The New York Times

Finally some time, back in my hotel room in Orlando, after a day of interviews, to trust the happenings of the last few days to my blog. It all started last Friday, when I was reading the online FrequentCrier magazine. For a survey on hotel prices, people were encouraged to share their opinions. Since I travelled a lot for the past couple of months, I definitively had an opinion, so I responded in a quick email. To my utter surprise someone from the New York Times was on the phone asking me some more questions and if it would be okay if I would be quoted in an article? "Oookay", I said hesitantly, "what about? A whole article about higher hotel prices?" Yes, and by the way what would be a good time for a photographer to come by? "Emmm, do you realize I live in California?" I stammered. Oh yes, but we have photographers in that area as well, so what do you say?
Okay, I guess I was flattered or something like that...in the New York Times? I think someone is pulling a leg on me. But low and behold, Saturday morning 11AM Peter DaSilva arrived at our curb with his camera and lenses. A very amicable, relaxed guy who made some 50 pictures in 10 minutes without much ado. Asking him about his experiences, he said one day he would do a session with a head of state and the next day make a story with homeless people. Fascinating!
On Monday some last minute calls from the New York Times to verify their text with me and if it was okay to call me marketing consultant instead of analyst (what is the big deal here, but hey, if that makes or breaks their story, no problemo!).
The end result an article in the New York Times on February 14 in the business section: "More sticker shock for the weary" (does that make me a "weary"?) Interesting how they pull a story together:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/business/14hotel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Yesterday was a day of travel. Leaving at 6am from SFO to Orlando via Salt Lake City. I had forgotten how beautiful the rockies are. At the airport in Salt Lake City I saw the snow topped mountains lining the horizon. A view I hadn't seen since 1990 when I was living in Colorado Springs. That brought back memories, one standing out us driving home from the hospital with a brand new baby in the car (Robin), looking at a similar horizon, thinking, wow, now we are a REAL family! Which brings me to the point that we should go back to Colorado for a vacation. It is sooo beautiful here, and the people so friendly. One other thing I noticed at the Salt Lake City airport was that I am starting to recognize which area the people are coming from. A lot of laid back, comfort shoe, flannel shirt and long hair types comingled with the black suit mormon young guys. No, I am not trying to simplify anything, just noticing and observing. It is sooo cool (or "sweet" according to Robin) to travel!