are airline's recanting thier "nickel & dime" strategy?

Airline's reduced and eventually eliminated travel agent commissions more than a decade ago. They then treated agents like a hated neighbor that was more of a problem than a help to their business model; and in many cases still do treat us poorly. They started pushing to booked tickets on internet sites like Orbitz and Expedia and then on their own sites. Using the internet as their virtually cost free distribution source seemed like a wise idea, but what happens when all those passengers need service to the ticket? Airport ticket counters reduced staff and services and are so overwhelmed just bag tagging & addressing late/mis-connect aircraft, they flat out refuse to help with anything else. Don't even think of asking to issue a ticket for future travel!

Pay for bags, pay for seat assignment, pay for blankets, pillows, food, drinks (which some airlines tried and then back pedaled on). The airlines will say all these charges are adding revenue to their bottom line. However, British Airways recently reported their worst annual losses since 1987 and see no sign of recovery! They are the latest in a long string of carriers that loose millions every month. Yet, other airlines are profitable. When I look at the list, I perceive that I see a little karma.

Now, I can't help but to wonder if they are not recanting the positions a bit. Last week, Delta started a time limited commission program for their "preferred" (read: highest volume) agencies in New York for all flights from New York. Sounds to me like someones airplanes were a little empty and needed to turn on a sales force. I am reading that some of the group and meeting departments that provided volume discounts that were eliminated in recent years are being reinstated.

Are we heading back to the model where the airlines see that agents are helpful and should not be poorly treated?
I know in my business, if I had a sales force that paid for their own existence and all I had to do was commission them on sales closed, that would be a gift!

SHAME on Bank of America!

I would call on every business owner and consumer to immediately stop using Bank of America and protest their business practices.

I had my first challenge with BofA on 2003 when I presented my meeting planning company 5 year strategic business plan and their analysts determined that my business, being meeting planning was by default categorized as travel and that was a class C risk. The regional Vice President explained to me that a class C risk is the same as pornography and BofA does not do business with such companies.

Ok, how many small start up businesses have a business plan, are educated and participate in the professionalism if their industry? I was furious, promptly closed my accounts and went to a bank that recognized my small business, embraced me and my business success; California Bank & Trust.

Yesterday, BofA did it again. They sent me a credit card promo offer which I called to ask about on May 15. May 18 they promptly and without factual evidence to support the decision, changed my credit card terms. This is just 9 months after they took a similar action by closing a credit card account because it had a zero balance and I hadn't used it in a few months.

What are they thinking? They are a text book example of why banks need regulations like President Obama's credit card legislation and Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009 (S. 235/H.R. 627). The credit card industry must be reformed to protect Americans from abusive banking & lending practices.

better hotel food

I have had several recent experiences that has given me great hope; that hotels are taking the quality of F&B seriously. I have many bad food memories and they all make me sad because it is an area that should shine, create buzz and happy attendees but has an overwhelming negative effect if it is forgotten and allowed to languish. Pools of grease, moldy pastries, bad quality, no taste...... and I have always said, and recently wrote for Conference magazine an articles where I ask "why can't group/banquet kitchen make good food"? I have several experiences in the past few months that make me wonder if my dream has come true. The Marriott Irvine CA has very good food coming from banquets and the Marriott Griffin Gate also is putting out really good selections. The Irvine hotel has delicious breakfasts such as Seal Beach and a unique chicken wellington on its group menu's. The Griffin Gate chef makes outstanding soups, sliders and fried green tomatoes. So, there might be good news out there. Maybe hotels are starting to hire chef's that know that flavor and quality in food should not be a surprise but an expectation. Or maybe they are just setting Tivo for the food network which is inspiring new ideas. Either way, we are the winner!

