SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
OVATION OFFERS TRAVEL RESOURCES GUIDE REGARDING COVID-19


At Ovation, we remain committed to providing excellent service to our valued clients throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic. Click the link below to view our travel resources guide which includes traveler health & safety information, interactive risk maps, client communications, travel management best practices, webinar recordings, and more regarding COVID-19.

The European Union (EU) has recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on travelers from the US due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, but member countries will keep the option of allowing fully vaccinated US travelers to enter, reports AP News. The guidance is nonbinding, however, which means that each EU member state would be responsible for implementing or reimposing travel restrictions. “Nonessential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed (on the safe list) ... is subject to temporary travel restriction,” the council said in a statement. “This is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on nonessential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travelers.” Possible restrictions on US travelers could include quarantines, further testing requirements upon arrival, or even a total ban on all nonessential travel from the US.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has endorsed the European Commission's EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) and urged countries to use it as a standard for their own certificates, reports Business Travel News. The DCC shares travelers' COVID-19 vaccination and testing status and has been implemented in the 27 member states of the European Union.
IATA hailed DCC as a model for other countries to follow. "In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccine certificates, it should serve as a blueprint for other nations looking to implement digital vaccination certificates to help facilitate travel and its associated economic benefits," said IATA deputy director general Conrad Clifford. According to IATA, up to 60 other countries are looking to incorporate a DCC model into their own certificates.

As Labor Day approaches, the Biden administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a joint statement urging unvaccinated Americans to reconsider their Labor Day travel plans, reports USA Today. "As people across the country prepare for Labor Day weekend, it’s critical that being vaccinated is part of their pre-holiday checklist," said Jeff Zients, White House COVID-⁠19 Response coordinator. The CDC recommends people who aren't fully vaccinated hold off on traveling "because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19." Additionally, anyone who is sick with coronavirus symptoms is urged to stay home, even if they've been vaccinated. The CDC has said fully vaccinated Americans can travel while wearing face masks. "We have actually articulated that people who are fully vaccinated and who are wearing masks can travel, although given where we are with disease transmission right now, we would say that people need to take these risks into their own consideration as they think about traveling," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

The CDC has raised its travel warning level for several destinations on its travel advisories list, reports Travel Weekly. Puerto Rico and Switzerland, along with Azerbaijan, Estonia, Guam, North Macedonia, and Saint Lucia, are now on the CDC's Level 4 list, indicating "very high" COVID-19 risk and for all US residents to avoid travel to those destinations. Additionally, the CDC has raised its advisory to Level 3 for travel to four destinations — Bermuda, Canada, Germany, and Moldova — indicating "high" COVID-19 risk and that unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to those regions.

Beginning October 1, European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss citizens will no longer be able to use an ID card to enter the UK unless they are exempt. The decision was first announced in January, when British interior minister Priti Patel introduced the post-Brexit measure stating that ID cards were amongst the least secure travel documents and easy to fake. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens will need a valid passport to enter the UK and can continue to use the automatic ePassport gates to pass through the border on arrival. Click "Read More" to visit the GOV.UK website for complete guidance and information.
BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL
70 ROWES WHARF
BOSTON
All 232 accommodations offer striking views of either the Boston skyline or the sparkling waterfront. Modern comforts such as complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room tablets, Smart TVs, and spacious work desks offer a measure of tech-savvy convenience in each guest room or suite. Luxuries throughout the hotel include a private health club with spa and fitness center, award-winning dining at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille and a full-service 34-slip marina.
CONRAD NEW YORK MIDTOWN
151 WEST 54TH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
Perfectly situated in Midtown — Manhattan’s epicenter of business, retail, and culture — Conrad New York Midtown is steps away from some of New York City’s iconic attractions, including MoMA, Rockefeller Center, Theater District, and Times Square. Guests can enjoy residential style living and stay in their own pied-a-terre appointed with thoughtful amenities. They can escape the hustle and bustle in spacious one and two-bedroom suites or upgrade to a penthouse with sweeping Central Park views.
CORINTHIA HOTEL LONDON
WHITEHALL PLACE
LONDON
The time has finally come, London is fully open for business and the hotel is looking forward to welcoming guests back to Corinthia.

Overlooking the River Thames and just minutes from Trafalgar Square and St James’ Park, the hotel stands proudly at the meeting point between The City’s Financial center and the vibrant West End.

