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Proposed passenger rights bills are worthless. Mark Pestronk: P. 18 How could people who voted for the New Seven Wonders have overlooked Bar Vivoli’s watermelon gelato in Florence? Richard Turen: P. 77 w w w. t r a v e l w e e k l y. c o m T H E N A T I O N A L N E W S P A P E R O F T H E T R A V E L I N D U S T R Y O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 Arnie Weissmann Travel Weekly PHOTOS BY MICHAEL FALCO/BLACK STAR { { lion mil re rter ns a out qua rica ab ‘A me t to sts A alen ouri ts.’ uiv llion t marke eq mi er 1 oth from Adel Grobler South African Tourism Simion Alb Romanian Tourist Office Linda Ericson Visit Sweden Courting the American traveler Officials reveal how they plan to sell their destinati ons in A T R AV E L W E EKLY RO O D E R AT E D U N D TA B L E M [ LINER SCHEDULED FOR 2010 DELIVERY ] It’s a new Queen for Cunard Line as luxury market keeps growing By Johanna Jainchill Adding to the fervent pace of new-building in the luxury cruise sector, Cunard Line has WORLD BEAT Low-cost, long-haul flyer AirAsia X is set to debut. Yucatan markets the Wonder of Chichen Itza. Guggenheim in Bilbao marks its 10th anniversary. P. 6 P. 66 P. 61 placed an order for a new liner, to be named the Queen Elizabeth, scheduled for a 2010 delivery. Cunard said it had signed an agreement with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build a 2,092-passenger vessel for an all-in cost of about $700 million. The 92,000-ton vessel, to be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard, would be the second-largest ship Cunard has built. It will be slightly larger than the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria but smaller than the 151,000-ton Queen Mary 2. News of the new-build came less than four months after the line announced that it was selling the Queen Elizabeth 2, whose new owners will retire it as a luxury floating hotel in Dubai. Carol Marlow, the president of Cunard See QUEEN on Page 79 { { { { Francesco Brazzini Katherine Jochen Arie Sommer Italian Government Ethiopian Airlines Israel Ministry of Tourist Board Tourism ‘For years . with the re .. we didn’t work tail agent. I think this was a m part, and w istake on our e are back n ow.’ the U.S. Omayma El Husseini Egyptian Tourist Authority Sayed Khalifa Egyptian Tourist Authority Agri Verrija Embassy of Albania { BY ARNIE WEISSMANN PAGE 22 Royal Caribbean throws 3 ‘card mills’ overboard RCCL revealed its new policy in a letter to travel agents stating that Royal Caribbean InRoyal Caribbean Cruises will no longer be ternational, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara doing business with “card mills.” Cruises were all taking action against these In a move that touched off immediate, types of companies “in an effort to prevent a widespread accolades from industry trade growing and troubling trend within the travel groups, other travel suppliers and travel industry.” agents, RCCL last week RCCL would not pubinformed giant YTB Travlicly name the companies el Network and two other with which it had termiRoyal Caribbean’s firms that RCCL’s three nated its relationship, but cruise lines were termiKim Sorensen, CEO of Lisa Bauer explains nating business relationYTB, confirmed that he the reasons behind ships with them and with had learned on Oct. 8 that the line’s decision. all other firms the cruise Royal Caribbean was terline referred to as “card minating its relationship mills.” with YTB as of Nov. 9. Card mills are generally defined as host Sorensen said that he would ask to meet with agencies that sell ordinary consumers access RCCL in the hopes of reversing the decision See ROYAL CARIBBEAN on Page 78 to benefits designed for travel agents. By Johanna Jainchill and Nadine Godwin IN THE HOT SEAT Page 4 w w w. t r a v e l w e e k l y. c o m T H E N A T I O N A L N E W S P A P E R O F T H E T R A V E L I N D U S T R Y O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 insider CONTENTS O N T H E C O V E R Courting the American traveler 22 N E W S Meetings & Greetings 8 First Call: The Norwegian Gem 16 MGM stakes $5B on A.C. resort casino D E S T I N A T I O N S 1 2 51 Classic Resorts staying small and local 57 Savoring Alsatian charms of Colmar 62 Spanish chain builds in Campeche I N S I D E R 4 Travel Confidential 4 Friends & Colleagues 4 In the Hot Seat: Royal Caribbean’s Lisa Bauer D E P A R T M E N T S 6 12 16 18 News Briefs From the Window Seat TW Portfolio Legal Briefs 72 TPN 75 Marketplace 76 Opinion 80 What’s New, What’s Hot 3 1) Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts, and Cathy Palaez, COO of Gogo Worldwide Vacations, at a ceremony marking the official opening of the $70 million Mediterranean Village at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa. 2) American Express Travel named the Travel Authority as Representative Travel Agency of the Year during its conference in Tucson, Ariz. From left: Tom Lumley, president of Travel Authority, and Debbie Myers, senior vice president of Travel Authority, with Ellen Bettridge, vice president of AmEx U.S. Retail Travel Network. 3) More than 400 agents attended the Apple Vacations trade show in Minneapolis, which was held in the Sun Country hangar at MinneapolisSt. Paul Airport. Last Chance to Be a Part of History. After more than a decade of taking your clients to extraordinary destinations around the globe, Marco Polo is sailing on to new horizons. And her Farewell Season is the perfect opportunity for your clients to sail into history with Orient Lines, with one last cruise to great destinations in Europe, South America and Antarctica. Voted one of the Top 10 Large-Ship Cruise Lines limited space Highlights of South America December 12 Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires free upgrade South America & The Falkland Islands December 13 Buenos Aires - Ushuaia For complete terms, conditions and restrictions, visit orientlines.com. ©2007 NCL CORPORATION LTD. SHIP'S REGISTRY: BAHAMAS. Call 1.800.333.7300 or visit marcopolofarewell.com 2 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M 7:33 AM Belgian waffles! Now that’s what I call a hot continental breakfast. 9:00 AM Copies made. Faxes received. This really is like a satellite office. 2:00 PM It’s showtime. 8:47 PM Comfy bed and free wireless Internet… I can get used to this. ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING? NOW THAT MAKES BUSINESS SENSE! Property featured is Norcross, GA The Wingate® by Wyndham difference — everything your clients need to do business on the road for one convenient, all-inclusive price: hot breakfast; wired and wireless high-speed Internet access in every room and all public areas; faxing, copying and printing in our 24-hour business center, plus a whole lot more! All Wingate® by Wyndham hotels are individually owned and operated. ©2007 Wingate Inns International, Inc. All rights reserved. WINGATEHOTELS.COM 1.800.228.1000 GDS Code: WG INSIDER IN THE HOT SEAT TRAVEL CONFIDENTIAL Lisa Bauer, Senior V.P. of Sales Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean Cruises last week said it would no longer accept bookings from “card mills,” or multilevel marketers that sell travel agent benefits to nonprofessionals. Cruise Editor Johanna Jainchill talked with Lisa Bauer, Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president of sales, about the new policy. Q: How do you enforce this? A: They were advised that with the 30day out clause, they are on no-book status with us. We will not accept any new bookings from those three accounts. Whenever any of them tries to call in, we will not accept that booking. Q: What’s to stop a company from reincorporating with another name and Q: Who are these companies? continuing to work with you? A: I can’t tell you. But I can tell you that they are three of the most egregious and A: The reality is that people have to be largest, and the ones everyone’s familiar registered to do business with us. In with. order for somebody to earn commission or have a profile with our brands, they must have a valid business license Q: How did you inform them of this? or business certificate from their state A: They received letters from Dondra and a CLIA, IATAN or ARC number. They [Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of have to provide us with their sales for Celebrity and Azaletterhead or Web site and a mara] and me, and we also W-9 from their agency. personally called to tell them What we see with the card we were exercising our 30-day mills is none of them is indeout clause from our existing pendently registered with us. contract and that we were We have such sophisticated terminating the relationship. revenue reporting systems And we terminated the relathat we can see where the tionships basically without revenue is coming from. If cause, so we really didn’t Lisa Bauer someone says they have over have to say specifically why. 100,000 agents, we can see what their revenue is, and it can be as Q: Will this hurt earnings? low as $40 or $50 per location. That’s A: I don’t believe so because the agenhardly a legitimate agent who on an ancies out there are so supportive of what nual basis would only produce $40. we’ve done for taking a stand. We’re trying to create a healthy distribution system and help the credibility of the Q: How was doing business with card accredited and certified travel agents mills costly for your brands? out there. So I A: The business really believe our was not going brands will get to legitimate more support as travel agents. a result of this. It was going to consumers who were paying Q: What was go$495 to be part ing on that led of “travel like a you to do this? travel agent,” and then they were sailing A: Philosophically, we totally disagree on our brands and getting 15% or 16% with the business model. We don’t discounts because they were getting think it’s aligned with any of our polithe commission as a travel agent. And cies, especially when you look at the that’s against our guiding principle of level playing field. no-discount pricing. Some of us have been in situations where we’ve actually heard pitches of, “For $495 you can be a travel agent or Q: What was the reaction of those comget the benefits.” And the sheer size panies when you told them? and volume of it … it’s gone through A: It was a difficult conversation. Those such explosive growth. It’s just everyconversations are always difficult when where. you’re ending a business relationship. F Friends & Colleagues ive years after acquiring the 90-room Dragon Bay Beach Resort near Port Antonio on Jamaica’s east coast, Sandals Resorts appears closer to putting its luxury stamp on the property as a Royal Plantation resort, Sandals’ separate line of boutique retreats in the Caribbean. hit the streets until early next year, TC hears. Dubbed TRIP for Travel Retailer Identification Program, the project is ARTA’s brainchild, but the trade group aims to launch a program that has support among all types of suppliers. Why the wait? TC’s source would like to reveal more now but said there was still a lot of back-end work to take care of first. When Starbucks opened its kiosks at the El San Juan and Caribe Hilton resorts in San Juan, the locals were none too happy. Coffee is a big deal in Puerto Rico, where it is grown, roasted, ground, consumed, sold and exported. Coffee plantations are touted as attractions where tourists can view the life of a coffee bean from seedling to extra grande with a shot of espresso. When Starbucks agreed to sell Puerto Rican coffee only, the brew-haha ended. Although no timeline for renovation and opening has been given, Sandals officials confirmed that “Dragon Bay is definitely happening.” The property has been closed since 2002, but if the refit follows along the lines of the $10 million rejuvenation of Royal Plantation’s Ocho Rios resort when it opened in 2001 and what’s planned for Royal Plantation resorts in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, no shortcuts will be taken. With Cunard’s plans for a new queen, the Queen Elizabeth, to homeport in Southampton, England, in a few years, TC has to wonder: Will Cunard move its headquarters there? Details of ARTA’s agency certification program for nonair sellers, plus an ID card program for all travel sellers, won’t ( ‘We’re trying to create a healthy distribution system and help the credibility of accredited travel agents.’ Silversea Cruises expanded its executive team with the appointment of Tom Russell as senior vice president of product development. Russell’s primary focus will be overseeing the establishment of the line’s new expedition cruise product. Russell, a member of Silversea’s founding executive team in 1992, most recently served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Uniworld Grand River Cruises. David Martin left his post as Kimpton’s vice president of hotel operations to become senior vice president of operations for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Shangri-La promoted Barbara Pang to vice president of sales and marketing. Pang has held a variety of marketing posts with Shangri-La as well as with Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt hotels in Hong Kong. MSC Cruises USA appointed Nicola Iannone director of national accounts for the North American sales team. Iannone most recently was director of key accounts and new business development for Uniworld Grand River Cruises. SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND PHOTOS: Gerry Bourbeau, Travel Weekly deputy managing editor, at gbourbeau@travelweekly.com. Terry Worden was named general manager of the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, which opens in January. For the past seven years, Worden has been general manager of the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. Seabourn Cruise Line appointed Adam Snitzer vice president of marketing. He was most recently vice president of revenue management for Costa Cruises. Matthew Heist was named senior vice president of global search for SideStep. Heist was Yahoo’s vice president of business operations. SIT Italy named Barbara Rubin sales manager. Rubin has worked for Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav and Clipper Cruise Lines. Tours.com named Margie Herman vice president of business development. She was director of Pacific Rim sales at IDB WorldCome. NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA LLC 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, N.J. 07094-3681 U.S.A. (201) 902-2000. Travel Weekly is published once a week on Mondays by NORTHSTAR Travel Media LLC ISSN #00412082. Canadian GST #123397457 USPS #637 780. Canadian Post Agreement #41021023. Vol. 66, Number 42, Periodicals postage paid at Secaucus, N.J., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address corrections to Travel Weekly, P.O. Box 7504, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163-7504. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40685520. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: RCS International, Box 697 STN A, Windsor Ontario N9A 6N4, email: Subsmail@ ReedBusiness.com. For all circulation inquiries, includ- 4 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M ILLUSTRATION BY J.C. SUARES ing new subscriptions, renewals, cancellations, changes of address and problems with missed deliveries, contact customer service by mail at RBI Customer Service, 8878 S. Barrons Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129-2345; by phone at (800) 446-6551 or (303) 470-4445, fax (303) 470-4280 or e-mail: subsmail@reedbusiness.com. For subscriptions, visit www.getfreemag.com/tw. Annual subscription rates: USA, US$149; Canada, US$189; elsewhere US$229. Rates for single copies and special issues are available. For custom reprints, contact Lisa Abelson at (516) 379-7097. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Travel Weekly® is a registered trademark. Printed in the U.S.A. — IPM218464 ( Wow your clients with our new Resort-Style Pools. An exciting feature of Evolutions of Fun. This relaxing new resort-style pool area is one of the exciting highlights of our $250 million Evolutions of Fun program aboard our popular Fantasy-class ships. Colorful umbrellas provide shade at the pool’s edge bordered by a tiled “beach.” Playful palm trees and bright mosaics add to the festive ambiance. Altogether, it creates the kind of tropical island atmosphere your clients will love. The redesign of the mid-ship pool area is just one of the many enhancements in our Evolutions of Fun program, which will be completed by 2009. Find out more at evolutionsoffun.com. © 2007 Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved. Ships’ Registry:The Bahamas and Panama bookccl.com news BRIEFS AirAsia X: Cheap fares, long haul By Andrew Compart money on flight and ground operations. AirAsia X will launch low-fare, low-frills, longAirAsia X says its new A330 aircraft will be conhaul service in early November in what indusfigured for more than 390 seats, about 100 more try observers are eyeing as the biggest and most than usual, with most of them at 31 inches of meaningful test yet of whether such a model can pitch. The airline also will sell about 28 “premiwork over long distances. um” seats with extra pitch and recline, which it is AirAsia X has no plans to fly to the promoting as a business class-type seat U.S. All of the flights from its base in at a full-fare economy price. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will be four to On the revenue side, the airline is eight hours, with its first destinations in focusing on an Asian market that it Australia and China. Longer-term plans considers underdeveloped and poised call for service to India, Korea, Japan, for rapid growth, counting on AirAsia’s the Middle East and Europe. short-haul traffic from 75 cities to feed But AirAsia X’s success as a low-cost its long-haul routes and taking advancarrier that charges for most amenities tage of the strong AirAsia brand. could create the model for others to Azram Osman-Rani Osman-Rani also said his airline was follow anywhere in the world. Richard aiming to get 20% of it revenue from CEO Branson is one of the believers, his Virancillary sources such as onboard adAirAsia X gin Group having recently acquired a vertising and the sale of services such as 20% stake in the airline. holiday packages, travel insurance, branded credit AirAsia, which grew rapidly to become Southcards, in-flight mobile phone usage and in-flight east Asia’s leading short-haul, low-cost carrier, also Wi-Fi access. owns 20%, and AirAsia architect and CEO Tony The airline will also charge extra for checked Fernandes leads a group that owns the rest. baggage, advance seat selection, hot meals, light At conferences last month in London and meals, snacks, beverages, an in-flight entertainStockholm, AirAsia X CEO Azram Osman-Rani ment player and a comfort kit (blanket, inflatable explained how and why the model will work. Ospillow and eye shades). man-Rani is new to the Passengers will be able airline business, having to pay for all of these opcome from one of Southtions when booking on the east Asia’s leading digital airline’s Web site or pay for satellite TV providers, but many of them onboard. he is relaxed, confident and Big questions remain quick with a smile, and he about the model’s viabilseemed at ease offering ity. Will AirAsia X be able rebuttals to doubts that to cut costs as much as it AirAsia X can profit while expects? How low do fares promising fares about 50% lower than what fullhave to be to stimulate the level of demand the service carriers charge. airline expects and to get customers to choose “We think that’s sustainable because we’re payAirAsia X over full-service alternatives? ing for a cost structure that is 50% less than their Will customers, in exchange for cheaper fares, structure,” Osman-Rani said. be willing to pay for amenities they are accusThe airline plans to keep costs down by putting tomed to getting for free on long-haul flights? Is more seats on its aircraft than is typical, filling AirAsia X realistic in its expectation that it will be more than 75% of its seats via careful route selecable to sell last-minute fares at a markup? tion and low-fare stimulation, utilizing its A330s Some of the answers could be slow to come. 30% to 40% more than competitors with 17 to 18 Although AirAsia X is starting service to Aushours of flying per day, using secondary airports tralia’s Gold Coast on Nov. 2 with one-way fares that can offer lower fees and quicker turnaround as low as $87, it is using a leased aircraft configtimes, working with regional governments on ured for about 315 passengers, not 390, and its marketing incentive packages and using a shared new A330s don’t start arriving until September infrastructure and workforce with AirAsia to save 2008. BRIEFS Northwest to add new Portland route Northwest will begin daily nonstops on A330 aircraft from Portland, Ore., to the Amsterdam hub of longtime partner KLM on March 29, in the latest expansion of their joint network. The flights will carry the KLM code. Southwest kills boarding pass site BoardFirst.com, which offered a way for travelers get “A” group boarding passes on Southwest Airlines, shut down after ceding defeat in its 18-month-long court battle with the carrier. For $5, BoardFirst would check in customers the minute Southwest’s online check-in for their flight became available. That put them in the first boarding group. Claiming that BoardFirst violated Southwest.com’s conditions of use, the airline filed suit in May 2006 after BoardFirst ignored the carrier’s cease-and-desist letters. Southwest said it received complaints from customers who didn’t use the site. Portland, with Mount Hood in the background. The service starts the day before KLM begins its service, in conjunction with Northwest, between Amsterdam and Dallas/Fort Worth. With the additions, Northwest and KLM will fly nonstop between Amsterdam and 20 U.S. cities. Trump launches hotel collection Trump launched the Trump Hotel Collection, a new brand billed as “the next generation of luxury hospitality.” The group includes the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York and two others under construction: the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, opening in December, and the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas, set to open early next year. Others are in development around the world. Boeing hits delay in 787 production Boeing said the initial deliveries of its new 787 Dreamliner will be delayed for six months because of “continued challenges completing assembly of the first airplanes,” including shortages of some parts. Under the new schedule, the first deliveries, to ANA, would begin in late November or December of 2008. Richard Branson is one of the believers, as Virgin Group recently acquired a 20% stake in AirAsia X. Element hotel coming to Orlando Element, a Starwood extendedstay brand, plans to develop a 137-room property on Orlando’s Aloft brand to build hotel in Brooklyn Starwood is bringing its new Aloft brand to Brooklyn. The company is partnering with Dumbo Real Estate Holdings to build an Aloft near the Brooklyn Bridge. The 176room hotel will open in 2009. Hyatt to manage Vietnam resort Hyatt signed an agreement with Indochina Land to manage the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, scheduled to open in late 2009 on a 50-acre site with over 1,900 feet of beachfront. The resort will offer 258 guest rooms, 148 condominiums and 30 two-story villas. Trafalgar Tours taps new president, again Paul Wiseman was named president of Trafalgar Tours, just two-and-a-half weeks after the company announced that Robert Friedman would take over as president. The tour operator said that Friedman had decided to leave the company. “Robert decided that [his departure] was in his career interest,” said Richard Launder, president of TravCorp USA, the parent of Trafalgar. Wiseman was formerly managing director of Trafalgar Tours in Australia. Prior to that he was general manager at Contiki Holidays. “Paul has expressed excitement at taking up this new challenge and looks forward to joining Trafalgar North America, a feeling Paul Wiseman shared by the team here,” President TravCorp said in a stateTrafalgar Tours ment. Friedman had been appointed to the post following the resignation of John Severini, who had been Trafalgar’s president for five years. An Element will open in Orlando in 2009. International Drive, near the convention center. An opening is planned for late summer 2009. JetBlue to add Caribbean routes JetBlue will add two Caribbean routes in January with nonstops from New York’s Kennedy Airport to St. Maarten and to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. 6 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M We have a special connection with the business traveler . It’s called free internet At Best Western, we cater to the business traveler. That’s why, unlike many other hotels, we offer hi-speed internet, local calls, long distance access and incoming faxes at no additional cost. In fact, each and every one of our rooms comes with 17 standard * amenities. And with 4,200** locations, chances are there’s a Best Western right next to where your business client needs to be. THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN. For more information, call 866.574.6468 or visit BestWesternforBusiness.com GDS code: BW *Free local calls and long-distance access in the US, Canada & Caribbean only. Free high speed internet access at participating hotels in North America and may not necessarily be available in all guest rooms or public areas. Amenities vary at hotels. Call ahead for more information on specific amenities. **Numbers approximate and can vary. Each Best Western® hotel is independently owned and operated. Best Western and the Best Western marks are service marks or registered service marks of Best Western International, Inc. ©2007 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved. NEWS BRIEFS Agents have Wii bit of fun on NCL’s newest By Johanna Jainchill FIRST CALL New York launches global ad blitz New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rolled out the city’s first global multimedia marketing campaign, themed “This Is New York City,” set to run for 12 months. It will use $30 million in advertising New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rolled out a global campaign for New York tourism. assets to promote the Big Apple on television, in print and online in 10 countries on four continents. The campaign’s central feature, a TV ad, will air in the U.S., France, Ireland, Spain and the U.K. Alitalia renews quest for a buyer Alitalia’s board identified six potential investors for buying the Italian government’s 49.9% controlling stake in the struggling carrier, and the airline is contacting them to gauge their interest. The list includes three bidders that expressed interest before: the U.S.