The WAYFARER
NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
3579 East Foothill Blvd., Ste 744, Pasadena, CA 91107-3119.
Published bimonthly except March and August.
Fax 201-791-3349. E.mail dan@natja.org.
Helen Hernandez, Publisher. Dan Schlossberg, Editor-in-Chief.
NATJA encourages input from both members and others in the travel/hospitality industry but reserves the right to edit material for brevity, clarity, and good taste.
IN THIS ISSUE
New NATJA Executive Director
Oklahoma City-Fantastic
Letters-We're All Writers
NATJA Awards-2008 Contest
The Prez Box
Carla's Corner
Travel with Kal
Editor's Notes
Trips for Members
Change at the Top:
Hernandez succeeds Beshear as Executive Director
It was a well-kept secret until the final night of the NATJA conference: Helen Hernandez has succeeded Elizabeth Beshear as Executive Director. Beshear, who became the group's first executive director in 2001, actually had two terms, resigning after her first five-year tenure to have a baby and then returning on a part-time basis after Hillary Dunn occupied the post. Because Beshear found it impossible to give proper attention to both NATJA and daughter Kendall James, now 2, she resigned, effective July 1, to become a full-time mom.
The official announcement was made by NATJA president and co-founder Dan Schlossberg after the final dinner at the conference, Beshear received a standing ovation from an audience that included more than 80 media members, 50 suppliers, and official delegations from both the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau and the State of Oklahoma.
Beshear was presented with gifts from both the NATJA Advisory Board, a five-member group with whom she has worked closely, and the Newport, R.I. Convention & Visitors Bureau, which named her an Official Ambassador of Newport. NATJA held its first conference in Newport in 2003, during Beshear's first term, and Newport CVB vice president Kathryn Harrington serves on the Advisory Board as liaison to associate members.
After the presentations were made to Beshear, Hernandez spoke to the gathered NATJA members for the first time. She assured them that the change in names would expand membership benefits and increase positive public awareness of NATJA as an organization that promotes professional development. Hernandez also revealed that she will head a team of experts charged with improving the website, awards program, future conferences, and especially communication between the Los Angeles-based NATJA office and its members. Members of the Hernandez team introduced to the Advisory Board during its pre-conference meeting in Oklahoma City were Ben Root, an attorney who has assumed the newly-created job of Executive Vice President for NATJA, and Jerri Hemsworth, a principal of Newman Grace and editor-in-chief of Inside Latino Entertainment. Hemsworth will handle graphic design, including presentation of The Wayfarer, formerly a printed newsletter, on http://www.natja.org./
Hernandez brings impressive credentials to the job.
The chair, CEO, and principal of La Conexion Group LLC (formerly The Legacy Group LLC), she assists clients in delivering the right message with the right messenger to serve a multicultural marketplace effectively.
La Conexion specializes in working with companies and foundations seeking to facilitate penetration of diverse target markets with their products-and-services portfolios. It serves a variety of clients, from Fortune 500 to start-ups, adapting products and services to the exploding Latino and other minority markets throughout North and South America.
Depending upon the client, La Conexion might be responsible for public relations, public affairs, marketing, strategic planning, research and/or consulting regarding everything from product positioning to promotional events.
Hernandez is also president and founder of The Imagen Foundation and Executive Producer of the Imagen Awards - one of the most prestigious in the entertainment industry. The awards, which exemplify the best of what Hollywood can produce in portraying the image of Latinos and Latino culture, have honored such stars as Antonio Banderas, Placido Domingo, Hector Elizondo, Andy Garcia, Salma Hayek, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Bill Melendez, Rita Moreno, Edward James Olmos, and Cristina Saralegui.
The Imagen Foundation's other entertainment programs include community seminars, job fairs, and career workshops.
Hernandez has also served as vice president of public affairs for Embassy Communications (formerly Sony Pictures Entertainment), a major television production company. She was instrumental in developing and supervising various corporate programs that enhanced the company's national reputation for socially and culturally-sensitive programming.
A recognized guest speaker, Hernandez has lectured as numerous universities - from Northwestern to Michigan State, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Texas at Austin - and testified before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and the Congressional Select Committee on Aging, among others.
In 2004, she received a Congressional commendation - inserted into The Congressional Record by Rep. Hilda Solis -- for her work in the entertainment industry.
Two years later, Hernandez received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.
She is currently a member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Women in Film, and WorkPlace Hollywood, and Latino Public Broadcasting. She sits on the board of the latter two groups.
Hernandez comes to NATJA after a six-month search that started after Beshear indicated a desire to devote full time to her young family. The initial contact was a working relationship between Ben Root and Richard Balue of Apollo Interactive, NATJA's parent company.
According to Dan Schlossberg, who co-founded NATJA with Bob Nesoff and four other travel writers in a Lyndhurst, NJ hotel in 1991, the transition to the new executive director is a major step forward for the group.
"As a working travel journalist and as the first member of NATJA, I never imagined we would grow into such a large and well-respected group. We count many prominent writers, editors, and authors as members and our goal has never changed: providing more and better benefits than any other association of journalists.
"Elizabeth had grace, charm, and a smile for all. She worked hard and left the organization in fine hands with Helen Hernandez. Nobody can beat Helen's experience, her enthusiasm, and her ability to delegate authority to members of her management team and make NATJA an even bigger player in the travel world. I'm honored, personally and professionally, that she has come on board. And I look forward to working with her closely."
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Writers, editors share ideas
at Oklahoma City conference
By CARLA MARIE RUPP and DAN SCHLOSSBERG
Writers who attended the 6th annual NATJA conference in Oklahoma City had ample opportunity to exchange ideas with nearly a dozen travel magazine editors who buy freelance stories. The three-night conference, which consumed the last week in June, featured keynote speaker Jeff Greenwald, author of five best-selling travel books, and kickoff speaker Pauline Frommer, editor of the guidebook series that bears her name. Nearly 140 writers and exhibitors attended the sixth annual conference, held at the historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel, and participated in a conference format that included morning seminars, afternoon sightseeing, and evening social events.
Frommer started the ball rolling by revealing that her famous father Arthur got into the guidebook business by accident during the ‘40s and capitalized on his good fortune. Greenwald, speaking the next morning, told assembled delegates that travel is more than a place - it is made up of people and their stories. The editor of EthicalTraveler.org, Greenwald said, "The power of travel - and being able to create understanding - is one of the reasons some of us got into travel.
"Let's stand up for places we love to visit and focus on our ambassadorial role. We need to reach out to the world. Let the world know that the image they have of (Americans) is not what we're about. Americans are extremely generous and the world needs to know that things are actually different from what people see in the media about us."
He said Americans are sometimes viewed as threatening - an image that needs changing."Travel with a light foot and an open mind," he advised.
Frommer's message also hit home, said Ken Rundel, publicist for Eureka Springs, Ark.
"I agree with Pauline Frommer - she said we should not discourage tourists from coming to America. We should do what she and Jeff Greenwald said: write letters to our government to tell them not to be heavy-handed in dealing with tourists who want to come here."
In professional development seminars, Lisa Watts (Pace Communications) told her audience how to get assignments from inflight magazines; Jay Cooke (Lonely Planet) talked about breaking into guidebook writing; Boulder, Colo. freelancer Claire Walter discussed the power of blogging; and Penny C.Sansevieri (http://www.amarketingexpert.com)/) told writers about branding and publicists about preparing proper press releases. For writers, the things to remember are obvious, she said: "What makes you different? What's your focus? How do you communicate your brand?" She told the PR reps that electronic press releases are often deleted or ignored by journalists and suggested new ways of working with writers and editors.
In addition, former San Francisco Examiner travel editor Georgia Hesse told travel writers how to find their niche, Anne Stuart unveiled the hidden world of custom publishing, and Michael DeFreitas and John Montgomery teamed up to discuss digital photography for novices.
