WELCOME TO WTAE LESSONS. I’M KELLY SASSO SPRING BREAK SEASON IS HERE. AS TOURISM BOUNCES BACK FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW PLANNING A GETAWAY. OTHERS MAY BE STICKING WITH A STAYCATION. BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, THIS MORNING, WE’RE HELPING YOU PREPARE FOR THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS. THESE DAYS, BON VOYAGE MEANS BRACING YOURSELF SO I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LEAVING AT 12:00. NOW, I’M NOT LEAVING UNTIL 335, LIKE LAST MINUTE AROUND 3 A.M., THEY CANCEL MY FLIGHT. RECENT WE’VE SEEN A SLEW OF CANCELLATIONS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AND FAA GROUNDED STOPPED DUE TO A COMPUTER FAILURE AND A SERIES OF CLOSE CALLS ON THE RUNWAY. YES, I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. YES. THE ISSUES DON’T STOP ONCE YOU’RE OFF THE PLANE. A SHOOTING LEADS TO A CURFEW IN SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI. A GROUP OF AMERICAN IS KIDNAPED IN MEXICO TAKING OVER THIS PLANE AND AN ATTEMPTED ASSAULT ON A FLIGHT TO BOSTON. DESPITE THE HEADLINES, THESE ISOLATED INCIDENTS ARE NOT SCARING PEOPLE AWAY. COVID IS PRETTY MUCH OVER FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET THE HECK OUT OF PITTSBURGH. TRAVEL DEMAND IS REACHING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS. THIS MORNING, WE’RE TALKING WITH LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS WHO HELP US STEER CLEAR OF THE CHAOS. THIS HAS GOT TO BE CORRECTED AND IT’S BEING CORRECTED AS WE SPEAK BY JUST ABOUT EVERY CARRIER. AND AN AVIATION ANALYST WHO OFFERS SOME SKY HIGH SOLUTIONS. ALSO THIS MORNING, SPENDING SPRING BREAK IN THE STEEL CITY. WE’VE GOT ARTS AND CULTURE, SPORTS AND MORE RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR. YOU REALLY CAN HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD. THE HEAD OF VISIT PITTSBURGH EXPLAINS WHY NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN CITY. FROM CANCELED FLIGHTS TO TROUBLE AT CERTAIN DESTINATIONS. TRAVELING RIGHT NOW CAN COME WITH SOME HICCUPS. BUT TO LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS TELL US THERE WAS A RIGHT WAY TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THESE OBSTACLES. HI, EVERYBODY. WE’RE HERE WITH PHIL AND IAN PATROLLING THE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS OF HOLIDAY TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL, BASED IN NORTH HUNTINGTON. AND ALSO IN ZEALAND, OPAL. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY EXPERIENCING A VERY BIG DEMAND FOR TRAVEL RIGHT NOW COMING OFF OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. PLUS, IT’S JUST THE SPRING BREAK SEASON. PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO GET OUT. WHAT CAN YOU GIVE US AS FAR AS A GAUGE ON HOLIDAY TRAVEL DEMAND RIGHT NOW? AS FAR AS DEMAND HAS BEEN, IT IS UNPRECEDENTED. STARTING IN NOVEMBER, I NOTICED BOOKINGS HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE ROOF. I’VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BUSY FOR SPRING BREAK, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PITTSBURGH MARKET. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT’S PROBABLY A GOOD THING FOR YOUR BUSINESS, RIGHT? YES. SO WHAT KIND OF BOOKINGS TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR FOLKS? HOW FAR OUT SHOULD WE BE BOOKING, KNOWING THERE IS THIS KIND OF DEMAND RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS I WOULD RECOMMEND? I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 6 TO 8 MONTHS BEFOREHAND. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THAT LAST MINUTE DEAL, IT’S PROBABLY NOT THERE ONLY BECAUSE THE FLIGHTS ARE FULL RIGHT NOW. THE CRUISE SHIPS ARE FULL. THE RESORTS ARE FULL. SO IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THAT LAST MINUTE DEAL, YOU’RE PROBABLY TOO LATE. BUT YOU CAN STILL GET SOMETHING. IT JUST MIGHT COST YOU MORE. EXACTLY. NOW, WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY, OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND EVEN RECENTLY WITH CERTAIN AIRLINES, THE FLIGHTS GETTING CANCELED. WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IF THEIR FLIGHT GETS CANCELED? SO IF THEIR FLIGHT GETS CANCELED, THERE’S A COUPLE REASONS IT CAN GET CANCELED. WE DO HAVE RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS WITH CANCELLATIONS. SO FOR IF IT’S A MECHANICAL ISSUE, WHETHER THAT’S A SEAT MALFUNCTION, WHETHER THAT’S A TIRE PRESSURE, ANY ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, YOU HAVE THE MOST PROTECTIONS THERE, THE AIRLINE WILL GENERALLY GIVE YOU A MEAL VOUCHER. AND IF IT’S EVEN A LONGER DELAY OR CANCELLATION, YOU WILL GET A HOTEL STAY AS WELL. IT IS THEIR JOB TO BOOK YOU ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT THAT THEY HAVE. AND IF IT’S OVER 24 HOURS, GENERALLY, THEY CAN EVEN PUT YOU ON A DIFFERENT AIRLINE, WHICH IS BIG. HOWEVER, NOT ALL AIRLINES OPERATE THAT WAY. THE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CANCELLATIONS, THOUGH, THAT WE HAVE IS WEATHER. AND GENERALLY YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE ANY PROTECTIONS UNLESS IT IS ACTUALLY CANCELED. AND YOU CAN BOOK IT ON ANOTHER FLIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO GET A CASH REFUND BACK. NOW, IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THERE, BUT THE AIRLINES ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE YOU A CASH REFUND IF THEY CANCEL THAT FLIGHT. AND PHIL, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A TRAVEL AGENT, BECAUSE WHEN YOUR FLIGHT GETS CANCELED, YOU START TO PANIC, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE GETTING A CONNECTING FLIGHT OR MAYBE GETTING ON A CRUISE. WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A TRAVEL AGENT IN THAT SITUATION? WELL, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A GOOD TRAVEL AGENT, THERE’LL ALWAYS BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU. YOU SHOULD BE AVAILABLE 24 SEVEN FOR YOU. AND THEY CAN ALSO ADVISE YOU IF YOU’RE AT THE AIRPORT, IF FLIGHTS CANCELED AT THAT TIME. NOW, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE FLIGHT IS UNDER CONTROL OF THE AIRPORT. THAT AIRLINE. SO THEY’RE CONTROLLING THAT RECORD, EVEN THOUGH WE MADE THE RECORD. BUT AT THAT TIME, WE COULD ADVISE THAT. WE COULD ADVISE THE CONSUMER, THE PASSENGER, THAT, HEY, THERE IS A NEXT FLIGHT AT THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR AIRLINE THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE YOU. AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT TO THE AGENT THEY’RE TALKING TO. AND IT’S DONE THAT WAY. NOW, WHAT IF YOU YOURSELF HAVE TO CANCEL FOR COVID OR SOME SORT OF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES? HAVE THE RULES CHANGED SINCE COVID ABOUT THAT? YES AND NO. SO WHAT WE’VE SEEN IS AIRLINES HAVE GENERALLY GOT RID OF CANCELLATION FEES, WHICH WAS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS 200 TO $300 FOR A CANCELLATION FEE ALONE, PLUS ANY INCREASE IN AIRFARE. NOW, THEY GOT RID OF THOSE CANCELLATION FEES. BUT THEN IF YOU DO GO AND BOOK, SAY, A DIFFERENT FLIGHT FOR THAT SAME DAY OR A DIFFERENT FLIGHT FOR OR A WEEK LATER, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THAT INCREASE IN AIRFARE. AND USUALLY IT’S AN INCREASE BECAUSE AS YOU AS TIME GOES ON, PEOPLE KEEP BOOKING THOSE FLIGHTS UP. AVAILABILITY IS LESS AND THEY KEEP RAISING THE PRICES. SO WE WERE ALSO TALKING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SPRING BREAK MEXICO, CANCUN, VERY POPULAR BECAUSE OF THE PRICE. AND IT’S ALL INCLUSIVE. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE TRAVELING TO MEXICO IN LIGHT OF SOME RECENT HEADLINES THAT MIGHT HAVE PUT FEAR IN THE MINDS OF SOME TRAVELERS? FOR ME, I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE STAY ON PROPERTY FOR THE MOST PART IF THEY ARE GOING TO GO OUT, MAKE SURE IT’S PART OF AN ORGANIZED TOUR. GENERALLY, THEY’LL HAVE EXCURSIONS TO THE RUINS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT ARE POPULAR OR ATV RIDES, OR THEY EVEN HAVE PROGRAMS FOR THE EVENING. IF YOU WANTED TO GO OUT FOR THE NIGHT, THOUGH, YOU’LL HAVE A DEDICATED DRIVER AND SOMEONE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. JUST TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOU. SO WHILE YOU’RE ON THAT RESORT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU BOOK ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE RESORT WITH THE RESORT. TRAVEL PEOPLE, THAT GIVES YOU LIABILITY PROTECTION AND GIVES YOU SECURITY BECAUSE ALL OF THE VENDORS ON THE OUTSIDE ARE VETTED BY THAT RESORT. AND NOW WE’RE ALSO HEARING ABOUT THIS WEEK DOMESTIC HEADLINES. SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI IS ANOTHER VERY POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SPRING BREAK. THEY’RE PUTTING A CURFEW IN PLACE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE EVEN PARENTS WHO WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT LETTING THEIR KIDS GO THERE. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THAT? ADVISE YOUR KIDS NOT TO DRINK. THE FIRST THING I’D SAY, BUT I THINK THAT WITH A WELL-PLANNED TRAVEL AGENT EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, THAT EFFORT COULD BE EFFORTLESS. HMM. AND AS FAR AS OTHER DESTINATIONS, MAYBE THEY’RE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE CVS. FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH, WHICH ISN’T TOO FAR AWAY. SO THEY WOULDN’T HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR FLIGHTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THEY CAN MOVE. HOTELS GO UP THERE. THERE’S ALSO PLENTY OF RESORTS AREAS ON THE WEST COAST AS WELL. KEY WEST HAS BEEN SUPER POPULAR, TOO. SO THERE’S THERE ARE QUITE A VARIETY OF CITY, QUITE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS IN FLORIDA. SOUNDS LIKE BOTH OF YOU ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE. WE TRAVEL. ABSOLUTELY. YES. YEAH. AND AGAIN, IT JUST SEEMS TO KEEP ON GROWING. DEMAND IS BACK. COVID IS PRETTY MUCH OVER FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET THE HECK OUT OF PITTSBURGH. STILL AHEAD ON WTAE, YOU LISTEN, YOU’VE GOT TO PLAN ON AND AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE CAUSING A LOT OF REVISION OF THE AIRLINES METHODOLOGY. THE STATE OF THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AHEAD, AN EXPERT EXPLAINS THE ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE TURBULENCE ON YOUR TRIP. WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE, TO WTI IVERSON’S CLOSE CALLS ON THE TARMAC. UNRULY PASSENGER. LATELY, AIRLINES HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES ON THEIR RADAR. WE SPOKE WITH AN AVIATION ANALYST AND A VETERAN PILOT ABOUT HOW THESE PROBLEMS COULD IMPACT YOU. JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU YOUR INSIGHTS INTO THIS. AIRLINES LATELY HAVE BEEN CATCHING A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES STARTING AROUND THE HOLIDAYS WITH ALL OF THE UPS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY RIGHT NOW AS WE SIT HERE AROUND SPRING BREAK TRAVEL TIME IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE STILL FACING AIRLINES? WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO MORE MELTDOWNS, JUST LIKE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES HAD EARLIER EVERY OTHER YEAR AND OTHER MAJOR DISRUPTIONS THAT