Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

A New Public Health Hazard

A new study, just out (as reported on Elliott.org), indicates that over half of us would board a plane, knowing we had H1N1, rather than pay the $150 airline change fee.

Doesn't this qualify any airline charging such a fee as a knowing, willing and intentional Public Health Hazard?

Just a thought...

Making Lemonade

It's no secret that the Meetings Industry has been demonized by those that want the have-nots to hate the haves. But, in the attempt to defame those that have by showcasing their lavish travel lifestyles, good destinations (and thousands of now out-of-work hospitality employees) got spattered by the same brush. Orlando, Las Vegas, Hawaii and others are now hurting more than the rest of the country because of their reputation as a great place to meet.

Tom Caradonio's crew at the Northern Kentucky CVB surely feel their peer destinations' pain. But, in desperate times, you gotta go with a message that resonates.

Thanks to my bud Meilee Anderson of Seattle Southside for the catch.

Price Fixing, Anyone?

Years ago, I was a member of a professional trade association whose veteran members would go absolutely apoplectic when rookies would inquire about how we all set our fees. They would quickly lecture the young padawan that such talk was akin to price fixing, punishable by large fines from the federal government.

Yeah, like the Justice Department is gonna come after a couple professional speakers who talk about how they price their services under certain market conditions over a beer.

Because they sure aren't coming down on the hundreds of thousand gas stations that all jacked their prices a fairly uniform 20 cents across the country earlier this week.

If that's not collusion...I'm really not sure what is.

Is Good News the Answer?

Newspapers are dying. And, while online content is the primary culprit, I can't help but think that print editors' focus on bad news has played a part.

It works like this: Newspapers print bad news. Consumers get spooked and stop buying. Business cash flow slows, resulting in less advertising in newspapers. Newspapers die from lack of advertising revenue.

As consumers, I think we've had enough bad news. What would happen if newspapers became the bearers of good news? Featuring stories of the human spirit, the success in the face of adversity? We love Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Why wouldn't we love good news in our morning paper?

In a world where good news is so rare, wouldn't the media that provides it create a rabid following?

Certainly couldn't be a worse strategy than they're pursuing now.

Just a thought...

Did Somebody Get a New Marketing Director?

Is it just me...or is there pink just about everywhere we look this month?

NFL players wearing pink cleats? Delta flight attendants trading out their killer new red uniforms for pink ones...and the airline repainting one of its jets pink? And Hard Rock International sponsoring Pinktober?

Did Breast Cancer Awareness Month get a new Chief Marketing Officer, or what?

'Cause they're everywhere...and that's very cool.

Photo Credit: Jason Getz / Atlanta Journal Constitution

Get Out! The House Gets Off its Ass.

The US House of Representatives finally got around to passing the US Travel Promotion Act yesterday by a not unsubstantial vote of 358-66. The Senate passed identical legislation earlier in September by a vote of 79-19, but procedural dynamics require an additional Senate vote, anticipated in the coming weeks.

Interestingly, they still follow some rules in Congress (who knew?). Evidently, because the legislation creates "revenue" for the federal government, the Constitution requires that the bill originate in the House...hence the need for the Senate to pass the House version of the bill.

Whatever...but isn't it interesting that somebody FINALLY recognizes that Tourism Marketing produces Tax Revenue?

Sigh...

And to paraphrase RFK: "And now it's (back over) to the Senate. And let's win there."

When Will Politicians Learn?

Every action produces a reaction.

When the President takes a swipe at fat cat junkets to Las Vegas, thousands of citizens lose jobs as meeting planners cancel events in high profile destinations in a mad scramble to appear responsible. When the Vice-President said he wouldn't get on a plane for fear of catching the flu, people start canceling travel plans, putting even more jobs at risk.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is now threatening Hyatt with a State boycott of their hotels if they don't rehire housekeepers recently let go at three Boston hotels.

Yeah...that makes sense. It's unfortunate enough that Hyatt was forced to outsource these housekeeping jobs. But, they did what they had to do to avoid losses that would put even more employees at risk. It's what business does...make the hard decision.

But doesn't Patrick realize that, if he follows through on his threat, he puts even more Hyatt employees at risk?

What am I saying? Of course he doesn't. Or, more likely, he does and doesn't care.

Who is John Galt?

UPDATE From USAE: Hyatt Hotels on Friday said all housekeepers affected by August staff reductions at the three Hyatt hotels in Boston will be offered new full-time positions in the Boston market. The jobs, provided by an affiliate of United Service Companies, will match the employees’ previous Hyatt rate of pay through the end of 2010, the company said, and the Boston Hyatt hotels will extend health care coverage through March 31, 2010...

A Virus by Any Other Name

One of Wisconsin's legislative brain trust was successful yesterday in passing a non-binding resolution (what, nothing else to do on a slow Thursday?) encouraging everybody in the Badger State to stop calling it "Swine Flu." Apparently on the notion that doing so has hurt pork sales.

My friend Tim Morrissey, whose blog The Way Things R is on my daily read, nailed it today when he wrote:

"It’s a wonder we still eat chicken, with all that talk about Chicken Pox."

'Bout snorted my juice through my nose...

Is It Time for a New Hello?

The French love their “la bise”

Those are the cheek-to-cheek pecks upon greeting someone. It’s totally ingrained in their culture. It’s who they are.

But, in the face of a feared rearing of H1N1’s ugly little head, the French government is encouraging its people to refrain from the kiss. Mon dieu!

And yet, it makes perfect sense.

Here in America...it’s the handshake. And ever since contracting a vicious case of (non-swine) flu from a toxic web developer from Mobile in 2000, I’ve wondered why, in the face of viruses such as H1N1, we don’t agree to stop this time honored practice.

I know...it’s our culture. It’s who we are.

My infection, though, came about when said web developer was late to a lunch presentation. He hurriedly shook my hand upon entering the room...and I returned to my sandwich. A few minutes into his pitch, he started barking a phlegmy hack and then apologized, saying he was just getting over the flu.

I closed my eyes and sighed as I realized I had just consumed his virus. And then got sicker than I can ever remember being, ruining a family vacation to Williamsburg. Well, at least for me.

From that point on, I’ve believed the Japanese have the perfect greeting.

One that I think the world would be good to adopt in the months ahead.

Closer. Closer.

The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 79-16 to approve the Travel Promotion Act. Finally. That's one less vote than they had on Tuesday...but, frankly, I'm too busy to check the roll call to see who weaseled out at the last minute. Feel free if you've got nothing better to do.

Now, it's on to the House, where the fear is that their agenda is too healthcare centric to give the TPA room to breathe. Thus, the same full-court press the industry exerted on the Senate will need to be employed...if not doubled.

In his message to the travel industry following yesterday's result in the Senate, USTA's Roger Dow said that the overwhelming vote was a result of "relentless support and advocacy from the travel community..."

While the level of advocacy has been, indeed, impressive...we need to all understand the "relentless" part.

Ummm...that was Roger.

Dude...you rock.