Thursday, July 30, 2020

Art Of Earth 2019 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo

Art Of Earth 2019 Montepulciano D'AbruzzoThis is one of Italy’s most famous wines. This bottle is also filled with organic goodness.

The Succulent Grape You May Not Know

Italy has more than 2,000 indigenous grapes so you can be excused if you don’t know them all. Chances are you are familiar with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, the grapes that make Chianti and Barolo respectively. Today we make a case for getting to know the Montepulciano grape.

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Montepulciano is widely grown in central Italy, especially in the Abruzzo region. That’s where the the 2019 Art of Earth 2019 Montepulciano originates. Montepulciano is one of the top Italian wine exports. Montepulciano is native to Abruzzo and, confusingly, has no link to the town named Montepulciano in Tuscany. The grape is dark with soft acidity.

Art Of Earth

Art of Earth is aptly named. In my memory banks I recall Montepulciano being a laid back wine with an easy-going character. This wine gave me a new perspective. The grapes are grown in light, sandy loam soil and benefit from a warm maritime climate. It is medium body made with certified organic grapes.

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Although a young wine, it has some captivating aspects. The Art of Earth really dials up the earthy quality of Montepulciano. Envision tramping on a rocky dirt path in the forest – oh yes, with leather hiking boots. It has notes of dry herbs and leather. The accent is on black fruits (blackberries and black cherry) with more tannins than I expected, but not overwhelming.

This wine is a winner – especially at the $12 SRP. Art of Earth is a savory wine that would pair nicely with robust Italian dishes.

Full disclosure – We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Cellar Angels Does Pandemic Pivot To Aid Wineries, Charities

DTC wine company quickly adjusts to new realities, aids small producers and charities.

Martin Cody, left, in a vineyard conversation

The Virus Crescendo

When the coronavirus first started assaulting American shores in February, Cellar Angels co-founder Martin Cody saw Washington State hit hard and then the virus crescendo across the country. Cellar Angels is a direct-to-consumer digital wine business with a focus on Napa and Sonoma.

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“We cater to the more discerning wine customer,” said Cody during a recent Vino-Sphere interview. “The focus is on limited-production, high-end wines.”

The pandemic has caused online wine sales to boom but has dealt a major blow to small wineries – just like those featured on Cellar Angels. “The small producer is basically shut out of the three-tier system,” said Cody, referring to the distribution system that requires most wineries to sell their wares through a middle-man distributor. It’s tough for smaller producers to navigate the varied state rules that regulate direct to consumer sales.

The Cellar Angel team is mostly local, so Cody set up a virtual war room in February. “We knew quickly there had to be a way to help wineries,” said Cody. “We are virtual to begin with, so we focused on creating a method or event to bring people together virtually.”

Telling The Story Of Wine

Cellar Angels developed the SIP (Shelter In Place) tastings held every Friday night. The virtual tastings feature a winemaker or winery owner. Cellar Angels offers a wine tasting kit with six wines from featured wineries. Viewers can sip along while Martin interviews winemakers or owners over Zoom and Facebook live.

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“This really tells the story of the wines,” said Cody. “People can stay safe and sit on the patio and watch.” The series is booked up through October.

Small producers face difficulties during the pandemicSmall producers are getting a needed boost from the SIP series, but Cody also recognized that fundraising for charitable groups was also being decimated because of the cancellation of wine galas. “What’s missing during a pandemic is physical contact,” he said. “Even though we are physically distant, we don’t have to be social distant.”

To respond to this need, Cellar Angels works with their charitable partners and creates a custom landing page and a curated wine kit of three to eight bottles which is sent to the home of the fundraiser participants. When the supporters tune in, they get a high-level overview of the wines with details. The tasting also features video clips of the wineries and even a Google Earth fly-over of the specific vineyard.

Tough Times Ahead For Wine Country

No one knows when the world will see some form of normalcy. Cody says California wine country may experience similar conditions to the financial collapse of 2008 when wineries were acquired for pennies on the dollar. He terms that prospect “soul-crushing.”

The 2020 vintage is expected to be a good one, according to Cody, but adds that it will also bring big challenges. “The grapes don’t know that there is a virus,” Cody said. “They still need to be brought in.” Revenues for many small producers are shrinking while winery operational expenses are ongoing. Wineries are trying to cope through belt-tightening and staff reductions.