ARE NOT CAUSED BY WEATHER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WEATHER, OF COURSE, CAN MOVE IN ON YOU AND CAUSE ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS. BUT THE AIRLINES HAVE BEEN RAMPING UP THEIR SERVICE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS, MORE SO THAN PROBABLY THEY SHOULD HAVE IN MANY INSTANCES. WHEN ANYTHING WENT WRONG, THEY WEREN’T ABLE TO RECOVER. AND PART OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CENTRALIZATION. IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OF THE AIRLINES HAVE DISPERSED THEIR RESERVATION IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS AFTER COVID, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE USING PEOPLE FROM HOME, THEY’VE GOT A LACK OF COORDINATION. IN SOME CASES, THAT WASN’T EXPECTED. A LINE GOES DOWN OR A PARTICULAR COMPUTER SERVER GOES DOWN AND THEY’RE REALLY LOST. THIS HAS GOT TO BE CORRECTED AND IT’S BEING CORRECTED AS WE SPEAK. WELL, I JUST ABOUT EVERY CARRIER. BUT THE FACT IS THAT TODAY YOU’RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO LOOK FOR A DELAYED FLIGHT AND BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT THAN MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO. SO IT SEEMS LIKE A TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE IS WHAT ALL OF THE AIRLINES ARE NOW WORKING ON TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. ABSOLUTELY. YOU CAN’T ASSUME. MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THE KEYS THAT HAS BEEN SO USEFUL TO US IN AVIATION SAFETY HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT WE DON’T ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GO RIGHT. HOWEVER, IN THE COMPUTER DEPARTMENT, SO TO SPEAK, AND THIS IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SOUTHWEST, BUT PRINCIPALLY THINKING ABOUT THEIR MELTDOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY HAD NOT CONSIDERED THE WORST POSSIBLE CASE. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SERVERS STOP TALKING TO EACH OTHER? WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OLD ANTIQUATED SERVER FOR THEIR PILOT SCHEDULING AND A FLIGHT ATTENDANT SCHEDULING GOES BERSERK? YOU’VE GOT TO PLAN ON THAT. AND AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE CAUSING A LOT OF REVISION IN THE AIRLINES METHODOLOGIES FOR THEIR I.T. FOR A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ISSUE WE’VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT A LOT LATELY ARE THESE NEAR COLLISIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT VARIOUS AIRPORTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTING FACTOR THAT’S CAUSING THAT TO HAPPEN? WELL, WE DON’T KNOW YET AND THAT’S WHY THE FAA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE. I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE GOOD OF JUDGES STATEMENTS AND PUTTING TOGETHER A KIND OF AN EMERGENCY CONFIRM THIS LAST WEEK IN WASHINGTON. BECAUSE WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS SAY, OKAY, WE CAN’T FIND NECESSARILY COMMONALITY BETWEEN AND AMONG ALL THESE THINGS, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW, THE THING THAT’S INTERESTING HERE, AND I’VE SAID THIS ON THE AIR MANY TIMES AT ABC, BUT I THINK IT KIND OF STARTLES PEOPLE IS THE SYSTEM WORKED IN EVERY INSTANCE THAT HAD A CLOSE CALL. THE SYSTEM WORKED BECAUSE WE DID NOT END UP WITH AN ACCIDENT. IN ONE CASE, IT WAS THE CONTROLLER WHO CAUGHT IT. IN OTHER CASE, IT WAS THE FLIGHT CREW. BUT THE FACT IS, WE DON’T EVER WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH. AND SO WE HAVE TO LEARN ALL THE LESSONS THAT WE GET FROM THE UNDERLYING SYSTEM AND A NEAR MISS OR ANY SORT OF NEAR DISASTER IS A HUGE LESSON WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE’VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE’RE