Suzanne Mason

Suzanne Mason is the travel and hospitality editor for MultiBriefs. The 2004 winner of the White House Correspondent scholarship, Suzanne has more than 10 years of journalism experience. She earned her bachelor's degree in English with a focus in journalism from Old Dominion University.

Articles by Suzanne Mason

• Can Instagram work for B2B marketers?

  Friday, February 07, 2020

  Author and digital marketing pioneer Seth Godin once said, “Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make, but the stories you tell.” As we start a new year and a new decade, B2B marketing continues its ongoing evolution thanks to an ever-evolving customer base.

• Despite challenges, pot tourism is growing

  Tuesday, January 16, 2018

  It has been five years since Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana. Not only has the decision led to a multibillion-dollar industry for the Centennial State, but it has also served as an example when it comes to pot tourism — establishing pot tours and even accommodations that cater to pot tourists.

• National park fee increase: A much-needed fix or a burden for visitors?

  Monday, October 30, 2017

  Visiting a national park during peak season may soon cost more than double the current price at some of the most popular national parks across the country under a new Department of Interior proposal.

• US tourism slumping as Trump issues new travel ban

  Monday, October 02, 2017

  U.S. tourism is officially in a slump. After months of reassurances that the travel industry was as strong as ever, data shows that travel to the U.S. is in fact down. The U.S. Department of Commerce recently showed that international travel to the U.S. ​dropped 4.2 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016.

• Pressure from business leaders kills Texas ‘bathroom bill’

  Friday, August 18, 2017

  The so-called "bathroom bill" in Texas has finally met its end — at least for now. The bill died quietly Aug. 15, after the House adjourned its special 30-day legislative session. This was in part thanks to the pressure that big business put on lawmakers in opposition to the bill.

• Business leaders: ‘Bathroom bill’ will damage Texas economy

  Monday, August 07, 2017

  ​Texas is the latest state trying to enforce a so-called "bathroom bill" that, like North Carolina, could have a damaging effect on tourism and businesses across the Lone Star state. The Texas Senate ​passed Senate Bill 3 on July 25 on a 21-10 vote, but the bill has stalled in the House as the legislative deadline approaches.

• Travel industry continues to boost image of a welcoming US

  Friday, June 16, 2017

  ​As members of the travel industry descended upon Washington, D.C., last week for the 49th Annual IPW conference, strong language continued to emphasize that despite political rhetoric, the United States remains open for business.

• Tourism industry continues to fight for LGBT rights

  Monday, June 12, 2017

  With Pride Month underway, LGBT rights continue to be threatened across the country. So-called "bathroom bills" targeting the transgender community's right to use the bathroom in which they identify remains an ongoing battle in many state legislatures. Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO William Pate touched upon the bathroom bill and how tourism bureaus and other travel entities can fight against these bills at the 3rd Annual Symposium on LGBT Tourism & Hospitality during LGBT Week last month in New York City.

• Despite Trump’s talk, ‘Brand USA is here to stay’

  Monday, June 05, 2017

  "You can print this: Brand USA is here to stay. It's as simple as that," Roger Dow said. Dow, the president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, delivered the opening remarks of the Brand USA news conference at the U.S. Travel Association's International Pow Wow (IPW) Conference being held this week at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

• Surveys or social media? Airlines get conflicting reviews

  Wednesday, May 17, 2017

  ​J.D. Power recently released their 2017 North American Airline Satisfaction study, which shows that airlines are doing a better job when it comes to passenger satisfaction. But recent news headlines say otherwise.

• New visa policies in US, Europe may hurt summer travel

  Monday, May 01, 2017

  With the unofficial start of summer travel about a month away, attention continues to shine upon the travel industry as both the U.S. and European Union focus legislation aimed at their respective travel visa policies. At a recent appearance at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said the rules for allowing Europeans to travel to the U.S. without a visa should be examined because of the threat of terrorism.

• Trump travel ban saga hurts US tourism

  Monday, April 03, 2017

  The U.S. Travel Association refers to the years 2000-2009 as the "The Lost Decade" of international travel. During those years, the U.S. missed out on approximately 68.3 million visitors and $606 billion. Fast forward to 2016, and those numbers have finally bounced back, with U.S. travel exports growing to 11.2 percent — the highest increase since the fallout from Sept. 11.

