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Looking for a Port in a Perfect Storm? Look Up Futurist Chris Sanderson |
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With the near-term economic outlook so daunting, we took refuge, and some comfort, in the recent pronouncements of the co-founder of The Future Laboratory in England.
And yes! There's hope, and good sense in all he says. Take a quiet moment, and see if they resonate with you, as many did with me. Selected highlights:
- "Business centers will be more important than spas in the next ten years" because of the conflation of business and leisure - which Sanderson labels "bleisure."
- The "mix" in how people plan travel "has become muddied." Even as travelers use the Internet more, "in some ways travel agents have become more important than ever because they have the voice of authority."
- The key words in travel will be Truth-Transparency-- Trust.
- Travel is increasingly becoming about the things money cannot buy - experiences and emotions are treasured.
- In a trend that Sanderson calls "Slowtopia," tourism will once again be about the "glamorous departure" and the "languorous, civilized journey".
- The more hectic and fragmented a consumer's daily life, the more he or she will be interested in slower, more meaningful and more immersive experiences. That is why cruising should continue to grow in popularity.
- Hotels will become "local cultural hubs" that promote local communities and artisans. The Fox and Anchor, a restored traditional pub in central London, houses six luxury rooms upstairs.
- Embracing and facilitating consumers' new behaviors is the key to survival. Counting on the power of new technology to enhance customer relationships, Sheraton has introduced a social networking facility on its site, on which travelers are invited to share travel stories, recommendations and photos. "Tying together the advantages of a known, global brand and the capabilities of the Internet, a personalized travel experience could be created to surprise and delight." See www.thefuturelaboratory.com for more about Chris Sanderson.
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