Destination: The World. Read on for stories from the detours.
Want to know what’s wrong with this scene? Just about everything! Too many people chaotically all trying to check in simultaneously. Notice there are no bellmen or hotel staff trying to assist anyone? Yeah, we did, too! I’ve just returned from a working trip to Las Vegas, and sometimes when I say that to people […]
Read MoreIf so, there’s plenty to choose from, especially here in Orlando. And in particular if you’re one of the many, many people who actually put this sentence on your resume or job application: “I’m such a PEOPLE person, I know I’ll be perfect for this job! People just LOVE me!” Well go ahead, gag all you want, but some people, and you know who you are, really do put this on their job application. But good news for all you people-lovers, because guess what? Seriously, what kind of jobs are out there that don’t require some form of interaction with actual live human beings at some point? (Okay, I do recognize that there are a lot of virtual workers in the world now; but still, even those jobs must require just a tad of playing-nice-with-people-when-necessary, right?)
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It’s February, so I’ve decided to share a short list of things I’m currently loving on. Why? Because it’s February and, you know, the month of looove, right? So here goes: 1] Luscious green, ripe, and ready to eat Florida grown avocados that I cut in large chunks and add to a yummy salad of mixed greens, always including […]
Read MoreOkay, stop rolling your eyes! Before you judge me, this IS NOT another random commentary for or against “Fifty” that, like it or not, has only just begun to push it’s way into our sub conscience. Like a tidal wave that’s been churning out in the ocean searching for a landing spot on which to explode, once the movie is released in another week, http://www.50shadesofgrey.com, even the two people left on this planet who have never read the books by E. L. James , http://www.fiftyshadesofgrey.com will now be forced into discussions and conversations about red rooms, blindfolds, and, um, “oh my”, what people do with those whips in the bedroom.
Lucky for you that’s not what this post is about. (Pause for disappointing sighs from some readers who now feel mislead by this blog title. I guess this is where we say goodbye? . . .)
Read MoreWell, if you’re staying at any number of local hotels, it very well could be. You see, Orlando has definitely embraced the newest members of the traveling world, that being the pampered pet community. Yes, hotels have gone to the dogs. And cats. And while I hesitate to think of what other types of animals people travel with these days. . .for now, let’s just concentrate on the ‘normal’ ones and leave the exotic and creepy pets where they should stay which is in the wild, or at the very least a zoo. I mean, at home with their owners. Yeah, that’s what I meant.
So, let’s suppose you have a beloved dog or cat and can’t leave home without this pet. And let’s also assume you travel in style so, of course, Fido/Princess/Lassie/Boo would expect nothing less for his or her vacation either, right? Where to go? No seriously, where should you go, specifically here in Orlando? Believe it or not, we have plenty of choices. Some that may even surprise you.
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I was. First there was this: Challenger exhibiting a normal, beautiful and breathtaking launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Then, seconds later, there was this: Disaster in the sky above my house. Now do you remember? Whether you were ‘there’ or not, most everyone remembers where they were or what they were doing when […]
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And that right photo right there is proof positive! That’s also how my week of dog-sitting daughter’s 8 month old puppy began. One minute I was opening the January mail and smiling to discover timely receipt of first client payment of the new year, and then next minute I turned around to make a quick visit to the […]
Read MoreHere in Orlando, it would appear that we have a corner on the weird and wacky market known as tacky tourists.
Read MoreI think not, because everywhere you turn this time of year you discover a new ‘ice thingie’ here in town.
In the mid 70’s when I first arrived on the Orlando scene, it was just the occasional tiny ice rink that would pop onto the scene around the holidays, kind of like those Teflon ones you find on some of the cruise lines. Then RDV opened their Sports Complex in Maitland including the Ice Den and voilà, next thing you know we have an actual hockey team here in Otown. Soon, the great, big sprawling Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel opened and immediately began featuring an incredible annual ICE! exhibit which just gets more creative and bigger (and more expensive, as a fellow Hype Orlando blogger recently posted) every year, followed by the city of Winter Park adding their popular ice rink for public skating. Next up not one, but two ice bars in the tourist corridor on International Drive. Ice Bar Orlando, located right on the Drive, and Minus 5 Ice Bar, which you will find at Pointe Orlando. So, what next? An ice show with professional skaters for all to enjoy based at a local hotel? RC_Holidays on Ice logo
Why yes, thank you!
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And the above picture is proof positive! In case you can’t tell by the huge smile on my face, that was A-OK with me even though I had to travel about three hours in air time to find the fluffy white stuff. You see I live in sunny Florida so any chance I can get […]
Read More. . .and, here in the Hive, we believe that’s always a very good thing. Of course, ‘RaK’s’ are welcome any day of the year, but for some reason as we approach the twin goodness of Thanksgiving and the mother-of-all holidays that closely follows, it seems even more pertinent to acknowledge the need to pay it forward – if only in the tiniest of ways – as much as possible. So, in the spirit of being grateful for a multitude of things, how about trying a week’s worth of random acts of kindness? To get you started, here are seven easy ones that are basic and inexpensive but could leave lasting impressions:
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This one’s for you, pops. Just a quick post from my heart on a special day of remembrance. Wanted you to know that today, just like every other Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Flag Day, I made sure to stop and chat with Harry, the wheelchair-bound disabled vet that parks himself outside my grocery store […]
Read MoreThat’s right, a food truck. Who knew? For most people (myself included) familiar with the Four Seasons message of over-the-top luxury, the tag-along of a food truck would never be in the same sentence. Yet here I am writing about both. One from the standpoint of ‘been there, experienced that’ and the other, well, guess […]
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On a recent business trip to New Orleans I heard something shocking, and I’m quoting it here verbatim: “New Orleans is the #1 tourist destination in the world now!” Huh? Pretty sure that would be news to our Orlando CVB, who’ve spent the last year playing host to a record 55 million visitors, +- a few thousand or […]
Read MoreHaving some fun this week in the spirit of Halloween, so I’m sharing some shortened versions of “scary event stories” that have happened to professionals, myself included, who work in this industry. To be clear, these stories are all true. But, in the spirit of ‘protecting the innocent’, I’m not divulging any names/places. Not now. Not never!
What I can tell you is that as a veteran planner in this industry, there’s no need to make this stuff up because crazy things really do happen all the time, everywhere meetings and events are held. And yes, even here in Orlando. Just ask any one of the over 200,000 hospitality employees that live and work here.
Read MoreWhether or not you’re a frequent flyer or just occasionally visit ‘the friendly skies’ (I know use of that quote dates me but seriously, that’s what we used to call them and hey, news flash – before 9/11 many flights actually were consumer friendly and enjoyable), you’ve probably seen some of the recent safety videos offered up by most of the major carriers. Although I’m not sure who went first, I think it might have been Virgin Airlines with this sexy, funky, crazy version released last year and now seen by over 9 million people.
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Here he is, the Prince of my life, aka Kirby. Well you ask for it so here it is. A little story about the animal affectionately known as “It’s Not My Dog.” Okay, yes, he does have another name. Some call him Kirby, and most of the time he answers to that. Me? I call […]
Read MoreKeeping up with industry buzzwords, I learned recently that we have left the SERVICE economy behind us and are now in the EXPERIENCE economy. (Technically, this happened a few years back. For data and details, check out the book The Experience Economy by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore that was last updated in, um. 2011. Full Disclosure: Not the first time I’ve been late to the party. Just sayin’ .) Anyway, here in the wonderful world of hospitality we still believe that service is king, oh yes we do! But, the current challenge is to find more and better ways of providing excellent service experiences at the same time that we’re embracing unemotional systems, policies and procedures.
To put it in a hospitality-hotel nutshell, if you’re smoking your iPhone and are addicted to technology (yes, you out there, currently tapping your thumbs on your you-know-what), do you really want or care about that smile delivered with your room key at hotel check in, or would you prefer to bypass human interaction at the front desk and unlock your room with an app that you’ve downloaded on your very own hand-held piece of legal crack (aka iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Nokia Lumia, or whatever you’ve got)?
Read MoreSome have theme parks named after themselves. Others, hotels. Some refrain from using their personal moniker when naming their creations, at least until the time is right. Robert Earl is one of them.
Known in Orlando (mostly) for being the British brains behind Planet Hollywood, many are surprised when they hear his empire includes Buca di Beppo, Earl of Sandwich shops, and so much more. Today we’ll cover part of the ‘and more’ because now Robert can add TV show to his resume. And apparently, the time is right since he’s chosen to call it Robert Earl’s Be My Guest. Premiering this very month on the Cooking Chanel, Be My Guest follows Robert’s continual quest to take us on culinary excursions, but this time we’re leaving Orlando (although not in every episode) and doing some traveling.
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Read any good books this summer? I have (cover photo above), and wanted to share a little ‘Astronaut Wisdom’ . What’s that, you say? You think Astronaut-speak is above your IQ level? So did I, but when I heard about this book I couldn’t resist taking a peak inside their upside down world, and was so […]
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Terry's World Travels 