• How can researchers solve the issue of reproducibility?

  Tuesday, February 21, 2017

  At SLAS 2017, the annual international conference and exhibition from the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, the topic of reproducibility was center stage. Led by moderator Richard Harris, an NPR science correspondent, panelists in a special session discussed the challenges and solutions that both industry and academia have when it comes to reproducibility.

• Women recognized for big impact on science, research

  Thursday, February 09, 2017

  The theme of SLAS2017, the annual international conference and exhibition from the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, was "Research: The Possibilities." And that theme of looking forward to the future remained strong during the closing remarks Wednesday.

• Roadblocks remain in visualization technology

  Tuesday, February 07, 2017

  Technology in the lab has come a long way and brought many amazing advances for scientists and researchers, but it still has its issues — or roadblocks as Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz calls them. Professionals dedicated to life sciences discovery and technology from around the world gathered Monday at SLAS2017, the annual international conference and exhibition from the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

• States have 1 year to get ‘real’ with ID security

  Wednesday, January 18, 2017

  ​In the last month, travelers may have noticed a new sign at airports across the country regarding new ID requirements going into effect next year. Beginning Jan. 22, 2018, TSA will begin strict enforcement of Real ID requirements when it comes to domestic air travel.

• You won’t believe this shocking news about Facebook

  Monday, November 14, 2016

  You're in line at the grocery store and you see the headline "Bigfoot Found!" plastered on the cover of the National Enquirer. You may even pick it up and read it while you're in line. Headlines like those found in tabloid magazines could be considered the earliest example of "clickbait" as we know it — words that grab the reader's attention, but have little substance or misleading information.

• China’s influence grows in US hospitality sector

  Friday, October 28, 2016

  The goal of the 2016 U.S.-China Tourism Year is to promote travel and tourism between the two countries. While the target of 100 million visitors by 2021 is in sight, the Chinese have begun to assimilate themselves further into the hospitality sector via key business transactions in recent months.

• Black history attractions are gaining popularity across the US

  Wednesday, October 12, 2016

  More than 30,000 people visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) during its opening weekend in September. Tickets to the museum are sold out for the remainder of the year, and a new batch of recently released tickets are nearly sold out for the first three months of 2017.

• Brands adjust as millennials make their mark on business travel

  Monday, September 19, 2016

  According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), business travel spending topped $1.2 trillion worldwide in 2015. "Business travel has demonstrated a tremendous resiliency as it continues slow and steady progress even in the face of global uncertainty, a weakened global economy, terrorist attacks, world health issues and other obstacles," said Michael McCormick, executive director and chief operating officer of GBTA.

• National Park Service’s 100th birthday is also a celebration of travel

  Wednesday, September 07, 2016

  On the eve of the National Park Service's 100th birthday, President Barack Obama designated the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument in Maine as a national park. "The parks belong to all of us. This planet belongs to all of us," Obama said June 20. "We have to have the foresight and the faith in the future to do what it takes to protect our parks and to protect this planet for generations to come."

• Virtual reality is making big waves in the travel industry

  Friday, August 19, 2016

  Without leaving my home in Maryland, I am whisked away to go whitewater rafting in Idaho. Seeing the water crash into the boat, I feel like I am almost there to experience this adrenaline adventure in real time. I can experience this thanks to a series of 360-degree videos curated by Visit Idaho that allows consumers to experience the Gem State without leaving their homes. Virtual reality (VR) is now giving markets the opportunity to share travel experiences, giving consumers a new level of exploration when it comes to planning a vacation.

• Pokémon Go is getting gamers on the move

  Tuesday, July 12, 2016

  ​Walking down Dulany Street in Alexandria, Virginia, the plaza where I usually see people sitting and having lunch has transformed into a Pokémon Gym, where people battle their Pokémon against other users. I was told the ownership of the gym changed a few times before lunch Monday.