American Idol finale highs & lows

I was in Lexington KY and not sure I would be able to catch the show. Luckily, I made it back to my room at the Marriott Griffin Gate in time to catch the last hour; and what an hour it was. Queen, Cindi Lauper and the best part of the evening..... AI wanted the best and it got the best....... KISS! But, what the heck happened to America's voting? I thought I time warped back to the second term election of Bush all over again and much of America collectively lost their minds. Adam Lambert was the best singer and should have won. Oh well, even as second, his talent will give him the momentum to supercede Kris Allen. Don't get me wrong, Kris was good but should have been number 3. At the end of the day, the one that uses AI as a launching platform to a successful music career is the litmus test to the real winner and we all will see a lot of more of Adam Lambert!

TSA Secure Flight requirements - May 15, 2009

Starting May 15th, all air travel bookings must include full name, exactly as it is stated on the ID planned to be used at the airport, gender and date of birth. This means that if your middle name is spelled out on your drivers license or passport, your ticket must be booked in accordance with how your name is displayed on the ID you will use.
Travel agents (and all other booking sources) will be required by the Federal Government to collect this data. The Secure Flight program will be phased in over 2009 and there is some "flexibility" built into the system, as reported by the TSA, for people get used to this requirements.

Please see the link below for more information;

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/faqs.shtm#traveler_faqs

farewell to Barcelona

Boy, am I glad to be gone! Let me start by saying (if you didn´t read it from earlier posts), you will be pick pocketed or have something stolen from you here. Everyone, and I mean everyone advises you about the rampant petty theft and professional bands of thieves. It still it seemed like every 3 hours I was meeting or hearing about someone victimized. An elderly couple at hotel had bag stolen at airport, then his wallet lifted, another guy had $750EUR taken from fanny pack, yet another had purse opened, objects stolen, and neatly zippered closed. GEEZ.
I took the city tour, the Gaudi tour and the Montserrat tour from the Barcelona Guide Bureau as recommended by hotel. These were all they offered and all were 3 or 4 hours. Only about an hour was actual guiding and the rest was time on own to explore. When we asked to do something like go into a museum, the guide explained there is not enough time. So, my suggestion to anyone going to Barcelona, dont bother with group tours available in city....... call POTHOS to book a private car & guide. Then, you can have as much time as you want and see more with explanations. Montserrat seemed awesome but after standing in queue for 45 minutes to see the monastery, all the time left was walking to bus. More than half of the site we did not have enough time to see. And if you are really adventurous, stay in one of the Benedictine Monk "cells" that they have set aside for travelers. Their Order requires them to give lodging to anyone who knocks the door and at $15EUR for the night, I think it would incredible to spend the night there.
My final thoughts; Las Ramblas heaves with throngs of people, Catalonia (the area Barcelona is) does not believe it should be part of Spain - 10% of the country population is here and about 50% of its tax base from tourists, going above & beyond is a hospitality sentiment not known, the food is flavorless and expensive and Gaudi´s works.... while a notable artist & architect, is not as earth shattering as they build it up to be.
So, not a must see/stop destination for me. I would rather not be on cat like alert 24/7 for the next attempted theft.

Espana means Espace

If you look past the areas that are hundreds of years old and look at just the things built/planned in the last 20 years, this country really allows for alot of room! The Madrid Airport is so large (terminals and runway) that it would make any USA airport planning commission envious and Barcelona has the same theme. I can honestly see why Barcelona needs so much with the volume of cruise ships coming & going from this port. These are not the smaller ships this are the new really super big ones! And what is really intriguing is the space is used! Las Ramblas, a wide pedestrian avenue in Barcelona is packed all day long! There are dozens of airline choices and the flights are full!
I should make one correction though... you need not look at just the last 20 years. If the planning of parks/housing tracks by Gaudi at the turn of the century are any indication, they meant to have alot of space as soon as the walls of the old city were destroyed. And on that note, I will just comment that I really do not like the artistic work of Gaudi. I join the ranks of those that just don't see the same passion as some others. And about that Gaudi cathedral here, you know the one they have been building for 127 years, alrighty already. Enough. Yuck.