Comments for AirPlus Community http://www.airpluscommunity.com Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:18:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on The Travel Promotion Act by Spencer Hanlon http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Spencer Hanlon Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:18:24 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-173 This is nothing to do with Visas to my mind and so any attachment to the visa waiver or visa required visitors is a red herring. This is an entry tax pure and simple. The challenge with that, as with all trade related tariffs, is that they ultimately don't work. Usually they are imposed by others in retaliation and ultimately the benefit is canceled out. However, what is more concerning is the fact that measure is so counter intuitive to the goal. I want people to do more (i.e. visit the US) and so I will charge them more to do it (i.e. tax them). Unless the US is planning on marketing themselves as a destination in the same way you would sell a Swiss watch or an Italian luxury handbag, I don't understand the strategy beyond simple taxation of non voting taxpayers This is nothing to do with Visas to my mind and so any attachment to the visa waiver or visa required visitors is a red herring.
This is an entry tax pure and simple. The challenge with that, as with all trade related tariffs, is that they ultimately don’t work. Usually they are imposed by others in retaliation and ultimately the benefit is canceled out.
However, what is more concerning is the fact that measure is so counter intuitive to the goal. I want people to do more (i.e. visit the US) and so I will charge them more to do it (i.e. tax them).
Unless the US is planning on marketing themselves as a destination in the same way you would sell a Swiss watch or an Italian luxury handbag, I don’t understand the strategy beyond simple taxation of non voting taxpayers

]]> Comment on The Travel Promotion Act by Richard Crum http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Richard Crum Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:32:44 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-172 Many people will be 'surprised' by this new legistation.  It was tagged on to a bill regarding police enforcement rather than subject to Congressional debate.  Obama will say it creates new jobs.  I predict it will create 11 in the new government tourism group and then cause 1k job losses when tourism is reduced becasue visitors don't see the new fee as a welcome mat. Many people will be ’surprised’ by this new legistation.  It was tagged on to a bill regarding police enforcement rather than subject to Congressional debate. 

Obama will say it creates new jobs.  I predict it will create 11 in the new government tourism group and then cause 1k job losses when tourism is reduced becasue visitors don’t see the new fee as a welcome mat.

]]> Comment on The Travel Promotion Act by PWD http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-171 PWD Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:16:22 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-171 I suspect the US travel industry will be surprised when it will find out that the 10-$-fee will be seen very negatively by travellers. I suspect the US travel industry will be surprised when it will find out that the 10-$-fee will be seen very negatively by travellers.

]]> Comment on No carte blanche for body scanners by arri http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2010/02/23/no-carte-blanche-for-body-scanners/comment-page-1/#comment-170 arri Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:44:03 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1931#comment-170 What about security checks at train- or busstations? It's just a drop in the ocean to install body scanners on airports and it won't solve the problem itself. We need a better international cooperation in searching for dangerous persons. What about security checks at train- or busstations? It’s just a drop in the ocean to install body scanners on airports and it won’t solve the problem itself. We need a better international cooperation in searching for dangerous persons.

]]> Comment on Agent’s Corner: Here’s to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ with Norman Gage by Spencer Hanlon http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2010/01/21/agent%e2%80%99s-corner-here%e2%80%99s-to-%e2%80%98auld-lang-syne%e2%80%99-with-norman-gage/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Spencer Hanlon Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:56:35 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1837#comment-169 Good article and Norman can't be questioned on his understanding of the industry. However, I have to question his take on Twitter,  I think that it will increasingly become important in B2B communication and will be the precursor in realtime information to other channels (<em>FB, LI etc</em>). That is unless Google wave or another paradigm changer appears on the stage. As in most things, I think first movers are going to get the advantage here. Good article and Norman can’t be questioned on his understanding of the industry. However, I have to question his take on Twitter,  I think that it will increasingly become important in B2B communication and will be the precursor in realtime information to other channels (FB, LI etc). That is unless Google wave or another paradigm changer appears on the stage. As in most things, I think first movers are going to get the advantage here.

]]> Comment on Frequent Business Travelers by Don Marikovics http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/03/06/frequent-business-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Don Marikovics Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:23:08 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=992#comment-163 I don't think IATAN cards are much good for discount air any more.  FAM tours at resorts perhaps but not air. I don’t think IATAN cards are much good for discount air any more.  FAM tours at resorts perhaps but not air.

]]> Comment on Post-Recession – Has the travel management landscape changed permanently? by Debra http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/10/27/post-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Debra Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:42:54 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1559#comment-161 Post Reccession certainly has changed the landscape, but for the better I think. If you are to adapt, you can compete.  The changes for TM\'s appear to be cyclical. Now, we are offloading the services duties to the TMCs (they are cheaper) for now. Trust is a major issue. Post Reccession certainly has changed the landscape, but for the better I think. If you are to adapt, you can compete.  The changes for TM\’s appear to be cyclical. Now, we are offloading the services duties to the TMCs (they are cheaper) for now. Trust is a major issue.

]]> Comment on Agent’s Corner: A ‘Time for Change’ with Julie Oliver by gerd http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/10/15/agent%e2%80%99s-corner-a-%e2%80%98time-for-change%e2%80%99-with-julie-oliver/comment-page-1/#comment-160 gerd Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:53:02 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1526#comment-160 Interesting article! We have made the same experience: the days of business and first class travels seem to be over (long before the economic crises has started). Not only for economic but also for ecological reasons. So more flexibility and new services are needed. Interesting article! We have made the same experience: the days of business and first class travels seem to be over (long before the economic crises has started). Not only for economic but also for ecological reasons. So more flexibility and new services are needed.

]]> Comment on Univ’AirPlus 2009, 4th Annual Conference took place August 25, 2009 in Paris by motta http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/09/03/univ%e2%80%99airplus-2009-4th-annual-conference-took-place-august-25-2009-in-paris/comment-page-1/#comment-158 motta Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:24:35 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1426#comment-158 I confirme it was a big sucess. I enjoy to learn some news about the Travel world. Perhaps think about a manner to give the chance to the people who don't know them eachother to enter in contact. Because in those meeting people stay with people they already know. perhaps with a game ? Patricia Motta I confirme it was a big sucess. I enjoy to learn some news about the Travel world.
Perhaps think about a manner to give the chance to the people who don’t know them eachother to enter in contact. Because in those meeting people stay with people they already know. perhaps with a game ?
Patricia Motta

]]> Comment on Poll: Business Class – used seldom for short trips by gerd http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/07/03/poll-business-class-used-seldom-for-short-trips/comment-page-1/#comment-155 gerd Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:21 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1291#comment-155 I totally agree: everybody should think twice, if business class is really necessary. I totally agree: everybody should think twice, if business class is really necessary.

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