Travel Industry Fights Back; Stresses Importance Of Face-To-Face Meetings

from the battle-in-the-press dept

Mon, Sep 18th 2006 11:25pm — Mike Masnick

It pretty much never fails. Over the past few years, whenever there's been a new airline-related terror threat, or as the price of plane tickets has shot up, someone, somewhere, comes out with an article about how online meeting software companies like Webex will step in and rescue the stranded business traveler, meaning that he or she will never have to travel for meetings again. Either that, or articles will simply quote travelers saying that they'd rather use such tools than fly anywhere. The PR folks for Webex must be thrilled. However, on the flip side, folks in the travel industry must be getting worried, because they've sent out their own PR folks to push the alternate side of the story: you just can't beat a face-to-face meeting, even with all the technology out there. Now, both sides have some truth to what they're saying, but it's still amusing to see the travel industry going to the press with their side of the story.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

11 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Steve E, 19 Sep 2006 @ 2:11am

Travel trouble
The travel industry is notorious for kneejerk marketing activities in response to any kind of crisis. Anything to keep sales at the levels they would like them to be at! At times the marketing can be slightly macabre or on the edge of decency as well, as was proved by a campaign to keep Britain flying after the recent terror alerts.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Overcast, 19 Sep 2006 @ 6:30am

Sure maybe a 'face to face' meeting's a little bit better....

But is it worth the cost, time, and effort of traveling?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger, 19 Sep 2006 @ 8:44am

Just last week
I drove for 12 Hours just to avoid a flight that would have eaten up a total of 5 hours. Cost me half the price to.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bmojo, 19 Sep 2006 @ 9:10am

Re: Driving
I definitely prefer driving over flying. There is no hassle or restrictions, im on my own schedule and its much more relaxing. Only time i will fly is if its more than a 15 hour drive, and even then if i have the time, i would really consider driving.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wayne-o, 19 Sep 2006 @ 9:24am

yeah
Yeah i agree with every one and the driving thing, if you ask me though i think airline compaines are looking at it all wrong, if they still want to comepte with a business that isnt even in there field then they should go into the field as well, example northern airlines should buy out a voip companey or a video over ip compeny to compete
[ link to this | view in thread ]
William C Bonner, 19 Sep 2006 @ 9:46am

Face to Face over Teleconferencing
I prefer Face to Face over teleconferencing, especially for kick off meetings, where you are meeting peopel for the first time.

That said, all of the new flight restrictions make air travel such a pain. If I have the money to do things right, I could fedex my toothpaste to the hotel, but what happens when I can no longer carry my business on the plane with me? (my computer)

I just don't see the survival of the air industry as we know it, with security restrictions makeing it hard to justify the travel.

Seattle to Portland by car = 2.5 hours. Seattle to Portland by plane = 0.5 hours, plus airport security and wait time to leave = 2 hours. Then you've got to rent a car in portland. Just 5 years ago, you could arrive 20 minutes before the flight and be fine, making a portland shuttle get you from seattle to portland in an hour.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
chris (profile), 19 Sep 2006 @ 10:11am

flying business class is cool dammit!
business travel is cool. i look really cool when i fly in my suit. people see me looking cool as i talk to someone on my cell, and get my laptop out on the plane. i get to use my credit card a lot and that looks cool too.

if you internet hippies with your telemarketing or whatever it is you call it just don't understand looking cool. that is why i will always fly, because it makes me look cool.

if you can find a way for me to bone cocktail waitresses in cleveland using webex, then i will consider it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Sep 2006 @ 11:49am

The Saviour of the travel industry..
If the porn industry figured out how to legalize prostitution in some state (think "we make your personalized porn flicks STARRING YOU for you to take home with you") then just htink of how many people would fly to that state....

Finally the travel industry would be able to leverage sex properly in its advertising.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
hatesflying, 19 Sep 2006 @ 2:51pm

Airlines suck
My dad works for an airline. Has since long before I was born. Because of this, I get to fly comparatively frequently- especially since we live in the USA and my family lives in western Europe.
You know what? I HATE flying. I don't care much for teleconferencing- hell, I can IM people and it's easier- but if I could drive, I'd drive to and from St. Louis, or to and from a port, where I could take a ferry or something. I honestly hate having to go through not just security, but the massive hassle of dragging baggage around for an hour or more, plus going through a dirty airport to get on a smelly, airless plane so I can sit still for several hours. It just doesn't do it for me.
The airline industry should stop whining and REFORM. I don't have any useful suggestions, really- perhaps making airports smaller and easier to get through would be a major step forward- but someone, somewhere has to have good ideas, and the airlines should listen. The current business model for most airlines is a failure. It loses money AND costumers, who are frequently treated like they're inferior by disgruntled staff.
There's nothing nice about the airline industry, except that it allows quicker travel to faraway overseas places.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Sep 2006 @ 8:22pm

Re: The Saviour of the travel industry..
Prostitution IS legal in Nevada, and in addition in many
many other modern countries.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jim (profile), 25 Sep 2006 @ 9:14am

Re: flying business class is cool dammit!
Yup, thats why corporations are trying to eliminate travel.
[ link to this | view in thread ]