• CDC: Nasal flu vaccine offers little protection

  Thursday, June 23, 2016

  With recommendations that everyone should be vaccinated against the flu every year, new changes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may hinder some from following the advice of doctors. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) just voted down the use of the nasal spray flu vaccine for the upcoming 2016-17 flu season after a study showed the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) had a low effectiveness rate from 2013-2016.

• Pinterest makes changes to help marketers, advertisers

  Thursday, June 23, 2016

  ​For those looking for recipe, DIY, wedding or other visual ideas, the first social media platform that comes to mind is Pinterest. With its 176 million registered visitors and more than 100 million monthly users, Pinterest is the third biggest social media platform, behind giants Facebook and Twitter.

• Metro repair work disrupts DC tourist season

  Wednesday, June 15, 2016

  Summer tourism is in full swing here in Washington, D.C. As tourists flock to visit the various historic monuments, museums and other various landmarks, they may face obstacles getting around the nation's capital as the public transit system — Metro — begins a yearlong repair, maintenance and track work.

• LGBT travel evolving with hospitality industry

  Monday, May 23, 2016

  Did you know 45 percent of consumers under the age of 34 will do repeat business with LGBT-friendly companies? That is only a snippet of insight about the ongoing evolution of LGBT marketing that travel professionals received during the second-annual LGBT Tourism & Hospitality Symposium. The event was held in collaboration with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and was a part of the program of events during LGBT Week NYC.

• Tourism suffers as North Carolina remains defiant with bathroom law

  Monday, May 09, 2016

  The U.S. Justice Department had given North Carolina until Monday to repeal or stop enforcement of the state's controversial bathroom law — HB2 — which federal officials say violates the Civil Rights Act and Title IX. In response, North Carolina announced Monday morning that it has filed a lawsuit against the federal government.

• Will adding women to bills help put more money in their pockets?

  Monday, April 25, 2016

  The Treasury Department recently announced that abolitionist Harriet Tubman will soon replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill — and that's not the only change. Opera singer Marian Anderson will appear on the back of the $5 bill and women suffragists Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul will appear on the back of the $10 bill.

• NFL targets cord-cutters with new Twitter deal

  Friday, April 08, 2016

  ​The NFL has missed tackles from media players such as Verizon and Amazon to throw a touchdown pass to Twitter — allowing the social media company to stream 10 Thursday Night Football games this upcoming season.

• As doors open in Cuba, travel companies quickly step in

  Monday, March 28, 2016

  ​As travel restrictions ease in Cuba, businesses in the travel industry are now beginning to set up shop in the Caribbean country for the first time in more than 50 years. The evidence was clear with the CEOs from Airbnb, Marriott International and Carnival Corp. joining President Barack Obama for ​his visit to Cuba last week.

• Google ups the ante in mobile travel booking

  Tuesday, March 15, 2016

  Want to plan a vacation in one setting? Try Google. The tech company recently launched a new travel tool to help plan and book a vacation, evolving the influence of mobile technology in travel even further. Destinations on Google allows consumers to look up destinations, plan a trip based on a specific activity you want to do, compare pricing options for both flights and hotels, see pricing trends during various combinations of dates and budget plans, and ultimately book your travel. Similar to what you can do on other travel sites such as TripAdvisor, Priceline and Kayak, Destinations on Google is specifically tailored to mobile.

• Colorado’s travel industry still hesitant to embrace marijuana

  Tuesday, March 01, 2016

  Marijuana is no longer a budding industry in Colorado. It has blossomed into a $1 billion industry for the state. While it has received praise for helping to build the state's economy, the marijuana industry still remains under scrutiny when it comes to travel and hospitality.

• The rapid growth of online video marketing

  Wednesday, February 17, 2016

  ​With the help of digital marketing, businesses have been able to expand outreach to consumers in ways that were once unattainable. Video marketing, gaining quick popularity with both businesses and consumers is now taking digital marketing to an entirely new level in 2016.

• Travel industry begins to feel effects of Zika virus

  Monday, February 01, 2016

  International tourism in 2015 grew by 50 million travelers, putting the total number at 1.18 billion visitors who had traveled outside of their country. Those numbers may be threatened in 2016 by the Zika virus. As warnings increase for the mosquito-borne virus, the travel industry is beginning to feel the impact.

• More travel between US, China boosts tourism industry

  Friday, January 22, 2016

  When the visa expansion between the U.S. and China was first introduced in 2014, it was described as a simple decision that would "reap tremendous benefits to the country." Fast forward two years, and those benefits may be implemented more than ever by the designation of 2016 as the "U.S.-China Tourism Year."

• Hotels are changing their attitudes toward Wi‑Fi for guests

  Monday, November 09, 2015

  What was once a luxury hotel amenity, Wi-Fi has become a necessity for guests when booking a hotel. Wi-Fi is in such high demand these days that hotels are not only scrambling to make accommodation for it in their hotels, but are also getting into trouble for it.

• Breakfast battle: Restaurants fighting over first-meal dominance

  Monday, October 12, 2015

  At some point in your life, you've heard the saying that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Restaurants are now taking heed to the adage and are expanding their business to cater to the first meal of the day.

• Learn about millennials before they take over the travel industry

  Friday, September 18, 2015

  While baby boomers have created the idea of travel being a necessity rather than a luxury, millennials have taken that idea and evolved it with the help of technology. Quite simply, the younger generation is changing the landscape of travel.

• Travel companies racing to establish foothold in Cuba

  Thursday, August 20, 2015

  On Aug. 14, the American flag was hoisted above the U.S. embassy in Cuba, signaling the re-establishment of diplomacy between the two countries. As relations begin to ease, U.S. travel to Cuba has become a hot commodity.

• Why the hashtag craze might be dying out

  Thursday, August 06, 2015

  A symbol that was once associated with telephones — the pound sign — has morphed into the hashtag, used as an integrated piece of the puzzle in social media marketing. However, a new report suggests that the tool could have run its course for advertisers. In a report by Twitter, zeroing in on direct-response ads, it was found that ads including hashtags or "at" mention of others' accounts didn't perform up to par.

• What’s the driving force behind fitness technology? Millennials

  Thursday, July 16, 2015

  Many millennials are turning to apps and wearable technology to stay fit. According to a survey by Goldman Sachs, about 25 percent of millennials consider eating right and exercising an important part in maintaining their health, compared to less than 15 percent of Generation X and baby boomers.

• Pot tourism is a budding industry in Colorado, Washington

  Thursday, June 11, 2015

  Marijuana tourism is not a mainstream outlet for tourism nationwide — at least not yet. Where it has been incorporated, it has turned into a lucrative business. Colorado and Washington became the first two states in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana, and now they're reaping the benefits. In Colorado, sales in legal marijuana hit $700 million last year — $313 million of which came from recreation purposes.

• As cord-cutting spreads, streaming goes mainstream

  Wednesday, May 27, 2015

  Streaming video services are continuing to give cable providers a run for their money. The recent announcement of Spotify moving into the realm of streaming video adds another name to a long list of rivals that cable TV providers are competing with for customers. On May 20, Spotify officials announced they had created partnerships with networks such as ABC, Comedy Central and Vice News to provide podcasts, video clips and news to their 60 million subscribers.

• Strong dollar may hurt US tourism this year

  Friday, May 15, 2015

  The rise of the U.S. dollar has more American travelers are looking abroad for their summer destinations. At the same time, the euro is experiencing a nine-year low, which has many airfares to European destinations seeing a drop in prices. As a result, more Americans are looking to Europe for their summer getaways.

• Have restaurants reached a ‘tipping’ point with minimum wage?

  Thursday, April 30, 2015

  ​With minimum wage increasing across the country, restaurants are steadily looking at their business models to see how they can meet the requirements from state governments while keeping their business intact. One idea is doing away with tips for servers altogether.

• Airbnb, Uber causing a seismic shift in business travel

  Monday, April 13, 2015

  From paper maps to electronic GPS, from phone reservations to mobile apps, travel has evolved in more ways than one. The biggest change in recent years has been the rapid rise of the sharing economy and how it is changing the way we travel for business.