Long-time NATJA member Christine Tibbetts teamed with conference host Laura Kriegel of the Oklahoma City CVB to tell publicists better ways to market cultural heritage tourism. "Travelers search for authentic experiences," said the South Georgia resident. "Travel journalism and tourism can restore, reinforce, and sustain the dignity of a culture. To get close to the heart of a culture, get in touch with the people."
A popular panel with a twist featured four inflight editors listening to 60-second oral story pitches from writers. Editors on that panel were Melinda Mahaffey, managing editor of Spirit (Southwest); Deblina Chakraborty, associate editor of Continental; Benjamin Leszcz, senior editor of enRoute (Air Canada); and xx of Hemispheres (United).
Beyond Jay Cooke and Lisa Watts, other editors who attended the conference included Amity Moore, senior editor of AAA Living (PaceCo) and Hillary Brylka, senior editor of publishing for the Mobil Travel Guide.
The annual media marketplace ranged from near (Tulsa) to around the globe (Egypt) but also included several high-profile PR firms representing multiple clients. They included Hawkins International and Development Counselors International, both from New York, and the Y Partnership of Orlando, as well as the Hawaii-based McNeil Wilson Communications.
Cancun, Phoenix, Valley Forge and several Florida destinations were also popular participants in the marketplace. But even the smaller CVBs seemed pleased.
Just ask Marissa Butler of Bowling Green, Ky. "For us as a smaller destination, the NATJA conference has been an amazing chance to get face-to-face with a variety of editors, writers, and publicists. Now I can have personalized conversations about what Bowling Green has to offer, such as the Duncan Hines Museum and the National Corvette Museum."
Indiana journalist Susan Eberman spoke for many when she said, "As a freelance writer, professional development is my main reason for attending. But I've also enjoyed visiting such Oklahoma attractions as the Route 66 Museum in Clinton."
Local sightseeing tours included the cowboy, history, and science museums, as well as the Alfred P. Murrah Building memorial - both the indoor museum and the outdoor reflecting pool, towers, and illuminated chairs, each representing one of the victims from the 1995 bombing.
There was a group cruise on the Oklahoma River, individual water taxi cruises along a one-mile corral in the restored Bricktown area, and receptions at the Chesapeake Boathouse (where Olympic crewe teams train) and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Delegates saw the massive stockyards, the working oil wells on the grounds of the state capitol, and even the local zoo.
The final event featured two surprises: the news that Helen Hernandez of HMH Media is succeeding Elizabeth Beshear as executive director and the announcement of Cleveland, Ohio as the site of next year's conference, presumably in late May. Hernandez and her husband, attorney Ben Root, will head a team dedicated to improving the image and reputation of NATJA, as well as its membership benefits. A one-time associate of fabled television producer Norman Lear, Hernandez has considerable experience in running conferences and awards programs, as well as organizational matters and public speaking.
Beshear, who joined NATJA as executive director in 2001 and left for a year to start her family, said she wants to spend full time with her daughter Kendall, now 2, but said her husband Matt and his fellow "Men in Black" from Apollo, Inc. would still attend future conventions to provide general assistance.
Newport, RI representative Kathryn Farrington, who represents associate members on the NATJA advisory board, not only worked the marketplace but arranged for presentation of a special plaque to Beshear at the final dinner. The plaque, which made Beshear an official Newport ambassador, was accompanied by a videotape from Farrington, who had to return home a day early for business reasons. The first NATJA conference was held in Newport in 2003.
Other conference sites have included Chicago (2004), Santa Fe (2005), Stowe, VT (2006), and Little Rock (2007).
Dates for the Cleveland conference will be announced in the near future.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
KUDOS FOR GREAT CONFERENCE
Congratulations to all who helped organize this year's NATJA conference. The opulent, historical Skirvin Hilton was a brilliant place to hold the event, the professional development program was filled with variety and useful information, and the tours staged by Oklahoma City and surrounding regions were full of delightful surprises. In particular, I was very impressed with the calibre of this year's Special Guest Speaker and Keynote Speaker. Publisher/author Pauline Frommer kicked off the event with a rousing and memorable call to action, pointing out the need to write stories for the ordinary traveler that are not always based on aspirational luxury. Her lament regarding the decline of train travel (and challenge to travel writers to help revive that form of transport) was especially timely as we inch toward the $5 gallon of gas (in Canada, we are already there). Performer/writer Jeff Greenwald woke us from our sleepy breakfast with his funny and poignant insights into travelling with a conscience. His discussion of ethics and travel was enlightening and his "13 Tips for the Accidental Ambassador" contained excellent advice we can all impart to our readers. It was great to be reminded how our travel stories can make a difference by supporting destinations known for positive efforts in the areas of human rights and the environment. Overall, the 2008 NATJA conference was one of the best I have attended. Looking forward to Cleveland next year!
MAUREEN LITTLEJOHN
Toronto, Ontario, Canada littlejohnmaureen@yahoo.com
[Editor's Note: Long-time NATJA member Maureen Littlejohn has attended five of the six NATJA conferences.]
Thanks for a wonderful conference. I know you all worked hard for the success it was. Looking forward to Cleveland. Pass on my thanks to "the Men in Black." And Elizabeth - thanks for the many years of service to help grow the organization.
MICHAEL DWYER
Rochester, MI. travelandadventure@yahoo.com
I wish to thank Laura Kriegel of the Oklahoma Cituy CVB for her incredible organizing and grace throughout the NATJA conference. The opportunities she facilitated were superb and plan to file my story within the week. The writing has been a great pleasure too. A good friend - a USDA scientist - is coming to Oklahoma City with a conference and I outlined many exceptional things for him to do. I knew a great deal because Laura and her colleagues were so credible. I thank her for hosting NATJA and helping us expand our professionalism. I hope our paths cross again.
CHRISTINE TIBBETTS
Tifton, GA. tibbetts1@bellsouth.net
[Editor's Note: Christine Tibbetts and Laura Kriegel partnered on the cultural tourism seminar.]
As always, we were pleased with the level of interest from the NATJA writers who attended the conference and visited our booth. I am sure our clients will be quite pleased as well when I share my recap report with them.
CLAIRE KUNZMAN
Account Executive, Ypartnership, Orlando, FL. claire.kunzman@ypartnership.com
GOOD RAIL SERVICE COULD CUT AIR DELAYS
As a brand-new NATJA member, I'm just now getting around to all the interesting things on the website. Case in point: I came across [Dan Schlossberg's] "Things We'd Like to See"column and was particularly interested in the item about using bigger aircraft to haul more passengers to reduce flight delays. Here's another thought: something like 40 per cent of all flights in and out of most major hubs - O'Hare for example - involve destinations that are 300 miles away or less. That's a two-hour ride by high-speed rail and, from city-center to city-center, there's no way to do that by air. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get the feds to understand the value of a serious passenger rail network in this country? Especially if it would bring about a serious reduction in air traffic congestion which would, in turn, reduce all those delays? Anyway, I'm glad I'm now part of NATJA.
JIM LOOMIS
Ha'iku, Maui, Hawaii. jploomis@maui.net
THE WAYFARER welcomes Letters to the Editor [dan@natja.org]. Editor reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.
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Contest opens! Writers vie for Record 51 Prizes
HEAVY EUROPEAN FLAVOR DOMINATES 2008 LIST
The 16th annual NATJA travel journalism awards competition is open for business.
Now through October 1, entries from all journalists worldwide will be accepted at NATJA headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. Judging will follow, with winners notified in December. After they list their Top 10 prize preferences by ballot, judges will distribute prizes.
Entry fees remain unchanged: $25 per entry for NATJA members but $50 per entry for non-members. Entries may be submitted in any of two-dozen categories, from destination newspaper (domestic) to sports in conjunction with travel, local lifestyle, best internet article, best travel broadcast, and best travel book. Several photography categories are also listed under www.natja.org/awards.
