TravelAge West Editors Blog

Onboard the MSC Orchestra

2009-04-15T10:30:00.001-07:00

In the midst of great weather and calm seas, MSC Cruises’ Orchestra sails the Caribbean with a pleasing Tower of Babel collection of languages and cultures.

As I walk through, I hear Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese and French (both French and Canadian accents) and every variety of North American English, along with a few stray Scots. By the pool, the South Americans display their buffed bodies in extreme swimwear and extremely well behaved children communicating easily without a common language as they munched hot dogs and hamburgers. The comfortable mesh loungers are all gone by mid-morning, and the extras lining the track are carefully skirted by runners and walkers.

Maybe it’s just timing, but it seemed as though there were far more happy winners in the casino than the norm as passengers made the usual complaints that they had primed the slot machines only to see the next player win over $1,000. They toasted each other’s success and then joined in the dancing that took over the whole ship, from afternoon lessons in the lounge – rock and roll, cha cha, merengue – to late night in the flashing disco.

With all the different language groups, entertainment at night is based on gorgeous costuming and effects and universal experience – incredible acrobatics, classical music, magic.

One of the most delightful aspects of our cruise that will also be on several fall MSC sailings in the Caribbean was the Baseball Greats activities, free to all passengers. Guests sent ecstatic gloating emails home when they realized that stars of baseball were not only on board and sharing their stories, but sitting down with them for a drink, having their pictures taken with children and giving advice to potential players.

One of the funniest moments – and with names like Hall of fame manager Earl Weaver there were some great ones - when Randy Hundley, former Chicago Cubs All-Star catcher, set up an impromptu training session in the midst of a panel discussion. Potential catchers, whose numbers grew dramatically as he brought them up to the front of the room, assumed and held the difficult crouch, groaning, as Hundley asked, “Are you SURE you want to be catchers?” and told them about knee and hip replacements that follow the physically taxing position. “It’s a tough, stinking job,” he added, not deterring his admirers for a moment.

From the stories of how they came into the major league to movies like the classic Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First” and the autographing sessions that went on far longer than the original plan, the players built their audience into the hundreds as word spread about the sessions. For the players, too, it was reunion time; some hadn’t met for years.

Meanwhile, in port players and passengers headed for the beaches, shopped the markets and swam with the dolphins. They worked off the luscious desserts in the fitness center and around the track and played tournaments in the card room or just lazed away an afternoon with a book.

By the time we returned to Ft. Lauderdale, quite a few kids on board had casually mastered a few phrases in another language, and the passengers got off more relaxed and sun-kissed to return to real life.

Report From Cruise3Sixty

2009-04-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from the annual Cruise3Sixty conference held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., April 2-6. The event, hosted by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), is one of the most important in the cruise industry.

This year, the big news did not come as a result of an industry seminar or press conference. The buzz was about how many agents attended in the first place. A new record of over 2,000 delegates — as well as the largest number of participants and record sponsorship levels — was widely seen as an optimistic sign amidst the current economic environment. From what I heard talking to exhibitors, most were indeed pleased by the turn out, at least on the first day.

The conference was marked by panel discussions, seminars and workshops, as well as more than a dozen cruise-ship inspections. But, as always, Cruise3Sixty is also about the social events.

One of the best events of the Cruise3Sixty conference is the Hall of Fame Dinner where pioneers of the industry are acknowledged. This year’s inductees were Edwin W. Stephan, founder of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines; Walter Sherota, founder of Gold Coast Cruises; and Josephine Kling and Joyce Landry, founders of Landry & Kling, Inc. It’s inevitable that, at least once or twice during the inductees’ speeches, you can see people in the crowd wiping tears from their eyes.

For next year’s Cruise3Sixty, organizers have made some significant changes. For one thing the location of the conference will move north of the border to Vancouver, Canada. It will also be held June 3-7 instead of in April.

“Based on this year’s response, we are wasting no time gearing up for Cruise3Sixty in 2010,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. “Despite economic jitters, there is tremendous enthusiasm for this event. Plus, we will be in the great city of Vancouver, which has enormous appeal for travel agents and cruise lines. Therefore, we fully expect yet another record turnout.”

Marilyn Green Visits Seatrade

2009-04-01T15:27:00.001-07:00

Every year for a quarter of a century, the cruise industry has gathered in Miami – cruise line executives, shipyards, ports, ship designers and outfitters, the Coast Guard, security personnel and the infrastructure that furnishes everything from shore excursions to online wi-fi – for its annual conference and reunion. Hard hard times, great times, it’s always a wonderful experience, filled with information, rumors, meetings and deal-making and with reunion lunches and dinner in the restaurants of South Beach and beyond.

The convention center is filled with nearly every language on the planet as those who shape cruising fly in from all over the world to discuss and negotiate, communicate and create. Among the rumors this year are intimations of a new multi-ship order for MSC Cruises, which already claims the title of youngest fleet in cruising (although there are other contenders). And there were more than rumors about new positions for former Disney Cruise Line president Tom McAlpin and former SeaDream Yacht Club CEO Larry Pimentel, the latter saying that we’d know in a couple of weeks what he is doing.

Retired president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines Bob Dickinson was on crutches after an accident in Antarctica, “but it was the end of the trip,” he said, clearly very enthusiastic about the experience there. After the State of the Industry and its stress on value as the engine of business he commented, “It does no good to offer a gold plated belly button lint remover at a great price if the customer doesn’t want one. It’s the combination of customer satisfaction and value that wins. When customer satisfaction is higher we have upbeat, full ships in contrast to half filled hotels with a gloomy atmosphere.”

There was little gloom at the conference, where attendees stood, kneeled and even lay on the floor to photograph the spectacular cutaway model of Oasis of the Seas on the floor of the trade show, now in the company offices. The model, which shows details of areas like Central Park, was built on a scale of 1:100 and stands nearly 12 feet long and over a foot and a half wide; it weighs more than 1,300 lbs.

Tony Peisley, cruise analyst, pointed out that a recent poll in North America and the UK showed agents were more worried than the cruise lines. “I can’t remember a time, even after 9/11, when so many people were so unsure of the state of the market,” he observed. Peisley added that last fall the cruise lines responded quickly and ships sailed full, but many of the measures to fill the ships do not benefit the agents.

“Agent commissions are down so the cruise lines can protect onboard revenues and tips, which are essential to the crew,” he added. “The agents are exposed and several large retailers and individuals have gone.” He said that, as in North America, UK agents described sales in January, February and March as good, but they felt that consumer confidence is fragile.

Business partnerships are nothing new at Seatrade and this year New York City and Genoa signed a pact, setting up a longterm relationship as partners for transatlantic cruising, with MSC Cruises already functioning as a common operator. MSC’s Orchestra will initiate the relationship, calling in New York May 5 on its way from Florida to Europe; the line has planned six Magnifica turn-arounds in the fall of 2010 and president and CEO Rick Sasso looks to eventually having 20 or 30 MSC calls a year in New York. NYCruise expects more than a million cruise passengers this year and Genoa 550,000.

Now celebrating its first Homecoming year, Scotland launched its Cruise Scotland marketing group, seeking to expand its cruise business 10 percent annually for the next three years. Scotland has a 48 percent share of cruise calls in the UK during 2008, with a record total of 377 ships and 202,000 passengers.

Good news for North American interior markets: two new ships will operate on the Great Lakes in 2009: the 225-passenger Pearl Seas and Travel Dynamics’ 110-passenger Clelia II.

In terms of technology, the cruise lines are getting involved with Twitter’s social networking, expanding their blogs from the models offered by Carnival Cruise Lines’ John Heath and Holland America Line’s Eurodam construction blog. In addition, with top crewmembers at a premium, experts pointed out the importance of fast communications – dual-mode cell phones and fast email in retention and job satisfaction.

Fan of Fuji

2009-03-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

I’d been warned that Fuji can be hard to see in the spring time, so my expectations were low. In fact, I’d try to visit Hakone some years back and spent the entire day looking at wet cloud cover where the mountain was supposed to be.

So when I was invited to Shizuoka Prefecture, the home of Mt. Fuji, in March, I didn’t really expect much.

But oh wow, how beautiful this mountain is when you can see it.

There are so many places you can see Mt. Fuji from within the Shizuoka Prefecture. (A prefecture is sort of the equivalent of an American state.) It would be hard for me to decide where exactly I enjoyed the view most. Driving on the racetrack from the Fuji Speedway, a birds-eye view from the Ferris Wheel at Grinpa Amusement Park (which sports Japan’s tallest Ferris Wheel), as a sturdy sentinel standing watch over the Chichibuno miya Memorial Park?

Each had their own unique qualities, but probably I’d have to say that the most breathtaking for me was from the balcony of my room at the Awashima Hotel

There was something magical about sitting on the balcony of this island-based property, listening to the waves lapping on the beach and watching the city lights twinkle at the base of one of the world’s most famous mountains. After a hard day of walking, I admit that I did make use of the hotel’s foot massager, while I sat drinking my tea and find my own level of Zen meditation.

