June 2008
By Dale J. Venturini
By Dale J. Venturini
President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
It’s not east being a TV weather forecaster. The weather forecast is the most watched portion of the evening news, and next to the traffic report, it has radio listeners tuning in. We all know our meteorologists by name, and while we never thank them when they call for a beautiful day and it turns out as such, but we often blame them when the forecast is wrong.
People make more decisions based on the weather forecast than anything else, especially when it comes to making plans for the weekend. As we enter the summer months, the most lucrative season for most hospitality and tourism businesses in New England, the weather forecast makes owners and managers either smile or cringe.
A sunny weekend forecast means full hotel rooms, packed restaurants, high admissions at attractions, and people buying goods. A rainy forecast keeps people at home, not spending money. And, we all know, in the hospitality business, you can never make up the money for a vacant hotel room or an empty restaurant table.
It’s not just grey skies that may keep people away this summer. The economic forecast is gloomy, with no signs of clearing. Economists are predicting light air travel by Americans this summer, instead opting for more local destinations, which bodes well for the Ocean State. Rhode Island has access to more than 5 million people within a three hour drive. People want to vacation and spend money, and we need to convince them to spend their money in Rhode Island.
With an industry that relies so heavily on weather, the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association is speaking with local forecasters to open an honest dialogue on the symbiotic relationship between our industry and their forecasts. While we can’t control Mother Nature, we hope the weathermen have a good handle on what she has up her sleeve. Our goal for these discussions is not to change the forecast or paint a rosier picture than reality, but to hopefully develop a system for more accurate reporting and to encourage viewers to still get out and enjoy the day.
Until there is a more scientific way to determine short and long terms forecasts (Yes, weather forecasting is a science, but it is far from exact), there are things you can do to limit the impact. Watch the forecast closely, and don’t rely on just one source. Monitor several weather sites to help gauge what may happen. With more and more people creating vacation itineraries online, checking out sites of places they may want to stay or dine, consider including a weather forecast link on your own website.
So, what’s the forecast for this summer in Rhode Island? If you put your trust in the Old Farmer's Almanac, then we are in for a rainier and slightly hotter than normal summer, with the hottest periods occurring mid- to late June and mid-July. But, even the forecasters at the Almanac are hedging their bets. Using time-honored, complex calculations, the Almanac predicts that 2008 will be the warmest year in a century, along with a bit of folklore — years that end in "8" have weird weather.
If you prefer to get your weather from your favorite TV meteorologist, then I suggest you step outside and see for yourself. And, if you don’t like the forecast, don’t worry, we live in New England, the weather will change in a minute!
It’s not east being a TV weather forecaster. The weather forecast is the most watched portion of the evening news, and next to the traffic report, it has radio listeners tuning in. We all know our meteorologists by name, and while we never thank them when they call for a beautiful day and it turns out as such, but we often blame them when the forecast is wrong.
People make more decisions based on the weather forecast than anything else, especially when it comes to making plans for the weekend. As we enter the summer months, the most lucrative season for most hospitality and tourism businesses in New England, the weather forecast makes owners and managers either smile or cringe.
A sunny weekend forecast means full hotel rooms, packed restaurants, high admissions at attractions, and people buying goods. A rainy forecast keeps people at home, not spending money. And, we all know, in the hospitality business, you can never make up the money for a vacant hotel room or an empty restaurant table.
It’s not just grey skies that may keep people away this summer. The economic forecast is gloomy, with no signs of clearing. Economists are predicting light air travel by Americans this summer, instead opting for more local destinations, which bodes well for the Ocean State. Rhode Island has access to more than 5 million people within a three hour drive. People want to vacation and spend money, and we need to convince them to spend their money in Rhode Island.
With an industry that relies so heavily on weather, the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association is speaking with local forecasters to open an honest dialogue on the symbiotic relationship between our industry and their forecasts. While we can’t control Mother Nature, we hope the weathermen have a good handle on what she has up her sleeve. Our goal for these discussions is not to change the forecast or paint a rosier picture than reality, but to hopefully develop a system for more accurate reporting and to encourage viewers to still get out and enjoy the day.
Until there is a more scientific way to determine short and long terms forecasts (Yes, weather forecasting is a science, but it is far from exact), there are things you can do to limit the impact. Watch the forecast closely, and don’t rely on just one source. Monitor several weather sites to help gauge what may happen. With more and more people creating vacation itineraries online, checking out sites of places they may want to stay or dine, consider including a weather forecast link on your own website.
So, what’s the forecast for this summer in Rhode Island? If you put your trust in the Old Farmer's Almanac, then we are in for a rainier and slightly hotter than normal summer, with the hottest periods occurring mid- to late June and mid-July. But, even the forecasters at the Almanac are hedging their bets. Using time-honored, complex calculations, the Almanac predicts that 2008 will be the warmest year in a century, along with a bit of folklore — years that end in "8" have weird weather.
If you prefer to get your weather from your favorite TV meteorologist, then I suggest you step outside and see for yourself. And, if you don’t like the forecast, don’t worry, we live in New England, the weather will change in a minute!