NATJA president Dan Schlossberg, like the other members of the Advisory Board, is ineligible to participate because of potential conflict of interest. But he was active in soliciting a record 51 prizes - one more than a year ago - for this year's competition.
They include the following Grand Prizes, to be given to the best overall entries:
- Sierra Madre Express, a luxurious week-long tour of Mexico's Copper Canyon
- All-Star Vacation Homes, a week-long luxury home rental near Disney World
- Maine Windjammer Cruises, a voyage of 3-6 days (winner's choice)
The 48 first prizes, most of them three-night stays for two people, are also valid for calendar year 2009, since prizes collected and promoted now won't be distributed before year's end.
Although air travel is generally not included with prizes, two discount carriers provided a pair of tickets valid anywhere in their system. Both JetBlue, with its primary hub at JFK International in New York, and AirTran, with headquarters in Atlanta, are on the prize roster.
So are two Ritz Carltons, both based in Florida (Palm Beach and Sarasota); two Hyatt Regency properties (Scottsdale and Trinidad); and two Amari hotels based in Thailand (Amari Emerald Cove Resort in Koh Chang and Amari Orchid Resort & Tower in Pattaya).
Three Switzerland prizes
Also giving the contest a strong international flavor are prizes from Switzerland (Badrutt's Palace Hotel, Hotel Falken, and Hotel Waldhaus); Mexico (Sandos Playacar Riviera Hotel & Spa); Portugal (Hoteis Heritage Lisboa); and the Chateau & Hotels Collection (500+ properties in France).
The Caribbean is well-represented too, with contributors including the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (St. Thomas, USVI); Club Peace & Plenty (Bahamas); Coconut Bay Resort and Discovery at Marigot Bay (both on St. Lucia); and Mango Bay (Barbados).
The lone Canadian prize this year is a luxury train ride provided by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations. The company, based in British Columbia, was among a long list of repeat donors.
Also on that list are Sierra Madre Express and Maine Windjammer Cruises, two of the three Grand Prize donors, plus first prizes from Bedandbreakfast.com; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Desert Springs J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa and Hadsten House B&B&Spa (both Calif.); Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Hotel Monteleone (New Orleans); Inn on the Alameda (Santa Fe); Linekin Bay Resort (Boothbay Harbor, Maine); Mohegan Sun (Uncasville, Conn.); Newport, R.I.; the Renassance Vinoy (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Rosen Shingle Creek Resort (Orlando); Virginia Beach; and Westin Kierland Resort and the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch (both Scottsdale).
Multiple first-timers
In addition to all the European prizes, which are new to the competition this year, other first-time donations not listed above came from Las Vegas (Cirque du Soleil + The Mirage); Bradley Park Hotel (Palm Beach); CoCo Key Water Resort (Massachusetts); Eden Roc (Miami Beach); French Lick Resort Casino (Indiana); Gillum House B&B (West Virginia); Glen Cove Mansion Hotel & Conference Center (New York); Grand Canyon West (Arizona); Hotel Rex (San Francisco); The Inn on Charlotte (St. Augustine, Fla.); Jekyll Island Club (Ga.); Melvyn's (Palm Springs); PGA National Resort & Spa (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and the City of Philadelphia.
Assembling the prize roster required the efforts of convention & visitors bureaus, state tourism offices, prominent public relations firms, private PR practitioners, and industry associations, from Historic Hotels of America to its sister group, Historic Hotels of Europe.
Schlossberg personally solicited prizes while attending dozens of media events, including The New York Times Travel Trade Show, California Marketplace, and Taste of Maine in Manhattan and PowWow in Las Vegas.
For further information, see http://www.natja.org/Awards dan@natja.org or fax 201-791-3349.
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THE PREZ BOX
By DAN SCHLOSSBERG
EDITOR'S BYLINE DOESN'T BELONG ON WRITER'S ARTICLE
All's fair in love and war. But not necessarily in travel journalism.
An e.mail arrived from a friend who said she liked my story on "BHF." Although adept at deciphering M*A*S*H, snafu, and fubar, I had no idea what story. So I wrote back.
I learned that she was referring to the Baseball Hall of Fame, a place I have written about often though not recently. I also learned that the story that caught her eye ran in an AAA magazine to which I had not submitted it.
It was an old story, originally sold to one AAA publication but reprinted - without payment - in at least one other. Now that it's been reprinted for at least the third time, it would certainly be nice to receive a reprint fee.
But that's not the major issue.
Here's the rub: because the story is several years old, the editor had to update it to include the 2008 induction class as well as the correct numbers of incumbent Hall of Famers.
Fair enough, but do two grafs of updates justify the editor's audacity in adding her own byline to the story? Moreover, she put it first - ahead of mine - even though I had done 99.999 per cent of the work.
My guess is this editor's a kid who wants to take credit for a darn good story, even if written by somebody else. This is certainly unethical, unprofessional, and borderline plagiarism. And it probably merits a complaint to the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), of which I am an active member.
The only thing holding me back is that the very same editor liked a bunch of new queries and called to ask how much I charge. That in itself was strange, since virtually all editors make offers that writers are free to accept, reject, or renegotiate. But at least it wasn't unreasonable.
SHOULD WRITERS WORK FOR NOTHING?
It happens to the best of us: somebody invariably thinks travel writing is a hobby and doesn't way to pay its practitioners.
Steve Davey summed it up well in an e.mail that floated across this editor's desk:
"Sometimes I am asked to work for free. People don't necessarily ring me up and ask directly for a freebie. I get asked for interviews about travel photography, or destinations I've been to, yet I am not allowed to mention any of my books, tours, or other projects. Sometimes I get asked for anecdotes, or information for other people's stories, brochures, or magazines. I get asked to let people use pictures for free. I have even been asked to go out and take pictures for free. Hell, sometimes I am not even offered a credit! I get asked for ‘consultancy' where people want to make money out of my knowledge, experience, and contacts - yet they shuffle nervously when I mention a fee.
"People say they don't have a budget even when they receive a salary. They say it will be good publicity even though I can't mention any of my projects. Do a search for my name on Google: I get enough mentions.
"I have spent over 20 years at this game, building knowledge, experience, and contacts. I have a house, a mortgage, a baby daughter. I might work for free when you work for free!
"One of my favorites is the old ‘it's for charity' line. This from people who are earning 35,000 pounds plus spectacular benefits. I have given pictures to certain charities. I probably will do so again. Please feel free to ask, but don't be offended if I refuse. And please make sure that you are a genuine charity, giving the majority of the money you raise to a development, ecological, or poverty-related cause, not a pressure group, religious organization, or a plain tax fiddle!
"Before asking me to be involved in something without pay, please consider the following:
will it genuinely promote one of my projects, whether it be a book or a tour?
"If not, Harlan Ellison says it far better than I ever could."
See http://www.stevedavey.com/freebie.html
BLOGGERS MISS THE BOAT
Don't believe the hype - DBTH for short - is a fine philosophy to follow. Things are never as great or as bad as they seem.
That's especially true in the age of blogging, when people can publish whatever they think without letting the facts stand in the way of a good story.
A recent thread on Travelwriters.com is a case in point. The post was "NATJA has bee sold." The fact that the "n" was missing should have been a clue that the blogger was in too big a hurry to verify the information - which was wrong.
The only recent change at NATJA was the resignation of Elizabeth Beshear, executive director for seven years, to spend more time with her two-year-old daughter, Kendall James, and the arrival of Helen Hernandez to succeed her, effective July 1.
Although Elizabeth deserves heartfelt thanks for her years of service and sacrifice, the change is good news for NATJA because Helen brings a wealth of experience, from television to politics, plus a team of experts capable of addressing the needs of the organization and its members.
