Sometimes an event is just an event, and sometimes (when I am lucky) the event turns into a wonderful Saturday afternoon experience that is good by doing good. Recently, I was invited to the Barolo en primeur at Il Gattopardo (with a Zoom simulcast from Grinzane Cavor Castle in Piedmont, Italy). The event was also […]
Travel Beyond my New York City, Manhattan Zip Code
I may covet a closet filled with Prada and LV, but what I want IMMEDIATELY is the opportunity to safely travel outside my Zip Code. As I listen to MSNBC, FOX and CNN, I am warned of COVID variants, the emerging need for booster shots, the increased number of people getting sick and death lurking […]
Champagne for Everyone is your COVID Stimulus
The Founder of New York Champagne Week,, Blaine Ashley, was interviewed by Dr. Elinor Garely, where the discussion focused on why Champagne is exactly what the world needs now. Beginning in early 2020, the world as we knew it, lived it, experienced and frequently – even loved it… has been altered. The alternation has not […]
Ignorance, COVID-19 and Tourism
It is convenient to claim that the tourism industry has been brought to its knees because of COVID-19; however, the blame would be misplaced. The broader picture includes a confluence of culture, politics, science, and geography joined together by incompetent leadership resulting in the elimination of millions of jobs, billions in lost revenue, and a future that is […]
Tourism Impasse: Cannot Stop or Go
The hotel, travel and tourism industry contributed to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably cruise lines and airlines; however large their role, these enterprises cannot be held accountable for its origin or for the irresponsible approach of governments and global health agencies to the identification, mitigation, control, and elimination of the virus. First Hide, […]
Governments Stick It to Hotel, Travel and Tourism Industries
The hotel, travel and tourism industries have been hammered by COVID-19. As strategic partners in the tourism paradigm, hotel executives have seen investments in this sector decline by 59 percent in the first half of 2020. McKinsey research suggests that the all industry segments will not see a recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2023 or later. […]
Does Crime Take a Holiday?
Watching more TV news than ever? Thinking the country is overrun with bad guys looting and destroying storefronts? Thanks to the current elected officials… you know them, they occupy buildings and residents paid for with tax dollars and are totally clueless on how to contain COVID-19 while maintaining full employment – we have large amounts of unscheduled […]
The Caribbean region: Relevancy?
At a recent Caribbean Tourism Organization event in the Bahamas, SOTIC reviewed and explored the opportunities that would become available with the adoption of the One Caribbean concept. At a recent Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) event in Nassau, Bahamas, the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) once again reviewed and explored the opportunities that would […]
The Unsavory Truth: How food companies skew the science of what we eat
Unpopular but True There are so many reasons to read Marion Nestle’s book, the Unsavory Truth, that it difficult to know where to begin. First of all, the author has the credentials that encourage readers to believe that what she is revealing is not fake news or propaganda. Nestle is the Paulette Goddard Professor of […]
Travel in Africa up close: Enormous opportunities for tourism, but leadership?
takes 17+ hours to fly the 7,960 miles from/to Johannesburg, South Africa, from New York City. When the trip is made in coach class, this is a decision that is not made casually. Under the best of circumstances, economy-level flying is challenging. When the time spent in a teeny tiny seat for almost a complete […]