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Close or Keep Open the Comments Section at The Gate?

A lot of media sites which used to allow readers to post their thoughts in response to articles have since shut down their comments sections; and that has had me thinking about whether the Comments section at The Gate should remain open or be closed.

One of the more notable Internet web sites which had recently closed its notorious comments section is Yahoo!, which has both the following message and a button on which to click to start a survey after every article…

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August 1, 2020

What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 50

As I was driving to attend a meeting for the day at a hotel property near Tampa International Airport almost five years ago, I was passing a street corner and noticed something which caused me to momentarily stop to take a few photographs.

For this edition of this popular game, can you guess what…

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August 1, 2020

Face Mask Policies Further Restricted by Marriott and Delta Air Lines

Masks or coverings for the nose and mouth are already required by most airlines and lodging companies — as well as many rental car companies — for both employees and customers; but two companies in particular have further restricted the policies pertaining to wearing them.

In order to promote the health and safety of its communities, face coverings are now required for guests and associates in all indoor public areas of the hotel and resort properties of…

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August 1, 2020

The Middle Seat in Society These Days…

That poor lonely middle seat aboard an airplane: no one wants to sit in it. No one sitting next to it wants anyone to sit in it. The middle seat is the orphan of sorts in which most people would rather not venture unless absolutely no other choice or option is available.

If the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic did not cause problems, it certainly uncovered existing ones and even exacerbated known issues with society in general; and the travel industry is especially included — like it or not…

…and the…

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July 31, 2020

Travel Alert July 2020: Hurricane Isaias to Impact Bahamas and Affect the East Coast of the United States

If the Bahamas and the east coast of the United States are in your travel plans over the next few days, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to Hurricane Isaias, of which landfall is likely, as the eye is forecast to…

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July 31, 2020

The Oldest Companies In the World By Country

A company needs staying power to survive in the cutthroat world of business, as keeping a commercial operation open is not easy: 75 percent of new businesses survive the first year; 69 percent of new businesses are still serving customers after the first two years; and 50 percent of new businesses stay in operation through five years, according to the Bureau of Labor of the United States…

…and the odds of successfully keeping a business open to customers these days are…

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July 31, 2020

The Longest Yard Sale in the World Celebrates 33 Years — and Other Travel Ideas

If you were wondering about some places to visit and things to do for the remainder of the summer of 2020 within the United States which are just slightly out of the ordinary — and in which you can participate despite the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic — this article contains some different ideas about where you might want to consider traveling.

From the…

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July 31, 2020

Should Wearing Eye Protection Be Required When Traveling?

“If you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it. It’s not universally recommended, but if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can.”

The statement which you just read was said by…

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July 30, 2020

Passport Application Processing Update: July 30, 2020

Since Phase One of the three separate phases of resuming the normal operations of processing passport applications started on Thursday, June 11, 2020 — along with the staggered reopening of 16 passport agencies and passport centers as part of the first phase, with six of them in the second phase as of Monday, July 27, 2020 — at least 1,481,000 passports have been issued, according to the latest update from the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State of the United States.

The number of passports currently awaiting issuance is still steadily decreasing compared to what the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State of the United States has awaiting issuance in normal circumstances.

The table shown above reflects each week — from Thursdays through Wednesdays — since Phase One of the three separate phases of resuming the normal operations of processing passport applications started on Thursday, June 11, 2020; and the backlog of…

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July 30, 2020

Earn Triple World of Hyatt Points by Dining in Restaurants 2020 at Participating Hotel Properties

You can earn triple World of Hyatt points on eligible charges for purchases of food and beverages at participating restaurants at 401 Hyatt hotel and resort properties worldwide through Thursday, October 8, 2020 — even though you are not staying as a guest at the hotel or resort property for the night — when you choose the options of dining in, delivery or takeout…

…but you must…