-based buyout firm TPG (formerly Texas Pacific Group), the private Italian carrier Air One and Aeroflot. New to the list are Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and a group led by Italian lawyer and financier Antonio Baldassarre. “It brings people together,” said a ONBOARD THE NORWEGIAN breathless Vivian Ewart, senior GEM — This October, the gloves vice president of CruiseOne, who came off between Travelocity and had just taken a Wii beating from Expedia. Nancy Parker, wife of Chris ParkIn a Goliath vs. Goliath match er, director of All Aboard Travel in for the ages, Koreen McNutt of ExFort. Myers, Fla. “A lot of groups pedia and Ken Lorey of Travelocity can participate. Not a lot of activitook to the ring onboard the new ties are like that.” Norwegian Gem in a boxing bout Besides that, she said, the boxplayed on Wii, the Nintendo video ing game was a good workout. game system. (During this match, “I’m tired, my arms hurt,” she said. at least, Travelocity KO’d its com“My heart is racing. It really is.” petition.) The agents also played each Norwegian Cruise Line partnered other on the Wii system in douwith Nintendo this year to put its bles tennis, baseball and bowling, Wii (pronounced “we”) video game a good solution for people who system in the atrium of its ships, don’t want to wait for the real where baseball, tennis and boxing lanes to open in the ship’s bowling are played out on a two-story LED alley, the popular Bliss Lounge. Vivian Ewart, left, of CruiseOne and Nancy Parker, wife of Chris Parker of All Aboard Travel, screen. Kelli O’Donnell of R Family duked it out on the Norwegian Gem in a boxing match played on the Wii video game system. Guests/gamers like McNutt and Vacations said that these types of Lorey use motion sensor, wireless shipboard amenities were great game controls that detect the motion of their for luring first timers to the high seas. rives in the U.S. in December and will be chrisarms, allowing them to throw punches in real “It’s all about getting the noncruisers to tened in New York before beginning a series of time. cruise,” she said. “You can bowl, you can ice seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises from The agents, all members of NCL’s Presiskate, now you can Wii.” New York. dents’ Club, its top retailers, were invited onO’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky, also of A great group activity board the Gem for a sneak-peak at the ship, R Family Vacations, had just lost in doubles In the Gem’s atrium, the crowd cheered NCL’s latest and final Jewel-class ship, on an tennis to Andy Stuart, NCL’s executive vice and jeered, and electronic fists were flying. introductory sailing for agents and the press president of sales and marketing, and John Agents agreed that in addition to the ship’s the day after German shipbuilder Meyer Maguire of CruiseDirect.com. But they had a bowling alley, which was a feature NCL rolled Werft handed the vessel over to NCL in Eemgood excuse. out on the Norwegian Pearl last winter, the shaven, Netherlands. “They told us we had to let Andy win,” KaWii was a great group activity. The 93,000-ton, 2,384-passenger vessel arminsky joked. TW PHOTO BY JOHANNA JAINCHILL PHOTO BY FELICIA WONG N.J. slaps temporary restraining order on Mecca operator By Nadine Godwin The state of New Jersey won a temporary restraining order against Shama Hajj Ziyarat Tours in Woodbridge and its owner, Molana Syed Alihaider Abidi, to stop the agency from promoting and selling pilgrimage packages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The state’s attorney general and its Division of Consumer Affairs charged the agency and its owner with fraud because the agency allegedly sold more than 50 pilgrimage packages in 2006 at $4,500 or more each but left passengers standing at airport gates with no tickets. According to court papers, after no tickets materialized on Dec. 20, the agency gave the impression it would provide alternative travel arrangements, then canceled the trips outright a few days later. Some clients received partial refunds, the papers said, but most had not received a refund. According to a four-count complaint filed in State Superior Court in Middlesex County, the state is seeking restitution for the affected consumers. It also asked the court to freeze the defendants’ assets and appoint a receiver to render a full accounting and seek to restore funds to travelers. The agency, which also does business as Karwan-E-Iman-E-Sajjad (USA), had begun advertising and selling a December 2007 package to Mecca. Therefore, the state sought the temporary restraining order to head off a repeat experience for a new group of pilgrims. The restraining order requires the agency to cease advertising or selling Mecca trips and prohibits it from disposing of records or removing assets, including client funds. In a next step, the state is seeking to convert the temporary order into a preliminary injunction. A hearing on the state’s multiple requests is set for Oct. 25. Abidi told Travel Weekly that he is not a travel agent but an imam who sells only one kind of travel, the Mecca pilgrimage, and that he gets three-quarters of his customers as referrals. He added that in 10 years, “a thousand people have completed the hajj [pilgrimage] with me with no problems. Now, my goodwill is gone.” In 2006, he said that his problem was his air consolidator. He said he turned over $237,000 to Boston-based Adam Travel Service. However, Abidi claimed that Adam Travel had sold the blocked seats to others, but he seemed unclear as to why the consolidator only returned $50,000 of his customers’ money. Mohamed Ibraham, manager of Adam Travel’s New York branch, tells another story. He said he believed Abidi had “no intention to rob” travelers, but was “so unorganized” that he was unable to deliver tickets plus passports with visas to his customers — even though Abidi had the documents in hand before customers were supposed to fly, Ibraham said. Ibraham said Abidi had sold 215 pilgrimage packages. He said his agency issued and reissued tickets four times, due to a series of incidents during which Abidi either failed to pay for tickets, failed to pick up tickets or failed to deliver them to customers. Ibraham said he could not explain why Abidi couldn’t “get it together.” He said Adam Travel’s New York office returned $50,000 to Abidi and still owed him $32,000, which has now been turned over to the New Jersey attorney general. One of the claimants is Amjad Safvi, who is out $3,500 because he was among a number of clients receiving only a $1,000 refund. He lives in a Chicago suburb and was set to travel with about 30 of Abidi’s customers from O’Hare to Mecca via a European connection. Safvi had not known which airline and connecting airport would be used. After the 2006 trip was canceled, Safvi said he went to Abidi’s house to get an explanation but got no satisfaction because Abidi didn’t have the necessary records. “He can’t account for the money, so I don’t know if it’s his fault,” Safvi said. Carlson venture eyes Asia projects Carlson Hotels Worldwide formed a strategic alliance with the Lotus Hotel Investment Fund, a new $1 billion private equity fund based in London that plans to target hotel development opportunities in China and India, along with other key growth markets in Asia such as Thailand and Vietnam. Hyatt picks Austin for Andaz hotel Hyatt picked a site in Austin, Texas, for a 210-room hotel that will be the fourth in its new Andaz luxury line. The Austin Andaz will be part of a mixed-use development on the 23-acre former campus of Concordia University. The hotel will feature a “green roof,” described as a “park in the sky,” plus 150 condos. The restraining order requires the defendant to cease advertising or selling Mecca trips. 8 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M NEWS JetBlue, Hawaiian fined for below-par disclosure of on-time info By Andrew Compart The Transportation Department fined JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines for failing to properly or adequately disclose the on-time performance of specific flights when the information was requested by DOT staffers posing as consumers. Under DOT regulations, airlines that submit their on-time performance to the DOT, and there are now 20 of them, must disclose the on-time performance to any consumer who asks for it “during the course of a reservation inquiry.” The DOT’s enforcement office uncovered the lack of compliance in a recent telephone survey it conducted. The DOT isn’t saying whether any more consent orders are in the works, but DOT spokesman Bill Mosley did say airlines should be aware that the DOT would be doing these test calls “from time to time” as part of its efforts to “make sure the airlines are fulfilling their obligations as far as providing customer service.” The DOT’s enforcement office said that during its calls to JetBlue, the carrier’s reservations agents failed to provide the requested on-time performance on “numerous occasions.” It said the agents indicated that they did not have the information or could not provide it due to an error in their computer system. The enforcement office added that in two of its calls, the agents put the caller on hold and failed to return to provide the information. can be addressed through improved training and retraining of its reservation agents,” which Hawaiian said it has already begun. Hawaiian also stated that it planned to make on-time performance information more available to the public generally, including posting a link to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Web site from Hawaiian’s Web site, informing callers to its interactive voice response system about the availability of on-time performance information through Hawaiian’s Web site and sending an e-mail about the disclosure of on-time performance information to travel agents. The requirement to provide on-time performance when asked, however, does not apply to travel agents, Mosley said. The DOT fined Hawaiian $50,000 for its on-time performance disclosure violations, despite its efforts to address the problem. But half of the fine will be forgiven if Hawaiian avoids additional violations over the next 12 months. ‘Unintentional’ In its defense, JetBlue told the DOT it was committed to providing the on-time information to consumers so they could make educated decisions about their purchases and asserted that its noncompliance was unintentional. JetBlue also said it believed that its staff ’s failure to comply would best be addressed through improved training and retraining of its agents, which it already has begun. But the enforcement office, in issuing its consent order on Oct. 3, said it still considered the violation a serious one, and JetBlue agreed to pay a fine of $30,000. The Hawaiian Airlines case was similar, with the enforcement office alleging that the carrier’s reservations agents had failed to provide the information or, when they did provide it, gave varying on-time performance information for the same flight. In its defense, Hawaiian told the DOT that any noncompliance with the requirement was purely unintentional. It also noted that its on-time performance has consistently been among the best for carriers that report their domestic on-time data to the DOT. Hawaiian had the best on-time performance among the 20 reporting carriers for the 12 months that ended in June, at 93.2%. “Consequently, according to the carrier, it has every incentive to disclose the information to all customers reasonably requesting it,” the DOT said in its consent order for Hawaiian. “Hawaiian believes this compliance issue Make a reservation for your clients to drive off in style. The Hertz Prestige Collection allows you to reserve the exact make and model your clients want, like the Infiniti G35. It’s the perfect marriage of style and performance, with an interior that leaves a good impression and an engine that leaves ® others in the dust. And since it comes equipped with NeverLost, Hertz’ in-car satellite navigation system, powered by Magellan GPS, your clients can easily fi nd their way to excitement. Plus, if you’re an Exactly Rewards member you’ll earn a $5 bonus for every Prestige Collection vehicle picked up and completed by December 15, 2007. To make a reservation for your clients, simply book through your GDS system, visit hertzagent.com or call 1-800-654-2250. And your clients will spend their vacation driving in elegance. It’s another reason why We’re Hertz. They’re Not. hertzagent.com ® Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. © 2007 Hertz System, Inc. Exactly Rewards Bonus on Prestige Collection vehicles available at participating airport locations in the U.S. Not all vehicles available in all locations. Offer is available for vehicle pickups 10/1/07 – 12/15/07. W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 9 NEWS Judge’s decision could idle Hawaii Superferry for months By Michael Milligan Hawaii Superferry cannot operate until an environmental impact study is completed. Hawaii Superferry’s long voyage through troubled waters continued last week, as a court in Maui ruled that the interisland always inseason italy transport service must remained docked until the state completes a months-long environmental impact study. After hearing approximately four weeks of testimony, Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza handed down an injunction on Oct. 9, agreeing with environmental groups that an environmental study is required under state law and must be completed before Hawaii Superferry can operate. The study is expected to determine whether the high-speed ferry will negatively affect sea life and the overall environment. The Associated Press reported that the study could take at least eight months. Meanwhile, it appeared as if the court ruling placed the future of the service in doubt. According to a report in the Honolulu Advertiser, in granting the injunction, Cardoza also nullified a prior agreement forged between Hawaii Superferry and the state’s Department of Transportation that allowed Superferry to operate. Aside from the Oahu-Maui route, Hawaii Superferry was to operate between Oahu and Kauai, although that service was suspended several weeks ago. The newspaper also reported that to company intended to quickly file an appeal. Meanwhile, state lawmakers were considering convening a special session of the state legislature to explore options that could permit the ferry to operate again. On its Web site, Hawaii Superferry maintained that it had “undergone extensive Superferry officials say that the company is losing more than $600,000 each week the ferry remains idle. environmental scrutiny” and that “the vast majority of people recognize that the Superferry is good for Hawaii — good for the economy, good for local families and good for local businesses.” Hawaii Superferry urged state residents to contact elected officials and voice support for the service. Questions remain unanswered as to how much longer the ferry operation can remain idled. The vessel has essentially remained docked since it officially began operations on Aug. 26. Officials from the company have been quoted as saying that the company, which employs about 300 people, is losing more than $600,000 each week the ferry remains idle. The 350-foot catamaran is capable of carrying 866 passengers, 282 cars and 28 trucks. The ferry, which travels at speeds up to 40 mph, was designed as an economical alternative to flying between Oahu, Maui and Kauai. A sister ship had been planned for 2009. Environmentalists have raised concerns that the fast-moving ferry could injure humpback whales that inhabit the waters around Maui. Others have complained about possible traffic congestion to and from the ports where the ferry docks. N ovember to April is the time to celebrate the holidays, usher in spring and travel through Europe. In fact, it could be said that these months, which some consider the “off season”, are really the “in season” – the best time to explore the streets of Rome, visit the museums of Florence and travel the Italian countryside. Fewer crowds, amazing shopping, seasonal indulgences and tremendous value – they are all InSeason. Here are a few of Trafalgar’s InSeason tours to Italy: REAL ITALY 11 days from $1675 assisi | florence | pompeii Breath in the beauty of Italy. The wonderous frescos, sculptures and spectacular views will rejuvenate your clients. SIMPLY ITALY 8 days from $1099 rome | florence | venice Caio! Traveling through the lush Tuscany vineyards, cruising the canals of Venice, experiencing the rich history of Italy awaits. JEWELS OF ITALY 14 days from $1950 venice | pisa | sorrento Rich. Vibrant. Entertaining. The Leaning Tower and Sorrento coastline is just the beginning of many memorable Italy experiences. Call 800-854-0103 | Groups 800-626-6603 | Visit www.trafalgar.com Prices are per person, land only and based on double occupancy. CST#2077132-20 10 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M NEW WAY TO BOOK. WELCOME TO A WHOLE It’s simple, really. The more you book, the more your business grows. ® And the easiest way to book Royal Caribbean cruises is now with CruiseMatch, the latest innovative booking tool in the award-winning suite of tools at CruisingPower.com. With intuitive navigation that makes it a cinch to use. And real-time information that lets you check availability and pricing on the spot. You can even use it to book and service group reservations! Log on to www.cruisingpower.com and see for yourself. Because when it comes to valued travel partners like you, we’re all about being easy to do business with. And it doesn’t get much easier than this. ©2007 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registered in the Bahamas. opinion Promoting the hard-to-promote region of the country. “It definitely has an And perhaps more than anyone else parimpact on the perception of the country ticipating in our destination summit roundand people’s travel plans,” Jochen said. “Untable (see Page 22), she faces the challenge of sorting out a tangle of misperceptions, fortunately, we don’t have a lot of money to explaining some unpleasant realities and throw at a problem like that. We just hope it promoting impressive accomplishments in doesn’t appear on the front page.” the country she represents. It’s not only U.S. consumers whose perEthiopian Airlines is generally ceptions about Ethiopia — in regarded as the best-run carrier fact, about sub-Saharan African on the continent. I might get an in general — make her job hard. argument on that account from Sometimes it’s potential partners South African Airways, but then in the U.S. who seem reluctant to again, Ethiopian Airlines trains give the continent a chance. SAA pilots (as well as pilots from Adel Grobler, who handles Lufthansa and Alitalia). And, as marketing and communications I’ve written before, Ethiopia has for South Africa in the U.S., said archaeological attractions that that until her country began neare among the best preserved and Arnie Weissmann gotiating with Expedia, “they Editor in Chief most unusual in the world. never had an African portion on “Everybody thinks of Ethiopia their booking Web site.” as a famine-riven country, and it’s very hard Jochen said she, too, had to work to “simto dispel that image,” Jochen said. “They ply get our flights onto Web sites. I have to think of the famine, of the poverty. They say that every month I see an increase in the don’t realize what a country like Ethiopia traffic coming out of the Internet. For both has to offer in terms of culture and history.” Expedia and Orbitz … every month, the It certainly doesn’t help that Ethiopia has revenue goes up.” been in the news recently because of conTravelocity, however, has thus far refused flicts with Eritrea and with rebels in one to work with Ethiopian Airlines. I asked K atherine Jochen has her work cut out for her. Ethiopia does not have tourist board representation in the U.S., so as market development manager for Ethiopian Airlines, she is also the de facto voice of that country to the American travel industry. what rationale the online agency offered. “Too small, too unknown, too … you know, too much effort,” Jochen said. “Very typical of what people think of African airlines and countries in general. So it will be their loss, not ours.” Also sitting around our table were representatives from another region that struggles to change common perceptions: the Middle East. Egyptian and Israeli representatives said that while tourism from the U.S. was strong and growing, it was somewhat fragile. “Any violence has negative effects on tourism,” said Sayed Khalifa, Egypt’s chief destination marketer in the U.S. “Our message has been that Egypt is safe, it is stable, it is a peace-making nation, and our message has found listening ears. But violence, wars and conflicts ruin any effort. … Tourism is a force for peace, but you cannot have tourism without peace.” Both he and Arie Sommer, the tourism commissioner for Israel in the U.S., endorsed a regional approach to changing people’s perceptions. “We believe that the more we encourage tourism to the region together, the more we can achieve peace for the whole region together,” Sayed said. “We are trying very hard to show Americans that it’s safe to go not only to Israel but to the region,” Sommer said. “One of the things we need to do is develop more regional travel, to work together with Egypt and Jordan. … I think we can send a very strong message to Americans that we can work together. I hope that after this meeting, something will come out of it.” It’s interesting that the hardscape of a land — the pyramids of Egypt, Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Ethiopia’s Lalibela — is often what draws tourists, and that perceptions about its people scare them off. FROM THE WINDOW SEAT Sayed and Sommer’s approach seems right: Americans would feel better seeing Jews and Arabs working together. Jochen, too, pins her hopes on the human side of things. She believes one recently exported attraction of Ethiopia may build a bridge between Americans and Ethiopia. Lucy, the most complete skeleton of a human ancestor, was unearthed in Ethiopia and began a six-year tour of the U.S. last month, starting in Houston. (Washington, Chicago, New York and Denver have also been announced for the tour. Other cities are yet to be determined.) “This will give us an opportunity to promote Ethiopia as the cradle of humankind,” Jochen said. “We’ve got to dispel the typical African image of famine, war and poverty. It really has a lot more to offer.” E-mail Arnie Weissmann at aweissmann@ travelweekly.com. 12 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M NEWS Proposed agency bond bill in Massachusetts appears dead By Nadine Godwin It’s not official, but a Massachusetts bill that would impose a $250,000 bond on each of the state’s travel agencies is essentially dead, said Ryan Kearney, policy analyst for the committee considering the measure. Kearney said the proposal had received no support at any time from any quarter. When it was set for a hearing before the state legislature’s joint committee on financial services last week, only two people testified, both agents in opposition. Agents also sent faxes protesting the proposed bill. “They’re still coming in,” Kearney said. Bob Malmberg, owner of Malmberg Travel Cos. in Boston, speaking on behalf of the state’s ASTA agencies, told the committee the bond would place a “huge and unjustified burden” on a group of mostly small businesses. He said one surety company estimated that only one in 25 agencies would be approved for such a large bond. He added that the price of the bond, $250,000, is an amount that some agencies annually generate in revenue. The effect of imposing the bond, Malments use a credit card and that travel insurance covers many hazards of bankruptcy. “Is it a coincidence that Rep. Robert Correia [the lead sponsor of the bond bill] used to be in the insurance business?” Keith asked rhetorically. Keith said her comment brought smiles from committee members. The 17-person committee asked no questions and seemed relatively uninterested, Malmberg said, which he took to mean the bill had no future. A few acknowledged that the proposal “isn’t going to work,” he added. Kearney said the committee would take formal action later this year. Meanwhile, proposals worrisome to the trade are pending in New Jersey and Pennsylvania legislative committees. The New Jersey bill calls for a $50,000 bond, and the Pennsylvania measure calls for the testing of travel agents, ongoing education and a consumer compensation fund. DRIVE FOR FIVE SWEEPSTAKES EARN $5 for every 5+ day rental. For every 5+ day Avis rental you book* from October 1 – November 30, 2007, you’ll earn $5 and receive one sweepstakes entry in the Drive for Five Sweepstakes. The more 5+ rental days you book, the better your chances are of winning! To enter, you must be a Club Red member.** Simply book Avis and include your Club Red member number. The effect of imposing the bond, Malmberg warned, would be a massive shutdown of small businesses. berg warned, would be a massive shutdown of small businesses that would “displace hundreds of taxpaying workers.” Another negative result would be the loss of agency services for many Massachusetts citizens, an expertise that consumers have found more trustworthy than that of suppliers or online agencies, said Malmberg. Malmberg also said it was not clear how the bond would protect consumers, especially since most travel is purchased with credit cards. Jacky Keith, president of Esplanade Tours in Boston, said she followed Malmberg to the stand, in part to reinforce his message. She said agents already obtain approvals from suppliers and ARC, that 90% of cli- For promotion details and an opportunity to win more prizes, go to www.zipromotions.com Ecuador operator buys Peru outfit Metropolitan Touring Ecuador, one of the largest tour operators in Ecuador, has acquired Receptour Peru. Receptour Peru will now sell all tour services under the Metropolitan Touring Peru brand, as part of the company’s strategy to provide an integrated tour service throughout South America. Metropolitan Touring also has acquired a 207-foot, 48-passenger yacht, La Pinta, to enhance its Galapagos program. La Pinta will sail its inaugural voyage for Metropolitan Touring on March 7. WIN a Deluxe Florida Getaway! One lucky winner will receive a trip for two to the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida!† Package includes: • 3 nights & 4 days deluxe accommodations • 4-day Avis car rental • Round-trip airfare And don’t forget to remind your customers—they can enjoy a FREE 2-day weekend rental when they rent for 5 days! **Rental check-out must be no later than 12/15/07. **To become a Club Red member and earn rewards on every booking, visit avisagent.com †† Sweepstakes entries for trip to Florida only available to travel agents who reside in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I. Avis features GM vehicles. © 2007 Avis Rent A Car System, LLC 15947 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 13 NEWS Tony Ryan, low-cost aviation pioneer in Europe, dies at 71 By Andrew Compart Tony Ryan, the founder of Ryanair, died Oct. 3 after a long illness. He was 71. Ryan was lauded by Dan Loughrey, chairman of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland’s Air Transport Users Council, as someone who revolutionized the aviation industry “through the force of his personality, chutzpah and imagination.” Loughrey also said Ryan was the only person to receive ATUC’s Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2005, because “he left Ireland a better and more successful place.” Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called Ryan “one of the great Irishmen of the 20th century” for his achievements in business, education, sports, the arts and heritage preservation. In the aviation industry, Ryan is best known internationally for founding Ryanair, which has grown to become Europe’s largest low-cost carrier and which ignited Europe’s low-cost carrier revolution. Ryan founded Ryanair in 1985, with a staff of 25 and a 15-seat aircraft operating daily from Waterford, Ireland, to London’s Gatwick Airport, carrying 5,000 passengers in that first year. In 1986, Ryanair received permission from regulatory authorities to challenge British Airways and Aer Lingus on the Dublin-London route that had been exclusive to them. Ryanair wasn’t a low-cost carrier at the start. That didn’t happen until 1990, when Ryanair found itself with accumulated losses and a need to restructure after three years of intense price competition with Aer Lingus and British Airways. The Ryan family invested more money, copied Southwest’s low-fare model and relaunched under new management as Europe’s first low-fare airline. The carrier reduced fares to make them the lowest in every market, cutting its lowest fare by about 40%. Ryanair added more flights on its routes, moved to a single aircraft type and scrapped free drinks and expensive meals onboard. AC A P U L C O I X TA PA H U AT U L C O MANZANILLO MEXICO CITY Q U E R E TA RO V E R AC R U Z Ryanair founder Tony Ryan, left, receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Air Transport Users Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland in 2005, from Tadhg Kearney, center, and Robin O’Sullivan. Experience a new definition of “local flavor.” Explore a world of taste that knows no borders. At Brisas Resorts, every escape is an adventure for the palate and the soul, with gourmet food served in locations equally delicious. An endless menu of activities is yours to sample, and inviting luxuries and gracious service completes the experience. Life needs flavor, and every ingredient is waiting for you here. Experience each one for yourself. 888.559.4329 800.223.6800 W W W. B R I S A S . C O M . M X (FOR AC A P U L C O ) Experience everything. H OTELS & R ESORTS The number of passengers carried by Ryanair increased from 644,000 in 1989 to 745,000 in 1990. After weathering a sharp decline during the Gulf War in 1991, Ryanair has been skyrocketing ever since. This year it expects to carry 50 million passengers on 557 routes across 26 European countries. Ryan’s early aviation career was with Aer Lingus, working for the carrier at Shannon Airport and in Chicago and New York, where he took over as station manager. He returned to Dublin in the early 1970s to take charge of Aer Lingus’ aircraft leasing operations. Around that time, Aer Lingus purchased three Boeing 747s, but because Aer Lingus’ transatlantic business was seasonal, it needed to offload some of its capacity in the winter months to help finance the purchase of new planes. Success in that endeavor led him to found and aircraft leasing company, GPA, in 1975, with Aer Lingus and Guinness Peat Group. Ryan used GPA to turn aircraft leasing and finance from an airline back-office function into, as the ATUC citation put it, “a global business that is now key to fleet development by airlines worldwide.” In the early 1990s, GPA was the world’s largest operating lessor with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft. Today, Ireland is a global center for the aircraft leasing and finance industry. 