Although changes will be implemented gradually, the six-member Advisory Board will remain intact: Helen's first move was to request that incumbent members extend their two-year terms for another year to help assure continuity.
Also in the offing are improvements in website design and timeliness, member communications with the administrative office, and selection of conference sites, among other things. Generating better publicity is also on the agenda, since a cadre of internet naysayers seems to delight in throwing mud. Then again, if NATJA weren't doing so well, the attack dogs wouldn't keep barking.
Unsolicited positive feedback from the Oklahoma City conference has been rewarding, especially since people are usually quick to criticize but slow to praise. Some people say the sixth annual conference was the best, especially from the professional development perspective. Another plus was the pleasant surprise provided by the host venue, a destination most of us had never visited before.
BREATHING IS EASIER IN LAS VEGAS
Sin City isn't so sinful any more: although Las Vegas still has plenty of drinking, gaming, and topless shows, its pervasive smoking is drifting toward the ashtray of ancient history.
The Clean Indoor Air Act passed by Nevada voters late in 2006 has taken tobacco smoke out of all restaurants, bars that serve food, virtually all showrooms, and most public places - with casinos the notable exception. Even some hotels, including The Signature at MGM Grand, Renaissance Las Vegas, and Hotel Las Vegas Platinum Suites, have gone smokefree.
MGM deserves kudos for implementing the smoking ban when it opened the first of three Signature towers months before the city-wide law took effect. Today, all poker rooms in the 10 MGM-Mirage hotels, from Bellagio to Circus Circus, are smokefree.
In short, Las Vegas is realizing that catering to the smoking minority makes no sense - or cents, from the casino perspective.
Until it follows Atlantic City's lead and enacts a full smoking ban, however, the best ways to avoid smoke are to gamble early, avoid crowded gaming tables and sports book areas, and hang out near the doors and edges of casinos.
The bottom line: until all casinos are smokefree, no individual casino is smokefree - even though there are nonsmoking, nongaming hotels like The Signature at MGM Grand that cater to the health-conscious crowd.
FINDING FUTURE LEADERS
Ever wonder whether future travel executives will receive comprehensive training? Florida Gulf Coast University may have the answer.
The Fort Myers school has made an $8.4 million investment in a new building, set to open in late summer, with another $5 million slated for Phase Two, targeted for 2009. Between them, the buildings will house students interested in professional careers in all aspects of the hospitality industry, from resort and spa management to resort timeshare, food & beverage, and tourism destination.
The best news is that the instructors will be top industry professionals, plucked from the more than 40 resorts and 160 private clubs in the immediate vicinity.
All bases seem to be covered, with plans for a Wine & Food Technology laboratory, a prototypical Spa laboratory, and state-of-the-art kitchen, restaurant, and golf management training facilities.
Students in the two-story building will be taught using real-world applications in addition to servicing the public. Maybe they'll even be taught how to deal with the travel media.
The program will be supervised by Dr. Sherie Brezina, Director for the Division of Resort & Hospitality Management at FGCU. All of us at NATJA wish her great success in her new endeavors.
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CARLA'S CORNER
By CARLA MARIE RUPP
PowWow delegates find green + glitter in Las Vegas
Green tourism, the hottest topic at International PowWow this year, has become a driving force in the world of travel.
Speaking to more than 5,000 delegates at a PowWow luncheon sponsored by American Express, keynoter Andrew Winston quoted from his best-selling book Green to Gold. The book tells what works and what doesn't when companies go green.
Apparently, his message took hold: two weeks after the Las Vegas conference ended, the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and American Express teamed to create a Travel Sustainability Initiative - designed to promote conservation, awareness, and envirornmental protection.
TIA and American Express will work together in developing a comprehensive plan that will produce crucial information to help travel industries go green.
According to TIA president Roger Dow, "This Sustainability initiative will place emphasis on better understanding what the travel community is doing to go green but also where we are still vulnerable. It will also prepare travel leaders to play a more active role in the policy-making process concerning our impact on the natural environment."
Eco-friendly travel programs, travel association efforts, new legislation, and consumer research will all be part of the program, Dow said.
Speaking for American Express, vice president of travel industry relations Donna Flora said the industry has a responsibility to understand its impact on the environment and to find feasible ways to ensure the future of all travel destinations. A new website promoting the initiative will be launched at TIA's Marketing Outlook Forum in October.
Although green is the goal of the immediate future, the past looked pretty green too, according to figures released at the June conference.
Dow said travel to the U.S. over the past year has exceeded pre-9/11 figures and predicted continued growth for inbound travel. Business from emerging markets is also growing.
"The weakness of the dollar means we're on sale all over the world," said Bruce Bommarito, TIA executive vice president and general manager of PowWow. "There's a lot of interest from European buyers who want to bring their clients here.
"While our established markets are precious to us, we need to open doors to countries that have not been a market before."
The volume of European visitors will improve even more with the probable passage of the Travel Promotion Act by Congress this year.
"If that bill passes," Dow said, "the United States at long last would have the means to effectively compete with our other coutnries for a larger share of the world's inbound travel market. We have so much to offer; we just have to show it to the world."
The average international travel party spends 16 days in America and spends $5,074, far more than their domestic counterparts, according to TIA statistics.
More than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations participated in this year's PowWow, the primary international marketplace for travel to the U.S. Many of them promoted themselves to some 500 attending media, all but 50 of them from foreign countries, at various shows and social functions.
Disney Parks & Attractions, for example, hosted a small private press party at ESPN Zone, inside the New York, New York casino. The Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, next year's PowWow host, held a competing event at the Four Seasons. Other PowWow parties were held at the Venetian/Palazzo, Planet Hollywood, Wynn, and the Las Vegas Hilton, located next to the Convention Center. PowWow delegates staying in surrounding hotels made quick connections via a sleek monorail, which not only links the Hilton to the MGM Grand but traverses the four-mile-long Las Vegas Strip in less than 15 minutes.
PowWow 2008 attracted 5,300 delegates, 1,325 buyers from 70 countries, and 410 media members - all but 85 from overseas. Delegates even came from China and Russia.
They enjoyed omnipresent showgirls, flashing lights, casinos, shows, and samplings from virtually all of the famous properties. Performers from Cirque du Soleil appeared at the kickoff Mandalay Bay beach party, capped by a vivid fireworks display against the placid desert sky.
They concluded their five-day visit with a four-block-long party on Fremont Street, in the older downtown section.
In between, there were press conferences, a media marketplace, free trips to Red Rock Canyon via Pink Jeep Tours and the Grand Canyon via Las Vegas Helicopters, and even the introduction of a Discover America travel writer awards sponsored by CityPass. Winners were Axel Pinck, author of the best article about last year's Anaheim conference, and British travel writer Neil Murray, whose "March of Murals" piece appeared in Essentially America, a magazine from the U.K.
Although scantily-clad, showgirls from the show Jubilee! strutted their stuff in $7,500 costumes at a Sunday morning press brunch, which also featured performers from Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia. An Elvis impersonator - singing Viva Las Vegas - also entertained.
With working sessions during the day and parties at night, delegates got more blisters but less sleep than they expected. But few complained.
The green theme prevailed throughout - even in the marketplace. "We're very green," said E. Farley Kern, director of brand-name recognition for Hyatt North America.
One PowWow media member from England summed up the feelings of many international journalists. "America is great - the scenery is magnificent," said the BBC's Peter Nunn, who rented a convertible in Los Angeles and made the three-hour drive through the desert to Las Vegas. Though traveling alone, he encountered a busload of PowWow journalists in Red Rock Canyon.
The group's escort, Lori Nelson of Station Casinos, first brought the group of foreign writers to the crystal-filled Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, a short hop from the Las Vegas Strip. "This is where visitors and repeat guests like to go," she said.
Ten other groups also visited Red Rock Canyon, according to Marina Nicola of the Henderson-based Wagner/Junker Agency.