• Instagram gains serious attention from marketers, advertisers

  Wednesday, April 01, 2015

  In December, Instagram announced that the number of users on their platform surpassed 300 million. That is a 50 percent increase from the 200 million users nine months prior. Considered one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, Instagram has now surpassed the 288 million users of Twitter and has gained the attention of marketers as a serious competitor to help grow their business through visual marketing.

• Hotels expanding use of wearable, mobile pay technology

  Tuesday, March 17, 2015

  ​The adoption of mobile and wearable technology continues to grow within the travel industry. Forrester Research reported that mobile payments are expected to expand from $52 billion in 2014 to $142 billion by 2019 — and that's just in the U.S.

• Facebook aims to be a force for good with suicide prevention tool

  Wednesday, March 04, 2015

  ​There is no denying that Facebook has become an integrated part of our interactions with social media. We use it to share both the good and the bad of our personal lives. From time to time, the bad can overshadow the good, and these negative thoughts and feelings can spill over into social media posts as a cry for help. Recently, Facebook announced it would be providing a new tool to provide important resources to users if they see an alarming post from a Facebook friend.

• Will we take our Facebook addictions to the grave?

  Tuesday, February 24, 2015

  ​It's hard to escape social media in the 21st century. In fact, it has become such a part of our lives that now we need to worry about what happens after we're gone. Facebook recently announced it was adding a new feature that would allow users to choose a legacy contact who would manage their account after their death. Is this a tell-tale sign of our addiction to Facebook?

• Music streaming services continue to emerge as album sales slump

  Wednesday, February 04, 2015

  Streaming music was a huge component of the music industry in 2014. While album sales saw an 11.2 percent decline, streaming music saw a 32 percent increase from the previous year. The ongoing dominance is now getting the attention of musicians who are seeing another way of getting their songs to play.

• Policy changes have US tourism industry poised for a huge 2015

  Thursday, January 22, 2015

  ​The U.S. travel industry appeared to be on the back burner for policymakers in the past year. But that has all changed recently. During Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Barack Obama advocated for Congress to lift the long-standing embargo with Cuba. Recent visa changes with China and the reauthorization of Brand USA have made headlines, bringing attention to those who want to travel abroad.

• Top 5 factors in the evolution of hotel dining

  Monday, December 01, 2014

  ​According to the National Restaurant Association, dining venues capture 47 percent of food purchases, a number that has doubled since 1955. Of that $683.4 billion, lodging dining options account for only $34.8 billion in total dining dollars. But hotel and lodging destinations are adapting quickly to gain a bigger piece of the pie.

• From mobile payments to tableside tablets, restaurants embrace tech

  Wednesday, November 05, 2014

  A new survey released by the National Restaurant Association proves that the usage of technology is increasing within the restaurant industry. One result showed that more than one-third of consumers were more likely to use technology-related options in restaurants than they were just two years ago.

• Ebola outbreak beginning to affect travel industry

  Monday, October 13, 2014

  In the past seven months, 4,033 people have died from Ebola, including one patient in the United States. A second patient in America was recently diagnosed with Ebola, and the case was confirmed Sunday. This has sent a wave of worry within the $2 trillion travel industry as they gear up for their busiest time of the year — the holiday season. How exactly is Ebola affecting the industry overall?

• Marriott program encourages guests to tip housekeepers

  Tuesday, September 16, 2014

  ​When you first enter your hotel room, what do you usually see? A door sign hanger welcoming you to your room or perhaps a piece of chocolate on your pillow? What about an envelope to leave a tip for your housekeeper? It might sound strange, but if you're staying at a Marriott property in the next couple of days, you might be in luck.

• Recess redress: The importance of play in education

  Wednesday, September 03, 2014

  Ask any child what his or her favorite subject is in school, and most will say recess. Yet a 2010 Gallup poll conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that up to 40 percent of U.S. school districts have reduced or eliminated recess to focus more on academics. Despite these changes, recess still remains an important part of a child’s education. Here's how.