Despite the fact that I’m not at all a morning owl, I was up bright and early, ugh 5:30 am, so I could also catch the sunrise over the mountain.

After snapping a few hundred pictures of Fuji, I headed down to the hotel’s outdoor onsen hot spring, where I continued to watch the changing morning light cast its effects on Fuji.

It's hard, really, to write a blog about just how impactful this view is. It could easily have come out sounding cliched, or worse, like bad poetry. However, suffice it to say, this was truly one of the most remarkable sights I've seen in my lifetime

Good Eats, Sweet Treats

2009-03-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite aspects of traveling to far-away places is the opportunity to broaden my palate a bit, trying something that I could probably never replicate in my own kitchen. It's those singular culinary experiences that had me steadily swooning in Japan. Here's a mere taste of my adventures in good eats...

After touring Yokohama's Kotokuin Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a lunch of Buddhist cuisine or shojin ryori seemed most appropriate. I'm not sure if the custom has anything to do with Buddhist belief but, as an aperitif, we were served a small serving of plum wine in a ceramic cup. The arrangements of seasonal veggies and soy protein appeared modest, but packed a myriad of flavors in almost every bite.

If you love sushi, Tokyo will smile upon you. I snapped this photo of my "dessert" course at the ninja-themed, contemporary restaurant, Ninja. Not only did I have sushi for dessert, that morning I also had it for breakfast at the Tsukiji Fish Market.

Prior to having matcha or green tea during a Japanese tea ceremony, it is common to receive a plate of sugary sweets to offset the bitterness of the tea. These adorable cubes tasted pretty much like pure sugar, but with a red bean filling. Look closely and you can make out an intricate design of the three-story pagoda in Sankeien Park.

Tempura is another staple for the first-time visitor to Japan. It comes in most bento lunches, and some restaurants, such as Sansada in Asakusa, serve nothing but tempura entrees.

Soft serve ice cream of all flavors, such as green tea, plum blossom and vanilla are found in most high-traffic tourist destinations in the Kanto region. Depending on the prefecture’s most popular agricultural crop, you could be walking around with a cone of wasabi-, sweet potato- or soy sauce-flavored ice cream while admiring the sites.

I was really taken a back with the general presentation of food in Japan. Here, we unwrapped our three-level Kabuki bento box at Chiyofuku restaurant in the nostalgic and rather lovely city of Sawara.

Shopper's Surprise on Hawaii's Big Island

2009-03-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Don’t make me go shopping when I’m on the Big Island. I’m there to hike, snorkel and eat papayas. Trouble is, in order to buy the papayas, I have to go to a store. On the sizable Big Island, a trip from the Kohala Coast to a bona fide grocer has traditionally taken at least one hour including driving. So you can imagine how happy I was on my most recent visit to the island when I discovered two convenient and well-stocked new markets. Both have chosen savvy locations -- one in Mauna Lani Resort, the other in Waikoloa Resort -- putting them within mere minutes of the many vacation accommodations of the area. That’s good news for anyone like me who usually stays on the Kohala Coast. Each of the grocery stores combines an ideal resort location with a selection of products that rivals any I’ve seen on the island. They’re the perfect answer for travelers who don’t want to eat every meal in a restaurant.

At Mauna Lani Resort in the Shops at Mauna Lani awaits Foodland Farms, a 10,000-square-foot full-service supermarket. It’s a bright, colorful presentation of island-grown, specialty, gourmet, natural, organic and traditional local favorites plus items from around the world. I was blown away by the full-service meat department, with all-natural beef, pork and poultry; a wide selection of prepared, marinated and seasoned meats including skewered and stuffed entrees ready to BBQ; and a full selection of lamb and veal.

Seafood lovers can buy fresh island fish fillets (some seasoned and ready to grill), poke (raw marinated fish) and raw and cooked shrimp. Local products dominate the produce department, with regional delights like Hamakua Springs tomatoes and mushrooms; Big Island avocados; Rainbow papayas; Keeau bananas; and watercress from Mountain View. The bakery displays gourmet desserts like petite fours, European desserts, cakes, tortes, gourmet cookies and brownies. One of the big draws for me is the variety of ready-to-eat entrees -- think designer pizzas -- that visitors can pop into their condominium oven. The olive bar lays out varieties of antipasto (try the stuffed olives with feta cheese), and there’s an appetizing range of domestic and imported cheeses.

The store has plenty of wines, beers, spirits and liquor, including a full selection from the winery in Volcano and the largest selection of Kaena Wines, crafted by a Hawaii-born winemaker. On the way out (or in), don’t miss the counter of gourmet gelato and sorbet in such tropical flavors as mango-lychee, dragonfruit and coconut. It’s right next to the espresso bar.

Not to be outdone is the new Island Gourmet in Queens’

Marketplace, based in Waikoloa Resort. This 23,627 square-

foot emporium is the result of a unique partnership between ABC Stores and KTA, which owns and manages a chain of grocery stores on the Big Island. I can personally vouch that Island Gourmet offers a superb selection of top-quality

foods and fine wines, including imported delicacies never before available on the Big Island.

At the full-service bakery and deli, clients can pick up made-to-order hot and cold sandwiches, pizzas, salads, fresh-baked pastries and breads. The produce section is an eye-popping collection of colorfuledibles, from the organic (eggplant, tomatoes, lettuce) to the

exotic (rambutan). I had to drag myself away from the sushi bar, and I marveled at the fact that this places sells live lobsters, oysters, abalone and Manila clams. For the true gourmand, this is your place to buy frozen quail, pheasant and Muscovy duck as well as buffalo, ribeye steak and rabbit. Alongside specialty products, clients can buy ready-made island favorites like musubi, bento and sushi.

The store even works with clients who are looking to cater meals or parties in their Waikoloa digs. You can find the full spectrum of beverages in the wine and beer department, and varietal lovers will want to spend some time in the store’s wine tasting area. Lest you think Island Gourmet places too much emphasis on high-end delights, rest assured it knows its roots, right down to the display of ukuleles.

Fiji Launches Tourism Fiji Campaign

2009-03-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

Skye and Monica took some well-deserved downtime to enjoy lunch at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, where Fiji rolled out its new corporate tourism identity, “TOURISM FIJI.” More than 50 LA-based trade and media were in attendance, including a number of hoteliers from Fiji. The yummy meal was highlighted by fabulous views of Santa Monica, a presentation by Jo Tuamoto, the new CEO of Tourism Fiji, as well as traditional Fijian performers.

Jo flew out from Fiji to speak with LA's travel industry. He told us that Fiji's new identity is part of the nation's long-term strategic goal of achieving 1.1m visitors by 2016. Jo also updated partners on the latest tourism developments in Fiji, including the May opening of the brand new 271-room Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, which he called a “mark of confidence” in Fiji’s tourism industry’s current and future growth.

Similar events are also planned for New York on March 17th and Canada on 2nd April for Tourism Fiji.

Arabian Nights

2009-03-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Sandstorm? Check. Freezing, icy wind chill that cuts to the bone? Check. Unforgettable experiences of a lifetime? Done.

I’ve just returned from a two-week sojourn to Jordan and I can’t say enough wonderful things about it. It’s an amazing country and has so much to offer travelers that I’m surprised more people aren’t lining up in droves to see it in person. During my visit, we did quite a bit — to say it was a packed itinerary would be an understatement. And while there were so many unforgettable moments that I’ll take with me from my experience, two stand out most in my mind: Petra by Night and camping out in the Wadi Rum desert with local Bedouins. I loved these two outings so much that not even a sandstorm could dampen my spirits (more on that later).

First up was Petra by Night and, in a word, it was simply amazing. Together, my group and I lined up at the gates of Petra at 8:30 p.m. with fellow travelers and, one by one, we entered the UNESCO World Heritage Site in a single file. When you first step onto the site, it’s hard to really see anything — the darkness would be all-consuming if not for the 1,500 lighted candles that line the route to Petra’s most famous site, the Treasury. But even though I couldn’t quite make out the outlines of the rocks or mountains to my side, or avoid stepping into some lovely “gifts” left over by the many horses, donkeys and camels that shuttle people throughout the park in the daytime, it was truly magical. During Petra by Night, guests must follow a code of silence as they make their way through the winding road; the end result is an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere that perfectly prepares you for your arrival at the Treasury. And once I began to see it, just out the corner of my eye, my heart literally skipped a beat. It was every bit as beautiful and majestic as I had imagined — just as stunning as it was in “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade,” too. Shortly after, I sat down on carpets laid out in front of the steps to the Treasury and a Bedouin musical performance commenced as hundreds of us sipped steaming tea and sat in awe of it all.

