The Phone Company

I've had a heck of a time recently dealing with a telecommunications company. We used to call it simply "the phone company;" indeed it was at one time the only phone company. Now it's one of several huge mega corporations offering, among other things, telephone, cell phone, internet and cable television service.

Due to my extreme displeasure with the way I've been treated, and my penchant for overreacting to these breaches of what I would consider good customer service, it wouldn't be proper of me to mention the name of the company, but it begins with the letter "V" and rhymes with horizon.

It also wouldn't be proper of me to mention all the misdealings I've had with their "customer service" (and it's necessary for me to place those two words in quotes), because it would just take up too much of your time. Suffice it to say that the sum total of my discussions with the "V" company has taught me

1. that if you don’t like the answer, call back and ask someone else. You’re sure to get a different answer. Keep calling back until you get the answer you want. Then disregard all answers completely.


2. to check my bill carefully, and check my credit report periodically. Sometimes "computer errors" occur that are totally, 100% beyond the responsibility of any person at the "V" company who has, at any point in his or her "V" company career, every used a telephone.

"We’re sorry for the inconvenience," is their standard retort when told that something has gone horribly wrong. "There was a computer problem that day. I can see you were overcharged $19,652.30 for that text message. We’ll take it off your next bill." Meanwhile, it will take me 6 months, a top legal firm and a negotiating team headed up by Dick Cheney to get the credit reporting bureaus to remove that black mark.

So what’s the answer? Dixie cups and thread comes to mind, but why should I have to put up with a connection that’s probably even worse than what "V" provides me now? Change carriers? I hear the others are just as bad.

One more thing. After I bought a new cell phone from those "V" people, I received an email from them offering to provide me with a training session. Hey, that could be a step in the right direction for the "Vs". Then I noticed they had spelled the name of their own company incorrectly. Not once either. Twice. Must have been a computer problem that day.

TRAVEL TRADE CRUISE-A-THON

TRAVEL AGENTS - Are you signed up for the TRAVEL TRADE CRUISE-A-THON June 4 - 6, 2009 in New York City?

New York City is the site of The Travel Trade Show featuring CRUISE-A-THON, June 4th-6th, at the Grand Hyatt New York in the heart of midtown Manhattan.
Agents can earn up to 40 CLIA credits (prior enrollment in CLIA cruise counsellor certification program is not required to earn credits). Plus, the show will feature extensive workshops to help you sell in 2009. We will also have select ship inspections. To keep with tradition, Prizes Galore will immediately follow our trade show. You need to be there to win, so don't miss it!
And as part of this great show, Joel Cohen will conduct a special workshop for agents on SELLING NEW YORK CITY. You can be king of the hill, top of the heap, A number 1 when you learn the secrets of selling New York City! Veteran NYC travel industry insiders will show you how to get your slice of the 30 billion dollar Big Apple pie, how to find the right hotel for your clients, how to get tickets to sold out Broadway shows and concerts, what you can do that the online giants can't do, how to advertise and promote New York inexpensively and what the secrets are to sell New York City profitably. Start spreadin' the news - this is the one workshop guaranteed to make those little town blues melt away.
For more information, visit TRAVEL TRADE's website or paste in your browser: http://www.traveltrade.com/ttshows/index.html.

Mayor Announces New Route for 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Mayor Bloomberg’s office has announced that the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take a new route through Midtown Manhattan, using 7th Avenue through Times Square and along 6th Avenue to Herald Square.

According to today's Press Release:
"The 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will follow Central Park West from its starting point at 77th street, turn east on Central Park South, then proceed downtown on 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The parade will then turn east on 42nd Street, then proceed downtown on 6th Avenue to Macy's flagship store at 34th Street in Herald Square. At Herald Square, the parade will continue one block west on 34th Street before terminating at 7th Avenue."

So does that mean that each float driver, band leader and parade participant will be equipped with a GPS? Whew, it was so much easier when the parade just came down Broadway. "Go straight until you come to Macy's. Then stop." That's all one needed to know.

But who can argue with the Mayor's reason for working with Macy's to change the route? His plan is to transform much of Times Square and Broadway into a pedestrian plaza, starting in late May. The result, he hopes, is to reduce both traffic and pedestrian congestion as well as to "greenify" (my word, not his) the midtown area.

We'll see how it works. And whether it works is probably dependent upon one's perspective. Will it benefit the tourist? I think so and certainly hope so. Will it benefit commercial drivers, like cabbies and delivery men? I can't see how. Will it benefit the local residents? Probably, once they get used to new traffic patterns and increased/decreased automotive noise/emissions.

From our company's perspective the change means we have to scramble to assist our guests who rely on us to provide them with comfortable, convenient viewing venues for the Thanksgiving parade. We're busy doing that as we speak - or as I write - or as you read - or whatever. We're confident we'll be totally successful in arranging excellent locations along the new parade route.

Fortunately for us, one of our primary venues is the Broadway Lounge at the Marriott Marquis, perched high above both Broadway and 7th Avenue right in the heart of Times Square. It affords an outstanding view of the parade which will still pass right by.

Also fortunately for us the parade will now pass in front of our most popular hotel, the Sheraton New York, and its sister the Sheraton Manhattan at Times Square. We have a large allotment of rooms at both hotels so our guests can be accommodated in the perfect location this Thanksgiving.

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