While some of the groups were watching nature's wonders, others were hearing predictions that New York City will draw 50 million visitors by the year 2015. That's the goal announced by George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Co. at PowWow. He called the TIA "the leading chance for tourists to look at the U.S." and said he was pleased that so many foreign journalists attended his press conference. Fetaured attractions were a Sex and the City clip and a message from Mayor Mike (Bloomberg).
The Miami press conference was also a hit. Miami Beach Mayor Matti H. Bower and Greater Miami CVB president William D. Talbert II encouraged the press and publicists to come to South Florida, where the event is slated for May 16-20, 2009.
TIA's mission is to represent the travel industry in promoting and facilitating travel to and within the United States. It is located at 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005-3934 (Tel. 202-408-8422, http://www.tia.org,/ http://www.powwowonline.com)./
Carla Rupp is a freelance travel journalist living in Lower Manhattan. She can be reached at carla@visarun.com.
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TRAVEL WITH KAL
By KAL LONDON
Hanni works hard to help mistreated airline passengers
The airlines won't like reading this but I like Kate Hanni.
She's the California mom who seized the bull by the horns after she was stranded on the tarmac in an American Airlines plane on Dec. 29, 2006.
The founder and executive director of the Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights,
Health, and Safety (CPR for Health and Safety), she has won national recognition as one of the most passionate and dedicated figures fighting for safeguards and protections for flyers. Her group is the fastest-growing coalitions of airline passengers.
Hanni, her family, and passengers aboard 124 American Airlines flights were stranded on the Austin Airport tarmac for nearly 10 years without food, water, medical attention, or even working toilets. Hanni and fellow passengers turned frustration into advocacy by creating their coalition.
"Our goal," she said, "is to ensure that no other airline passenger has to experience what we went through."
Hanni and her supporters have dedicated themselves to raising awareness and support from the general public - especially travelers - plus partner organizations and public officials.
Over the past 18 months, CAPBOR has ballooned from 100 members to more than 23,000 and gained the support of all the major consumer groups, pilots, flight attendants, the International Association of Machinists, and more. On June 13, 2007, the group launched a 24-hour hotline (1-877-FLYERS-6) to make it easier for passengers to report their experiences.
During its first day, the toll-free number received more than 920 calls in less than four years from angry and frustrated flyers. It still gets more than 100 calls per day with personal accounts of horrific experiences, often from passengers trapped on planes under appalling conditions.
A frequent guest on national TV, cable, and radio, Hanni has even recorded a song to get her message out. The song is familiar though the lyrics are different; the title is We've Gotta Get Out of This Plane.
Hanni has guested on ABC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, and 20/20. She has been profiles on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, and even on Rachael Ray - with newspaper profiles in USA TODAY, The Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
She's been listed as one of the 25 most influential people in the U.S. by Nielson Business Meetings and one of the top 33 most influential people in travel by Travel Weekly. Forbes and Conde Naste also rank her among the 25 most influential executive women in travel.
It wasn't Hanni's idea; she's a real estate broker and licensed stock broker as well as a professional jazz musician who's part of a Motown band called "the Toasted Heads."
Hanni plays 12 - count ‘em, 12 - instruments but still finds time for husband Tim and her two boys, ages 12 and 23. She's also involved in the Napa Valley Youth Symphony, which she founded, chairs children's education programs for the Napa Valley Symphony, and serves as a volunteer teacher for underprivileged youth.
Hanni's husband is busy too: the first North American to win the coveted Master of Wine credential, he's director of Psycho-Sensory Development at the Napa Valley Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts as well as CEO of the Napa Valley Seasoning Company.
Kal London of Wethersfield, CT hosts Travel With Kal over simulcasting Connecticut AM radio stations WLIS Old Saybrook and WMRD Middletown. His e.mail is london1021@cox.net.
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EDITOR'S NOTES
Free for NATJA members: LastMinuteTravel.com
NATJA members are entitled to free one-year membership in the LastMinute Travel Club, an online website offering discounted airfare, hotel bargains, and discounts on car rentals, travel packages, cruise specials, and more. LastMinuteTravel.com, launched earlier this year, promises members savings of 23-66 per cent on every booking.
"What our members find is a simple, no-frills, deals-oriented site whose only purpose is to save them more money," said Amir Inditzky, director of eCommerce for the website. "There are no bells and no whistles and we don't think there should be. Our goal is to focus on what's most important to our customers - the rates."
Those rates are reserved for members through the Club's password-protected site. Comparison prices prove the point: a 3-star hotel on the Las Vegas Strip costs $60 per night with LastMinuteTravel, $179 per night with Expedia, and $179 per night with Travelocity.com. In Orlando, a five-star hotel on International Drive costs $140 per night with LastMinute Travel, $250 per night with Expedia, and $251 per night with Travelocity.com.
NATJA members who supply their names and e.mail addresses in excel spreadsheet format will not have to pay the $49.99 one-year membership fee. For further information, see http://club.lastminutetravel.com/ or contact Amanda Patrick, Ypartnership, Suite 100, 423 S. Keller Rd., Orlando, FL 32810 (Tel. 407-838-1829, Fax 407-875-1115, amanda.patrick@ypartnership.com).
Yahoo! Travel sites help families plan trips
Yahoo! Travel loves families - and is showing that affection by offering family and wallet-friendly websites loaded with discounts. Yahoo! FareChase [http://www.natja.org/admin/wayfarer/%5bhttp:/farechase.yahoo.com%5d is a real-time comparison travel search site that covers all online travel agencies, air carriers, and hotel chains. The upgraded site also includes the ability to search directly from the Yahoo! Main pages, with direct linkages to Yahoo! Trip Planner, plus a Yahoo! Maps section.
Yahoo! members can share trip tips on Yahoo! Trip Planner [http://www.natja.org/admin/wayfarer/%5bhttp:/travel.yahoo.com/trip%5d, which allows visitors to create organized itineraries, post pictures and trip journals, and share recommendations. With its integration of Yahoo! Travel Guides, Yahoo! FareChase, Flickr photos/Yahoo! 360, and Yahoo! Search, Trip Planner helps travelers make the most of their latest travel adventures.
To learn more, contact Sally Allis, Travel/Lifestyle account coordinator, M. Booth & Associates, 300 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10010 [Tel. 212-481-7000, Fax 212-481-9440, sallya@mbooth.com].
California's Book Passage conference starts soon
Long-time NATJA member Georgia Hesse, former travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle & Examiner, strongly recommends that members consider coming to Book Passage, scheduled for Aug. 14-17, 2008 in Corte Madera, 14 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hesse, who has given talks and seminars at several NATJA conferences, has given the keynote address at Book Passage since its inception 17 years ago. So she knows her subject well.
"Almost two decades ago," she writes, "Elaine and Bill Petrocelli of the Book Passage Store in Corte Madera were sipping red wine by the shore of Italy's Lake Garda (probably it was Bardolino from that little lakeside village). Suddenly, eureka! Within their glasses floated the notion of creating a travel writers' conference in the San Francisco Bay area. So shortly, with the assistance of St. John of God (patron saint of booksellers) and Don George, then travel editor of the San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle, the Book Passage Travel Writers Conference was born.
"Seventeen years later, Book Passage boasts one of the most distinguished reputations of any writers' conference on the globe. The 2008 colloquium will present plenty of workshops, panels, individual consultations and critiques as well as informal chats over luncheons on the store's piazza and lively discussions that often extend well into the night.
"The faculty is composed of writers and photographers skilled in all facets of their craft, polished by the presence of internationally-recognized luminaries such as, this year, novelist Isabel Allenda, vagabonding author Tim Cahill, and foreign correspondent-journalist-historian Simon Winchester. George chairs the conference and Robert Holmes is chairman of the photography faculty.
