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Covid-19: Etihad’s wellness ambassadors for cautious flyers

Etihad Wellness by Etihad Airways, UAE

Abu Dhabi – Etihad Airways has launched a wellness initiative to ensure the health and safety of its customers.

The service, which includes the appointment of wellness ambassadors, is designed to help travellers feel supported in their journeys during the inter-Covid period. Ambassadors will be available for every stage of the customer journey, providing on-board hygiene measures and information, airport presence for check-in and screening, and a 24/7 online chat service.

With many travellers likely to feel concerned about their safety, Etihad’s initiative provides both physical touchpoints like sanitation kits and social distancing measures, alongside loyalty services like flexible fares.

We’ve previously tracked the importance of Flight Wellness in relation to personalised features and healthy meal options, but the advent of Covid-19 has elevated and fast-tracked some of these wellbeing initiatives.

Covid-19: On-demand medicare for healthy hospitality

Medical Care by Montage International and One Medical

US – Montage hotels has joined forces with One Medical to provide health services for customers during their stay and for one month after their return.

The initiative will allow visitors to easily connect with healthcare professionals over on-demand video chat or secure messaging during their stay, providing both leisure and business travellers with peace of mind while away. The brand is also launching a dedicated mobile app to help track any suspected Covid-19 symptoms.

As part of the hotel group’s commitment to the wellbeing of its customers, the company will also be investing in enhanced cleanliness technologies including air filtration systems. Alan J Fuerstman, founder and CEO of Montage International, said: ‘It is paramount that our guests feel safe while they are staying with us and our associates are comfortable coming back to work in our hotels.’

Hoteliers are having to navigate the challenges of Inter-covid Hospitality as a way of recovering from a tourism drought. Healthcare schemes like this are likely to resonate with guests seeking health support for Before and After Travel.

Covid-19: Russia’s geo-tagging for Pride protesters

Tag Your Pride, St Petersburg

Russia – Tag Your Pride is a geo-tagging tool that enables people around the world to virtually protest against the country's gay propaganda laws.

Launched by global non-profit-making All Out, the tool enables users to place a virtual rainbow flag, along with a personal message, on a map of St Petersburg as an act of digital solidarity. Created in response to the cancellation of many Pride protests and parades during Covid-19, the concept aims to connect people globally over their shared beliefs and values.

Stana Iliev, campaigns manager for All Out, said: ‘In countries like Russia, (LGBT+) people often feel lonely. I think that the wave of solidarity can help people to understand that there are many people around who believe in equal rights for everyone.’

With identity characteristics existing in flux, global movements – such as those in New Bricolage Living – are gaining traction as people continue to connect over shared values.

Stat: Locked down Britons to dispose of millions of unused clothes

Stella McCartney Autumn / Winter 17 campaign

A study by WRAP has shown that 67m clothing items, and as many as 22m pairs of shoes, could be discarded by UK homes as lockdown eases.

With many UK citizens having used the lockdown period to sort through unwanted goods, the average person has discarded 11 items of clothing during lockdown. And with charity shops having been closed during lockdown, about 43% of unwanted items have already been disposed of as general waste.

While some consumers plan to wait until charity shops re-open, depending on sufficient staffing and hygiene measures, many will continue to discard their unwanted clothing and allow it to be taken to landfill sites.

As we explore in Secondary Waste Retail, new systems are emerging to transform the waste sector and encourage consumers to be more mindful about the disposal of unwanted items.