Understanding the importance of guest wellbeing, the hotel’s 283 fully air-conditioned rooms and suites range from 485ft² to 5,000 ft² making them one of London’s most spacious accommodation with windows that open, offering fresh air and picturesque courtyard or historic building views.
KIMPTON HOTEL BORN
1600 WEWATTA STREET
DENVER
Colorado is a place of exceptional warmth, and guests will feel this spirit through all elements of their Kimpton Hotel Born stay. Easy sophistication is the name of the game when it comes to the hotel’s modern alpine interiors, with spaces designed for conversation and relaxation. Clean lines, rich textiles, and natural palettes are blended with state-of-the-art conveniences to form a meticulously handcrafted experience.
LOEWS REGENCY HOTEL
540 PARK AVENUE AT 61ST STREET
NEW YORK CITY
The Pop Art signature residence at the Loews Regency New York hotel is one of six distinctly designed suites for travelers to enjoy on Park Avenue. Designed by renowned design firm Rottet Studio, the suite is full of bright colors and bold designs inspired by Pop Artist icon, Andy Warhol. Design enthusiasts will appreciate the balance of the space with colorful artwork and accessories against the black and white architectural finishes. All travelers will enjoy the spacious one-bedroom and white marble bathroom, views overlooking the New York skyline, a kitchenette, living room space, and powder room. Whether it is for a longer Manhattan stay or a backdrop for an intimate gathering, guests can experience the allure of Park Avenue in the Pop Art suite at Loews Regency New York.
MANCHESTER GRAND HYATT SAN DIEGO
ONE MARKET PLACE
SAN DIEGO
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is located on the waterfront in the heart of downtown San Diego, three miles from San Diego International Airport and steps from the city’s top attractions and restaurants. Enjoy a movie under the stars at the onsite Rooftop Cinema Club and take in panoramic Pacific Ocean and city views from every guestroom while enjoying premium amenities including two rooftop pools, an upgraded Fitness Center, onsite dining options, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
METROPOLITAN BY COMO LONDON
19 OLD PARK LANE
LONDON
COMO Metropolitan London combines intuitive service, sophisticated design, and a vibrant Park Lane location. The city’s most refined neighborhoods — Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and Piccadilly — are each just a short walk away. Many rooms and suites overlook leafy Hyde Park, flooded with natural light. COMO’s iconic, contemporary style uses dark walnuts, fresh whites, and warm yellows, with oversized window seats in many of the rooms rendering a serene urban aesthetic. The world-renowned Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Nobu offers award-winning cuisine. Guests can retreat to COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, offering a full range of holistic Asian therapies, or work-out in the fully equipped gym. Each room includes a yoga mat and in-room yoga and meditation channels are available.
ROSEWOOD SAND HILL
2825 SAND HILL ROAD
MENLO PARK
Renovated in 2020, the Rosewood Sand Hill is a popular destination in Menlo Park for Bay Area entrepreneurs and executives as well as residents and visitors. A stylish meeting place and hotel within Silicon Valley, Rosewood Sand Hill offers a resort-like experience close to the high-tech hub, Stanford University campus, and some of the nation's foremost venture capital and private equity firms.

Throughout the hotel, the Rosewood Sand Hill Art Collection features exceptional work by accomplished artists, connecting the hotel with the local artistic community. All the works in the collection were chosen to represent the finest examples of contemporary creative art. Many of the artists have personal connections to Northern California and to the Stanford University campus.
THE FAIRMONT DALLAS
1717 NORTH AKARD STREET
DALLAS
The Fairmont Dallas hotel is ideally located in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District & Central Business District. Surrounded by a wide array of Dallas fine dining restaurants, shopping, arts, and entertainment makes The Fairmont Dallas a great base to explore the city. Combining hospitality and elegance with that special Texas flair, the hotel is located near Uptown and West Village, offering trendy upscale boutiques, art galleries, inviting eateries, and exciting nightlife. The Fairmont Dallas is less than one mile from the American Airlines Center.
THE MADISON WASHINGTON DC, A HILTON HOTEL
1177 15TH STREET NW
WASHINGTON, DC
The hotel’s heritage building sits six blocks from the Washington Convention Center and less than a mile from the White House, Smithsonian Museums, and the National Mall. Farragut North and West metro stations are within three blocks. The hotel offers a complimentary modern fitness center with state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment for guests as well as grab-and-go lunch options and Starbucks® coffee in the Marketplace.

Ovation clients will receive an additional 5000 Hilton Honors points for stays until September 7, 2021.
Ovation Travel Group is wholly owned by American Express Global Business Travel (GBT). GBT is a joint venture that is not wholly owned by American Express Company or any of its subsidiaries (American Express). “American Express Global Business Travel”, “American Express", and the American Express logo are trademarks of American Express and are used under limited license. “American Express Meetings & Events” is a division of GBT.