FOCUSING A LOT ON THE NEGATIVES HERE, BUT A LOT OF ALTERCATIONS ON FLIGHTS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THAT’S WHEN WE SAW THAT START TO PICK UP. THERE WAS ALSO A RECENT ONE, AN ATTACK ON A FLIGHT THAT WAS HEADING TO BOSTON. ARE WE ABLE TO PINPOINT ONE CAUSALITY FOR ALL OF THESE? I DON’T THINK SO. WE’VE GOT SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON HERE. FIRST OF ALL, OUR POPULATION HAS JUST GOTTEN A LITTLE MEANER. AND I MEAN, NOT JUST EXACTLY THE WAY IT SOUNDS. WE’VE GOT A LOT LESS TOLERANCE. WE’VE GOT A LOWER TRIGGER LEVEL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT OTHERWISE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED. WE PUT THEM IN AN ALUMINUM TUBE, WHICH IS AN ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT. WE CROWD THEM IN AND OUT. WE SERVE THE LIQUOR AT TIMES WHEN WE SHOULDN’T. AND AND WE END UP WITH A SITUATION WHERE IF YOU ALSO CONSIDER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY UNBALANCED TO FLY, THIS IS A LETHAL MIX. I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS RAMPING UP OVER TIME, BUT IT’S THEN COVID AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS IN THE PAST FIVE OR TEN YEARS THAT HAVE REALLY EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED FOR FOLKS WHO ARE ABOUT TO HIT THE FRIENDLY SKIES. WHAT KIND OF MINDSET DO THEY NEED TO HAVE? I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT SAY IS BE KIND, RIGHT? YOU SAID OUR POPULATION IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT MEANER. PATIENTS, MY SON, PATIENT. I THINK ACTUALLY IF YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT WITH THE MINDSET THAT WE’RE GOING TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS AND WE’RE GOING TO DO IT CALMLY, BUT WE’RE GOING TO EXPECT THERE’S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FLIGHTS THAT MIGHT BE DISRUPTED AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO LOSE OUR COOL. YOU’RE GOING TO BE FAR BETTER OFF. WE KNOW THAT YOU’RE IN FAR MORE DANGER GOING TO THE AIRPORT AND COMING BACK FROM IT THAN ACTUALLY FLYING. BUT THE THE THINGS THAT CAN GET EVERYBODY REALLY UPSET ON AN AIRPLANE ARE GETING ON AN AIRPLANE OR GOING THROUGH AN AIRPORT OR THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BY SIMPLY BEING COOL. NOW, I MEAN, WE REALLY DO NEED EVERYBODY TO KIND OF CALM DOWN, COOL IT, EXPECT DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IF THE WEATHER’S MOVING. AND I MEAN, YOU’VE GOT ALL SORTS OF NEW SOURCES IN YOUR BEHEST OF THE CITIZEN. YOU CAN FIND OUT IF THERE’S A STORM MOVING IN. AND IF SO, DON’T DON’T GET UPSET AT THE AIRLINE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SNOW FALLING ON THEIR AIRPLANES. STILL AHEAD, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW BIG THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS HERE IN PITTSBURGH. FINDING ADVENTURE IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD. HOW IS STEEL CITY STAYCATION MIGHT JUST STEAL YOUR HEART. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE. E LISTENS BETWEEN FLIGHT, CHAOS AND INCREASING COST. SKIPPING TOWN ISN’T FOR EVERYONE. THIS SPRING BREAK WE CHECKED IN WITH VISIT PITTSBURGH TO LEARN ABOUT THE ADVENTURES TO BE HAD RIGHT HERE AT HOME. WE’RE HERE NOW WITH GERARD BOCKER, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT PITTSBURGH. THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU. IT’S GREAT TO BE HERE. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STAYCATIONS, RIGHT NOW. TRAVEL MIGHT BE OUT OF REACH FOR A LOT OF FOLKS OR JUST SOMETHING THEY’RE UNWILLING TO TAKE ON AT THE TIME. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO HERE IN OUR REGION WITHOUT PAYING FOR THIS AIRFARE. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TOP THINGS TO DO. AND I THINK YOU SAID YOU KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN BY COUPLE AND BY FAMILIES, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND WE HAVE SEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS BOTH HERE IN PITTSBURGH, BUT ALSO WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE RADIUS OF THE CITY WHO ARE REALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT PITTSBURGH HAS ON OFFER. A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW BIG THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS HERE IN PITTSBURGH. BACK IN 2019, WE WELCOMED OVER 33 MILLION TRAVEL CONSUMERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE’VE TALKED ABOUT, INCLUDING THOSE COUPLE GETAWAYS. AND THOSE FAMILY EXPERIENCES. AND YOU TRACK THAT YOU SAID BY CELL PHONE DATA YOU’RE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA SOURCES THAT WE LOOK INTO THAT REALLY HELP US MEASURE THE RECOVERY OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY A LOT OF THAT IS CELL PHONE DATA. BUT THERE’S SOME OTHER SOURCES, TOO, THAT WE USE. SO FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BORN AND RAISED PITTSBURGH AND THEY THINK WE KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CITY, I COULDN’T POSSIBLY STAYCATION HERE AND FIND SOMETHING NEW. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? WELL, I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY GO OUT AND DISCOVER EVERYTHING THAT’S NEW, BUT ALSO GO OUT AND REDISCOVER A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED BEFORE. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COUPLES, FOR EXAMPLE. WE TALK ABOUT BALANCING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN PITTSBURGH. AND A LOT OF TIMES COUPLES WILL HAVE DIFFERENT INTERESTS. SOMETIMES THAT INTEREST IS IN THE AREA OF SPORT. SOMETIMES THAT INTEREST IS IN THE AREA OF ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. AND THOSE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES CAN BE COMBINED INTO ONE AMAZING STAYCATION HERE IN PITTSBURGH. SO A COUPLE, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE, CAN GO AND TAKE IN A BALL GAME AT PNC PARK PENGUINS GAME, HELPING THEM GET TO THE PLAYOFFS, HOPEFULLY. BUT ALSO ON THE SECOND NIGHT, THEY CAN GO AND TAKE IN A PERFORM DANCE AT ONE OF OUR AMAZING THEATERS, WHETHER IT’S A BROADWAY PLAY, A PLAY AT THE O’REILLY OR THE MAGIC THEATER ON LIBERTY AVENUE IS REALLY UNIQUE. TAKE IN TAKE IN ANY OF THOSE EXPERIENCES COMBINING WITH A HOTEL, STAY A SUNSET DINNER CRUISE ON THE GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET. YOU REALLY CAN HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD. DO PEOPLE GIVE YOU THAT AS FEEDBACK, LIKE, I’M FROM HERE? I DIDN’T KNOW WE COULD HAVE A VACATION IN ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY IF THEY’VE GROWN UP HERE. THEY DON’T REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT WE HAVE ON OFFER, EVEN FOR FAMILIES. IF YOU LOOK AT FAMILY EXPERIENCES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ALONE, YOU CAN HAVE A THREE DAY ITINERARY RIGHT HERE WITH YOUR KIDS AND HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL TIME. WITH THE NEW MOON SHOT MUSEUM GOING DOWN TO THE CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER, OVER TO AQUA, SURE TO THE NEW HALL OF HONORS AT THE STEELERS HAVE OPENED, WHICH IS A PHENOMENAL WORLD CLASS MUSEUM IN ITSELF. OVER TO THE ANDY WARHOL, WHICH IS WORLD KNOWN THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER ALWAYS HAS NEW EXHIBITIONS COMING THROUGH THE AUGUST WILSON CENTER HAS A NEW EXHIBIT SPACE. SO THERE’S SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN PACK INTO A FAMILY VACATION. AND FOR MOMS AND DADS, IF THEY WANT TO TAKE IN ONE OF OUR DISTILLERIES OR BREWERIES