LABJ FORUM – Home for the Holidays?

Leisure travel has been on the wane since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, although many Americans have returned to the airports, and there are hopes that this holiday season will mark the beginning of normal traffic levels. But the travel industry still faces fears and changed habits, along with more strenuous security precautions and a still-mending economy. So the Business Journal asks:

What are your travel plans this holiday season?

Joseph Madda

Senior Associate and Project Manager

Lee Burkhart Liu

None I’m basically in town for the holidays. I’m inundated with work and can’t go anywhere. December’s a busy season for us. It’s difficult because so many people are distracted by the holidays. But the more one hears about the difficulties of air travel, it sort of has a chilling effect on people’s desires to travel this time of year. Even ground travel, there’s a noticeable increase in traffic.

Stephen Moore

Director of Sales and Marketing

PTPN

I’m visiting family grandma in Idaho for Thanksgiving and mom in Salt Lake City for Christmas. I’m flying both times. Christmas is pretty much the only time my family can get together, so that makes the hassle of traveling worth it. Sure I’ll complain all the way, but you learn a few tricks. My family likes flying on Thanksgiving Day, so we celebrate and have dinner on Friday. You just grit your teeth, bring a good book and do it.

Randy Cannon

Manager

Darkside Motoring

I’m doing one of the things that I hate most in life driving. I commute 120 miles roundtrip a day. For Thanksgiving, we’re driving down to San Clemente for family stuff. I’ll drive anywhere for turkey. That’s the rich side of the family, they live a block off the beach, so we’ll get some beach time. We’re probably traveling for Christmas too, to Palm Springs. We just got a brand new Scion XB, and we’ve got all the things for the kids, LCD screens with DVD and TV. They’ll have PlayStation, too. I’m looking forward to that, it’ll be nice to keep them quiet.

Melba Sanders

Vice President and Co-Founder

Berkhemer Clayton Inc.

I will be staying home with family. I don’t think it’s too much of a hassle to travel, but we always stay home. This is the first year my daughter’s away at college, so I’m looking forward to having her come home. It’s great not to travel, but it’s nice to have someone travel to you.

Laurel Anderson

Account Executive

Weston Group

I’m actually traveling after the holidays. I’m just going to spend the holidays with my family and go to the Caribbean in February. My family lives locally and my brother living back East is coming here, so we’re just going to stay home. I suppose the travel hassle is an element in this. With prices as well as the crowds, it’s just always easier to stay home. I have gone out of town before, but I just started a new job.

Laura Lee Anthony

General Manager

Troop Real Estate Inc.

Last year we went on a New Year’s cruise. But this year my whole family’s going down to Palm Springs for Thanksgiving. During Christmas, we’re staying put and my entire family is coming to our home in the Santa Rosa Valley. They want to pick oranges and avocados after coming from the snow. We like staying close to home and having the family come to us.