Next week I have a speaking contract in Northwest Florida, one of the most beautiful beach destinations in this country. My two hour session focuses on the absolute ways that hotels, vacation rental companies and others in the travel industry can really move the needle and harness new business in this economy. Yes, that's right, HARNESS NEW BUSINESS. I am not going to talk about saving your budget for better times, or cutting staff or decreasing your advertising. I am going to explain why, at this very time in the economy, there is MORE opportunity than ever to grow your company and your market share.

It works like this. Companies who have not been managed responsably or whose balance sheet is shaky will have to cut back on marketing and advertising. They will be forced to lay off good people and start to cut back their efforts to grow their organization. That will create a cleaner playing field for all of us who have run our organizations responsably and have a healthy bottom line. We are the stronger companies who have the capabilities to continue to grow and to market and to build the company in this economic time of crisis.

I know our economic crisis will subside. I know that what D.C. is doing to straighten out the problem will work. If you were in business in the early eighties as I was you remember what I am talking about. It was hard, but the economy came back stronger than ever and really boomed afterward. This too shall pass.

So what are your plans to leverage the situation? What is your marketing strategy? Have you made a shift in your online strategy or are you hunkering down and hoping for the best? Hope is not a strategy.

If you are in the area next week, the Walton County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a very good conference that will be enlightening to all. If you can, register to attend. I will be there and would love to have you in my audience.

Go to http://www.waltonareachamber.com/ind_travel_event.php to register.

Until next time...

Leah Woolford

Founder and CEO, USDM.net