NOVEMBER 2024 - TOURISM NEWS & NOTES - UPDATED SPORTS SECTION | |
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Preparations for an influx of visitors are already underway as hotels, restaurants and attractions across Washington, D.C., brace for the next presidential inauguration.
Elliott Ferguson, II, Destination DC president and CEO, told Fox News Digital via email, "The public hasn’t been able to participate in the inauguration since 2017, so we expect significant interest."
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Uber's corporate-focused division Uber for Business has introduced a new ride type designed to meet a growing need the company sees from its business travelers, Uber announced Tuesday. Dubbed Uber Business Black, the service "reimagines" the traditional black-car experience, according to Uber. Perks include luxury vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class or Rivian R1S; extra time for pick-ups; and on-time pick-up protection—Business Black riders will be issued Uber Cash if a driver isn't matched "in a timely manner," or is late for a pick-up starting at five minutes.
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Earlier this month, Hilton released its 2025 trends report. The report touched on trends and topics that are impacting the travel world and identified five “rising traveler types innovating the stay.” 2025 is going to be the “Year of the Travel Maximizer,” according to Forbes, “with travelers looking to take their trips to the next level — whether they’re heading outdoors for adrenaline-fueled adventures or continuing to seek better sleep.” Some of the travel trends identified in Hilton’s report include traveling for nostalgic moments, traveling to get better sleep and adventure tourism.
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Meetings are a necessary part of doing business. They also take up a lot of our time. A separate analysis from Gensler published in 2023 discovered that people spend 42% of their time on the job working with others. Meanwhile, people are less connected and collaborative than ever before. A survey from BetterUp (via Forbes) found that 69% of employees are unsatisfied with their social connections at work, and more than 40% “don’t feel a sense of connection with their colleagues.”
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Should You Require Video on During
Team Meetings?
Here’s a roundup of answers to three questions from readers.
Should I require people to leave their video on during team meetings? I manage a team of 15 that holds a Zoom meeting once per week. While they work independently most of the time, there are major projects where everyone has to be on the same page, and we get updates during these meetings. I’ve noticed that the people who turn their video off (and I know they’re set up for video because it’ll be on at the start of the meeting) often end up reaching out to me to ask questions that we covered in the meeting. Sometimes they reach out hours later, sometimes a few days later.
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As vacationers rein in their spending and take trips closer to home, hotels have struggled with rising labor costs and the pullback on travel spending. Those factors — and a drop in occupancy rates at the height of the pandemic — have fueled a new business model for the hospitality industry. Thousands of hotels, particularly in popular tourist destinations like Florida and Hawaii, now rent their pools, spas, office spaces and cabanas to guests without requiring them to reserve a room, providing a separate source of revenue for hotels.
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Travel search and booking has long been a four-box checklist for the hospitality industry: destination, dates, number of people, and budget. The traveler fills out the basics of a trip, and the supplier — a hotel, an airline, a travel agency — returns what can be pages of options. Anna Jaffe, CEO of Mobi.ai, which supports hospitality businesses with technology across their online touchpoints, says that the standard approach to search leads to missed revenue. In this conversation, Jaffe discusses how AI is changing the search and booking equation for travelers looking for a hotel stay tailored to their individual needs and hospitality providers ready to provide these next-level experiences.
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Join us for an in-person discussion about the power of food and resistance in the 1800s with this foodways program. Recommended for ages 12 & up (ages 17 & under must be accompanied by an adult). Please register at pgparksdirect.com. (Registration is recommended but not required.) Walk-ins are welcome.
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Join us for our annual, Gingerbread House Decorating Competition! Residents of College Park can enter their Gingerbread creations as an individual or as a group for a chance to win a gift card to a College Park business of their choice. Applications can be submitted online from November 1st through Nov. 30th. Creations must be delivered to City Hall on Monday, December 2nd between 9am -6pm. Winners will be announced at the annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting on December 7, 2024, at City Hall.
Enter between November 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024, for a chance to win.
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Celebrate 25 years of sweet memories! Darnall’s Chance House Museum is celebrating the 25th year of its Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show. Come see the amazing displays of creative gingerbread structures, then vote for your favorites in the Viewer’s Choice Competition.
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Six Flags America is dedicated to families and helping to unlock more inclusive guest experiences.
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Y'all know what it is…Martin Lawrence is hitting the stage at MGM National Harbor! With special guests Benji Brown and Daphnique Springs!
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Indulge in the smooth, soulful sounds from R&B singer/songwriter Anthony Hamilton. Experience an entertaining night filled with Hamilton's distinctive raspy vocals as he belts out his classic hits. Before getting his Grammy and churning out hits like "Charlene" and "Can't Let Go," Anthony Hamilton started singing from a young age and got his start in the church choir. Hamilton was born on January 28th, 1971, and is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina -- a core influence of his Southern neo-soul musical style. Hamilton also draws his musical influences from R&B greats, including Michael Jackson.
