Waiting to inhale
Travel becomes a drag for smokers as airports, hotels and restaurants ban cigarettes.
“Having a nonsmoking section in a restaurant is like having a non-peeing section in a swimming pool. The smoke and carcinogens do not stay with the smoker.”
Donald Potts, with the Metropolitan Healthy Communities Coalition in Kansas City, who applauds the shift to smoke-free Life used to be a whole lot easier for the smoking traveler. Puffing on the plane wasn’t a problem. Ashtrays were a mainstay in the eateries and bars of destination cities. Some public transportation still afforded the luxury of lighting up. And none of the major hotel chains had started kicking out butts.
In the last 20 years, though, travel has become more and more smoke-free. And for the smoking traveler, it’s really a drag.
“On a long flight, my favorite thing used to be drinking coffee, having a cigarette and watching the sun come up,” said Virginia Dolan, a frequent traveler from Kansas City. “It’s not the same without that cigarette.”
The lodging industry has sparked the latest trend in smoke-free travel, starting with Starwood’s Westin hotels — including the one at Crown Center — early this year. Marriott was next on board, announcing last month that all 10 of its North American brands would become smoke-free starting in September.
Not everyone is disappointed with the trend.
“People are really pleased to hear about it,” said Kathy Sudeikis, president of the American Society of Travel Agents and a vice president at All About Travel in Mission. “The disappointment is that it’s only in North America.”
Sudeikis said local travelers complain to her frequently about stale, smoky odors lingering in the drapes and linens of their nonsmoking hotel rooms. Such guest gripes helped influence Marriott’s decision, along with a shift in customer preference toward nonsmoking accommodations.
The chain also considered the U.S. Surgeon General’s June report that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Other major hotel chains continue to offer smoking choices that match their booking patterns.
Starwood has not gone smoke-free in any of its other hotels, which include Sheraton and St. Regis.
Best Western International designates 70 percent of its rooms as nonsmoking. Hilton Family of Hotels, which includes Doubletree and Embassy Suites, allocates 85 percent to 95 percent to nonsmoking rooms.
Intercontinental Hotels Group, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, requires at least 75 percent of its rooms be nonsmoking.
More destination locations are slapping up “no smoking” signs in their restaurants and bars. New York, California, Florida, Colorado, Maine and New Jersey are among them.
Donald Potts, with the Metropolitan Healthy Communities Coalition in Kansas City, applauds the shift to smoke-free in these states.
“Having a nonsmoking section in a restaurant is like having a non-peeing section in a swimming pool,” Potts said. “The smoke and carcinogens do not stay with the smoker.”
While airlines began banning smoking in the ’80s, airports have joined the ranks more recently. John F. Kennedy International in New York, Dallas/Fort Worth International and Los Angeles International are among dozens of completely smoke-free airports in the country.
Kansas City International has been smoke-free for 10 years, said spokesman Joe McBride, but within the last year, a new ordinance imposed a stricter limit. Smokers must stick to designated areas at least 30 feet from any door.
“It’s not pleasant to travel today with these limits,” Dolan said. “It’s inconvenient and nerve-racking.”
Sudeikis credits the smoke-free travel trend to a reflection of the demand.
American smokers represent about 21 percent of the population. According to the American Lung Association, the number of smokers dropped 40 percent from 1965 to 1990 and hasn’t changed much since.
“Americans want smoke-free in their traveling because that’s what they get at home,” Sudeikis said. “For nonsmokers, it’s more jarring to be in a smoky atmosphere when you’re not used to having that at home.”
Not all industry enterprises to go smoke-free have been a success, though.
In 1998, Carnival Cruise Lines created the world’s first nonsmoking cruise ship, Paradise. Poor revenues, however, caused Carnival to redeploy Paradise as a smoking ship in 2004.
“If there was a big demand for smoke-free, that cruise ship would have been a bigger business venture,” said David Kuneman of St. Louis, director of research for Smoker’s Club Inc., an online community.
But since Westin made the switch to smoke-free, Westin spokeswoman Kate Rothen said, Starwood earnings have climbed and bookings are up.
