"Multi-tasking - Screwing everything up simultaneously"
~ Anonymous
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Quote of the Week
"Dick Cheney and I do not want this nation to be in a recession. We want anybody who can find work to be able to find work."
-George Bush
IS THE ECONOMY ON YOUR MIND?
CNN Money polled over 1000 members of the American public in May 2008. This poll , which was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found the following results:52% - Consider the economy "good"
47% - Call it "poor"
AND If your are anything like the the Americans sampled in this poll, than you might be concerned about the state of economy or just curious as to what that state is.
The VRMA blog understands the uncertainty of the economy and wants to help you navigate all the "geek speak", keep you up to date on changes in the economic forecast and offer news and tips regarding the the link between economy and travel and the economy and the X and Y generations. This in the hope of offering some you some sort of safeguard and even business building skills during these uncertain times....
There are 3 articles directly underneath this announcement that are all related to economy that you might want to check out! This is a new theme, which will continue until the economy has stabilized (which will hopefully be some time next week : ), but will only be a portion of information covered.
The blog will continue to provide information on the Vacation Rental Managers Association, as well as information on generations in the workplace, in the travel industry and as consumers.
If you have specific questions about any of these topics or other topics, not listed here, you are invited to ask them as they come up and the blog will do its best to find the answers you are looking for and to post them as soon as possible!
47% - Call it "poor"
AND If your are anything like the the Americans sampled in this poll, than you might be concerned about the state of economy or just curious as to what that state is.
The VRMA blog understands the uncertainty of the economy and wants to help you navigate all the "geek speak", keep you up to date on changes in the economic forecast and offer news and tips regarding the the link between economy and travel and the economy and the X and Y generations. This in the hope of offering some you some sort of safeguard and even business building skills during these uncertain times....
There are 3 articles directly underneath this announcement that are all related to economy that you might want to check out! This is a new theme, which will continue until the economy has stabilized (which will hopefully be some time next week : ), but will only be a portion of information covered.
The blog will continue to provide information on the Vacation Rental Managers Association, as well as information on generations in the workplace, in the travel industry and as consumers.
If you have specific questions about any of these topics or other topics, not listed here, you are invited to ask them as they come up and the blog will do its best to find the answers you are looking for and to post them as soon as possible!
Selling the Great ‘Not-So-Great-Economy’ Getaway: How to Attract Guests to Your Vacation Home
(This article was directed more at VRBO's, but there are some great tips for anyone who manages vacation rental properties)
RISMEDIA, May 27, 2008-If you own a vacation home that you rent to others, you may be a bit nervous about all the “doom & gloom” you keep hearing. The economy has slowed to a crawl, consumers have a death grip on their wallets, and worst of all, gas prices are through the roof. Sure doesn’t give you much hope that your rental calendar will be filling up this summer, does it? Actually, says Christine Karpinski, you may be worrying needlessly. In a strange sort of way, the economic downturn actually benefits vacation homeowners.
“In stressful times, people crave vacations more than ever,” says Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com and author of “How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment”. “We all need something to look forward to. “I own several vacation homes, and for me personally, this past year has been great,” she adds. “I made more money from them in 2007 than I made in the last five years. In fact, the only better year I’ve ever had was right after 9/11. It just makes sense that when things are bad, people plan vacations. We want to spend time with family and friends because we’re more aware of how precious our loved ones really are.”
Karpinski points out that vacation homeowners are particularly well positioned to capitalize on people’s desire to “get away from it all” on a budget. After all, it can be considerably less expensive to drive to a nearby vacation home than to hop on an airplane and fly to some big tourist attraction-even with higher gas prices. You just need to make this case to potential renters.
Chances are you already have your vacation home listed with a vacation rental marketplace website like HomeAway.com. (Even though many of your guests might be local “road trip” vacationers, it still makes good sense to advertise on sites that draw national and international traffic-just in case.) You may use other marketing methods as well. But no matter how you attract people to your beach cottage, mountain chalet, or lakeside cabin, Karpinski recommends doing everything possible to sell potential guests on the fact that your home is a fun and economical choice.
She reveals a few ways you can get this across in your advertising:
• Make the case for a short road trip rather than a long flight. Yes, it’s more expensive to fill up your tank these days. But plane tickets still cost more. And no matter how high gas prices may climb, it surely costs less (probably considerably less) to pack a family of four into a vehicle and drive a few hours than buy plane tickets for everyone to fly a longer distance. And that’s not even taking into account the hassle and inconvenience factors that come with air travel.
“Do the math for your guests,” urges Karpinski. “Refer to an online fuel calculator like AAA’s fuelcostcalculator.com, which bases its estimates on current regional gas averages. I just checked it and found that if you drive a mini-van from Chicago, Illinois, to Mackinaw City, Michigan, which is 412 miles away, you’ll spend $121.60 for the round-trip gas prices. Compare that to buying airline tickets for everyone and you can’t deny that opting for a road trip is a smarter choice, financially speaking. There’s just something about seeing the numbers in black & white that makes a trip seem more manageable.”