14 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M NEWS TRAVEL WEEKLY PORTFOLIO SYMBOL COMPANY NAME VALUE 10/10/07 VALUE 10/10/06 % CHANGE RESORT HAS A $5 BILLION BUDGET MGM puts big bucks behind A.C. casino By Jeri Clausing MGM Mirage is planning to develop one of the world’s most expensive hotel casinos in Atlantic City, N.J. The company’s board, which met on Oct. 10, approved a budget of $4.5 billion to $5 billion to develop the MGM Grand Atlantic City on 72 acres it owns at Renaissance Point adjacent to the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The hotel will house the city’s largest casino, and the building will be the city’s tallest hotel, the company said. The project will also be one of the most expensive casino developments in history. Although there are several Las Vegas projects under development in the same price range, the record holder among completed hotel casinos is the Wynn Las Vegas, which cost $2.7 billion. The Atlantic City development will include retail shopping, a convention center, a spa and a variety of dining and entertainment venues. MGM officials said the company decided to make a big investment in Atlantic City, a destination that has seen declining revenues overall, because of the success of the Borgata, of which MGM owns 50%. A number of Atlantic City’s traditional clientele, slot A rendering of the MGM Grand Atlantic City, expected to open in 2012. AC.PA AKH AAI ALK AXP AMIE AMR CAR BYD BAY.L CCL CHH CAL DAL DIS DTG EXPE FRNT GET HET HA HTZ HLT IHG JBLU LVS MGM MAR NWA PCLN RLH RCL RYAAY LUV 0678.HK HOT STN TRXI LCC MTN WYN WYNN $68.14 $40.92 $10.31 $26.55 $61.89 $26.34 $24.42 $23.02 $44.14 $439.00 Carnival Corp. $51.04 Choice Hotels International $39.65 Continental Airlines $37.09 Delta Air Lines $19.63 The Walt Disney Co. $35.28 Dollar Thrifty $36.06 Expedia $34.61 Frontier Airlines $6.82 Gaylord Entertainment Co. $53.60 Harrah’s Entertainment $88.01 Hawaiian Airlines $4.33 Hertz Global Holdings $24.07 Hilton Hotels Corp. $47.05 InterContinental Hotels Group $22.03 JetBlue Airways Corp. $9.28 Las Vegas Sands Corp. $137.78 MGM Mirage $98.75 Marriott International $41.45 Northwest Airlines Corp. $20.01 Priceline.com $94.62 Red Lion Hotels $10.80 Royal Caribbean $42.10 Ryanair Holdings $45.43 Southwest Airlines $14.92 Star Cruises $3.22 Starwood Hotels & Resorts $60.12 Station Casinos $88.90 TRX $2.30 US Airways Group $30.80 Vail Resorts $64.19 Wyndham Worldwide $33.21 Wynn Resorts $155.79 Accor Air France-KLM AirTran Holdings Alaska Air Group American Express Co. Ambassadors International AMR Corp. Avis Budget Group Boyd Gaming British Airways $52.38 $30.87 $10.39 $41.12 $57.08 $33.83 $25.17 $18.83 $41.45 $436.25 $46.70 $39.69 $31.78 N/A $30.97 $43.75 $16.24 $7.78 $46.35 $74.91 $3.98 N/A $28.54 $21.78 $9.78 $73.62 $41.78 $40.31 N/A $39.43 $11.04 $38.87 $31.18 $16.44 $1.47 $60.08 $59.32 $5.29 $48.28 $39.56 $29.20 $67.84 30.1 32.6 -0.8 -35.4 8.4 -22.1 -3.0 22.3 6.5 0.6 9.3 -0.1 16.7 N/A 13.9 -17.6 113.1 -12.3 15.6 17.5 8.8 N/A 47.1 1.1 -5.1 87.2 136.4 2.8 N/A 140.0 -2.2 8.3 45.7 -9.2 119.0 0.1 24.2 -56.5 -36.2 62.3 13.7 129.6 22.8 38.1 players arriving by motorcoach, have been siphoned off by new, smaller casinos in recent years. “We think Borgata is the next evolution in Atlantic City, and it is bringing a different style of gaming resort, more luxury, more geared to overnight or multinight stays as opposed to bus tours,” said MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher. The company said it intended to file for Coastal Area Facility Review Act approval in late 2007 or early 2008. Ground-breaking is expected in 2008, with an anticipated opening in 2012. TIA marketing forum to stress China, Internet data sumers in China.” A delegation of 31 provincial tourism directors from WASHINGTON — An in-depth study of China’s travel China is expected to attend the forum, where they will meet market and new data on Internet marketing will highlight with 45 U.S. state tourism directors. the Travel Industry Association’s Marketing Outlook FoChina, which will host the summer Olympics in 2008, rum, an event set for Oct. 22 to 25 in Charlotte, N.C. is expected to become a tourism powerhouse with an outThe forum will return to its roots this year, said Suzanne bound travel market of at least 115 million people by 2020. Cook, the TIA’s senior vice president of research. The TIA, in association with Hospitality Sales “Over the last several years, we have tried to and Marketing Association International, also reach out more to our marketing members to will present the findings of a study on the impact make sure we were covering their needs,” Cook of social networking on the Internet and how it said. “I think we’ve done a good job of that.” can influence travel marketing. However, that shift, to some degree, de-emphaAnother research report will explore the growsized travel research and data as the forum’s main ing golf travel market. Also, results from the secfocus. “I am trying to get us back to our roots to ond phase of a study titled “Ideal American Vacamake sure that we have the quantitative intellition: Leisure Travel Planning” will be presented. Suzanne Cook gence that [attendees] need,” said Cook, who is Senior V.P., Research Results from the first phase were released at last serving as general manager of the forum. year’s forum. TIA This year’s agenda features research data exThe “Ideal American Vacation” report explores ploring how to market on the rapidly evolving Internet. vacation travel as viewed by eight distinct motivational Geoff Ramsey, CEO of eMarketer, and David Verklin, CEO groups: experientials, family-focused travelers, casual travof Carat Americas, will present the report. elers, trail blazers, reconnectors, affluentials, back-to-basics The China study is more detailed than anything the TIA travelers and quintessential travelers. had done in the past. Mark Dyer, president of MotorsportsAuthentics; John “We’ve done reports before on China and India as two Walker, chairman of Oxford Economics; and Peter Yesaof the most exciting emerging markets, but they were more wich, CEO of Ypartnership (formerly YPB&R), are among of a secondary analysis,” Cook said. “This year, we are [un- those expected to make presentations at the forum. veiling] major quantitative, primary research in China from More information on the Marketing Outlook Forum is many different aspects, including focus groups with con- available at www.tia.org. By Michael Milligan CUMULATIVE $2,153.96 $1,753.33 CUMULATIVE (NOT INCLUDING AIRLINES) $1,464.09 $1,060.31 Live on the home page: daily updates to the Travel Weekly Industry Stock Index. Go to www.travelweekly.com, click on Research and then the Travel Weekly Portfolio. Travelers won’t fork over more green for green travel WASHINGTON — Most travelers are not willing to pay extra for green travel, according to a survey by the Travel Industry Association and Ypartnership. The survey revealed that only 13% of travelers would be willing pay higher prices for such products as carbon offsets and hybrid car rentals. Furthermore, only 14% said their selection of a travel supplier would be influenced by the supplier’s efforts to preserve and protect the environment. When price is not part of the equation, 50% said they would book an airline that took steps to offset carbon emissions; 56% said they would choose a car rental company that offered a selection of fuel-efficient and hybrid cars. “The results of the survey suggest that awareness of a supplier’s efforts to operate in an environmentally responsible manner may be sufficient to attract additional patronage but not at a significantly higher fare or rate,” said Suzanne Cook, the TIA’s senior vice president of research. “The value assessment consumers ascribe to any travel service transaction appears to remain the primary determinant of their actual purchase behavior,” she said. — M.M. sign-up for your Caribbean e-letter You can register by logging on to www.travelweekly.com and filling in the electronic questionnaire under Register or Edit Your Profile. 16 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M The right solution lets you grow with what you already have. Qwest ® OneFlex ® Integrated Access allows your company to grow smarter. Rather than committing to huge capital expenditures, Integrated Access works with your current system so you don’t have to overhaul your entire infrastructure. Integrated Access uses the same T1 line for all your data and voice needs. And its dynamic allocation ensures that your bandwidth is optimized, so your business can maximize its resources. Get Qwest. Get Nimble.To waive activation, call 1 800-618-5308 or visit qwest.com/integratedaccess. OneFlex® Integrated Access is available to business customers in select areas across the continental U.S. Minimum one-year term commitment required. Early termination charges may apply. Monthly charge based on configuration selected. Long-distance charges are additional. Additional equipment may be required. Other restrictions may apply. Call for availability and complete details. Copyright © 2007 Qwest. All Rights Reserved. Not to be distributed or reproduced by anyone other than Qwest entities. Whether you’re a real estate developer or a toy manufacturer, Qwest’s tailored solutions allow you to get the most out of your network. Because every company is unique, Qwest offers a consultative approach with a full portfolio of business solutions. When your communications are optimized, business thrives. That’s why 95% of Fortune 500® companies choose Qwest. Get Qwest. Get Nimble. Call 1 800-618-5308 or visit qwest.com/business. Services not available in all areas. Subject to applicable restrictrions, tariffs and service agreements. Contact Qwest for details. © 2007 Qwest. All Rights Reserved. 2 0 0 7 Readers Choice Awards The Choice is Yours. You chose the finalists. Now, choose the winners. Vote online at www.travelweekly.com/vote Cast your vote by November 2, 2007 eee Please join us December 13, 2007 for the 5th Annual Readers Choice Awards Gala at The Pierre, New York. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Bob Sullivan: rsullivan@travelweekly.com LEGAL BRIEFS Passenger bills of rights not worth paper they’re printed on Mark Pestronk is a Washington-based lawyer specializing in travel law. His Legal Briefs column appears regularly in Travel Weekly. while? If not, how can we help our agency’s travelers get more legal rights than they have now? The bills of rights that have been or may be adopted this year are completely worthless. They do not even establish rights in the legal sense, as they do Q: I keep reading stories about the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights in Congress or in state legislatures. What is in these bills of rights? Are they worth- A: not give travelers the right to sue for mistreatment. One bill was tacked on to legislation that passed the House of Representatives in September. It is so pitifully weak as to be nearly laughable, even though its congressional sponsor has crowed about his success. The law would require U.S. airlines to de- We’ve Arrived At Airports. velop plans to provide clean drinking water to passengers and to allow them to deplane following “excessive delays,” but it will be up to each airline to decide what “excessive” means. Once the plans are filed with the Department of Transportation, the DOT can impose civil penalties on airlines or airports that fail to adhere to these plans. Passengers kept aboard aircraft during and after excessive delays would have no enforceable rights themselves. A similar bill cleared a Senate committee last spring, so it is likely that both houses of Congress will end up passing this watered-down legislation, if not this year then next. The New York state legislature passed its own law, effective next year, requiring all airlines operating out of New York airports to provide passengers with food, water, fresh air, power and working rest rooms on any flight that has been sitting on the tarmac for more than three hours. Only the New York attorney general can enforce it. The problem with the New York law is that states are prohibited from enacting or enforcing laws that affect airline service. So it is probably just a matter of months until a federal judge holds that the New York law is unenforceable. Meanwhile, the DOT, which has all the powers that it needs to regulate airline practices, is merely studying the problem, just as it has merely studied every other airline problem for a generation. So why is the government doing nothing The bill offers no legal rights, as travelers do not have the right to sue for mistreatment. You’ll find our personalized and professional customer service at more than 230 major airports. With more than 6,500 locations in North America, we’re ready when you are. Rest assured, we also know how to take care of our agency partners with a program that allows unprecedented flexibility by offering a rate and commission structure to fit your agency’s needs. Visit enterprise.com/ta today. to help air travelers? I think that there are two reasons, one of which is nefarious. First and foremost, every president since Richard Nixon has been firmly committed to deregulation, not only of the airline industry but all other industries. When consumer problems arise, the default stance is usually to let the laws of supply and demand work out the problem or to let the industry regulate itself. Second, the airline lobby is powerful because it contributes to campaigns and then goes before Congress and the administration to present plausible and scary arguments about the financial and safety consequences of any new regulations. On the other hand, the passenger lobby is weak and fickle, as consumer pressure for regulation disappears when traffic levels decrease during the industry’s less prosperous periods. If you want to help your agency’s travelers, ask them to write their congressmen and senators to support ASTA’s Air Traveler’s Bill of Rights, which would give travelers meaningful and court-enforceable rights. You can find it at www.astanet.com/ govaffairs/trav_rights.asp. To submit a question for Legal Briefs, email Mark Pestronk at mark@pestronk.com. Enterprise ranked “Highest In Rental Car Customer Satisfaction, Three Years In A Row” by J.D. Power and Associates. * *J.D. Power and Associates 2004-2006 Rental Car Satisfaction Studies SM . 2006 study based on 4,133 responses from airport location renters surveyed March-October 2006. jdpower.com. © 2007 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company. 803179 09/07 MW 18 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M She makes her debut in October 2007. She summers in Europe out of Barcelona and winters in the Caribbean and Bahamas out of New York. Get to know her better by visiting gemitgirl.com. ©2007 NCL CORPORATION LTD. SHIP’S REGISTRY: BAHAMAS. COVER STORY { {{ {{ ‘Do your governments readily see the m e benefit of funding a b campaign aimed at t U.S. travelers?’ — Arnie Weissmann, n, kly Travel Weekly ‘W ‘We first had to convince them that tourism is a major industry … but we’re going to invest $10 w million this year.’ ‘I’m very jealous, Arie. For one camA paign, I’m talking less p pa s than $1 million.’ — Adel Grobler, r, m South African Tourism — Arie Sommer, r, Israel Ministry of Tourism Marketing officials from seven countries reveal how they plan to sell their destinations to consumers and travel agents in the U.S. market. Courting the American traveler When destinations consider how, or if, to promote themselves to travelers from the U.S., they are sizing up a $95 billion market with 61 million travelers. How much should they invest? How should it be divided among the Web, other media, travel agents and tour operators? To gain a better understanding of how international destination marketers approach the U.S., Travel Weekly, the Wall Street Journal and the Travel Channel brought together seven people who represent countries that are hoping to increase their share of American travelers. Their budgets range from $10 million to nothing. Some struggle to build tourist traffic, others puzzle over how to manage and leverage their popularity. All were willing to share, in candor and detail, their approach to marketing their countries to Americans. The participants who gathered at the Harvard Club in New York this past summer to take part in the discussion were Simion Alb, director of the Romanian Tourist Office, North America; Francesco Brazzini, national marketing manager, Italian Government Tourist Board; Linda Ericson, acting director, Visit Sweden; Adel Grobler, marketing and communications manager — USA, South African Tourism; Sayed Khalifa, consul-director USA and Latin America, and Omayma El Husseini, assistant director, Egyptian Tourist Authority; Katherine Jochen, market development manager, Ethiopian Airlines; Arie Sommer, consul, tourism commissioner North and South America, Israel Ministry of Tourism; and Agri Verrija, advisor, Embassy of Albania. The session was moderated by Travel Weekly’s editor in chief, Arnie Weissmann. (Editor’s note: The original transcript has been edited for length, and the chronology has been altered to keep dialogue about specific topics together even though the topic may have recurred at intervals during the course of the conversation.) 22 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M PHOTOS BY MICHAEL FALCO/BLACK STAR { { {{ ‘Our budget is very small, $300,000 approximately.’ — Linda Ericson, Visit Sweden ARNIE WEISSMANN: Do your governments readily see the benefit in funding a campaign aimed at U.S. travelers, or is it a bit of a battle to get funding? ARIE SOMMER: The U.S. is the No. 1 source of tourism for the state of Israel, and we decided to launch a major campaign in major markets in New York, south Florida and California. So we are now on TV — cable and regular channels — in major daily newspapers, on search engines, with online travel agents. SAYED KHALIFA: What’s your total budget? SOMMER: We’re going to invest around $10 million this ‘You know, I’m getting a bit more g optimistic. I think o Albania would do A well with even a quarter of what the Swedes put in.’ th — Agri Verrija, Embassy of Albania ‘A little less than $1 million has been allocated. This is the a e first campaign by Romania in the last R 25 years.’ — Simion Alb, b, ce Romanian Tourist Office { them with the message that will eventually move travel to South Africa. Comparing our advertising budget to, say, Australia, which is one of our major competitors, we cannot compete. I’m talking less than a million dollars. So we have to be more wise about how we use that money. WEISSMANN: How will you use it? GROBLER: We have some print advertising, and we’re definitely going to have a strong online presence, but mostly direct marketing: e-mail, direct mail pieces, speaking to, say, American Express card holders. We want to speak to people that know about South Africa and are interested, the kind of people that have the money and the time to spend in South Africa. Not everyone will take a 17-hour flight to a country on the other side of the world which they are not familiar with. WEISSMANN: Is the amount you mentioned — less than $1 million — your entire budget? GROBLER: No, just for this specific project. It does not in- continue with it on a regular basis, you are not going to see any results. WEISSMANN: So you’ll have $10 million a year for several years to come? SOMMER: Hopefully. We are not sure. This was the decision, but you know these politicians. You never know. We are civil servants, we are slaves. We don’t know. ADEL GROBLER: First, I want to say I’m very jealous, Arie. year. The budget is something of a miracle. Usually it runs around $2 million total for marketing and advertising. WEISSMANN: What changed this year? SOMMER: Well, we didn’t discover any oil wells in Israel. To persuade the government and the treasury to allocate special budgets for tourism, we first had to convince them that tourism is a major industry. We retained Ernst & Young and conducted a major survey. We paid a lot of money for this campaign. We could have done it ourselves, but sometimes you have to pay in order to get the additional budget. Once we collected the surveys, compared and saw the results, we were able to get it. And one of our conditions was that it would be a budget for the next five years. There is no point in just pouring on the money for six or seven months and then disappearing from the market. If you cannot Your budget sounds very good. That said, tourism has actually exceeded gold in the value to the gross domestic product of South Africa. We call tourism “the new gold.” And for every 12 tourists that visit South Africa, another job is created. We need to get as many people there as we can because we have a situation of high unemployment. So tourism is a very strong focus for the country, and we have a very, very excitable and interested tourism minister. It’s his passion, and he’ll continue to make sure we get the right amount of money. WEISSMANN: Are you in the midst of a campaign now? GROBLER: We have been quiet in the market for a little while, since we have had changeovers with new agencies promoting us. In the past, blanket targeting [with consumer advertising] has not delivered for us. The return on investment is just not what we need. So we decided this year we are going to do a much more direct marketing campaign. We are going to find the people we want to speak to, and we are going to surround clude, for instance, our work with the travel agent community or other marketing. WEISSMANN: How much more is that? GROBLER: I would say for all marketing and trade, about See ROUNDTABLE on Page 24 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 23 COVER STORY { ‘ ‘Is it a bit of a battle to get funding?” — Arnie Weissmann ROUNDTABLE Continued from Page 23 $4.5 million. LINDA ERICSON: We’re running a campaign this year together with VisitDenmark, Scandinavian Airlines, Wonderful Copenhagen and the Stockholm Visitors Board to increase the traffic to Copenhagen and Stockholm from the U.S. We’re promoting city breaks to people who want to spend a long weekend or four or five nights in either or both cities. WEISSMANN: Who are you targeting for that? ERICSON: Certain geographical areas, in par- ticular places where SAS has their gateways in the U.S. And because the number of cruise passengers to the Baltics is increasing every year, we’re also focusing on pre- and post-cruise stays in Stockholm and Copenhagen. WEISSMANN: How much money will you be spending? ERICSON: The budget is very small, $300,000 approximately. We are trying to do it in a smart way, mainly the Web for consumers and working with travel agents for the pre- and post-cruise stays. AGRI VERRIJA: You know, I’m getting a bit more optimis- {{ {{ { { ‘I think Ethiopia is beginning to realize the b value of tourism, and eventually there will be e money allocated.’ — Katherine Jochen, Ethiopian Airlines Swedes — put into a campaign. Albania has been through a long economic and political transition and for the last two or three years has been a lot more stable. The government has made development of tourism a top priority. Perhaps in the near future it will seriously, I think, al- ‘We are not happy at all with this budget. We just try to do too much with very little in this market.’ — Omayma El Husseini, Egyptian Tourist Authority KHALIFA: For the American market, we have never had a big or comprehensive campaign, but last year we had a campaign of a little over $1 million, and this year we are running another campaign for about $1.5 million. The bulk of this budget goes to the consumers. We’re putting commercials on TV in two bursts, one in September and one in late January or early February. WEISSMANN: How important is the U.S. to Egypt? KHALIFA: The U.S. is among our top 10 generating markets always. About 7% of our 9 million visitors last year were Americans. But they represent 10% of our total tourist nights. A quarter million American tourists are the equivalent of about 1 million tourists coming from other generating markets. WEISSMANN: Because they’re spending four times as much money? KHALIFA: They stay longer and are spending ‘For years ... we didn’t work with the retail agent. w t. I think this was a mistake e on our part, and we are back now.’ — Arie Sommer r locate money [for the U.S. market]. KATHERINE JOCHEN: For the Ethiopians, I think, at this point it’s going to come soon. The country has also been in a lot of transition and a lot of change over the last couple of years, and I think they are beginning to realize the value of tourism, and eventually there will be money allocated. It’s just not happening now. You are dealing with an African country that in a lot of ways has other, more pressing issues. more than any other. tic. I thought it would be very difficult and expensive to break into the U.S. market. But after hearing $300,000 for Sweden, $1 million for a campaign for South Africa, $10 million for Israel, I think Albania would do well with even half of what the Swedes — or a quarter of what the OMAYMA EL HUSSEINI: We are just not happy at all with the budget. We just try to do too much with very little in this market. When we do television — last year, for example, we had [only] three weeks on television with this budget. Maybe we could just omit one of the major channels, like CNN or so forth, and then maybe we could just use this money toward print — give a little more leverage to consumer and trade press. We are waiting for the final approval of the details. See ROUNDTABLE on Page 26 24 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M The world was meant to be flat From the moment your clients board their international flight, the innovative design will astound them. From the personal touch-screen TVs with video on demand to the ambient mood lighting, they’ll experience exceptional comfort within their own personal space. And because every Executive First® Suite has aisle access with in-seat power, staying connected is simple. Whether they choose to be upright or completely flat, your clients were meant to fly in our Executive First Suites. And they’ll enjoy easy connections through Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal to 53 destinations in Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America without having to change terminals. No wonder the 2007 World Airline Awards voted Air Canada North America’s best airline. Visit the Travel Information section on aircanada.com/agents for your clients’ travel needs. EXPERIENCE THE EXECUTIVE FIRST SUITES ON THESE ROUTES, WITH MORE TO FOLLOW IN 2008. Montréal – Paris Toronto – Frankfurt Toronto – London Heathrow Toronto – Hong Kong Toronto – Beijing Toronto – Shanghai Vancouver – Sydney *On selected aircraft to Heathrow and Frankfurt. Sept Sept* Sept* Sept Nov Nov Dec ®Executive First is a registered trademark of Air Canada. COVER STORY { ROUNDTABLE ‘A quarter million Americans are equivalent of about 1 million tourists from other markets.’ — Sayed Khalifa, Egyptian Tourist Authority {{ ‘How can I put this delicately? We have a problem other nations don’t have. Our goal is i to spread tourism away from major areas.’ — Francesco Brazzini, Italian Government Tourist Board Romania. FRANCESCO BRAZZINI: Believe it or not, we are sort of new Continued from Page 24 SIMION ALB: A little less than $1 million has been allocated for advertising and marketing efforts in the U.S. This is the first advertising campaign in the U.S. funded by Romania in the last 25 years. Most of this money went to advertising in national consumer travel magazines, and part went to some special interest magazines. We also participated in co-op advertising with a group of European countries. The program is called “Ads in Europe,” and it unites countries like Belgium, Holland, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and Romania. And we had some ads together with the Austrian Airlines, which connects in Vienna to five cities in to marketing. Italy hasn’t had a real marketing campaign in place ever. We just put an ad here and there. The idea of marketing for tourism is sort of new. The concept of tourism as an asset, as a way of making money, is a huge change. The longest and best stretch of Negril’s seven-mile beach. a little bit exotic, a whole lot of chic The new, casually elegant Barefoot by the Sea restaurant. Every adventure, even unlimited scuba diving, is included. Beachfront One Bedroom Swim-Up River Suite { ‘So you will have $10 m million a year for several years to come?’ — Arnie Weissmann { But in the [government’s] budget, Italy cut pretty much everything except tourism. We received a raise in budget; it’s about $3 million. We don’t usually have that kind of money to work with, and we were able to put together a marketing campaign. We did a lot with magazines, all the major travel magazines but also magazines that talk to people who we want to go to Italy: the New Yorker, Vanity Fair. We are also putting in place something a little bit bizarre. We’re going to put together a bus and a sort of guerilla-style campaign that is going through states that we usually don’t talk to in the Midwest and South, because we saw that there’s an enormous potential out there, and we need to talk to them. you focusing on in your campaign? BRAZZINI: Italy has a different … How should I put it { { ‘ ‘Hopefully, hopefully. But you know these polik ticians. You never t know. We are civil servants, we c are slaves.’ — Arie Sommer WEISSMANN: Italy is certainly already very popular with Americans. What aspects of the country in particular are delicately? … We have problem that some other nations don’t have. Our goal, believe it or not, is to try to spread tourism that we already have away from the major areas like Venice, Rome, Florence, Lake Como. Spread them around to regions that are equally beautiful but are not as popular, because the major areas are crowded and we will eventually see a drop in return visitors. It’s very hard to get people back once they have decided that they are done with a certain country. See ROUNDTABLE on Page 28 Negril has never been more uninhibited or more chic. Imagine carefree abandon with unique sophistication, along the longest and most beautiful stretch of Negril’s seven-mile beach. Discover new beachfront swim-up river suites so luxurious, they defy description. Be beguiled by six colorful restaurants with boldly inventive menus and intoxicating sea views. Surrender to sensuality with a hot stone massage under a beachfront palapa or in a breeze-swept garden gazebo. And don’t just walk, but dance, to the beat of a different drummer at a resort that moves to its own rhythm. C a l l y o u r To u r O p e r a tor or 1-8 0 0 -S A N DA L S sa nda ls.com Negril Beach Resortt & Spa B hR Sp ™ ® Unique Vacations, Inc. is the worldwide representative for Sandals Resorts. COVER STORY { ‘We are going to partner with American Express and Virtuoso ... people who talk to the types of customers we want to talk to.’ — Francesco Brazzini Book & Deposit any trip by Oct. 31 and Earn 12-15% commission Over 60 itineraries to choose from Order our NEW 2008 brochures at: www.tourlite.com { { {{ { ‘T ‘To be honest, I did question the power of the travel agent, and that probably has cost us in the past.’ — Simion Alb Special Offer Peru From air/land 8 Days / 6 Nights Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu ‘We work with travel agents, especially when it e comes to cruises.’ c — Linda Ericson n Rio & Buenos Aires Galapagos From air/land/cruise 7 Days / 6 Nights Quito, 3 Day Galapagos Cruise, Guayaquil Costa Rica From air/land 5 Days / 4 Nights Guanacaste Air, All-Inclusive Hotel, Transfers cst#2074095-40 fst#21787 ROUNDTABLE Continued from Page 27 WEISSMANN: Are you doing anything with travel agents? BRAZZINI: Travel agents are a very impor- LATIN AMERICA From air/land 9 Days / 7 Nights Air, Hotel, Transfers, Tours Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires $1189 $1799 $2099 $829 Rates include round trip air from MIA. Brazilian visa is required to enter Brazil. Rates do not include US/Foreign Govt. fees, taxes and fuel surcharges of approx. $135-$195 p.p. and 9/11 Security Fee of up to $10 p.p.. Ecuador National Park fee of $100 and Brazilian/Ecuadorian/Peruvian/Costa Rican departure taxes additional. Weekend surcharges apply. Add-ons available. Limited space. Please call for details. sunnysplendortours@tourlite.com Miami Sales & Service local office (305) 891-5252 800-272-7600 www.tourlite.com tant portion. We’re going to partner with American Express and Virtuoso — again, with people who talk to the type of customers we want to talk to. We try to reach agents through networks that sort of guarantee the quality of products that these people sell. WEISSMANN: How about the rest of you? Do you focus on travel agents? SOMMER: For years, for different reasons, we neglected the retail agents. We didn’t work with the retail agent at all. I think this was a mistake on our part, and we are back now, advertising to the retail agent, organizing seminars. We just did a seminar on the East Coast which was very successful. JOCHEN: For Ethiopia Airlines, travel agents are our bread and butter, and we work quite extensively with the travel agent community. Traditionally, we have worked within the ethnic communities in the U.S., but we’re now broadening to the more mainstream travel agents. We now realize that these agents can bring in business that’s actually higher-yield and brings in tourism to the country. We have a little bit of an advantage over a lot of other carriers these days regarding travel agents because we actually still pay commissions. ALB: To be honest, I did question the power of the travel agent, and that probably has cost us in the past. Almost every week lately, I’m getting a number of requests from travel agents who really want to send people to See ROUNDTABLE on Page 32 28 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa 6å 4 nights from $1019* DAILY, Jan 2-31, 2008 INCLUSIVE! ADULTS ONLY (16+) Includes all meals and drinks! All meals à la carte Three restaurants 24-hour room service Unlimited domestic and international drinks Two swimming pools/swim-up bar Non-motorized watersports available Gym/spa *“Land Only” prices are per person and include accommodations based on double occupancy (unless otherwise stated), hotel taxes and r/t airport/hotel transfers. Restrictions, blackout dates and surcharges may apply. For bookings within 14 days of departure, add $10 per person. Prices are subject to availability and change. Visit our website and www.travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date passport regulations. See the Fair Trade Contract on applevacations.com. CST2036061-40 AD4209 ORD 10/07 MOTHER NATURE TOOK HER TIME UP HERE. So we do, too. winner Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands Holland America Line offers more time to explore Alaska and the Yukon. We show our guests the major attractions of Alaska and the Yukon, like spectacular Denali, awe-inspiring Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage. They’ll get off the beaten path in search of a personal wilderness in the stunning mountains and glaciers of Kluane, the ancient vistas of Tombstone and beyond the Arctic Circle. Guests will be swept away by the isolation of Homer and delight in cruising down the remote Yukon River, or out among the sea lions of Kenai Fjords. Our guests enjoy all these attractions plus award-winning service, fine dining and the spacious staterooms of our magnificent ships. With over a half century in Alaska and the Yukon, it’s an experience only Holland America Line can deliver. See your Sales Representative to create a 2008 group program. Book via POLAR Online with Travel Agent HQ at www.hollandamerica.com, or call 1-800-544-0443. COVER STORY ROUNDTABLE Continued from Page 28 Romania. We realize how little we’ve done to educate the travel agent community and how important they are for making Romania more popular among the travelers in the U.S. and for making sure that this market will grow steadily. We’re planning to host some events for the tour operator and travel agent community. ERICSON: We work with travel agents, especially when it comes to the cruises. We have carried out a number of smaller campaigns but with agent networks, and also participate in some of the trade shows that are focused on cruises. KHALIFA: We support travel agents in three ways. First, we organize at least two fam trips of 10 to 15 agents to experience the product firsthand. Second, our new Web site dedicates some educational courses for them to become Egypt specialists. Third is seminars, where we invite 200 to 300 agents in a region to give them an op- portunity to talk to us and with tour operators who make Egypt packages available. EL HUSSEINI: A campaign that’s going very well is a co-op campaign with tour operators. We absorb 50% of their advertising. They choose the media where they want to direct eyes and select the dates and everything. They send us proposals, and once they get approved, we shoulder 50% of that. We had only a quarter-million dollars for that campaign, but I think it paid off very, very well. GROBLER: Tour operators and travel agents are our bread and butter, too. We have done a lot of research into our consumers, and we work very closely with tour operators to put together packages that would actually speak { { ‘Dealing with the American market, you have to be very careful. It’s huge, c and it’s also very sensitive.’ — Sayed Khalifa December 7 - January 1 Book your clients a holiday celebration unlike anything else on earth at Universal Orlando® Resort! Grinchmas™ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” Holiday Parade™ ® ® ® Macy’s It’s one-of-a-kind holiday fun and entertainment the whole family can enjoy – and it’s only at Universal Orlando. 3-Night, 4-Day Holiday Getaways † †† ® to the market, help them to make sure that their product is targeted and put together in a way that people would be interested in. And then we do a lot of educational programs, travel agent specialist programs online. If they get through the entire course, we would take them on a fam as well. Last year, we had a very big promotional tour to eight cities. It was quite costly, about $700,000, but the money was well spent. We had 26 product suppliers from South Africa with us. We did workshops, a trade show and then dinner with entertainment. The travel agents were very happy, the product suppliers were extremely happy with the contacts, and the feedback has been that they’re happy with the return on their investment. But you can’t do that every year; we’ll probably do that every two years. And it’s important to do because there’s that traditional misperception about Africa. South Africa is seen as that place where it is dark and dusty. We need to not only educate the consumer but also the travel agent, because once you really know it, it’s easier to sell. WEISSMANN: Adel mentioned mispercep- Universal Orlando Partner Hotels From $ Upgrade to an on-site Loews Hotel 259 * per adult tions about her country. Are there any qualities about American travelers that present particular challenges? KHALIFA: You can invest in the U.S. market and if something happens in terms of conflict, all of a sudden there is nobody traveling from that market or to your region. So dealing with the American market, you have to be very careful. It’s a huge market, and it’s also very sensitive. Visit universaltravelagents.com or call 877-823-2044 *Rate is per adult tax inclusive, based on double adult occupancy for a 3 night minimum stay at the DoubleTree Hotel at the entrance to Universal Orlando, standard room. Subject to availability, room type, hotel, and travel dates selected. Limited number of rooms available at this rate. Rate valid for travel 11/26-12/20/07. †Tickets are valid for up to seven (7) consecutive calendar days which includes the first day any theme park or CityWalk portion of the ticket is used. ††Not valid for separately ticketed concerts and special events. Some venues require ages 21 or older for admission. Photo ID required. Does not include admission to Universal Cineplex 20, an AMC Theatre or the Blue Man Group show. Subject to availability. Restrictions apply and benefits are subject to change without notice. **On-site hotel privileges good for hotel stay as indicated on the room key card. 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C O M ADVERTISEMENT D O M I N I C A N R E P U B L I C REPUBLIC of COLORS your guide to family travel and beaches Samaná Cayo Levantado El Seibo Isla Saona OVERVIEW AND HISTORY .....................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY TRAVEL AND BEACHES .............................................................................................4 FAMILY ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS ....................................................................................................................5 FESTIVALS, EVENTS & SHOPPING .........................................................................................................................8 DINING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ................................................................................................................9 BEACHES: EAST COAST..........................................................................................................................................................10 NORTHEAST COAST ..............................................................................................................................................11 NORTH COAST ......................................................................................................................................................12 SOUTH CENTRAL COAST .......................................................................................................................................14 SOUTHWEST COAST..............................................................................................................................................15 2 FASCINATING HISTORY, RICH CULTURE Things have changed a lot since that day in 1492 when Christopher Columbus first arrived at a spot near La Isabela, on the north coast of the island that he named Hispaniola. Columbus probably never would have guessed that what he saw as a beautiful—and important—addition to the Spanish empire would one day become one of the world’s best-loved vacation destinations. Of course, it wasn’t a quick transition from colonial outpost to vacation paradise. When Columbus touched ground here during his first visit to the New World, the island had already been home to the Taino Indians for thousands of years (they called it Quisqueya, a name sometimes used today). After Columbus’ arrival, Hispaniola quickly became an important Spanish colony, thanks to gold deposits discovered in its rivers. To deal with the new wealth, the Taino were forced into slavery and eventually wiped out, which led the Spanish to begin importing slaves from Africa. Columbus’ brother, Bartholomew, was appointed governor of Hispaniola and founded the city of Santo Domingo in 1496. Spanish rule continued over the entire island until 1697, when the French took control of the western third, which was one of the richest colonies in the world with wealth generated by slave labor and sugar plantations. The French were able to take control of the rest of the island from the Spanish in 1794, and while this dominance only lasted until 1809, the newly independent Haiti (which won its independence from France in 1804) invaded its neighbor in 1821 and ruled the entire island for 22 years. On February 27, 1844, the eastern two-thirds of the island declared its independence from Haiti, naming itself the Dominican Republic. The decades following were marked by power struggles both internally and from abroad, with Spain regaining control for a brief period and friction continuing with Haiti. In 1916, the United States sent troops into the Dominican Republic, and they stayed put until 1924, when a democratically elected government took office. But that democracy wouldn’t last for long; an army general named Rafael Leonidas Trujillo soon took over as a dictator. He stayed in power until he was assassinated in 1961. Political friction again overtook the Dominican Republic as various factions struggled to gain control. In 1965, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the Marines to the nation, maintaining a presence until the next year. But since that time, the political situation has dramatically improved in the Dominican Republic. Democracy and peace have reigned, allowing this Caribbean nation to build a reputation as one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the hemisphere. Its rich history—with influence from Spanish, French, African and Haitian cultures—enhances the natural attributes that attract a growing number of vacationers every year. In the Dominican Republic today, there is something for nearly every kind of vacationer—including families, who will find an increasing number of resorts, attractions and tour operators that cater to their needs. Beach lovers, of course, will have no problem finding some of the best stretches of sand in the western hemisphere here in the DR. With thousands of miles of coastline, crystal clear waters and towering palm trees, there is plenty of natural beauty here. This guide highlights some of the many options that exist for families as well as beach lovers. With the information you’ll find in these pages, it’s clear why the Dominican Republic is such an easy sell. 3 FAMILY TRAVEL & BEACHES PUNTA CANA MORE THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT: Not everyone knows just how much the Dominican Republic has to offer. This nation is home to the largest all-inclusive resort complex in the Caribbean. It has the oldest colonial city in the New World, is one of the largest breeding grounds known to man for the elusive humpback whale, and boasts the Caribbean’s highest mountains as well as the longest rivers. And that’s just for starters. An impressive 20 percent of the land is set aside for preservation, meaning that clients can visit 83 eco-oriented areas—including 19 national parks, six scientific reserves, 32 natural monuments, 15 natural reserves, two marine sanctuaries and nine protected islands. With tropical forests, arid semi-deserts and four mountain ranges, the Dominican Republic offers incredible diversity. But, of course, one of the most visible natural wonders in the country is the sand—the beaches, to be exact. Beach lovers will find everything they could hope for in the Dominican Republic, one of the most popular Caribbean beach destinations with some of the most beautiful stretches of sand. Families are well served here, too. With a variety of family-friendly accommodations now available in every corner of the country, not to mention activities and cultural attractions tailored for every age category, it’s easy to make a family CASA DE CAMPO VILLA vacation in the Dominican Republic into an unforgettable, enjoyable experience for all. Clients can choose from a variety of accommodations, from stylish boutique hotels to large all-inclusive resorts with every imaginable amenity (not to mention plenty of children’s activities and programs for kids of every age). EASY TO VISIT Getting to the Dominican Republic is easy, thanks to the nation’s seven international airports (in Santo Domingo, La Romana, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Barahona and Samana). Nonstop flights to all of these airports are available from the United States on a variety of airlines. And convenient domestic flights link the cities, making multi-destination trips easy to plan. Documentation for entering the country is not complicated: The only thing that’s necessary for visitors from the United States is a passport (also necessary for re-entry into the U.S.), plus a Dominican tourist card, which costs $10 per person and must be purchased upon arrival before passing through immigration (passengers should be sure to have the payment ready, in U.S. currency, when they land). The Dominican peso is the official currency, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted in tourist areas. The favorable exchange rate means that families get excellent value for their money, including outstanding accommodations with every possible amenity, great cuisine and exciting activities. And while Spanish is the official language in this tropical paradise, English is spoken by nearly everyone in the tourism industry. With an excellent infrastructure and countless possibilities for families and sun-seekers, the only hard part about visiting the Dominican Republic may be choosing what to do first. For more information about selling the Dominican Republic, visit The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism’s web site at www.godominicanrepublic.com. 4 OCEAN WORLD PUERTO PLATA FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS With a variety of activities and attractions, the Dominican Republic is a great place for families and children, regardless of age. NATIONAL PARKS The DR has some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful parklands. Guided tours are available at many national parks, either through independent tour operators and guide services or else by hiring a park ranger. Guides can make sure that activities are appropriate for every age and that visitors see the most important natural and historic sites. Families can even camp at some parks. He and his wife lived there, and the luxurious home now exhibits items that belonged to the Columbus family. For another glimpse at days gone by, visitors that showcases Dominican culture and art. Centro can also head to the MUSEO DE LAS CASAS Leon is the perfect place to visit to learn more REALES (Museum of the Royal Houses), which about the island’s history and also what it has to served as the governor’s supreme court building offer now. The museum hosts several film and in the 16th century. Today, it houses a variety of music festivals, as well as a artifacts, including tapestries number of art exhibitions. and maps from 1492 to 1821. Finish off the visit with a stroll The MUSEUM OF THE through the museum’s lovely DOMINICAN FAMILY OF gardens. THE 19TH CENTURY, housed Santo Domingo’s Zona in a colonial building that dates Colonial (Colonial Zone), to 1503, allows visitors to step which has dozens of carefully back into the lives of a typical restored buildings from the wealthy family from the past. early 1500s, is a great place With furnishings and personal MUSEO DE LAS CASAS REALES to find some of the nation’s belongings, it’s a fascinating best museums and historic sites, including look at a glamorous life—and the house is also ALCAZAR DE COLON, a palace built in the 16th home to the only double Gothic window in the century by Christopher Columbus’ son, Diego. hemisphere. MUSEUMS With so much history and so many cultural traditions, it’s no surprise that the Dominican Republic has a host of museums where families can learn more about the destination—and the world—and have a good time doing it. In Santiago, CENTRO LEON (The Leon Center) is a modern, recently opened museum 5 CASA DEL CORDON ALTOS DE CHAVON NATIONAL AQUARIUM To learn about life before the arrival of the Europeans and Africans, visitors to Santo Domingo can head to the PREHISPANIC MUSEUM, which exhibits a variety of artifacts that belonged to the Taino Indians hundreds of years ago. An excellent museum for families in the Zona Colonial is the MUSEO INFANTIL TRAMPOLIN (Trampolin Children’s Museum), which offers kids the chance to learn in a fun, hands-on environment. The museum has temporary and permanent exhibits, as well as a library, workshops, gardens and movies. Targeted at 4- to 12-year-olds, the museum offers enough fun for kids of all ages, and even adults. The interactive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, and the Museum of History and Geography, which highlights the country’s history from the its indigenous roots through its colonization, U.S. occupation and relationship with Haiti. To learn more about one of the Dominican Republic’s most prized gems, travelers can head to Santo Domingo’s LARIMAR MUSEUM, which gives the background behind the blue pectolite mineral. Also located in the Colonial Zone is the AMBER WORLD MUSEUM, exhibiting some of the world’s rarest pieces of this semiprecious stone, which is made from tree sap that hardened millions of years ago, often with small insects or plants inside. The northern coast is also a good place to learn more about the Taino culture, which predates the arrival of the Spanish and Africans by thousands of years. The TAINO MUSEUM in La Isabela offers detailed insight into the everyday lives of the island’s indigenous residents and also has a re-creation of a typical thatched hut. On the eastern coast, ALTOS DE CHAVON is a glorious reconstruction of a 16th-century Tuscan village that was built in 1976. It features shops, artists’ studios, restaurants and galleries, as well as a 5,000-seat amphitheater. The nation’s best-known fashion designer, Oscar de la Renta, is involved in the Altos de Chavon School of Design, which has an artist-in-residence program provid- With so much history and so many cultural traditions, it’s no surprise that the Dominican Republic has a host of museums where families can learn more about the destination—and the world—and have a good time doing it. Visitors can also head to the massive COLUMBUS LIGHTHOUSE, erected in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in the New World. Inside is a tomb containing Columbus’ remains; at night, a cross illuminates the sky above the lighthouse. On the north coast, visitors can head to the AMBER MUSEUM in Puerto Plata, situated in a lovely two-story Victorian house. Kids will especially enjoy seeing the amber mosquito scepter that appeared in the movie Jurassic Park. Just outside of Puerto Plata is EL MUSEO DE SOSUA, also called the Jewish Museum, where exhibits relate the story of the hundreds of Jews who escaped Nazi Germany and settled in the neighborhood known as El Batey. ing additional sources of excellent artwork. It’s also home to the ALTOS DE CHAVON REGIONAL MUSEUM OF ARCHEOLOGY, where visitors can admire more than 3,000 artifacts from the Taino Indians. BASEBALL This sport is a national passion in the Dominican Republic, and some of the world’s best players are Dominican. So it’s no surprise that there are plenty of opportunities to both play and watch the exciting game while visiting. La Romana and San Pedro de Macoris, on the eastern coast, are the hometowns of some notable Major League Baseball players, including Sammy Sosa. During the time of year when AMBER MUSEUM museum is located on Las Damas Street in Santo Domingo, in La Casa Rodrigo de Bastidas. Santo Domingo’s Cultural Park is home to a variety of museums, including the MUSEUM OF THE DOMINICAN MAN, which has a large 6 sugar is not in high production, sugar mill workers in the area turn their attention to baseball, making for exciting competitions. Fans can check out the action during games at the MICHELIN BASEBALL STADIUM in La Romana. Games pitting La Romana’s Azucareros team against the Estrellas Orientales from San Pedro de Macoris make for especially exciting events. gentle beasts migrating from January to March every year. It’s a truly unforgettable experience. RAFTING Some clients may think that rafting is too challenging for families, but in the Dominican Republic there are options to match various experience levels. The best times of year for rafting are fall and winter; among the best places is the RIO YAQUE, the longest river in the Caribbean, near Jarabacoa. Children should be over 12 years old and able to swim to be eligible for a raft ride. TOURS A variety of tours are available throughout the Dominican Republic, tailored to include activities of special interest to families with children. Just east of Cabarete, visitors can join the ISLABON JUNGLE RIVER TOUR, which includes a boat ride down the river to visit local life at a mini zoo where residents include turtles, snakes and crocodiles. An exciting full-day adventure is offered by the MONSTER TRUCK SAFARI, available on the northern coast (Puerto Plata) and the eastern coast (Punta Cana). Travelers climb aboard a 30-person, eight-wheel safari vehicle that travels across a variety of areas, offering views of local flora and fauna, with stops that allow visitors to see lesser-known aspects of Dominican life, including farms, villages and even Monster Safarisponsored schools, where visitors meet and sometimes give gifts to the local children. Another thrilling way for families to see the countryside and waters is aboard a helicopter tour; tour operators offering this service are located in most major tourist areas. HORSEBACK RIDING Hopping on the back of a trusty Creole horse (a breed known for its gentleness) is a fun way for families to see the sights in the Dominican Republic. A variety of riding operators are located throughout the nation, and some all-inclusive resorts have their own on-site horseback-riding facilities. AQUARIUMS AND WATER PARKS Families can choose from a variety of excellent facilities where creatures of the deep make their homes. West of Puerto Plata, OCEAN WORLD ADVENTURE PARK & MARINA offers interactive programs including encounters with dolphins, sea lions, sharks and rays. There is also a rainforest exhibit with waterfalls and a beach, and a tiger grotto where visitors can swim in the same pool as these fierce beasts—separated by a glass wall. The park’s recently opened 83-slip marina accommodates yachts up to 250 feet in length and even has a helicopter landing pad, dive shop and casino. WHALE WATCHING Home to the world’s largest breeding ground for humpback whales, the Dominican Republic is logically one of the best places on Earth to see these giant sea mammals. Visitors head to SAMANA BAY to witness thousands of these On the other side of Puerto Plata, near Sosua’s Marine Park, is AQUA CENTER, a water-sport center that can teach both adults and children the ins and outs of snorkeling and scuba diving (kids should be at least 10 years old to become certified to dive). Its Discovery Scuba program is specially designed to allow families to go underwater together, while an Aqua Center professional takes souvenir photos. In Santo Domingo, the NATIONAL AQUARIUM has a long Plexiglas tunnel that allows visitors to walk through a giant tank populated with sharks, rays and other marine life. Just north of the city is the PARQUE ZOOLOGICO NACIONAL (National Zoological Park), one of the largest zoos in Latin America. Its 320 spacious acres are stocked with everything from tigers to crocodiles. MANATI PARK, set on lovely gardens in Punta Cana, allows adults and kids to learn more about local flora and fauna. Here, kids can swim with dolphins, see a variety of shows and visit a re-created Taino Indian village. One of Punta Cana’s newest and most popular attractions is DOLPHIN ISLAND in Bavaro. Guests can book tours from their hotels, where a Dolphin Island transport will pick them up and take them to a luxurious private beach. At the beach, guests can sip cocktails and encounter wildlife while being given an orientation by dolphin trainers and gathering their gear. Next, guests are taken by boat to a platform in the ocean, where dolphins swim and talk with each other and with guests in a truly unique interactive experience. 