• How Twitter is literally changing our world

  Tuesday, August 26, 2014

  ​When the word revolution comes to mind some may immediately associate it with a violent overthrow of a government regime. Nowadays, it can also be defined as a movement of changing socioeconomic norms. What happens when a social media platform becomes a crucial component of that change?

• Colleges finally taking steps to handle sexual assault problem

  Tuesday, July 29, 2014

  A recent segment on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" mocked James Madison University's handling of sexual assault. But the segment sheds light on a growing problem of how colleges and universities need to do more when it comes to handling sexual assaults on their campuses.

• STEM education growing, but still has room for improvement

  Tuesday, July 01, 2014

  The revival of interest in STEM education started with the national Educate to Innovate campaign in 2009. Five years later, the revival is still in its infant steps, and it still has room to grow in both diversity and innovation.

• Busting 5 myths about green meetings and events

  Wednesday, May 21, 2014

  At the 2014 ASAE Springtime Expo, a panel of experts took the stage to myth-bust a few factors that may discourage meeting planners from creating green meetings. Here are five myth-busting tips when it comes to green meetings.

• Crowdfunding craze seeping into hospitality world

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  ​Crowdfunding is not a new concept. Crowdfunding gives a company or an individual the chance to fund a project with small amounts of money by a large number of people via the Internet. Now crowdfunding is finding is gaining popularity in real estate — specifically hotels.

• Don’t learn email etiquette the hard way

  Wednesday, March 26, 2014

  Recently, a marketing professional came under fire when her nasty email response via LinkedIn to a job-seeker went viral. And we can all learn an important lesson about email etiquette from this case.

• Retailers hoping credit card changes will swipe away fraud

  Thursday, March 06, 2014

  ​According to Verizon's 2013 Data Breach Investigation Report, 24 percent of data breaches happened in the retail industry. Although the percentage is relatively low, credit card giants Visa and MasterCard are pushing a major change in credit cards as we know it.

• As costs soar, officials wonder if Sochi is ready to host Olympics

  Friday, January 31, 2014

  ​The Winter Olympics are less than a week away, but the preparation in Sochi, Russia, has been seven years in the making. When the Russian city was awarded the Olympics back in 2007, officials estimated the cost would be $12 billion. But Sochi has spent $51 billion, topping the $40 million China spent on the 2008 Summer Olympics. Despite the jump in the cost, is Sochi ready to host the Olympics?

• Top tips for travel in cold weather

  Tuesday, January 21, 2014

  Recently, the "polar vortex" dropped temperatures across the U.S. to negative digits. It also left thousands of people who were trying to reach their destinations stranded. Between Jan. 2-7, more than 27,000 flights were canceled. It is important to know what to do when you're scrambling to reschedule your flight or looking for accommodations while stranded. To stay ahead of "Old Man Winter," here are some tips when it comes to traveling in cold weather.

• Taking advantage of online reviews

  Tuesday, December 10, 2013

  ​Once upon a time, word of mouth was one of the most important ways to drive business. As technology has evolved over the years, word of mouth is no longer enough. With the click of a button, a consumer can either drive business to a hotel or drive it away by posting an online review.

• Government shutdown slams tourism, parks in Washington, D.C.

  Monday, October 28, 2013

  ​During the 16-day government shutdown, which ended Oct. 16, the travel industry loss an estimated $152 million a day, according to the U.S. Travel Association. One of the hardest hit areas by the economic loss in travel was Washington, D.C., which generates 13 percent of its revenue through tourism. Here’s a breakdown of their losses.

• Government shutdown will impact travel in a big way

  Tuesday, October 01, 2013

  ​When the government last shut down in 1995-96, it cost U.S. taxpayers $1.4 billion, the Congressional Research Service estimates. It’s too early to tell how much the 2013 shutdown will cost taxpayers, but travel will take a significant hit. Here’s what travelers need to know.

• Four Seasons shows businesses how to use Pinterest

  Monday, September 23, 2013

  ​According to a June 2013 study by Semiocast, there are approximately 70 million users on the visual word of mouth social media site Pinterest. The French social media firm also found that only 500,000 businesses are currently on the site. Although the numbers of businesses are fairly small, the travel industry has picked up on using Pinterest as a marketing tool.