It's that time of the year again - suddenly even politics and news as well as celebrities are on the backburner as that phenomenal holiday herald called Black Friday shook people out of their slumber starting 12 midnight on Thursday! Preliminary results indicated that the operative word in the phrase was black as results on the registers were more along the lines of hope than expectation.

Considering that BF deals were the most searched most-discussed, probably the most emailed term/subject, perhaps the hotel industry could have got into the act - by tapping the frenzy into more room-nights. New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and myriad glittering shops for every kind of taste and budget and, as usual, made for an especially attractive for shopping package.

The weakening US dollar certainly stoked the shopping appetites for many tourists - high-profile American brands and designer names were suddenly accessible to the rest of the world.

Perhaps the hotel industry could tap the holiday shopping mania in other ways (taking cues from a Target ad that endlessly drilled the early- AM- get- to- the- store mantra last few days)

• Offer a special BF alarm to motivate guests to beat the rush!
• Special transportation to take them to and fro - from store to store to cover all the specials. A "TG shopping circuit shuttle! " - checkout times not included.
• Free high-speed Internet Cafe for guests who prefer to shop online (with a customized local webpage pointing to the best offers in the city)
• A specially fortified complimentary breakfast to get guests ready for the grueling challenges of bargain-hunting and deal-grabbing!

Shopping has become too ingrained in the American culture to dismiss as a weekend activity vacation! The travel industry must find ways to tap the flavor of the season and the huge hordes that frequent the all-enduring symbol of America - the retail mall! A travel equivalent of a BF blowout deal is yet to come by.

Vijay is Chief Operating Officer and part-founder of Apple Core Hotels- a chain of 5 midtown Manhattan hotels offering value and comfort in the heart of the city.Member of the board of Directors - Hotel Association of New York.

www.vijaydandapani.com