7 CARNIVAL WINDSURFERS MERENGUE DANCERS AN EVENT FOR EVERY SEASON No matter what time of year visitors come to the Dominican Republic, they are likely to find an exciting event that can enrich their vacation experience. Here are a few events for the coming months. ■ Year-round: Santo Domingo de Fiesta. A variety of performances, including live music and dance, bring culture to the streets in the capital city every Friday and Saturday. The performances take place near the Alcazar de Colon, a plaza full of restaurants in the Colonial Zone. ■ October 14-November 25: Playa Dorada Festival. Every year, the Playa Dorada hotel complex, on the north coast, hosts a lively festival with music, sporting events, a rum fiesta and children’s activities. ■ October 20-23: Annual Dominican Republic Jazz Festival. This annual event takes place on the beaches along the north coast, and in the towns of Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Sosua, attracting talent from around the Caribbean as well as the United States. Competitors must excel in surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding to make the grade, and it’s an exciting event to watch. ■ March: Santo Domingo Music Festival. Held at the National Theater in Santo Domingo, this festival features multiple concerts with performances by the National Symphonic Orchestra, the National Chorus and performers from Latin America, North America and Europe. ■ June: Cabarete Classic Windsurfing Regatta. Open to windsurfers from around the world, this competition includes recreational windsurfers as well as pros; equipment is available for rent on-site. ■ June: Kiteboarding World Cup. Cabarete is the site for this competition among the world’s best kiteboarders, in affiliation with the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association. ■ July: Bachata Festival of Sosua. This event is a lively way to enjoy bachata, one of the most popular forms of Dominican music. ■ November: Puerto Plata Merengue Festival. The Dominican Republic’s most popular musical form takes to the streets in Puerto Plata for this multiday event. ■ November 8-11: Dominican International Film Festival. The third annual event this year brings films from around the world to Cofresi. ■ January/February: Carnival. The festivities of Carnival, the pre-Lenten festival, are world-famous, and the town of La Vega, near Santiago, celebrates for the entire month of January and February. Santo Domingo is another recommended place to enjoy the fun. ■ February: Master of the Ocean. This triathlon, held on Kite Beach and Encuentro Beach in Cabarete, is designed to find the world’s best overall water-sports athlete. SHOPPING There are lots of interesting items to pick up as souvenirs and gifts while in the Dominican Republic. Amber, which is ancient hardened tree sap and is a beautiful item used in jewelry and other decorative pieces, faceless dolls and paintings. Dominican amber is considered the most valuable. Other popular items include rum, cigars (the DR makes more cigars than any other country), colorful carnival masks, and larimar, the opaque blue semiprecious stone found only here. 8 COLONIAL ZONE OF SANTO DOMINGO DINING AND DRINKING, DOMINICAN STYLE The Dominican Republic is a culinary hotspot for artfully prepared dishes from around the world. With influences from Spain, France and Africa— not to mention the indigenous Taino Indians— the Dominican Republic offers unforgettable opportunities to enjoy delicious cuisine. Rice, fish and other seafoods, meat and vegetables are among the staples of Dominican cuisine, and spices as well as coconut may be added for flavor. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, which is an important experience in the Dominican Republic—not surprising, given the longtime importance of sugar cane to agricultural life. Among the sweetest ways to end a meal is with a bowl Dominican coffee is usually served in an espresso cup, with plenty of sugar. Anyone interested in learning more about Dominican coffee—and getting a bag or two from the source—can visit the Americo Melo coffee factory in Baharona, the Ramirez Coffee Warehouse in Monte Plata, or the Chez Jose Tobacco and Coffee Farm in Cabrera, which offers two-hour tours every Wednesday. In the southwestern Bani region, visitors can stop at the Museo del Cafe Dominicano (Dominican Coffee Museum), which tells the story of the rich brew. ■ Rum: Any clients who are rum connoisseurs will recognize the three most popular brands of Dominican rums: Bermudez, Brugal and Barcelo. These three labels, which date back to 1852, 1888 and 1930, respectively, are among the best examples of a process used since the Caribbean’s colonial days. Sugar cane farmers realized they were on to something big when they noticed that molasses— made from sugar cane transplanted from Africa— fermented and could be mixed with water to create a new libation. A new tradition was born. The distilleries for all three of the top brands offer visitors information, tours and perhaps a sample of their sweet, hearty product. ■ Beer: The best-known Dominican beer, Presidente, is available at just about every business in the nation that serves alcoholic beverages. Brewed in Santo Domingo, it is a lighttasting pilsner with a six-percent alcohol content. POPULAR DISHES & DESSERTS ■ La Bandera Dominicana: Translated as “the Dominican flag,” this meal includes rice, beans, meat, vegetables and fried plantains. ■ Sancocho: This hearty stew, usually served with rice, consists of a variety of tasty ingredients including roots, avocado, green plantains, and chicken and/or beef. Goat meat is also sometimes used, and a variation on the traditional dish, called sancocho prieto, has seven different meats. ■ Chicharrones de pollo: Tasty chunks of fried chicken, often served with brown beans and rice. ■ Locrio: A Dominican interpretation of Spanish paella, locrio is a rice-based dish made with achiote, a dye produced from the seeds of the achiote plant. ■ Mangu: This breakfast dish, a menu item at nearly every major hotel and resort, is a traditional blend of plantains, butter and onions, and is served with any style of eggs. ■ Mofongo: This popular dish fries plantains with beef stock and garlic. ■ Pastelitos and Empanaditas: These pastries can be filled with chicken, cheese, ham, vegetables, seafood or just about anything you like. of delicious arroz con leche (rice pudding), flan (caramel custard), dulce de leche (cream flavored with coconut or fruit) and rum cake (made with locally produced Dominican rum). LOCAL DRINKS Whether clients prefer their drinks hot or cold, spirited or not, the Dominican Republic has several refreshing local options. Here are a few of the top recommendations for savoring the local flavor: ■ Coffee: With a coffee-growing tradition that goes back nearly 250 years, the coffee growers of the Dominican Republic make good use of the island’s tropical climate and abundant rainfall. 9 CAP CANA BEACH EAST COAST ISLA CATALINA Home to the fastest-growing resort destination in the Dominican Republic, the eastern coast of the island combines natural beauty, a variety of outdoor activities, and a growing number of accommodations, especially in the all-inclusive category. Airports in La Romana, Punta Cana and Samana make for easy access. manatee—make their home in the waters off Isla Saona. Divers also appreciate the large coral reefs and the wrecks of two 240-foot shipwrecks, the Saint George and the Embassy. Visiting Isla Saona can easily be arranged through tour operators in Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, La Romana and Bayahibe. luxuriantly fine sand, the area never feels crowded. With the longest coral reef in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana offers excellent opportunities for experienced divers to explore marine life from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. A quick ride by speedboat from La Romana, Isla Catalina is a 6-square-mile island within the PARQUE NACIONAL DEL ESTE, a 178square-mile national park. It offers terrific scuba diving along an impressive coral reef, and a mangrove swamp and plentiful sand dunes round out the island’s natural attributes. Visitors are allowed to camp on the beach here, with a permit from the national parks office in Bayahibe. Some tours to Isla Catalina also include visits to ALTOS DE CHAVON AT CASA DE CAMPO, as well as Isla Saona. PLAYA DOMINICUS PLAYA BAVARO The Bavaro resort area, just north of Punta Cana, offers beautiful surroundings and many outdoor activities. All-inclusive resorts offer multiple options for families, couples and singles, with plenty of on-site activities and amenities. Local tours and expeditions allow visitors to see sugar cane plantations, soaring mountains and lovely rivers. A sizeable reef has helped make Playa Dominicus in Bayahibe a favorite with scuba divers. But all kinds of travelers are impressed with the natural beauty—as well as the destination’s status as the first Caribbean beach to achieve “Blue Flag” status for commitment to ecologically responsible, sustainable development. All-inclusive resorts here provide excellent choices for visitors. ISLA SAONA This island hotspot, situated off the southern shore of Bayahibe and inside the Parque Nacional del Este, is known for its powdery sand, clear waters and beautiful palm trees. Caribbean Travel & Life magazine recognized its appeal, naming it one of the Caribbean’s “Eight Dream Beaches.” The lushly wooded park serves as a home to some 112 species of birds, including the Hispaniolan lizard-cuckoo and the ashy-faced owl. Turtles, sharks, bottlenose dolphins and whales—as well as the endangered West Indian PUNTA CANA This resort area has long been a favorite with vacationers, and with good reason. Its natural beauty and excellent array of accommodations and activities have helped build its reputation as one of the most important beach destinations in the Caribbean. A large array of all-inclusive resorts dot the coast, but thanks to the long stretch of PLAYA MINITAS The Casa de Campo resort in La Romana is world-famous for its luxurious amenities and beautiful setting—and Playa Minitas is the private beach where guests enjoy the sun, sand and inviting Caribbean waters. A wide variety of water sports—not to mention championship golf, a polo field and a marina—round out the options here. 10 EL LIMON WATERFALL CAYO LEVANTADO LOS HAITISES NATIONAL PARK NORTHEAST COAST When Christopher Columbus stopped on the Samana peninsula centuries ago, he surely had no idea that this area would one day become such a tourist hotspot. The peninsula didn’t really start getting settled, after all, until 1756, when a flow of immigrants from the Canary Islands began. The wealth that passed through the waters off the coast encouraged pirates to set up a base of operations here. Later, Napolean Bonaparte took ownership of the island for a short period, and freed slaves from the United States later took up residence here. Today, the northeast coast draws thousands of vacationers every year. The area is accessible through three airports: Arroyo Barril International, El Portillo and El Catey International Airport, which opened in 2006. phones so that clients can hear the sounds of male humpbacks. Beautiful and dramatic waterfalls are among Samana’s many attractions, including SALTO EL LIMON, where fast-flowing water dives some 150 feet into a large swimming hole. PARQUE NACIONAL LOS HAITISES is another popular place to enjoy the natural scenery; boats leave from Samana town for this 83square-mile mangrove swamp, which is home to more than 100 species of birds and mammals, as well as interesting caves that contain ancient Taino artwork. The town of Samana is itself an interesting place to spend time. Many of its residents are Americanos—descendants of freed U.S. slaves, who stage a series of annual harvest festivals on Fridays from late August through the end of October. can head to the town’s several European-owned restaurants for a variety of casual cuisine (French expats make up a large percentage of the local population here). It’s also possible to enjoy this area aboard a “fun truck” tour, which stops at local plantations, as well as at a towering waterfall and a 700-year-old Ceiba tree. PLAYA BONITA An inviting stretch of sand that goes on for 8 miles, Playa Bonita lies on the northern side of the Samana peninsula. Its stunning white sand and clear waters remain blissfully uncrowded. PLAYA LAS FLECHAS The southeast corner of the Samana peninsula is home to Playa Las Flechas, an unspoiled area that is a great place to avoid the crowds at more popular beaches. Named “las flechas” (the arrows) after a battle between the indigenous Taino Indians and Christopher Columbus, the beach offers an attractive view of Cayo Levantado. SAMANA This region’s rich history results in a fascinating mix of culture and traditions in Samana. And it’s no surprise that the peninsula has become the most-visited area of the Dominican Republic’s northeast coast, given the lush natural beauty of its many beaches, plus the tropical rain forests inland and the warm waters filled with all kinds of marine life. It’s also great for diving, thanks to the many caves, tunnels and reefs that lie just off the coast. The waters here are also heaven for whale watchers when thousands of humpback whales visit from mid-January until the end of March. Full- and half-day boat excursions are available throughout the season, complete with hydro- CAYO LEVANTADO To arrive at this pristine island off the coast of Samana, visitors hop aboard a ferry at Samana’s port. The beaches on Cayo Levantado are extremely popular, so getting there early is recommended; beaches on the far side are less crowded. Camping is possible here too; permission must be obtained from the local authorities. PLAYA RINCON With miles of powdery sand, coconut palms and almond trees, Playa Rincon gained recognition when Conde Nast Traveler named it one of the world’s 10 best beaches. Its dramatic scenery includes a 2,000-foot mountain. Visitors arrive here by boat from Las Galeras, a small fishing town that is now home to a large all-inclusive resort as well as several smaller hotels. Las Galeras has its own charming beach too, where local vendors sell a variety of home-cooked foods. LAS TERRENAS The beach at Las Terranas spans one mile on both sides of the town, offering plenty of opportunities for visitors to enjoy the warm waters and shady palm trees. After a day in the sun, visitors 11 PLAYA GRANDE BEACH NORTH COAST LONG BEACH One of the most popular regions for beach lovers in the Dominican Republic, the north coast offers a variety of different settings to fit every mood and taste. Here, clients can lie on sandy beaches, enjoy mountain biking, jungle hiking, fine dining, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and a host of other activities. The areas of Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Sosua are among the best-known names here; the region is sometimes called the amber coast because so much of this semiprecious material has been found here. This is also where Christopher Columbus landed, at Cape Isabela. He gave the largest city the name Puerto Plata (silver port) because of the beautiful color the sun cast upon the waters. Attractions here include OCEAN WORLD, where sea lions, dolphins and sharks are among the most popular residents; the BRUGAL RUM FACTORY, where visitors can take a tour to learn the secrets behind tasty Dominican rum; and the AMBER MUSEUM, where the story behind this semiprecious stone is explained. Puerto Plata also serves up some exciting views, thanks to a suspended cable car, which glides more than 2,500 feet up to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres. A smaller replica of the Christ the Redeemer Statue, the landmark in Rio, is located at the top, and visitors can enjoy inspiring views of the city, the countryside and the coastline. Of course, most people use Puerto Plata as a jumping-off point for the great beaches. In addition to miles of sand, the region offers excellent sites for diving and snorkeling. Just offshore are the wrecks of two Spanish ships, the Santa Catalina and San Jorge, both of which went down during a storm in 1563. PUERTO PLATA The gateway to the beautiful northern coast, Puerto Plata is served with multiple nonstop flights from the United States. This city of some 200,000 is known for the ornate Victorian homes that populate the center of town. Bars and restaurants round out the city’s leisure offerings. 12 Some 15 resorts offer a variety of amenities, and there is also a mall and restaurants. Playa Dorada is also home to an award-winning golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones. Playa Grande is also known for its excellent golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. PLAYA SOSUA Times sure have changed since Sosua was nothing more than a tiny fishing town. With its beautiful stretch of sand and crystal clear waters that remain calm thanks to the protecting crescent-shaped bay, it was just a matter of time before people caught on to how special this place really is. Today, this northern coast gem offers plenty of activities, from shopping and dining to taking glass-bottom boat tours and, of course, sunbathing and swimming. Sosua also offers excellent opportunities for scuba diving, with marine life ranging from small but colorful tropical fish to manta rays, whale sharks and dolphins. There are both shallow and deep reef areas, making it a good place for divers of various experience levels. There are also countless bars, restaurants and shops that offer a wide variety of diversions for visitors of every ilk. PLAYA COFRESI Just west of Puerto Plata lies Cofresi, which bears the name of a famous pirate, Roberto Cofresi. One of the most beautiful beaches in the nation, Playa Cofresi offers ideal conditions for bodysurfing and boogie boarding, not to mention sunbathing. OCEAN WORLD MARINE ADVENTURE PARK is here, too. CABARETE Among the first things clients may notice when they arrive at Cabarete are the colorful kites. This lovely stretch of beach is known as much for its kiteboarding and windsurfing as for its scenery. Ranked as one of the top five kiteboarding and windsurfing beaches in the world, Cabarete hosts several international championships every year. Nearby Encuentro Beach is great for surfers, with lessons available for people of nearly any age and experience level. But that’s not all that draws vacationers. The town of Cabarete offers a plethora of activities, both in the water and on the land. Visitors can test their skills while white-water rafting, mountain biking, hiking and climbing rocks in the rugged terrain. And this town doesn’t go to sleep when the sun sets—there are plenty of excellent restaurants, shopping and nightlife. PLAYA PUNTA RUCIA West of Puerto Plata, Playa Punta Rucia is graced with a large coral reef called Cayo Arena (also called Cayo Paraiso), which makes it a popular destination for snorkelers. Its white-sand beach also offers inspiring views of the nearby mountains, and the lagoon is home to a variety of birds. The waters here are also home to manatees, and lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of these shy, gentle creatures. Tours from Puerto Plata take in some of the best sites around Playa Punta Rucia. PLAYA DORADA East of Puerto Plata, conveniently close to the largest all-inclusive resort complex in the Caribbean, Playa Dorada is protected by reefs and is graced with beaches worthy of any postcard. Visitors who aren’t staying at Playa Dorada need a day pass to access this lovely stretch of beach—but there are plenty of opportunities to secure accommodations within the complex. PLAYA GRANDE About an hour east of Puerto Plata, Playa Grande’s one and a half miles of sun and sand make for one of the longest beaches on the northern coast. It’s a great place to stake a claim near a palm tree and buy tasty food from local vendors. Rugged cliffs and beautiful coral formations make for a dramatic landscape here. OCEAN WORLD PUERTO PLATA MALECON 13 SOUTH CENTRAL COAST Visiting this region offers the advantage of combining an exciting city stay in the capital with a few days along the sunny shores nearby. With the historic capital city of Santo Domingo as its hub, the Dominican Republic’s south central coast is easily accessed by international flights arriving at Las Americas International Airport. BOCA CHICA The most convenient beach to reach from Santo Domingo as well as Las Americas International Airport, Boca Chica is popular for its calm waters, which are the result of a protective reef just offshore (this makes it an exceptional spot for families with children, although there is also a nightlife for adults). Vendors dot the street along the beach all day and into the evening, peddling food, arts and crafts, and jewelry. There are also hotels in a variety of price ranges. Scuba divers will be rewarded by visits to shipwrecks just off the coast, including the Hickory and El Limon, both of which serve as a reef and home to colorful marine life at LA CALETA NATIONAL UNDERWATER PARK, 14 miles off the coast of Santo Domingo. Also waiting to be explored is CUEVA TAINA, a series of underwater caves that runs some 300 feet. PLAYA JUAN DOLIO A less-crowded option for visitors to the Santo Domingo area, Juan Dolio has a variety of resorts as well as dining and drinking options. The water is not as calm here as at Boca Chica (which helps to keep it less crowded), but there is still plenty of sun and sand. Other ways to enjoy the water here include snorkeling and scuba diving—the 1999 shipwreck Tanya V is a popular dive site, as are the black coral reefs off Catalina Island, where divers might catch a glimpse of hammerheads, rays and blacktip sharks. Back on land, golfers can tee off at GUAVABERRY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, which has a Gary Player-designed course, located close to most of the hotels. And baseball enthusiasts should consider attending a baseball game at San Pedro Tetelo Vargas stadium. PLAYA GUAYACANES Between Juan Dolio and Boca Chica, Playa Guayacanes offers plenty of sand and excellent boogie-boarding conditions. This is another quieter alternative to Boca Chica. OCOA BAY Lesser known with foreign tourists, the gray-sand beaches of Ocoa Bay, about two hours from Santo Domingo, are popular with locals. Scuba divers will appreciate the large schools of fish, old shipwrecks and even aircraft wrecks that dot the sea floor. 14 SOUTHWEST COAST The southwest coast of the Dominican Republic, accessible via Santo Domingo, offers a variety of interesting surprises— from national parks teeming with natural wonders to small villages. Near the fishing village Pedernales, as well as the Haitian border, this beach is uncrowded during the day and is an interesting place when the sun sets and small fishing boats come in from their day at sea. Two national parks—PARQUE NACIONAL JARAGUA and PARQUE NACIONAL SIERRA DE BAHORUCO—are nearby. The 600-squaremile Jaragua, which is the largest national park in the country, is only partially accessible to visitors but offers many rewarding experiences. Its 6-mile-long Oviedo saltwater lagoon is the residence of the nation’s largest year-round population of flamingos. More than 130 species of other feathered creatures also make their home here, including herons and brown pelicans—making for excellent birdwatching. Visitors can also see some of the caves where pre-Colombian pictographs and petroglyphs are still visible—not to mention 11 species of bats that make their homes inside. At Sierra de Bahoruco, visitors can gaze at soaring mountains and peek into larimar mines, where the blue gemstone is collected. The park is also home to some 166 species of orchids and 19 species of birds. Visitors can also take a quick boat ride to explore two islands: Alto Velo, a rocky island that is home to the world’s smallest reptile (the dwarf gecko), and Isla Beata, where caves are marked with ancient Taino Indian rock art. SAN RAFAEL Just south of the town of Barahona and only about three hours from Santo Domingo, San Rafael has strong tides as well as a natural swimming pool created by a waterfall from the Rio Nizalto in the mountains, which empties into the ocean. The town of Barahona, which was founded in 1802 and built its fortunes on fishing, plantains, coffee and sugar, is now known for its dramatic cliffs and uncrowded beaches. LAS SALINAS The beaches in this area are noted for their distinctive gray sand; it’s also known for its excellent windsurfing, matched only by Cabarete, on the northern coast. Wonderfully uncrowded, Las Salinas is lined with palm trees. 15 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TOURIST OFFICES NEW YORK Address: 136 E. 57 St. Suite 803 New York, NY 10022, USA Phone: 212-588-1012/14 Fax: 212-588-1015 Toll Free: 888-374-6361 E-mail: drtourismboardny@verizon.net MIAMI Address: 848 Brickell Ave. Suite 405 Miami, FL 33131, USA Phone: 305-358-2899 Fax: 305-358-4185 Toll Free: 888-358-9594 E-mail: miami@sectur.gov.do CHICAGO Address: 561 West Diversey Building Suite 214 Chicago, IL 60614-1643, USA Phone: 773-529-1336/37 Fax: 773-529-1338 Toll Free: 1-888-303-1336 E-mail: chicago@sectur.gov.do MONTREAL Address: 2080 Rue Crescent Montreal PQ, Quebec, H3G 2B8, Canada Phone: 514-499-1918 Fax: 514-499-1393 Toll Free: 800-563-1611 E-mail: montreal@sectur.gov.do TORONTO Address: 26 Wellington St. East Suite 201 Toronto, Ontario, M5E-1S2, Canada Phone: 416-361-2126/27 Fax: 416-361-2130 Toll Free: 888-494-5050 E-mail: toronto@sectur.gov.do w w w. g o d o m i n i c a n r e p u b l i c . c o m If your copy of the Dominican Republic guide is missing, please fax a request to 201.902.1971. 25 meetings 42 business cards 7 new contracts 5605 exhibiting companies 15 espressos 202 countries All in 4 days. Maximizing business potential. Join us at WTM 2007. Share the experience and the business. Register free online at www.wtmlondon.com/twusa The Global Event for the Travel Industry OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER WTM OFFICIAL PREMIER PARTNER ‘Alii is well-suited to multigenerational vacations.’ — Lynn Higashiguchi, Classic Resorts DE ST IN Classic Resorts says being small gives it advantages By Allan Seiden Lynn Higashiguchi, who has served as Classic’s director of sales and marketing for 10 years, said the company’s small size — five condominiums on Maui and the Big Island — is an asset, allowing for on-site oversight and a more personal way of doing business. “We’ve always wanted to stay a small company dealing with distinctive properties with a focus upscale,” Higashiguchi said. “For us, it’s more about promoting the individual properties rather than the company identity. “We think that’s better suited to a small company like ours, with properties that are distinctive in their own way.” Classic Resorts’ flagship property is the Kaanapali Alii, a beachfront condominium on Maui that has a loyal following, par- AT IO NS F Maui or more than two decades, Classic Resorts has remained determinedly small and local, maintaining a niche in a market increasingly dominated by large hotel companies with wellknown brands. ticularly among families who appreciate two-bedroom configurations that provide space, privacy and convenience. Full kitchens are equipped with high-end appliances. Kaanapali Alii fits Classic’s definition of a distinctive property. The nicely decorated rooms are spacious, with lanais that open to landscaped grounds and the sea. Baths are likewise roomy and high-end. Centrally located along Kaanapali’s beachfront promenade, the condo is within a short walk of shops and restaurants at neighboring hotels and the Whalers Market Place, a plus since Kaanapali Alii has no restaurant. (However, a free continental breakfast is served poolside each day.) “Alii is like a gem,” Higashiguchi said. “It’s really well-suited to multigenerational vacations or couples traveling together. It’s a great alternative to the megaresort.” The swimming pool area, while small by megaresort standards, is well-suited to the family market. A barbecue area, adjacent to the pool and with plenty of seating, provides Kaanapali Alii with a home-awayfrom-home feeling. Each of the two nights I stayed this past July, I found families taking full advantage See CLASSIC on Page 52 Guest units at the Kaanapali Alii condo include spacious living rooms. CLASSIC RESORTS IN HAWAII • Kaanapali Alii: Fully equipped oneand two-bedroom, beachfront apartments at the Kaanapali Resort, with pool, barbecue area, video rentals and front desk services. Rack rates from $450 to $950 per night. Specials and packages include a seventhnight-free promotion with a $100 American Express spending credit. A five-night Swept Away on Maui package, priced from $2,300 to $4,300, includes a convertible car rental, a couple’s massage and a luau. • Lahaina Shores: Lahaina’s only waterfront property, adjacent to the town’s lively small-boat harbor. The midrange, all-studio condo inventory is priced at $200 to $260 per night. A fifth-night-free offer includes value-added components. • Puu Noa: A small, luxury townhouse complex in Lahaina, with two- and threebedroom apartments priced from $750. H AU PWA TA I I D E ▼ Hawaiian Airlines serves complimentary meals on all transpacific flights. Big Island • Mauna Lani Point: The Mauna Lani Resort complex’s only oceanfront condo offers 116 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a low-rise configuration that provides views of the ocean and golf course fairways. Rates range from $295 to $425 per night. • The Islands at Mauna Lani: Two- and three-bedroom townhouses on the fairways of the resort’s north golf course. Prices range from $585 to $780 per night, with a car-inclusive, fifth-night-free deal available. Note: All prices are good through Dec. 18, 2008. It’s nice to know your clients won’t go hungry on our transpacific flights. They’ll also experience Island-style hospitality and award winning First Class service. Call toll-free 800-367-5320. HawaiianAirlines.com HAWAII STARTS HERE W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 51 ‘Mauna Lani is truly deluxe and has an elegant, country club setting.’ — Lynn Higashiguchi, Classic Resorts CLASSIC Continued from Page 51 of the setting, with the barbecue, pool and hot tub busy into the evening. According to Higashiguchi, Classic Resorts offers the largest two-bedroom inventory in Kaanapali. The property’s layout offers a conve- Kaanapali Alii is a short walk from restaurants at neighboring hotels as well as the Whalers Market Place mall, pictured. nient flow between accommodations, pool, promenade and beach, she said. “The hotel offers an intimate environment that our guests like, and that adds to their comfort level,” she said, adding that Kaanapali Alii enjoys healthy repeat business from renters. That sense of intimacy at the property also plays well with couples, a market Classic Resorts is courting with a Vow Renewal Special that starts at $775. On Maui, Classic Resorts also operates the all-studio Lahaina Shores condominium and the Puu Noa townhouse complex. On the Big Island Classic Resorts’ two resort condos on the Big Island, Mauna Lani Point and the Islands at Mauna Lani, provide an upscale alternative similar to the company’s Maui offerings, with luxury one- and two-bedroom units in a beautifully landscaped, oceanfront setting. “Mauna Lani is truly deluxe and has an elegant, country club setting,” Higashiguchi said. “It’s been very successful with families with younger children and multigenerational travelers who appreciate the quiet, * The perfect starting point for your client’s Maui adventure begins in the new, contemporary Hawaiian-designed condominiums at Outrigger Aina Nalu. Set on nine picturesque acres in the heart of Maui’s historic Lahaina town, these deluxe condos offer studios and one- and two-bedroom suites featuring kitchenettes or full kitchens. Just steps from waterfront galleries, shops, dining and entertainment. Call or visit . *Promotional rates valid through 12/21/07. Subject to availability. Taxes not included. H APWA TA I I U D E the privacy and the upscale amenities.” Classic Resorts also markets a luxury oceanfront home at nearby Pahoa Beach Estates. With occupancy down since midsummer and likely to remain down into 2008, Classic Resorts is prepared to stimulate bookings with additional incentives, according to Higashiguchi. “As a small company, we can react more quickly to changes in the market,” she said. “We may only have 450 rental units in total, but we have something special to offer.” Classic Resorts is also relying on the trade to spread the word. ▼ ‘The hotel offers an intimate environment that our guests like, and that adds to their comfort level.’ — Lynn Higashiguchi, Classic Resorts “We rely on agents and wholesalers in our marketing efforts, and we work with many regional and national tour operators,” she said. “As far as travel agents are concerned, we back up our participation with toll-free connections to Hawaii, which is an added convenience for agents needing input on a booking. “That’s what I mean when I say we have something special to offer, not just to our guests but to travel agents, as well.” For more information on Classic Resorts, call (800) 642-6284 or visit www.classic resorts.com. 52 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M ‘You name it and we’ll make it happen, with staff who really know their stuff.’ — Phil Jones, Pure Kauai’s CEO Entrepreneur in the Islands has Pure faith in his business model By Allan Seiden I t was in 2001 that Phil Jones, newly transplanted to Kauai from California, realized that the upscale, customized vacation was a business niche waiting to be filled. For Jones, upscale, customized vacations meant stays at luxury homes and estates, personalized services and pampering. “The idea was to offer the ultimate, customized vacation experience,” said Jones, CEO of Pure Kauai and its sister company, Pure Maui. “You name it and we’ll make it happen, with staff who really know their stuff.” Pure Kauai offers not only luxury accommodations but activities such as yoga, hiking and meditation sessions, but usually only to individual travelers and couples. “We generally don’t book group tours or activities. Everything is private,” said Jones. “We’re in business to pamper people.” The waterfall at the Blue Pools in Hana on Maui. Pure Kauai CEO Phil Jones launched Pure Maui last year. Island hopping After four years of steady growth on Kauai, Jones decided to take the concept to Maui in October 2006. But rather than market the islands together, Jones kept the Pure Kauai and Pure Maui operations separate, establishing island-specific reservations lines, packages and on-call staffs of specialists such as pro- fessional surfers, private chefs, boat captains and scientists. “While our standards for quality and personalization are the same, each is a separate company,” he said. “Our people need to be experts in the places they serve. That means they can answer questions knowledgeably, which is not the case with a centralized reservations system.” The formula is apparently working: Business has tripled this year, said Jones. Jones credited increased business to the successful debut of Pure Maui last year, continued growth for Pure Kauai (despite slowdowns for other Hawaii suppliers) and word-of-mouth referrals, including an ever-increasing number from travel agents. “We’ve been around long enough to have made some inroads with travel agents,” he said. “They’re becoming more familiar with us now and are a growing source of bookings. We welcome new agency relationships.” Travel agents booking Pure’s pricey product line benefit from 10% commissions not only on accommodations but on all activity and service components. That translates into healthy pay on vacations that can exceed $10,000. Even better, the company pays commissions to the original booking travel agent if a return client opts to book future travel directly with Pure Kauai or Pure Maui. “We value the role agents play in our business and want to cultivate new referrals,” Jones said. “We’re loyal to the agents we deal with, and they’ve proven loyal to us. See PURE KAUAI on Page 54 CASH BACK Book now through December 18 with a minimum of five (5) consecutive nights* at a single ResortQuest Hawaii property and earn Cash Back incentives plus STARs points. *Travel must be completed by December 18, 2007. Click your way to incredible rewards. Just book your clients at any ResortQuest Hawaii participating hotel or condominium resort. • Redeem STARs points for $50 gift cards from Amazon.com, Macy’s, Target, Eddie Bauer and more! • Earn Free Nights at ResortQuest Hawaii properties • Continue to earn 10% commission on all bookings • Track all your points and incentives online To enroll or to get more details, go to: RQStarsOnline.com K AANAPALI S HORES WHALER ON K AANAPALI B EACH M AHANA AT K AANAPALI ‘We work with people to achieve any goals they’ve set for their trip.’ — Mindy Robertson, Pure Maui’s head of sales and marketing PURE KAUAI HAWAII UPDATE Continued from Page 53 Pure Kauai and Pure Maui work with travel agents in a variety of ways, he noted. “Some agents like to serve as an intermediary between us and their clients, some turn them over to us right away,” Jones said. Encouraged by strong demand on Kauai and Maui, Jones is slowly expanding the Pure concept to other upscale enclaves. The Big Island is a possibility a few years down the road, but Pure Jackson Hole in Wyoming is next in line, with Aspen, Colo., likely to follow. However, Jones isn’t emphasizing growth. He said he’s a hands-on businessman who prefers to manage a company where he can provide oversight and maintain quality. “I want to go slow and keep it small,” he said. “It’s our familiarity with a place and our expertise in putting it all together that is our real strength. You really need to know and appreciate the place for this level of customization to work. Our expertise provides a valuable service for agents in dealing with their clients.” ▼ California the top source market Turning to source markets, Jones pointed out that California is his key geographic wellspring. However, bookings come in from all over the U.S., and a single sales representative spreads the word nationwide. Phil Jones CEO DemographiPure Kauai cally, Pure Kauai and Pure Maui have found particular strength in family and multigenerational travel, largely thanks to diverse and spacious accommodations options ranging from small, deluxe cottages to grand homes. In economic terms, Jones caters to a decidedly upscale client — many of the properties he offers rent for thousands of dollars — yet Pure Kauai and Pure Maui have options from as low as $300 a night. “We work with people to achieve any goals they’ve set for their trip,” said Mindy Robertson, who heads up sales and marketing for Pure Maui. “We have from 15 to 20 homes and condominiums to choose from, so we can truly match the property to the expectations and needs of the traveler.” In addition to customized vacations, Be adventurous! Mix and match your Hawaiian food. Try com bining poi (mashed tar o) with lomi lomi salmon (raw salmon, onions, tomatoes and chili pe ppers). It’s two Hawaiian delica cies in one! Introduce your clients to the Food Pantry Package. With rates starting at $129* per night, guests receive an upgraded kitchenette combo room, which can accommodate four, and a $15 Food Pantry gift certificate per room, per night. Food Pantry is Waikiki’s only fully stocked grocer and it’s located right across the street. OHANA Waikiki West is centrally located on Kuhio Avenue, just steps from the International Marketplace and a short walk to Waikiki Beach. What’s more, every guest will enjoy free Waikiki Trolley rides, local and domestic phone calls and more. *Valid through 12/21/07. Rate is per night, double occupancy. Subject to availability. ‘It’s our familiarity with a place and our expertise in putting it all together that is our real strength.’ — Phil Jones, Pure Kauai both Pure Maui and Pure Kauai offer several set packages. For example, both offer a six-night Learn to Surf & Yoga package. Typical of Jones’ ability to customize vacations for all ages and interests, the sixnight stay includes all meals, prepared by a private chef; all island transportation; a variety of surf lessons and yoga sessions; and the services of a trip host. The package is priced at $6,800 for one person, or $8,000 for two, based on double occupancy, land only, providing travel agents an $800 commission. There’s also the four-night Adventure Boot Camp, priced at about $3,000 per person. This package also includes meals prepared by a chef and a wide range of activities. For more information on Pure Kauai or to book a vacation, call (866) 457-7873 or visit www.purekauai.com. For Pure Maui, call (866) 787-6284 or visit www.puremaui.com. ohanahotels.com 1.800.462.6262 54 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M ‘It’s rewarding for us to help guests understand all the effort that goes into growing quality produce.’ — Louis Coulombe, O’o Farm Maui’s O’o Farm is ecotourism at its tastiest By Cheryl Tsutsumi “At the end of the tour, they didn’t want to leave,” said Louis Coulombe, co-owner of the 10-acre farm and the Pacific’O and I’o restaurants in Lahaina. “They were so impressed by what they saw. Many people don’t know how fruits and vegetables grow because the only time they see them is when they’re displayed at the supermarkets.” O’o is located in upcountry Maui, which provides ideal growing conditions for over 100 varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables, from basil, beans and blueberries to allspice, PHOTOS BY TONY NOVAK-CLIFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY I t was obvious the young man was less than enthusiastic about spending part of his Maui vacation on a produce farm. He had swimming, sailing and snorkeling in mind, but his girlfriend had booked the O’o Farm Tour, thinking it’d be great to experience more than sun, surf and sand in Hawaii. She was right. Tour participants at O’o Farm in upcountry Maui pick their own organic produce, which is then prepared and served for lunch. avocados and apples. O’o Farm supplies all produce used at Pacific’O and I’o, some 300 to 400 pounds per week. Fittingly, its Hawaiian name means “to mature or ripen.” During the two-and-a-half-hour tour, participants get close-up looks at the crops and gain insight into the latest organic farming practices. No pesticides, herbi- cides or synthetic fertilizers are used at O’o. Compost is made from wood chips, green waste collected at the farm and fish carcasses from Pacific’O and I’o. Thick borders of lemongrass protect the fields from encroaching kukui grass and insects from the adjacent forest. Because its chemical makeup is similar to citronella, lemongrass repels bugs. Marigolds, dahlias and other flowering plants are interspersed among crops to attract bees, wasps and hornets, which sting the larvae of aphids, moths and other “bad guys.” Around fruit trees, ground cover of buckwheat, peanut grass and creeping wildflowers keep weeds in check, enrich soil with nitrogen and help retain moisture. Tour participants select what they’d like to eat from the fields, and I’o’s executive sous chef, Sean Christensen, prepares the lunch. Dishes change every week based on what’s in season at the farm and what the restaurants get from local butchers and fishermen. A recent menu featured beef tenderloin stir-fried with vegetables harvested minutes before cooking, a salad of greens gathered by the group and chocolate pate paired with freshly picked loquats. “It’s rewarding for us to help guests understand all the effort that goes into growing quality produce,” said Coulombe. Participants meet at the farm in Kula, in upcountry Maui. Tours take place 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Thursday except Thanksgiving. Prices, $50 per adult and $25 for kids ages 5 to 12, include lunch. Private tours for groups of at least 10 are available on days other than Thursday by special arrangement. Call (808) 667-4341 or visit www.oofarm.com. Book the Joneses for five consecutive nights and we’ll give you Mr. Grant Participating Properties icipa ing Pro es: HAWAII (BIG ISLAND) LAND) Hilo Hawaiian Hotel awaiia Hote an Kona Bali Kai na Ka Kona Reef Re KA KAUAI Kaha Lani Resort aha a K hun Plantatio Kiahuna Plantation na & The Beach Bungalows The each Bu galo Th h alow L Nani Re Lae Nani Resort La kai Resort Lanikai Res ani i Makahuena at Poipu ak uena akahuena Po ena P Poipu Shores Poipu Sh hores MAUI MA .com eTravelAgents online at Castl g Submit bookin Travel agents earn $50.00 for booking your client at Castle Resorts & Hotels on 5 Hawaiian Islands. Book your clients for 5 consecutive nights or more at the same Castle Resorts & Hotels property. Submit your booking online at www.CastleTravelAgents.com and Castle Resorts & Hotels will send you a check for $50.00. Look for our new web site features, marketing tools and travel agent discounts. Visit www.CastleTravelAgents.com or call 1-800-367-5004. GDS code: YX K mao e San s Kamaole Sands MOLO OLO OK OKAI Kaluak Vil Kaluakoi Villas OAHU Hokele Suites Waikik ok le Suite Waikiki kele tes Maile Maile Sky Court Cou urt Ocean Reso Hotel Waikiki an Resort ort Waik W ki Waikik Sh Waikiki Shore hore New bookings through 12/21/07. Must be a five-night minimum stay at the same Castle Resorts & Hotels Property. Valid at participating properties only. Subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply. W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 55 The Ohana Waikiki Islander in Honolulu extended its $99 Renovation Special through March 31. Wyland Waikiki’s day spa to offer water massage treatments he Wyland Waikiki in Honolulu will unveil its full-service day spa, Spa Pure, in November. Prices will start at $95 per hour for in-room or poolside treatments, including massages such as shiatsu, lomi lomi and the signature Ocean Massage. The Ocean Massage, designed to restore balance and comfort to shoulders, lower back and feet, involves therapeutic stretching and shiatsu pressure applied in water by a certified therapist. Spa Pure is the only Honolulu spa to offer the hydrotherapy T treatment as well as Ganban Yoku stone treatment tables from Japan. The Wyland Waikiki is offering a Room and Spa package from $269 per night that includes a space-available, complimentary room upgrade; an Ocean Massage treatment for two; and a bottle of Ocean Essence Lotion Mist. Prices are valid Nov. 1 to Dec. 21. A threenight minimum stay is required. To book Spa Pure, call (808) 924-3200. For more on the Wyland Waikiki, call (866) 346-4679 or visit www.wylandwaikiki.com. The Wyland Waikiki’s Ocean Massage is part of a package that starts at $269 per night. at Outrigger’s adjacent Waikiki Beach Walk hotel, retail, dining and entertainment complex. Ohana guests also enjoy free phone calls to the U.S. and Canada, free Internet access, free in-room coffee and tea and free daily newspaper. The $99 rate is based on availability, per room, per night, for single or double occupancy and does not include tax. Call (800) 462-6262 or visit www.ohanahotels.com. Luxury Retreats adds Big Island Luxury Retreats, a provider of villa rentals, has added the Big Island to its roster of Hawaii destinations. It already offered Oahu, Maui and Lanai. Luxury Retreats’ Big Island villa rentals range in size from two to seven bedrooms and in price from a few hundred to several thousands dollars per night. Regardless of the property booked, every guest gets complimentary concierge services, such as stocking the villa’s refrigerator before arrival, car rental arrangements and planned activities like day sails or on-site yoga sessions. Visit www.luxuryretreats.com for a list of villas offered on the Big Island. Luxury in Lahaina Outrigger Hotels and Resorts completed a $30 million redevelopment of the Outrigger Aina Nalu condo-resort just outside of Lahaina, Maui. Formerly the Ohana Maui Islander, the nine-acre property now has 188 luxury one- and two-bedroom condos. Guest units in the two-story resort feature high-speed Internet access, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning and kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. Resort grounds include a new “tension- H APWA AE I I U D T BRIEFS ▼ edge” pool and a whirlpool surrounded by four thatched cabanas with barbecues. Rates start at $225 for one-bedroom condos and $275 for two bedrooms. For more information, call (800) 687-1444 or visit www.outriggercondos.com. Renovation rates The Ohana Waikiki Islander in Honolulu extended its $99 Renovation Special through March 31. The rate refers to ongoing renovations 56 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M As Alsace is known for foie gras, visitors can expect top restaurants to feature the dish as an appetizer. Do visit Colmar, but don’t rush through this Alsatian gem By Felicity Long With this in mind, I recently visited the city for a day, filled with great expectations. After all, Colmar’s reputation is such that to miss it during a trip to Alsace is akin to a first-time visitor to Paris passing up the Eiffel Tower. From first glance, the town, with its Hansel-and-Gretel architecture, cobblestone streets and colorful tile roofs, did not disappoint. Photo opportunities were abundant, including picturesque squares; a surprisingly large pedestrian zone surrounded by medieval and Renaissance buildings; and flower-covered, tiny bridges over a network of mirror-like canals. Considering that Colmar is in Alsace, a region that has changed hands many times, often violently, between France and Germany, the city is remarkably well preserved. That’s despite having seen action in both world wars. D evotees of the Alsace region of France know that Colmar is one of its most beautiful cities and, as such, deserves more than a rushed visit. But thanks to Colmar’s proximity to Strasbourg (50 miles separates the two cities), it is an appealing side trip for those with even just a day to spare. home that, as its name implies, is decorated with more than 100 statues of heads. It now serves as a hotel. Next door is the premier art venue in the city, the Unterlinden Museum, situated in a Dominican convent that dates back to the 13th century. The convent was a hotbed of Rhine mysticism in the Middle Ages. During the French Revolution, its nuns fled and the building fell into ruin for a century and a half. The Unterlinden was saved in the mid19th century by local scholar Louis Hugot and has been in operation as a museum since 1953. While there is a nice selection of decorative arts and sculptures in the museum, those pressed for time should head directly to the Isenheim Altarpiece, an eerie 16th century work by painter Mathias Grunewald and sculptor Nicolas de Haguenau. The multipaneled piece depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in grim detail when closed and his resurrection in bright colors when open. To preserve the work and keep people from opening and closing the panels, the panels are exhibited separately for easier viewing. Another top attraction in the city is the Bartholdi Museum in the birthplace of fa- Colmar is laced with a network of scenic canals cutting through gingerbread houses. The Unterlinden Museum is situated in a Dominican convent that dates back to the 13th century. TW PHOTO BY KENNETH KIESNOSKI Back in time The Old Town, or La Vieille Ville, is the place to start any serious exploration of Colmar. Visitors can see the sights just by wandering this section of the city, but if you have time to see one historical building, the one to choose has to be la Maison des Tetes on Rue des Tetes, a 17th century vorite son Auguste Bartholdi, famous for creating the Statue of Liberty. The museum exhibits statues, busts and original models of the artist’s works. Another well-known Bartholdi work, a statue of a young boy, graces the Schwendi Fountain in Colmar’s Old Town. Dining in Colmar Like any Alsatian city worth its salt, Colmar takes cuisine seriously, and I made time during my stay to pay homage to the regional fare. As Alsace is known for foie gras, you can See COLMAR on Page 58 EUROPE ISRAMWORLD offers a wide choice of fabulous travel experiences in Eastern Europe and Russia. Best Value Group Tours... Exclusive Deluxe Private Car Tours... Super Value Packages... Jewish Heritage Tours... Kosher Tours...and our renowned “Flexible” Mini-Pax. Where to go? How to go? Call one of our knowledgeable Destination Experts today. ▼ EASTERN EUROPE RUSSIA • AUSTRIA • BULGARIA • CROATIA • CZECH REPUBLIC • GERMANY • HUNGARY • POLAND Up to 15% Commission Ask about Customized Tours for Individuals & Groups For Information & Brochures, Please Call: 800-223-7460 V i s i t o u r We b s i t e : w w w. i s r a m . c o m W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 57 Baeckeoffe is a hearty meat-and-potato stew. TM The courtyard of the Bartholdi Museum, dedicated to one of Colmar’s favorite sons. COLMAR Northern Europe. Sailing from Copenhagen or Dover. Continued from Page 57 expect top restaurants to feature the dish as an appetizer. In Alsace, there is a German influence in cooking and in the names of dishes. A local specialty is baeckeoffe, a hearty meat-andpotato stew. Kougelhopf is a cake made with raisins, almonds and cherry brandy. I dined at Le Rendez-Vous de Chasse, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in the Best Western Grand 7, 10 & 11 Nights starting at $1,099 * EUROPE Hotel Bristol across from the rail station. Sure enough, my appetizer was foie gras served with apricot chutney, but I could also have tried the venison starter with celery and walnut salad or frog and wild mushroom ravioli. Main course choices included lobster ravioli, pheasant with braised cabbage or a rack of lamb with a tomato tart. For dessert I had the rhubarb confit with orange zest and mascarpone with strawberry sorbet, but I could also have chosen creme brulee or fresh figs stuffed with pistachio cream. Because Alsace is serious wine country, all this bounty was accompanied by regional wines, in my case a Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hatschbourg 2003 and a Pinot Noir Rouge d’Alsace C. Lorentz/Bergheim 2003. Food lovers who want to buy local products will find shops in Colmar designed for just that purpose, including foie gras at La Ferme on Rue des Tetes and Munster and farmer cheeses at La Fromagerie Saint-Nicolas on Rue Saint-Nicholas. But given its location on the Alsace Wine Route, the shops catering to oenophiles abound, including Au Coeur du Vieux Colmar on Rue Schwendi, Maison Martin Jund on Rue de l’Ange and Vins et Cremants d’Alsace on Rue du Stauffen. Visitors to the wine shops, known in France as caveaux, can taste various vintages and purchase bottles packaged for travel. Anyone visiting Colmar who can stay overnight should make every effort to do so, as the archi- ▼ The Colmar International Music Festival takes place over several days in July. tectural treasures of the city are illuminated at night. Even better, plan a stay during the Colmar International Music Festival, which takes place in July and draws international musicians for several days of performances. In winter, the top event is the Christmas Market from the end of November to Dec. 31, featuring music, dining and an open-air ice skating rink. For more on tourism in Colmar, visit www.ot-colmar.fr or www.tourisme-alsace.com. 58 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M TW PHOTO BY KENNETH KIESNOSKI Cruisetours. Celebrity’s Europeanland and sea. Star Treatment. By SM Celebrity Cruisetours offer your clients multi-night journeys on land before or after their cruise. They’ll experience Celebrity’s famed service, pampering and indulgences while exploring spectacular destinations throughout Europe, blending land with sea for a truly unique travel experience. Activities include: Private canal cruises in Amsterdam, exploring the Roman Pantheon, touring the Spanish Royal Palace and visiting the Eiffel Tower 100% escorted tours exclusive to Celebrity guests at no extra cost Destinations include: Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Stresa, Milan, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome Order your Celebrity Cruisetours Sales Kit at 800-211-4789 Florence, Italy Voted the World’s Best Large Ships by Condé Nast Traveler for the fifth year in a row (2002-2006 Condé Nast Traveler Cruise Poll) ©2007 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas and Ecuador. Cafe-hopping for sherry and tapas is a pastime popular in the streets of Seville’s Santa Cruz district. Moorish heritage spices up Spanish flavors of Andalucia es, many of which formerly were mosques. The 13th century royal ocals from Andalucia are quick to claim that palace, the city’s touristic their part of Spain is more Spanish than most. highlight, is one of the They have a point, as the southern region of the best examples of Spain’s country introduced typically “Spanish” tradi- mudejar, or Moorish-influenced architecture. A tions such as bullfighting, flamenco and tapas. stroll away lies the catheBut ironically, Andalucia — in culture, architecture and dral, built over a mosque gastronomy — owes much to the Moors, medieval Mus- and currently the largest Gothic building in the lim invaders and immigrants from North Africa. Anda- world. Shoppers in the Camlucia’s fusion of Spain and Africa is evident today in its panas district have their largest cities: Seville, Cordoba and Granada. pick of stores selling Visitors get a real feel for Andatrees; mantillas (scarves) and everything from local lucia in its capital, Seville, where abanicos (fans) decorate walls; crafts, including manMoorish influence abounds. Narand bustling sidewalk cafes abut tillas and abanicos, to row streets are lined with orange centuries-old palaces and churchclothes from Spanish fashion brands such as Zara and Camper. Cordoba’s cathedral is an amalgam of a Christian baroque church and a Moorish mosque. Enjabonarte, on San Eloy, is a local favorite, selling Seville, for gastronomic elation. cathedral, a bizarre amalgam of fresh soaps and sea salts infused Some of Spain’s most authentic Moorish mosque and baroque with olive oil from the region. restaurants serve up traditional Christian church. Cafe-hopping for sherry and recipes passed on for generations. As most Spanish delicacies hail tapas — two trademark AndaluTypical meals make use of farmfrom Andalucia, it might not be a cian foodstuffs — is a pastime raised pork and goat, gazpacho surprise to learn that 80% of the popular in the whitewashed, narand cod. country’s olive oil is produced in row streets of Santa Cruz. Surrounding the eighth cenCordoba, home to a million olive A profusion of flamenco danctury historical center, a UNESCO trees. ers in the quarter wielding castaWorld Heritage Site, several top I stopped at Nunez De Prado nets, clapping, singing and footrestaurants are converted from in Baena, a popular exporter, for stomping keeps the atmosphere centuries-old structures, such the fine, extra-virgin olive oil. lively. Bodegas Campos, in a 16th cenHistory is preserved at Palacio Foodies follow their noses to tury convent. Del Bailio, an impressive 52-room Cordoba, a bite-size version of One must-see is Cordoba’s hotel built atop Roman ruins, on view through the dining room’s tempered-glass floor. Considered by some the most cosmopolitan of the three cities, Granada is arguably also the most captivating. Good luck to those travelers who don’t make advance reserThe MV Katharina, MV Frederic Chopin and MV Dresden boast award-winning vations to enter the city’s top atcuisine, one crewmember for every 2.5 guests, an onboard physician and graciously traction, the Alhambra Palace. appointed staterooms. Imagine a 5-star floating hotel — the ideal setting for a 7-night cruise that includes Charles Bridge in Prague, Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, the Green Vault with its priceless jewels in Dresden, and many other breathtaking ports along the gentle Elbe. A Peter Deilmann river cruise truly is more than the sum of its ports. By Jimmy Im L A nyone can aboard a 5-star hotel. go to prague. a fortunate few do so Good luck to those travelers who don’t make advance reservations to enter the Alhambra Palace. 