The Travel Industry News - Editorial Archives

February 15, 2001

MEETING-LESS IN SEATTLE....

Do you remember that saying...before microwaves came along...”Too many cooks spoil the broth”?

Tell me...throughout the Northwest....do we have too many travel organizations, associations, clubs, consortiums...call them what you will? Maybe so...maybe so...

Are some of these groups outliving their usefulness in these days of the World Wide Web, cell phones, conference links, web slide shows...and longer working hours.

Perhaps it is time for groups to band together for the good of all...and the saving of time...who knows, maybe time away from the intoxication of the ‘Travel Biz’ and dedicated to a hobby, music, art and your children’s (grandchildren count!) ball games.

Today people have more choices and/or demands on their time than ever before. One can’t blame anyone in particular. TV offers over 100 channels, sporting events seemingly happen every night, the Internet lure beckons and people are participating in pastimes that many, have never heard of!

Tomorrow I will be at the Seattle Travel Show to attend a joint meeting of ASTA, SWIT, PATA, CTO AND APTA...it will be interesting to see what kind of a turnout there is.

Last Tuesday SKAL gathered with SWIT (Seattle Women In Travel) at a dinner meeting. An attendee reported that it was a fun evening...“despite the two long-winded speakers”.

Could these joint meetings become a trend? Personally I think it has a lot of merit. It is difficult to justify the expense incurred when trying to arrange an interesting program when you eventually get 30 people...or less!

Fact of the matter is, the number of travel agents out there are decreasing...and, quite rightly...they guard their own time jealously.

On the other end of the spectrum, how can a travel rep or Government Tourist Office justify making a presentation when there are only a dozen travel agents, while the rest are suppliers of one kind or another.

AND THEN, just to add to your working hours, there are meetings/seminars arranged by airlines; cruise companies; tourist offices; visitor bureaus; wholesale operators; railroads; government tourist offices et al.

Is it really any wonder that many meetings are not well attended? Let’s face it...you simply can’t go to everything.

Heaven forbid that in your “real life: you also belong to: KIWANIS; ROTARY; SONS OF NORWAY, ITALY, or whatever; LIONS; CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; SALES EXECS etc...and don’t even dream of playing tennis, golf, soccer, sailing, skiing or softball etc.

Please don’t tell me you also want to go to church...or AA... with all this other ‘stuff’ going on!

When you pause (who has time to stop?) to think about the demands on your time, it’s mind-boggling, isn’t it?

Well...the fact of the matter is...people are indeed examining the use of their time, they are becoming selective...not to mention having to consider their finances...and oft times deciding a quiet evening at home, an intimate dinner out or time devoted to their families takes precedence....and that is how it should be.

The Travel Biz, along with its meetings, clubs etc, has to be fully participated in to be completely understood because it’s easy to criticize if you haven’t tried something....indeed, it reminds me of one of my favourite quotes made many moons ago by Lord Rochester ...”Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.”

NEW NEWS:

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen...United, Northwest, Delta and American all face the possibility of strikes between now and summer. Yes, all four airlines are having staff problems, Delta with its pilots, United & Northwest with their mechanics and American with its flight attendants...seems they’re treating their staff like they treated TAs...however...their staff have unions!
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Do beauty and gambling go hand in hand...so to speak?
Las Vegas published a booklet “exposing” 30 spas that await your clients midst the desert, the slots, and the entertainment. Visit www.lasvegas24hours.com *
ASTON HOTELS & Resorts operates 36 condominium resorts and hotels on the four major Hawaiian Islands. A $1.5 million renovation has just been completed at Aston Aloha Surf Hotel in Waikiki. Visit www.astonhotels.com or call 800-922-7866.
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ALASKA HERITAGE TOURS has an informative and colorful brochure available ‘Alaska-2001 Tours’. The brochure features 3 new tours for 2001.
1. Full Circle Escorted Explorer is a 10-day, nine night tour which includes Anchorage, a Kenai Fjords cruise, wildlife tour in Denali National Park, Fairbanks riverboat cruise & a cruise into Prince William Sound to view the Columbia Glacier.
2. Grand self-Drive Adventure is an 8-day-7-night package.
3. Anchorage/Fairbanks Self-Drive is a 5 day, 4 night adventure.
Visit www.AHTours.com or call 877-258-6877.
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Interested in trains? FILLMORE & WESTERN RAILWAY in California announced a new series of dinner trains to begin this month. The trains will feature TV celebrity chef Talli V Counsel. Visit www.fwry.com or call 800-773-8724 for info.
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What do you know about CONNECTICUT? Did you know...New Haven is the birthplace of the hamburger? That the FOXWOOD’S RESORT in Southeast CT is the world’s largest casino? That 90% of CT is covered by countryside including farms, pictureque villages, rivers, parks and forests? Well, it's true.
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This year 18 new ships will join the world’s growing cruise fleet...AND...an interesting fact is that unlike yesteryear...folks do not automatically sail on the ‘new’ XYZ cruise ship just because they have cruised on ships belonging to the XYZ company. In fact, although cruise companies tout their latest offering, the pax have a somewhat “deja vu” attitude...”It’s just another 80,000 ton, 2,000 passenger ship”. Look for increased marketing efforts from all cruise companies...and take advantage of it.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“The past ain’t what it used to be!”

David (YOGI) Bond

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