Obama listens to travel industry gripes

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Leaders from across the travel industry met with President Barack Obama today to discuss … not a bailout. It’s no secret that luxury suffers when times are tough, and for many, any form of travel is not essential. Delta is cutting capacity, and the industry as a whole is getting ready to shed more than 200,000 jobs this year.

So, what is an industry of “frivolity” worth to our economy? A whopping $740 billion in annual spending … which fuels 7.7 million American jobs.

Travel is more important to us than we may realize. Sure, it provides some recreation and allows face-to-face business meetings. But, it also keeps the goods on grocery store shelves turning over, as each travel industry employee puts food on the table.

Unlike many corners of the economic world, this group of travel executives approached the president with a solution. They believe we need to bring more international visitors to the United States (a tough proposition with the recent turn in the U.S. dollar’s fortune) and do something to stem the downturn in meetings and events.

Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, says, “We are pleased that President Obama recognizes the power of travel to strengthen America’s economy.” He continues, “The travel community has an ally in President Obama and we appreciate the leadership he intends to bring to increasing travel to, and within, the United States.”

Of course, no exec would give up a chance to lobby the man in the Oval Office. The travel industry pushed for the passage of the Travel Promotion Act, which would yield the first U.S. marketing campaign targeted at growing the number of international visitors. Smart idea … as the average foreign visitor drops $4,000 inside our borders per visit.

Okay, it’s kind of a bailout. But, at least it comes with a plan. The executives at the meeting are listed after the jump.

  • Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
  • Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman and CEO, Loews Hotels; Chairman Emeritus, U.S. Travel Association
  • Jim Abrahamson, President, the Americas, IHG
  • Jim Atchison, President and COO, Busch Entertainment Corp.
  • Jeff Clarke, CEO and President, Travelport
  • Howard Frank, Vice Chairman and COO, Carnival Corporation & plc
  • Barney Harford, President and CEO, Orbitz Worldwide
  • W. Stephen Maritz, Chairman and CEO, Maritz Holdings Inc.
  • Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.
  • Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
  • Colin Reed, Chairman and CEO, Gaylord Entertainment
  • Frits van Paasschen, President, CEO and Director, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
  • Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act

by Brenda Yun on

Alas, a quiet bill was introduced by the House of Representatives earlier this week and could finally bring an end to a near 50-year U.S.-Cuba standstill. While everyone else in Washington has been deliberating on the stimulus package, Democratic Representative from Massachusetts, William Delahunt proposed the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act.

The proposed act hopes to end all travel restrictions for all U.S. citizens across the board. Some people still have concerns about the drastic effects this would have on travel to the still quite Communist country. In fact, the Cuban American National Foundation would like the bill to be amended to allow only Cuban exiles to visit the island whenever they wish to see family. The foundation wants to see restrictions to exist for American tourists until Cuba shows some indications of democratic reform.

President Obama has long been a proponent of alleviating the harsh ban on American travel to and from Cuba.

Regardless of the outcome, tourism in Cuba is hot compared to nearly all of the other travel destinations in the Caribbean and even in Latin America.

Absolutely breathtaking photo of the Presidential inauguration

by Scott Carmichael on

By now I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of photo and video material of the inauguration of our 44th President.

The picture you see above it probably no different from any of the other of 1000’s made that day.

There is however one big difference – it is a whopping 1,474 megapixels. For comparison – your home camera probably shoots in 7 or 8 megapixels.

Of course, a massive photo is useless without some fancy tricks to help view it, so click here to view the original, and use your mouse or keyboard to scroll around or zoom in – you’ll be able to zoom in far enough to see who in the crowds around President Obama was bored, and who was freezing their backside off in the frigid DC weather.

The photo was made by David Bergman with a regular Canon G10 camera, mounted on a Gigapan robotic mount. The final image is built around 220 different photos, and took almost 7 hours to create on his Mac.

If you are feeling creative, and want to make your own panoramic photos, you can buy your own Gigapan robotic mount for just $279.

The lunar new year and first solar eclipse on the same day

by Brenda Yun on

January 26 comes with two huge events this year: the lunar new year (or Chinese New Year, for those of you lion dance and firework lovers) and the first solar eclipse of the year!

The lunar new year of the earth ox is the second zodiac of the cycle. It is the craziest time to travel to China this time of year, and unless you have a really important reason to be in Shanghai or Beijing or you really like loud noises and smoke, it may be best to avoid these crowded meccas this week.

America’s new President, Barack Obama, happens to be born in the year of the ox, so this year will be particularly special for the States. The general outlook this year is rather grim, however, as domestic trouble is ahead of us. According to the expert astrologers at Chiff.com, “The last time the earth Ox was seen as the ruling influence was January 29, 1949 – February 15, 1950. The world suffered a recession in late 1948 and early 1949. The world economy recovered during the year of the ox due to rational decisions and careful planning. By 1951, the recession was over. Many will be searching for a quick solution to the current economic crisis, but the ox favors a well planned, consistent path that will take more time but lay a foundation for long lasting results.”

To ring in the year of the ox, you are advised to fly a kite, make lots of noise, eat, and wear red.

As for the first solar eclipse of the year, residents and visitors near the Indian Ocean are in for a treat. Explains NASA, “An annular eclipse will be visible from a wide track that traverses the Indian Ocean and western Indonesia. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much larger path of the Moon’s penumbral shadow, which includes the southern third of Africa, Madagascar, Australia except Tasmania, southeast India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.” This eclipse will transform the sun into a dark disc with a bright ring around its rim. It will also look like someone took a bite out of it.

The first total solar eclipse of the year, reports Gadling writer Kraig Becker, will not happen until July 22 across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

Monday will be quite a day and, with all of the festivities around the world, it’s not a day to stay inside.

Obama’s closure of Guantanamo already in sight

by Brenda Yun on

The Castro brothers in Cuba extended a warm welcome to Obama into the political limelight. This message was relayed through Argentina‘s President, Cristina Kirchner, who recently returned to Buenos Aires after a brief visit to Havana.

Within 24 hours, Obama has already halted proceedings involving two Guantanamo detainees and intended to close Guantanamo by the end of the year — and likely much earlier.
While most would like to see Gitmo gone as soon as possible, it appears there is a slew of red tape that could slow this process:

  • the decision must be made at the Cabinet level, and Clinton has been reluctant to conform to Obama’s views of Guantanamo in particular
  • the prisoners will be displaced and moved to several other prisons around the world, which still remains a logistical question mark
  • legal actions on all 200+ detainees must first be issued before official closure can occur

Amid the increased attention on Obama, Fidel and Raúl Castro, and Guantanamo, there still remains an awkward silent treatment among all parties. Obama has yet to open talks with Castro (or vice versa) and Gitmo prisoners are showing their displeasure through hunger strikes and complaints of harsh mistreatment.

Right now, Gitmo and relations between America and Cuba as a whole remains a “wait-and-see” endeavor, but with Obama comes a dramatic changing of the guard that could soften the strained emotions all are feeling right now.

[via the New York Times and AFP]