Recently, I came back from NYC, and for the first time in a few years I checked my bag. I've mastered packing enough to where I can always carry-on comfortably. The new restrictions on carry-on items such as toothpaste required me to do so. My first thought was to leave the 'illegal' stuff at home and hit up a Duane Reade when I got there; but then I thought, 'No, because they might make a technicality over stick deodorant or whatever...just check it.' I wish I had carried-on because the 1-hour baggage claim wait at LGA was ridiculous. Not only is there a large increase in checked baggage, but they had 3 (yes 3) airlines coming into one carousel.
My thinking is that there is a tremendous opportunity here for hotels to capitalize on this situation. Even before the increase in the security level, this opportunity existed. Hilton, Starwood or your favorite hotel conglomerate of choice could partner with Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive or your favorite personal care conglomerate of choice to offer their products waiting in the hotel room for clients. The typical road warrior that spends 3-5 days in the air would greatly benefit. Imagine having your own travel profile, as most frequent fliers do, and it listed toothpaste and deodorant preference. You walk into your room at the W Hotel to see a nice tube of Crest, Pantene and Oil of Olay. This is a great piece of tryvertising that isn't being tapped. If it is, then it needs to be advertised more heavily. Let me know it's out there.
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