• Play up big cities within driving distance. Everyone knows that there’s a lot to do in, say, Orlando, FL. But if your vacation home is located somewhere quieter and less touristy like, say, the outskirts of Chattanooga, TN, people may not realize that Atlanta, GA, is only an hour and a half away. Gatlinburg and Nashville are within driving distance, too. Be sure to point all this out to potential guests.
“A good vacation is all about getting a lot of bang for your buck, particularly in a time when bucks aren’t as plentiful as they once were,” says Karpinski. “And even though your guests may not want to go all these places, they like knowing they have the option.”
• Give a “gas incentive.” Even though people can save a lot more money driving to your vacation home than they could flying to some other destination, they may still cringe at filling their tank a couple of times at $80 a pop. Rational or not, it just feels too expensive. It’s all a matter of perception, not reality. If you can make them feel you’re giving them a break at the pump, they might be more inclined to choose your home.
“Offer to subtract from your rate the amount of money it takes to drive from their home to yours,” suggests Karpinski. “Or promise them you’ll have a prepaid $50 gas card waiting for them when they arrive. These little extras may provide the psychological boost someone needs to book your place. And is offering a small price break really that big a deal in light of the $1,500 or so you’ll be pulling in? I don’t think so!”
• Point your guests toward inexpensive or quirky local attractions. Some potential guests may not want to drive to a big city for shopping, culture, and fine dining. Perhaps they’d prefer to tour the local cheese factory, hike to a nearby waterfall, go see the world’s biggest ball of twine, shop at a sleepy country store, or dine at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has delicious barbecue. That’s why it’s a good idea to list unusual nearby attractions on your website or in your other marketing materials.
“Everyone mentions the local theme park or ski resort,” notes Karpinski. “You can differentiate yourself by also listing out-of-the-ordinary spots that don’t cost a lot of money. And be sure to mention odd local events. If your home is near Key West, FL, for instance, spotlight the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, which is one of the top-ranked “tourist traps” mentioned in a recent BudgetTravel.com article. You can’t put a price on its stunning sunsets and kitschy street performers. People always like to get this kind of inside information, but in a slow economy, they really appreciate it.”
• Spell out all the benefits of staying in a vacation home-economic and otherwise. There are many reasons vacation homes are a better deal than hotel rooms. Often they just cost less, period. Even if they don’t, people can share a vacation home with friends and family members and split the rate among them. They can cook their own food rather than having to eat every meal at pricey restaurants. And of course, vacation homes often have tons of attractive amenities like hot tubs, swimming pools, and acres of private land to enjoy-perks that just aren’t the same at crowded hotels.
“Of course you’re going to list your home’s amenities,” says Karpinski. “But don’t be afraid to spell out what makes them so great. Be creative! Say ‘Prepare fresh produce purchased from the local farmer’s market-only two miles away!-in our spacious kitchen. It’s delicious and economical!’ Or ‘Spend a lovely evening under the stars, listening to the night sounds of the woods. Our crickets, owls, and whippoorwills give free concerts every evening!’”
• Allow pets. Many people hate to leave their pets behind when they go on vacation, regardless of the state of the economy. But when money is tight, even people who would normally board Fido or Fluffy might just decide not to go at all. After all, kennels and pet sitting services can cost hundreds of dollars. Offering to let renters bring their furry family members might make all the difference.
“Many vacation homeowners let guests bring pets along, and very few regret it,” observes Karpinski. “People know they’re a guest in your home, and they’re unlikely to bring a dog who isn’t housebroken or who will chew up the furniture. Plus, people who love their pets enough to want to bring them on vacation usually have pets who are accustomed to being inside-and indoor pets aren’t typically destructive.”
• Tap into your network to start a word of mouth campaign. Let fellow employees, friends, relatives, church family, and even casual acquaintances know you have a great vacation home only a short drive away. You may not feel comfortable “selling” to people you know, but you may not mind asking them to refer their friends and acquaintances. (If your coworker wants to rent your place herself, she’ll let you know.) You might even send out a link to your vacation home web page and ask people to forward it to anyone they know who might be interested.
“People often get into a vacation rut,” notes Karpinski. “It’s not that they want to go to the same place every year; it’s just that they’ve never thought about going somewhere different. When they hear second- or third-hand about your log cabin in the woods or your condo in a nearby city, they think, ‘Well, there’s an interesting idea!’ And they decide to check it out. The more people talking about your vacation home, the better.”
Of course, there is one overarching step you can take to stay booked up even in the toughest economic times: Make sure everyone who rents your vacation home has a perfect stay. Keep it comfortable and spotless. Promptly and efficiently solve any problems that crop up. And send thank-you notes to all guests after their stay. (See sidebar below.)
“People will always long to escape the stresses of daily life, to get away from it all,” says Karpinski. “A bad economy can’t change that basic human need. They may not spend money as frivolously as they once did, but they’re going to spend it on good times with their family and friends. I mean, isn’t that what makes life worth living? Help people have a great time, help them nest with the people they love, and make them feel truly welcome. They’ll always come back for more.”
Sidebar: Ten Special Little Touches That Will Keep Guests Coming Back
Christine Karpinski offers these tips:
1. Plenty of “inside information.” Chances are, you know which gas station has the cheapest gas, which farm stand has the best produce, which Thai restaurant wins raves from diners. And you probably know the best places to go for an afternoon of hiking or guided river tours. You can mention these kinds of helpful hints on the phone when people call to reserve your home, or better yet, keep a list you email to guests.
2. A ping pong table. Great for basements, garages, and screened-in porches. Ping pong tables are cheaper than their billiard counterparts ($100-$300 vs. $300+) and have fewer pieces for your guests to lose.
3. A soft-serve ice cream maker, espresso machine, or Belgian waffle maker. Guests love playing with kitchen gadgets they don’t have at home.
4. High-speed Internet. It has become a must-have for most vacation destinations; however, vacation rentals in urban settings absolutely must provide high-speed Internet to capitalize on business travelers.
5. Baby gear. It will cost you around $50 for a foldable high chair and $60-$100 for a portable crib. Look for deals at garage sales and consignment shops.
6. Great bed linens. Egyptian cotton sheets will run around $40 to $60 for a king bed-a small price to pay to make guests feel as though they’re sleeping in the lap of luxury.
7. Terrycloth bathrobes. Ask any vacationer: There’s nothing more decadent than lounging around in a cozy robe each morning while you sip coffee and listen to birdsong or a roaring ocean.
8. A DVD player and good library of movies. If your guests have kids, at some point they will want to pop in a movie. It helps the little ones unwind before bed and gives parents some welcome “adult time” free of childish chatter.
9. A selection of games. Think of this as “rainy day insurance.” If bad weather strikes, you want guests to remember the fun they had playing Monopoly, Twister, or Scrabble-not the boring hours they spent staring out the window at the downpour.
10. A small parting gift. This could be a magnet, a picture frame, a seashell. Not only will renters feel grateful for the gift, they will likely think fondly of your vacation home each time that they see it.
RISMEDIA, May 27, 2008-If you own a vacation home that you rent to others, you may be a bit nervous about all the “doom & gloom” you keep hearing. The economy has slowed to a crawl, consumers have a death grip on their wallets, and worst of all, gas prices are through the roof. Sure doesn’t give you much hope that your rental calendar will be filling up this summer, does it? Actually, says Christine Karpinski, you may be worrying needlessly. In a strange sort of way, the economic downturn actually benefits vacation homeowners.
“In stressful times, people crave vacations more than ever,” says Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com and author of “How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment”. “We all need something to look forward to. “I own several vacation homes, and for me personally, this past year has been great,” she adds. “I made more money from them in 2007 than I made in the last five years. In fact, the only better year I’ve ever had was right after 9/11. It just makes sense that when things are bad, people plan vacations. We want to spend time with family and friends because we’re more aware of how precious our loved ones really are.”
Karpinski points out that vacation homeowners are particularly well positioned to capitalize on people’s desire to “get away from it all” on a budget. After all, it can be considerably less expensive to drive to a nearby vacation home than to hop on an airplane and fly to some big tourist attraction-even with higher gas prices. You just need to make this case to potential renters.
Chances are you already have your vacation home listed with a vacation rental marketplace website like HomeAway.com. (Even though many of your guests might be local “road trip” vacationers, it still makes good sense to advertise on sites that draw national and international traffic-just in case.) You may use other marketing methods as well. But no matter how you attract people to your beach cottage, mountain chalet, or lakeside cabin, Karpinski recommends doing everything possible to sell potential guests on the fact that your home is a fun and economical choice.
She reveals a few ways you can get this across in your advertising:
• Make the case for a short road trip rather than a long flight. Yes, it’s more expensive to fill up your tank these days. But plane tickets still cost more. And no matter how high gas prices may climb, it surely costs less (probably considerably less) to pack a family of four into a vehicle and drive a few hours than buy plane tickets for everyone to fly a longer distance. And that’s not even taking into account the hassle and inconvenience factors that come with air travel.
“Do the math for your guests,” urges Karpinski. “Refer to an online fuel calculator like AAA’s fuelcostcalculator.com, which bases its estimates on current regional gas averages. I just checked it and found that if you drive a mini-van from Chicago, Illinois, to Mackinaw City, Michigan, which is 412 miles away, you’ll spend $121.60 for the round-trip gas prices. Compare that to buying airline tickets for everyone and you can’t deny that opting for a road trip is a smarter choice, financially speaking. There’s just something about seeing the numbers in black & white that makes a trip seem more manageable.”
• Play up big cities within driving distance. Everyone knows that there’s a lot to do in, say, Orlando, FL. But if your vacation home is located somewhere quieter and less touristy like, say, the outskirts of Chattanooga, TN, people may not realize that Atlanta, GA, is only an hour and a half away. Gatlinburg and Nashville are within driving distance, too. Be sure to point all this out to potential guests.
“A good vacation is all about getting a lot of bang for your buck, particularly in a time when bucks aren’t as plentiful as they once were,” says Karpinski. “And even though your guests may not want to go all these places, they like knowing they have the option.”
