THE BULLETIN
LETTING GO
EDITORIAL David Eisen Editor In Chief
Always nearby ; within grasp ; panic erupts if not . Sounds like an existential crisis — but I ’ m just referring to my phone . I know I ’ m not alone .
I made my way through college in the mid ’ 90s when Dave Matthews Band was all the rage and tracks like “ Crash ” had both sexes swooning . Moviegoers lined up to see Mel Gibson in a kilt and yowl “ Freedom !” ( There was streaking on campus , not streaming .) There , too , weren ’ t portable phones . Answering machines ( for the kids , these were actual machines that recorded messages and played them back ) were ubiquitous in dorms with me , in my youthful angst , often suffering the ignominy of returning home to a blank machine — no red flashing button to be found .
Those were the days . Those are not the days today : There are almost 5 billion smartphone users today with that number forecasted to reach 6 billion by 2028 . That ’ s a lot of people with their heads down .
Smart devices have their usefulness : They keep us in constant communication with the outside world — family , friends , co-workers — and enable us to access literally any piece of information we need , from a soufflé recipe to the score of a football match . It ’ s all right in our hands .
Maybe , just maybe , it ’ s not all that healthy . Research suggests that smartphone usage can negatively impact cognitive ability , disrupt sleeping patterns and affect social skills . Not to mention piss off your boss : In recent leaked audio , Jamie Dimon , the CEO of JPMorgan Chase , is heard employing “ colorful ” language to denigrate Zoom and admonish workers for not paying attention and sending texts and reading emails during video meetings . He said it creates rudeness and inefficiency .
“ You don ’ t do that in my ( insert blasphemous expression ) meetings ,” he said . “ You have my focus , my attention , I don ’ t bring my ( insert blasphemous expression ) phone .”
Ok , boomer ! Well , maybe there is some truth to his frustration ( the bulk of his outburst was directed at WFH policies ). The smartphone has become an appendage : “ Don ’ t leave home without it ” is no longer just an American Express catchphrase . Though the “ slow movement ” originated from protest against fast food , it has its applications to technology . Hotels are tapping into it — railing against the omnipotent smartphone . Miraval , the wellness-focused Hyatt brand , preaches mindfulness and encourages a digitaldevice-free environment that “ empowers guests ” to be “ free from distraction .” In fact , it ’ s not just encouraged , but mandated : Guests are asked to use technology only in their room or designated locations . Miraval means business ( isn ’ t getting done ).
Other hotels push the “ digital detox .” France ’ s Vichy Celestins Spa Hotel offers a package where devices are taken at check-in and locked in a safe . Meanwhile , the Haramara Retreat in Mexico has the perfect solution to weaning off devices : rooms don ’ t have electricity .
It all sounds so tranquil and dandy . Of course , who am I to talk ? While writing this , I scrolled through 10 Instagram videos , booked an Orangetheory class , refreshed Gmail twice and checked in on LinkedIn four times .
HELP !!
David Eisen
Editor In Chief
Kathakali Nandi Editorial Writer
Tatiana Valenzuela Editorial Coordinator
Juan Cruz del Val Designer
Contributing Writers Harvey Chipkin , Derek Herscovici , Alicia Sheber
PUBLISHING Ali Jahangiri CEO
Brian Levine Publisher
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Gilda Perez-Alvarado Group Chief Strategy Officer , CEO of Orient Express , Accor
Arash Azarbarzin CEO , Highgate
Danny Hughes President , Americas , Hilton
Jeanelle Johnson Partner , PwC
Raj Chandnani EVP & CDO , WATG
Cindy Estis Green Co-founder & CEO , Kalibri Labs
Raúl González CEO EMEA , Barcelo Hotels & Resorts
Alan Fuerstman Founder , Chairman , CEO , Montage International
Patrick Scholes MD , Lodging and Leisure Equity Research , Truist Securities
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