Categories: Global Health | Personal | Economy | Tourism
As my final blog entry for the purpose of my International Tourism hospitality course I have learned and expanded on many topics I would have not otherwise known or looked into. In creating these blog posts, I have published 11 entries including this one for this course, written on a total of 12 categories, and watched over 15 related movies and alternate media channels such as TedTalks and YouTube. I am glad this is something I was introduced to and hope to continue working on. From this course I will continue as a HTM minor, as well as picking up sustainability efforts in the future.
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Categories: Personal | Tragedy
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021 tragedy struck at my high school in Oxford, MI when a 15 year old student became an active shooter on campus. 12:55pm he exited the bathroom and shot 10 classmates and a teacher. 2 students fell immediately to their wounds, another on their way to the hospital, and the final death occurred the following morning. These were my classmates, coworkers, friends, and community. The strength found through this community came at an unfortunate price. This post is to compile the thoughts of my friends, family, and village as we work to move forward. I was not fortunate enough to have known Hana or Madisyn but I did know Tate through my boyfriend who played football with him and I was good friends with Justin through one of my high school jobs. Categories: Adventure | Tourism | Travel | Volunteer
International travel offers the chance to explore, learn, and appreciate all that life and different cultures offer. I am very fortunate to have been able to travel to a few places that have pushed me into the hospitality industry before Covid-19 took away many of these opportunities for many. Covid-19 even took away my travel experiences as I had a Europe trip planned in 2018 for the summer of 2020. Categories: Global Health | Tourism | Tragedy | Travel
Immediate changes occurred within the first few months of the pandemic to many, such as the international travel industry, shopping and consumerism industry, and events industry. Covid-19 changed the way everyone lives and interacts with the world around them. As we begin to slowly progress with vaccines and mandates, we can see that there are a number of changes that are here to stay, even after this is resolved. Some of these new changes are positive for businesses and people, which may have us asking, why weren't we doing this all along? Categories: Economy | Global Health | Sustainability | Tourism
Popular locations such as Nashville, Austin, Memphis, and New Orleans or anywhere the Olympics are held are no stranger to mass amounts of people. Unfortunately, its the impact of the temporary and mobile entertainment industry that is leading us in a harmful and unsustainable direction. Reviewing events such as the Fyre festival, Woodstock, and the 2016 Brazil Olympics, we can see how badly we need to take action to find cleaner, reliable, and more sustainable alternatives. Categories: Politics | Tourism | Tragedy | Travel
The political climate of a country or destinations impact the perceptions we have on traveling to various parts of the world. Political Instability can have a direct impact on tourism, and can in most cases be devastating, especially for those that rely on the hospitality industry the most. Libya, Iran, and Pakistan are just a few countries greatly affected by their political climates and have been pushed away due to stereotypes, hatred, and whitewashing perpetuated by large industries such as Hollywood. Categories: Global Health | Sustainability | Tourism | Tragedy
Large scale disasters have the potential to hurt more than just the immediate area impacted. This extends to the environment, wildlife, and the tourism industry. There are many areas that have been deemed high risk due to their location and climate that may be known for volcanoes, tsunamis, or hurricanes. When areas that largely depend on the hospitality industry for their livelihoods are destroyed, tourism is often the only way to get them back on their feet. Recently impacted areas often have difficult times convincing tourists to visit after these kinds of disasters. Categories: Conservation | Global Health | Suitability | Tourism
It’s no secret that species rates are declining as we hear more and more reports of animals going extinct or being added to endangered species lists. I feel that it is important we learn compassion for the other beings on this planet as the climate continues to change. There are many reasons why species can go extinct, but we have a responsibility to take action for the things we have the power to change, such as big game and trophy hunting. Categories: Economy | Global Health | Sustainability
Water brings you to a calm, more meditative state and has become a staple in what may make a relaxing vacation. With relaxing beaches and thrilling excursions, the water offers a number of health benefits and transformative effects. People go to great lengths to visit the ocean to bask in new environments, but what they don't realize is that these waters hold disturbing stories of the effects of our environmental impacts, which can be seen through the global fishing industry. Categories: Sustainability | Tourism | Volunteer
Voluntourism means combining your passion for traveling (tourism) while giving back to the countries you visit (volunteering). A combination of volunteering and tourism, voluntourism is a popular form of international travel. You use your time and energy to help others while exploring a different country and culture. Though there are many surface level rewards, may actually be a growing issue with the impact it has on commonly traveled countries. |
Sydney BrzezinskiSenior undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University studying Business Management, Hospitality & Tourism, and Meeting & Events Management. Through my enrollment in HTM 202 International Tourism, I have maintained this blog as a portion of my required class work from September to December 2021. - Sydney Brzezinski
Oxford & Allendale, MI |