalds emphasizes, “Now is the time for communication, keep those channels open. At SET we are not treating this as a break from business, now is the time we are doubling down on our uniqueness as a company. We are highlighting everything special and innovative in our arsenal. Our partners in the world of college sports know we are here to help get them through the uncertain times ahead.”

Athletic events themselves could also change, not just the way people get there. He says it’s too early to tell exactly what changes could be coming to stadiums but taking temperatures, wearing masks and gloves, creating sanitizing stations and maintaining a degree of social distancing could become the norm, and streaming live sporting events may feel safest for fans at first.

“We are already tracking the changes in the college sports industry, there will be impacts” McDonald explains. “Communication really is key here; we are actively discussing concerns and opportunities with our college sports partners at this time. All ideas are on the table.”

The safety of athletes, staff, donors, fans, and alumni are at the forefront of all current discussions about travel. SET is preparing to be proactive with all aspects of their business, this could mean stricter safety guidelines when providing vendors, helping partners come up with a checklist for all events, and being flexible with current offerings and being able to pivot off of what comes next.

“It may feel the travel industry and college sports industry are in a holding pattern,” Bruce explains, “but now is the time to prepare. Explore what those branding opportunities will look like, what are the possible travel scenarios once football gets going, talk to fans about how they will feel once the danger has passed. Being proactive will help all of us tied to college sports weather this storm.