Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Dilemma of Housekeeping

As we all struggle to rebound from the carnage of the 'VID, travel has changed in ways that many consumers can't begin to understand unless they work in the industry.

While there was a heightened fear of having housekeepers in hotel rooms during the height of the pandemic (for all of us), hotels cut back on housekeeping...which, of course, slashed hours for hundreds of thousands of housekeepers. And, while fears of infection are lessening, most hotels are keeping with the "on demand" housekeeping strategy...which continues to sideline housekeepers as other hospitality jobs return.

The housekeepers that are back, however, are now facing rooms that take significantly longer to clean because, as one said in this article from Travel Weekly, "it's scum on scum." And, the way revenge tourists are now trashing rooms makes the job even harder for the individuals that have some of the hardest and most disgusting jobs in the sector.

All the more reason to add another buck or two to your standard housekeeper tip when when you check-out.

N'est-ce pas?

Dirty Honey

It's that restless moment in every Spring where I just want it loud and krunky...before we slide into shag, beach and Buffett  music around Memorial Day.

If there was an up and coming band that was momentarily derailed by the plague, it was Dirty Honey...the first band to have a Number One song in the States and not be signed to a major label. And then, everything stopped.

They're back on the road in Memphis tonight and Atlanta on Sunday...then off for a Summer of shows in Europe.

On this Music Friday, this is "When I'm Gone."

Crank it up!

The Yin and Yang of Vacancy

As we travel this continent, it is sadly rare when we come upon a fully occupied downtown. More often, we are confronted with vacant storefronts, laced with graffiti covered plywood protecting empty windows; a cancerous look that implies danger. And, that hurts a community in more ways than just forfeited business opportunity.

While some vacancies are the result of the economy, the Mayor of Vancouver is advancing a concept to address a specific part of the problem: taxing speculators who buy and hold property, sometimes for decades, preventing a community from putting its best face forward. Your town may well suffer from one or more of these property owners.

On one side of the coin, it's their property and they should be able to do with it what they want. On the other, their actions (or inaction) is dragging down the neighborhood around it. It's kind of like the anti-vaxers. Yeah, you have the right to say no...but do you have the right to infect others?

To be sure, taxing speculators as a means to force them to actively lease their space has some inherent flaws (most of all that those that have squatted on buildings for decades have the means to do so...and an additional tax won't dissuade them). But, it should be interesting to watch this play out...if for no other reason than to figure out what will work to put these properties in our communities back in play.

Image Credit: Robert Merkel

Not Taking Chances

Niue is a stunningly beautiful island nation in the South Pacific, known for its limestone cliffs and coral-reef dive sites. It has some of the most magnificent dark skies in the world. Migrating whales cavort in Niue's waters between July and October and the island is home to roughly 1600 inhabitants. Since the world stopped in the Spring of 2020, just 7 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded (and no deaths).

I get that it's easier to stop the transmission of a virus on an island than a continent...but Niue proudly promotes that there are no active cases, even though international travel is allowed. 99.4% of residents are vaccinated. And here's the new plan: Visitors in May and June must isolate for 7 days and then restrict movement for 3...with a gradual loosening of restrictions to a planned return to normalcy on October 10th.

And a federal court (not a scientist or medical expert) just opened America's airways to no masks...just because they could.

Say what you will...but I respect Niue's stance. And, it certainly has been effective in protecting its people (though likely harming its economy).

Of course, isolating for a week on a hammock on a beach before spending another week exploring the island isn't the worst thing I could imagine. Hell, you're never whole for the first few days because of jet lag (if you're flying from North America). And, why would you want to race back home anyway? Stay a few weeks an unwind like you should.

Hey Niue? Come October, I'm looking at you.

Masks on a Plane

Let's be clear; a judge declared that the government did not have the right to mandate masks on planes. That doesn't mean it's not advisable as cases of the variant plague begin to rise.

Big difference (as a maskless woman is hacking up a lung next to me as we wait to board).

Just sayin...

$25,000 for the Win

Destination Marketing Organizations across the land have marked National Travel & Tourism Week (traditionally the first week of May) for years. Celebratory luncheons, cook-outs, media conferences...all designed to highlight the advantages gained in our communities from a robust Visitor Economy and the role DMOs play in that ecosystem.

But, we've never seen a Tourism Week splash like what is being prepared by our friends at Visit Brookings. They're planning a $25,000 sweepstakes for workers within their hospitality industry. 

According to Visit Brookings Executive Director Laura Schoen Carbonneau: “When travel shut down in 2019, our friends who work in the hospitality industry were suddenly thrust into a world of uncertainty. First, they weren’t sure if they would have jobs. Then they worried for their own health as they served the traveling public. Now that travel is nearly back to normal, those same employees are finding themselves working incredibly long hours for little pay. This is a way to show them how much we appreciate their dedication to the tourism industry.” 

Very cool concept...and one that will be noticed.

Nicely played.

Here's To Us

OK...we start this Music Friday by cautioning that this is so NSFW.

And we also must tip a hat and offer prayers for those we have lost over the past two years.

But, as it appears we are emerging from the worst of the plague, is it time to raise a glass?

Indeed, it was two years ago this month that this shit became real (though I did note it a month earlier).

But, here we stand and "Here's To Us."

Raise a glass...because the past two years have kicked our ass. But, here's to us.

Standing tall.

Vietnam is Opening

As most cities, states and countries throw caution to the wind and open up after two years of pandemic precautions, Vietnam is being a bit more wary. The Health Ministry is proposing a negative test upon arrival and three additional days of quarantine for admission into the country. Understandably, travelers who were booked to visit Vietnam aren't pleased...but, then again, with Omicron cases spiking there (click image), who'd want to go right now?

Well, Russians, for one, as Vietnam is one of only a handful of countries that has not sanctioned them for its invasion of Ukraine. In fact the Federal Agency for Tourism of Russia is recommending citizens vacation there.

Which, of course, makes no sense. Encourage your citizens to visit a place where COVID is spiking so they can bring more of the virus back home?

Did anybody actually think this through?

The ROI of Stimulus Money

Amidst all the finger pointing regarding squandered CARES money...this is how it's done. And, yes...it was a Destination Marketing Organization that made it rain.

Visit Spokane was awarded $200,000 in CARES funds. To be fair, it was a pretty modest investment and one could expect modest returns.

But Meg Winchester and her team took that modest award and turned it into $3.8 million of hotel bookings.

It's another example of how stimulus money in the hands of a DMO has a greater impact than many of the recipients of federal funds can claim.

Just sayin...

6 Feet Away

It's been two years (you fill in the adjective).

It's been two years since I suggested (before what was to become a pandemic) that maybe we should stop shaking hands. It's been two years since we were told to stand 6 feet apart.

As mask mandates are expiring and countries are opening borders, we look back on this Music Friday to a sadly overlooked track from the Summer of 2020 by Sam Ness and Grace Gladem. Seductive, mesmerizing and enchanting, the song asks if we can fall in love from six feet away. And for many, the answer was yes.

This is "Six Feet Away," dedicated to all that did find love at arms length.