The designation "essential worker" usually brings to mind medical professionals, delivery services, grocery store employees and others who have been on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also has come to cover some in one of the few industries to see significant business travel activity since the onset of the crisis: the entertainment industry.
"We've seen a lot of travel in the last couple of months for sports, and film and TV more so than before," BCD Travel director of media and entertainment Patricia McConnell said in a recent webinar organized by United Airlines. That travel has required some extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of all participants, and some might serve to inform other industries as travel and events return on a wider scale.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry's Tyler Perry Studios was among the first to resume production this summer in Atlanta, which was a "monumental task," Ed White, the studios' VP of aviation, said during the webinar. For production, Perry set up what became known as "camp quarantine," with multiple sets and productions. Of course, the cast and crew needed to get from Los Angeles to Atlanta, which required an intricate testing process.
Perry used a combination of negotiated travel with United and some private charter service to move the group. All passengers have to test negative for Covid-19 at a private facility in Los Angeles International Airport within a few days before travel to board, White said. Upon arrival in Atlanta, they must undergo another test with negative results in order to get into the production bubble.
Rigorous testing continues throughout production, and once it wraps, "we put everything in reverse," White said. "We have a curb-to-curb health solution to get them back to where they live, and we've had great success in doing this."
Motion Picture Corporation of America—which produces much of the family-friendly and holiday-themed film content for Netflix and Hallmark's channels—has made nine films since the onset of the pandemic, including four in Toronto, four in Vancouver and one in Scotland, as well as the television series "When Calls the Heart," CEO Brad Krevoy said in the webinar.
In addition to testing, arrivals in Canada also are subject to a two-week quarantine, where actors and crew have to hole up in a house or hotel, Krevoy said. While he said he would like to see Canada implement an exemption for those who can provide negative tests, the protocols do provide an extra layer of comfort once they come out of quarantine, on top of extra precautions in place, such as masks and face-shield use on sets, he said.
"The protocols in the United States are too wonky and so disorganized," Krevoy said. "The idea of shooting in the United States—I'm not there yet."
Both Krevoy and White reported success with their programs. White, for example, said of all the people being moved through the various productions, there have been only 16 positive Covid-19 tests, and all of those occurred outside of the production bubble.
While the protocols for film and television production are much more intricate than what the average travel manager will need to handle—Krevoy estimated that about 30 percent of budgets are going toward Covid-19 maintenance and safety—they share a common challenge in persuading and assuring travelers that it is safe to travel. To that end, MPCA also has been using United's Signature Service, which provides a concierge to guide travelers throughout their airport experience.
"It's almost like flying private, and it calms you down," Krevoy said. "You have to make sure the people you are asking to travel are comfortable."
BCD's McConnell said those returning to travel have had a heavy focus on communication, such as reminding travelers of itineraries and the need to bring masks—and extra masks—and information on getting through airports and staying in hotels. There also has been more work with suppliers, such as blocking off space in hotels for production bubbles and working with chauffeured transportation suppliers for driver testing, she said.
"This is not just a passing phase," McConnell said. "This will be happening for the next year."
Next Generation Esports president Jason Woo likened getting travelers back on airplanes to a trip to the dentist, meaning travel managers need to prepare to assuage the fear of the unknown. In the meantime, some major events in the esports world have started to come back, such as the recent League of Legends World Championship in Shanghai, which featured a limited live crowd using social distancing techniques.
"That shows me, as we look at the rest of the world, that slowly but surely, travel is going to be returning," Woo said. "You'll have to discuss with your team and leadership group the pros and cons to make people feel comfortable about travel."