ALONG THE WAY, THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. AND THERE’S A LOT OF PLACES THAT HAVE OUTDOOR SPACE FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY WHILE THEY’RE INDOORS ENJOYING ONE OF OUR LOCAL BEERS. WOW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FREE OPTIONS? I’M SURE SOME PARENTS CAN BE WATCHING THIS THINKING, HEY, SPRING BREAK’S COMING UP QUICK. WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME PLANS. WHAT DOES THE CITY OFFER AS FAR AS THAT GOES? SO THERE’S TONS OF NO COST AND LOW COST EXPERIENCES THAT THEY CAN THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. CERTAINLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA IF THEY WANT TO DO A WALKING TOUR. THERE’S GREAT TOURS FOR FOUR HOUR MOVIE INDUSTRY, GREAT BIKE BIKING TOURS, GREAT TOURS THAT INVOLVE FOOD TASTING IN THE STRIP DISTRICT LOTS OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR A VERY LOW COST OR IN SOME CASES NO COST. THE PITTSBURGH LANDMARKS FOUNDATION DOES A REALLY NICE HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL TOUR. SO IF YOU HAVE YOUNGER KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, IT’S REALLY A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. AND THERE’S SO MUCH INTERESTING ARCHITECTURE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT IF YOU DON’T WALK AROUND AND LOOK UP, YOU’RE MISSING MOST OF WHAT PITTSBURGH HAS ON OFFER. SO LOOKING FOR THOSE TOURS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WOULD YOU SAY THAT DEMAND HAS COME BACK FROM COVID AS FAR AS TOURISM HERE IN PITTSBURGH? IT HAS. WE’VE HAD SOME RECORD YEAR, A RECORD MONTHS WITHIN WITHIN THE RECOVERY PERIOD FROM THE PANDEMIC. AND THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN IT COMES TO INDICATORS FOR RECOVERY. ONE OF THOSE IS HOTEL PERFORMANCE. THERE WERE TWO MONTHS LAST YEAR IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WHERE WE HAD ALL TIME RECORD HIGH HOTEL OCCUPANCIES AND REVENUES OF ANY PERIOD ON RECORD. SO WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT. WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING 2023 TO BE THE BIGGEST YEAR ON RECORD AS WELL FOR VISITOR SPENDING. WE’RE EXPECTING THAT TO GET UP TO $7.1 BILLION IN THE YEAR OF 2023. SO THERE’S A LOT GOING ON THAT’S GOING TO HELP FUEL THAT. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR TRAVEL. DO YOU THINK THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE OF HOW STRESSFUL TRAVELING HAS BEEN REALLY THIS PAST YEAR, EVER SINCE THE HOLIDAYS? DO YOU THINK THAT’S PART OF IT? IT’S A BIG PART OF IT. THE MAIN CONSUMER THAT WE SERVE HERE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA REALLY IS WITHIN OUR DRIVE MARKET, AND THAT STRETCHES OUT TO ABOUT A FOUR HOUR RADIUS OF PITTSBURGH. THAT INCLUDES EVERYWHERE FROM FROM D.C. ALMOST TO PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK. AND THEN, OF COURSE, IN OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA, AND THE OTHER AREAS. SO WE SEE CONSUMERS COMING FROM THAT PARTICULAR MARKET ON A ON A ON A MUCH BIGGER LEVEL THAN EVER BEFORE. ALMOST 48% OF OUR CONSUMERS THAT COME IN FOR TRAVEL PURPOSES OR TOURISM PURPOSES ARE REPEAT CONSUMERS. SO THEY’RE COMING IN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO THAT NUMBER WE’RE EXPECTING CONTINUE TO GROW. YOU’RE WATCHING WTI GLISTENS. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO WTA EVERSENSE. WHETHER YOU LIVE IN ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S NEIGHBORHOODS OR ANY SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, TELL US ABOUT WHAT’S WRONG AND WHAT’S RIGHT SO WE CAN LISTEN. YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL TO LISTENERS AT HER SCHOOL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, EVERYONE. HAVE A GREAT WEEK.