experience. community. perspective.
Volume 2 // Issue 3
THE TRAVEL ISSUE 1
Field Notes This issue has been one of the most enjoyable that we have produced. After all, we live it; we all love to talk about traveling, the tips and rewards that we have gained along the way, and how it can positively alter your life. Here are five reasons we love traveling. 1. To escape. Travel delivers a temporary break from the routine of our daily lives. It offers us new adventures and excitement. Venturing off to a new location, we become intrigued by all the new things that surround us. We overlook our jobs, our responsibilities, and all our other obligations. Moving to a different beat allows us to escape. 2. To learn. Whether learning a destination’s history or learning a new language, traveling allows us to discover many unique things. We become educated in the ways of life in various cultures. We learn how our lives intertwine and how we influence one another. We travel to absorb new learnings. 3. To make new friends. Traveling in groups can be the best way to go! When traveling, we meet people of different backgrounds and experiences, and every one of these encounters can play an important role in your life, whether a new friend or even more.
experience. community. perspective.
4. To discover. Whether an up-and-coming locale, a new favorite restaurant entrée, or a fascinating museum, we travel to see and experience new destinations and people and uncover more about ourselves during the journey. Throughout the trials we face and the experiences we gain, we discover our tolerance, strengths and limitations, and untapped potential. 5. To experience. This reason is an all-encompassing one. We travel to experience what the world has to offer. Experiencing local culture can be rejuvenating and stimulates creativity. We can experience what it is like to communicate through body language when we do not know how to speak a specific language, try new cuisine, see natural wonders of the world, or even volunteer for a cause in need. We can also see, in most cases, that not much is different from our own lives back home filled with family, friends, and love. Experiences shape and define us and bring meaning to our lives. We hope you enjoy the Travel Issue as much as we did writing and designing it. - Matt Dunn
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PUSH Magazine
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Facility Spotlight
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14 8 Techniques to Save for the Perfect Vacation 22 How Travel Will Change Over the Next 5 Years
experience. community. perspective.
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25 4 Methods to Cope with Travel Anxiety
Maximize Your Vacation 32 6 Vacay MustHaves
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Travel Season Health Tips 36 Industry Confidential 5
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Matt Libber FACILITY SPOTLIGHT
Maryland SoccerPlex What is your title, and how long have you held the position with the Maryland SoccerPlex? Executive Director, January 2019 What is your current organizational structure? The SoccerPlex is a non-profit located on 160 acres of the larger 700 acres of South Germantown Recreation Park. This park is part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission system, and we work within a public-private partnership with that organization. In addition to the SoccerPlex, the park includes a swim center, tennis complex, driving range, archery range, BMX track, miniature golf course, splash pad, community garden, picnic pavilions, three baseball, two softball, and one miracle field, a cricket pitch, and a $6M playground. What is the % breakdown of your revenue? We generate all of our revenue through operations and sponsorships. We received no tax dollars for operations or the original construction beyond the nominal annual lease subsidy. How are you working with your partners to grow the game of soccer? We are the home venue for approximately ten different soccer clubs in the area and host tourna-
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PUSH Magazine ments for 4 of them. We were previously the home venue for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL until 2020 and are now the home venue for the Maryland BobCats of the NISA, the third tier of professional men’s soccer in the US. We also operate a 4,000 member recreational soccer league, and run soccer development classes, clinics, and camps. We provide around $50,000 in scholarships annually for our in-house programming. We also run an adult soccer league yearround, including indoor sessions during the winter. In addition, we partner with the local school system to provide after-school programming at the schools. What other sports, besides soccer, does the
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Maryland SoccerPlex cater to? We provide various field sports outdoors, including soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, ultimate frisbee, flag football, etc. We provide space for volleyball, basketball, twirling, cheerleading, martial arts, CrossFit, and indoor soccer. We are pretty versatile in our ability to host events. We are also the second-largest convention space in the County and host tradeshows, concerts, and cultural events throughout the year. How many weeks is your facility scheduled? We have some level programming every day of the year except for a few holidays we close, like Christmas and New Year’s Day.
experience. community. perspective. Any expansion plans for the facility? We pretty much maxed out on space at this point, but we plan to improve the facility to make the customer experience better. These may include campus-wide WiFi, updated restroom facilities, shade structures, additional lighted fields, etc. What have been your biggest challenges in switching from a rights holder to a facility executive? Sitting at a desk. I have always been more involved in the operations side of events. During the workday, I struggle to sit still sometimes and give myself projects to break up the day or week. I have been known to paint walls, install hand sanitizer posts around the park, work with the grounds crew, or clean out storage areas to not sit at the desk. The other thing is dealing with politics. Being on Park property has its challenges, including dealing with bureaucracy at times which can be frustrating. As a rights holder, if the politics were too much, I would find a different venue. I cannot pick up a 24 field complex and Fieldhouse and move it to a new County. In what capacity are you and the Maryland SoccerPlex working to help win a bid for World Cup Soccer? The SoccerPlex is officially listed as a proposed training site for both the Baltimore and DC bids. We promote both from the SoccerPlex perspective. I am part of the Baltimore Bid Committee and assist with planning for training venues and the Activation Committee to host events to drum up community support for our bid effort. Your efforts on the Sports ETA Board have been impressive. Tell us about that journey and the need for updates to the organization’s structure. I have served on many Boards and have seen lots of different governance models, some good
and some bad. Over the last few years, SportsETA has undergone many changes, and our governance model needed to be updated as the Industry changed. We now look at common sense, like making Rights Holders full voting members, which seemed like a simple concept but was not part of our organization structure until the changes we pushed through in 2019. There are still quite a few things I want to change, including the board of directors’ makeup and the nominations process. Anyone who has been around SportsETA (and NASC before the name change) can see how much more engaged the membership is now than ever. We need to harness that and grow the offerings from the organization. It also means changing the way we do business and govern the organization. There is no reason in 2021 that a rights holder or hotelier cannot be the Chair of the Board of Directors. Is there an issue you are pushing for the future? The efforts from myself and others like Ben Hoffman, William Knox, Michael Grade, and Mike Millay, to name a few, to get the Facilities Summit up and running has been fantastic for SportsETA and the Industry as a whole. There has always been a gap in education and networking for facilities staff within the Industry. This is something I was working on before I even took the job at the SoccerPlex. We now have momentum behind us to build on the foundation we established in 2019, and we see a lot of interest. I also made a name for myself during the pandemic. I became the voice for sports organizations in Maryland and the region to bring sports back safely and effectively. We were able to get over 90 soccer clubs in the Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia area to join together to create a co-operative to help each other out through the pandemic. These are usually organizations that don’t get along, compete on the field, and compete for players. We saw these groups sharing information, training curriculums, and resources to make sure everyone survived the pandemic. It was a site to see for sure, and we are working to keep that spirit of cooperation going post-pandemic. 11
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Let’s get to know you Where would you most like to live? Italy. The food, the people, the history. That being said though I am a proud Marylander and do not think there is a better place to live. We have the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, the Mountains, farmland, basically everything but a desert. We have great food, a mix of north and south, tons of history, pro sports in every category, etc. There is a reason Maryland is nicknamed “American in Miniature” What’s the most prized possession you have in your office? I don’t think it is a single thing but rather a collection of keep sakes from events I have worked on and/or created. It includes a signed ball from the Honduras National team from a Gold Cup I worked, signed jerseys from Tottenham and Southampton both of which were partners when I worked at Elite Tournaments, the collection of credentials from various events, etc. If I had to narrow it down to one though it would be my 6th Place plaque for the High Jump of the 2011 NAIA Track and Field National Championships. No I never ran track or competed in the High Jump in my life. It was a gag gift from Jamie Adams, formerly of the NAIA, but it reminds me of the great relationships I have made in my 20+ years in sports tourism. What do you enjoy doing outside of work, what are your hobbies? Travel is the number one thing. My wife and I love to explore new places. I love visiting National Parks, especially ones related to history. I plan to visit every brewery and try every beer before I die. And my brother and I started a quest nearly 15 years ago to “Do the 92” where we see a game in all 92 stadiums in the English Football Leagues. With relegation and promotion the list of 92 is always changing so we may never be done the journey is the best part. What is your favorite sporting event annually? Opening weekend of the English Premier League is always something I look forward to. Hockey playoffs are always great to watch (Let’s Go Pens), and the Ravens vs Steelers in Baltimore is always a great game.
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We all had thoughts of traveling again during the pandemic, whether it be for work or pleasure. Maybe you had to postpone a bucket list trip in 2020? Your bucket list could include a guided kayak trip in the Florida Keys, sailing throughout the Caribbean for a week, seeing northern lights while in Iceland, or eating your way across Italy. Someday, we will strive to make it happen. But that is just it. Your vacation fantasies will stay daydreams until you finally take action to make them realistic. You have selected the destination; now, paying for it is the next step. Read on for eight sensible techniques to build savings for the vacation you dream of. 1.Create a Reasonable Goal The amount you intend to sock away should be realistic, considering your annual income and monthly expenses. If you are carefully squirreling money away every month but do not feel like you are making headway, you likely will give up saving altogether. First, we should work on the order of things. We all map out our ideal vacation, and only after think about the cost. It is much more effective to determine a reasonable dollar amount first and then carve it away when planning a vacation. Set your monetary goal, then divide the total amount by the number of months you have until your desired trip date, then create another expense to your monthly budget for that amount. 2. You Come First It happens to all of us once monthly bills hit our 14
8 Techniques to e for the Perfect Vacation experience. community. perspective.
inboxes and mailboxes. It can be challenging to find anything left over to apply to your vacation fund after all your bills are paid. Trust us; the money is there if you create a method to secure it. Consider setting up an auto-transfer from your checking account to your savings account each time you receive your payroll deposits. If possible, open an account specifically for your vacation fund. When separating funds from your savings account, you will be hardpressed to use them for other expenses. Interest rates are currently low right now, so research
where your money is going. Search for savings accounts with the highest possible interest rate. The money you earn from interest rates could cover dinner at that restaurant in your dream destination. 3. Use Savings Apps Several apps can build your trip fund with almost no effort. For example, the Acorns app rounds up your expenses to the nearest dollar and invests the funds into a custom portfolio built with your input. You will not notice the rounds up as they are withdrawn 15
PUSH Magazine from your account, and before you know it, you will have hundreds of dollars saved. 4. Pick Up the Tab at Dinner We have all been there – after a great dinner with friends, family, and laughs; you are ready to leave, only to sit around waiting for a server to split checks and run several cards. Mistakes happen, and of course, you could be overcharged. Offering to place the dinner check on your credit card can help pay for your vacation and help to create a smoother dining experience for all. Make sure you have a rewards credit card that gives you bonus points. Have your friends give you cash or pay you back right away with a payment app, such as Venmo. 5. Ask for Discounts Have you ever asked for a discount on your cable or phone bill? How about car insurance rates? If you have not done so for a few years, reach out to those companies. Many people will use the method of letting your current service provider know you are thinking of switching to another company. Nine times out of ten, they will give you a more favorable rate plan. When discussing these options with customer service representatives, be kind but firm. If you are looking for a different resolution, reach out again a few days later. Taking fifteen minutes of your time could result in finding another twenty-five dollars to add per month to your vacation fund. 6. Master Meal Planning Enjoying a new, favorite restaurant and good times with friends and family are important and cherished. Of course, we all do it – times when we spend money on expensive take-out, especially after a trying workday. Then there are the Starbucks visits, oh the Starbucks visits! Senseless spending deters us from saving up for the items we truly seek – like booking a few nights at a resort for the family to getaway. If you have saved a respectable amount of money or paid off a daunting amount of debt, you likely did so by sensible grocery shopping, cooking yourself, and eating at home. 16
It can take time to break the habit of dining out but organizing yourself before grocery runs to determine what you will eat throughout the week will save you significantly over time. Think about the exceptional cuisine you will be experiencing while on vacation. 7. Research a House Swap Lodging is always one of the most significant expenses we incur when taking a vacation. Instead of dropping a credit card on resort lodging, consider coordinating a house swap that will save you tremendously. A house swap can be a positive experience if you are willing to dedicate time to finding the right family to trade with. HomeLink and Home Exchange companies can help save folks around 80% of annual travel expenses by using their services. Or, while on your vacation, renting out your home by using Airbnb, VRBO, or HomeAway to make additional cash for your trip. 8. Use Your Skills At some point, there are only so many ways to cut your expenses. Increasing your income may be the next best way to increase your trip fund. We all love a good side hustle (if your employer allows you to do so). Do you have a particular skill that you enjoy and can create additional income? Maybe you are an artist and have an avenue to sell your artwork. We have a sports commission director that cuts neighbors’ lawns on the weekends for extra cash. Dog walking, babysitting, whatever works, and does not stress you, can be an excellent source of cash to add to your vacation fund. Setting a grand revenue goal with a side hustle can be daunting. Start small and work to make a few hundred dollars a month. Be sure to select a side hustle that you thoroughly enjoy. The last thing you need is more stress from creating a scenario that provides you with less free time. Creating a vacation fund will provide you with the cash you are looking for to take your bucket list trip that you will never forget.
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Maximize Yo
We, in the United States, are never the best at taking all our allotted vacation days. During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, we were awful at doing so for obvious reasons. We figured, why would we use up all our paid time off when we really cannot leave our family rooms? Due to the pandemic, 92 percent of our workforce canceled, put off, or missed a vacation. That is a significant number of unused days necessary to recharge, reset, and relax. This all leads to a massive pent-up demand for a break.
Combine that with vaccinations on the rise, restrictions lifting; we are all amped to take a break—our initial reaction to all that is absolute happiness. Let us face it, we all need a breather. However, during the pandemic, though loosened, traveling still presents a unique set of challenges. This stimulates questions surrounding what is safe to take in and with whom? We should leave those to our health authorities. We also must consider increased prices. Be sure to book early and use every trick you have ever learned about booking travel to find discounts. Finally, daring ahead after over a year trapped at home poses hurdles, from social etiquette to anxiety to the burden of making your vacation exceptionally terrific following a rough patch. Here are five quick tips to make the most out of your vacation experience for those feeling stress over maximizing their opportunity. Plan far out. This is easier said than done, considering the instability of the situation. Though the further in advance you can plan, the more pleasure you will feel from your trip. We have seen from past research that vacation planning and the anticipation of a trip is sometimes seen as more fun than taking it.
our Vacation
Book one week, no less. We have read several studies that show the best vacation stay for complete relaxation is a total of eight days. Go off someplace. We have all seen the famous quote, “your environment influences what you draw from memory, so out of sight is literally out of mind.” Do we need an explanation of why it is so important to leave your everyday surroundings? Traveling to a different environment helps us all think about life, professions, and other obligations conceptually rather than exclusively. Reduce post-vacation anxiety. If you are worried about customer service and the number of emails dropping into your inbox while you are on vacation, you will have difficulty trying to enjoy your beach view, frozen cocktails, and loved ones. Before leaving on vacation, block time to be proactive regarding delegating tasks, conveying ideas, and setting expectations. Your time off will be so much calmer due to your efforts. Forget the phone. The fewer photos you take, the more you will recollect your vacation; research proves it. Additionally, the more you use your phones, tablets, and laptops, the easier it can be to be persuaded into working. Use a tangible schedule for your trip on paper, if need be, rather than keeping the information on your devices to reduce the number of times you use technology. Our best suggestion is not to allow anyone to influence your decision to take the maximum amount of time off as reasonably possible. Going on a vacation is not an extravagance; it is necessary for mental health, notably in 2021. Therefore, if you have guilty feelings, repeat to yourself that a ton of research and evidence proves you will be a more productive, happier overall individual if you take the time to reset, recharge, and relax. Happy traveling!
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Raconteurs President/CEO Matt Dunn on How Travel Will Change Over the Next Five Years The sports tourism entrepreneur sees changes in travel behavior due to pent-up demand. Matt Dunn, President/CEO of Raconteurs, has created new brands to help guide the sports tourism industry back from significant revenue loss in 2020 and 2021. Here, he forecasts travel trends that will define the next five years. How do you see travel changing over the next year? Domestic travel will rule next year. We will see people exploring surrounding cities within their states, heading out on short weekend getaways, and visiting friends and family across the country that they have not seen in a year or more. Cleanliness and hygiene will stay top-of-mind, and we should ex22
experience. community. perspective. pect vaccine passports will become required for international travel. All of us in the industry should continue to focus on public health protocols, as an effort to enhance hands-free experiences will put visitors at ease. What will change over the next five years? We will see the pre-virus rate of global travel continue to rise. The requirement of vaccine passports for international travel will fade over time. However, business travel will look and feel much different. It will be hard to justify, especially those direct government employees, a scenario where we are back to taking cross country flights for a day or two of business meetings. The pandemic has proven some of these meetings can now easily be organized and accomplished on Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. While technological advancements have created a remote working lifestyle, I predict increased multi-year rentals rather than ownership and shared resources among individuals and organizations. Also, short-lived relocations will turn out to be the new style of business travel. The virus showed us how
emotionally connected to travel people are. What trends will shape travel in 2025 and beyond? The adoption of self-governing vehicles in large and upper-middle markets should make travel cheaper. Virtual reality will help make remote work and person-to-person connectivity more accepted. As the sharing economy grows, it is realistic to expect that wandering, flexible lifestyles will gain recognition. How can sports tourism professionals take advantage of these shifts? Any opportunity to capitalize on the emotional attachment of consumers to travel should be sought out, especially in sports tourism. The pandemic revealed how inaccessible and imbalanced travel can be, with some opportunities only for the fortunate. That balance needs to change.
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4 METHODS TO COPE WITH
TRAVEL ANXIETY Are you feeling tense about traveling in 2021? Here are four methods to help make your business travel go a bit easier. More and more people are getting vaccinated, and we see signs that the travel industry is recovering. Business travel, too, is moving forward in a post-vaccine world, and that may feel stressful to those that are not quite ready yet. Traveling for business in 2021 may feel overwhelming, especially when looking at the rising cost of travel, not knowing whether you will need a negative Covid-19 test, or being aware of ever-changing travel restrictions. Even though you may have prepared for upcoming business travel, traveling may still create added anxiety. If you feel this way, know that you are nowhere near alone. A recent poll, including both vaccinated and non-vaccinated respondents, showed that half the individuals felt uncomfortable with face-to-face interactions. There are many methods to help manage travel anxiety as we enter a post-vaccine world. Begin gradually.
An excellent start to help manage travel anxiety is to slowly expose yourself to tasks, experiences, and outings that you have not done during the coronavirus. Take a short getaway with friends, family, or co-workers to help feel more comfortable with in-person interactions. Dodge any stressful meetings or business travel in your preliminary post-virus trip. Be sure to become comfortable in places that are typically more crowded slowly. For example, if you have avoided restaurants during the pandemic, you may want to visit one before traveling. Planning a few practice outings will help you become comfortable being around people while remembering to follow all safety measures that may be in place. However, do not start too quickly and pan well ahead of your first planned trip. Doing so may increase your travel anxiety. Planning short outings and small tasks may also help when easing into activities. 25
PUSH Magazine Create plans. Disruptive passenger behavior has been on the rise since the beginning of 2021. Increased reports of disorderly passengers making headlines have led to push back from other travelers regarding safety advice. Since travel numbers have been rising, we may see cause for further delays and uncertainty. It is important to note that not everything will be under your control, and honestly, that is OK. Concentrate on what you can control. First, you can control appropriately wearing your mask throughout the travel process and follow handwashing routines. Additionally, most of us have the luxury and or influence to choose what travel medium we use. For example, if you plan to fly or take a train, it may be possible to prebook your seating assignment to avoid a crowded row. If the idea of a crowded hotel makes you nervous, you might think of an alternative option and book an Airbnb. Or, likewise, if you are not comfortable dining in a crowded airport restaurant, maybe bring food, or check prior for alternative options.
One of travel’s most difficult experiences post-pandemic has been with rental cars as there has been a shortage as of late. Take control by booking a rental car well in advance of your scheduled travel. There are so many variables when traveling as not everything may be as smooth as in the past; additional time is prudent. Think through your travel process well in advance. Prepare comfortable clothes and pack your carry-on items to be easy to move through security lines and protocols. Always bring several different styles, masks, sanitizers, or even anti-bacterial wipes for the armrest, tray table, and other areas of your surroundings. Wehaveall hadtoadjusttounexpectedchangesbefore traveling or otherwise, and we can do it again. Focus on the positives. One approach that may ease travel anxiety is to find something positive to focus on and the opportunities that may present themselves. Your focused positives should not be work-related either; at least they do not have to be. Simple things such as a change in the weather or scenery can be a game-changer and something to look forward to. Also, make a list of positive thoughts that you can easily access while traveling and read through them if you start to feel stressed. Give yourself a break. Before the pandemic, travel could quickly become a stressful experience with canceled flights, rental car mishaps, weather issues, and so many other uncertainties. Recognize you may take more time to feel comfortable, and that is simply fine. Preparing at your speed can ease managing stress when travel is on the horizon. However, if you feel that you need it, put some thought into seeking additional mental health support for help. Guidance from a professional can make the shift to traveling in the coming months a bit calmer. The past year has changed many elements of our lives. Justifiably, anxiety and stress will exist for many people as life begins to open up once again.
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Travel season health tips Traveling, especially for business, can feel like leaving reality behind. That often includes healthy eating and exercise habits. We have all returned from a work trip feeling heavy and tired; however, this does not have to be the norm. Below are a few adjustments to your travel routine that can keep you feeling healthy and light.
Bring a water bottle. Every article you read about traveling will emphasize the importance of staying hydrated. However, for most of us, this is the first thing to go out the window. Set a daily water goal and bring your favorite water bottle along for the ride. Having this handy will help you stay hydrated, save money, and even feel good about helping Mother Earth.
Eat Yogurt. Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, packs a powerful health punch, supplying various goodies, including protein and calcium. In addition, it’s an excellent source of probiotics. These can help keep your digestive system on track in addition to boosting your immune system.
Get the Good Coffee. Coffee at most hotels is mediocre at best. Use this as an incentive to get moving early and walk or jog to a coffee shop and grab a good Cup o’ Joe. Natural light first thing in the morning has been shown to boost the immune system, increase energy, and the extra steps will give you an excuse to explore the area.
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Bring a Lemon. Whether you pack one with you or grab one at a local market, starting the day with a warm cup of lemon water before anything else will give you natural vitamin C. In addition, when done regularly, this routine is known to help detoxify the body and support energy.
Go Green. It can be hard to include healthy fruits and vegetables at every meal when eating on the go. Bringing along a “Green Powder” made of superfoods can help you catch up on your daily servings. Shake in a bottle with coconut water or juice to create a quick and tasty morning beverage.
Stock up when you can. Take advantage of continental breakfast options. Grab an extra piece of fruit, a granola bar, or an extra packet of oatmeal for later. These, at times, may be the healthiest options you encounter all day.
Be Conscious. The hardest part about traveling is staying consistently conscious of what you are putting in your body. Complimentary cookies on the flight, complimentary reception apps, and the Happy Hour open bar can quickly get your routine off track. Think through your day before it starts and make decisions about the slippery slopes early. Setting a few personal standards will help you stay on track and feeling great throughout the travel season.
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Industry Confidential Check in every issue for the unfiltered thoughts of our guest writers and contributors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports tourism. Join the conversation by tweeting us: @pushsports In this issue, our guest writer discusses the subject of accountability.
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OK People. We are well into post-coronavirus recovery, both in the United States and within the sports tourism industry. However, many are still acting like we are deep into the pandemic working from home, casually, and to be honest, lackadaisical. If it takes you four days to return an email, if you are postponing meetings, if you are missing deadlines, if you are not even responding to colleagues and opportunities at all, it may be time to consider a new industry. Every day we see events awarded, new events announced, postevent reports on economic impact, press releases, loaded email inboxes, and on and on. We are back in full force! If you are not working harder than ever helping your organization rebound, you will be left behind. More than able to our
ever, we industry, to
must be accountable. Accountour organizations, and one another.
Our culture of work rapidly changed. Organizations are adopting work-fromhome policies or hybrid models. Companies involved in technology are rising to the top as we all utilize more and more due to our innovative environment. Managers must listen to staff for reasons surrounding mental health, remote work needs, diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s time to refresh policies and procedures. Our methods of working are different. But it goes both ways, as employees must be engaged and present. Turn the camera on, pay attention in meetings, arrive early, present yourself well, and do not take your role for granted. Remember our colleagues that were furloughed or laid off? They would love to have your job right about now! Be committed, but avoid overcommitment. Communication and setting expectations are going to be imperative moving forward. EVERYONE IS BUSY. That excuse will get you nowhere in the months to come. Set yourself up for success by being honest about what you and your team can get done. We all face a potentially hefty travel schedule this Fall. Contractual obligations, new vendor agreements, event renewals, and organizational and event budgeting needs to be buttoned up now. Do your part by being accountable to one another and help to get us all over the hump during this recovery effort.
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experience. community. perspective.
America’s most unique trade show! Meet with 30 top organizers in the LQBTQ+ market.
Resort World • Las Vegas
November 14-18, 2021
$3,995 Register Today at TheExpressConferences.com
ALL INCLUSIVE: • Accommodations included at Resort World • All meals included • 2:1 Buyers to planners ratio (between 25-30 planners) • Guaranteed appointments with EVERY planner • Transportation to and from local airport • Opening Night Welcome Dinner
• Community Service project • Activity day – each attendee can choose one of several options • Team Building • Closing Event • Optional guest package (to include registration and all social events)
Contact jakem@theexpressconferences.com for a multi-conference discount.
Discover natural peace and your perfect battleground.
With top-notch facilities and expert support staff, Tallahassee is the perfect destination to host your next athletic event. In-between competitions, dine at world-class restaurants, take in some live music or explore one of our many local adventures.
VisitTallahasseeSports.com
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