Sometimes I think it’s incredible that any of us continue working in the travel industry. Despite it being exciting, extremely high-touch, and of course we get to visit remote corners of the globe while ‘working’, it’s perhaps one of the most volatile industries on the planet. Natural disasters, diseases, coups, fuel prices, they’re all entirely beyond our control and have massive direct impacts on our businesses. Just when a year looks set to be the best ever, a flood comes, a new disease hits newspaper headlines and everything changes overnight. Yet we stick with it. There’s something powerful to be said for that.
Travel affords us an opportunity to not only relax and move beyond our usual communities, it allows us to learn more about our common man, reaffirm our place in the world and realize we have more in common with others than our differences. To play a role in shaping those experiences is extraordinarily fulfilling and an honor. Connecting people, putting smiles on faces and creating memories around the world is a dream and passion that’s tough to beat.
To the road and memories ahead!
Scott Coates
Scott:
I concur with your thoughts on the importance of travel and its meaning for those of us who work in the industry.
I’ve expressed similar sentiments in my travel tech blog, which is followed by hundreds of my colleagues within Expedia and which I recently began publishing externally as well.
–Thomas Crook
tctreview.com
P.S: I hope to get to your part of the world in the not-too-distant future. My son spent a couple of years in Thailand, mostly in the north and east, and loved it.
Thomas,
Thanks for the comment and glad to hear we’re on the same page. Interested in read your blog on Expedia.
Do stay in touch and should you make it to this part of the world feel free to drop me a line and we can meet up.
Scott