There are downstream casualties too, with the travel industry, restaurants, and hotels all suffering. The average consumer also has seen a drop in spending capability.

The good news, says Cody, is that despite the pandemic people can still share superb wine and help others from the comfort from their own home through events such as SIP tastings and virtual fundraisers. Through creativity and savvy marketing, Cellar Angels is providing a boost to wineries, charities and wine lovers alike.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

VinGardeValise Piccolo A Premium Luggage Choice For Wine Tourists

Need a safe way to transport your wine in style? This dual purpose bag has you covered.


Dual life of VinGardeValise PiccoloDon’t Leave Home Without It


As you might suspect, we do a lot of traveling to wineries and wine country. If we are going by car, this usually means we have an empty cardboard case in the back of the car to fill up with bottles as the trip progresses.

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If we are going by plane, we sometimes take a large piece of “wine luggage,” which is basically a case carton with Styrofoam inserts that is has a fabric cover with a handle and wheels.
And then there was our trip to South Africa. For that adventure, we actually emptied our suitcase of clothes along the way as we filled up our suitcase with bottles enclosed in bubble wrap. There’s got to be a better way – and indeed there is.

Dancing In The Streets



When my VinGardeValise® Piccolo arrived, I unpacked it and literally was dancing with it around the house. This is how a traveler transports their wine in style.

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VinGardeValise® bills itself as the safest way to travel with your wine. I’ve had my eye on it for quite some time. It is a suitcase specially fitted with foam inserts and pads to protect your wine when the bag is checked on your flight.

There are three different models: the Grande (12 bottles), Petite (eight bottles) and Piccolo (five bottles). The advantage of the Piccolo is that it is sized to fit in an airline overhead compartment. You can carry it on going to wine country and check it coming back, maybe saving a baggage charge.

VinGardeValise Piccolo detail

First Impressions


Easy rolling VinGardeValise PiccoloWhat caused me to start dancing was the overall feel of quality of this product. If I never drank another bottle of wine (which is unlikely), this would be a piece of luggage I’d be proud to own. It has a durable hard-shell exterior that is reinforced in multiple stress points. Your VinGardeValise® even includes burst straps made from seatbelt material.

There are double handles that look rock-solid on two sides. An integrated TSA-compliant lock is easy to set and helpful to secure your bag during your flight and hotel stay.

This is a “spinner” with 360o Hinomoto wheels, generally found on the most expensive luggage. I verified their silky roll during my dance through our living room and sunroom. The telescoping handle is made from aircraft-grade aluminum.

The design for VinGardeValise® is just so well thought out, the suitcase exudes premium quality. The attention to detail shows. VinGardeValise® products feature a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, in case you have any doubts. All replacement parts and shipping are free.

The Piccolo can handle five bottlesThe Inner Game Of Wine


While the outside is impressive, the inside is where the Piccolo needs to perform. The suitcase has two main sections, one is for your clothing and non-wine items. The other side has a foam insert for you to pack in five bottles. As any wine lover knows, bottles come in all shapes and sizes. It also seems that ultra-premium wineries are determined to have the biggest, bulkiest bottles – as if the weight itself would earn a 95-point rating.

I packed in a variety of bottles to test it out. The main challenges come from non-standard bottles, like really tall Riesling bottles or very wide Pinot Noir or sparkling wine bottles. It’s ideal for standard Bordeaux-shaped bottles (straight sides, high shoulders) and Burgundy-style bottles (lightly sloped, pear-shaped). The storage area can be adjusted by removing small pieces of pre-sliced foam to accommodate the wider or taller bottles. Getting the bottles in just-so could take a little effort, but once in place, they are as secure as Fort Knox.

There is an inch-thick foam pad that is secured by straps over the wine area. For good measure, there is a second foam pad placed over the clothing compartment.

Piccolo has enough room for an overnight or weekend trip
VinGardeValise® also offers optional foam inserts to boost your versatility. There are inserts available for magnum bottles, wine glasses, craft beer, even a do-it-yourself insert. They also offer a wine chiller sheet to help keep your wine from getting too hot during its journey.

The weight when empty is less than eight pounds. Fully loaded with wine and a few clothes, it weighs in at about 25 pounds.

If you are going on a weeklong excursion, you’ll need another bag to complement the Piccolo. The clothing compartment is suitable for a weekend trip but not much more.

