Federal Agencies Accused Of Blacklisting US Tourist Destinations
There appears to be something of a scandal brewing in DC and several federal agencies might be blacklisting entire segments of the country, banning their employees from holding events in popular cities. Suffice it to say that the duly elected representatives of those areas are less than pleased:
Three Central Florida congressional representatives joined four colleagues in signing a letter to the U.S. General Accounting Office urging an investigation of allegations that some federal departments have Orlando, Las Vegas and other possible destinations on a no-meetings list ... the use of do-not-travel list that allegedly would rule out meetings in some cities, including Orlando, that are known as tourist destinations. The allegations started last winter when financial companies that received federal bailout money were criticized for holding corporate meetings in resort destinations.
It's not hard to imagine how these blacklists might be formed. After a bunch of bailed out banks got busted for throwing parties, the last thing the Department of Whatever needs is TMZ running a post headlined "DC Politicos Party During Two Day Vegas Bash." Plus the public really does have a legitimate interest in preventing lawmakers from partying on their dime.
On the other hand, if these lists do exist then they're moronic. Do you know why conferences get held in Vegas and Orlando? Because there are maybe a dozen cities in America equipped to host really big conventions, and of those, Vegas and Orlando are among the cheapest. People don't avoid Oklahoma City just because the cuisine is less than spectacular. They avoid it because it's small and has relatively fewer hotels and therefore—and this is the important part&3151;accommodations are often more expensive.
Let federal agencies evaluate as many options as possible for events. Then during auditing, if it turns out that they choose an expensive tourist destination instead of a budget-conscious locale, illegally leak it to the press and nail them for it. That's the American way.
[Photo: Wiki Commons]
Related Stories:
· Resort ‘black list’ travel probe eyed [Orlando Business Journal]
· Orlando Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
· Las Vegas Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
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