The second unforgettable night I spent in Jordan was in Wadi Rum, the desert made famous by T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Close to sun down, we geared ourselves up for an exciting 4x4 ride into the desert, passing over red sand dunes and looking out onto massive rock formations that envelop this amazing place. And when we finally arrived at our camp, we quickly put our belongings down in our respective tents and headed out to the central campfire where we danced and sipped on Turkish coffee and tea, laughing all the while. Later, we feasted on a fantastic meal of Bedouin delicacies, including a special lamb dish that is prepared by heating the meat under the sand for several hours. It was amazing, to say the least, even if my sleep that night — though brief — was often interrupted by the flapping, howling sounds of a sandstorm and the icy chills of the wind.

Even so, sandstorm and all, I wouldn’t trade any of these amazing Arabian nights for anything else and, to me, that’s the best part of travel.

Mariner of Seas Comes West

2009-03-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a special preview sailing for travel agents onboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. The line has redeployed Mariner to the West Coast and it has already begun making seven-day Mexico Riviera cruises to Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan out of San Pedro, Calif.

Those of us onboard for the two-night preview got a chance to experience the ship’s many special features — including the rock-climbing wall, the nine-hole mini-golf course, the ice-skating rink, the inline-skating track and more — as well as have face-to-face time with top Royal Caribbean executives.

The Mariner is the largest ship ever to offer cruise vacations from the West Coast, and judging by the reaction of agents onboard, it is a welcome addition to the Western market. While agents made it clear during a special Q&A session with senior vice president of sales Vicki Freed that they still want a three- or four-night ship from Royal Caribbean to be homeported in Southern California, they were also very excited to now have a ship the quality of the Mariner as an option as well.

It was obvious from the applause during Vicki Freed's Q&A session with the agents onboard that relocating Mariner of the Seas to Southern California is a popular move for Royal Caribbean. But Freed also reminded them that the company will be watching to see if agents can sell the ship and that future deployment decisions will be based on the agents' success.

Here's a tip: While I could say the best part of the ship was the cafe on the Promenade serving Seattle’s Best Coffee and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, the ice-skating show was probably a bit more spectacular. Be sure to tell clients to get seats up front where they will feel like they’re part of the action.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/

Clam Happy in Loreto

2009-02-17T10:22:00.001-08:00

I didn’t know what to expect when our group pulled up at the beachfront Hotel Oasis — the oldest hotel in Loreto, Mexico — but I knew we were in for an experience. Immediately, we were greeted with open arms and a kiss on the cheek from one of the owners, Ana Pellegrino. Our animated host told us that we were in store for a special dinner, a menu dreamed up by her mother and found exclusively at the family’s hotel restaurant.

Dinner’s main event was a Loretan clam bake of freshly caught Chocolata clams. The clams were placed upon a circular bed of gravel on the beach and covered with local dry shrubs. The chefs set the shrubs ablaze as we watched on, in almost a meditative state, mesmerized by the growing fire and filled with anticipation.

While the clams cooked, Ana invited us to try the first course — raw clams. She shared with us that the best way to enjoy them was with a squirt of lime, splash of hot sauce and a few drops of beer, preferably Tecate. It seemed easy enough, I thought. But as the server set the clams in front of me, I had second thoughts. Don’t get me wrong, I love fresh, local cuisine, but the raw clams were literally squirming on my plate!

“See how fresh they are?” Ana asked.

I smiled, but it must not have mask the terrified look on my face.

“You look worried. Do you want me to prepare it for you?” she offered.

Ana’s warmth is what keeps travelers coming back, however she will tell you that the clams are entirely responsible. Apparently, the clams cast some sort of a spell over the unsuspecting. According to Ana, she and her mother “hooked” their husbands by hand-feeding them the family’s baked Chocolata clams with a dollop of their secret mustard sauce.

“I guarantee you, it’s how you hook a man,” Ana explained. “And every time we prepare the Chocolata clams, I make sure to feed one to my husband because I don’t know how deep that hook really is.”

Soaking It In

2009-02-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

What in the world is a wine spa? Will I be soaking in merlot? These were my first thoughts as I put together my weekend getaway to the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos. The resort’s Somma WineSpa is built around a practice the spa has dubbed “vinotherapy.” This could include a chardonnay body mud wraps, merlot exfoliation or a basic Swedish massage with wine oil.

The WineSpa offers a very unique activity that combines a spa treatment and dinner under the stars called the Barefoot Dining Experience. Perfect for couples or a group, the evening starts near the resort’s private beach, where I was asked to remove my modest flip-flops and place them for safekeeping on a terry-cloth-lined basket. Next, I was led down to the sand to an elaborately staged outdoor spa. Large cushioned rattan chairs formed a half circle to face the beach and a blazing bonfire, beside each chair was a table for wine tasting and in front laid a shallow basket full of plump red grapes.

Therapists help each guest into their basket as they begin stomping their grapes. I giggled; the sensation of the fruit squishing between my toes could only bring to mind that classic episode of “I Love Lucy,” where Lucy turns purple after stomping grapes in Italy. The mood on the beach was light and cheery; you can only take yourself be so seriously when ankle deep in a basket of fruit. Once my grapes were thoroughly crushed, I was helped back into my chair where I put my feet up and gazed at the stars. Music and the sound of crashing waves filled my ears as a therapist began massaging my feet. During my reflexology treatment, my therapist took handfuls of the cool crushed grapes and massaged them into my feet and legs. The effect was incredibly relaxing. After the massage, a hot, steamy towel removed the grape skins and seeds and the wine tasting began.

The tasting included three wines from Mexico’s Baja region and each was paired with a complimentary hors d'oeuvre. This was fun for wine novices as well as aficionados. Afterward, my group was led to an elegantly decorated table laid out for us on the sand. The wines from the tasting now accompanied our dinner for which the resort’s chef prepared an amazing candlelit feast. I dug my feet into the soft sand to feel it between my toes and thought about how nice it was to attend a formal dinner without having to wear a pair of masochistic, pointy high heels. It was this mix of the casual and the elegant that made the conversation flow and the night memorable.

USTOA Focuses on Economy

2009-01-20T16:17:00.000-08:00

Last month, the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) held its annual conference at the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif.

One of the main themes of the conference was the current economic crisis. According to a recent survey of USTOA members, 80 percent of respondents identified the economy as the number-one issue facing them in the coming year.

“We recognize that 2009 may be a tough year, but we also expect that the pent-up demand for travel will be there once people feel a little more confident about the economy,” said Bob Whitely, USTOA president.

According to the survey, tour operators are responding to the challenges with creative offerings to ease consumer concerns. For example, 20 percent of survey respondents said they are planning flexible payment programs; 36 percent said they are offering special deals and discounts; and slightly less than 15 percent said they will promote early booking discounts.

“None of us know when consumers will begin to emerge form their shell,” said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours and chairperson of the USTOA board of directors, in his speech. “But we also know that economic hard times are cyclical. Peoples’ love of travel remains constant. Once consumers regain confidence, their natural curiosity will encourage them to leave home. The fact is that they will need a vacation as much or more than ever and this can provide an opportunity for a rebound.”

Ball pointed to three factors that he said are reasons to be optimistic: the historic culmination of a long election; the sudden drop in oil prices and the strengthening dollar; and because of the Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative, the number of U.S. passport holders has continued to grow.

“In this fiscal year alone, more than 16 million passports have been issued,” he said.

In addition to the speeches, the conference included a series of pre-arranged meetings with tour operators, dinners, networking opportunities, a charity auction and more. One of the reasons the USTOA conference is such a good event is that tour companies bring together so many different components of the industry — including airlines, destinations, resorts and more. Another reason is because you get the chance to shoot hoops at midnight with people from all over the world in the annual HORSE tournament. The evening HORSE tournament is sponsored by Tourism Malaysia, but there is also a golf tournament, a fun run and walk and a tennis tournament, among other social events.

In all, the conference once again was one of the top events for the travel industry.

“We have grown from 10 members in 1972 to become one of the most prominent voices in the travel industry worldwide,” said Ball. “USTOA today represents 150 of the top names in packaged travel, and we number over 800 associate and allied members.”

In a challenging year, the partnership of USTOA could be one of the most important ways for suppliers to share good ideas and better partnerships.

Swingin' in the Rain

2008-11-24T11:58:00.000-08:00

Rain doesn't stop anyone from doing anything in Seattle, and although a rainy day at the zoo might sound miserable, for our small family group, it was an eye-opening experience. One of the first benefits we noticed was that there was hardly anyone there for a Saturday, making it easy to get up close to the animals. Of course a downside was that some of the animals weren't out because of the rain. Although this was the case with some kid favorites - like the elephants - we found that the wet weather made the orangutans seemingly more active than usual. We watched them for more than half an hour as they swung from tree branches, beat their chests and covered themselves in with leaves and sticks. A mama orangutan was nursing a one-year-old baby, and before we left, the baby came right up to the glass and played and made faces to the delight of the group. The scene was akin to something kids - and parents - would watch on Animal Planet's "Meerkat Manor," except with orangutans instead of meerkats. The girls, who ranged in age from 7 to 11, loved every minute.

