eTravel Project

According to comScore, Twitter reached 19 million global visitors this past month of march. Simply unstoppable!

Credits comScore

Credits AdAge

Great article that analyzes the status of the US travel industry and CVBs from AdAge.

Recession Expected to Dent $668 Billion U.S. Travel Market 7.5% This Year [...]

Last year, some 27 states increased their budgets and 21 decreased them (West Virginia and Alaska spent too little to measure). This year, however, most are trying to do more with less.

Regardless of budget, the recession has forced all state tourism organizations to re-examine their marketing efforts and innovate by turning to new targets, new media, new partnerships or a combination of all three.

More at AdAge.com

An interesting discussion about business travel and the so called AIG effect.

AIG effect

[youtube width="325" height="244"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKIqGYRuvbk[/youtube]

The Swiss Tourism Board posted a video announcing that it was seeking volunteers to join the Association of Mountain Cleaners. The video claimed, “The Association of Mountain Cleaners… makes sure that our holiday guests can always enjoy perfect mountains. Using brooms, brushes, water and muscle power, they clean the rocks of any bird droppings.”

At the end of the video, visitors to myswitzerland.com were invited to take a mountain cleaner aptitude test and submit their name for a chance to win a week’s holiday in Switzerland.

They got tons of media coverage around the world. No kidding. Simply smart!

I will be among the panelists at the 31st Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference for the Workshop NYU Tish Center Alumni: Buildings for the Next Generation.

Moderator: Dr. Jukka Laitamaki, ClinicalAssociate Professor, Preston Robert Tish Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, New York University.

The NYU conference is taking place at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City from May 31 through June 2, 2009 and features general sessions, workshops, and networking that provide invaluable insight, dialogue, and opportunity in the hospitality and travel industry.

CEO Interviews – Leadership lessons:

Eric A. Danziger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group, Wyndham Worldwide
Stephen P. Joyce, President and Chief Executive Officer, Choice Hotels International
Gary M. Mendell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HEI Hotels & Resorts
Christopher J. Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Hotels Corporation
Gilles C. Pélisson, Chief Executive Officer, ACCOR
Mitesh B. Shah, Senior Managing Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Noble Investment Group
Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
W. Edward Walter, President and Chief Executive Officer, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Conference Program