2013 › January

The Real ID Act is geared toward tightening up airline security, but implementation by states has been very sluggish.

The imperative for private rail companies is to deliver the best quarterly returns rather than deliver a service that ties together the social fabric of a nation, which is why England is constantly regretting its decision to abandon much of its rail system to privateers.

We hate to dampen the enthusiasm, but building a Ferris wheel on a flood plain on Staten Island, is probably insane.

ESB is facing increasing competition from the observatory at Rockefeller Center and an observatory being built at One World Trade Center, but its position as the preeminent New York City icon remains.

The regional/local tourist boom will help, though international tourism will still be some ways off, dependent on overcoming the image of being part of a troubled region.

Revel's big problem is that it was planned during the economic boom, constructed after big backers pulled out, used as political leverage by Governor Chris Christie, and way too nice looking for a place like Atlantic City.

There's reflagging by normal means, then there's reflagging by kicking out the previous operator -- usually accompanied by claims of missed revenue targets and mis-management.

The U.S. led blockade has crippled the economy, but slowly as visas from U.S. and group tourism opens up, 2013 could only go up.

Southern Thailand isn't the same Thai escape tourists envision, but the spectre of ethnic and religious unrest is one that far too many people readily understand.

Increasing Chinese tourism will continue to help Thailand numbers go up, and as ASEAN zone takes off in 2015, expect the overall region to benefit.