Being in Seattle, it's not surprising that the Woodland Park Zoo has a contingency plan for rainy days, and it offers many activities for kids when the weather is wet, with suggestions of indoor exhibits and recommendations on which outdoor exhibits are the best - and have the most active animals - in inclimate weather. The zoo also has an indoor facility called Zoomazium that offers multimedia exhibits, interactive and nature-themed play areas for children from birth to age 8. Kids can explore a mountain cave, listen to storytelling, cross a tree canopy and even climb a 20-foot tree.

www.zoo.org

Back From South Africa

2008-11-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

How special an experience is a trip to South Africa?

As I get ready to tee off on the 10th hole of The Lost City Golf Course at Sun City, I have to pause to let a family of baboons run by me. On the 13th hole, my shot luckily clears the crocodile pit.

Welcome to Africa.

The Sun City resort will be the site of ASTA’s International Destination Expo (IDE) this March 8-11. In addition to unique experiences like these, agents that attend the expo will be treated to a variety of educational events and a regional trade show, as well as several pre- and post-event fam trips. Of course agents will also be able to sample the luxurious amenities at Sun City — including a casino, a manmade beach area with a wave machine, two golf courses, a wild game reserve and plenty more.

One option that will also be available to agents, however, will expose them to another side of Sun City. Through the resort’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) department, guests at Sun City can discover some of the local community projects the company is involved in. Boitshoko Baxter, a very impressive woman who, despite having a law degree, chooses to develop these projects for Sun City, explained that the emphasis of the program is on investment, not charity.

“It’s about giving people the opportunity to run their own businesses,” she explained.

During my recent visit, I had the opportunity to visit a farming collective not far from Sun City that is run by the blind. Steven, one of the leaders of the collective, explained to us the details of the organic vegetable farming the group is involved in, as well as his many future plans for growing the operation.

A former electrician, Steven said he is much happier on the farm.

“I just want to spend my time in this garden, from morning to night,” he said. “And there sure is plenty to do here.”

Besides farming, the group also harvests honey from bees and makes its own soap and cleaning products. The pride that Steven had in his growing business was clear when he showed our group some of the recent awards his group had won.

In addition to this collective, Baxter took us to visit a local elementary school where Sun City was assisting in the building of two classrooms, using environmentally friendly building techniques. Baxter explained that the bricks themselves are manufactured out of soil by local workers, and the building methods — which are cheaper, easier and faster — are being taught to others in the community for future community projects.

So, while agents at the IDE will no doubt be wined and dined this March, I encourage you all to seek out information on the resort’s community projects. Even a short visit to witness firsthand the good work being done there, will provide guests with cherished memories and a renewed spirit to take back home.

Ready to Relax

2008-10-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

I’m not usually a big fan of all-inclusive resorts, but with five hotels in one complex, a beautiful, P.B. Dye golf course, a stunning beach, endless amounts of food and an extensive spa at my fingertips, the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso might have made me a convert.
For one, the resort’s El Spa rocks. I could have spent an entire day there, enjoyng the extensive hydrothereapy area with its array of Jacuzzis, a Vichy shower, a dry sauna, a Hammam and a large thalassotherapy pool. The Jacuzzis were my favorite part. The spa offers four different whirlpools, all set at different temperatures and with varying amounts of bubbles and jets. There was one that was good for circulation, one for the immune system, a cold plunge to get your heart started and a Jacuzzi with personalized jets and full-body lounge chairs. You could spend an hour or two just enjoying this area, as I did, and then head for the Hammam, followed by the dry sauna with a rinse in the Vichy shower and you wouldn’t even need a facial. My skin was glowing for the rest of the day. And the best part was that it’s all included. I have to say, I’ve never been to a resort where such an extensive array of spa amenities were offered basically free of charge.
And although the spa struck a chord, it was only one of my favorite places to relax at the resort. After my turn at the spa, I headed back to my room, curled up in my porch swing and fell asleep for an afternoon nap to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Each room at the resort has a porch swing, even those that are not on the beach. Other room amenities were also appreciated, like the iHome docking station for my iPod and the butler and concierge services, but none really compared to my porch swing. Although, Victor (my butler) did offer to unpack my bags for me, which was fantastic, and he also added chocolate treats to my minibar after I mentioned I was pregnant and craving some. These were just a few of the extra bonuses that came with my oceanview grand suite.
My other recommendation for visiting the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso is to venture beyond the hotel itself. The entire complex, with its five properties, shopping center, golf course and more, has so much to offer. There’s the lobby bar at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya, which is set in a replica of a Maya pyramid. There’s the aquarium bar at the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo hotel. There are at least three restaurants in every hotel, a myriad of pools, which guests of the Grand are free to use, and a long strip of coastline. It’s also fun to explore the shops, and there’s a huge convention center for meeting purposes.

Agents should watch for more Grand category resorts to pop up in the near future. Iberostar is opening this property category in both the Dominican Republic and Jamaica this year and another property is scheduled to open in the burgeoning destination of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

http://www.iberostar.com/

Tulum and Beyond

2008-10-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

I was elated when I glanced at our itinerary for a yoga retreat in the Riviera Maya and saw that our first order of business was to explore the nearby Maya ruins with a local guide.

During the forty-minute drive there, our guide told us about the Maya, asking us to forget everything we saw in "Apocalypto" because, according to him, the film was "completely inaccurate."

After the short history lesson he gave, we arrived at Tulum, jetting past the touristy T-shirt shops and to the ticket counter, where I opted to leave my video camera to avoid the $30 usage charge. A brief trolley ride took us to the limestone gates, and our guide handed me a hibiscus flower from his pocket (in case I wanted to feed one of the dozens of iguanas roaming around the ruins).

It was a near perfect day for exploring Tulum; the sky was fairly clear, hardly anyone was there and, although the sun was fierce, a constant breeze danced around us.

After touring the grounds, our guide suggested that we take a quick dip in the water below, which looked heavenly — and indeed it was.

As we floated in the turquoise Caribbean Sea, our gaze fixed on the towering main temple at Tulum, it became clear why the Maya's once called this pristine place home.

"This is the highlight of our trip," mused my friend, Mike, before dunking his head beneath a rolling wave.

I agreed, but then again, it was only day one.

Moving on Up

2008-09-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

What everyone told me about Shanghai was true — my co-workers and grandmother included. Shanghai isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill city by the sea. It’s a booming Gotham and, from the looks of it, the only place left for it to go is up.

When I arrived earlier this month, the city had just recently inaugurated the new world’s tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Center, one of many innumerable edifices that blanket the entirety of the city.

Call me naïve, but I’ve never seen so many skyscrapers — or construction cranes — all in one place. Before I left, my editor Janeen described Shanghai to me as “what [she] thought Tokyo would be like” and she was right: Looking outside my hotel window on my very first morning there, just as the sun was peeking out of the clouds, was unforgettable. From my perch on the 43^rd floor of The Longemont Shanghai (formerly The Regent Shanghai), my eyes could barely eke out any semblance of a horizon. Instead, all I saw was an infinite expanse of buildings — and signs of more on the way.

What’s more, I also arrived in Shanghai flying high, fresh off my first business-class flight experience aboard Jet Airways’ new direct service from SFO. And, to top it all off, we landed just in time for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, a national holiday and one of my personal favorite celebrations growing up. (Mooncake, anyone? On a side note: if any of your clients is planning to bring home some mooncakes from China, strongly advise them against it because the cakes will be seized by U.S. Customs.)

Going to Shanghai, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew that my paternal grandparents and great-grandmother were born and raised in Shanghai, and that they left it just before the Communist Party took over in 1949 and they never came back. I knew Shanghai was always modern and that it had a reputation for being cosmopolitan and well, that was about it.

Being there for the first time, however, really put everything into perspective, even if it was only for a few days.

The city still has an aura of glamour about it, even when you’re visiting the most crowded, (and often Westernized) of tourist destinations, from Yu Gardens to the Bund. And you can’t help but be in awe of the gorgeous architecture that crowds the skyline — it’s truly amazing what so many architects have been able to construct here.

The afterglow of the Olympics was still there, too. Even if Shanghai wasn’t home to any of the competitions, you wouldn’t know it judging from all the Olympic signage and advertisements still posted everywhere. CCTV would broadcast competitions from the ongoing Paralympics and MTV China couldn’t get enough of the Beijing Olympics theme song.

And in 2010, Shanghai will be home to the World Expo, an event for which the marketing campaign is already at full-speed: I couldn’t go anywhere in the city without having at least three or four sightings of life-sized figurines of Haibao, the expo’s jolly blue mascot who seems eerily modeled after a Crest toothpaste Sparkle from the ’80s or Gumby. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that the World Expo will be a grand showcase for Shanghai, a huge statement of its power as an economic and cultural center in the 21^st century.

And that’s just the thing: The sky’s the limit for Shanghai in the years to come, and I, for one, can’t wait to go back and see how it all plays out.

Visiting Palau

2008-09-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a curiosity about Palau ever since a friend dragged me to Long Beach to witness a museum collection of Micronesian artifacts. Yap, Kosrae, Palau? What were these exotic places, and how could I, a confirmed travel addict, have so little knowledge about them?

