NEW YORK -- Concierge.com, which promotes itself as a "travel
supersite," made its official debut here during its sponsorship of
a panel discussion devoted to the future of travel.
Among the panelists were Judson Green, chairman of Walt Disney
Attractions, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Richard Bangs, founding
partner of Mountain Travel Sobek, El Cerrito, Calif., and former
astronaut Buzz Aldrin. "Travel has a great future," Disney's Green
said.
"There are fewer worldwide conflicts today, and new destinations
will differentiate themselves in order to compete for tourists, and
they will be more aggressive in selling and marketing." Green also
said that as more people have the time and money for travel, they
will find it "addictive."
But he cautioned that too much mass tourism can imperil the
environment. "People have different motivations for traveling," he
said, adding that those going to Disney parks want to share an
experience with loved ones, often escaping a hectic lifestyle.
Bangs said that the Internet actually will help preserve
fragile, off-the-beaten-track areas that lack capacity for mass
travel.
"The Web can provide a virtual visit to remote areas," Bangs
said. People who see such areas, whether in person or on the Web,
"will want to preserve them, becoming advocates," he said.
Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon, said space
travel to the moon and Mars is probable but may not happen for 12
years.
"But it could take 30 years if today's politicians do not
allocate enough money for development of safe, reliable, reusable
heavy-lift rockets and orbiters," Aldrin said.
Initially trips probably would consist of daylong orbits in
space, then staying at a "hotel" that would travel around the moon
and house upward of 150 persons, according to the former
astronaut.
But virtual space travel is impossible on the Web, he pointed
out, explaining, "You cannot simulate zero gravity."
Space travel will be only for the wealthy unless a means is
found to open it up to others, he concluded.
Concierge.com is affiliated with Conde Nast Traveler
magazine and describes more than 500 destinations, using the
magazine's content, Fodor's Travel Publications' 15,000 hotel and
15,000 restaurant reviews and other sources.
Throughout the text there are links to Expedia.com,
Microsoft's internet travel agency. Whenever an area or hotel is
mentioned, Expedia.com can be activated and can provide current air
fare deals and hotel space availability.
Site users are invited to enter a contest through Nov. 30, where
they can win a trip that they design themselves using Concierge.com
research.