As travel and events resume following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the task of planning group trips and events has an added layer of complexity. With CDC guidelines to consider on a national level and varied restrictions based on a state by state basis, there is much for a planner to navigate. To help simplify your planning process, we’re bringing you information on the top COVID-19 resources for group planners.

Navigating Requirements

Wearing masks and maintaining safe social distance have become commonplace throughout the country. However, the requirements beyond these common practices can be a bit more challenging to find and navigate for your destination. To help ease this challenge, you can refer to a full list of travel guidance by state. 

GroupTools Tip: Be sure to check both the requirements for your destination and home states. Many states have return guidance you must adhere to when you head home.

From the Hospitality Industry

Hilton has launched its Hilton EventReady with CleanStay program. As part of the program, planners booking events with the brand will receive an EventReady Playbook, which will include the list of third-party providers that can provide a variety of COVID-19 testing and health screening options, including:

• Handheld temperature check devices
• Personal health screening checklists
• COVID-19 self-testing options
• COVID-19 same-day, onsite testing

Beyond Hilton, many hotels and resorts are now offering on-site testing to their guests throughout the U.S. 

GroupTools Tip: If onsite testing is required for your group, be sure to include available time slots in your itinerary and build it around your other activities to ensure your full group can get tested.

Expanded Insurance Options

While Travel Insurance companies were in a rocky spot at the start of the pandemic, they are now offering a great resource for groups planning to travel with expanded coverage. Many travel insurance policies are now built to cover cancellations or delays due to illness, individually ordered quarantines, denied boardings, and other events caused by COVID-19 and other epidemics.

GroupTools Tip: Make sure that group travel insurance plans you’re considering offer this coverage. If they don’t enquire about group discounts on individual plans that do.

There’s an App for That

Technology has enabled virtual and hybrid events throughout the pandemic and now the tech set has solutions for safe group travel and events in person as well.

COVID Passports

The concept of vaccine passports has been going around as a solution for safe travel. Cruise lines as they reopen are requiring proof of vaccination and negative COVID tests as are many airlines. As you plan your next group trip or event, VeriFLY offers an easy way for your group members to upload documents such as negative COVID-19 test results to meet various travel requirements imposed by health authorities and travel suppliers. 

Contact Tracing

The exposure notifications system built by Google and Apple works to provide contact tracing throughout all your travels. The system works with various apps put out by local governments and health authorities as well as working as a standalone notification system. Opting in is an easy way to keep your group apprised of exposure risk throughout your travels and events.

Contactless Group Planning

As contactless solutions become the norm for everything from ticketing to payments, why not make your group planning and management contactless too? With GroupTools, everything from invitations to payment collection can be done contact-free from anywhere, at any time, and from any device. With built-in attendee management, it’s easy for one group member to RSVP for their social bubble, with a variety of communication methods communicating COVID requirements to your group is a breeze, and a secure forms system makes handling waivers and more a simple task.  

Whatever your needs are as you start planning your group events in 2021, GroupTools is here to help make your process safe and stress-free. Visit GroupTools.com to learn more or jump right into your planning today.