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Smoking cessation while you’re on vacation?
With fewer hotels and attractions catering to smokers, vacation might be a good time to kick the habit.
“I think vacation is a great time to quit smoking,” said Carol Henderson of New Day Hypnotherapy in Overland Park. “Being in a different environment, a lot of times it’s easier.”
Henderson says smokers struggle most with giving up everyday routines. Removed from the daily grind, a smoker might be more diverted from nicotine cravings and find it easier to quit.
But Al Gatrost of the New Day Stop Smoking Clinic in Independence said it’s not always simple.
“If a person’s trigger is getting in the car and having a cigarette, then that’s going to be a problem for someone going on a drive,” Gatrost said. “But if the mind is occupied with new sights, that will help distract you from typical activity.”
The stress of traveling might trigger your smoke alarm, too, Henderson says.
She recommends relaxation tricks to her clients to combat that anxiety sans cigarettes, including breathing exercises and positive self-talk.
Gatrost advises frazzled travelers to use aromatic supplements that will reduce cravings. Both he and Henderson offer services that can be used in conjunction with vacation plans.
Gatrost added that quitting smoking will pay off.
“If someone wants to stop smoking now and invest the money they would have spent on cigarettes, they would have quite a savings account 10 years down the road,” Gatrost said. “Money they can use to buy a vacation with.”
Sunday, August 13, 2006
What if they build it and nobody comes?
By HARRY SHATTUCK
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
The mood was festive. The music lively. The videos and power-point presentations brimming with superlatives. The theme: "Simply the best.''
We had been summoned to the Hilton Americas Hotel to celebrate the development of the Port of Houston's Bayport cruise terminal, due for completion in late summer or early fall of 2007.
Consuls general from Pakistan, Jordan, Honduras and other nations were there. Ditto elected officials from throughout the Houston area. Some of our community's premier travel agents looked on. The chairman of the International Council of Cruise Lines presided.
"Are you excited yet?'' Wade Battles, the port's managing director, revved up the audience, which responded with loud applause.
Only one ingredient was noticeable missing from this gumbo of good vibes:
There was no mention of a ship.
When I asked Battles about commitments once the new terminal opens, he reiterated what he told me six months ago: Discussions are ongoing with several cruise lines. He's optimistic. Nothing is firm.
NCL moving out?
Here's what I know: Norwegian Cruise Line, which operates the one passenger ship based seasonally at the port's Barbours Court facility, will return its Norwegian Dream to Houston this winter. But next summer the Dream will sail in Europe; the following winter, it will be based in South America.
Like NCL, most other cruise lines have announced fleet deployments for next summer and fall and into 2008. Houston isn't included on any calendar.
Could the port christen a multimillion dollar cruise terminal without a ship? Battles seemed to bristle at my concerns.
"Not every line has finalized their plans,'' he said.
So did he still have hope of attracting new business for the terminal's opening?
"I would use a stronger word than hope,'' Battles responded.
What word would that be?
"I'd say that negotiations are ongoing with a lot of cruise lines. We think there is a real opportunity."
Impressive facility
Do you sense a conversation going in circles? Maybe the port is relying on the "If we build it, they will come'' approach. Or maybe Battles is being coy. Based on the images I've seen, this will be a traveler-friendly facility with considerable appeal. Features will include close-in parking, covered walkways, a VIP lounge and - Battles promises - quick embarkation and debarkation.
"Our terminal will be unique,'' Battles vowed at the Hilton Americas gathering. "We're going to bring people closer to the ship. We want to ensure that the first and last impression cruise passengers have is a positive one.
"The Port of Houston is poised to enter a new chapter in cruising,'' Battles said.
There is justification for a significant investment. Cruising from Texas generated a $934 million economic impact last year, according to the cruise lines council. More than 650,000 Texans took a cruise (counting departures from Texas and elsewhere).
But the vast majority of that business was at the Port of Galveston. Three vessels sail year-round from the island, and the Galveston fleet will number five ships this winter with a combined capacity of almost 12,000 passenger berths. (The Norwegian Dream, the smallest cruise ship based in Texas, holds 1,732 passengers.)
