Only 1 in 5 American Small Businesses Plan To Hire in 2013

A recent survey by the US Chamber of Commerce shows that 82% of small business owners feel that the economy is not going in the right direction, and that only 20% of small businesses plan to hire any employees over the next year.

Dr. Martin Regalia, the Chief Economist of the Chamber, feels that Washington’s decision making and policies are keeping small business owners unsure of the economic future. 72% of participants felt that the health care law effects ability to grow and potentially hire new employees. 78% of participants simply feel that Washington should stop making policies that effect small businesses and “get out of the way”.

The general sentiment seems to be that there needs to be either less involvement by the government or a change in Washington in order to instill policies that will benefit small businesses. Until those changes come, the job market will remain dry for those seeking employment in small businesses.

Michael Patton, CEO of POTHOS and small business owner, sees things a bit differently. “I tend to believe that government policies need to continue to support small business, which, as stated by President Obama, is the engine of the economy,” Mr. Patton says. “I support increased legislation to spend a larger amount of public monies with SDVOSB & SB as well as revision of tax code”.

The US Chamber of Commerce represents 3 million small businesses in the United States, making it the largest federation of small businesses in the world. The poll was conducted through an online survey involving both US Chamber members and non-US Chamber members, making a sample size of 1,225 participants. The US Chamber of Commerce defined small businesses as companies with less than 25 million dollars in revenue and fewer than 500 employees. The participants were tailored to represent the small business market of the United States. 

In Developing Countries, Tourists Using Up to 16 Times More Water than Locals

It has been widely and somewhat naively accepted by the general public that tourism is nothing but beneficial for developing countries. As many of us have come to see firsthand, some of the most beautiful places in the world are also the setting of some of the world’s worst poverty. The notion that “tourism brings money” to poor countries seems to scratch that little itch of guilt that tourists have about enjoying a lavish getaway mere meters away from a thatch-roof hut.

While it all sounds neat and tidy on paper, it has become apparent that the devil is in the details. Hotels and resorts have only very little figurative trickle-down effect for money flow, and even less literal trickle-down when it comes to ample fresh water.

While tourists are enjoying swimming pools, multiple showers per day, fresh drinking water and green golf courses maintained by complex sprinkler systems, locals are surviving off the bare dregs of the water supply.

In resort towns in Bali, Indonesia and Nungwi , Zanzibar, research has shown that tourists are running up to 16 times more water than locals, and the water that actually does get to the mouths of destitute locals is often contaminated.

3 locals died in a Zanzibar resort town after an outbreak of cholera. Many attributed the spread of the disease to the poor quality of local water.

Resorts have shown little sympathy to the local thirst, as many hotels have employed security guards to protect and monitor fresh water tanks to prevent theft or sabotage.

This is an issue for the governments of countries that are extremely dependant on their tourism industry. Many elected officials lobby for resorts as a way to bring revenue to developing countries, but the local sentiment seems to be that distribution of revenue and facilities is extremely unfair and puts the community in the backseat to the money-making juggernaut that is the tourism industry. 

While it’s natural to feel that you deserve to live in excess when you travel to an all-inclusive resort, it’s also important to be aware of how these resort towns are affecting the local lifestyle, for better or for worse, before choosing a getaway location. 

United Purchases 150 New Aircraft from Boeing

United Continental Holdings, Inc. seem to be setting the precedent for an environmentally friendly and technologically savvy revamp of their entire United Airlines fleet.

We posted earlier in this blog about the highly anticipated 787 Boeing Dreamliner, which will provide a new standard in the travel experience while reducing fuel costs by nearly 20%. Boeing plans to add 50 new Dreamliners to their fleet, being the first American carrier to fly the aircraft. The first Dreamliner will arrive in September of this year.

In addition to the 50 Dreamliners, United Airlines ordered 150 smaller, one-aisle 737s from Boeing, continuing the overhaul of the company’s flying equipment and boasting greater travel efficiency with lower fuel costs per seat.  Compared to the current 737s in use, United claims that the new models will reduce emissions by 13%. Coupled with modern travel technologies and flight efficiency, United Airlines’ reduction of the carbon footprint makes them one of the world’s most enticing air travel options.

Unfortunately, the planes take quite a while to build.

In 2013, deliveries will begin for the 737-900ER. These models will replace old and outdated domestic United aircraft and plan to burn 15% less fuel per seat. 50 of these planes are expected to be delivered between 2013 and 2022.

We’ll have to wait until 2018 for the next model 737, the MAX 9.

The future is bright for United frequent fliers, as we have a large amount of fancy new aircraft to look forward to. CEO of POTHOS, Michael Patton, is a United 1k Million Mile Frequent Flier and encourages travelers to book with United and experience their efficient service and, soon, their cutting edge aircraft.

On a recent trip to Seattle, we had the pleasure of grabbing a sneak peak of the 787 Dreamliner at the Boeing Factory. We can’t wait to see the new 737s! 

