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Say Yes To Travel

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Sarah Dandashy unpacks the tech and brands powering modern travel.

Say Yes To Travel is a hospitality industry channel hosted by Sarah Dandashy, covering the technologies, logistics, and brands that shape modern travel. Each episode examines how hotels, airlines, and travel companies build guest experiences that keep people coming back. The channel gives B2B hospitality buyers direct access to expert voices on trends, tools, and operators defining the industry.

5 episodes
Channel Brief·Say Yes To Travel · 5 episodes
Updated Aug 6, 2020

Travel Industry Reopening Signals Amid Pandemic Uncertainty

Host Sarah Dandashy interviews travel professionals worldwide to understand how the industry is adapting during COVID-19. The show prioritizes frontline voices from cruise experts, travel agents, and hotel concierges.

Say Yes To Travel argues that understanding travel's post-pandemic recovery requires direct testimony from industry insiders, not headlines alone. The channel builds its case by placing the host in conversation with cruise experts, travel agents, and concierges operating across multiple continents, allowing listeners to hear firsthand how different markets and segments are responding to lockdowns, travel bans, and reopening timelines.

Drawn from Cruises Might Be Back Sooner Than You Think Sa… and 3 more →

“Friday, March 13th I worked. By the end of the weekend, the hotel was closed.”

Klaus Heldt, Concierge Supervisor, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

By the numbers

15 countries

initially approved for EU entry as of July 1, 2020

6 years

duration of host and Cruise Guy's social media connection

120 rooms

capacity of Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

March 2021

Qantas announced international flight resumption target

What the channel argues

DataEU banned US, Brazil, and Russia travelers as of July 1, 2020, with list reviewed every two weeks.→
InsightMandarin Oriental Barcelona shut with no notice on March 13, 2020, staff told not to return.→
InsightCruise industry identified as one of pandemic's hardest-hit travel sectors alongside flights and hotels.→
InsightQantas Airlines announced cessation of all international flights until March 2021.→
DataMandarin Oriental Barcelona is a 120-room hotel that was once the most expensive in Spain.→

What you'll learn

•How cruise industry professionals viewed the timeline for returning to operations in mid-2020 despite pandemic severity.
•Which countries were permitted to enter the EU in early July 2020 and how frequently that list would be reviewed.
•How hotel operations in Spain and Russia adapted to sudden lockdowns and what staff experienced in real time.
•What travel agents were advising clients about booking and cancellation patterns in summer 2020.

What to do about it

→Listen to Stewart Chiron and travel agents to understand which travel segments are signaling earlier reopening versus extended closures.
→Monitor bi-weekly EU travel ban reviews and country eligibility changes to anticipate market access shifts.
→Track concierge and hotel reports from multiple regions to understand how different geographies are handling operations and recovery timing.

Who and what shows up

Stewart Chiron

Cruise industry expert, The Cruise Guy

Six-year social media connection with host, met in person at a cruise two years prior; consulted on cruise industry recovery signals.

John Dekker

Travel agent

Guest in April and July 2020 episodes, provided analysis on major airline announcements and travel outlook during mid-pandemic.

Klaus Heldt

Concierge Supervisor, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

Described sudden lockdown experience in Spain and hotel's response to pandemic on March 13, 2020.

Anna Endrihovskaia

Chef Concierge, Moss Hotel Moscow; Les Clefs d'Or Concierge

Long-time concierge network contact; provided insights on pandemic's impact in Russia and global border effects.

Sarah Dandashy

Host, Say Yes To Travel

Conducted interviews across multiple continents and travel sectors; personal relationships with cruise experts and concierges drove reporting.

Questions this channel answers

Q

When will cruises resume operations?

The Cruise Guy, Stewart Chiron, discussed recovery signals in August 2020, though the episode body does not specify a stated timeline.

Cruises Might Be Back Sooner Than You Think Says “The Cr… →
Q

Which countries are allowing US travelers?

As of July 1, 2020, the EU approved 15 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan, but not the US. The list was to be reviewed every two weeks.

What Americans Need to Know about the EU Travel Ban: Say… →
Q

How did hotels close during lockdown?

At Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, closure was sudden; staff member Klaus Heldt worked Friday March 13 and was told not to return after the weekend as measures took effect immediately.

Concierges Around the World: The Mandarin Oriental in Ba… →
Q

What are major airline impacts?

Qantas Airlines announced cessation of all international flights until March 2021, signaling prolonged disruption to international air travel.

The Outlook on Travel for the End of 2020 →
Topics:Cruise industry recoveryInternational travel restrictions and bansHotel operations during pandemicTravel agent insightsConcierge services worldwide
Themes:Frontline testimony over aggregated dataGlobal perspective on localized pandemic impactsIndustry-specific recovery timelines and signals

Industry context

Global cruise passenger volume surged to record 37.2 million in 2026, with strong post-pandemic recovery in regional markets like Iceland experiencing 75% growth above 2019 levels by 2025.

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