You know why I can’t stand United Airlines? United Airlines dispatches thousands of flights every day. They shoot tens of thousands of humans safely through the sky at six hundred miles an hour in metal tubes. They serve passengers cold drinks and hot food. They have call center reps, gate agents, baggage handlers, dispatchers, flight attendants, […]
Travel That’s Much More Than a Place to Sleep: Introducing Collective Retreats
I started in the hospitality industry when I was 15 years old. I was a dishwashing intern at a hotel restaurant helmed by a talented chef with a drinking problem (he called it “Chef’s Fuel”–most would recognize it as Jack Daniels). That year, despite spending much of my time being yelled at and dodging plates […]
Get Personal, Make More $
This morning I went to Caffe Ladro for a cup of coffee. While brewing my latte, the girl behind the counter casually asked me, “Is anything exciting happening in your life today?” I found myself in an unusually deep conversation with her about my day to come. With little thought I tipped her twice what I normally tip a Barista […]
Time + Experiences + People = Smiles
Last week my face glimmered with an ear-to-ear grin. In retrospect, I used my time well. I went to a Tough Mudder– the intensely fun event which has given millions of people a challenging thrill and “a story to tell.” I had drinks and dinner with old friends. I experienced Queen of the Night at the Diamond Horseshoe, which […]
Uncomfortable Experience Design
Ever wonder if something you use everyday was purposefully created to frustrate? If you spend any time on an airline website you know the feeling. “The Uncomfortable”, by the Italian artist Giuseppe Colarusso hijacks everyday objects to make them beautifully unusable. And these creations are much more appealing and more likely to make you smile than […]
An Interview with Damian Bazadona, President of Situation Interactive
Last week I sat down for an interview with Damian Bazadona, contributor to Inc. magazine and president of Situation Interactive, a top experiential marketing firm. The short form of the interview is posted here, on Inc. Here is the entire discussion, in full form- * * * […]
Life is as Good as the Relationships you Have and the Experiences you Create
My friend Dr. Christopher Hart, once told me, “Life is as good as the relationships you have,” and he’s mostly right. Be it the end of a day, year, or lifetime, the fulfillment we receive from relationships with others is an important measure of our happiness and satisfaction. But long gone are the days when choosing the […]