The impressions of the giant Yap money and the Palauan storyboard (wood carvings) stayed with me, even though I had no idea at the time that I would ever visit this exotic destination.

Fast forward a decade and a half as Ken Shapiro (Editor-In-Chief) reluctantly offered me the opportunity to take a press trip there. Ha, I’m not even going to pretend to be sad that he couldn’t go.

Not surprisingly, this one museum exhibition barely educated me, and I had no idea what to expect. The journey was about as amazing as I expected. Five packed days of activities and we didn’t even get in the water until about day four. Unbelievable, when you realize how very famous Palau is for its coral reef environs.

We spent the first days getting acquainted with Island history, visiting museums, local artisans and popular visitor sites. I even purchased a coveted storyboard (at the men’s prison no less.)

A particular hit with our group was the Jungle Boat River Cruise excursion (named in part after the famed Disney ride, only much cooler on a real Jungle river.) We sailed two and a half miles down a mangrove-lined river which eventually connected with the ocean. Along the way we marveled at the scenery and made friends with Rosie, a local crocodile.

We also toured the relics and sites made that gained so much recognition during the “Battle of Peleliu” a four-month skirmish World War II. Palau’s flat landscape, perfect airstrip materials, and its strategic location near the Philippines and Indonesia, made the country a coveted piece of real estate during the War in the Pacific.

Really, though, for me the trip turned from good to great when we donned our fins and snorkels and hit the open waters.

I’ve been snorkeling before, but nothing can compare to the adventures awaiting us in Palau. I’ll never forget the excitement, and fear, of watching several five-foot sharks feed on smaller fish just below the ocean’s surface. If that weren’t excitement enough, in the same afternoon we hiked to Jellyfish Lake, where we swam with literally millions of stingless jellyfish.

I still can’t decide which was the bigger thrill for me.

After 15 years, Palau has rocketed from my “must see” list to one of my very favorite travel destinations.

PS: Do feel free to visit my personal blog, for a more detailed overview of my Palau Travel

A Buzz of Activity

2008-09-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

By far the most impressive part of Travel Mart is the so called "speed-dating" sessions, which I was lucky enough to participate in this year at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The experience is totally unique, and for a first-timer like me, almost a little overwhelming. As you wait for the opening bell, you feel as if you are waiting for the opening of the stock market. And then the pressure is on suppliers, all of whom must deliver their product in a four-minute presentation over and over, hundreds of times a day to a throng of waiting travel agents. This goes on for four days, and is intermixed with other meetings, briefings and a general sense of comraderie between the agent and supplier community.

As I entered the room for the first day of the speed dating sessions, I was met with a frenzy of activity. I had no idea how anyone could get anything done in the midst of this chaos. But as I observed the agents I was shadowing for the day, I watched them meet with longtime colleagues just to catch up for four minutes. I saw suppliers whip through impressive four-minute presentations, drop off their cards and make lasting impressions on agents. I watched as both suppliers and agents realized they both had something the other needed and by the end of the day, I thought, wow, this really does work!

I only witnessed one day of Travel Mart, and I can't imagine how anyone could survive four. But I have it on good faith from a supplier friend that the frenzy never dies down and the excitement lasts until the end.

The Only Way to Fly

2008-09-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was fortunate to be one of a select group of media, travel agents and industry insiders that got a chance to fly on the Airbus A380 out of LAX. This was a “flight to nowhere” organized by Emirates Air to promote its new Los Angeles to Dubai service, which is scheduled to begin this fall. The airline had organized similar test flights in New York City and San Francisco earlier that week to promote its service from those gateways as well. Emirates will begin its Los Angeles service using Boeing 777 jets, but they plan on introducing A380s as soon as possible.

For those not familiar with the A380, it is the largest commercial passenger jet in history. Its capacity, depending on the configuration, can total more than 500 passengers. (Emirates will have 489 seats: 14 in first class, 76 in business and 399 in economy.) Only a handful of airports in the U.S. have runways large enough to accommodate the plane (LAX had to lengthen one especially for it), and its arrival in town is often worthy of a spot on the local news — in fact, there were several camera crews on hand for our flight.

Once the A380 arrived (a bit late), there was a press conference on the tarmac and then we all boarded the plane. I was happy to see that I had one of the few business-class seat assignments, and as I soon as I dropped down into my seat, I began playing with all the gadgets and other features there, including a personal minibar, a lie-flat seat with built-in massage options, plenty of storage space and the list goes on. The entertainment system offered a seemingly endless number of new and old (and international) movies and songs, and passengers even have the ability to create their own music playlists. Everything is controlled via a wireless remote control handset with a touch screen.

Even with all these bells and whistles, however, my favorite in-flight entertainment was provided by the cameras mounted on the nose, underside and tail of the plane giving me a pilot’s-eye view during my actual flight.

Once airborne, we were all able to walk around and get a tour of the plane’s amenities. Naturally, everyone was most curious about first class. Here the seats are more like roofless compartments and feature doors at each seat that can shut. Also, the two first-class bathrooms have onboard showers! We were told that these bathrooms will also have their own dedicated in-flight attendants.

As I was wondering to myself who could possibly afford such luxury, I overheard a travel agent ask someone from the airline if it would be a problem if she wanted to book all 14 seats for Ramadan. I guess she felt her clients would approve!

Another popular area of the plane was the lounge, which has a bar (and bartender) and bench seating. It seems like it would be a great place to chat and hangout during a flight, although we hit a bit of turbulence while I was standing there and found myself swaying a bit — and not from any martinis.

Overall, it would be hard to imagine a more high-end experience on a commercial flight. While every other airline is worried about reducing the weight — and the amenities — on their planes, Emirates clearly feels that its customers will see the value in having nothing but the best from the moment they step onboard.

Oceania Cruises' Insignia

2008-08-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Onboard Oceania Cruises' Insignia in the Mediterranean, we're in the midst of lovely weather and a great time on board. Everyone is hitting the gym and the spa to offset the unbelievable food offered breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea.

The menu for the huge brunch yesterday as we sailed into Dubrovnik was about the size of War and Peace and everyone was tasting everyone else's dish because the choices were so tempting - in the alternative La Toscana they cater to this problem by allowing guests to choose what size they want of each dish, so they can try more. The staff in the dining room and alternative restaurants is no help at all; they keep bringing out more and more delicacies, and when one member of our group said he wanted nothing for dessert, they brought out a beautiful plate with a careful presentation of the word "Nothing" on it.

Dubrovnik was enchanting and, while nameless members of our party caught up on Croatian beer, we stocked up on the incomparable Kras chocolates in the Old City. Oceania water taxi service - too nice to be merely called tenders - took us on the sea route from the port, one of the most dramatic and beautiful commutes on the planet.

The day before we all felt rested after an initial overnight in Venice, and in the morning I took the vaporetto to Murano, the famous glassmakers' island. Insignia docks practically on top of a vaporetto station, which allows the passengers to enjoy total independence in exploring the city and I love the ride through the harbor and on to Murano. I've never seen it so uncrowded, and there was time to chat with the owners of the little shops that line the canal; they are often the designers of many of the beautiful pieces displayed there. Buying glass in Murano is like carrying away parts of a rainbow, and at home one piece brings back the whole memory of the day, the brilliant colors of dishes, jewelry and chandeliers, the sidewalk cafes and the flowers pouring from each window sill.

Back at the ship, we compared notes on our spa treatments, sat by the fireplace reading magazines and peered through the telescopes set up in the library. An excellent jazz band put an end to the long evening. This is going to be a very hard ship to leave.

Schweitzer High

2008-08-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

I just returned from three nights at Schweitzer Resort in northwest Idaho, a two-hour drive from Spokane, Washington. My husband and I chose it because we wanted to escape from the soaring Northwest temps of late-July, so we set our sights on somewhere cool and high – specifically, at the 4,700-ft. elevation. While it was 102 degrees in Sandpoint, 11 miles away, the temperature in Schweitzer Village was a blissful 72 degrees at high noon.

Schweitzer feels like Whistler in miniature. Instead of the 115 hotels and condos of the B.C. behemoth, it has two. We chose the Selkirk Lodge, a gem of a hotel with 82 rooms, some of which have kitchenettes. Across the pedestrian plaza is the White Pine Lodge, a newer condominium with appropriately Northwest-style architecture.
Lest you think that Schweitzer is simply a ski resort, let me set the record straight. Schweitzer is a great place to send clients in the warmer months. Who needs skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing when there’s a climbing wall and a bungee trampoline to play on? Another day we rode the quad chairlift to the 6,400-foot summit of the mountain, where a nine-hole Frisbee golf course awaited us, not to mention some swell hiking and mountain biking trails and views of Lake Pend Oreille.

The only down-side to a summer Schweitzer visit is that businesses seemed to have scaled back their inventory to meet the drop in demand. The pizza place was closed and some of the shelves in the Mountain Market were bare. However, we ate well by day in the Mojo Café and Pucci’s Pub, and enjoyed two delicious dinners in the hotel’s Chimney Rock Grill.

Here are just a few additional reasons to visit Schweitzer in the summer: live outdoor entertainment on Sunday afternoons; Friday night outdoor movies; life-size chess and checkers boards; tennis courts; and huckleberry picking. For clients who want to wrap up their summer in Schweitzer, time their visit with its upcoming Fall Fest (Aug. 30-31) with regional microbrews and wines, live music and activities throughout each day.

During the hot summer months, this is definitely a cool place to visit – in more ways than one.

Terminal 5: A Pleasant Surprise

2008-08-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last week, returning from my trip onboard the Crystal Serenity (see my last blog entry), I flew on British Airways through Heathrow’s notorious Terminal 5.

Now, keep in mind, the last time I flew through Heathrow on British Airways was the exact week police authorities announced that they had foiled a major terrorist plot to bring down B.A. planes headed for the U.S. That plot resulted in the plastic baggie rules and, as one of the very first passengers through Heathrow after the plot was revealed, no carry-on bags were allowed at all — no books, no iPods, no cosmetics, no nothing. In fact, as I waited in the huge lines of confused passengers, the toddler in front of me had his stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear taken from him by security and thrown into the trash. It was heartbreaking, but to the parents’ credit, they just smiled and said, “Pooh is going to stay in England now. And Pooh’s twin will arrive at home soon after we get back.”

Nice save.

Anyway, after that experience — and after hearing the horror stories of the problems T-5 had after it opened — needless to say, I was not looking forward to transiting through Heathrow. Last time I was there, my bags didn’t make it home until nearly a week after I arrived. I could only imagine how much worse it would be this time.

Happily, I couldn’t have been more wrong. T-5 was a dream to travel through. It was organized, comfortable and loaded with services. There are more than 100 retail shops and a wide variety of restaurants serving everything from seafood to ramen. The terminal seems very airy and even though it was a bit crowded, it felt lively without being jam-packed.

I made sure to check out the BA lounges, too (as much as I could without being escorted out by security). There are lounges in the south part of the terminal and the north, but tell clients that the south ones are bigger and better. The business-class lounge is enormous, and has a lot of great features, including computer terminals, private bathrooms and excellent food and beverage choices. The first-class lounge is even more luxe, and includes private rooms for VIPs.

One of the only negatives about T-5 that I observed was that it takes a long time to get from the terminal to some connecting gates; passengers actually have to board a train to the boarding gates. Although the process went relatively fast, be sure to allow extra time between connecting flights and warn clients that they had better keep an eye on the clock. Another negative is that there were several trash cans that were overflowing. Maybe I just caught them as they were about to be emptied, but my instinct tells me the cans themselves are too small — perhaps a result of design at the expense of function.

Still, I would have no hesitation traveling through T-5 next time and in fact, I think this is a case in which the billions spent on a terminal actually became an asset to an airline. British Airways has definitely moved up a notch in my airline choices for the future.

Now, about that never-ending renovation at the Tom Bradley terminal at LAX … tell me again why we can’t get something this cool?

One Chain, Many Links

2008-07-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Back from a one-day jaunt through Waikiki, I’m reminded of how many different types of digs ResortQuest Hawaii offers there. My first stop was ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel, where I breakfasted with general manager Mark DeMello. We dined the way all of his guests do – by carrying cooler bags through a free buffet line of hot and cold foods. Some folks take their breakfast to the beach, others take it in their rooms and still others dine poolside, where we settled. I saw everyone from kids to seniors taking advantage of this clever concept. DeMello said that while the hotel’s major renovation, completed in 2006, is no longer breaking news, a lot of agents are still raving about the improvements, which brought it up to AAA Four-Diamond standards – like full-length framed mirrors and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. The rooms I looked at had some great touches, like a surfboard amenity stand in the bathroom, and an orchid blossom floating in the toilet. It’s a fun hotel, somewhere I would feel comfortable recommending to couples and families.

Next I met with ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset general manager Doug Okada, whose condominium resort has just started a $15 million renovation that will last into 2009 and improve the lobby and guest rooms. All the units are privately owned, but ResortQuest Hawaii has standardized the décor in each one. They’re renovating the property two floors at a time, so guests won’t notice any construction, with all units getting completely stripped and each phase taking about eight weeks. Since the units have kitchens, they’re a big lure to families, which comprise 70 percent of the Waikiki Sunset’s clientele. Like all the condos in the ResortQuest Hawaii chain, this one is run like a hotel, with amenities like daily maid service and onsite check in.

My last stop was ResortQuest Waikiki BeachTower, the only accommodation in Waikiki that doesn’t charge for parking – and it’s valet parking to boot. “We don’t nickel and dime our guests,” general manager Michael Tasaka told me. The newly renovated porte cochere and lobby looked chic and welcoming (as you can see by this photo). Some of the rooms have also been upgraded, while others are going through that process. This property has a 30 percent repeat guest ratio, and after meeting the friendly staff, I understand why. They treat each client like an old pal. Every night guests get a different turndown amenity, like macadamia nuts, cookies or a chocolate. With a kitchen and washer/dryer in each unit, ResortQuest Waikiki BeachTower appeals to families and business travelers. For me, though, the big selling point is its private entrance, one-half block removed from the energy of Kalakaua Ave., making it good for someone seeking some peace and quiet in the midst of all that Waikiki has to offer.

Clearly, ResortQuest Hawaii is playing to different types of travelers. “We don’t want to be thought of as just budget accommodations,” said Shari Chang, ResortQuest Hawaii’s senior vice president of sales, marketing and revenue management. “We still have great value, but we offer a little bit of everything.” After my day in Waikiki, I’d have to agree with Chang that her chain presents a great cross-section of inventory.

In the Med With Crystal

2008-07-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

As I write this I’m on Crystal Cruises’ Mediterranean Masterpiece itinerary aboard the Crystal Serenity. The cruise began in Athens and includes Kusadasi, Turkey, Mykonos, Greece, and Sarande, Albania, before I fly home from Rome. The sailing continues, however, through northern Italy to Monaco and the French Riviera. It’s a terrific itinerary and a terrific ship. In fact, Crystal was just voted Best Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure magazine for the 14th year in a row.

I’m here with Crystal’s top-producing agents, other media and representatives of the line at the 18th Annual Sales Achievement Awards Gala. It has been great seeing so many top agents. At the opening-night cocktail reception I chatted with Eric Maryanov of TAW Trendsetter Award-winning All-Travel.com. Michelle Morgan, of Signature Travel Network, Jack Mannix, of Ensemble, and Ann van Leeuwen, of Virtuoso, are here as well. I’m proud to say that the West is very ably represented, with many agents from California, Arizona, Texas and Washington in particular.

Today, I spent a very hot afternoon walking around Kusadasi. It’s a great port for those who haven’t been here. As one member of the Serenity staff told me, the locals here are very friendly and respectful of visitors. While bargaining is common in the city’s souvenir bazaars, there are signs at many of the shops that say “No Hassles,” meaning merchants will not harass visitors to come into their stores.

In the evening, our group attended an outdoor concert at Ephesus, the very impressive Roman ruins located just 30 miles or so from Kusadasi. The concert is a part of the Crystal Adventures program, and I highly recommend it to agents with clients looking for a unique way to experience the site. A string quintet performed selections from Mozart, Bach, Brahms and others, with a backdrop of a 3,500-year-old amphitheater. It was an evening to remember to say the least.

Over the next few days, I’ll have an opportunity to chat with more agents, as well as interview Crystal executives, including company president Gregg Michel. The line has a lot of news to discuss, including new themed cruises and family and group offerings, special value deals, more Penthouses for the Serenity and the latest info on the line’s fuel surcharge policy. Plus, I expect we’ll be hearing some exciting news about new itineraries for 2010, including maiden calls throughout the Middle East such as Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and more.

So be sure to visit TravelAgeWest.com for future blog entries and stories.

Hawaii, Local Style

2008-07-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

It’s been 17 years since I was last on the island of Oahu and what a difference.

The first time I went, I was in grade school and traveling in an entourage that included my parents, brother and our 80-year-old grandmother. We did all the things families do while in Hawaii — pay a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and the Dole Plantation, attend a luau, head to the beach, learn how to make leis — and I loved every minute of it. My favorite moment was watching my grandmother attempt to do a Tahitian dance at the PCC — priceless.

Now, having just come back from my second trip, I feel just as elated, only this time, I’ve got a better grasp on what it’s really like to live more like a local than a visitor.

This July, I flew out to Oahu with my boyfriend and his family to attend a karate tournament and celebration held in honor of his uncle, Walter K. Nishioka, founder and chief instructor of the International Karate League. Mr. Nishioka’s story is really inspiring. Fifty years ago, the former head instructor of an Air Force Survival Training Course founded his first dojo, or karate training center, and thus his league was born and has since flourished throughout the islands and even the mainland.

