“Debi, do you realize that many people don’t want to come to your country…that is why virtual meetings demand will increase” is the message I heard three weeks ago during a conference call with a Supplier with attendees from U.K., France, and Netherlands. Virtual and hybrid meetings are increasingly becoming a normal delivery method and meeting planners are encouraged to learn more about digital events.
Do you want to learn more about how to deliver digital events? Apply for a Digital Event Institute Scholarship here… https://www.facebook.com/PCMADigitalExperience/ or here: http://www.pcma.org/pcma-education-foundation/scholarships/student-scholarships#.WNml2qK1s2x
If the message I heard is true, and if the Travel Ban and U.S. Government Budget Cuts will affect our travel, then Virtual Meetings will be important to add to your Meeting & Event Program.
How will the Travel Ban affect Meetings, Events and other businesses? Listen to Kevin Iwamoto in this audio clip:
In addition, the Travel Ban and Budget cuts may affect small, rural airports, rail services as well as college tuition.
How can you affect change in our industry? GET involved and call your senators and congress.
“The Essential Air Services program would be eliminated, which means many small or rural airports would have to close. If you rely on these rural airports to fly out of where you live, you'll be faced with a much longer drive to the airport.” “Amtrak will also take a hit, with funding changing to focus on the most popular routes, like the Northeast Corridor. Train service may shrink to just 23 states”
“Consider how restricting immigration of foreign students studying at American colleges will affect tuition costs. College student debt is a concern of everyone regardless of political affiliation. Recent proposed travel bans, temporarily at least blocked, has led to some chaos among non-immigrants college students from abroad.”
Debi Scholar