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Travel2020: Global Entry program heads south, leaving travelers in a lurch
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementFor me, it started with a simple email. I was given a courtesy warning by the Department of Homeland Security that my Global Entry privileges were expiring. I had been a member of Global Entry since it launched in 2008, so I was not about to let my certification slip away. I clicked on the link to start the "re-application" process — apparently "renewals" would no longer serve — and that is when my nightmares began. The nonintuitive, if not purposely stonewalling, website kept taking me to the same place: the wall. I would land on the spot, say three or so pages deep, where my ask "Trusted Traveler" ID would be requested. It would then populate fields with my passport information. If something was not right, this was the page on which to fix it.
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Enjoying the results of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureWhenever we travel, we look for evidence of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 to provide jobs for young unmarried men to help bring the country out of the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, approximately 3 million men worked on planting trees, building roads and bridges, constructing fire towers, fighting fires, installing drainage systems, stringing telephone lines, and developing state and national parks.
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Observing the latest hospitality tech from HITEC 2019 in Minneapolis
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementI was in Minneapolis recently for HITEC 2019 (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference), marking the third time I attended the conference's exposition. This time, I paid special attention to the new technologies and products on the exhibition floor, such as those using facial recognition or AI in providing robotic services. I was unable to recognize any revolutionary innovations at the exposition, but I believe two of my observations may warrant some discussion.
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Phoenix Sky Harbor submits 20-year master plan for improvements
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotivePhoenix is an airport on the move, and if the FAA agrees, it could soon be spending $5.7 billion on upgrades to achieve a new 20-year plan. With aging infrastructure and a hemmed-in location, its owners have decided that now is the time to deal with the issues hindering its potential. The airport confirmed that the city’s mayor and council voted on June 11 to send its Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Comprehensive Asset Management Plan (CAMP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval.
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A net loss: Why focusing on Net Promoter Scores can hurt your business
Linda Popky MarketingNet Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric introduced in 2003. It scores customer loyalty based on a single question: "On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it that you would recommend our company/product/service to a friend or colleague?" Customers who respond with a 9 or 10 are considered Promoters. Anyone scoring below 6 is considered a Detractor; those who answer 7 or 8 are considered Passive. The NPS score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of customers who are Detractors from those who are Promoters. It's an interesting methodology. The problem is it isn't necessarily right much of the time.
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Are you ready for a ‘nakation?’
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureTravel trends come and go — from eco travel to medical tourism and spiritual travel to tornado tourism. One of the latest trends appears to be all about stripping things down to the basics. And we mean that literally. The "nakation" — aka clothing optional tourism — is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry. Shirking that outer layer at nude beaches and resorts and even on clothing optional cruises has become the vacation choice du jour for hundreds of thousands of free-spirited Americans.
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Travel2020: Making the most of Maui
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementGetting "Maui'd" goes way beyond vows over the surf. Maui is a compact island and, if a full vacation is not in the offing, a few days of “Valley Isle” bliss can add up to some impacting Maui memories. For starters, Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727 square miles, but getting from place to place in Maui can be handled, at most, in about four hours. "Maui is particularly well-positioned for business travelers who may be trying to fit some vacation time in Maui into a packed schedule," said Leanne Pletcher, marketing director for the Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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Move over staycations, it’s time for micro-cations
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAllianz Global Assistance recently released its 2019 Vacation Confidence Index, which states that micro-cations are the newest travel trend for millennials. This generation seems to have veered away from long, leisurely vacations and is instead looking to take shorter breaks even though they love to travel. Quite often, work-related stress, expenses and even clashing schedules for working couples all pile up to make vacation planning an overwhelming task. However, this is not just the case for millennials.
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Adapting hotel design for bleisure travel
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesOne the biggest trends in the hospitality industry today, bleisure travel has hotels vying with one another to lure travelers to their properties as destination locations suitable for combined business and relaxation activities. As is often the case in hospitality, they are adapting a hotel’s design as well as its operations to provide the atmosphere and amenities bleisure travelers are seeking. With demanding travel and work schedules, more and more of today’s business travelers, seeking to adjust their work-life balance, are extending their stays to engage in leisure and wellness activities.
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What’s wrong with American RVs today?
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureLet’s be honest. There are a lot of articles talking about how wonderful RV life is. There aren’t as many discussing the problems of newer American RVs. I don’t know if it is only American models but that is where I see the complaints online. While it is true you can buy an RV and have no issues, you are taking your chances every time you buy a brand-new RV. 3 out of every 10 RVs require serious repair by their second year. But this doesn’t define "serious." Many "minor" issues can prevent you from camping for the weekend or can be a major hassle if you are living full-time in an RV.
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