Travel + Leisure, the leading tourism-focused media brand, and Markstein, an integrated communications agency, today announced a partnership to launch the Travel + Leisure Crisis Communications for Tourism Recovery initiative. The initiative specifically is designed to help travel companies and tourist destinations prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis situations such as natural disasters, terrorism and illness outbreaks.
The Travel + Leisure Crisis Communications for Tourism Recovery initiative offers companies and destinations multiple ways to prepare for crisis situations through a membership program, an annual crisis communications summit and crisis management planning. Travel + Leisure and Markstein’s crisis communications experts will work with tourist destinations and companies to help them plan and prepare for specific situations and quickly recover.
As the preeminent voice for sophisticated travelers, Travel + Leisure serves a global audience of more than 30 million with a content platform that includes magazines, websites, newsletters and social media.
“No destination or company is immune to crisis or conflict,” said Jay Meyer, senior vice president and publisher of Travel + Leisure. “As a trusted resource for both the travel trade and consumers, we are pleased to offer this important program. By helping destinations and companies prepare for potential crises, we will help them recover more quickly and return to business as usual.”
“Significant crisis events such as natural disasters, illness outbreaks or terrorism can have lasting negative effects on the tourism industry,” said Danny Markstein, president of Markstein. “But it doesn’t have to be that way. Careful preparation and transparent, credible communications strategies can be the difference between disaster and survival. The Travel + Leisure Crisis Communications for Tourism Recovery initiative will better equip tourism partners to navigate these events.”
The membership-based program will provide specialized training, expertise and tools to tourist destinations, resorts, cruises ships, airlines and other hospitality-related organizations. A team of travel and crisis experts will help members identify and anticipate potential issues before they occur. The program will prepare members to manage the potential crisis through the development of individualized scenario plans and other necessary communications assets. It will also serve as a forum for sharing best practices, resources and tools.
The Markstein team has deep expertise in crisis, working across a variety of industries and issues, including natural disasters, health and safety, loss of life, cyber attacks, sustainability, diversity, mergers and acquisitions and political conflicts.
For more information, visit www.travelandleisure.com.