To me, consumer travel shows are carnivals of crass materialism. Walking the halls, I wonder how many of the participants really believe in what they’re selling. Sure, there’s good information hiding — but it’s a challenge for a visitor to sort through the advertising to find it. Slaloming past human Statues of Liberty and boy-toy human peacocks marathon-dancing to steel drum bands, I considered the various slogans tourist boards and travel companies posted to lure potential travelers to their booths.
Puerto Rico — No passport required. (Why would a traveler want one of those?)
Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp. (Imagine lunching with Elvis look-alikes on your next vacation.)
Jamaica — Once you go…you know. (You do?)
Eldertreks — Exotic adventures for travelers 50 and over. (I made it…old enough for a tour company with “elder” in its name.)
Nevis — Everything you’ve heard is true. (Can “nothing” be true? I learned it’s an island in the Caribbean…apparently a nice one.)
Bimini Bay — A paradise beyond imagination. (They underestimate me.)
Israel — Who knew? (Is there something I should know?)
Fiji Me. (Kalamazoo you.)
LOT Polish Airlines — You’re under our wing. (How does it smell?)
Air Ambulance Card — We bring you home. (No thanks.)
At the Saxony tourism booth, at first I saw no sign or slogan, just two men in black suits.
Still, each year we ship our best tour salespeople and tons of brochures to these shows (in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York)…getting the word out to people who come by the booth to say, “You’re taller than you look on TV. I love your TV show and we never miss your radio podcast. Oh, I didn’t know you did tours.” I fly home thinking, “I guess travel shows are worth the effort.”
Rick You give the atmosphere of the show very well……..I have attended many computer (IT) shows and there is always lots of hype. ……….Usually there are nuggets to be found………..For me the best learning and part of the experience is meeting and talking to people in the same field as me……….Keep Bloggin’ Rick…………Thanks.
LOL
Rick, Trade shows are worthless except for the fun your employees have on your dime. I have worked tons of them can you tell?
Personally I don’t like trade shows, I have been in a business for years that have many trade shows, and it is just a sales show for product after product when in my industry we need more training and less useless products that don’t work and waste peoples money! Judy
My friends went to the Seattle show and stopped by your booth. They said they had a friend (me) who has done a bunch of your trips in the past couple of years and the person there asked if they were talking about me. When they told me that story, I felt like a good customer and had a good laugh too. I’ve done 5 RS tours since 9/06 and I hope I can do 2 more in 08. With the currency conversion continuing to slide, I’m thinking I should probably stay home and work more instead. I’m a pretty big fan of all your products and not shy about letting people know.
One of the main reasons I choose your tours, Rick, is due to the prominent place that you give to tour members’ opinions. It is extremely helpful to me when I am trying to decide where to visit. A second reason is that everything important to see is planned expertly by someone besides me. I currently spend my whole working life in a leadership role so vacation really works when I can give responsibility to someone else.
Ditto to Talia’s remark. I’m a retired government manager and I don’t want to make major decisions that waste my travel time. Rick and his tribe make it easy for us . . . we can maintain the spirit of independent travel in a an organized way! Thanks for all you do!
Rick & co., Can’t thank you enough for the blog from Iran, for the experiences you shared — and most of all for the way you approach such a sensitive subject. The way you interact with the Iranian people is so important, as just another human being, a caring human being. It’s so important to put a human face on yes, the Iranians, but also on Americans in place of the bluster and bravado that comes from our government. THANK YOU! I appreciate the risks you took (not in Iran ;-) ), but from the American government and your prospective travelling customers who believe the nonsense coming from our government. I’m a big fan and plan to travel with your company some day — for now heads down getting my new business off the ground. Thank you again and again for your good works. best wishes, – Linda
old enough for a tour company with “elder†in its name ummm… that’s an odd comment. Elder means more mature and wise, somebody who may be older than you, but not necessarily old. You do realize this, right? It almost sounds like you think it actaully means ‘old’. Granted maturity and wisdom do come with age. As a village elder your comment sounds disrespectful. Usage Note: The adjective elder is not a synonym for elderly. In comparisons between two persons, elder means “older” but not necessarily “old”: My elder sister is sixteen; my younger, twelve. (Eldest is used when three or more persons are compared: He is the eldest of four brothers.) In other contexts elder does denote relatively advanced age but with the added component of respect for a person’s achievement, as in an elder statesman. If age alone is to be expressed, one should use older or elderly rather than elder: A survey of older Americans; an elderly waiter. · Unlike elder and its related forms, the adjectives old, older, and oldest are applied to things as well as to persons
Significantly valuable your recently amazing post for my attitude. I currently have attained much because of your existing blogs in addition to thus this is my best repute to say on this good feelings together with you.Wish a lot of people could advance much more through the address as well as computer.Offers thanks.
Really cool website to help you get the cheapest price on ghd hair straightener across the entire internet as well as provide useful tips, hair styling advice and reviews to help you make the most of your hair. Definitely worth checking out!
Rick, let me say first that I LOVE watching your show! I like how you are so informative. Especially about the different levels of travel a person is interested in such as things like choosing a hotel, a bed and breakfast, a hostal, or a room rented from a family home! Or where to eat…a trattoria, ristorante..commercial or private/family owned! Your information is so interesting. I want to purchase the video of your show when you did the "cinqua terre", of Italy. I am sure my spelling is off but hopefully you will know what I mean. Also, I am planning to go to Puerto Rico this Christmas and I wanted a segment of your show on any info you have about that. Please be in touch and let me know how to go about obtaining th info I am interested in. It is a real pleasure watching your show and I look forward to hearing from you about my interests. Melody