I am writing from the Hotel Indigo San Diego while attending the 2009 NBTA Convention. Courtney Centeno and I flew out from JFK on the United PS Service to LAX and then down to San Diego over the weekend.  I was excited to experience the PS Service, as it is the only airline to offer a domestic cross-country premium-service-only flight — a lie-flat first-class seat, a business class and premium economy class.  The entire aircraft was spacious and comfortable, and we arrived in a quick five hours, nine minutes.

It was a pleasure to arrive in San Diego where the weather was in the low 70s and sunny, a welcome break from the heat and humidity of NYC.  I was anxious to attend the first day of the trade show on Monday to gauge the overall feeling of the travel industry looking ahead to fall 2009 and 2010.  People are overall optimistic, but there is no doubt 2009 has taken its toll on all industries, especially the world of travel.

 

During the general session Monday, we heard from senior executives and CEOs from NBTA and business travel corporations Sabre and Dav El Limos.  Each message incorporated and encouraged everyone. An upswing in travel is in motion.  They also noted the importance of business travel, not only for our own travel segments, but for the overall economy.  Business travel encompasses over $90 billion worth of business a year, and the more people are on the road for business, the better it is for the economy.

The general session  ended with a keynote speech from five-time Olympian Dara Torres, otherwise known as the 41-year-old mom who swam and medaled three times in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her motivational speech focused around her book, Age Is Just a Number. The message: With drive, persistence and passion, anything is possible.  Her story was truly inspiring. With the same drive and passion, we will be certain to see a positive change in both the arena of business travel and the economy.

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher