Inside New Rules of the Road:

When the going gets tough, the tough―and the smart―continue to travel. And they travel well. The rules of the road may have been changed, but our desire, our passion and our need to travel has only intensified.

The real definition of great travel is when we get to keep our options. Sadly, the travel industry has evolved to a point in which our options seem to have exponentially decreased. Indeed, there was no adequate way to prepare for the economic crisis that still grips us. And so we must adjust.

Right now, there are nearly a thousand aircraft parked in America’s deserts, almost all of them permanently. That’s the equivalent of taking one of the big airlines entirely out of service, which is devastating for the economies of cities and communities that now have limited air service, or no service at all.

And yet, airlines are now turning a profit based on charging fees for everything short of visits to the toilet, and are calling it “à la carte” pricing.

A study from the U.S. Travel Association showed that the economy is losing billions of dollars because Americas are avoiding travel…not because of cost, but because of frustration. Yet the survey found that if the travel process were more predictable, streamlined, and safe, Americans would take two to three more trips per year, for a total of about $85 billion. And when people travel, other people go to work.

We need to remind our governments and policymakers of the power and impact of travel; of how it has consistently transcended events, demographics, and focus groups; of how it is at the core of our cultural DNA.

In the meantime, the travel industry is also trying to adjust to the new rules of the road.

So, it’s not a question of whether we will travel, but how…and how well.

What will determine that? First, refusing to board the panic train. Second, recognizing that the rules have changed, and our perception of travel has to change right along with it.

Again, this is not about just how to survive, but how to succeed on your travels ― beating the travel industry at their own game by using the new rules of the road.

By Peter Greenberg for Peter Greenberg Worldwide

Look inside New Rules of the Road. Order the paperback here or click here to purchase the e-book edition.