Blog Entries tagged 'Tourism'

9.11.01. Katrina. Rita. Ike. Bangkok. Mumbai. You.

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:00:00 +0100

As many as 100K tourists are stranded in Thailand, unable to depart. Airline schedules around the world have been disrupted. Thailand is both a major (traditional) tourist and incentive destination and is a 'hot spot' for medical tourism - which means that people who took time off to go or those en route also may not be able to get there.

Airines cut flights into and out of Mumbai, with disruptions rippling across the world and likely to continue to [...]

What would New York City be without theatre?

JoanEisenstodt — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Each of us is concerned about how the economy is impacting us personally. I know we are - after our car was hit and declared (by insurance ) a total loss (with neither of us injured) we are buying a car that was not even remotely budgeted.

This article in today's New York Times shows the impact this economic crisis has as the dots are connected. Just follow the trail of the money or lack thereof to the banks to the backers to the producers to the actors to the stan [...]

Economic news continues to hit our industry

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

A spate of articles today in just one of the news services (bizjournals.com) I receive:

From Boston, news of cuts of personnel at tourist attractions and the CVB. And it's the state where there is a proposition (Massachusetts Question 1) on the ballot to again vote on eliminating the state income tax which will further decimate the budget.

From Birmingham, AL, news about a potential increase in rates at hotels.

Even air travel is down says this arti [...]

Travel: If the economy doesn't get you...

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

TSA will.

Not only are travel costs high and the hassles increasing, now comes word that a discussion of politics might be a concern. It's not so much what you believe (although that is a consideration), it is that others are interested in what is going on in the upcoming US election.

Politics are of great interest to me and something I talk about frequently. I will travel outside the US right after the election and will be curious, based on the outcome of the Pres [...]

Destination selection and financial hit-be very afraid

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In the meetingscollaborative.com discussion boards, we're having a good discussion about destination selection and the current state of the economy.

We know that there are air fares and added travel fees to consider. Hotel room rates and other charges seem to be stable (v. rising or decreasing.)

The bigger considerations to me are the health and safety of those who attend our meetings. Safety first.

This article in the NYTimes spells out what we [...]

"Don't go there"

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I read this provocative article in the Sunday, 31 August Washington Post and wondered how our industry was contributing to the devastation of our earth and in some ways promoting what I consider to be unhealthy tourism.

It's a thought I've had before as I've watched areas in countries like Dubai being developed for what appears to be financial gain v. any thought to ensuring environmental sustainability.

And yet ....

I watched what happened in [...]

Let the games begin!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Many who read this will watch all or part of the Olympic coverage from Beijing. As industry professionals, we will no doubt want to know more about the logistics of moving people and keeping them safe. No doubt we will analyze what we see!

We will wonder how the environment will help or hinder athletes from around the world. And we will wonder how the people of China will manage during the games and when the games end.

We will watch in anticipation - for th [...]

Will everyplace look alike?

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

This story and the accompanying photos in USAToday on line today made me so sad.

As I look around North America and then to other countries, I am saddened to see how alike they are becoming with any vestige of what once was.

I remember when Seattle, WA, tore down all the small businesses across from the Sheraton and put up a building and mall that could be in any city. It made me sad. Why both traveling when it all looks like a [...]