Travel industry slow during recession

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The travel industry is down more than 20 percent across the country, but it is not that bad in Texas.

Lone Star State visitors are down about 9 percent from this time in 2008. That is good news, but it is not great news.

Several dozen travel industry experts met in Austin on Wednesday to talk about ways to keep the business going. The goal is not just to get people to think about vacations, but to also keep more than 600,000 Texans employeed.

General managers for hotels, event planners, transportation providers, along with the Conventions and Visitors Bureau gathered and discussed the reality and future of the travel industry.

During the meeting, the President of the U.S. Travel Association talked about a recent meeting with President Obama. He said the industry is diversifying business to keep the economy going and people employed.

“The true victim is not the fat cat with the big cigar, but it's the employees and the community that suffer when meetings and travel doesn't take place," said Roger Dow, with the U.S. Travel Association.

Some people have already noticed a change.

"We've definitely seen some small decreases in business," said Steve Kluber, who works as a server at Trio, a restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Conferences and events like South by Southwest are keeping his tips coming.

“In talking with my friends from around [that] time, they have talked about a decrease in [business],” said Kluber.

The Four Seasons Hotel traditionally suffers in a down economy, but the marketing team is using promotions and other tactics that bring in business.

“You have to really think ahead, not only think about what month you are in, but three, six months, nine months down the road, " said Tom Segesta, the general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Austin.

"If you are trying to build jobs, this industry employees one out of every eight Americans get their paycheck through travel and tourism," said Dow.

This means if people stop traveling and conferences and conventions are canceled, hard workers like Kluber may end up on the unemployment line. That is exactly what the industry does not want.