• Give a “gas incentive.” Even though people can save a lot more money driving to your vacation home than they could flying to some other destination, they may still cringe at filling their tank a couple of times at $80 a pop. Rational or not, it just feels too expensive. It’s all a matter of perception, not reality. If you can make them feel you’re giving them a break at the pump, they might be more inclined to choose your home.
“Offer to subtract from your rate the amount of money it takes to drive from their home to yours,” suggests Karpinski. “Or promise them you’ll have a prepaid $50 gas card waiting for them when they arrive. These little extras may provide the psychological boost someone needs to book your place. And is offering a small price break really that big a deal in light of the $1,500 or so you’ll be pulling in? I don’t think so!”
• Point your guests toward inexpensive or quirky local attractions. Some potential guests may not want to drive to a big city for shopping, culture, and fine dining. Perhaps they’d prefer to tour the local cheese factory, hike to a nearby waterfall, go see the world’s biggest ball of twine, shop at a sleepy country store, or dine at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has delicious barbecue. That’s why it’s a good idea to list unusual nearby attractions on your website or in your other marketing materials.
“Everyone mentions the local theme park or ski resort,” notes Karpinski. “You can differentiate yourself by also listing out-of-the-ordinary spots that don’t cost a lot of money. And be sure to mention odd local events. If your home is near Key West, FL, for instance, spotlight the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, which is one of the top-ranked “tourist traps” mentioned in a recent BudgetTravel.com article. You can’t put a price on its stunning sunsets and kitschy street performers. People always like to get this kind of inside information, but in a slow economy, they really appreciate it.”
• Spell out all the benefits of staying in a vacation home-economic and otherwise. There are many reasons vacation homes are a better deal than hotel rooms. Often they just cost less, period. Even if they don’t, people can share a vacation home with friends and family members and split the rate among them. They can cook their own food rather than having to eat every meal at pricey restaurants. And of course, vacation homes often have tons of attractive amenities like hot tubs, swimming pools, and acres of private land to enjoy-perks that just aren’t the same at crowded hotels.
“Of course you’re going to list your home’s amenities,” says Karpinski. “But don’t be afraid to spell out what makes them so great. Be creative! Say ‘Prepare fresh produce purchased from the local farmer’s market-only two miles away!-in our spacious kitchen. It’s delicious and economical!’ Or ‘Spend a lovely evening under the stars, listening to the night sounds of the woods. Our crickets, owls, and whippoorwills give free concerts every evening!’”
• Allow pets. Many people hate to leave their pets behind when they go on vacation, regardless of the state of the economy. But when money is tight, even people who would normally board Fido or Fluffy might just decide not to go at all. After all, kennels and pet sitting services can cost hundreds of dollars. Offering to let renters bring their furry family members might make all the difference.
“Many vacation homeowners let guests bring pets along, and very few regret it,” observes Karpinski. “People know they’re a guest in your home, and they’re unlikely to bring a dog who isn’t housebroken or who will chew up the furniture. Plus, people who love their pets enough to want to bring them on vacation usually have pets who are accustomed to being inside-and indoor pets aren’t typically destructive.”
• Tap into your network to start a word of mouth campaign. Let fellow employees, friends, relatives, church family, and even casual acquaintances know you have a great vacation home only a short drive away. You may not feel comfortable “selling” to people you know, but you may not mind asking them to refer their friends and acquaintances. (If your coworker wants to rent your place herself, she’ll let you know.) You might even send out a link to your vacation home web page and ask people to forward it to anyone they know who might be interested.
“People often get into a vacation rut,” notes Karpinski. “It’s not that they want to go to the same place every year; it’s just that they’ve never thought about going somewhere different. When they hear second- or third-hand about your log cabin in the woods or your condo in a nearby city, they think, ‘Well, there’s an interesting idea!’ And they decide to check it out. The more people talking about your vacation home, the better.”
Of course, there is one overarching step you can take to stay booked up even in the toughest economic times: Make sure everyone who rents your vacation home has a perfect stay. Keep it comfortable and spotless. Promptly and efficiently solve any problems that crop up. And send thank-you notes to all guests after their stay. (See sidebar below.)
“People will always long to escape the stresses of daily life, to get away from it all,” says Karpinski. “A bad economy can’t change that basic human need. They may not spend money as frivolously as they once did, but they’re going to spend it on good times with their family and friends. I mean, isn’t that what makes life worth living? Help people have a great time, help them nest with the people they love, and make them feel truly welcome. They’ll always come back for more.”
Sidebar: Ten Special Little Touches That Will Keep Guests Coming Back
Christine Karpinski offers these tips:
1. Plenty of “inside information.” Chances are, you know which gas station has the cheapest gas, which farm stand has the best produce, which Thai restaurant wins raves from diners. And you probably know the best places to go for an afternoon of hiking or guided river tours. You can mention these kinds of helpful hints on the phone when people call to reserve your home, or better yet, keep a list you email to guests.
2. A ping pong table. Great for basements, garages, and screened-in porches. Ping pong tables are cheaper than their billiard counterparts ($100-$300 vs. $300+) and have fewer pieces for your guests to lose.
3. A soft-serve ice cream maker, espresso machine, or Belgian waffle maker. Guests love playing with kitchen gadgets they don’t have at home.