This time, I didn’t stay in a hotel near Waikiki. I didn’t go to a luau or make a lei. I drove by the Polynesian Cultural Center but I didn’t venture inside. Nonetheless, it was still a great trip, thanks in large part to the generosity of friends and family. Better yet, I got some locals’ perspective on what it’s really like to live on the island and why Hawaii continues to be such a favorite getaway for so many around the world.

Here are just a few of the reasons why I love Hawaii:

1. It’s haunted, or at least that’s what the locals tell me.
OK, this might sound like a deal breaker for many, especially the squeamish, but I love the fact that there’s so much history (and mystery) to be found on this island. I’m no ghost buster — far from it, in fact — but I truly agree with locals that there’s an eerie beauty to this island. That’s probably why it’s the ideal locale for shooting ABC’s popular television series “Lost.” It even explains the rich, red earth to be found on the Western side of the island: “The dirt’s red because of all the blood spilt by the warriors,” my boyfriend explained to me. Locals even have a term for reactions to all the strange happenings and sightings that cannot be explained on the island —“chicken skin” they call it.

2. The food
The amount of food I consumed here in just a week could put even the most highly regarded competitive eater to shame. It’s part of a vicious cycle here on the islands: Should I exercise some self control so as not to publicly embarrass myself at the beach? Or do I give into steaming hot malasadas (Portuguese donuts) and refreshing shave ice? Let’s just say I chose the latter.

The hotels and restaurants by Waikiki and other hot spots are world-renowned, but if your clients want something with a little more local flavor, I suggest they hit up these places:

Aki-no-No
Hawaii is home to a large Japanese American population so it’s no wonder you’ll find a number of great Japanese izakaya (pub) restaurants, along with your favorite sushi joints. Be adventurous and try something you’ve never tried before, like roasted gingko nuts or deep fried anchovies, or stick to the tried-and-true like poke* (raw tuna fish marinated in soy sauce and other seasonings) or fried karagee chicken.

2633 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
808-947-1001
http://www.aki-no-no.com/

*A word of advice: If your clients are poke lovers who also happen to be Costco members, clue them into the wide variety of fresh, flavorful poke offered at the members-only warehouse store. The nearest Costco to Waikiki and downtown Honolulu is located in the Iwilei neighborhood.

Like Like Drive Inn Restaurant
Favorites at this 24-hour diner, first founded in the 1950s include steaming hot bowls of saimin (won ton noodle soup served with char siu (Chinese barbecue pork) and kamaboko (steamed Japanese fishcake)), loco moco (a bowl of rice topped with a ground hamburger patty, fried egg and generous amounts of rich brown gravy) and an all-American classic: cheeseburgers. The plate lunch here is might good, too. BTW, it’s pronounced “leaky leaky” instead of “like like.”

745 Keeaumoku Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-941-2515

Liliha Bakery
Located about five miles north of Waikiki and Ala Moana, you’ll find this old-time bakery and diner where folks are cuckoo for Coco Puffs — decadent chocolate cream puffs topped off with a buttery, salty, sweet Chantilly frosting that’s hard to find here on the mainland. Grab a seat at the counter — if you can manage — and you can order a mean flapjack or plate lunch, too.

515 North Kuakini Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
808-531-1651

Waiola Shave Ice
If you can’t make it all the way out to North Shore’s Haleiwa to visit the world-famous M. Matsumoto Store, Waiola makes a great substitute. I had a classic — strawberry-flavored shave ice with azuki beans and ice cream — but I hear the li hing mui (salty dried plum)-flavored shave ice is the best of the best here.

2135 Waiola Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96805
808-949-2269

Zippy’s
It might just be Hawaii’s equivalent of a Denny’s, Coco’s or Norm’s, but in my opinion, it’s 10 times better. The only-in-Hawaii restaurant chain, which celebrates its 42nd birthday this October, is best known for its Original Recipe Chili — they sell more than 200,000 pounds of it every year. I like it best when served atop a hot bed of white rice; chili cheese fries are good, too. Zippy’s also specializes in more traditional island fare, like saimin and even oxtail soup.

http://www.zippys.com/

3. The weather and the beach
’Nuff said.

Take note: If you’re traveling with novice beach goers like myself (i.e. those who are deathly afraid of being swallowed up by the ocean) head to the calmer waters off Ala Moana, right across the street from the popular Ala Moana Shopping Center. One of the prettiest beaches I visited, however, was Kailua, a straight shot north on Pali Highway. The current is deceptively strong, but the waters there are a pristine aqua blue and the sand is ultra fine.

Ala Moana Regional Park
www.honolulu.gov/parks/programs/beach/alamoana.htm

Kailua Beach Park
www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/beach/kailua

4) The attitude
Things really are more laid-back when it comes to Hawaiian time. Maybe it’s because I’m a native Angeleno, but I was really surprised to find out the maximum speed limit on most highways is only 45 mph.

5) The people
Arguably Hawaii’s greatest asset. I know the term “aloha spirit” has become so overused it’s almost a bit of a cliché, but there’s really no other way to explain how nice, friendly and welcoming folks are over there. It makes all the difference, don’t you think?

Splendor on the High Seas

2008-07-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

With much fanfare, the Carnival Splendor was officially christened on July 10 in Dover, England. Although I can’t say that I was personally there to witness the bottle being smashed across the hull, I did watch with members of the media and various VIPS from an enormous LED screen on the Lido Deck as British celebrity presenter and musician Myleene Klass played the piano, while a member of Britain’s Royal Navy scaled a 60-foot rope up the hull of the ship, toting a bottle of the England’s finest sparkling wine — Vintage 1994 Nyetimber. After the sparkling wine broke across the ship’s moniker, the Splendor sailed the second of three inaugural cruises, this one to Amsterdam.

During our cruise, we took advantage of some of the “Fun Ships’” fun new features, enjoying “The Bourne Ultimatum” on the aforementioned LED screen on the Lido Deck and trying out couples spa treatment in the ship’s decked out and enormous spa. For me this was surely the ship’s piece de resistance. And from how crowded the spa was throughout the cruise, it seems others may feel the same way. We spent our day at sea there, and it was jam-packed the entire time. It is certainly one of the largest spa facilities at sea and could probably double in size and still be packed! Some passengers were even being turned away due to the spa’s popularity.

When we checked in for our treatment, the large receiving area was bursting at the seams and the relaxation room was so full that, after our treatment, we had to sign our bill on the snack bar since there wasn’t a spare chair in sight. Instead of using the relaxation room, we decided to high-tail it over to the large Thalasso therapy pool, which was also filled to capacity. We managed to squeeze in and enjoy the underwater loungers and an abundance of jets, which was the perfect post-treatment rejuvenation.

As relaxing as it was, I must say that my husband and I were a bit freaked out by the chained dragon/dog figures hanging from the walls above. So, if your clients are sailing on the splendor and plan to visit the Thalasso therapy pool, maybe tell them not to look up! There was also a $35 Day Pass guests were told they would have to buy to use the myriad of steam rooms and the Thalasso pool –even if they booked a treatment, which we thought was a bit excessive after paying $269 for a couples massage. I have to admit however, we can’t complain too much –my husband and I snuck into the Thalasso pool – and apparently we weren’t the only ones!

After all I’ve said, it may sound like I didn’t like the spa, but I did. Apart from a few idiosyncrasies, it’s beautiful, and the treatment rooms are spacious – especially for a cruise ship. And the variety of treatments that are offered is impressive. I only hope that on future sailings, they reconsider the price of the day pass – after all, that’s ultimately part of the spa experience!

Marilyn Green Sails on Holland America’s Eurodam Inaugural

2008-07-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Holland America’s Eurodam inaugural took the company and the new ship back to Rotterdam, where HAL was founded. But our trip started in Southampton, where hundreds of agents and journalists were getting on Eurodam for a tour as I stumbled on board – this was one of those times I absolutely couldn’t sleep on the flight over, in spite of trying to get a week’s work done before the trip – one of those night flights where you keep bringing up the screen that shows how many hours to go with the little plane sitting seemingly forever in the middle of the ocean.

I ran into a couple of my colleagues at the Eurodam’s buffet lunch, all of us barely able to focus on a sandwich and a salad before keeling over. But before cocktails I made my first run around the ship, and admired the very clean lines and soothing colors; there’s a change, but it’s a smooth one, to a more modern European look, but still elegant and classic.

Dinner that night revived everyone – we ate at Tamarind, a sensational alternative restaurant, which had everyone raving about the Pan- Asian cuisine and the presentation. On a normal cruise it offers dim sum every day for lunch and w all agreed that we would be devoted patrons.

And the flowers on the ship are beyond gorgeous. As a dedicated gardener – I even had a garden patch in Manhattan – I love looking at fresh flowers on ships, but Eurodam was positively drowned in orchids and arrangements; even the orchids climbing a trellis outside Tamarind, which I assumed had to be artificial, were real, each with its own teardrop vase tucked away in the foliage.

