INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
‘Keep America Meeting’
Have business meetings that include travel become as suspect as a year-old package of peanut butter crackers? 
You’d think so, considering the way many organizations are second-guessing travel plans, but a consortium of travel industry organizations wants organizations and meeting planners to make decisions carefully. It has launched a campaign called “Keep America Meeting” to encourage them.
“Keep America Meeting” is quick to highlight the virtues of meetings. Employee education and enhanced job satisfaction are high on the list of reasons meetings benefit an organization’s bottom line. The consortium, which includes the U.S. Travel Association and a variety of trade groups, notes that meetings and events account for 15 percent of all travel spending and directly support a million jobs. More.
Passport line shortens; it’s time to grab yoursYou need one. Everyone in your office probably does, too, and now may be the ideal time to grab one. It’s that all-important document for international travel—your U.S. passport.
The State Department expects passport applications to drop by 25 percent this fiscal year, so processing time is reduced. "It's a fabulous time to apply," said Brenda Sprague, the department's assistant secretary for passport services. Tougher border rules are scheduled to take effect June 1, and that will affect millions of people who travel by car. The key change requires Americans to show a passport, a new ID called a passport card or other high-security ID to cross the Mexican and Canadian borders.
Today’s economy presents a conundrum. It seems everyone is running scared, but history says that bold businesses can emerge even healthier when the economy improves. Many seize opportunities to increase market share while their timid competitors are reducing their marketing efforts. E-commerce advocate Leah Woolford offers 10 marketing tactics for these tough times.
The cruise industry has experienced growth every year for almost two decades, and despite the current economy, it expects more of the same in 2009. The 23 members of Cruise Lines International Association served 13.2 million passengers last year and are looking for an additional 300,000 cruisers this year. That’s up almost a million fun-seeking, sun-tanning buffet patrons from 2007. Southeastern ports from Norfolk to Miami to New Orleans cheer and throw confetti every time a cruise departs.
AROUND THE SOUTHEAST U.S.
Paddlewheel hotel docks in downtown Chattanooga
The Delta Queen, the venerable steamboat Mark Twain would recognize, has a new home. It’s docked in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is about to start a new life as a boutique hotel. Tentative grand opening is April 1.
Federal regulations took her out of overnight passenger service after she had logged two million miles and transported half a million people back in time. Her new home is on Chattanooga’s North Shore, an area with numerous shops and restaurants. A short water taxi ride will take guests across the Tennessee River to an even bigger entertainment and dining area that includes the Tennessee Aquarium and the first Sticky Fingers barbeque restaurant in Tennessee. For details: visit www.DeltaQueenHotel.com
Virginia lovers get passionate about travel giveaways
How old do you think the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan is? Try 40 years. That explains the state’s "40 Years of Travel Passions Sweepstakes” that is giving away 40 free trips in 40 weeks to celebrate. The fun began Feb. 20—one trip a week through Nov. 23 To play: visit www.Virginia.org/40.
Up and down and up and down at ATL
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is America's busiest airport for the fourth year in a row, despite a decline of about one percent in total takeoffs and landings in 2008. The year’s total was 978,084. Next on the tarmac? Chicago O’Hare, which had 881,566 flight operations.
IMPORTANT STS DATES
+ Spring meeting: March 23-25, 2009; Montgomery, Ala. Registration form.
+ STS Marketing College: July 26-31, 2009; Dahlonega, Ga. Registration form.
