A Celebration of Independence — Join us for complimentary food, drinks and networking at a special reception for independent retailers. We will raise a glass to your success and to your continued resilience. It will be held on Friday, March 3 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. (CT) at the Big Bar at Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive. Please RSVP.
Networking After Dark — All buyers and news media are invited to attend this free event! Connect and establish new business relationships over food, drinks and live music at the 2023 Networking After Dark reception. Attend the reception for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and lively games — and invite your colleagues to join you at this complimentary social gathering held on Sunday, March 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (CT) at the South Building, Vista Ballroom S406A. Complimentary entry for all show attendees.
The surveys are in and the experts predict 2023 will be a year in which travelers follow their heart’s desire, whether that means wellness break or workcation, off-grid venture or “hush” trip. And they’ll be looking to bring along travel goods and gear that can stand up to their individual travels.
With Travel Gear + Luggage presented by the Travel Goods Association at The Inspired Home Show just days away, we are raising the curtain to give you a sneak peek at the ingenious products travelers will be looking for and that you’ll soon see on the show floor. READ MORE
On March 8, the TGA-supported Coalition for GSP will hold a lobby day visiting Congressional offices in Washington, DC. We will have a full day (8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.) of Congressional meetings pushing Congress to renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program ASAP, or at least provide a partial refund of duties paid in the interim. Company participation is critical! If we can’t demonstrate a strong show of broad support for GSP, it will be hard to convince Congress to pass GSP renewal this year. TGA plans to participate. But, again, we need YOU, the companies! Register here or contact TGA’s Nate Herman for more information. The first TGA Member has registered — but we need many more to make an impact. Be the next!
The 10 largest U.S. ports experienced a 17.9% inbound volume drop in January, slightly more than December’s 17.6% decline. This is the highest monthly decline except for brief periods during the 2008 financial crisis. READ MORE
Companies have used a combination of time and cutting back in manufacturing to whittle down their inventories, but it has not happened at the speed they projected. Some companies predicted inventories would be down by the end of the first quarter and yet warehouses are still near 100% capacity, according to WarehouseQuote. While “time heals all wounds” in some areas of life, time has only exacerbated retailer problems. What has materialized is the compounding impact of increased warehouse rates. The ugly unwanted items in storage are still ugly and unwanted. The only difference is the lofty price at which they are stored. READ MORE
The death of business travel demand might have been greatly overestimated during the pandemic. Bill Gates, at one point, surmised as much as half of business travel demand was permanently killed during the early months of the pandemic. Hotel industry chatter in recent months focused on the idea it was likely 20% off pre-pandemic levels. However, the CEOs of each of the major publicly traded hotel groups in recent weeks reported a rosy picture of business travel. READ MORE
Though getting to travel is certainly a gift, jet lag is likely an aspect everyone can live without. Luckily, there are a few hacks travelers swear by to beat jet lag that you can try too, including two that will leave you either totally refreshed or absolutely relaxed. READ MORE
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
At Matador®, we focus on engineering high performance travel equipment. Our strengths in design, material technology, and creative construction inspire us to develop innovative products that bring outdoor expertise to the pursuit of travel. Please contact Derek Hancock at sales@matadorup.com, 720-242-6437 or visit www.MatadorUp.com for more info.
What happened to the good old days of rich travel companies getting richer through digital marketing? Ha. Airbnb said brand marketing and public relations (both forms of storytelling) let it reduce its reliance on performance marketing. READ MORE
Maybe this year’s travel plans include a family spring break road trip, a much-needed couples excursion, one too many work trips, or a girls getaway you’ll be talking about for years to come. No matter the occasion, you’re going to need luggage sturdy enough for the journey. That’s why we’ve gathered all of the best travel bags in one place. READ MORE
During frustrating times for budget travelers, there is now some positive news! Las Vegas-based carrier Allegiant recently announced a significant increase in their bag policy. Known for being stingy, low-cost airlines have been laying down the law lately on personal items and carry-on bags. With some extra space, travelers can have less stress boarding their flight. READ MORE
Whether you’re embarking on a brief beach getaway, prepping for a short road trip or just heading to a friend’s house for a few days, a weekender bag is here to solve all of your packing problems. READ MORE
Let’s talk about luggage claim etiquette. According to numerous subject matter experts, there was a complete breakdown of decorum this summer. Remember the guy who crawled through the luggage carousel in Cleveland? And this year hasn’t been much better. Too often, it’s a rush to the claim area, followed by something close to a riot as the luggage comes off the conveyor belt. READ MORE
Organizations must understand the importance of cultivating a culture of intelligent disobedience. But of course, like all organizational behaviors, it is not legal provisions or company policies that encourage intelligent disobedience. Instead, it is a culture of psychological safety which empowers a subordinate to challenge or disobey an instruction that endangers the organization or public interest. READ MORE
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