Arriving in Rotterdam was amazing; the Eurodam has historic pictures in the hallways, showing people lining the sides of the city’s Nieuwe Maas River, watching Holland America ships sail in. Allowing for changes in clothing and architecture, the same pictures could have been taken as Eurodam entered the port – hundreds of people waved and whole boatloads of sightseers came by to look at the new ship as security boats circled endlessly. Enthusiasm for the inaugural in their own city was amazing; six major restaurants in Rotterdam duplicated the inaugural dinner menu for those who were not invited but wanted to participate.

Meanwhile, the Centurion agents gathered on board and it was old home week. One of the nicest aspects of covering the cruise beat is the familial side. Although there are periodic changes, nearly all of the North American cruise journalists know one another well. Although few socialize or even keep in close touch between events, we see one another several times a year, along with a number of agents and the cruise executives. We meet in a very close environment where we talk and work for several days, morning, noon and night. We’ve seen one another go through weddings, divorces and death; we know about one another’s children and pets and we’ve had a lot of fun together, along with some difficult moments. The first night is usually about catching up, and there is often someone I haven’t met before, who usually fits right in with the group.

The only problem with inaugurals in Northern Europe is the chancy weather – the MSC Poesia inaugural this spring started with gorgeous green spring weather and ended in a snowstorm that had flights backed up in Heathrow until late afternoon. In June what I expected was a chilly rain, and Holland America must have expected it, too, because we were all outfitted in lightweight blue HAL rainproof jackets. However, the day before the ceremonies, the journalists who decided to bike to Delft came back sunburned; somehow it just didn’t register.

We all put on our business wear, most of it involving jackets or blazers, for the afternoon inaugural, held outdoors. It turned out to be hot. Really hot. One side of the seats was shaded by a building, but the press were on the other side, and of all of us, only two had packed sunscreen, and they had left it in their rooms. As a person who can get seriously burned walking across a beach at 10 in the morning, I was tempted to snatch off the hats of the more formal European women who filed into their seats beyond us, but I finally made a tent of my jacket. Someone was looking after us, though – the shadow slowly inched over to us and we watched in comfort as Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands smashed the bottle very decisively against the hull of the Eurodam in the midst of really glorious musical performances.

That night after the formal dinner, the city of Rotterdam feted the ship with a brilliant display of fireworks. Since my stateroom was on the river side, I invited friends to watch from my balcony, but when I went down early I saw no sign of a platform or fireworks – I began to wonder if I wasn’t ruining their evening by taking them away from a good position on deck. Just a few minutes before the scheduled time, as I was trying to reach them by phone, a long barge drew up right in front of my balcony and let off a gorgeous display.

Since many of us were leaving the next day, we separated to get some sleep, but just as I was turning off the lights the phone rang. Two delightful journalists from Vancouver wanted to finish celebrating Canada Day – naturally, they claimed the fireworks for themselves. With one thing and another it was more like 3:00 when I got to bed, and we had to be out of our staterooms early for the packed revenue cruise to Copenhagen.

As our van pulled away for Amsterdam’s airport, we watched the double smokestacks of the Eurodam against the skyline of Rotterdam, looking totally at home.

Mexico for the Whole Family

2008-06-30T20:18:00.001-07:00

My daughter got to experience her first fam trip at 10 months old when we were invited, as a family, to experience Club Med Ixtapa Pacific. It wouldn’t be her first flight, or her first time out of the country, but the seven-day trip was going to be the longest period of time we’d be away from home together. And, since we were staying at the resort, we figured that we would have to bring everything, or take a very expensive cab ride to town and try to figure out what “Enfamil” formula was in Spanish. So, when we packed our belongings, it looked like the luggage aisle at Wal-Mart.

In my infinite wisdom (or lack there of), the night before we left, I read all of the amenities that Club Med had to offer families, and as it turned out, they provided just about everything we would need. Their Baby Welcome, which is free for parents, includes changing pads, a crib, a highchair, a bottle warmer and even a stroller. Babies have their own buffet in the main buffet restaurant, where they have a selection of baby food jars as well as formula, milk and yogurt. There’s also 24-hour access to a room with bottle-warmers, microwaves and more baby food. Our room had a refrigerator and bottled water was replenished daily. So, needless to say, Club Med’s Baby Welcome puts a whole new spin on all-inclusive – and saved my husband a lot of extra baggage…in more ways than one!

London Calling

2008-06-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Experiencing the city with the young, arty crowd

A few days after I arrived in London, a local friend handed me a flyer for Massive Attack’s Meltdown, a two-week long art, film and music festival held in and around Royal Festival Hall, one that sounded so intriguing that I just couldn’t resist.

On opening night, June 13, we went to see Volume, an interactive LED light installation designed by Neil Davidge and Robert Del Naja of the British-based collective, United Visual Artists.

For around three minutes at a time, about a dozen people were allowed to walk around and between the tall, slender columns as they emitted light and eerie sounds. Apparently, this installation reacts to the participator's movements, so that no two shows are alike.

Afterward, we hit the sold-out silent disco, which was moved because of its popularity to Queen Elizabeth Hall.

When we walked in the venue, we were handed neon yellow headphones with two channels (to choose between Disc Jockeys) and a volume control. While two DJs were spinning records — one of them was Daddy G from Massive Attack — there were no speakers whatsoever. You could hear the music exclusively through your headphones.

It was amusing, at times, to remove the headphones to observe the crowd dancing without a beat, singing acapella to two different tunes. What's also intriguing, from a sociological perspective, is seeing everyone let loose on the dance floor. The headphones created some sort of security buffer between people. It seems that if you're prone to dancing off beat or not quite right, no is the wiser; for all they know, you're listening to the beat of a different drummer.

Father's Day for Ken

2008-06-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

I played golf with my father-in-law, Ian, on Father’s Day this year at the new Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry, Calif. For those of you who are not from Southern California, the City of Industry is just east of downtown Los Angeles, and the Pacific Palms claims it is the only resort golf course in L.A. Sure, there are public courses and country club courses, but no resort courses.

I called it the “new” Pacific Palms Resort, however, that’s only partly true. The hotel and the courses have been around for many years. It used to be a Sheraton hotel and the two 18-hole courses (called the Ike and the Babe) make up the Industry Hills Golf Club. Ian, who has been playing golf in So. Cal. for something like 40-plus years, has played the courses many times. On the way to the resort he was telling me about the funicular after the ninth hole where you drive your golf cart into the tram and it brings golfers up the hill to the 10th tee. Sadly, we discovered the funicular no longer runs (we had to drive the cart up a steep hill instead), but the view of the San Gabriel Mountains from the top is still spectacular. I’m sure it’s really incredible on a clear day when the mountains have snow-capped peaks.

After our round on the Ike course — which Ian says is in far better shape than it ever was when he played there) — we had lunch with Bob Nelson, the resort’s VP/Managing Director. He was a wealth of information, but one thing we learned is that there’s an ongoing engineering project at a local college working on ways to fix the funicular. I can’t wait.Anyway, look for a longer review of the resort in an upcoming issue.

Marty's In Langley, Washington

2008-05-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a visit to Langley, Wash., a jewel of a town on South Whidbey Island thats remarkably easy to reach from Seattle about an hour away, including a ferry ride.

While visitors know it primarily for its galleries, antique shops and quaint historic buildings, a savvy insider helped me discover where the locals gather for food, drink and conversation. My favorite is a second-story enclave called Prima Bistro, which has earned a devoted following for its tasty, affordable cuisine mine was the succulent confit of duck leg and gourmet cheeses. Tell clients to vie for a seat on the patio during these long light-filled Northwest summer evenings.

More opportunities for meeting Langleys 1,100 locals await at the new Useless Bay Coffee Co., where the beans are roasted right on-site. For overnighters, I recommend the Boatyard Inn, smack dab on the water. I stayed in a clean, cozy unit with an upstairs sleeping loft, a simple kitchen and a wall full of windows looking out on views of the Saratoga Passage, Cascade Mountains and an abundance of herons.

Playing the Las Vegas Strip with Monica

2008-04-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

The Culinary Tour

A culinary tour of Vegas, what's not to love?

Our good friends at the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority invited me to join a group of travel trade writers as the city showed off it's brightest and best new restaurants.

A culinary tour with a spot of nightclub thrown in, and for sure I thought I was up to the challenge. However, even I was bested when the LVCVA had us "test" SIX restaurants in one lunch.

We were at the fabulous new Town Square Las Vegas, an outdoor shopping center on the strip. For a shop-a-holic like me (I'd much rather spend my money on shopping than in a casino), this place is a dream come true. It is anchored by Border Books and has lots of fun retailers inside. Because it wasn't too hot when we were there, it was great to just sit on the grass and listen to children playing. Very un-Vegas like.

We did get our "game on" later in the trip, as we enjoyed a terrific evening watching the Jersey Boys, which was definitely a trip highlight. So though, was the awesome night helicopter flight over the Las Vegas strip.