Our last guest is Kim Guise, the National WWII Museum’s Senior Curator and Director for Curatorial Affairs. Kim will showcase this groundbreaking experience, a First-of-its-Kind Nighttime Sound and Light Show EXPRESSIONS OF AMERICA Unveiled, and she will explain how this innovative addition to America’s official WWII Museum immerses visitors in written words, songs, and personal reflections of the everyday men and women who served our country in every way imaginable during World War II. Expressions of America will send a powerful message about the tremendous impact that individual people—such as US Army nurse Major Birdie Daigle, Staff Sergeant Edward A. Carter Jr., renowned entertainer Bob Hope, and others—can have in times of great conflict.
Expressions of America will be among America’s most innovative visitor experiences, taking advantage of storytelling in this magnitude and medium. Expressions of America is a signature nighttime offering for visitors to New Orleans.
Upon arrival and before the 25-minute sound and light show begins, visitors are fully immersed in 1940s America through a pre-show experience featuring live entertainment, new custom exhibits, food and beverage offerings, and memorable interactions. The show will be followed by post-show music, creating a 90-minute total experience visitors will not forget. For more information on Expressions of America, visit expressionsofamerica.org.
Our second guest is Karl Haller, Partner, Consumer Center of Competency Leader at IBM Consulting. Today he will discuss this year’s holiday trends and how the changing demands of consumers have pushed retailers and travel providers to change their business strategies dramatically. The mix of rising prices and decreased inventory availability means that when consumers shop is just as important as where. Continuing the shift away from the traditional Black Friday start of the shopping season, about 58% of consumers plan to start holiday shopping before November. Almost two in three people plan to pre-order their products to get them on time with guaranteed prices, and 73% said they are considering sustainability when shopping for the holidays. Travel is also where consumers look to return to normal while mitigating any risk associated with potential price changes due to inflation and fluctuating gas prices. With even the best plans having disruption risks, the retail and travel industries are taking notice. Those embracing the uncertainty and leaning into technology like hybrid cloud and AI will win loyalty and sales this season. For more information, please visit www.ibm.com/ibv.