Galveston losses, gains
Galveston, too, is a port in transition. Celebrity Cruises' Galaxy, a fixture for two winters, is not returning. Princess Cruises' Grand Princess will sail from the island again this winter but not in 2007-2008, though port director Steve Cernak expects only a one-year absence.
More positive is the confirmed arrival for the 2007-2008 winter season of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, which will join the Carnival Conquest in giving Galveston two ships capable of carrying 3,000 or more passengers - a Texas first.
"We're strengthening our position, and we're going to continue to grow,'' Cernak said at another recent ICCL-sponsored gathering aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Galveston-based Ecstasy.
As he spoke, there was no music. No applause. But there was a ship.
harry.shattuck@chron.com
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
The mood was festive. The music lively. The videos and power-point presentations brimming with superlatives. The theme: "Simply the best.''
We had been summoned to the Hilton Americas Hotel to celebrate the development of the Port of Houston's Bayport cruise terminal, due for completion in late summer or early fall of 2007.
Consuls general from Pakistan, Jordan, Honduras and other nations were there. Ditto elected officials from throughout the Houston area. Some of our community's premier travel agents looked on. The chairman of the International Council of Cruise Lines presided.
"Are you excited yet?'' Wade Battles, the port's managing director, revved up the audience, which responded with loud applause.
Only one ingredient was noticeable missing from this gumbo of good vibes:
There was no mention of a ship.
When I asked Battles about commitments once the new terminal opens, he reiterated what he told me six months ago: Discussions are ongoing with several cruise lines. He's optimistic. Nothing is firm.
NCL moving out?
Here's what I know: Norwegian Cruise Line, which operates the one passenger ship based seasonally at the port's Barbours Court facility, will return its Norwegian Dream to Houston this winter. But next summer the Dream will sail in Europe; the following winter, it will be based in South America.
Like NCL, most other cruise lines have announced fleet deployments for next summer and fall and into 2008. Houston isn't included on any calendar.
Could the port christen a multimillion dollar cruise terminal without a ship? Battles seemed to bristle at my concerns.
"Not every line has finalized their plans,'' he said.
So did he still have hope of attracting new business for the terminal's opening?
"I would use a stronger word than hope,'' Battles responded.
What word would that be?
"I'd say that negotiations are ongoing with a lot of cruise lines. We think there is a real opportunity."
Impressive facility
Do you sense a conversation going in circles? Maybe the port is relying on the "If we build it, they will come'' approach. Or maybe Battles is being coy. Based on the images I've seen, this will be a traveler-friendly facility with considerable appeal. Features will include close-in parking, covered walkways, a VIP lounge and - Battles promises - quick embarkation and debarkation.
"Our terminal will be unique,'' Battles vowed at the Hilton Americas gathering. "We're going to bring people closer to the ship. We want to ensure that the first and last impression cruise passengers have is a positive one.
"The Port of Houston is poised to enter a new chapter in cruising,'' Battles said.
There is justification for a significant investment. Cruising from Texas generated a $934 million economic impact last year, according to the cruise lines council. More than 650,000 Texans took a cruise (counting departures from Texas and elsewhere).
But the vast majority of that business was at the Port of Galveston. Three vessels sail year-round from the island, and the Galveston fleet will number five ships this winter with a combined capacity of almost 12,000 passenger berths. (The Norwegian Dream, the smallest cruise ship based in Texas, holds 1,732 passengers.)
Galveston losses, gains
Galveston, too, is a port in transition. Celebrity Cruises' Galaxy, a fixture for two winters, is not returning. Princess Cruises' Grand Princess will sail from the island again this winter but not in 2007-2008, though port director Steve Cernak expects only a one-year absence.
More positive is the confirmed arrival for the 2007-2008 winter season of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, which will join the Carnival Conquest in giving Galveston two ships capable of carrying 3,000 or more passengers - a Texas first.
"We're strengthening our position, and we're going to continue to grow,'' Cernak said at another recent ICCL-sponsored gathering aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Galveston-based Ecstasy.
As he spoke, there was no music. No applause. But there was a ship.
harry.shattuck@chron.com
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