VinGardeValise® Piccolo is a thing of beauty. As wineries begin the reopening process, now is the time to pick up this essential travel tool. You’ll be dancing down the airport concourse.

Full Disclosure: We received this product as a marketing sample.

Monday, July 20, 2020

Silk & Spice 2018 Red Blend, Portugal

Silk & Spice 2018 Red BlendFrom Portugal’s Spice Route comes an exotic wine with robust flavors.

Wine Tasting In A Pandemic

Wine tasting with friends is sure different than it used to be. In days gone by, before COVID-19, friends would arrive, we’d share appetizers or a meal while carrying on conversations, giving hugs and handshakes and sharing plenty of wine.

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Now a wine tasting involves methods previously reserved for handling radioactive materials. When our friends stopped by the other night, we had chairs on the patio spaced out for social distancing and disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer strategically located. Filling a wine glass meant placing the glass on a table between us, then I’d fill it up and retreat before our guests grabbed their glass. Sharing food? That involved tongs, individually wrapped food and elaborate maneuvers.

Of course, the evening with our friends was worth all the safety procedures. Everyone needs to be safe these days, not only for their own sake but for the sake of others. The wine we tasted certainly justified the effort.

Enjoying The Indigenous Grapes

We uncorked the 2018 Silk & Spice Red by Sogrape Vinhos from Portugal. The Spice Route was created by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century to bring exotic spices like clove and nutmeg to the Western world. This wine aims to capture the mystery and flavors of that famed trading route.

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Silk & Spice is a blend of indigenous grapes: 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Alicante Bouchet, and 30% Baga. For whatever reason, I thought we’d be sipping a light-bodied red. I was therefore surprised by my first sip of deep, silky wine. This wine would do well with a nice steak or a big cheeseburger. Have I mentioned I’ve really been craving a cheeseburger lately?

The flavors are intense and the body is lush. There are rich extracted notes of raspberry and leather. The fruit is bold and there are pleasing vanilla highlights. The finish is long and lingering. The wine is finished in stainless steel to keep the brightness.

This is a wine to drink now, although it could age for up to five years. You can find Silk & Spice for less than $15, quite a bargain.

After finishing the bottle of Silk & Spice, I resolved to drink more wine from Portugal. We already enjoy wines from Spain, but we’re eager to seek out vinho from its Iberian Peninsula neighbor.

Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The Passion And Perfection Of Italy’s Lugana DOC Wines

IMG_20200607_134531_310Are you a lover of Italian wine? It’s time to become familiar with the Lugana DOC.


Learning Lugana


I’m a Certified Specialist of Wine. I’ve spent countless hours studying obscure Italian grapes and memorizing the location of wine regions from the top of the Italian boot to the tip of the toe. Yet I must admit I drew a blank when the name of Lugana was raised.


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Lugana DOC is a small wine region that straddles the border between Lombardy and Veneto in Northern Italy. It produces white wine only and uses the high-quality Turbiana grape variety, also known as Trebbiano di Lugana. during a recent Wine Studio education program, we dug into the finer points of these wines and this unique region.

IMG_20200609_200119

Lake Garda Grown


Lugana lies just south of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake and one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in Northern Italy. Centuries ago the area was covered by “Selva Lucana”, a really dense marshy forest. 
Vines in the area date back to the Bronze Age. As early as 1595, Lugana was praised by philosopher and author Andrea Bacci as “lusty, agreeable wine.”

The soil is sedimentary clay deposited by movements of the glaciers. It is chalky and rich in limestone and mineral salts. The wines are some of the top whites in the country. They have clean, powerful scents that combine hints of almonds and citrus fruits, as well as acidity, tanginess and a well-balanced structure.

Lugana rocks in the “climate cradle” created by Lake Garda. The lake moderates the temperature with breezes that are mild and fairly constant. There is little difference between day and night temperatures, making it ideal for the grape Turbiana.

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The Turbiana Touch


For years Turbiana, also called Trebbiano di Lugana, was confused with Verdicchio. Studies have shown that it is indeed its own unique cultivar. The grapes are medium-sized and thick-skinned with a lower yield than other Trebbiano.

Winemakers produce five different styles of Lugana DOC wine: standard Lugana, Superiore, Riserva, Vendemmia Tardiva (Late Harvest) and Spumante (Sparkling). Ninety percent of Lugana wine is the “standard” Lugana – fresh and young with citrus and floral notes.


