Evening star., 1939-12-24

who deal in the statistics of such
things say it will reach its peak
next August. No one area has a
monopoly on the upturn, though
some authorities emphasize that i'm
proved economic conditions in the
United States, as well as the war,
are doing much to loosen purse
strings.
The evidence has been collected
and this is where it came from:
Orchestra and night club book
ing offices-Business is running into
extravagant figures.
Department stores - Many are
renovating or opening new branches
in resort centers.
Hotels-Miami Beach alone is pre-
pared to take care of Is per cent
more visitors this winter. For the
first II months of 1899 building in
the greater Miami area was UP 49
per cent from the same period in
1898.
North Shares in Boom.
Transportation lines-The Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad. operating
all-expense tours to Northern Wis
consin and upper Michigan resorts,
expects to be booked to capacity"
this winter compared with only
pretty good season" last year.
United Air Lines is preparing for
better than a 80 per cent increase
in travel to the American St.
Moritz," Sun Valley. Railroads serv-
ing the Atlantic seaboard and gulf
ports unanimously report 20 per
cent increase in Southbound pas
senger business. and one remarked
that winter vacation travel, which
normally starts December 20. this
year had been evident December l.
Florida motor lines have experienced
like boost in business.
Resort publicity and advertising
offices-Almost universally they have
expanded their budgets for a "see
America" drive.
Travel agencies-One in New Or
leans remarked it would be mo mis-
take to predict the largest domestic
travel season in history during the
winter months"
Chambers of commerce-That at
st. Petersburg, Fla, moderate priced
resort, anticipates the biggest sea-
son in the history of the city.
Coupon Clippers Started 1t.
Dating from the start of the "big"
war on September 3 (to distinguish
it from the little" war in Finland).
the coupon-clippers initiated the
see-America movement.
Some of them regularly have gone
to St. Moritz or Mediterranean re-
sorts for years. Some of them have
spent their winters in Europe only
occasionally. Some are Europeans.
Some married Europeans. But. in
any event, the reopening of homes
closed for several seasons cannot be
written off as local phenomena.
Countess Haugwitz Won Reventlow
the former Barbara Hutton. is home
She leased Florida residence. Mrs.
Joseph Davies, wife of the Belgian
Ambassador, is also expected to
spend the winter in Florida.
So is Mrs. Harrison Williams, who
appears in the rotogravure sections
of Sunday as the best-dressed
woman. Her expensive villa is being
reopened for the first time in years.
The Duchess de Tallyrand, the
former Anna Gould, will winter in
the United States.
Mrs. Margaret Emerson and her
son and daughter -in-law, Mr.. and
Mrs. Alfred G. Vanderbilt, will spend
the winter in the U. S. A. resort.
Mrs. Emersons daughter, Gloria
Baker Topping, and her husband.
Henry. jr., will be in Honolulu for
at least part of the winter. Mr.. and
Mrs. Winston guest-he is the polo
star-have leased a Florida house.
Fewer Cruises Available.
Those less favored with spending
money. but winter vacationers
nevertheless, are expected to swell
American resort populations. Nor
mally some 10000 persons have taken
West Indies cruises. One travel
agency figures that fully IS per cent
of the cruises have been cancelled
because of the war by steamship
companies. The bulk of that busi-
ness will, of course, go to American
continental resorts. And the resorts
are preparing. The Music Corp
of America, orchestra and act
booking Office. reports bookings are
40 per cent in advance of last year
The Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel in
Miami beach has as many reserva-
tions now sE it had in the middle
of January, last season.
At the Whitehall, the old Flagler
mansion in Palm beach, reservations
are heavy until late in April. That
never happened before.
Southern Californias season does
not get under way until after the
first of the New Year, but the num-
r-C@~-r