Articles tagged “seaworld”

25 Moments that Mattered in 2015: To make our selection of 25 moments, we thought back to the stories that drove reader engagement and sparked discussion among both travel experts and the general public. Some stories were quick blips that represented bigger things while others were narratives that built slowly through out the year. Each one, though, spoke to where we are right now when it comes to the big business of global travel.

Things may be looking up for SeaWorld on paper, but whether or not it returns to its former strengths has more to do with changing consumer sentiment than competition or its own marketing efforts.

One big force in the travel industry, Southwest Airlines, did what was right as a good corporate citizen (or at least was worried about a brand hit), and is ending ties with SeaWorld after a 26-year relationship. Others in the travel industry see only dollar signs.

SeaWorld's brand hit has parallels to the reputation damage that fellow Florida operator Carnival Corp. has had to deal with over the last two years. Carnival is only now recovering, and SeaWorld's struggles may turn out to be more protracted because ending killer-whale shows is a decision SeaWorld isn't ready to make.

SeaWorld has been trying to emphasize how it rescues sea creates and allegedly humanely treats orcas in captivity, but a segment of the public just isn't buying it, as SeaWorld's recent attendance figures show.

Southwest Airlines should be commended for ending its direct relationship with SeaWorld, but the compromise decision is simply a half step if the Southwest-branded tour arm continues to promote the controversial theme park.

At this point, vacationers have already made their holiday plans. It's good timing to publish videos that entertain as opposed to ones that promote.

If the Blackfish documentary is hurting SeaWorld's attendance, the theme park operator would be pained to admit it.

A lot more work needs to be done to raise awareness for the issue, even if in one swoop slightly less than one-third of Americans are less likely to visit SeaWorld. If the documentary makers and activists want to build up a larger movement, they need to start by looking at America's heartland.

Bring it on, 2014.