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Join us for our special weekly Saturday holiday tree light show & festive fireworks! Watch our 60-foot RGB tree come to life in the heart of the Waterfront District. The breathtaking custom light show dances alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band and is followed by fireworks.
Following the 5:30pm lighting, the tree show will run every half hour until 9pm.
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Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays is an all-new joyous celebration of the most festive time of the year! With jingle bells and sleigh bells, holiday carols and cheer, Hough’s latest dance spectacular is a show stopping event for the whole family. Fans will be thrilled and delighted as Hough and his cast of phenomenal dancers bring your favorite holiday tunes to life through dance, from the well sung classics to modern pop hits with all of the incredible choreography, exciting stage production and dance mastery that audiences have come to expect.
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ICE! returns this holiday season at Gaylord National from November 15 to December 28, 2024! Using more than two million pounds - or 1,000 tons of ice, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be brought to life by a team of 40 ice artisans to create the nearly 20,000-square-foot, frozen attraction. The display is kept at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, but don’t worry, guests will be provided Gaylord National’s signature blue parkas to keep them warm and toasty.
Overnight ICE! Packages and tickets are on sale now! Visit ChristmasAtGaylordNational.com for everything in store this holiday season.
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Experience a soul-stirring tribute to Motown’s greatest hits. Immerse yourself in the timeless classics that defined an era as talented musicians deliver electrifying renditions of legendary Motown tunes. From the iconic sounds of The Temptations to the soulful melodies of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, let the music transport you back to a golden era of rhythm and blues. With a diverse repertoire spanning electrifying medleys and powerhouse ballads, this tribute promises an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of Motown.
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Join us to shop and sip on wines from outstanding Maryland wineries! The 2nd annual Tanger National Harbor Fall Wine Tasting, which is hosted with support from Vino301, will be held in the Food Truck Plaza. Kick off the weekend with a selection of wines, food trucks and entertainment provided by Bobby McKeys dueling pianos. For $20 guests will receive six sampling tickets, commemorative wine glass and offers from Tanger stores. For $5, non-drinking guests will receive the commemorative wine glass and store offers. Individual wine pours and commemorative glasses will also be available for purchase separately at the event.
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Join us at our Wicks and Sips event! Enjoy creating your own candle and tasting handcrafted mocktails. The event includes light refreshments and music set in an atmosphere of creativity. See you there!
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Join a park naturalist for a guided nature walk along the scenic Anacostia River Trail. The trail is paved. This is a slow to medium-paced activity with occasional stops to enjoy nature.
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Be as free as a bird as you look for new feathered friends. Explore our parks with your family looking for birds, as well as other creatures in the woods, fields, wetlands, and on themed hikes. Learn from a naturalist and brush up on your bird identification skills. Sign up for this great activity to de-stress, to connect with others, and to get outside in nature.
Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them and meet at the Visitors Center. For ages 14 and up.
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Brace yourselves, football fans, for the clash of the ages! It's the showdown we've all been waiting for: the Washington Commanders versus the Dallas Cowboys in a rivalry as old as time! In the annals of NFL history, no rivalry burns brighter, no grudge runs deeper than that between these two gridiron giants! From the legendary battles of yesteryear to the nail-biting thrillers of today, every encounter between the Commanders and Cowboys is etched in the hearts of fans worldwide! With each snap of the ball, the intensity reaches fever pitch as these archrivals leave it all on the field, driven by a burning desire to claim victory and assert dominance over their nemesis!
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Help families in need by running or walking through the beautiful Winter Festival of Lights! For more than 30 years, visitors to the annual Winter Festival of Lights have been dazzled by twinkling light displays as they drove through Watkins Regional Park. This year, register to walk or run through the almost 3-mile course and see the dazzling displays up close. Your registration fee will provide a family in need with a holiday turkey.
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Hosted by the City of Bowie Arts Committee on Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bowie Senior Center. This is free and open to all ages. Local artisans and crafters will offer a variety of crafts: fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, mixed media, wreaths, mosaics, painting, prints, photography, pottery/ceramics, baked goods, sculpture, wood, and more. Come out and support local artists and small businesses. Proceeds from vendor fees go towards the City of Bowie Arts Scholarship program to assist graduating Bowie high school seniors pursuing a college degree in an art-related major.
For questions, email Janae Barber at jbarber@cityofbowie.org or call 301-938-7961
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Looking for a chill, artsy, fun, and family-friendly activity in Prince George's for your Saturday afternoon?
Every first and third Saturday of the month, we invite small local artists, chefs, makers, and businesses to pop-up in our space at miXt Food Hall in Brentwood, Maryland. The Home Grown Pop-Up Market welcomes artisans and makers of all levels and walks of life to showcase their talents to the community. Come support small businesses. Don't miss out on this opportunity to shop local and connect with the creative community! Additional parking is available across the street from miXt Food Hall at the community lot at the Bunker Hill Fire Station - 3716 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD.
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Join us in cleaning up the shoreline at Fort Washington Park!
Gloves, bags, and trash pickers will be provided. Meet up near the Lighthouse.
Contact:
Barbara Wadding
771-208-1555 Thurs-Sun
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