Walgreens, Tripadvisor Team up to Tap Surge in Travel Plans

Walgreens

There’s a surprising new entrant in the race to capitalize on the surge in summer travel bookings: Walgreens has teamed up with travel guidance platform Tripadvisor to “promote and encourage safe and responsible travel during spring break and school vacations.”

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    Walgreens will use Tripadvisor’s first-party data to enable travelers to access free drive-thru COVID-19 testing, vaccination appointments and travel essentials at Walgreens locations around the U.S.

    “To help college students and families alike prepare for their trip, Tripadvisor will be showcasing information on Walgreens’ COVID-19 testing solutions to its millions of spring travelers as a convenient option to help them feel prepared and comfortable traveling,” said Christine Maguire, VP, global media business at Tripadvisor, in the joint press release.

    Tripadvisor’s partnership with Walgreens includes a series of short-form animated videos where travelers can book free drive-thru COVID-19 testing or vaccine appointments, purchase at-home COVID-19 tests and get tips for stocking up on safety items and travel essentials.

    Tripadvisor will also promote Walgreens’ drive-thru testing locations via dynamic banners on its site, targeting travelers at various stages of their travel journey.

    “With many regions easing COVID-19 mitigation measures, people will need to evaluate their own comfort level with COVID-19 risk ahead of travel and other activities,” said Kevin Ban, chief medical officer at Walgreens.

    “When planning for upcoming travel, getting a COVID-19 test at Walgreens is especially important if you’re symptomatic, unvaccinated, plan to be in mixed company of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals or concerned about exposing a loved one who is immunocompromised,” he said.

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