This week’s podcast is recorded in the bathroom of the Memphis Marriott. A day trip down to Indianapolis begs the question — how do you make the decision between flying and driving? Then down in Memphis, a nightcap at the Marriott bar provides some entertaining scenes. Also, we discuss the right and wrong ways that companies use to control travel costs. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.
Here are the show notes from TravelCommons podcast #23:
- Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
- Recorded in the bathroom of the Memphis Marriott
- Traveled to Indy and Memphis this week
- Please click through to the Listener Survey on the left side of the screen
- Listener comments on the “voice from the other side of the ticket counter” from Podcast #22
- Bridge music — Delivery by Jennifer Helane from the Podsafe Music Network
- How to make the decision between flying and driving to Indianapolis
- Bridge Music — Under Pressure by David Bowie & Queen
- Increasing travel prices are prodding some companies to look at “strategic sourcing” their travel needs
- Bridge Noise — Random sounds from the Blue Shoes bar in the Memphis Marriott
- Regressing after spending too much time at hotel bars
- Closing music — Ramblin’ Man by the Allman Brothers Band
- Feedback at comments[at]travelcommons.com, the comment board on podcastalley.com, or right here in the comments section below
- Direct link to the show
5 comments on “Podcast #23 – Fly or Drive; Scenes from The Hotel Bar”
Comments are closed.
Mark
Was interested to hear the points about the de-humanising aspects of the trend towards automated service. You may like to hear of my wife’s experience on Sunday. She was booked to travel on BA’s new route from Heathrow to Bangalore in business class. I checked her in online at home on Saturday and made sure that she had been allocated her preferred aisle seat in the club world cabin. On Sunday she used the self service device at Terminal Four to obtain her boarding pass and went on up to the lounge. On boarding the aircraft she was pleasantly surprised to be shown to seat 1k in First Class, and on checking the boarding pass she noticed that the machine had printed out a First Class boarding pass.
I remembered that sometime ago BA had emailed us to let us know that there was an offer where one way upgrades were being offered for a limited time subject to availability. I guess I am impressed that BA have thought this through and have been able to link this offer to all their delivery channels and deliver it in a seamless unexpected way. She really enjoyed the pampering on the flight.
Just to add to the Bose debate – ditch them! I too was devoted to them but have replaced them with a set of canal phones (Etymotic 6C’s). I found that the bose headphones were great at obliterating the lower frequency aircraft noices but somehow accentuated the higher frequencies suh as speech. The canal phomes block everything out – they even work in the noisy back row of an MD80! Other big plus is that you get to free up extra space in your hand luggage.
Regards
David Glickman
Welwyn
UK
Mark,
Thanks for another great podcast. I enjoy listening.
I tried to take the survey, but the link inside podtrack took me only to sign up for their internal evals and development – not to your survey nor a way to find that survey.
I am a regular listener and always enjoy.
Amy
Amy –
Thanks for taking the time to try the survey, and for pointing out the problem. I tried it earlier and didn’t have a problem, but tried it again this morning and saw the same behavior you did. The sign-up form should come after the survey. I think they use an external survey tool — Zoomerang — and must be having problems with it. I’ve sent them a note regarding the problem and have taken down the link until I hear that they have it resolved
Thanks again and glad you enjoy the podcast.
Regards,
Mark
I am finally catching up on your podcasts after a much too long lapse. I listened to two of them today while walking on the Siesta Key Beach and it was just delightful. It brings me right back to my road warrior days of old. Alas, I am now one of the stroller and backpack crowd I used to disdain.
I don’t know if it was this one or the previous podcast, but I wanted to comment that I keep in touch with not only highschool friends, but elementary school friends as well. That kind of historical connection is rare in my view. For me and the others in this group, it is incredibly rich. In this world of moving around, it helps to keep those kinds of ties.
Why am I in Siesta Key? Good question. It is not somewhere I will be again anytime soon. If we left tomorrow after only two days, I would be quite happy. The weather is better than at home but not by much. The food is ghastly and everywhere I look I see my wrinkled, decrepit future. Not pretty.
Joni
My wife’s best friend is from her grade school days, so I shouldn’t have spoken so soon. Perhaps keeping historical non-family connections like that seem rare only for those who have moved around a bit. For my wife, who’s lived all her life in Chicago, save for 4 years each in Phila and Detroit, it’s not odd at all.
Sorry to hear about drudgery in Siesta Key. I remember spending a Spring Break there some *cough*25*cough* years ago and it was a pretty happening time. Either my memories have gauzed over or the happening crowd has moved elsewhere.
Regards,
Mark