Lifting A Glass Of Lugana!


We had a chance to taste through four bottles of Lugana. Here are the food pairings and tasting notes:


Citari 2019 Sorgente - We started with a raw summer squash ravioli with vegan almond "ricotta" followed by linguini in a white clam sauce. The Sorgente is a light-bodied white wine with tart citrus and bright acidity. There are floral and starfruit notes on the nose.

Lugana DOC Wine
Marangona 2017 Tre Campane - The Marangona 2017 Tre Campane is fresh with citrus notes of orange, a body that mellows in the glass. Blossom notes and a dash of salinity. Tre Campane means 'Three Bells.' The wine is aged in cement -- no hiding the great flavors behind oak! Our culinary team whipped up Tomato and Corn Whole Wheat Rotini and White Bean & Beet Green Sauté.


Olivini 2016 Brut - Our meal choice was white pizza with herbed Alfredo sauce and lemon garlic kale. The wine has floral and apple notes and a good savory side thanks to 48 months on the lees. The metodo classico is used. That's the same way Champagne is made, with a second fermentation in the bottle.


Cà Maiol 2018 –
This was the most complex of the Lugana wines we tried. It starts with a nice aroma of flower blossoms in the rain. It is tangy with waves of salinity and minerality. Flavor notes include apples and roasted fruit. Served with chicken and penne pasta in pesto cream sauce and a beet salad with herbed goat cheese and walnuts.

Lugana is a premium white wine that should be on your radar in your hunt for elegant Italian wine. It’s food friendly with a lively flavor profile that’s sure to please.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Lauriga Rosé Delights With Grenache Gris

Domaine Lauriga Le Gris RoséA hot day grilling on the patio? These French bottles are sure to refresh.

Busting The Heat Wave

It’s getting hot here in North Carolina. I mean really hot. The other day I was moving some chairs around on our patio and the metal armrest has so hot I had to put on gloves to move it.

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When the heat ratchets up, we need to cool down. Our favorite solution is nicely chilled rosé.

We’ve found the brands of Paul Mas to be a dependable source of high quality, high value rosé.

Recently we popped open the 2019 vintages of Château Lauriga Rosé and Domaine Lauriga Le Gris Rosé. Château Lauriga joined the Paul Mas family of wineries in 2016.

Skewering Some Fine Rosé

For our cookout we decided on skewers of shrimp and grilled veggies. As if it weren’t hot enough, I cranked the grill up and put on the skewers. The combined ambient heat and the blazing grill made we feel like I was working in a smelting plant.

Château Lauriga Rosé As you can imagine, I cooked the food perfectly! We opened both bottles of the Lauriga rosé in order to get a good side-by-side comparison – to stay hydrated too!

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Coming from the Côtes Catalanes, the Domaine Lauriga Le Gris is 100% Grenache Gris. The grape is relatively obscure and is a mutation of red Grenache. It’s grown mostly in southern France, but not much is grown because it isn’t commercially appealing. We, however, found it extremely appealing.

The grapes come from a vineyard about 40 years old with pebbly clay and limestone soil. The wine is salmon in color. On the palate there are bursting flavors of raspberry, strawberry and stone fruit. There is a good balance between tartness and a slight sweetness. This was a perfect pairing with our dish and our tasting crew loved it.

More Grenache Gris S'il Vous Plait

Château Lauriga Rosé is 75% Syrah with 25% Grenache Gris. It hails from Côtes du Roussillon, a great region for value. The bottle is elegant with a glass stopper – but the fun begins when the stopper is removed. Although both rosés have the same residual sugar, the Château Lauriga comes off drier. The acidity is popping. The wine is fruity and floral with red fruit notes. We normally don’t talk about a rosé evolving in the glass, but his one did. It presented a well balanced symphony of fresh flavors.

Vegan cheesecakeWe ended our meal with a vegan cheesecake made with almond milk, bananas and chia seeds. The chilled creation was topped with blueberries and strawberries. The dessert really doesn’t have a wine pairing, but was a cool finishing touch.

The Château Lauriga Rosé has an SRP of $20. The Domaine Lauriga Le Gris sells for $14. These are great prices and that means you now have the power to break the stranglehold of searing summer heat!

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Wine, Travel and Food News From Vino-Sphere

A roundup of travel, wine and food news from our worldwide sources.


Popular Vintners Resort to Reopen With New Health and Wellness Measures

Vintners Resort
Vintners Resort, the AAA Four-Diamond Sonoma County luxury hotel, was scheduled to reopen on July 1. The property is now accepting reservations for overnight stays, as well as dining at John Ash & Co. restaurant and The Front Room Bar & Lounge; River Vine Restaurant, Vi La Vita Spa and the Events Center will remain temporarily closed.

“We are eager to see guests enjoy Vintners Resort once again,” says Rhonda Carano, who owns and oversees the 92-acre resort complex and adjacent vineyards. “Over the past three months the incredible team, led by General Manager Percy Brandon, has considered every aspect of the Vintners Resort experience and operations to ensure the health and safety of both guests and staff. With the recent sale of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, my focus is now entirely on Vintners Resort and ensuring that those wellness measures are coupled with hospitality excellence.”

New and returning guests to the property will discover both physical changes and service enhancements designed to preserve health and well-being, from enhanced bell service to exchanging in-room amenities like coffeemakers to the newly-created staff position of “Resort Care Coordinator,” who will constantly walk the property to ensure all wellness measures are being followed.


Markham Vineyards Honors Veterans, First Responders and Community Heroes With Release Of New Red Blend "The Altruist"

Markham Vineyards
Markham Napa Valley Vineyards has released a new wine, "The Altruist," a Bordeaux-style red blend dedicated to honoring our nation's veterans, first responders and community heroes who courageously defend and preserve our freedoms and security 365 days a year.

The release of "The Altruist" launches with Markham's charitable donation to, and partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, whose mission is to serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.

"The Altruist" is a Merlot-based red blend of Napa Valley grapes predominantly from Markham's estate vineyards from the 2017 vintage and releases in June nationally at $29.99 retail.

Tranquility Bay

Play it Safe at Tranquility Bay Resort's Unique Florida Keys Beach Houses


Visitors can rest easy at Tranquility Bay Resort in the Florida Keys after the palm-lined paradise reopened June 1. The property offers space to relax with unique standalone beach houses with private entrances, onsite water sports, a private beach, three pools and its new Safety & Well-being Promise.

General Manager, Bob Bauersachs said, “Tranquility Bay's open-air public spaces and uniquely private beach houses provide the perfect solution for guests concerned about safety and well-being while wanting to get away. With private entrances and no public hallways or elevators, our customers appreciate this peace of mind.”

The 103-room resort attracts mostly couples, families and small groups traveling together. “Our guests can be completely apart from the crowd and still see the most remarkable sunsets and enjoy amazing Florida Keys activities,” said Bauersachs.

Tranquility Bay is located 90 miles south of Miami (a 2-hour drive) and 45 miles north of historic Key West. For more information, visit www.tranquilitybay.com.


Alder Springs Vineyard “A Case for a Cause” Program Extended


In response to the unprecedented hardships caused by world events, Alder Springs Vineyard is re-committing to and re-naming its philanthropic program to offer support to more beneficiaries, over an indefinite period of time. For every 12-bottle case of wine purchased from Alder Springs Vineyard, owner Stuart Bewley will forward a $200 donation to any beneficiary that the customer chooses.

“The world’s never seen anything like these times,” said Bewley. “I wanted to do something to help as so many people have lost jobs and loved ones and suffered loss of personal property. Non-profit organizations of every kind are hurting for funds. So, I’m letting my customers choose where the donation from each case goes.”
The Case for a Cause program launched on April 29 as the Shelter-in-Place Support initiative, but after stay-at-home orders were lifted, Bewley decided to keep the program in place indefinitely – which called for a new name: A Case for a Cause.












Monday, July 6, 2020

Rollicking Wine Executive Felix Hart Returns In New “Firing Blancs” Adventure

Firing BlancsI’ve been a fan of Felix Hart, Peter Stafford-Bow’s lusty and adventuresome hero who works for British grocery giant Gatesave, since the publishing of Corkscrew, the first in a series of three Felix Hart adventures. In Firing Blancs, the latest tale published in May, Felix is trotting the globe again, this time to South Africa.

Reading the book without first perusing the promotional material, I was delighted to find the story was located in one of our favorite wine destinations: South Africa. Through the book, we were able to relive some of our favorite stops such as Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and the Helshoogte Pass. 

