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The Herman Trend Alert April 23, 2008 US Losing its Tourism Lead to China For years, the United States has held the number one position as the world's most popular travel destination. However, according to the World Tourism Organization, by 2015 China will be number one. Some hotel chains, including Wyndham Worldwide, are already making moves to capitalize on this trend. The chain opened its first hotel in Beijing in 2004. Since then, it has grown to have 67 properties in China, including Howard Johnson and Days Inn locations. The chain Super 8 intends to double its mainland locations by the end of the year. According to Mitchell Presnick, Super 8 China's chief executive, "When economies experience this kind of growth, one of the first things that happens is people want to travel". (from BusinessWeek) Overseas tourists are flocking into China to see the Great Wall and the Terracotta Soldiers in Xian. Interestingly, tourists seem to be unconcerned about the current unrest in Tibet. As the fourth most popular destination country, behind France, Spain, and the US, China enjoyed visits from 132 million tourists who spent USD$42 billion in calendar 2007. One of the factors in China's tourism growth is the August Olympics, expected to attract 820,000 visitors from overseas. This year, China expects to have 150 million foreign tourists, an increase of 14 percent over 2007. In addition, the Chinese are increasing their domestic travel. This uptick is expected to spur tourism revenues to grow by some 18 percent, to reach $183 billion. This increasing competition for the US travel industry, which employs more than 17 million people and generates $740 billion annually in economic activity, is why Tim Schneider of Schneider Publishing is backing a grassroots initiative for the National Tour Association to create an executive branch Office of Travel & Tourism. The NTA will also push for the adoption of the Travel Promotion Act, which would provide funding to promote the United States as a travel destination in the international marketplace. Other countries have been strongly supporting tourism for years. Look for the US, in anticipation of the Boomer retirees' desire and resources for travel, to put some promotional dollars behind this long-overdue effort. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! If you've been thinking about attending our valuable Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program, don't delay--only three spaces remain. With the employment market heating up, many positions are literally impossible to fill. Attend this course and you will learn dozens of low-/no-cost valuable strategies to attract and retain the talent you need. Recertification credit from HRCI. Next program: May 22-23, Charleston, SC. Call Carol at 336-282-9370 or visit http://www.employeeretentionspecialist.com. GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. NEW BABY BONUS Book Joyce to speak on the West Coast in 2008 and receive 100 of her books of your choosing. There is a new baby in the family, Spencer Jay, and Joyce would appreciate more opportunities to watch him grow. For more about Joyce, visit http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html or call Joyce at 336-210-3548. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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