4. High-speed Internet. It has become a must-have for most vacation destinations; however, vacation rentals in urban settings absolutely must provide high-speed Internet to capitalize on business travelers.
5. Baby gear. It will cost you around $50 for a foldable high chair and $60-$100 for a portable crib. Look for deals at garage sales and consignment shops.
6. Great bed linens. Egyptian cotton sheets will run around $40 to $60 for a king bed-a small price to pay to make guests feel as though they’re sleeping in the lap of luxury.
7. Terrycloth bathrobes. Ask any vacationer: There’s nothing more decadent than lounging around in a cozy robe each morning while you sip coffee and listen to birdsong or a roaring ocean.
8. A DVD player and good library of movies. If your guests have kids, at some point they will want to pop in a movie. It helps the little ones unwind before bed and gives parents some welcome “adult time” free of childish chatter.
9. A selection of games. Think of this as “rainy day insurance.” If bad weather strikes, you want guests to remember the fun they had playing Monopoly, Twister, or Scrabble-not the boring hours they spent staring out the window at the downpour.
10. A small parting gift. This could be a magnet, a picture frame, a seashell. Not only will renters feel grateful for the gift, they will likely think fondly of your vacation home each time that they see it.
Article: Luxury Travel Less Effected by Poor Economy
By David Sharp, Associated Press Writer
PORTLAND, Maine — High gas prices may mean fewer families will be headed to the beach or the mountains this summer, but rising prices likely won't be keeping wealthy people from missing out on vacation.
Although their stock portfolios may be in decline, wealthy Americans who are less likely to feel the impact of a slowing economy and rising energy and food prices are largely going ahead with their vacation plans even though consumer confidence is at a 16-year low.
Households earning $100,000 or more have been taking a larger share of hotel rooms since 2000 and now account for about a third of hotel stays, according to D.K. Shifflet & Associates in McLean, Va.
"If you think about the high-income folks in the U.S., the CEOs and others who make a lot of money and have been doing well over the last eight years, they can afford to do that. And they're doing it while they can," said Doug Shifflet, chairman and CEO of the travel research firm.
At a country club outside of Portland, about 150 people spent part of a recent sunny day indoors at a "Luxury Explorers' Showcase" to learn about African safaris, tours of the Amazon and Galapagos, private jet charters and even space tourism.
Organizer Pamela Hurley-Moser said not all of the attendees were loaded with money, but all had one thing in common: They had no intention of canceling travel.
"There are many people who absolutely can't afford to travel (right now). Then there's a middle range where people are going to scrimp and save in almost every other area in their life so that they can do a trip," said Hurley-Moser, owner of Hurley Travel Experts in Portland.
The tour operators that made presentations seem to be doing just fine. TCS Expeditions, which offers tours via private jets, is sold out for 2008 and nearly sold out for 2009 even though the standard price for trips like "Wildlife of the World" and "History's Lost Cities" is $64,950 per person, said Melanie Cole, vice president of sales in Seattle.
Guests who're ponying up for a one-of-a-kind experience are well aware of the economic uncertainties facing the U.S., said Martha Wharton, vice president of marketing. "They're very concerned about the economy, the political uncertainties, all of those things, but they're not changing their buying patterns because of it — yet," Wharton said.
Likewise, Conservation Corporation Africa is doing well with safaris launched from lodges it owns or operates in Africa and India.
"Certainly the economic events have affected travel. There's no doubt about that. But it has not affected the luxury sector of the market as much as the middle-of-the-road market," said James Currie, a former safari guide who now serves as CCA's public ambassador.
Michael and Hedy Cohen listened to Currie's pitch and said they hope to go on an African safari within a year. "It's not cheap. It's probably going to be $10,000 per person," Michael Cohen said.
"If you want to go, you go. That's the way I feel," said Cohen, who's from Cape Elizabeth. "I've worked all my life. I've been fortunate. We've been able to make a few bucks and we like to travel. If I want to go on a trip, then we go."
Houghton and Jennifer Carr of Yarmouth looked into luxury barge canal trips in France because the slower pace suits him better at age 78. He said he and his wife always look carefully and try to use frequent flier miles that they've accumulated.
At this point, they're not ready to give up the trip.
"Sure, if the expense skyrocketed we might have to rethink, but we're looking forward to doing it now at this stage," Houghton Carr said.
Some tour providers have noticed a change in preferences. Instead of seeking outright opulence, many travelers are now seeking vacations that educate as well as entertain. Travelers are seeking out language immersion programs and cooking schools, for example.
"They want more than tiki torches and umbrellas in their drinks," said Jennifer Reynolds, director of travel agency sales for International Expeditions. "They want substance-driven travel. They're looking at something that has some 'mind candy.'"
International Expeditions offers a seven-night Amazon cruise for $3,100, 10 days in the Galapagos for $5,000 and a 15-day tour of Egypt led by a naturalist for $6,500. So far, the Alabama-based company is holding its own, Reynolds said.
British Airways, for its part, is betting that wealthy travelers are still willing to pay for luxury. The airline's new premium affiliate, OpenSkies, began trans-Atlantic service last month with a Boeing 757 with only 82 roomy, leather-clad seats.
While it's difficult to quantify, one thing is clear: occupancy rates are higher at the top-tier hotels like Ritz Carlton than at lower-end "economy" chains, said Bobby Bowers of Smith Travel Research in Hendersonville, Tenn.
That stands to reason: Those who earn the least are the first ones to cancel their vacations in tough times, and they're more likely to stay in economy hotels.
Higher-end hotels, meanwhile, seem to be holding up better despite a drop-off in corporate travel that began when the economy started to sour.
Helping to offset the drop in business travelers is the weak value of the U.S. dollar, which has discouraged Americans from traveling abroad for their vacations while luring Europeans who see travel to the U.S. as a relative bargain, Bowers said.
"The fact is there are a ton of luxury hotels that have gone up in the past year, and they don't seem to have too much trouble filling their rooms," said Peter Frank, editor-in-chief of the travel site Concierge.com.
All of this could change if the economic slowdown isn't reversed.
"High-end is holding its own right now," Shifflet said, "but if the economy doesn't improve some, then it's going to start to see an additional slowdown."
PORTLAND, Maine — High gas prices may mean fewer families will be headed to the beach or the mountains this summer, but rising prices likely won't be keeping wealthy people from missing out on vacation.
Although their stock portfolios may be in decline, wealthy Americans who are less likely to feel the impact of a slowing economy and rising energy and food prices are largely going ahead with their vacation plans even though consumer confidence is at a 16-year low.
Households earning $100,000 or more have been taking a larger share of hotel rooms since 2000 and now account for about a third of hotel stays, according to D.K. Shifflet & Associates in McLean, Va.
"If you think about the high-income folks in the U.S., the CEOs and others who make a lot of money and have been doing well over the last eight years, they can afford to do that. And they're doing it while they can," said Doug Shifflet, chairman and CEO of the travel research firm.
At a country club outside of Portland, about 150 people spent part of a recent sunny day indoors at a "Luxury Explorers' Showcase" to learn about African safaris, tours of the Amazon and Galapagos, private jet charters and even space tourism.
Organizer Pamela Hurley-Moser said not all of the attendees were loaded with money, but all had one thing in common: They had no intention of canceling travel.
"There are many people who absolutely can't afford to travel (right now). Then there's a middle range where people are going to scrimp and save in almost every other area in their life so that they can do a trip," said Hurley-Moser, owner of Hurley Travel Experts in Portland.
The tour operators that made presentations seem to be doing just fine. TCS Expeditions, which offers tours via private jets, is sold out for 2008 and nearly sold out for 2009 even though the standard price for trips like "Wildlife of the World" and "History's Lost Cities" is $64,950 per person, said Melanie Cole, vice president of sales in Seattle.
Guests who're ponying up for a one-of-a-kind experience are well aware of the economic uncertainties facing the U.S., said Martha Wharton, vice president of marketing. "They're very concerned about the economy, the political uncertainties, all of those things, but they're not changing their buying patterns because of it — yet," Wharton said.
Likewise, Conservation Corporation Africa is doing well with safaris launched from lodges it owns or operates in Africa and India.
"Certainly the economic events have affected travel. There's no doubt about that. But it has not affected the luxury sector of the market as much as the middle-of-the-road market," said James Currie, a former safari guide who now serves as CCA's public ambassador.
Michael and Hedy Cohen listened to Currie's pitch and said they hope to go on an African safari within a year. "It's not cheap. It's probably going to be $10,000 per person," Michael Cohen said.
"If you want to go, you go. That's the way I feel," said Cohen, who's from Cape Elizabeth. "I've worked all my life. I've been fortunate. We've been able to make a few bucks and we like to travel. If I want to go on a trip, then we go."
Houghton and Jennifer Carr of Yarmouth looked into luxury barge canal trips in France because the slower pace suits him better at age 78. He said he and his wife always look carefully and try to use frequent flier miles that they've accumulated.
At this point, they're not ready to give up the trip.
"Sure, if the expense skyrocketed we might have to rethink, but we're looking forward to doing it now at this stage," Houghton Carr said.
Some tour providers have noticed a change in preferences. Instead of seeking outright opulence, many travelers are now seeking vacations that educate as well as entertain. Travelers are seeking out language immersion programs and cooking schools, for example.
"They want more than tiki torches and umbrellas in their drinks," said Jennifer Reynolds, director of travel agency sales for International Expeditions. "They want substance-driven travel. They're looking at something that has some 'mind candy.'"
International Expeditions offers a seven-night Amazon cruise for $3,100, 10 days in the Galapagos for $5,000 and a 15-day tour of Egypt led by a naturalist for $6,500. So far, the Alabama-based company is holding its own, Reynolds said.
British Airways, for its part, is betting that wealthy travelers are still willing to pay for luxury. The airline's new premium affiliate, OpenSkies, began trans-Atlantic service last month with a Boeing 757 with only 82 roomy, leather-clad seats.
While it's difficult to quantify, one thing is clear: occupancy rates are higher at the top-tier hotels like Ritz Carlton than at lower-end "economy" chains, said Bobby Bowers of Smith Travel Research in Hendersonville, Tenn.
