Tourism Industry Resources

Several nationwide studies have been implemented to track traveler sentiment as it relates to the COVID-19 health crisis and their future travel plans. Here are the most recent results:

Destinations Analysts – June 16 Update on COVID-19 Impact on American Travel

Longwoods International – Travel Sentiment Study Wave 10
Fielded May 13, 2020
U.S. National Sample of 1,000 adults 18+

The CARES Act, the largest economic relief package in our nation’s history, was signed into law on March 27, 2020 and includes major provisions U.S. Travel fought for to deliver economic support to travel businesses, travel workers and their families. Here is a link for eligibility details: https://www.ustravel.org/toolkit/covid-19-cares-act-relief-resources

• Provides loans of 2.5 times payroll up to $10 million, grants and tax breaks to businesses large and small
• Provides for loan forgiveness for expenditures made for payroll, rent and other costs
• Payments of up to $1,200 to millions of Americans
• Bolsters unemployment benefits
• Provides financial support to states, local governments and the health care system

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses that suffer substantial economic impact as a result of COVID-19. Generally, these low-interest loans provide working capital to assist small businesses in meeting financial obligations and operating expenses. 
  • This slide deck can guide you through the disaster loan program and includes step-by-step instructions on completing the application.
• The Washington State SBDC is offering webinars and other online training opportunities for the SBA application process.
• The SBA has amended its original disaster declaration to apply to all Washington small businesses, regardless of county.
• The Department of Commerce is working with the federal SBA to secure loan assistance and has information for businesses experiencing trade impacts.
• The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive webpage for small business owners to research their options.

The Association of Washington Business has created a Rebound and Recovery Tool Kit to help Washington State employers reopen their doors. Find a variety of guidance and resources you need to prepare your workplace and safely welcome back employees and customers.

Partially Resuming the Dine-In Restaurant and Tavern Industry – Proclamation 20-25: This memorandum serves as the criteria for partially resuming the dine-in restaurant and tavern industry under Phase 2 and is effective as of May 11, 2020. After consulting with stakeholders, we have developed the comprehensive Phase 2 – Dine-In Restaurant and Tavern Industry COVID-19 Requirements. These requirements apply as long as Gubernatorial Proclamation 20-25, or any extension thereof, is in effect or if adopted as rules by a federal, state or local regulatory agency. Click here to read full memorandum. 

Phase 2 Restaurant/Tavern Reopening COVID-19 Requirements: The restaurant/tavern must adopt a written procedure for dine-in service that is at least as strict as the Phase 2 procedure below and complies with all safety and health requirements. Click here to read full guideline procedures. 

Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance for partially resuming limited in-store retail and manufacturing operations for counties granted variance under the Safe Start Phase 2 recovery plan laid out last week.

Through the Washington “Safe Start” plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in subsequent phases with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks – metrics and data will guide when the state can move from one phase to another. 

Through the Safe Start approach, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three weeks can apply for a variance to move to Phase 2 of “Safe Start” before other parts of the state. County variance applications will be approved or denied by the secretary of the Department of Health. Eight counties have received the variance. 

For counties granted variance to move to Phase 2, in-store retail operations may resume with limitations, effective May 12. This builds on guidance that Inslee issued yesterday, and requires that any sit-down in-store food and beverage services must follow all Phase 2 restaurant requirements.

• Memo: Partially Resuming Limited In-Store Retail Operations
• Phase 2 Limited In-Store Retail Operations COVID-19 Requirements

Inslee also released guidance regarding additional manufacturing operations which may resume, effective May 12. 

Guidance documents: 

• Memo: Resuming Additional Manufacturing OperationsPhase 2 Manufacturing Facility COVID-19 Requirements

Full list of guidance for all current businesses.

The Washington State Dept of Financial Institutions has developed a helpful webpage list of Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19. This includes banks and credit unions, unemployment assistance, trouble paying credit cards, morgage assistance, trouble paying rent, paying student loans, short-term and emergency loans, utilities assistance, and more.

