Good Stuff from Joan Eisenstodt

  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 any other place - or as I often refer to cities - as any other convention city - when you don't have any experiences that reflect the local culture.  

How will we, an industry that could be tremendously involved in sustaining culture, do something?  Will it be too late?

And think of the staycations that would be so much more valuable if we all lived in places rich in culture?