Founder of Hotels.com and GetARoom.com to address
the pandemic’s financial impact on businesses and the future of tourism
worldwide
PHOENIX, Ariz., January 21, 2021 — With the majority of countries across the globe placing citizens on lockdowns and/or having imposed major travel restrictions, the tourism industry has perhaps suffered the most repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Busy streets and tourist hotspots which would normally be buzzing loudly with patrons shopping and dining, are eerily empty and silent as domestic and international travel has slowed to a crawling pace. But can this dying industry make a comeback?
Grab your virtual plane ticket and join Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) on Feb. 16 as they explore the topic of travel in a post-COVID world. Keynote speaker, Bob Diener, co-founder of Hotels.com and GetARoom.com, will highlight how the pandemic has impacted businesses on a global scale, as well as his outlook on the future of tourism. Portions of the event program will draw parallels between Arizona and Israel, as both economies rely heavily on tourism and have been impacted by COVID restrictions.
Photo of keynote speaker Bob Diener, co-founder of Hotels.com and GetARoom.com
“Tourism is a cornerstone of the Arizona economy, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year and creating hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs; but as the pandemic took hold in 2020, this important industry was dealt a real blow. It was hit first and worst,” said Glenn Hamer, president & CEO of Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and longtime donor of JNF-USA. “Arizona tourism isn’t unique in this regard, however, as our friends in the Israeli tourism industry know well. I am confident that 2021 will be a year of recovery for both Arizona and Israel, and I’m betting that my bilingual family will once again return to Israel for one of our many memorable visits.”
This event is free to attend and highly encouraged for those interested in the travel and the hospitality industry. Do you have specific questions you’d like Bob Diener to address in his presentation? Submit questions here.
Event Information
What: Travel and Tourism in a Post-COVID19 World
When: Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 7-8 p.m. MT
Where: Zoom. Link provided upon registration. Register here
Visit www.jnf.org/ondemand for a full list of our upcoming virtual events.
Special thanks to event chairs Dr. Mel Bottner, Marty Locke and Rudy Troisi.
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Media Inquiries: Jennifer Milton, JNF-USA National Communications Manager
E: jmilton@jnf.org
P: 561.447.9733 x 875
About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation