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Saturday, January 17, 2009

The symbols of belief

I live in the New York City area within a short distance to three major airports, which makes searching for flights much easier as I have, literally, three times the opportunity as others in the country to find an affordable flight. In light traffic, it takes me 45 minutes to get to JFK, 35 minutes to LaGuardia, and only 20 minutes to Newark. What I didn’t realize until this past Thursday was I am sitting on the bank of the area’s newest runway just beyond my back yard: the Hudson River.

This past Thursday afternoon, simultaneously, a shocked nation watched TV reports summarizing the spectacular water-landing of a US Airways airliner on the Hudson River, the Secret Service was rehashing their detailed plans to keep our President-to-be safe on his railcar ride into Washington, and construction crews were assembling the presentation platform and viewing stands for a Presidential Inauguration. All three events either resulted in or promised positive results.

The travel industry is languishing in a slowdown that mirrors our crippled economy, and Tour Pros are searching for a sign to let us know our 2009 Tour season will have its own positive result. It’s as though we are on that turbulent US Airways flight and we’re hoping for the best possible landing, no matter how rough, just as long as we survive. I feel the same as many of you just about now, where’s “Sully” when we need him?

Tour Pro veterans have suggested in tough times it’s a good time to diversify from your norm. The problem right now is, even if we do want to try an adult tour after “only” doing student tours or step-on work, the opportunity to do such may not be there anyway right now. New Tour Pros who are entering the market at one of the worst times since Fall 2001 must certainly be questioning their decision to jump head-first into the industry through an expensive training program which does not guarantee any work. What kind of immediate success can they expect? Luckily, in January 2009, there’s a Presidential Inauguration to not only offer hope, but also, a paycheck.

We’re all looking for leadership that can “right the ship,” “steady” our ride, bring us a sense of stability, opportunity, and compensation. A new leader of our national government is normally a time when hopes begin to rise. FDR in a troubled decade like the 1930s, JFK in the 1960s, and Ronald Reagan in the American hostage environment of 1980 all were a steadying influence. With our national psyche balancing on shaky ground, Barack Obama has his opportunity to be that man.

His nostalgic and historic railcar ride from Philadelphia to DC was a symbolic way to usher in the new hopes and leadership for the country. The smooth rails of the backwoods of the Northeast Corridor could be likened to the foundation of the steady and smooth return to normalcy of a pre-2001 America. Among the millions of needy Americans begging for a sign of hope, the Presidential Express rolled though the nation’s first state as though searching for a stable spot to re-launch a country’s hope for the future.

Every year during our spring Tour season on the East Coast, Washington, DC, is a staple of thousands of tours for all ages. From the day-trip spin around the National Mall, to the multi-day marathon of 20-plus monument and memorial stops, East Coast Tour Pros need DC to be running smoothly to ensure a profitable spring tour season. New leadership in the District could be the key. As thousands of Tour Pros navigate the Inauguration and gear up for the new President’s “take-off” into the leadership role, we can gain some hope and confidence that the new year and new administration can help bring about an upswing in the tour industry and boost bookings for our tours. You needn’t be a mathematician to know consumer confidence equals more tourism dollars.

There will be no quick fixes, but all of the symbolic signs of the impossible becoming possible, the rough road turning smoother, and the hope for tomorrow taking flight in DC are there. Each of you will need to stay upbeat and supportive of one another as we struggle through this slowdown as a community. I am certain if we share our successes, pass along extra job opportunities to Tour Pro friends, and support one another after a tough tour or experience, we will move forward with solidarity.

Just when everything around us seemed to be breaking down, or not working as promised—a splash landing confirmed systems can work and miracles can happen. We don’t need a miracle, per se, to show us a bright future, just solid leadership and the belief we can get through the toughest of times together. We need to believe in a turnaround that, right now, is as hard to make out as a runway on water.