After choking his CEO to death (accidentally) during a boardroom presentation, Felix is off to South Africa to try to avoid a public relations disaster. Gatesave’s largest South African supplier has been discovered to have brutal and oppressive working conditions. Felix must somehow work with the recalcitrant winery owner to triple his workers’ pay and earn a certification of fair and humane work practices -- certainly a daunting task.

Working undercover as a representative of the Tears of Pity charity, Felix finds himself assaulted, blackmailed and imprisoned in a sketchy township guesthouse. Our hero bounces from one dire situation to another, eluding the jaws of vicious guard dogs, the clutches of a revolutionary leader and the insanity of the tyrannical new CEO of Gatesave.

Felix and Stafford-Bow handle each situation with panache and hilarious results. This book could not have come along at a better time. We all need a laugh right about now. Firing Blancs is a perfect escape into the wine world of South Africa and an adventure filled with mayhem, some madness and complete fun.

Firing Blancs is published by Acorn Publishing and is available on Amazon for $11.99.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

70% Of Americans Support Economic Stimulus To Help Reeling Travel Industry


Only 18% Have Traveled Since March; Majority Don’t Have Travel Plans in 2020

The pandemic has crushed the travel industry

Incentivizing Americans To Travel Again

A new survey conducted by Morning Consult commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) found that while Americans remain hesitant about traveling, they overwhelmingly support efforts by Congress to help the travel industry recover including helping hotels keep their doors open and bring back employees, as well as incentivizing Americans to travel again.

With only 18 percent of respondents reporting taking an overnight trip since March, the devastation caused to the hotel industry is already nine times worse than 9/11, with more than 8 in 10 hotels having to lay off or furlough workers during the pandemic.

Key findings:
  • 70 percent of Americans support the passage of additional economic stimulus for the industries most negatively impacted by the pandemic, including the travel and hospitality sectors.
  • By nearly a 3-1 margin, Americans support a new, temporary federal travel tax credit to encourage people to travel (61% support, 21% oppose).
  • By nearly a 3-1 margin, Americans support restoring the business entertainment expense deduction to encourage business travel (57% support, 21% oppose).
  • By more than a 3-1 margin, Americans support efforts by the federal government to require banks to offer debt relief or forbearance on commercial hotel mortgages (63% support, 16% oppose).
“As communities reopen, we are encouraged to see people begin to travel and some hotel jobs return, but make no mistake, most hotels are still trying to survive. Americans overwhelmingly support efforts by Congress to provide the hotel industry with additional support to ensure we can bring back our employees and keep our doors open,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “We need Congress to continue to prioritize the industries and employees most affected by the crisis, so we can retain and rehire the people who power our industry, our communities and our economy.”

Recovery Roadmap

The industry has laid out a "Roadmap to Recovery" calling on Congress to help hotels retain and rehire employees, protect employees and guests, keep hotel doors open and incentivize Americans to travel again when it’s safe.

Part of the hotel industry’s roadmap for Congress is providing a temporary tax incentive to encourage domestic travel and restoring the business entertainment expense deduction, which Rogers says will not only provide a boost to hotels and their ability to stay open and retain employees but also the local economies, including restaurants and retail stores that rely on business from travelers.

“By nearly a three to one margin, Americans support these measures to help incentivize domestic travel and aid hotels and other struggling businesses and their employees trying to survive this crisis. Whether you live in a major city, beach resort area or small town off the interstate, hotels are often the anchor to supporting jobs, economic activity and tax revenue for localities across the country,” said Rogers.

Prior to the pandemic, hotels supported one in 25 American jobs—8.3 million in total—and contributed $40 billion in direct state and local tax revenue in 2018 alone. However, because of the sharp drop in travel demand from COVID-19, eight in ten hotels had to lay off or furlough workers. 

State and local tax revenue from hotel operations are estimated to drop by $16.8 billion in 2020, according to a new report by Oxford Economics released by AHLA.

When Will Travel Return?

Looking ahead, the survey also found that travel is not expected to fully return until next year with a majority of Americans saying they have no plans to travel for the rest of 2020.

“The hotel industry was the first impacted by the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover. We are a major economic driver, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions in tax revenue. Getting our economy back on track starts with supporting the hotel industry and helping them regain their footing,” concluded Rogers.

Survey Methodology
This poll was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of AHLA. The survey was conducted June 16-19, 2020 among a national sample of 2200 Adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Adults based on age, educational attainment, gender, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.