Posted by Jane
China is in the spotlight this month, as it hosts the Summer Olympics. The scope, range and magnificence of this vast country were brought into focus during the Opening Ceremonies. Quite spectacular, in Jane's HO.
Also spectacular is the growth of the travel industry in China. Domestic travel in China generated $782 billion in 2007. And as the Chinese government continues to ease internal travel restrictions and extends vacation time for many of its 1.3 billion people, the market for domestic travel is going to grow at world record pace. In fact, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, China will sport the #2 tourism economy by the year 2017 (it's now #4). WTTC predicts the USA will still occupy the gold medal position at that time, but it probably won't be long until China steps to the top of the tourism podium. Continue reading
Posted by Jane
Hotels have come a long way, baby. They're going green, they're getting hip, and they are getting healthier by the minute. Jane's not just talking about the ubiquitous fitness center or the addition of healthy items to room service and hotel restaurant menus. After all, that's old, albeit welcome, news. No, Jane's talking something far more innovative than that. How do hypoallergenic rooms grab you?
Jane says kudos to Wyndham Hotels and Resorts for its new initiative to provide special rooms for allergy and asthma sufferers, or those who just like their air a little cleaner. Wyndham is the first upscale lodging chain in the country to require that all of its hotels have allergy-friendly rooms. By the end of 2009, every hotel in the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts system will have at least 25 rooms that are allergen-free zones. Continue reading
Posted by Jane
Two new terms have entered the vacation vernacular of late. One is "stay-cation" and the other is "girlfriend getaways." Jane is not a fan of either term. In Jane's HO, stay-cation is simply an oxymoron of the most annoying sort, while girlfriend getaways sounds a tad condescending. Let's discuss.
It's amazing how fast girlfriend getaways has become a staple in the travel marketing vernacular. Even the company that is signing Jane's paycheck uses it. Jane wonders, though, why the term has become such a big hit. Admittedly, sometimes girlfriends do travel together. In fact, they do so in far greater numbers than male friends. There is, by the way, a term for the latter as well. It is man-cations. Somehow, that term hasn't caught on like girlfriend getaways, perhaps because it sounds too much like man-scaping, and well, much as metrosexuals may partake in said ritual, it's unlikely they enjoy it. Equating vacationing with getting a chest wax--well, Jane can understand why her male friends haven't bought into the man-cation concept. But Jane digresses. She can't exactly put her well-manicured finger on it, but the term girlfriend getaways does irk her. Perhaps it's because the male gender doesn't receive a similarly diminutive treatment in the man-cation marketing message. After all, the travel industry doesn't call vacations for men "boyfriend getaways" (can you imagine?) or "boy-cations." Continue reading
Posted by Jane
Jane recently read an article detailing the woes of the single female traveler. Jane can relate, as she is one of said demographic. The article focused mainly on the single supplements charged by cruise and tour companies, which make traveling nearly twice as expensive for the unattached traveler. What the article did not discuss was the dilemma of dining alone on the road. But to Jane, this is a big thorn in the single traveler's side.
Now ladies, whether you are married, partnered, or on your own, when it comes to business travel, you are a single female. Granted, solo female business travelers don't often have to worry about lodging costs (even though room rates are based on double occupancy), because the company is picking up the tab. And while it's picking up the restaurant tab as well, it's not supplying Tab, your dining companion. Continue reading