Battle Reenactment Brings About Historical Disagreement between Canada and USA

“Wait a minute, didn’t WE win the War of 1812?”

This is the question posed by Marie DeVita, an American, to her friends upon witnessing a Canadian reenactment of the battles fought in Fort George, Ontario.

You certainly wouldn’t think it so if you were at this particular historical reenactment or if you were studying history in any of the Canadian provinces. In history classes, Canadian students grow up learning of British triumph over America attempting to invade what is now Canadian land. Americans view the War of 1812 as a form of the “Second War for Independence” where Great Britain was ousted once and for all from the newborn American continent.

So who won?

Now before you say “it doesn’t matter, it happened 200 years ago”, remember the sense of national pride between the two countries, and how bitter it would taste admitting any sort of defeat to the opponent, especially between two countries that have been waging a healthy rivalry for the past two centuries on nearly everything. 

Victor Suthren, the director of Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum, remembers American tourists getting rather heated, attempting to correct Suthren and explain that the Americans had emerged victorious from the skirmishes across the Canadian-American border.

Suthren returned fire saying “Had we really wanted to put all efforts into an attempt on North America, with the full power of the Royal Navy, it would have resulted in a severe punishment for the Americans”.

Translation: “We could’ve beaten you guys like a drum, but we didn’t feel like it”, which sounds like something you would hear on the elementary school playground. 

Robert Trumbell, and American who participated as an American troop in the reenactments in the 1990s, believes that it was mostly British troops who fought in the battles on Canadian soil during the war. Like many Americans, he insinuates that Canadians should view the conflict between Britain and America, and not Canada and America.

Regardless, both sides think they came out on top. Americans believe that the war was a fledgling American country standing up to its abusive foster parent and breaking free for the final time. Canadians view the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers in tandem with British forces as a collection of battles that warded off American advancement into northern territories, allowing for modern day Canada to have land to develop on.

Even if most of that land is plagued with permafrost and completely barren and unusable.

All jest aside, we American's love our Canadian & British cousins since this conflict and this selective positioning couldn't change that. 

Airline Passengers Willing to Pay to Exit Planes Faster

Travelling can get pretty stressful if you let the little things get to you: losing luggage, an intoxicated passenger in the adjacent seat, and said adjacent passenger getting “motion sickness” halfway through the flight.

We here at POTHOS encourage travelers to relax and take all of annoying little nuances of air travel in stride.

For example, be thankful for when your plane lands safely. When the seatbelt light goes off, enjoy the fact that you can turn on your smart phone and check your emails. As the plane finishes taxiing, gleefully watch as the uptight passengers frantically jockey for position in line for exiting the plane.

Alas, we are not here to judge, and the 2 minutes or so that a frequent flier gains by exiting the plane before everyone else could be potentially valuable to that person. How valuable, you ask?

Roughly $20 dollars. 

In polls by Airfarewatchdog.com, some fliers were willing to pay extra to not only board the plane before everyone else, but also exit the plane with priority. The polls declared about 10 percent of passengers were willing to pay $10 while 3 percent would pay up to $20.

This might seem fairly bizarre to some. Interestingly enough, the same travelers that are willing to pay extra to get into those cramped seating quarters before everyone else are the same ones that are willing to pay even more to get out of them before everyone else. 

“To each their own,” we suppose. We do not doubt that there are frequent fliers with deep pockets who have strict deadlines to meet that exiting the plane as soon as possible can give them a competitive business advantage. Besides, the poll only showed that %3 percent were willing to pay that extra $20 dollars.

Surely this would not benefit airlines enough to institute a new fare. Surely. 

Opus Hotel Upgrades Their Phone system with iPhones

During our most recent stay in the Grand Hyatt in downtown Seattle, we were impressed that an iPhone and iPod compatible “iHome” mini stereo system and alarm clock was provided standard our hotel rooms. Unfortunately, the hotel did not provide a smart phone or even an mp3 player.

At the Opus hotel in Yaletown, Vancouver, they appear to be taking it up a notch.

The hotel is offering one iPhone smart phone per room, with data coverage connected to the hotel’s internet and will have the ability to send and receive phone calls internationally, as to avoid roaming charges.

These iPhones will replace the obsolete touch tone wireless phones found in every hotel of the past and marks the start of a new era of technology – one where the normal traveler is expected to be knowledgeable on smart phone usage and touch-screen technology.

Obviously, if you don’t know how to use an iPhone, don’t want to, or already have a smart phone of your own, you can leave the iPhone docked in its iHome. The iPhone is customized with applications that will keep the guest connected to the hotel, offering concierge services and contact information to all of the hotel departments, so the phone can prove as a valuable tool to any guest entering the city for sightseeing or business related events.

Nicholas Gandossi, Opus Vancouver’s general manager, explains that these technologies are a part of life today, and are not so much perks as they are necessities.

