How the Travel Industry Supports the U.S. Military

[Evelyn Kanter]

The travel industry gets lots of headlines for cruise ships that have to be towed into port, delayed flights and lost baggage. So it's nice to be able to wrote a good news story about the US travel industry supports US military personnel, both retired and active. Here's some of what airlines and hotels were doing for uniformed service men and women on Veterans Day, and beyond.

American Airlines is partnering once again with The Sands Foundation and the USO to host wounded warriors and their spouses for a special Veterans Day weekend in Las Vegas. The group is flying aboard a special AA Flagship Independence aircraft. The wounded warriors include military servicemen and women from Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga.; Bethesda Navy Hospital; Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and veterans from the New York City area. In Las Vegas, the wounded warriors and their spouses are being treated to performances by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, Clint Black, Terry Fator and the Blue Man Group at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.

JetBlue is donating $25,000 to the Wounded Warriors project, which supports wounded military with cultural and sports activities, from scuba diving and skiing to concerts and weekend getaways. I was scuba diving in Florida last year with several guys from the Wounded Warriors project, and was amazed at their positive outlook and eagerness to enjoy themselves.

Honor Flight Chicago isn't a travel industry company, but a non-profit which works with airlines. Since it was founded in 2008 by World War II Navy veteran Monroe Roth, the group has sponsored more than 1,500 World War II veterans on flights to Washington, D. C., to visit the World War II Memorial on Veterans Day. The average age of these vets is 88. Honor Flight Chicago flights depart and arrive home at Midway Airport, to the cheers of thousands of supporters.

Red Roof hotels is offering current and retired U. S. military and their families 15% off room rates at participating hotels for the entire month of November.

Southwest Airlines has been named one of the top military friendly employers in the US, according to the magazine GI Jobs, for providing hundreds of jobs to returning servicemen and servicewomen. Click here for a list of the top 100 military-friendly employers in the USA. Southwest Airlines also is honoring the military all month by supporting non-profit groups that support service members and their families.

Tomorrow, I'll return to beating up the travel industry for delayed flights, lost baggage and cruise ships that lose power at sea and have to be towed into port. But today, it makes me feel good to give credit when it is deserved, such as how airlines and hotels support U. S. military service men and women.

[Sam Scribe]

This isn't what I thought it was going to be about: I had hoped for a juicy expose about C.I.A. operations. Your approach, however, is appropriate. Give credit when credit is due.