Dept. of. Commerce Grant Helps Hotels Provide Rooms for COVID-19 Responders and Vulnerable Populations.

Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund: Up to $5 million will be made available to provide Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses with 10 or less employees, to help prevent closure due to COVID-19. Application and Eligibility details here.

Business Impact NW provides low-interest loans to community-based nonprofits and small businesses with more flexible criteria than traditional financial institutions. Additionally, it has compiled an outstanding set of COVID-19 resources.

Craft3 provides low-interest loans to community-based nonprofits and small businesses, with more flexible criteria than traditional financial institutions.

The Governor has responded swiftly with  expanded benefits programs and a resource list. These include programs such as SharedWork, which provides partial wage replacement to avoid layoffs, and standby, which suspends the job-search requirement for workers to collect unemployment benefits if an employer must make temporary layoffs. You can see a chart of available benefits for various COVID-19 scenarios here.

The Washington Tourism Alliance Launched showWAlove.com offering a platform for Washingtonians to help hard-working business owners and employees by purchasing gift cards for future use. 

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is providing emergency relief through the Employer Assistance Program to help employers struggling to pay their workers’ compensation premiums during the coronavirus outbreak. L&I is now offering a grace period for premium payments, along with payment plans for employers facing financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Governor Inslee has encouraged individuals and businesses to take advantage of legal assistance through the state’s Office of Civil Legal Aid. State legal aid programs can help with unemployment compensation, eviction and foreclosure, family safety and domestic violence, debt collection, consumer protection and other issues. Details at ocla.wa.gov.

The Washington State Department of Revenue has information on relief for taxpayers including extensions for filing and paying tax returns.

Resources for anxiety and mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.

• Return to Work Guidelines
• Phase 3 Safe Start Plan Template
• PPE Vendor List

• Whatcom County Health Director Recommends Summer 2020 Event Cancellations
• Whatcom Unified Command organizes food bank deliveries for homebound high-risk individuals and families
• Whatcom COVID website provides information from Whatcom Unified Command
• Local Governments Across Whatcom County Are United in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak
• Whatcom County Health Director Recommends Summer 2020 Event Cancellations
• Whatcom community steps up to help address COVID-19
• Whatcom County Honors National Public Health Week
• Essential City of Bellingham Services Continue During COVID-19
• Bellingham Mayor Suspends Enforcement of Plastic Bag Ban
• North Cascades National Park Closed Until Further Notice
• Bellair Airporter Shuttle Announces Interruption in Service
• Port of Bellingham Closes Bike Park, Zuanich Playground, Workout Stations and Picnic Shelter At Marine Park & Jorgensen Pier
• Port of Bellingham Closes Bike Park, Zuanich Playground, Workout Stations and Picnic Shelter At Marine Park & Jorgensen Pier
• City of Bellingham Closes Playgrounds, Sports Fields, Fenced Dog Areas, Bike Parks, Disc Golf Course and Skate Park

• Tourism Talk June 4, 2020
• Tourism Talk May 28, 2020
• Tourism Talk May 21, 2020
• Tourism Talk May 14, 2020
• Tourism Talk May 7, 2020
• Stay Home Order Extended – Your Input Requested 
• Tourism Talk April 30, 2020
• Tourism Talk April 23, 2020
• Tourism Talk April 16, 2020
• Tourism Talk April 9, 2020
• Tourism Talk April 1, 2020
• Governor Orders Stay Home, Stay Safe Order
• Tourism Talk March 20, 2020
• Travel Advisory Landing Page
• Urgent Request Regarding COVID-19
• Declaration of Emergency and New Recommendations to the Public
• COVID-19 Awareness

Western Washington University has announced that all classes and instruction will be offered remotely throughout spring quarter. As announced previously, spring quarter classes are starting on Monday, April 6, and the quarter is expected to end as scheduled after final exams conclude on June 12, 2020.

This website provides information and serves as Western’s central hub of coronavirus resources and Frequently Asked Questions.www.wwu.edu/coronavirus. 

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