Opus was also the first hotel in Canada to offer and iPad 2 in every room.

Opus Vancouver has stepped up their game, topping iHomes with iPads and iPhones. The only question that remains is a simple one: will we be able to keep up?

Zesty Condiment Creations for your Summertime BBQs

We here at POTHOS are sure that many of you spent your 4^th of July outside in the sun, grilling up something delicious.

However, in addition to your Independence Day delicacies, we’ve decided that this blog will be dedicated to continuing your culinary adventures with a couple recipes from our residential foodie, CEO of POTHOS, Michael Patton.

Always keep cooking and always try something new. Remember, we’ve got a whole summer of sunshine and great food ahead of us!

Try these homemade variations on common condiments to spice up any barbeque or dinner party.

Homemade Ketchup

Ingredients

4 pints ripe grape tomatoes, cut in half

2 cups red wine vinegar

2/3 cup brown sugar

4 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

(remember, quality of ingredients make a big difference in final product so use the best quality)

Preparation

In skillet, simmer tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt & pepper until thick (20 – 25 minutes)

Puree until smooth, strain, stir in Worcestershire sauce, chill completely overnight

Yields about 2 cups of your own brand of ketchup!

Homemade grainy mustard

Ingredients

¼ cup brown mustard seeds

¼ cup yellow mustard seeds

½ cup white wine

1 teaspoon sea salt

Preparation

Please seeds in medium bowl, stir in wine and ½ cold water. Cover and let stand overnight

Puree mixture until you reach desired consistency and refrigerate again for 24 hours.

Yields 1 ½ cups

So the next time your wise guy uncle asks if anyone remembered to bring the condiments for his 4^th of July frankfurter, break out these lip smacking flavor enhancers and impress the family!

Japanese Travel Guide Offers Interesting Advice on Visiting Scotland

While travelling abroad, especially on different continents and in different hemispheres, it helps to be prepared for the potentially massive cultural differences so you don’t find yourself in an awkward situation or committing an embarrassing faux pas.

A travel guide has dedicated a section to offer some tips to Japanese tourists visiting Scotland. While some of them could prove to be reasonably helpful, others should take the travel tips “with a pinch of salt”, as VisitScotland aptly put.

The guide offers a good amount of strong advice, urging Japanese tourists to embrace the Scottish culture, giving tips on the best local marmalade and sausage, and how to properly order a drink in a bustling Scottish pub.

Cultural differences are also highlighted in the guide that gives some insights to the differences between the two nations. Tourists are warned that they must be patient and not expect to receive the same “quick, polite and accurate service” from restaurants and taverns that they would in their home land, which leads one to wonder if what type of bad experiences the travel guide has had with the service industry in Scotland.

Amusingly, the guide offers some quirky tips. In addition to warning them to avoid Scots in football garb, they are told never to call Scottish kilts “skirts” and never to call a Scottish person “English”. While that could help you avoid an embarrassing situation, others tips are meant to be a bit silly.

The guide mentions that, even though it rains quite often in Scotland, very few people carry umbrellas. This is said to “puzzle” Japanese tourists, as many of the Japanese always carry an umbrella in case of sudden showers.

The variety of guidelines that the Japanese guide book offers proves to be an interesting read, running the gamut of helpful hints to fun idiosyncrasies between the two cultures.

POTHOS can personally vouch that Scotland is a hospitable country with a rich and interesting history. One of our employees is a native of Scotland, and we’re quite sure she’d forgive you if you accidentally called her English!

Book cover can be found here: http://www.eturbonews.com/files/imagecache/fullpage/0a12_261.jpg

Travelling During a Potential Strike: How to Prepare

When travelling abroad, especially bouncing about through multiple European countries, each country has their own carriers, all of which have different histories of labor disruptions. Before booking your flights, do your research to which carriers are least likely to strike during the time of your trip. Historically, northern European countries like England are much less likely to have issues as opposed to countries like France or Italy.

It’s also important to check if the airline you are booking with is affiliated with any other airlines. Partnerships are common amongst airlines, so be sure to choose one that can potentially rebook you on a partner’s flight if something goes wrong, and spending a little extra and buying travel insurance certainly couldn’t hurt if you feel at risk.

Enlisting a travel agent will ensure that even the most complicated trip schedules will be booked and rebooked appropriately to accommodate you. POTHOS ensures any flights that are lost due to labor disputes will be rebooked as quickly and conveniently as possible. 

If the unthinkable happens and a labor dispute occurs during your time of travels, fret not, you still have some options. If you haven’t purchased a fully refundable ticket with a different carrier as a backup plan, get on the phone and call until you speak to someone that can help. Often, one airline carrier agent will be more lenient than another, allowing you to adjust your flights accordingly.

For up to the minute information, make sure that you are following all of the airlines you are travelling with on Twitter.