"Cost of the four-day conference is $635, with consultations optional at $95, and pre-conference workships on w riting and photography $150 or $100 for conference attendees. For complete information or to enroll, contact Karen West (bpconferences@bookpassage.com, Tel. 415-927-0960 x238) or go to http://www.bookpassage.com/ and click on Classes & Conferences."
Mob museum proves Las Vegas loves its lurid legacy
Although Chicago refuses to recognize the legacy of its celebrity gangsters, Las Vegas is taking a different approach: it is building a museum about the mobsters who founded Sin City.
The FBI and local police - who combined to drive organized crime out of town in the ‘70s and ‘80s - are backing the new venture, slated to open in 2010.
"This is a way to connect with the public and show the results of our work," explained FBI spokesman Dan McCarron.
He's getting help from people like Ellen Knowlton, who retired in 2006 as the FBI's local Agent in Charge but now heads the non-profit museum.
"This museum will be historically accurate and will tell the true story of organized crime," she said. "The plan is to give people a kind of gritty taste of what it would have been like to be not only a person involved or affiliated with organized crime but also what it would have been like to be in law enforcement."
The museum will be housed in a three-story brick federal building that was the heart of town in 1933, when only 5,100 people lived there. In 1950, the structure hosted a rackets hearing headed by U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn.).
Outspoken Mayor Oscar Goodman, always up for any new promotional vehicle, has backed the mob museum concept since taking office in 1999. Goodman swung a deal allowing the city to buy the building for $1 - on condition it be used as a cultural center. Since then, some $15 million has been raised in support, though the final price tag could approach $50 million.
When finished, the mob museum will have such notorious residents as Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and Lefty Rosenthal, a crooked casino boss. It has the support of law enforcement because officers realize no gangster story can be told without including true tales of pursuit.
"This differentiates us from other cities," says Goldman, a one-time attorney who defended Lansky and fellow monster Anthony (Tony the Ant) Spilotro. "Let's be brutually honest here: this is more than legend. It's fact."
The flamboyant mayor doesn't shirk from the city's lurid past. In fact, he had a cameo role in the 1995 Robert de Niro movie Casino. It was one of many movies showing mob links to Las Vegas, with others ranging from Bugsy to The Godfather.
Like Hollywood, the so-far-unnamed museum might have to fudge a bit. Museum spokesmen admit much of their material will be restructured or implied. Designer Dennis Barrie, whose past successes include Cleveland's Rock ‘n Roll Fame and Washington's International Spy Museum, says the Vegas exhibit will show how organized crime and the fight against it shaped modern life.
"Everybody has a mob story," says Barrie. "Whether it's running the casinos, controlling cigarette sales, or collecting trash in any city, organized crime is part of American culture."
Despite its lurid legacy, the mob connection definitely placed Las Vegas on the map. When Siegel, backed by Lansky, opened the $6 million Flamingo on the soon-to-be Las Vegas Strip in 1946, it was Step One in transforming a sleepy desert backwater into a tourist mecca.
Six months later, he was killed in Beverly Hills - ostensibly by fellow mobsters upset with cost overruns on the Las Vegas property. Years later, Spilotro met the same fate.
Next great travel writer blogs from Mongolia
Suzanne Roberts, a student at the University of Nevada at Reno, headed to Mongolia after winning the Next Great Travel Writer contest, co-sponsored by National Geographic Traveler and Travcoa, a luxury travel operator.
Roberts, whose winning entry was a 300-word essay about India, went to Mongolia with Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, to co-write a blog on their experiences on Travcoa's "Mongolia & the Gobi Desert," an escorted tour.
A doctoral student of literature and the environment, Roberts is learning the art of travel writing under the watchful eye of Bellows, who also happens to be a NATJA member.
Their blog appeared on National Geographic Traveler's Intelligent Travel blog (http://www.natja.org/admin/wayfarer/(http:/www.intelligenttravelblog.com), Travcoa's website (http://www.travcoa.com),/ and the Next Great Travel Writer contest website (www.travelwritercontest.com/blog/).
With seven million readers, National Geographic Traveler is the world's most widely-read travel magazine. It is published eight times a year, with single copies sold for $4.95 U.S. or $6.95 Canadian. It is also available by subscription (Tel. 800-NGS-LINE).
For further information, contact Heather Wyatt, National Geographic Traveler (Tel. 917-952-8679, ngtraveler@hwyattpr.com) or Margaret Hagstrom (Tel. 800-992-2005 x218, margareth@travcoa.com).
Cultural tourism company embraces ‘green' travel
The notion of responsible tourism, also known as "green" travel, is catching on among consumers, says the founder of InTouch Travel. The Seattle-based firm, which has 87 hosts in 13 European countries, tailors itineraries to special interests, from wine to art, history, fashion, or cooking.
InTouch, a leader in the field of cultural tourism, encourages green travel. Its hosts are savvy locals who know how to live life to the fullest - and are also so focused on environmental issues that they make maximum mileage out of available resources while showing clients the highlights of their communities.
Travel + Leisure commended InTouch Travel's cultural vacations as perfect for travelers seeking "elusive insider secrets." Nora Brossard of the European Travel Commission, quoted by the magazine, said "Nowadays, the most sought-after travel operators are those who can bring visitors into direct contact with local culture in a meaningful way."
The notion of green travel is embodied by American chef Nikki Rose, an InTouch host who lives on the Mediterranean island of Crete. Working with a network of local chefs, she has crteated an interactive educational program called Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries to promote sustainable organic agriculture and preserve traditional cuisine.
Nikki's guests learn how this program works and meet the local farmers and chefs who participate.
According to InTouch founder Andrea Nims, who was born and raised in Germany, "Just because it's called green travel doesn't mean it requires backpacking.
"We live in a global village where fishmongers are also day-trading. At the same time, there are still plenty of people who are proud of their traditions and willing to share them with intrepid globetrotters. We intend to play our part in reinventing the tourism industry for the long-term benefit of tourists, local communities, and the world's natural and cultural heritage. We can change the way we travel forever."
Nims says responsible travel helps local people earn a more fair income from tourism, supports local conservation and social projects, and ensures that any negative environmental or cultural impacts are reduced.
"Over the years," she adds, "there's been a growing interest in traveling for personal enrichment. I also found that many American travelers want to meet local residents."
For further information, contact Andrea Nims [Skype at andreaintouch7 or mailto:andrea@intouchtravel.com], or Ronald Holden [Skype at RonaldSeattle or Ronald@inyourglass.com] or see the list of current hosts, searchable by professional specialty, at http://intouchtravel.com/hosts.
Scavenger hunts for travel writers
For travel journalists in search of quirky stories, why not consider Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts? This organization offers fast-paced games riddled with witty and tricky questions designed to bring out the best in the host city. Teams of six people try to answer queries about the objects and places discovered - providing a way to see the world from a fresh perspective. In New York, for example, a Murder at the Met hunt allows participants to solve a murder mystery by using clues found in artwork, while a Ghost of Greenwich Village event takes teams through haunted spots in the area. To learn more, contact Carly M. Blatt, Director of Communications, Watson Adventures LLC (Tel. 877-9-GO-HUNT x20, Fax 877-356-1055, mailto:carly@watsonadventures.com, or check out http://www.watsonadventures.com./
Portable speaker-phone for business travelers
At long last: a portable speaker-phone for business travelers. ClearOne's Chat 50 makes it easy to travel light and be productive while on the go. Journalists looking for the best sound quality and most portability in multi-purpose USB speaker/phones will find this $149 product especially useful.
Chat 50 is the only USB phone with full duplex technology, allowing the user and the caller to talk at the same time and still understand every word said. Although only the size of a deck of cards, the ClearOne product can pick up sound from 10 feet away.
