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January 18, 2002 In
this edition: Dates
to mark in your calendar new
news from the travel industry association of America (TIA) SBA
Sept 11 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Workshops Continue Dates
to mark in your calendar: January
29th, 2002,
registration begins at
News
from the Travel Industry Association of LATEST
PULSE OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC The
latest TIA Travel Confidence Survey (http://www.tia.org/Travel/confidencesurvey4.pdf)
shows that 57 percent of Americans plan to take a leisure trip during the
first six months of 2002-a slight decline since the previous survey in
November. Thirty-seven percent of those not planning an upcoming trip say
a stronger economy would encourage them to travel. Sixty-six percent of
business travelers say they expect to take at least one trip in the first
half of the year. And 73 percent of business travelers who went on the
road in the first half of 2001 say they expect to travel just as much in
the same period this year. This is the first time the survey addressed
business travelers. These figures come from the fourth national Travel
Confidence Survey conducted by TIA on TIA
ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP TO SERVE MEMBERS TIA
announced (http://www.tia.org/Press/pressrec.asp?Item=165)
a new partnership Tuesday with the federal Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS) to fund the continuation of the Travel Confidence Survey
program in 2002. As part of TIA's effort to rebuild the public's
confidence in travel, the Travel Confidence Surveys were conducted in each
of the four months following the events of September 11th. The BTS/TIA
partnership allows for expansion of the scope of the Travel Confidence
Survey. A business travel questionnaire has been added to supplement
the personal/pleasure travel questions that were being used in the initial
waves. ENCOURAGING
SIGNS FOR TRAVEL The
eighth TIA Travel Industry Performance Update (http://www.tia.org/Travel/update8jan02.asp)
since September 11th reflects more reasons for guarded optimism about
business in 2002. The update is a summary of TIA and other organizations'
research on travel consumers and the state of the travel industry. The
following are included in the summary: The Colorado Tourism Office found
that the number of people indicating that the terrorist attacks would
influence their travel plans has decreased by 24 percent since they began
asking that question in October. Smith Travel Research predicted continued
weakness for hotel occupancy in 2002, but also expects a slight rebound in
room rates. And AAA's "Travel Barometer" surged ever closer to
last year's levels in late December. The organization reported that ticket
sales for theme parks and other attractions rose to 83 percent of year-ago
levels, airline ticket sales came in at a respectable 84 percent of year
2000 levels and cruise and tour sales surpassed last year's level for the
first time. HISTORIC/CULTURAL
TRAVELER MARKET IS PROMISING A
recently released TIA research study, The Historic/Cultural Traveler, 2001
Edition, (http://www.tia.org/Pubs/domestic.asp?PublicationID=16)
found that consumers interested in historic and cultural events and
activities have tremendous potential for the travel industry. Nearly 93
million Americans say they included at least one cultural, arts, heritage
or historic activity or event while traveling in the past year. And on
average this group spent more per trip and stayed longer while traveling
than travel consumers more generally. The report provides comprehensive
data and analysis on trips including historic and cultural activities. And
it provides analyses of several segments of the historic and cultural
travel market, such as census region of destination, mode of
transportation, lodging type, age groups, and others. The report is
complimentary to Domestic Comprehensive and Premier research subscribers
but also may be ordered separately. SBA Sept 11 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Workshop Due
to overwhelming demand, the U.S. Small Business Administration is
extending the deadline for applications under its Sept 11 Economic Injury
Disaster Loan Program. Consequently, Cape and Islands Community Development, Inc. will continue to host
representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration on a weekly basis as they discuss the SBA�s Sept 11 Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Program. The program is available to Massachusetts businesses affected by the September 11 events or subsequent federal
actions. The
workshops will be held every Monday in January and February, excluding
holidays, at Eligible
small businesses that have been directly impacted and have suffered
substantial economic injury can apply for working capital loans of up to
$1.5 million at up to 4% for up to 30 years.
Loan proceeds can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts
payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not
occurred. Loans in excess of
$5,000 require the pledging of collateral to the extent that it is
available. Personal guaranties
are required. The SBA will not
decline a loan for lack of collateral.
If a small business can demonstrate a loss of revenue, year to year
as of Sept 11, the SBA may be able to provide much-needed assistance
through this program. Applications
will be available at the workshop. They
are not available via the mail and must be obtained in person from an SBA
rep.
The application process has been streamlined.
The SBA will try to make decisions on each application within 21
days. Per
Jeannine Marshall, Executive Director, �Many regional businesses have
already taken advantage of the Disaster Loan Program.
The program can provide much needed relief to Workshop reservations are required and may be made by calling Jessica at Cape & Islands Community Development, 508-790-4980 ext 516.
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