When I decided to write the September 2018 Friday With Joan blog post with a headline inspired by "Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and interview families in the business, I asked Marcus Bales, who has been collaborating with Mike Whitney, to consider coming up with a parody of the song famously performed by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings and written by Ed Bruce and Patsy Bruce to go along with it. I am grateful to Marcus for the lyrics and to Mike for his perfect rendition. Were I you, I’d hire them for work for your meetings to add some pizzazz!

Joan Eisenstodt interviews a number of family members who have made careers out of the hospitality industry.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews the Peterson family about multiple generations in the hospitality industry.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews Liz Erikson Marnul about multiple generations in the hospitality industry.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews mother and son Lesa P. Melvin and Jarad Melvin about multiple generations in the hospitality industry.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews members of the Rigling family about multiple generations in the hospitality industry.

I present the following safety checklist for meeting planners and others in our industry to reference when recommending or accepting recommendations for various transportation services. While much of the checklist was compiled after learning of the tragic duck boat incident that killed 17 in Branson, the list itself can be applied to all modes of transportation and to other activities.

In light of the July 19, 2018, duck boat tragedy near Branson, Missouri, consider these five areas, each with a few questions, to include in your RFPs regarding boats, cars and buses, and also for hotels and off-site venues. These are items that are likely taken for granted by meeting and event planners organizing group excursions and transportation.

In my related Friday With Joan July 2018 blog post you’ll gain some insight into obstacles to professional development and ways to work around them. Reading is a relatively easy way to advance yourself and your career. Here, I provide some links and suggestions for your list.

The following questions were asked of organizations who are FairHotel Partners. I am grateful to John F. Stephens and to the American Studies Association for their response. Stephens has served as Executive Director with the American Studies Association, from 1983 to present.