Name and Shame Game

In the aftermath of the Ashley Madison data breach, I am left wondering what’s next. 

First, Target, a household name is hacked and at the expense of millions of people’s bank accounts and information.  Then, places like Home Depot, Michaels, Neiman Marcus, and PF Chang’s follow in their ill fated fortune.  Again, at risk, banking information, possibly some personal information like address, contact info, etc.  In those instances, people were after cold hard cash and the ability to access more and more of it.  Then, there is the recent Sabre breach that hits pretty close to home for us in Travel. 

The Ashley Madison breach has me shaking my head.  Look, I am not stepping up for the people who were using Ashley Madison to step out, but what were the hackers after?  Money?  I don’t think so.  Extortion?  Possibly if it was the right person.   Name and shame?  That’s my guess!  Knowing that people are simply out to bring others down in this era of data breach bedlam (kind of a pun) is scary.  Maybe they were looking for the names of politicians, celebrities, etc. and I am sure they found them, plenty of them!  They also found plenty of people who never thought their names would be out in public.

Back to my question, what’s next?  Will pharmacies be hacked to share the names of people with illnesses?  Will education systems be under attack for the information on students in specialized programs?  Will Netflix be hacked so people can see I am hooked on binge watching Scandal and Grace & Frankie? 

Then, when they get this info, what will do with it?  What does sharing the Ashley Madison list do for the hacker?  While I don’t think thievery is good, it’s a motive that most people can understand.  I don’t get it! 

I am going to keep going through all of this and hope that those impacted by any breach do the same! 

Back to School Advice

Few pointers for those going back to school or college soon:

1 – No one will remember what you wore the first day of school and more importantly, no one cares.  You think that’s a big deal, but honestly, it’s not so get over it!

2 – It’s not just the end of summer break for you, its also that for your teachers, instructors and school staff.  They would probably love another month of vacation, but they are there for you, so you be there for them.  Show respect, stop whining about having to be there and suck it up! 

3 – School is not meant to be JUST your social network.  You are expected to learn and be an active participant in your education and in the classroom.  Use your voice in classroom instead of after class in acts of bullying or gossip! 

4 – Speaking of bullying, when you see it, STOP it.  If you don’t think you can stop it, at the very least, report it!  If you are a victim, speak up.  If you don’t feel strong enough to report it, ask someone to help you.  If you are a bully, know you are being watched.   Everyone in school sees through you and in the years to come, you will regret your decisions and your actions.  It’s not too late to be a better person. 

5 – If someone looks like an outsider, they probably feel like one.  Make at least one attempt to include them.  Sometimes people sit on the outside because they choose to, other times, its simply because they were never asked to come in.  Just ask!

6 – One of the most respected and sadly, underpaid careers is being a teacher.  Years from now, you will look back and think about something a teacher said, did or demonstrated that made a profound impact on your life.  Don’t take the chance of missing that because you were not paying attention! 

7 – Everyday you leave for school or when you leave the house for college, your parents are praying that you return home safely, are using school to prepare yourself for the world that is waiting and are proud of you! 

Who Says Bricks and Mortar Can't Make Money?

If I had an extra few million dollars lying around, I would invest in brick and mortar all day....and build hotels!  This is a fabulous time for the folks in that industry. 

Hotels are running at peak capacity day in and day out.  When they aren't sold out, they actually don't really mind because it’s a break from the daily grind of being everything to everyone.  They are turning away business during the week and on the weekends, enjoying the robust growth in leisure travel.  They are selling rooms at prices they never dreamed of and selling out, day after day. 

It's a great time for the hotel industry and while they are flexing their muscle here a little, I would remind hotel owners of a few things:
1 - Enjoy your profits but invest in your product!  These hotel rooms that are being used, day in and day out, need to be kept up.  Your lobbies need to be places that are safe, clean and welcoming. 
2 - Reliability is key!  People come to expect service when they are, I don't know, PAYING for it.  Make sure everything from your staff to your Wi-Fi provider is reliable.  When room rates increase, so do expectations.  Make sure you are ready to meet them.
3 - Know your competition and their product!  The person down the street is looking to fill their hotel just like you, what are they doing to bring people in the door?  What are they providing that you aren't?
4 - Don't lose for the sake of winning!  Don't ignore that long time corporate partner because you can sell your rooms at a better price on the street.  The tables will turn and when they do, being on the outside looking in is not a great place to be. 

Lastly!
5 - Consider your distribution model.  I challenge corporate hotels to sell corporate rooms on the GDS and internal sites only.  Those other rooms, put them out on the .com sites, OTA's and brokers. 

These are high times for the hotels and I am glad to see them being profitable.  I know that many corporate buyers are trying to find ways to deal with massive rate increases in some markets.  To those buyer I say, keep going, you got this! 

Life's Lesson

Last week at WINiT, the leaders and speakers were asked to shared our biggest life's lesson.  Mine was, "Will this matter in five years?  If the answer is yes, take time and make the right decision.  If the answer is no, make the decision and move on!"

That question has stopped me from arguing with my husband about the dishwasher that STILL has clean dishes in it!  That question has stopped me from talking to my kids about the towel left on the floor of the bathroom.  That question has stopped me from engaging with toxic people.  That question has stopped me from spending time uselessly. 

That question has encouraged me to think about what I want to be when I grow up.  That question has encouraged me to have conversations with my kids about social media posts and things they do and say on-line!  That question has encouraged me to have discussions that matter with people who matter. 

When I look at where my life is today, there are decisions that will matter in five years and there are some that won't.  I hope that I am making the right decision for my future and those of my family and people I care about.  Those that won't matter in five years, I am going to make, move on, keep going and hope for the best.