Good news on the travel front heading into summer

By Marti Mayne

After years of rather dismal news regarding travel trends in the United States, Travel Industries of America has handed down some morsels of optimism in their predictions for travel this summer. Specifically, business travel, leisure travel and inbound foreign travel are expected to increase, which would be a boon for the Mount Washington Valley.According to the annual travel forecast, overall traveler spending by domestic and international visitors is forecasted to increase 4.4 percent in 2004 to $568 billion, up from $544 billion in 2003. Even better news is that by 2005, the level of spending forecasted to reach $594 billion will finally surpass the record set in 2000, considered a record year by most in the travel industry.Increasing for the first time since 1999, U.S. residents are forecasted to take more than 122 million business trips in 2004, an improvement of 4.2 percent from 2003, according to Travel Industries of America. In 2005, business travel will increase 3.5 percent to nearly 127 million trips. For those Mount Washington Valley resorts and inns that host business meetings and retreats, this comes as welcome news. And lodging members of the Mount Washington Valley community will be delighted to hear that, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, summer occupancy levels of the lodging industry are expected to increase to the levels seen in 2000, considered by many as a record year. On a national level, hotel occupancy is expected to rise this summer to 69.1 percent, an increase of 2 percent over summer 2003.Even better news comes as we begin to see a return of visitors from overseas. A weak dollar means that European, Canadian and United Kingdom currencies now buy more in the United States, making traveling once again more appealing. Add tax-free sales and a wide variety of shopping and outlet options, and Mount Washington Valley is once again in a position to market aggressively to visitors from Europe and the U.K. According to Travel Industries of America, after falling steadily for three years, international inbound arrivals to the U.S. are forecasted to increase 5 percent annually in both 2004 and 2005. This translates to more than 42 million international arrivals in 2004 and more than 44 million in 2005. International traveler spending in the U.S. is forecasted to increase 5.5 percent in 2004, to more than $69 billion, and increase nearly 8 percent in 2005 to $75 billion. Optimism is high as PowWow, Travel Industry of America's annual gathering of tourism organizations and tour operators from around the world, closed its annual marketplace last week with a great deal of interest in visiting New Hampshire.What does this mean for Mount Washington Valley businesses? Spend the quiet months of May and June gearing up for a strong summer and fall foliage season. Ensure that all employees are fully trained in customer service and understand your mission to provide the best possible experience for your customers as possible. For those who work outside businesses that interact directly with tourists, please extend a hearty and friendly welcome to those who visit the region this summer, for indirectly, the valley's entire economy is based in one way or another on successful tourism. While most don't need a reminder, don't forget to head to the Mount Washington Hotel Thursday for the sixth annual Business to Business Expo, the largest networking opportunity in the North Country. The educational sessions, fabulous trade show, luncheon featuring the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce awards recipients, and the Winefest and silent auctions all combine to offer a fabulous day for businesses throughout Mount Washington Valley. Don't miss out on the fun and fabulous business opportunities offered at the annual Business to Business Expo.Marti Mayne is publicist for the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.