That stands to reason: Those who earn the least are the first ones to cancel their vacations in tough times, and they're more likely to stay in economy hotels.
Higher-end hotels, meanwhile, seem to be holding up better despite a drop-off in corporate travel that began when the economy started to sour.
Helping to offset the drop in business travelers is the weak value of the U.S. dollar, which has discouraged Americans from traveling abroad for their vacations while luring Europeans who see travel to the U.S. as a relative bargain, Bowers said.
"The fact is there are a ton of luxury hotels that have gone up in the past year, and they don't seem to have too much trouble filling their rooms," said Peter Frank, editor-in-chief of the travel site Concierge.com.
All of this could change if the economic slowdown isn't reversed.
"High-end is holding its own right now," Shifflet said, "but if the economy doesn't improve some, then it's going to start to see an additional slowdown."
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Article: Soft Economy Hurts Travel Industry
By Brett Zongker • The Associated Press • July 17, 2008
WASHINGTON – It seemed like a can’t-miss tourist attraction that would pull in visitors to the nation’s capital: a new Madame Tussauds wax museum.
But since opening last fall, the attraction featuring likenesses of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – among many others – hasn’t been a big enough draw.
• Special section: The cost of living
Crowds dwindled after the opening, and Madame Tussauds is cutting prices. Adult tickets, previously selling for $21.15, have been lowered by more than $3, and local residents will be offered even better deals.
In a soft economy, Madame Tussauds and other businesses in the tourism industry are starting to feel the pinch of high gas prices and dwindling home values.
Big cities such as New York and Washington may attract more foreign visitors, thanks to the weak dollar, but ticket sales can be erratic, and Americans are thinking about fewer, shorter, less-expensive trips.
“We’re really in kind of tenuous territory,” said Suzanne Cook, research vice president at the Travel Industry Association.
A recent Rand McNally survey says two-thirds of Americans planning road trips this summer are either altering their plans to shorten their trips or canceling altogether.
AAA said the number of Americans driving more than 50 miles over Memorial Day weekend fell 1 percent this year. Air travel has declined slightly as well, AAA said.
In the casino capital of Las Vegas, things already are tough.
Room occupancy rates have fallen slightly, forcing casinos to lower hotel room prices.
Gambling giant MGM Mirage Inc. and local casino operator Station Casinos have cut their work forces.
Las Vegas Sands, which opened a massive new casino on the Strip in January, unexpectedly swung to a loss of $11.2 million in the first quarter of the year.
The skittishness among American tourists is also rippling overseas.
The number of Americans in Britain declined slightly last year, according to the government-funded Visit Britain, and those who have come to the country have spent less money.
A Continental Airlines cabin crew from Ohio, peering through the gates at Buckingham Palace recently on a 24-hour layover in London captured the mood. Amy Nalepa said their flight from Cleveland was quite empty.
“Who can afford this?” she said. “I changed 50 bucks and got 22 pounds. And that got me lunch.”France is seeing a similar trend. About 12 percent fewer Americans have visited the country since January versus the same period in 2007, said Christine de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, a top official at the Paris Office of Tourism and Trade.“In 2008 we are being very cautious and attentive, because at any time the impact can take effect,” Saint-Cyr said.
WASHINGTON – It seemed like a can’t-miss tourist attraction that would pull in visitors to the nation’s capital: a new Madame Tussauds wax museum.
But since opening last fall, the attraction featuring likenesses of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – among many others – hasn’t been a big enough draw.
• Special section: The cost of living
Crowds dwindled after the opening, and Madame Tussauds is cutting prices. Adult tickets, previously selling for $21.15, have been lowered by more than $3, and local residents will be offered even better deals.
In a soft economy, Madame Tussauds and other businesses in the tourism industry are starting to feel the pinch of high gas prices and dwindling home values.
Big cities such as New York and Washington may attract more foreign visitors, thanks to the weak dollar, but ticket sales can be erratic, and Americans are thinking about fewer, shorter, less-expensive trips.
“We’re really in kind of tenuous territory,” said Suzanne Cook, research vice president at the Travel Industry Association.
A recent Rand McNally survey says two-thirds of Americans planning road trips this summer are either altering their plans to shorten their trips or canceling altogether.
AAA said the number of Americans driving more than 50 miles over Memorial Day weekend fell 1 percent this year. Air travel has declined slightly as well, AAA said.
In the casino capital of Las Vegas, things already are tough.
Room occupancy rates have fallen slightly, forcing casinos to lower hotel room prices.
Gambling giant MGM Mirage Inc. and local casino operator Station Casinos have cut their work forces.
Las Vegas Sands, which opened a massive new casino on the Strip in January, unexpectedly swung to a loss of $11.2 million in the first quarter of the year.
The skittishness among American tourists is also rippling overseas.
The number of Americans in Britain declined slightly last year, according to the government-funded Visit Britain, and those who have come to the country have spent less money.
A Continental Airlines cabin crew from Ohio, peering through the gates at Buckingham Palace recently on a 24-hour layover in London captured the mood. Amy Nalepa said their flight from Cleveland was quite empty.
