| "Vacation deprivation is at an all-time high," says | | | | horrible number," says Tom Mulhall, past president |
| Sally McKenzie, vice president and general | | | | of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. |
| manager of the online vacation website Harris | | | | "That means the typical resort and resort |
| Interactive and Ipsos were hired by Expedia to | | | | destination is doing something to turn off 85% of |
| study U.S. vacation trends. Ms. Mckenzie continues, | | | | its guests. We pride ourselves on averaging just |
| "there are incredible health and wellness benefits | | | | over a 75% repeat guest rate ourselves."Tom |
| associated with time off from work." It looks like | | | | and his wife Mary Clare own The Terra Cotta Inn |
| Americans will be missing out on all the fun this | | | | Clothing Optional Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, |
| year.What were the findings? U.S. employees this | | | | CA and Tom feels that today's cookie cutter |
| year will likely forfeit more than 574 million | | | | chain hotels are more interested in maximizing the |
| vacation days. That is an extra 150 million | | | | revenue from a guest instead of a guest getting |
| vacation days forfeited this year over 2005 levels | | | | to maximize their fun. Chains need to understand |
| or about 4 vacation days that go unused per | | | | that guests have to have a great experience at a |
| employee.Why don't Americans learn from foreign | | | | resort and at a destination. When guests feel like |
| employees and enjoy the vacation days they | | | | they have to "watch their wallet" every time they |
| have earned?There are many reasons. One of | | | | walk into a lobby, they start to resent it. And |
| them is still our upbringing with the Puritan work | | | | charging hidden "resort fees, and outlandish |
| ethic. Our country was founded on hard work and | | | | parking rates" has probably cost more resorts |
| long hours. Taking days off is still looked upon by | | | | lost repeat guest then anything else. Until chains |
| many employers as being slothful, lazy, and not | | | | understand that, repeat guest rates will still |
| being productive. With the downsizing that has | | | | suffer.Tom concludes by saying,"last week, one |
| been going on in corporate America, employees | | | | of my guests told me he had accumulated over |
| are nervously looking over their shoulders wanting | | | | 50 vacation days at work. I asked him why he |
| to make sure they give no one any excuse to | | | | did not take more travel time. He said, outside of |
| replace them. They all want to look like team | | | | the 2 week vacation he spends with us each |
| players.Gasoline prices are out of sight. With some | | | | year, no other vacation resorts excite him and his |
| working families having to pay an extra $1500 to | | | | wife. 'I don't want to waste my vacation time at |
| $2000/year for gasoline, right there their summer | | | | some mediocre place,' said the guest. 'We did that |
| vacation has gone up in gas fumes.The Federal | | | | when we were younger. Now I would rather save |
| Reserve increasing interest rates is hurting | | | | vacation days to cash out at retirement instead |
| vacationers. It is estimated that in 2005, almost | | | | of using them now.'" Chilling words for the travel |
| 40% of mortgages were the exotic kinds with | | | | industry.This year it looks like travel destinations |
| adjustable rates, zero interest, etc. With the | | | | and resorts are going to have to work harder |
| Federal Reserve having raised interest rates for | | | | than ever to recapture the vacation time and |
| almost 20 quarters in a row, many families are | | | | hearts of the American traveler.Tom and his wife |
| seeing their mortgage payments jumping from an | | | | own the popular Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional |
| extra few hundred a month, to in some case | | | | Resort and Spa in Sunny Palm Springs, CA. |
| over an extra $1000 per month. For some | | | | |
| families it is a choice of wanting to keep the roof | | | | Their hotel ranks as one of the 10 best nudist |
| over their heads. Vacation time has gone out the | | | | resorts in the world. They are regarded as the |
| window.A final reason Americans are not taking | | | | most mainstream clothing optional resort in |
| more vacation time is vacation resorts and | | | | America and are perfect for couples trying nude |
| destinations are not exciting people into wanting | | | | sunbathing for the first time. Feel free calling |
| to take days off of work.A lodging magazine | | | | 1-800-786-6938 for more information. This article |
| survey showed that the typical resort, averages | | | | may be reprinted. |
| around a 15% repeat guest rate. "That is a | | | | |