Since an astounding 49 out of 50 states are facing snow right now, we wanted to offer a moment to daydream about warmer climates and sunny getaways…
If you could abandon the cold right now, where would you go?
the Bahamas
Mexico
St. Kitts and Nevis
Tortola
[All of these gorgeous photos were taken from Jetsetter – a travel site offering the ultimate selection of vacation spots at discounted rates. If you'd like an invitation click here.]
A series to get your creative juices flowing for your interior design firm’s blog. [Link to earlier posts: Introduction/first set, numbers 6-10, numbers 11-15, numbers 16-20, and numbers 21-25]
Tempo Miami. (Photo: Elle Decor)
Check back next Monday for the remaining ideas in the series! (Are we saving best for last?)
I’m currently sitting on an Alaska Airlines flight, flying from DC to Seattle. It’s a long flight, the seats are average size, and the paid snacks are average too. However, there are some remarkable things about this flight that do not just have to do with Alaska Airlines.
This plane has WiFi. Yes, I realize that this technology exists but it’s surprising how many planes do not still have the service (come on airlines, get with it). I was excited to learn that we would have WiFi, but imagine my glee when I found out that Bank of America (who is the credit card backer of the Alaska Airlines Visa) would be covering the cost of the WiFi for all Alaska flights this month. Typically the WiFi is up to $12.95 for a flight of this length. I have a Bank of America credit card, and now I’m more likely to keep that card and to consider B of A for other banking and credit card needs. I don’t know how the deal worked between B of A and Alaska, and I don’t really care. I do care that I have free WiFi right now; my experience with Alaska is better and I like Bank of America more.
Bank of America win.
Alaska Airlines win.
Alaska Airlines also has these cool electronic devices called DigEPlayers. This means that for a fee, you get your own digital player that is preloaded with several movies, TV shows, music videos, music, and more. This is mentionable in and of itself because I like that I can choose what I watch and I don’t have to strain to watch a movie that I didn’t really want to see in the first place on an overhead screen. I mentioned that these DigEPlayers have “More” and this is where we find another joint venture win. I scrolled through the menu and found that the player has Soundview Executive Book Summaries. I have seen these advertised in a magazine, and they did not look inexpensive, but imagine my glee (AGAIN) when I found that I could choose from over 45 business books and hear the executive summaries during my flight. Now I’ve been able to try out this service, while I’m a captive, bored audience, and now I will be more likely to actually purchase this summary subscription
In-flight boredom eradicated... (at least on Alaska Airlines!)
from Soundview because I recognize the value and I like that they entertained me.
Soundview Executive Book Summaries win.
Alaska Airlines win.
Since I really enjoyed listening to a couple of these executive summaries, I found that I wanted to know more than just the 20 minute soundbyte on a couple of them. This means that I opened my Firefox, went to Amazon, and bought the books…from the sky. I’m sure this is SkyMall taken to a whole new level.
Amazon win.
Author win.
Alaska Airlines win.
So, the next time that you are thinking about running your company as an island, think about how much happier you could make your customers or clients if you give them things that may not cost you any extra but mean a lot to them. People remember what made them happy and when they were happy. Shouldn’t that be in your store, in your office, on your website, or on your flight? I’ve almost even forgotten about the $20 that Alaska charged me to check my bag.
By the way, for inquiring minds that may want to know, I bought Seth Godin’s Free Prize Inside and Rohit Bhargava’s Personality Not Included. I will keep you posted.
The Gibson Design Management team has been on the road a lot recently– from New York City to California to Boston and Anguilla (and beyond)– ’tis clearly the season to vacation. Out of a great appreciation for travels past, present and future, the team has gathered some of their best jet-setting memories:
“My funniest vacation memory comes from a much earlier family vacation at Club Med in Florida. There were a lot of fun acrobatic activities that my sister and cousins were all excited to try. I had my first trapeze experience and loved flying (and falling) through the air. The embarrassing part comes in when they asked the kids in our family to participate in their weekly circus performance. Not only were the routines humiliating, but the outfits made it so much worse… bright pink unitards (I wish I was kidding)!” – Amanda Butterworth, Senior Director, Creative Services
Amanda flying high in Florida
“On our family road trips I was always the kid who had a knack for having to use the ladies room in the most unpleasant parts of town. It coined me the nick-name ‘ghetto-bladder.’” – Lolly Rush, Project Manager
“One of the funniest vacation memories is one that I am sure many share with me. My parents, two brothers and I took a road trip to Yellowstone in the mid-60’s, and the assault on our olfactory senses made for many giggles, both then and now!” – Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services
“I have quite the arsenal of embarrassing and funny family vacation memories. One that really stands out, however, happened during our family trip to Disney World when I was about seven years old: my little brother (maybe three at the time) accidentally pooped in the pool at our hotel. Of course, it wasn’t just any pool but instead a gigantic, snaking resort water park that meanders between all sorts of crazy slides and fake islands. Needless to say, not too many people enjoyed the water that day. But on the bright side, the hotel really took its sanitation policy seriously.” – Jessye Aibel, Associate, Social Media & Online PR
And here are some of our favorite vacation spots & best vacation memories:
“I love traveling to the Caribbean for short vacations. It’s typically not too expensive, is easy to get to from DC, and, although I’m someone who seems to be going full-throttle all the time, the Caribbean is good for my necessary downtime. Funny part about the beach is that I don’t really like salt water getting in my mouth so I only like swimming in the pool. I blame my parents for making me gargle salt water when I had tonsillitis as a kid… I also have an unnatural fear of being eaten by a shark. I like the tropical drinks though, so that balances out the shark fear.” – Alexandra Gibson, President/ CEO
“My favorite vacation was my family’s summer trip in 2004. My mom’s side of the family is Cuban and everyone (aunts, uncles, cousins) went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a big family vacation. We stayed at a beautiful resort, enjoying the sandy beaches, perfect water, great pools, and fun cocktails. Even though I was too young to legally drink in the US, I was old enough to have a few margaritas in Mexico! We also enjoyed a lot of perks because some of my family could speak fluent Spanish with the resort employees.” – Amanda Butterworth, Senior Director, Creative Services
“My family used to travel once a year to the house my grandfather built in Jamaica. We have an old family video of me dancing with my dad to Bob Marley when I was about three years old, and albums and albums of funny pictures. Some of my best childhood memories were in that house, and I’ve missed it since the day it was sold!” – Jessye Aibel, Associate, Social Media & Online PR
Me (Jessye) and my little brother Mike in Jamaica
“My favorite vacation was my honeymoon 14 years ago. My husband, Brent and I, decided to do something a bit off the beaten path. We rode his motorcycle from Denver (our home) to California, along the PCH and then back! 3400 miles, 11 days, sights and sounds of the beautiful Western U.S., a trip never to be forgotten.” – Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services
“My favorite vacation was our family trip to Bermuda. I was only 8 but still have a vivid memory of the beautiful beaches of horseshoe bay, and falling asleep to the sound of horse hoofs from the horse drawn carriages carting visitors down the cobblestone streets.” – Lolly Rush, Project Manager