It serves as a hands-free speaker for a cellphone or Skype-powered laptop -- and it's good for gaming too. For further information, see http://www.clearone.com/ or contact Fred Iannotti, Edgewater Corproate Park South Power, Suite 500, 5225 Wiley Post Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (Tel. 802-888-0085, Fax 802-888-0086, fiannotti@earthlink.net).
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TRIPS FOR MEMBERS
Resorts counter gas woes with clever promotions
ALBUQUERQUE: The Rail Runner, a north-south light rail system that bisects the city, will be extended to Santa Fe by year's end. Also new this year are the relocation of the National Atomic Museum, now housed in Old Town, to a 12-acre tract in the southeastern part of town and the addition of an Insectarium to the Albuquerque Botanic Garden. In anticipation of the 27th annual International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 5-12, the 200-room Isleta Casino & Resort opened just south of town in July. Upgrades are ongoing at La Posada de Albuquerque, Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, and the Sheraton Uptown. Travel writers are coming for the 25th anniversary of the Turquoise Trail Association, formed by business people and artists along Highway 14 (aka the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway). The road is often called "the Artful Way to Santa Fe." The friendly press rep, who appeared at NATJA Oklahoma City, is Megan Mayo (Tel. 505-222-4349, mayo@itsatrip.org).
BROOKLYN: With more and more people calling this boro "the hippest part of New York City," the Brooklyn Pass has become a hot item. Priced at $25 for adults but $15 for kids, the Brooklyn Pass includes admission to many of the borough's top attractions, special offers and discounts at shops and restaurants, plus a comprehensive guide book. The Pass includes Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Brewery, and more. With visitors flocking to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), Brooklyn Heights, plus book and movie festivals throughout the warm-weather months, tourism is on the rise in the former home of the Dodgers. In fact, The Lonely Planet, the world's largest independent travel publisher, named Brooklyn one of three U.S. places in their 2007 list of Ten Hottest Travel Destinations (the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship even got an hour of airtime on ESPN!). To learn more, e.mail smindel@visitbrooklyn.org or contact Jennifer Ackerson, ALON Consulting, 11 Alexander Ave., Farmingdale, NY 11735 (Tel. 631-756-1102, Cell 917-817-9886, jenack@optonline.net) or David Saul (dsaulny@optimum.net).
CALIFORNIA: Since the 2004 surprise cult film Sideways, Santa Barbara is capitalizing on its reputation as the American Riviera. Many visitors view the town and the county as a bucolic, quirky, and authentic destination for wine-tasting - and the local hospitality industry is meeting the demand. A great example is the $4 million transformation of Hadsten House Inn & Spa, a NATJA awards sponsor, into a boutique-style property. Located in the Danish village of Solvang, the Hadsten House has guest rooms finished in a refined, romantic European style, with fireplaces, classic French furnishings, and lavish amenities. To learn more, see http://www.hadstenhouse.com./
DEER VALLEY: Summer is a mix of music, mountain biking, and marathons. The Deer Valley Music Festival presents Gladys Knight with the Utah Symphony Aug. 16 and The Park City Jazz Festival the following weekend. To learn more, contact communications manager Erin Grandy, Deer Valley Resort, P.O. Boc 1525, Park City, UT 84060 (Tel. 435-645-6522, Fax 435-645-6939, erin@deervalley.com).
DELAWARE NORTH COMPANIES: Don't be misled by the name. DNC Parks & Resorts includes properties at Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Sequoia National Parks, plus elsewhere in California, Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, and British Columbia. To contact Delaware North, see www.delawarenorth.com/destinations or call 866-728-4880.
HAWKINS INTERNATIONAL PR: This growing Manhattan firm represents dozens of hot properties, including Badrutt's Palace Hotel in St. Moritz; Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; Millennium Hotels and Resorts; the White Barn Inn of Kennebunkport, Me.; the Yachts of Seabourn; and newly-opened properties in Denver (The Curtis) and Lower Manhattan (Greenwich Hotel). For a complete listing, see http://www.hawkpr.com/ or contact Sarah Evans Thelen, Hawkins International, Suite 401, 119 W. 23rd St., NY, NY 10011 (Tel. 858-245-9680, sarah@hawkpr.com).
ICELAND: Summer visitors here get two days for the price of one, judging by a sun that sets between 10:30 and midnight during the warm-weather months. The 24-hour light makes this country a perfect place for fly-fishing, horseback riding or visiting museums - inclouding the Vatnasafn Library of Water in Stykkisholmur, two hours from Reykjavik. Other options range from a midnight raft trip to an hour-long puffin cruise on a hydrogen-powered boat and a tour of a secret cave in North Iceland's Lake Myvatn region (not everyone fits into the cave). To try these ideas and to see the real-life backdrops used for Brendan Fraser's new film Journey to the Center of the Earth, contact Einar Gustavsson, Iceland Tourist Board (Tel. 212-885-9786, iceinar@goiceland.org) or Jamie Gribbon, Blumenfeld & Associates PR (Tel. 203-655-1600, jamie@blumenfeldpr.com).
LAS VEGAS: After hosting an enormous International PowWow that included 5300 attendees, Las Vegas is gearing up for the Baseball Winter Meetings Dec. 7-11. This annual event, held for more than 100 years, has never come to Vegas before. The Las Vegas Hilton, adjacent to the Convention Center, will be the headquarters hotel, but others are linked to the meeting facility by the four-year-old Las Vegas Monorail, which spans the four-mile Strip. The Las Vegas Hilton also features Barry Manilow as its resident performer and the interactive Star Trek Experience, a combination museum and theme park dedicated to the storied television series. To learn more, contact PR rep Ira David Sternberg.
MAINE: The Historic Inns of Rockland are promoting a "No Fueling" vacation experience. Berry Manor Inn, Captain Lindsey House, and LimeRock Inn are providing their summer guests with customized tuneups designed to increase fuel efficiency. Valued at over $55, this tuneup will include a free air-filter change and tire gauge plus a fuel-injection cleaning service. The inns will also give guests a worksheet of "Drive Green Not Mean" driving tips. All three inns have been certified by the State of Maine as Green Hospitality Leaders. To arrange a visit, contact Marti Mayne, Maynely Marketing, 392A Cousins St., Yarmouth, MW 04096 (Tel. 207-846-6331, Marti.Mayne@BedandBreakfast.com).
MANHATTAN: The New York Tolerance Center, modeled after the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, opened to the public on Bastille Day. Located at 226 East 42nd Street between 2d and 3d Avenues, the Center is recommended for adults and students who are at least 12 years old. Prices range from $10 for student and senior members to $20 for adult non-members and tours take two hours. Further information may be found by calling 212-697-1180 x105 or looking up http://www.tolerancecenter.org./
MORE MAINE: Linekin Bay Resort, a repeat NATJA awards sponsor, is a family sailing resort virtually unchanged from its start more than 60 years ago. The Boothbay Harbor property maintains a laid-back, family-friendly rustic environment and welcomes travel journalists. Contact GM Ron Brann, Linekin Bay Resort (Tel. 866-847-2103, ron@linekinbayresort.com).
MEXICO: Villas Arqueologicas is a collection of five hacienda-style hotels located next to major archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Each of tjhe Villas has 42-44 rooms and similar guestrooms and amenities, including a central courtyard surrounded by lush gardens, a pool, and terrace restaurant. To arrange a visit, contact Claire Kunzman, Ypartnership, Suite 100, 423 S. Keller Rd., Orlando, FL 32810 (Tel. 407-838-1810, Fax 407-875-1115, claire.kunzman@ypartnership.com).
