The summer travel season is in full
swing, as milder weather and fewer travel restrictions spur consumers to
explore both their local communities and farther flung destinations.
And while early in the pandemic many
consumers were inclined to seek remote or private locations to minimize contact
with others, now many are prioritizing in-destination experiences, whether to
visit bucket-list attractions or to be immersed in local culture.
Speaking in the PhocusWire Studio at the
Phocuswright Europe 2022 event, Go City vice president of destinations for EMEA
Viktoria Lacroix and Withlocals CEO Matthijs Keij agree one of the biggest
challenges for the experiences and attractions sector of travel is staffing.
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As business came to a halt in many
markets early in the pandemic, workers at attractions – the core partners for
Go City – and people providing local tours and activities – the crux of
Withlocals’ offering – sought employment elsewhere. Now as business returns,
many suppliers are facing difficulties in meeting demand.
Talking to PhocusWire’s Mitra Sorrells, Lacroix
and Keij discuss how technology is being used to alleviate some of the staffing
challenges as well as to provide more personalization and user-friendly,
contactless experiences.
The full interview is below.
Phocuswright Europe 2022 Executive Roundtable: Go City and Withlocals