“Who can afford this?” she said. “I changed 50 bucks and got 22 pounds. And that got me lunch.”France is seeing a similar trend. About 12 percent fewer Americans have visited the country since January versus the same period in 2007, said Christine de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, a top official at the Paris Office of Tourism and Trade.“In 2008 we are being very cautious and attentive, because at any time the impact can take effect,” Saint-Cyr said.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Quote of the Week
"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there."
- Charles Kettering
From the Millenial Marketing Blog: Gen Y are Harry Potter and Boomers are Professor Snipe...
Written by: Carol Phillips
Millennials vs. Boomers: Hogwarts as Metaphor?
I highly recommend Millennial Makeover by Winograd and Hais (Rutgers Press, 2008). While the focus is political, there is plenty of useful data for marketers, much of it from familiar sources like Pew (see previous blog post). My reason for recommending it, however, is their use of the data to address the question, 'Are Millennials just younger versions of previous generations or are they really different'? The arguments they put forth are compelling. According to the authors
"... media moguls, authors and even politicians make the fundamental error of thinking that today's young people think and act just like they did when they were young. Nothing could be further from the truth." They ask us to think of Millennials as a generational cohort made up solely of Harry Potter and his plucky friends, and to contrast them with the adults at Hogwarts, the scowling, often clueless faculty and ministry of magic administrators. While Harry and his team (key word) work hard to save the world, applying special ingenuity and talents, the grown ups they must contend with are "individualistic, judgmental egotists who talk more than they act."
Millennial professionals who participated in two online focus groups, to our surprise, expressed a similar view of Boomers. When asked who they prefer to work with, all said they preferred to work with other Millennials (no surprise there), and they MUCH prefer to work for Gen X'ers over Boomers. This was indeed a big surprise to us, after all that has been written about the supposed natural affinity between Millennials and Boomers. Boomers are considered to be like their parents, pretty old fashioned and out of touch. One young brand manager at Unilever even shared with us that there is a 'reverse mentoring' program in place at his company, where Millennials share their technology wizardry insights with older, less adept Boomers. In contrast, they feel as if they have more to learn from Gen X'ers and that X'ers are more willing to take the time to teach them what they need to know.
Millennials vs. Boomers: Hogwarts as Metaphor?
I highly recommend Millennial Makeover by Winograd and Hais (Rutgers Press, 2008). While the focus is political, there is plenty of useful data for marketers, much of it from familiar sources like Pew (see previous blog post). My reason for recommending it, however, is their use of the data to address the question, 'Are Millennials just younger versions of previous generations or are they really different'? The arguments they put forth are compelling. According to the authors
"... media moguls, authors and even politicians make the fundamental error of thinking that today's young people think and act just like they did when they were young. Nothing could be further from the truth." They ask us to think of Millennials as a generational cohort made up solely of Harry Potter and his plucky friends, and to contrast them with the adults at Hogwarts, the scowling, often clueless faculty and ministry of magic administrators. While Harry and his team (key word) work hard to save the world, applying special ingenuity and talents, the grown ups they must contend with are "individualistic, judgmental egotists who talk more than they act."
Millennial professionals who participated in two online focus groups, to our surprise, expressed a similar view of Boomers. When asked who they prefer to work with, all said they preferred to work with other Millennials (no surprise there), and they MUCH prefer to work for Gen X'ers over Boomers. This was indeed a big surprise to us, after all that has been written about the supposed natural affinity between Millennials and Boomers. Boomers are considered to be like their parents, pretty old fashioned and out of touch. One young brand manager at Unilever even shared with us that there is a 'reverse mentoring' program in place at his company, where Millennials share their technology wizardry insights with older, less adept Boomers. In contrast, they feel as if they have more to learn from Gen X'ers and that X'ers are more willing to take the time to teach them what they need to know.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Quote of the Week
I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.
- Ralph Nader
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A CONFERENCE?
It's that time of year again, when VRMA is in the throes of conference planning so that the 2008 Annual Conference is the best one yet!
Rachel at VRMA just came across an article written during the Millenium (year 2000) from a newsletter called Associations Now called: Engaging the New Meeting Goer by Christy Kessler.
This article makes some assumptions about the types of meetings/ conferences that Future Leaders would like to participate in, which this post will lay out for you. Based on this, the blog invites you to comment on the accuracy and relevancy of these assumptions or there lack thereof and discuss what your personal preferences are related to this subject.
1. Your "... tending to expect to find plenty of high-tech enhancements to help ease their way through your events." Because, "Younger meeting goers expect technology to be available everywhere".
2. Slides and black-and-white overheads can put an audience to sleep. You would prefer "...computer-driven presentations such as animated video and colorful graphics".
3. You would like to be provided with routine conference information that can be accessed easily before a meeting such as e-mail addresses or staff and presenters so you can ask questions in advance.
What are your ideas on these main ideas discussed in the article? Is there anything that would make the conference more helpful, informative, fun and/or memorable for you? VRMA cannot promise to accommodate all of your ideas, but you can be guaranteed that VRMA will at the very least listen to them.
Thank you.
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