Women Kicked Off Napa Wine Train Sue for Millions
Civil rights attorney Waukeen McCoy has filed an $11 million dollar lawsuit in federal court for racial discrimination, defamation (libel) and breach of contract on behalf of the 11 women kicked off the Napa Valley Wine Train in August. Specifically, the group is suing Napa Valley Wine Train, Inc., Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Ltd., Brooks Street Property Management, Inc., Kim Powers, Kira McManus Devitt, and Anna Marquinn.
On Aug. 22, 2015, in an episode that attracted a crush of attention on the social media, the 11 women—eight members of a book club plus three of their friends—boarded the Napa Valley Wine Train for a birthday celebration. Less than halfway into the trip, after some other passengers complained to staff that the women were being loud, the women (ten of who are black) allege they were targeted by the Wine Train staff because of their race and kicked off the train for “#LaughingWhileBlack.” As they were disembarked, the plaintiffs, aged 36 to 85, were marched through the six cars comprising the entire train and turned over to police who detained the women.
Napa Valley Wine Train officials posted a false statement, the women charge, on their public Facebook page alleging the book club members directed “verbal and physical abuse towards other guests and staff,” necessitating police involvement in the incident. That statement, though later deleted, was republished by countless international, national and regional media outlets seen by millions of people.
With Funding Stalled, Choose Chicago Cuts Staff and Closes International Offices
A budget stalemate at the state government level has resulted in the elimination of 28 positions at Choose Chicago. The bureau’s president and CEO, Don Welsh (left), announced the cuts Oct. 9 as the failure of state legislators and Gov. Bruce Rauner to reach agreement on a budget acceptable to both has frozen $7.2 million in funds.
The job cuts include layoffs of 15 full-time employees, nine part-time employees and four temporary staffers, represent a 26 percent reduction in headcount at the office to 78 employees, 70 of whom are full-time. Welsh also announced the closures of Choose Chicago’s offices in Mexico and Canada.
The state provides about 40 percent of Choose Chicago’s $30 million annual budget. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority contributes 30 percent, with the city funding and private donations making up the balance.
What Do International Travelers Need to Earn to be labeled “Affluent”?
In the just-released survey report, Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015, respondents who fell into the income bracket listed below are classified as “Affluent” travelers for the purpose of the study. The definition complies with the minimum income requirement for ownership of Visa premium cards. (INBOUND REPORT insight: When we ran the figures through an exchange rate conversion service, we thought that the income levels in some of the nations were low. It seems as if the figures used are median—as opposed to average—figures, indicating that just as many individuals are above the figure as are below. As such, the travelers surveyed likely fall above the median figure.)
Affluent Travel Levels for the Americas
| Country | Monthly Income Level |
|---|---|
| Brazil | BRL 10,801 ($2873) and above |
| Canada | CAD 10,001 ($7,723) and above |
| Mexico | MXN 82,001 ($4,990) and above |
| USA | $9,001 and above |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
(Dollar amounts based on exchange rates of mid-day Oct. 10, 2015)
Affluent Travel Levels for Asia Pacific
| Country | Monthly Income Level |
|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 8,501 ($6,234) and above |
| China | RMB 10,001 ($7,334) and above |
| Hong Kong | KKD 50,001 ($6,542) and above |
| India | INR 80,001 ($1,235) and above |
| Indonesia | IDR 15,000,001 ($1,106) and above |
| Japan | JPY 747,001 ($6,210) and above |
| Korea | KRW 7,000,001 ($6,098) and above |
| Malaysia | RM 15,001 ($3,627) and above |
| Singapore | SGD 11,001 ($7887) and above |
| Taiwan | TWD 67,001 ($2,075) and above |
| Thailand | THB 100,001 ($3,097) and above |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
(Dollar amounts based on exchange rates of mid-day Oct. 10, 2015)
Affluent Travel Levels for Europe and the Middle East
| Country | Monthly Income Level |
|---|---|
| France | EUR 4,851 ($5,510) and above |
| Egypt | EGP 21,001 ($2,682) and above |
| Germany | EUR 3,251 ($3,691) and above |
| Kuwait | KD 1,686 ($5,583) and above |
| Morocco | MED 24,001 ($2,491) and above |
| Russia | RUB 70,001 ($1,133) and above |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 20,001 ($5,334) and above |
| South Africa | ZAR 30,001 ($22,46) and above |
| United Arab Emirates | AED 25,001 ($6,907) and above |
| United Kingdom | GBP 6,001 ($9,195) and above |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
(Dollar amounts based on exchange rates of mid-day Oct. 10, 2015)
WTF? Brits willing to be Weighed at Airport
A recent poll of U.K. travelers conducted by Holiday Extras showed that more than half (58 percent) approve of weighing in at the airport prior to boarding a flight and would be content if heavier passengers had to pay more to fly. Also:
—Forty-five percent said they would be unaffected by having to pay fares based on their weight;
—Six percent said they would be encouraged to use an airline that implements weight measures; but
—One in five (21 percent) of those surveyed indicated they would boycott an airline that made weighing in a requirement.
The Visa Global Travel Intentions Study’s Answers the Question: Are Travelers Spending More or Less?
From the just released authoritative publication, the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015, come survey results showing that, globally, travelers are tightening their belts, resulting in a general decline in leisure travel spend. Over half of the countries surveyed for the study have either maintained or decreased their travel expenditure. On a brighter note, almost all countries with the exception of the current top three spenders—Saudi Arabia, Egypt and China—are expecting to spend more in their next holiday. Below are the median travel budgets per trip as reported by travelers. (The Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015 was commissioned by Visa to Millward Brown. The study was conducted with 13,603 travelers, aged 18 years and above across 25 countries in January and February 2015.)
Overall:
—Travelers anticipate spending $2,281 on their overseas trip in 2015
—They actually spent a total of $2,390 in 2013.
Shifts in Travel Spending
2013 to 2015
| Category of Spender | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Those who expect to spend more | 36% |
| Those who expect to spend less | 36% |
| Those who expect to maintain same level of spend | 28%% |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
Top Five Spenders 2015
| Travelers Country/Market | Amount of Spend |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | $5,866 |
| Egypt | $4,917 |
| China | $4,780 |
| Brazil | $3,942 |
| Australia | $3,603 |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
Bottom Five Spenders 2015
| Travelers Country/Market | Amount of Spend |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | $1,145 |
| Hong Kong | $1,290 |
| UK | $1,297 |
| Germany | $1,297 |
| France | $1,297 |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
Top Five Increase in Spending between 2013 and 2015
| Travelers Country/Market | Amount of Increase (%) |
|---|---|
| Egypt | 100% |
| Brazil | 33% |
| Mexico | 30% |
| Indonesia | 30% |
| China | 25% |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
Top Decrease in Spending between 2013 and 2015
| Travelers Country/Market | Amount of Increase (%) |
|---|---|
| France | -33% |
| Germany | -33% |
| Morocco | -25% |
| Canada | -20% |
| Taiwan | -20% |
Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015/Prepared by Millward Brown
Surprise! (NOT) Almost All of the Most Expensive Hotels in USA are in NYC
Manhattan has just been recognized as having the seven most expensive hotels in the United States. A recent survey conducted by Luxury-Hotels.com has come to this conclusion and has singled out The Ritz Carlton (left) and the Mandarin Oriental as the leaders of the group.
In coming up with the rankings, the survey compared luxury hotels in major cities across the United States. The cheapest available rate for a double room during the month of October 2015 served as the basis of comparison. The survey selected October as the comparative month because hotel rates reach their average peak in the majority of U.S. cities, New York City included, at this time.
The Central Park region of Manhattan is home to the two priciest hotels in the country, The Ritz Carlton and the Mandarin Oriental. Each averaging a minimum nightly rate of $995 for a double room, they share the survey’s number one spot. Coming in just five dollars cheaper in the third spot is The Baccarat Hotel, which is situated in Midtown Manhattan as well.
The following table shows the 20 most expensive city hotels in the United States. The prices listed indicate the cheapest available rate for a double room during the month of October 201
Most Expensive City Hotels in the USA
| Hotel & Rank | City | Nightly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mandarin Oriental | New York City | $995 |
| 1. The Ritz-Carlton Central Park | New York City | $995 |
| 3. Baccarat Hotel & Residences | New York City | $990 |
| 4.The St. Regis | New York City | $945 |
| 5. The Plaza Hotel | New York City | $893 |
| 6. The Peninsula | New York City | $845 |
| 7. Park Hyatt | New York City | $834 |
| 8. Montage Beverly Hills | Los Angeles | $800 |
| 9. SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand | Las Vegas | $789 |
| 10. The Lowell | New York City | $785 |
| 11. Trump International Hotel | New York City | $756 |
| 12. The Mark | New York City | $725 |
| 13. Crosby Street Hotel | New York City | $725 |
| 14. Hotel Plaza Athenee | New York City | $720 |
| 15. The Carlyle | New York City | $720 |
| 16. The Chatwal | New York City | $716 |
| 17. The Sherry Netherland | New York City | $699 |
| 18. The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows | Los Angeles | $687 |
| 19. Mandarin Oriental | Boston | $675 |
| 19. The Greenwich Hotel | New York City | $675 |
| Source: Luxury-Hotels.com |
A Note on the Methodology: The survey was conducted in September 2015. For each luxury hotel located in a U.S. city (population > 500,000), the cheapest available rate for a double room during the month of October was established. Only two- or three-night stays have been considered, excluding Sundays and Mondays. So for stays of four nights or more, more affordable rates may be available
HODGE PODGE—Shifts, Shakeups and Occasional Shaftings in the Tour and Travel Industry
Saga Travel has appointed Jeannette Linfoot, former Tui director, as managing director of its tour operating division. In this newly created position, she will be responsible for all of Saga’s tour operating brands: Saga Holidays, Titan and Destinology. At Tui, Linfoot has been managing director of emerging markets. Prior to her work with TUI, she spent a number of years as product director at First Choice and head of product at Thomas Cook. She starts in her new position with Saga on Dec. 1.
Emerson Camilo is the new CEO of Flytour Travel Solutions (or Consolidadora Flytour) in Brazil. He comes to Flytour from Advance Turismo where he had been director of sales for more than seven years.
Titan Holidays managing director Jackie Willis has left the company take on a new role at luxury tour operator Scott Dunn as sales and services director. Andy Squirrell, director of product and operations, will succeed Dunn who had served at Titan for 10 years. Squirrell, who joined Titan in 2003, becomes commercial director, a title Willis held for many years.
Jim Ricketts, the longtime director of the Virginia Beach CVB, has announced that he will retire April 1, 2016. He became the bureau’s director in 1988. Prior to that, Ricketts held various positions in tourism/convention center management with the city of Virginia Beach beginning in 1974.
Kristin Jarnagin has been named president and CEO of the Long Island CVB. She comes to the post from the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, where she served for seven years, lastly as interim acting president and CEO following the departure of Debbie Johnson, who left to become director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. Jarnagin succeeds Yan Baczkowski, who resigned last April after less than eight months on the job for what he said were personal reasons.
Kelly Cavers has been appointed senior vice president of group sales at Discover The Palm Beaches, the official tourism marketing corporation for Palm Beach County, Fla. Cavers has nearly two decades of experience in hospitality sales and marketing and she most recently served as vice president of intermediary sales at Choose Chicago. She was also national sales director at the San Diego CVB for more than five years.
The Grand Canyon Resort Corporation has announced the appointment of Mark Mortenson as its CEO. He comes to the position after serving for eight years as president and CEO of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, an organization that manages the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, N.Y. Prior to that role, Mortenson spent 20 years working his way up the ranks at the Walt Disney Company, lastly as vice president of global operations management. The Grand Canyon Resort Corporation is owned by the Hualapai Tribe. It oversees operations of Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon Skywalk, Hualapai River Runners and the Hualapai Lodge.
