What Are Your Vacation Plans? Traditionally, summer is the most popular vacation season. It’s a great time to fly off to a tropical island, experience Europe or just visit Grandma’s house. But travel is not what it used to be in the wake of the events of Sept. 11 and the economic downturn. So, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal asks: Are your and your employees’ vacation plans different this year? Judi Uthus Community Relations Manager West Hills Retirement Center West Hills This is a pretty high-stress level industry and people want their vacations, so they’re going to take them. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Cancun or Santa Monica, people need that break and they’re going to take it. Most of our workers are not very high wage, so they’re probably going pretty close to home, but our head chef just went to London. Martha Aguayo Vice President Spectrum Benefits Group Woodland Hills People are staying local, taking maybe a Friday and a Monday for a long weekend rather than a real vacation, and using their cars instead of airplanes. Air travel, unless it’s for business, I just don’t see it. We’re all doing the Santa Barbara or San Diego kind of thing. It’s because of the economy and because of 9/11. But we still have to really juggle our schedules. We’ve grown some and we have a couple of more people now. William J. Gervais President Qualstar Simi Valley We haven’t seen any difference as a result of Sept. 11. Of course, we’re normally shut down the first week of July because of inventory anyway. So, about 70 percent of our people are gone, but that’s normal for us. As far as people taking vacations, they’re still taking them but I don’t know what they’re doing. They’re probably taking cars rather than planes though. Sheldon Mende Principal Triad Graphic Partners Tarzana I haven’t seen any difference. Some clients I talked to today, they’re leaving for Paris on a short vacation. Most of our employees are taking vacations. I haven’t seen anybody say they’re not going somewhere. Of course, I’m not taking a plane anywhere, but it has nothing to do with anything. I just don’t like to fly.