NEW HOPE, Pa.: Please Touch, the children's museum of Philadelphia, will be a featured attraction at the 15th annual New Hope Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival Sept. 27-28. The festival, which draws 35,000 visitors, includes the work of more than 130 artists and designers specializing in photography, watercolors, oils, pastels, pen and ink drawings, silver and gold jewelry, ceramics, wearable art, glass, wood, sculpture, and furniture. A top arts location, New Hope is a four-block-square colonial town on the Delaware River not far from the spot where George Washington's crossed the river to surprise the sleeping Hessians during the Revolutionary War. Area attractions include a canal barge pulled by mules, a working steam train, Coryell's Ferry historic boat rides, the Delaware Canal State Park towpath, and the Bucks County Playhouse. To arrange a visit, contact Emily J. Irwin (Tel. 267-253-9303 or emily@irwinpr.com).
NEW YORK WATER TAXI: Waterfalls on Manhattan Island? See for yourself on the New York City Waterfalls Tour, offered by New York Water Taxi through Oct. 15. Tours depart South Street Seaport and Battery Park daily from 11a-5p weekdays and until 7p on weekends and stop at each of four man-made waterfalls for photo ops. Other tours include a Sunset Cruise, TV/Movie Sites Cruise, and a visit to Water Taxi Beach, a sandy oasis filled with music, mirth, and casual repast, and Manhattan skyline views. Contact Stacey Sherman (Tel. 203-855-1600, stacey@theshermangroup.com) or see http://www.nywatertaxi.com,/ http://www.newyorkcitywaterfalls.com,/ or http://www.watertaxibeach.com./
OHIO: Most visitors to this state don't realize that Licking County - that's no typo, folks - has some of the most significant Native American places in the nation. Some date back more than 2,000 years! Newark Earthworks, geometric mounds built by the Hopewell between 100 B.C. and 400 A.D., and Flint Ridge are both Ohio Historical Society sites and have been recognized as National Historic Landmarks. To learn more, contact Kim Schuette, Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211 (Tel. 614-297-2314, kschuette@ohiohistory.org).
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES: Oasis of the Seas, set to launch late next year, will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship afloat. The vessel will have 16 decks, 2,700 staterooms, and a potential of 5,400 guests at full capacity. She will also be the first ship to tout Royal Caribbean's new neighborhood concept - with seven distinct theme areas, including Central Park, Boardwalk, and Royal Promenade. Port Everglades, FL will be her home port. Royal Caribbean has 21 ships in service with two, including Oasis of the Seas, under construction. To learn more, contact press rep Erin Burden (Tel. 212-445-8164, eburden@webershandwick.com) or Tracy Quan (Tel. 305-539-6577, tquan@rccl.com).
ST. PETERSBURG, FL: The Salvador Dali Museum offers 2140 reasons to visit the Tampa Bay area. A $32 million expansion, slated for completion late in 2010, is doubling its size in a 68,000-square foot new building. The only three-star museum in the southeastern USA, the museum will showcase some 2140 pieces from its collection. It will also provide much-needed safety and security, since the current museum in downtown St. Pete is vulnerable to the winds and floods associated with hurricanes. The new facility can withstand Category 5 hurricane winds and the artwork will be housed higher than water levels will rise. To learn more, call 727-823-3767, check http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org,/ or contact Cindy Cockburn, C.C. Communications (Cell 727-432-5862, cccomm@tampabay.rr.com).
SAN FRANCISCO: If it's free, it's for me. Visitors to the City by the Bay can say that this summer, since many concerts and films will be viewed without charge well into October, while the weather is still warm. In fact, there are more than 300 - count ‘em, 300 - free concerts, film screenings, and other events scheduled. People are invited to watch a Shakespearean play, hear the San Francisco Symphony, do the lindy in Union Square, enjoy jazz classics, watch San Francisco movies under the stars, or partake of the pastoral San Francisco Opera. See http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/ or contact Tanya Houseman, media relations manager, San Francisco CVB, Suite 900, 201 Third St., San Francisco, CA 94103-3185 (Tel. 415-227-2651, Fax 415-227-2668, thouseman@sanfrancisco.travel).
SANTA BARBARA: The target date is Fall 2009 for the opening of a 150-room, five-diamond oceanfront property owned by Fess Parker, the actor who portrayed Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. The third Parker property in the area will cost $90 million to complete. At another of his hotels, Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, guests who arrive 30 minutues early at the renovated Spa del Mar get a complimentary foot soak. Sounds like a plan to me. See http://www.fessparker.com/ or the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau, 1601 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (Tel. 805-966-9222, Fax 805-966-1728, http://www.santabarbaraca.com)./
SEATTLE: Hotels opening in the Emerald City this summer include the 370-room Tulapip Resort Casino, the 120-room Arctic Club, the 150-room Four Seasons, and the 158-room Hyatt Place. Pike Place Market, which marked its 100th anniversary last year, is still thriving, as is the Port of Seattle, which expects 211 premium ship sailings for 2008. Expansion of the Seattle Aquarium is only a year old and Customized Tours has added four chocolate tastings to its morning Scenic Seattle runs. The city features the world's busiest ferry fleet, snow-capped mountains beyond Puget Sound, the Space Needle, and more coffee shops than anyone can count. To arrange a stay, contact David Blandford, Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau, 701 Pike Street, Suite 800, One Convention Place, Seattle, WA 98101 (Tel. 206-461-5815, Fax 206-461-5879, dblandford@visitseattle.org).
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel include 590 acres of shoreline, 100+ miles of barrier and coastal islands in the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles of white sand beaches, 47 public golf courses, 31 marinas, and an air gateway through Southwest Florida International (RSW), south of Fort Myers. Although peak season runs from January-April, travel journalists are welcome anytime. To see this historic area, where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford wintered and the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins spend the spring, contact Lee Rose, Lee County Visitior & Convention Bureau, 12800 University Drive, Suite 500, Fort Myers, FL 33907-5337 (Tel. 800-237-6444, Fax 239-334-1106, http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com)./
SPRING LAKE, NJ: The 13 Historic Inns of Spring Lake encourage visitors to arrive by bus or train - and are making it easier to do just that. Now through Dec. 15, they are giving guests a $50 credit toward New Jersey Transit train or Academy Bus from the New York Port Authority building as well as a $50 dining gift certificate good for one of two oceanfront restaurants. The Spring Lake Free Ride package is valid for guests who book a 3-night midweek stay excluding weekends and holidays. For more information, contact Leigh Cort (leighc@aug.com).
WHISTLER, B.C.: A scenic resort town in the Coast Mountains 75 miles north of Vancouver, Whistler has 3,200 hotel rooms and an additional 5,000 units ranging from chalets to condos and B&Bs. That helps, since crowds are coming in all seasons. The site of the alpine, Nordic, and sliding events for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler averages 33.5 feet of snow per winter. During the warm-weather months, it is known for hiking, biking, tennis, picnicking, chairlift rides, and waterfront activities on five area lakes. Travel media relations manager is Laura James (Tel. 604-938-2794, ljames@tourismwhistler.com).
WOLF CREEK RESORT: The view's the thing at this Eden, Utah mountain resort, an hour from Salt Lake City. Summer features photography, concerts, and outdoor recreation from golf to tennis, while winter brings skiers to Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, with beginners attracted to Wolf Mountain, one of the best learning hills in the state. Press rep is Amy Monier, Martz Agency, 7020 E. Acoma Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (Tel. 480-998-3154, amonier@martzagency.com).
WORLD GOLF VILLAGE: Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, World Golf Village includes the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Renaissance Resort and adjoining St. Johns County Convention Center; Gradnde Villas, a Bluegreen Vacation Club resort; Laterra Resort & PGA Tour Spa; two championship courses; and the PGA Tour Golf Academy. Also onsite are the PGA Tour Stop retail center, a 300-seat IMAX theater, residential neighborhoods, and restaurants, including Bill Murray's Caddyshack. A new guest giveaway, called "Celebrating 10," features lots of $10 gift cards and follows a $10 million renovation that gave rooms and suites a total facelift. Media rep is Peyton Taylor (Tel. 904-940-4059, ptaylor@wghof.org).
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