In the Good News Department: Several
Caribbean hoteliers report robust advance bookings
for the winter season from Europe and
South America.
In the Bad
News Department: These same guys tell TC that bookings
have fallen off from the U.S., have not materialized and are way
below a year ago at this same time.
Wow. What a
surprise.
TC wonders if the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has anything
to do with this (no travel from the Caribbean to the U.S. by air in
January without a valid passport).
Virgin
Delta? Tongues are wagging about all the implications of
US Airways' proposed merger with
Delta. One former government official, now in
private practice, predicts a bidding war that might eventually
attract foreign investors such as Virgin's Richard
Branson.
Who would
have thought when lawmakers in California proposed their
first Seller of Travel law in 1994 that it would
have led to a friendly relationship between the state government
and the travel industry?
Susan
Tanzman, who worked extensively with state officials in
crafting amendments to the bill that will go into effect in
January, couldn't resist gushing to TC about working with the
attorney general's office.
"I've never seen
such an incredible working relationship with officials and our
industry," she said.
Flat-screen, plasma TVs are standard issue
now in many upscale hotel rooms.
But how
aboutinvisible televisions? TC hears that the
Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, fresh off its $60
million redo, installed invisible televisions in the master
bathrooms of its new oceanfront suites.
Apparently, the TVs
are cleverly hidden behind the mirror and are only visible when
turned on.
Steam on the TV
screen might be a problem, as the same bathroom has a seven-jet
oversize shower and a free-standing soaking tub.