1-800-405-7126 www.deilmann-cruises.com/elbe Vessel depicted is fictional. Ships’ Registry, Germany. It’s rare that the capacity of 7,000 daily visitors isn’t reached. Those who do pass the gates experience a city within a city that has survived for centuries. The gardens inside the palace, embellished by running fountains and ponds, are the oldest in Europe. Visitors should spend several hours, before heading up to the Albayzin neighborhood. There, views of the Alhambra and city center are commanding. 60 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M TW PHOTO BY KENNETH KIESNOSKI The completion of the museum began a turnaround for the city, a transformation that has been called the ‘Bilbao Effect.’ The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao celebrates 10th anniversary By Felicity Long The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is marking its 10th anniversary with celebrations designed to honor the difference the museum has made for the city and the Basque region of Spain. Tourism officials are open about the fact that the city was, in effect, a rundown backwater in 1997 when U.S. architect Frank Gehry was commissioned to create a museum that would bear the iconic Guggenheim name. Once completed, the facility was so well received that it boosted nearly every aspect of life in the city in a decade-long transformation that has been called the “Bilbao Effect.” There are two principle exhibitions scheduled to mark the 10-year anniversary. The first, “Art in the USA: 300 Years of Innovation,” is set to run through Feb. 3 and highlights more than 250 works by American artists. The event, which features er Gabriel Erkoreka, a Bilbao native, along with a film by Ultan Guilfoyle, whose work traces the history of the institution. A book about the museum, “The Permanent Collection of the Guggenheim Museums,” also is being put together. The Guggenheim Bilbao is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is open daily in July and August. Admission is about $14 for adults; about $9 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.gug genheim-bilbao.es or www.spain.info. EUROPE ▼ works from private and public U.S. collections, includes works by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Frederic Remington, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. The second exhibition, “Chacun a son gout,” which will run through April, focuses on contemporary Basque artists who were invited by the museum to create works for the exhibition space. Artists include Elssie Ansareo, Ibon Aranberri, Clemente Bernad, Ixone Sadaba, Sergio Prego and Abigail Lazkoz. In addition to the material artworks, the museum commissioned a musical piece for the anniversary celebrations from compos- The facade of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 61 The first phase of the project will include a 500-room hotel and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Grupo Mall goes off the beaten path with Campeche resort By Mark Chesnut rupo Mall is bullish about tourism potential in Campeche. The Spain-based company is in the midst of building the Campeche Playa Golf, Marina & Spa Resort in southeastern Mexico. The first phase, currently under construction, is a $200 million project that will open in summer 2008. A rendering of the beach area at the Campeche Playa Golf, Marina & Spa Resort, which will open in Campeche in 2008. G MEXICO UPDATE El Dorado Seaside Suites shown The Wedding Favors? Just Being Here. Even though the wedding guests are not likely to expect wedding favors here, our wedding planners are available to help with any detail. Tying the knot is effortless at our luxurious Gourmet Inclusive beach resorts on the Riviera Maya. Gourmet restaurants. Wedding locations that enchant. For adults only. The first phase will include yet as well known as other desti1,245 residences, a 150-slip manations was also a selling point, rina, an 18-hole golf course deaccording to Noval. signed by Jack Nicklaus and a Visitors will be able to ar500-room hotel. rive at the airport in the city of The beachfront hotel will have Campeche as well as those in a spa, a gym, multiple swimming Merida, Ciudad del Carmen and pools, tennis courts, restaurants Cancun. and space for meetings and con“The resort’s excellent locaventions. tion will make it possible to visit The entire development is to be incomparable sites, in a region completed by 2010 in four phases. filled with privileged places, with It will ultimately have about 3,000 numerous Mayan ruins and great residences, restaurants and a turcultural wealth,” Noval said. tle sanctuary. Noval said he expected the This is the company’s complex to attract “a first project in Mexico high percentage” of and was the result of a tourists from Spain, fortuitous visit, accordEngland and elsewhere ing to Julio Noval, presin Europe. These travident of Grupo Mall. elers “will not only see “A business associate Campeche as a place of invited us to Campeche, rest but also as a place and from the very start to live after retirement,” we were taken by its exhe said. Julio Noval President ceptional beauty. Also “It’s a similar philosGrupo Mall what struck us were its ophy for people from cultural aspects — the the U.S. and Canada, gastronomy, the archeological which are also two important treasures and the folklore.” markets for us. It’s about people The company soon made plans who want to spend their time in a to make its first major investment quiet place that offers them a betin the state of Campeche. ter climate and lifestyle but with“Grupo Mall has always disout having to give up the modern tinguished itself by its unique services and amenities.” and singular concepts, and we’ve Seeing green wanted to put this philosophy to The region’s potential for ecouse in Mexico,” Noval said. tourism is an important aspect of “We believe Campeche is the the project, according to Noval. best place to do it. It has all the “Grupo Mall has always supcharacteristics we’ve been looking ported environmental conservafor: sun, beaches, a calm sea, great tion and, by using sustainable cultural assets and every type of means, minimizing the effect [of service.” See GRUPO MALL on Page 64 The fact that Campeche is not ▼ EL DORADO SEASIDE SUITES by Karisma Recently named to the Forbes.com list of most romantic hotels. Spread along a secluded beach, this resort blends luxurious services, amenities and creative cuisine with a boutique-hotel atmosphere. Proud sponsor of EL DORADO ROYALE, A SPA RESORT by Karisma Luxuriously laid-back on a white sand beach. Everything at El Dorado Royale was created for honeymooners and lovers. TRAVEL WEEKLY 2007 MEXICO CITY LEADERSHIP FORUM Look for detailed coverage, including photographs, from Travel Weekly’s 2007 Mexico City Leadership Forum, held recently at the Marquis Reforma Hotel in Mexico City, in the next Mexico Update section, to appear in the Nov. 19 edition of Travel Weekly. eldorado-resort.com karismahotels.com • 1-888-280-7558 62 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M ‘From the resort, people will be able to admire thousands of birds in their natural habitat.’ — Julio Noval, Grupo Mall GRUPO MALL Continued from Page 62 development] on ecosystems,” he said. “Campeche Playa Golf, Marina & Spa Resort is a project that is completely naturefriendly, which will contribute to ecological conservation of the fauna in the region, through a project designed and managed by specialists from various backgrounds who will be in charge of preserving the habitat. “In fact,” he added, “the entire project has been meticulously designed to pay utmost respect to the environment, which is reflected in the creation of green zones and a ‘biological corridor,’ which will aim to preserve the natural vegetation of the mangroves and jungle, and also the animal species that live in the area. “From the resort, people will be able to admire thousands of birds in their natural habitat: pelicans, herons and an endless number of unique species.” This ecofriendly focus will also play out on the golf course, according to Noval. The facility won’t use chemical maintenance improve this situation.” Other Grupo Mall projects The Campeche project isn’t the only one Grupo Mall currently has in the works in this hemisphere. In Panama City, the company is developing what it claims will be the tallest residential skyscraper in the world: Los Faros de Panama, which will include three towers (one of which will rise 95 stories), 1,786 apartments, a hotel, a casino and a shopping center. The project is expected to be completed by 2010. And there may be more to come from Grupo Mall in Mexico. “Mexico has become a reference point in terms of beaches and tourism development, positioning itself as one of the most important destinations worldwide,” said Noval. “At this time, we’re concentrating on the Campeche project, but our intention is to continue investing in the country. In fact, we are considering a project in the state of Tamaulipas.” But for now, Noval said that all eyes in Mexico are on Campeche. “Without a doubt, what’s being witnessed here is the birth of a new, world-class tourist destination,” he said. For more info, visit www.campecheplaya .com or www.mall.es. A rendering of the Campeche Playa Golf, Marina & Spa Resort. M EPXAIT EC O U D products and will use recycled water from a nearby purification facility for irrigation. Grupo Mall is also donating space for a new facility, the Carey Turtle Museum. “It’s an opportunity for those at the Campeche Playa Golf, Marina & Spa Resort to have the privilege to witness the arrival on our shores of the turtles as well as the protection of their nests, the collection of samples and the birth and liberation of the turtles,” Noval said. “We think these measures are the least we can do to help conserve this species, which is in danger of extinction, and we are very committed to the cause. The Yucatan has the North Atlantic’s largest Carey turtle nesting areas, and it’s the species most likely to disappear because of the extensive amount of illegal capture. “We should all try to do something to ▼ BLISSFUL YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL BECOME HAPPILY REACQUAINTED. Which senses will whisper to you first as harmony quietly returns? Water splashes. Aromas waft. Candles glow. Hands soothe. Le Blanc’s exceptional spa unites ancient traditions of spa knowledge with modern techniques of spa therapy in one revitalizing oasis. All under the same roofas an all-incredible, all-inclusive resort. Where you become one again. adults only www.travelimpressions.com 800-284-0044 Tours operated by Travel Impressions. Blackout, weekend, holiday peak season surcharges apply. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the printing of this ad. CST # 2029006-20, IOWA #758. NEVADA#2004-0029. Washington UBI # 602 425 801. LA7125-07_ND_8.6.07 64 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M ‘The selection reinforces the Yucatan as one of the pre-eminent options for cultural tourism.’ — Francisco Lopez Mena, Mexico Tourism Board Yucatan tourism tries to cash in on Chichen Itza designation By Mark Chesnut Chichen Itza was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a poll conducted by New Open World Corp. earlier this year. hichen Itza is part of a rather exclusive club now, and Mexican tourism officials and travel suppliers are doing their part to take advantage of that. The stunningly preserved remains of a sophisticated Mayan civilization, Chichen Itza, in Mexico’s Yucatan state, was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World this summer, after more than 100 million people submitted their votes via Internet and telephone. The contest was launched in January by New Open World Corp., a nonprofit Swiss foundation. Chichen Itza joins the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, the Taj Mahal in India, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Petra archaeological site in Jordan and Machu Picchu in Peru. So what does that mean for tourism? For one thing, it means a bit more crowing about Mexico’s archaeological treasures. “The selection of Chichen Itza as one of the Seven Wonders reinforces the Yucatan as one of the pre-eminent options for cultural tourism in the world,” said Francisco Lopez C fiesta americana grand Coral Beach, Cancun Mexico has 27 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Mena, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. Nearly all of the nearby tourist destinations have touted their proximity to the ruins in recent weeks. “Cancun is the ideal gateway to Mayan culture,” said Arturo Escaip Manzur, CEO of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau. Cancun is about a three-hour drive from Chichen Itza. “Visitors can arrange day trips to nearby Mayan wonders from virtually any of our hotels or tour operators,” Escaip said. “We encourage visitors to celebrate Mexico’s culture and heritage by exploring these marvelous sites, and through our success in revitalizing the destination, we provide an exclusive opportunity to experience the old and new of Mexico.” Preservation of archaeological sites throughout Mexico is increasingly a focus of tourism officials and private interests. The secretary of tourism for Mexico, the age, which reduces the roundtrip travel time between the hotel and Chichen Itza from seven hours to three — the morning departure is by car, but visitors return to the hotel by private plane. The five-night package includes a private tour and picnic lunch for two people at MEXICO UPDATE The Esencia Resort on the Riviera Maya introduced a 7th World Wonder package. Above, a guest room at the resort. ‘Visitors can arrange day trips to nearby Mayan wonders from virtually any of our hotels or tour operators.’ — Arturo Escaip Manzur, Cancun CVB Mexico Tourism Board and the World Heritage Alliance (which was founded by Expedia and the United Nations Foundation) have extended their partnership to jointly promote and preserve World Heritage sites in Mexico through 2012. Mexico has 27 natural and cultural World Heritage sites that are protected under the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. “We’re pleased that the secretary of tourism and the Mexico Tourism Board are strengthening their commitment to the World Heritage Alliance,” said Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation. “This partnership is crucial to protecting and preserving key natural, cultural sites throughout Mexico. It is also a leading example of how countries can provide eco- nomic opportunities for local communities through sustainable tourism.” Chichen Itza repackaged It’s always been relatively simple for travelers visiting any major tourist destination on the Yucatan Peninsula to take a guided trip to the ruins of Chichen Itza. Now, with the site’s recent designation as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, some hotels have introduced packages that make the site an integral part of the vacation experience. Esencia Resort, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member on the Riviera Maya, has introduced a 7th World Wonder pack- • Chichen Itza. Also included are accommodations in a garden suite, daily breakfast and roundtrip transfers to and from the Cancun airport. Prices start at $3,455. Call (877) 528-3490 or visit www.hotelesencia.com. Hacienda Xcanatun, a boutique hotel just outside the city of Merida, is offering a Wonder Package, available through April 31 (blackout dates run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 7). The three-night, double occupancy package includes a private excursion to Chichen Itza as well as daily breakfast and roundtrip Merida airport transfers. Prices start at $780 for two. Call (888) 883-3633 or visit www.xcanatun.com. The Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya in Playa del Carmen offers a budget-priced Chichen Itza hotel package that includes a threenight stay and a group tour of the site. Prices start at $339, per person. Call (011) 52-984-87-31193 or visit www.hotelriviera maya.com. ▼ • • make mexico a grand affair. Even as the sun rose and set on the second day of your client’s vacation, they remained in awe of the grandeur and charm of Mexico, its people, its culture and its hospitality. And like so many before and since, they realized that the Mexico they thought they knew, was nothing like the Mexico glowing in their hearts at this very moment. Such is the magic of Fiesta Americana Grand. f i e s ta m e r i c a n ag r a n d.co m · -   - f i e s ta- cancun · guadalajara · los cabos · mexico city The Sens del Mar is slated to open in Cancun on Dec. 20, next door to the Oasis Viva Beach Resort. Oasis pursues upscale clientele with Sens, a new boutique brand By Mark Chesnut O ▼ The first Sens property, the 58-room Sens Cancun, opened in August as a conversion of part of the Oasis America. The 260-room Sens del Mar is slated to open in Cancun on Dec. 20, next door to the Oasis Viva Beach Resort. The company now has the Sens, Oasis and Grand Oasis brands. It operates seven all-inclusive hotels in Mexico and four in the Dominican Republic. M EPXAIT EC O U D The introduction of the new brand was a logical strategy for today’s marketplace, according to Enrique Klein, vice president of sales and marketing at TravAmerica, which markets the Oasis brands in the U.S. “It is clear that today’s consumer is more sophisticated and educated than ever before,” Klein said. “A more upscale segment of the market is looking for a more personalized, unique and tailor-made travel experience regardless of where the specific hotel is located. At the same time, today’s con- PHOTO BY MARK CHESNUT asis Hotels & Resorts is no longer limited to its namesake brands. This year, the company unveiled Sens, a chain providing a boutique complement to its established Oasis brands. sumer is also looking for the best value for their money — best product and best service at the right price.” This is where the new brand in the Oasis family comes The lounge into play, Klein at the Sens said. Cancun. “ The Sens brand represents a more upscale travel experience, with a more boutique resort feeling,” he said. “This new brand represents the most upscale, higher-priced of our hotel group today. “The Sens brand will cater to our guests’ needs,” he added. “Upon arrival, guests will be able to select the type of music they enjoy, specific aromas they prefer.” In addition, the hip ambience is enhanced with “chill-out music” throughout the resort plus “beautiful decor with a minimal- ist, South Beach look and feel,” Klein said. The Sens Cancun features guest rooms with plasma TVs, Internet access, iPod docking stations and aromatherapy scents. The property also has a spa, coffee shop, Japanese restaurant and bar. The Sens del Mar will have similar amenities. Since its introduction this year, reaction to the Sens brand has met the company’s expectations, according to Klein. “Consumer response to this new product and concept has been very positive,” he said. “There is clearly a considerable market niche looking for smaller, more personalized resorts. Acceptance by our travel partners has also been very positive.” Big spending on upgrades Oasis has invested about $90 million within the past year to upgrade its seven properties in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. By the end of this year, the company will operate 4,000 rooms in 10 all-inclusive resorts in Mexico. In addition to the Sens hotels, the company will open the 385-room Grand Oasis Caribbean Beach Resort in Cancun on Dec. See SENS on Page 70 DESIGNER FLAWLESS BEACH AT YOUR FEET • 20 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT • 5 MINUTES FROM CANCUN’S FINEST LINKS • FUSES TOGETHER CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL DESIGN BY THE REBECA PEREZ FROM “INTERAQ”, SCULPTURIST MARIE FRANCE, MEXICAN ARTIST YURI ZATARAIN AND ARQUITECT ALVARO SANS • 448 ROOMS AND SUITES THE LEVEL VIP SERVICES AND AMENITIES • 4 EXCEPTIONAL DINING SELECTIONS • E-SPACE WITH DVD LIBRARY THROUGH “EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE” • RANDE & SCOTT GERBER’S NIGHTLIFE • 1ST MAXIM BEACH CLUB IN THE WORLD • SWIMMING OASIS WITH WATER RITUAL, POOL CONCIERGE AND INFINITY BAR • YHI SPA WITH 11,000 SQ. FT OF TREATMENT FACULTIES • • • • WELCOME COCKTAIL GUARANTEED OCEAN VIEW UPGRADE SPECIAL AMENITIES IN THE ROOM UPON ARRIVAL 1 NIGHT DINING EXPERIENCE FOR 2 GUESTS AT SILK OR SALT RESTAURANT • • • • $50 USDYHI SPA CREDIT NON-MOTORIZED WATER SPORTS AT “AQUAWORLD” DISCOUNT BOOKLET FROM “LA ISLA MALL” 30% DISCOUNT ON CAR RENTAL AT “EUROPCAR” 1% Bonus Commission When You Book Online www.travelimpressions.com 800-284-0044 Reservations Get it All Promotion valid for travel 9/1/07-12/20/07 for bookings made by 12/20/07. Offer valid on deluxe lagoon view room. Subject to availability and prior reservation is required with a minimum of 4 night stay. Blackout, weekend, holiday peak season surcharges apply. Promotion is accurate at time of printing and is subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. Valid for new bookings only. Not combinable. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the printing of this flyer. CST # 2029006-20, IOWA#758. NEVADA#2004-0029. Washington UBI # 602 425 801. LA7182-07_ML_9.28.07 68 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M Unforgettable moments Book Early SAVE UP TO 25% A n environment of relaxed luxury awaits on a secluded stretch of coastline just beyond Land’s End. Bathed in light from sunrise to sunset, we created Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort & Spa to captivate lovers and families alike with outstanding dining choices , Cabo’s most amazing new spa, four pools and views of the Pacific that to this day still take my breath away. Ernesto Coppel owner RESERVATIONS : PUEBLOBONITO.COM | 800-990-8250 OR YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR CABO SAN LUCAS LOS CABOS | PACIFICA HOLISTIC RETREAT | ROSÉ | SUNSET BEACH MAZATLAN EMERALD BAY | MAZATLAN PUERTO VALLARTA SAMBA V ALLARTA The Grand Oasis Caribbean Beach Resort will open in Cancun on Dec. 21. SENS Continued from Page 68 21. The resort, a new construction, had a soft opening in August, but then closed to finish preparations. To help keep consumers interested in the Oasis family of properties, the company last year introduced the Oasis Loves You loyalty program. Klein said the program has been “growing consistently” since its launch. Oasis now offers a free Weddings at Oasis package that it values at $1,199. Included are the services of a wedding coordinator, priority room assignments, VIP check-in for the couple and guests, an upgrade to a suite for the bride and groom, a civil ceremony and a 10% discount on select spa services. The package is available to couples who book at least five double rooms, with a minimum four-night stay. The package is applicable for weddings at the Grand Oasis Cancun, Grand Oasis Riviera Maya, Grand Oasis Playa, Oasis Cancun and Oasis Viva Beach. Also key to Oasis’s strategy is the travel SUCCESS ISN’T LOWERING COSTS-PER-SEAT. IT’S INCREASING MEMORIES-PER-DAY. agent community, Klein said. The company’s Travel Agent Rewards Program “represents a key element within our marketing and sales mix,” according to Klein. “The retail travel community represents a key source of distribution and business for Oasis Hotels & Resorts,” he said. “Although this is a relatively new program, its growth rate is very consistent.” The agent program, which is accessible through the Oasis Web site, “is very friendly to the user and very simple to manage and maintain by each participating member,” Klein said. “Another key is the fact that this pro- M EPXAIT EC O U D Cancun and beyond gram generates very quick and consistent rewards. Agents don’t have to wait long periods of time before receiving cash awards.” With Cancun a hotspot for Oasis’ growth, the destination’s overall performance during low and high seasons is important to the company, and Klein said he’s pleased with booking trends. “The booking pace for 2008 is looking very healthy from all geographic markets,” said Klein. “The highest level of booking activity starts in mid-October.” Part of Cancun’s popularity, Klein said, is the result of efforts to educate the public about the destination’s recovery following Hurricane Wilma in 2005. “Communicating the great news about Cancun’s incredible recovery, which took place in a remarkably short term, has been A guest room at the Sens Cancun. PHOTO BY MARK CHESNUT Vacations are more than just air seats and hotel rooms. At Funjet Vacations, they are among the most amazing moments in life. That’s why we offer you tools for creating unforgettable getaways uniquely tailored for each of your customers. So the booking of rich travel experiences is as rewarding for you as it is for your clients. Because vacations are measured in more than dollars, days and nights. They’re measured in memories. Unforgettable vacation stories begin at www.VAXVacationAccess.com/funjet or Sabre Vacations, AgentNet, and Worldspan. a team effort involving Mexico’s authorities and the private sector, including hotels and all other hospitality service providers, wholesalers and tour operators as well as the professional travel community. “We feel that at this time, the consumer is very well aware of the fact that Cancun is not only ready, but better equipped than ever before,” Klein added. The chances are that the Oasis brand, and perhaps Sens, will be popping up in other destinations. “At this time there are multiple potential areas for growth, both within Mexico as well as other key destinations, such as the Dominican Republic and in Europe,” said Klein. “There is no question that the Oasis group, through our diverse brands, will continue to expand.” For more information about Oasis Hotels & Resorts and Sens Resorts, call (800) 44-OASIS, or visit www.oasishotels.com or www.senshotels.com. ▼ 70 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M Hacienda San Jose has massage rooms that are restored Mayan casitas. The Haciendas marry spa bliss with veritable Mayan culture By Mark Chesnut ravelers looking to immerse themselves in Mayan culture while enjoying luxurious amenities might consider staying at one of five Yucatan Peninsula hotels that make up the Haciendas. The group, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury Collection, this year introduced new and expanded spa services performed by people in the local Mayan community. “Our spas are the result of actions we’ve taken with the communities to preserve and recover the values of the Mayan people,” said Reto Kade, spa facilities director for the Haciendas. Hacienda Temozon has the Yucatan Peninsula’s only spa housed in a cenote. T set in the manor houses of former henequen plantations. The Yucatan was once a major producer of henequen, an agave plant used to produce rope and twine. “Each hacienda offers a special experi- ence and its own distinct atmosphere,” Mellado said. “Temozon is the most spectacular because of its architecture and its buildings, which were built in 1669 and restored beautifully by the owners. It’s ideal for families, small groups and individuals who want to use it as a base for visiting the nearby archeological sites and cenotes.” For more information, call (011) 52-999923-8089 or visit www.thehaciendas.com. The massage therapists are Mayan Indians trained by the Fundacion Haciendas Mundo Maya A.C., a nonprofit organization established in 2002 that aims to help poor residents. In addition to traditional massage, the hotel spas now offer exfoliations, hot-stone massages and what the group calls “Mayan energy massages,” according to Daniel Mellado, director of sales and marketing. “When clients found out that the massage therapists are Mayan sobadoras (therapists), they wanted to know even more about them,” said Mellado. “The facilities we have make any treatment a truly unique and authentic experience.” The new spa menus are basically the same at each hotel, said Mellado, “although because of the natural setting of each hacienda, each offers a different experience.” Hacienda San Jose has massage rooms that are restored Mayan casitas. Hacienda Temozon has the only cenote spa in the region. Cenotes are sinkholes found on the Yucatan Peninsula. “Treatments are performed inside an ancient cenote, where the atmosphere is very special,” Mellado said. Other opportunities to learn about the Mayan community abound at the Hacienda resorts. “We have experience-based packages, during which the client interacts with the local people, including cooking classes, demonstrations,” said Mellado. “Some tours include visits to Mayan villages and craft workshops where visitors can speak with local people and watch them make handicrafts.” The Haciendas properties are small and Mexico’s newest Pacific destination that unfolds just minutes north of Puerto Vallarta´s International Airport. eep K e Th ! ash C Agents Vacation for FREE or Earn 100% Commission! Win Free All-Inclusive Packages to a Riviera Nayarit Hotel. Travel yourself or sell them & pocket All the CASH! All details on how to win are in the “Travel Professionals” section of our website: www.rivieranayarit.com W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 71 travel product news Rates are commissionable at 10%, except where noted. New York’s Roosevelt Hotel offers Thanksgiving rate NEW YORK — The Roosevelt Hotel is offering the Thankful to Be in NYC rate, valid Nov. 18 through 23. The Zermatt Resort & Spa in Utah is inviting guests to spend a winter break at the property. The overnight rate starts at $239 per room. Roosevelt Hotel Phone: (888) TEDDY-NY Web: www.theroosevelthotel .com GDSs: All systems Loews Don CeSar creates package for expectant couples ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — For expectant parents, the Loews Don CeSar Beach Resort has created the Think Pink (or Blue) Babymoon package for stays through December. The three-night package, priced at $1,349 per couple, covers a portrait, celebration cigars, a prenatal massage and a Yoga for Pregnancy class. Loews Don CeSar Phone: (800) 282-1116 Web: www.doncesar.com GDSs: All systems dations in the chosen room category, daily continental breakfast and a wine-and-cheese reception. Inn on the Alameda Phone: (888) 984-2122 (must be booked by phone) Web: www.innonthealameda .com (for hotel information only) Fairmont Washington, D.C. offers movie-based package WASHINGTON — The Fairmont Washington, D.C. is celebrating the Dec. 21 release of “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets,” a film starring Nicolas Cage. During the filming of the movie, Cage made the Fairmont his home base. The National Treasure plan is valid Nov. 1 through March 30 and is priced from $259 per room, double. The plan covers turndown service, two Tour Mobile tickets to see the sights and a diary to document the visit. Fairmont Washington, D.C. Phone: (800) 441-1414 Web: www.fairmont.com/wash ington GDSs: All systems To submit an announcement for possible publication in Travel Product News, send information to: Kimberly Scholz at kscholz@travel weekly.com; fax: (201) 902-2034. Book with someone you trust… SAVE ON WINTER SPECIALS! Rome & Florence Extravaganza 10 days with AIR $ * from ITALY 1099 GREECE Eternal Athens 10 days with AIR $ from Zermatt Resort & Spa features ‘Mountain Winter Getaway’ MIDWAY, Utah — The Zermatt Resort & Spa is offering the Mountain Winter Getaway plan from Nov. 23 through April 30. The package covers a threenight stay and a $100 resort credit. If the plan is booked by Nov. 23, guests will receive a fourth night free. Rates start at $599 per room, double. Zermatt Resort & Spa Phone: (877) 269-9629 Web: www.zermatt.dolce.com GDSs: All systems 899 Includes transfers, H/D tours & 1st class rail Includes transfers & H/D tours FRANCE SPAIN Paris at Leisure 7 days with AIR $ from Heart of Spain Adventure Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga IN THE SPOTLIGHT 889 Save $100 per couple 9 days, land only $ from New Mexico’s Inn on the Alameda celebrates 22nd anniversary SANTA FE, N.M. — The Inn on the Alameda is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this winter with the Twenty-Two — It’s True! package. The plan is valid Nov. 4 through Jan. 31, excluding holiday periods, and is priced from $262 to $672 per room for a three-night stay, including the discounted $22 rate for the third night. The package covers accommo- HYATT REGENCY OFFERS NEW YEAR’S EVE PLAN FOR FAMILIES Includes transfers & Seine cruise with lunch 883 Air Available From Other US Gateways! Rates are per person, based on double occupancy, in tourist-class hotels. Where included, air is from NYC/BOS. *Italy program based on “Pay-3-stay-4” offer. Restrictions apply. The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay. CAMBRIDGE, Md. — The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina created the overnight New Year’s Eve With the Kids package, designed for families to ring in the new year together. The plan features accommodations on Dec. 31 for up to four people (two adults and two children), a buffet dinner and drink tickets for four, a midnight champagne toast and family-style activities. The cost is $499 per room for up to four people. Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort Spa & Marina Phone: (800) 633-7313 or (410) 901-1234 Web: www.chesapeakebay .hyatt.com GDSs: All systems 800-539-4148 • agents.centralholidays.com ITALY • GREECE • SPAIN • PORTUGAL • CRUISES broaden your horizons Exhibiting companies: • 13,000 business opportunities Trade participants: • 151,000 commercial contacts Non-trade visitors: • 97,000 potential customers and 170 countries and regions to be discovered Member of: Feria de Madrid 30 january 3 february IFEMA in USA Tel.: (1) 305 371 7767 Fax: (1) 305 358 6844 jsanchez@madridoffice.com LINEA IFEMA CALLS FROM SPAIN INFOIFEMA EXHIBITORS INTERNATIONAL CALLS 902 22 15 15 902 22 16 16 (34) 91 722 30 00 (34) 91 722 57 87 Feria de Madrid 28042 Madrid España / Spain The best destination for your business FAX IFEMA fitur@ifema.es www.fituronline.com 72 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M “After graduating from the Princess Academy, I used my updated knowledge to book a family reunion of 15 people on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. With Princess dominating the Alaska market, it’s a breeze to sell to all my clients now.” Sheri Deen-Brightwell, Commodore Doug Fox Travel and Cruise Seattle, WA Signature Travel Network Academy Graduation Cruise 9/27 /08 on Sapphire PrincessSM “A woman wanted a more intimate Alaska cruise experience, on an itinerary traveling northbound. Thanks to the Princess Academy, I told her about a smaller Princess ship, sailing from Vancouver to Anchorage. She was thrilled and booked their Alaska cruise.” Tammie Brown, Commodore Odyssey Tour and Travel Great Falls, MT Results Travel Academy Graduation Cruise 11/8/08 on Sapphire PrincessSM Become Our Next Princess Academy Success Story. It’s time you reaped the benefits of Princess Academy, the one-stop learning source for all things Princess.® Just take our easy-to-follow courses and you could be on your way to increased bookings. And incredible rewards like these*: • Academy Graduation Cruise** • Free Internet Access Package • Free Shoe Polishing & Laundry Services • Free Mini-bar Set-up So join the thousands of travel agents who are on their way to earning a graduation cruise. Log on to onesourcecruises.com today. Don’t get left behind. Real Tools. Real Results. Real Rewards. *Rewards vary and are based on your status as a ranked Academy agent. For a complete list of benefits and full details visit onesourcecruises.com. **Each year, Princess will distribute 1,000 Academy Graduation Cruises on a first to book basis to experience the product as part of the training. ©2007 Princess Cruises. Ships of Bermudan registry. marketplace For advertising information, please contact Emmy at emorales@travelweekly.com or 201-902-1951 HOST AGENCY HOST AGENCY HOST AGENCY FIND YOUR IDEAL HOST AGENCY HERE Capture NEW Business by promoting your services and contact information in QUICK CONTACT. Reach Top Travel Professionals ready to respond to your message TODAY! BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES quick contact Airfares Discount NET Fares - International/Domestic • Business / First Class & Coach • Agents - Add Your Own Commission Open Positions A Million Leads… Come Get Some! WTH, one of the nation’s largest leisure travel companies, is currently hiring for… TRAVEL STAFFING FIRM 1-800-400-1350 / airace3065@aol.com Travel Sales Professionals – Have travel industry sales experience? Look no further! We offer select professionals thousands of leads a year – and we pay YOU to close them! Work from home, or in our Miramar, Florida contact center. Fulfill dream vacations through both inbound and outbound calls. This position offers an earning opportunity potential of mid 30’s and higher. Some of our Professionals have been able to earn $50K, $75K and more! We also offer rewards and recognition programs, benefits, paid training, and NO FEES or start up costs. Take the next step in your travel career… Airfares International Apply online at www.TravelDreamJobs.com ADVERTISING CONTACT Member of ARC 1 888 792 3742 AdriaSales@aviareps.com www.adria-airways.com Travel Services MDTRAVEL MDTRAVEL provides medical support to travelers seeking travel health security. 7% Commission Serving kyiv for 14 years! For more information: www.mdtravelsecure.com Contact: dkoop@mdtravelsecure.com or 614-833-6492 For Print and Online Marketplace advertising rates or to place your ad in the next available issue c o n t a c t Emmy Morales phone: 201.902.1951 fax: 201.902.7283 or e-mail: w w w. t r a v e l w e e k l y. c o m C L A S S I F I E D S Check SPAs & more - Log into www.uiana.com Need a stopover, meet & greet, tours while in Ukraine? Visit Panorama-Tours.com.ua Spring Break and Grad Tours CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS, SOUTH PADRE, PUERTO VALLARTA, FLORIDA emorales@travelweekly.com Agent Commission 5% CALL 1-800-876-0114 • Email: uiasales@aol.com Global website: www.flyuia.com Consolidators International Business Class SAVE UP TO 50% OFF Fare PLUS receive $50 Bonus on each Ticket. Business & First Class Domestic Fare are available from $1699. Int’l Economy Class Fares to Europe, Mid East, Africa & Orient. Earn up to 14% Commmission! 1.800.648.4849 www.ststravel.com agents@ststravel.com www.panexpresstravel.com • 800.518.7437 212.719.9292 Fax: 212.730.1486 • info@panexpresstravel.com Here you can find the BEST Airfares, Tour Packages, Travel Services and MORE. 2 0 0 7 W W W ONLY C L A S S I F I E D ONLY TRAVELWEEKLY .1 WWW.TRAVELWEEKLY.COM CLASSIFIEDS 74 O C T O B E R 1 5 , . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M marketplace For advertising information, please contact Emmy at emorales@travelweekly.com or 201-902-1951 POSITIONS OPEN POSITIONS OPEN Award winning airline seeks full time Rates Agent for job near LAX. Must have international rates experience. Great benefits and opportunities for growth. POSITIONS OPEN www.pleasantholidays.com Join the Pleasant Holidays team of professionals who continue to lead the tour wholesaler market to Hawaii, Mexico, South Pacific and Asia. We are looking for self-motivated and service oriented individuals who enjoy working in a fast paced environment. We are currently recruiting the following full time positions: Come Aboard and Join One of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines!!! Love, Laughter, La Dolce Vita. For nearly 60 years, Italian-based Costa has brought the beauty of Italy onboard its ships in Europe, the Caribbean, South America and beyond. Europe’s #1 Cruise Line and soon to be the fourth-largest cruise line in the world, Costa is looking for the following position in our North American office: Business Development Manager in the Midwest area The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and servicing agencies within an assigned territory by conducting in-person sales calls, training and trade shows.Requirements include ability to foster and build relationships,aggressive follow-up and ability to manage budgets.Previous Sales & Marketing experience required.Travel industry background preferred. Interested applicants can send/fax/email this resume to Costa Cruise Lines, Attention: Human Resources 200 South Park Road, Suite #200 Hollywood, FL 33021 Fax: 954-266-5880 • Email: ohara@us.costa.it Email resume & cover letter to airnzhr@airnz.com or fax (310) 648-7118 Senior Sabre agent for corp, leisure and some meeting and MS OFFICE knowledge. Job is for immediate hire to work in S. FL., with independent contractor affliated with large Travel Agency E-mail: jobreply1@ntmllc.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS Texas: Region includes TX, OK, KS, AR, SW MO Denver: Region includes CO and UT Florida: Region includes all of FL Michigan: Region includes MI and IN Inland Empire, CA (Bilingual) To qualify, you must have a minimum of 2 years outside travel agency sales experience and reside in the specific region. Company car included. PRODUCT DIRECTORS Florida/Caribbean Product Director Europe Product Director The position requires a B.A. and a minimum of 5 years experience in product development with online travel experience preferred. Key responsibilities include contracting hotels and ground operators for the destinations. We offer a competitive salary and our generous benefits include an incentive plan, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401(k) plan and travel privileges. For consideration, send your resume via email with salary history to: Operations Manager Immediate hire for a: Executive/Managing Director, Division of Tourism View complete details online: www.travelweekly.com Virtual Corporate Consultant Experienced Corporate Travel Consultants - Work from home! GTM, a large Pittsburgh-based travel management is growing again. We are seeking experienced corporate consultants for home office employment to service our corporate clients’ travel needs. All shifts available, including evenings and weekends. We offer competitive salaries, benefits, great incentives , advanced technology. E-mail resume in MS WORD to j o b s @ g t m t r a v e l . c o m Progressive travel management company is seeking a professional and experienced manager for a client service focused environment in the Pittsburgh area. Management Experience required. Call center management a plus. We offer great benefits, incentives, and free parking! Send resume to hr.pit.jobs@gmail.com Operations Manager Director of Sales We are looking for a self-motivated sales closer for a unique luxury travel product. Salary and commission, health benefits; headquarted on Long Island. Call me and close me: Stuart Lopata 516 624 2342 or email resume to: slopata@travelsavers.com PLEASANT HOLIDAYS, LLC Attn: Human Resources 2404 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village, CA. 91361 E-mail tina.schenewerk@pleasant.net or Fax (805) 744-6268 EOE M/F/D/V TRAVELEADERS Immediate opening for Sabre GDS Automation/Training Specialist with Cliqbook experience to also support TRAC & Agresso. Some travel required Email resumes: LBithorn@traveleaders.com District Sales Manager SuperClubs Resorts is looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic, and professional Sales Manager with 5+ years experience in the Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, & NJ area. Please fax resume to (954) 929-5491 E-mail: hr@superclubs.com Full time agent required for a FIND YOUR NEXT STAR EMPLOYEE ONLY IN TRAVEL WEEKLY C L A S S I F I E D small high end agency in Westchester NY. Sabre experience and a love of travel a must. Please send résumé to Charles@harrisontravel.com Reach the top candidates with Travel Weekly. Armed with the latest knowledge of industry news and analysis, Travel Weekly readers are the best candidates to help make you more money. When you are looking to hire, think Travel Weekly Classified. In print. Online. Only Travel Weekly Classified. NEW ONLINE Monthly Sponsorship package available. For more information email Emmy at emorales@travelweekly.com or go to www.travelweekly.com - CLASSIFIEDS L ooking to Hire? Respected upscale West Coast wholesaler is expanding to Northeast! We seek energetic NY-based self-starter with strong travel agent relationships and wholesale field experience. We will give you the tools, the support and the freedom to build your territory. If you enjoy sales and relish a challenge, please contact Hawaii World / Distinguished Resorts at support@hawaiiworld.com classifieds www.travelweekly.com C L A S S I F I E D S . . MORE MORE jobs MORE MORE opportunities MORE MORE O Get a World of Exposure Advertise in Travel Weekly’s Travel Industry Survey Focus Issue Issue Date: October 22, 2007 Only Travel Weekly delivers the industry’s most comprehensive annual research on consumer and industry travel trends. DON’T MISS ADVERTISING IN THE MOST ANTICIPATED AND WIDELY READ ISSUE OF THE YEAR! Call TODAY to reserve your space in Travel Weekly’s Marketplace or Quick Contact in the Travel Industry Survey Issue. For Advertising information, please contact: EMMY MORALES, 201.902.1951 or EMORALES@TRAVELWEEKLY.COM W W W T R A V E L W E E K L Y C O M C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 75 opinion • W EDITORIALS Chickens and eggs We’re not sure who coined the term “card mill,” but we’re pretty sure it wasn’t someone who ran one. It is a strictly pejorative term, a term you can’t use “in a good way.” We’ve never heard a purveyor of travel agent credentials admit to being a card mill, but we have heard them say that they have thousands of satisfied customers and that the travel sellers in their networks deliver a sizeable amount of business to industry suppliers. And that, for the enemies of card mills, is the problem. Card mills exist because people derive economic benefits from them. As they exist in the travel industry today, card mills benefit their operators, the travel sellers who join their networks and the suppliers whose products and services are sold. One might argue that their passengers also benefit, or at least think they do. Royal Caribbean’s decision to distance its brands from certain card mills may prove to be a sensible one, fully deserving the applause it has received from traditional agents. But the company’s move has given renewed life to a questionable idea — that suppliers can fix this problem by simply refusing to deal with certain travel sellers. Even assuming that enough suppliers can be shamed into disavowing agency credentials that were issued with a rubber stamp, suppliers need to do more to establish a consensus about what kind of training or credentials a professional travel agent is supposed to have. If a few suppliers deprive card mills of a product to sell, it would make traditional agents feel better, but it wouldn’t stop consumers from looking for shortcuts and insider deals, and it wouldn’t stop entrepreneurs from finding ways to meet the demand. If the travel industry is going to rid itself of card mills, it has to convince consumers and suppliers — or, heaven forbid, lawmakers — that they provide no value, that their benefits are illusory and not worth the risk. That would seem to be a tall order in a world where all of us regularly make use of shortcuts. Do all of us drive around in cars that are maintained by the manufacturer’s factory-certified mechanics? Do we have our lawns cared for by certified lawn-care professionals, or the kid down the block? Do we have our basements finished by certified homeimprovement contractors, or a brother-in-law who’s handy with tools? In a perfect world, or even a better world, a professional travel counselor’s credentials would consist of something more than a love of travel and a $499 ID badge. In the real world, however, that’s all it will take as long as consumers believe that some guy with a pickup and a chain saw is just as good as an arborist. What’s at issue here is not merely travel credentials but the very idea of credentials. In the real world, there’s always going to be “some guy.” LETTERS Commission cuts by cruise lines seem greedy considering profits oyal Caribbean Cruises and its subsidiary companies, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Azamara, wasted no time following the lead of Carnival Corp. in eliminating commission payments to travel agents for the air portion of cruise bookings [“Royal Caribbean matches Carnival in cutting air commissions,” Oct. 8]. While not surprising, it is another blow to many in the travel agent community. Agencies that aren’t ARCappointed are significantly harmed by this action. What is particularly egregious is Carnival’s announcing three days after the commission cut announcement that it had posted a third-quarter profit of $1.4 billion. That is corporate greed of the worst kind since those profits came largely on the backs of travel agents who booked the passengers. I’m sure that when Royal Caribbean’s profits are posted they will be considerable. I am equally sure that Carnival and Royal Caribbean are ingratiating themselves to the Wall Street analysts who believe that the cruise lines should cut commissions to benefit shareholders. Their myopic view has little to do with reality. While there may be little recourse for individual travel agencies, it is time to test the mettle of the travel franchisors, consortia and professional associations. If they are unable or unwilling to influence these events, then it really raises questions about their basic value in the first place. Individual travel agencies get pounded into the ground while cruise line profits grow and the “leaders” in the travel agent community shrug their shoulders and ask, “What can you do?” Organizing an effective strategy to protect travel agency interests appears beyond their collective capacity. The phoniness and hypocrisy in Vicki Freed’s “I love travel agents” campaign is equaled only by Royal Carib- R bean’s “We love travel agents” pabulum. I judge people and companies by what they do, not by what they say. What the cruise lines do is not the kind of love I am looking for. Jerry Vaughn, President and CEO World Voyager Federal Way, Wash. In a world of commodity tours, guides make all the difference rnie Weissmann’s column [From the Window Seat: “Misguided Tours,” Aug. 27] struck a chord, as I was one of those overland drivers to whom he referred. I was driving in the early ’70s, a little earlier than the time he took his tour. However, there were certainly some characters around in my time, as well. They went by all sorts of nicknames, such as “The Animal,” “Blossom” and “Speedy.” We used to all know each other and went up and down the hippie trail from London to Kathmandu and across the Sahara from London to Cape Town. Of course, with no Internet and only guidebooks to rely on, our passengers had to rely on us as to what attractions they could see in the available time. One driver once managed to get his passengers to agree to bypass the Taj Mahal as just “another pile of old ruins” so they could get to the next stop ahead of everyone else in time for cold beers and hot showers. Weissmann’s observations on the importance of a guide to the success of a trip are especially important today with the overwhelming amount of information available on the Internet. My specialization is Africa and safaris. When I have someone tell me about their recent safari experience, I can tell within the first couple of sentences whether they had a knowledgeable, engaged guide or a “professional” detached escort. Those with the detached escort will tell me what they “saw” while those with the knowledgeable, A The third queen If we had to place a bet a week ago, we would have wagered that Cunard’s next ship order would be for a cruise ship to add a new dimension to the Cunard experience, not another regal liner. Certainly not a third big queen. But we would have lost that bet, for obvious reasons. As poker hands go, three ladies beats a pair of queens any day. 76 I O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M OPINION The wonder of it all Weber, a Swiss-Canadian filmmaker, launched a Web address to capture the votes of more than 100 million of Earth’s inhabitants. He set up a foundation that pledged to donate 50% of all revenue from advertising and promotional efforts toward the restoration of damaged sites on the list. Last winter, a list of 21 finalists were announced, including the Statue of Liberty and Timbuktu. In some countries, the voting began to take on a kind of national fervor as Weber flew around the globe in support of promotional efforts to “get out the vote.” The early indications were that the English-speaking peoples of the world had a kind of historical apathy. It was hard to generate enthusiasm for the project in the U.S., Britain or Australia. This may have had something to do with a level of cynicism involving the voting process. Since I am based in Chicago, I had no problem with the issue of folks voting as many times as their passion inspired them. But apparently in some quarters, this was frowned upon. I was also disappointed that Bar Vivoli in Florence, Italy, was not nominated for one of the seven slots. Vivoli has the world’s best gelato, and while the Pyramids at Giza are nice, they just don’t have the same wonderful aftertaste as Vivoli’s hand-churned watermelon gelato It became, I suppose, impractical to ship each of the eligible worldwide citizenry voters a small cup of Vivoli’s honeydew melon gelato. I did wonder why a new vote was really necessary, so I went back to look at Weber’s original proposal. He was keen to offer an updated list to accurately reflect the stillstanding wonders of the modern age. But what of the original list? It turns out that a fellow known as Antipater of Sidon drew up the list. He was a Greek poet who enjoyed talking with travelers such as E-mail: To contact most Travel Weekly staffers, type their first initial and last name, followed by @travelweekly.com. Phone (headquarters): (201) 902-2000 Fax (headquarters): (201) 902-2034 O ne day, Bernard Weber got this idea. Why not, he thought, harness the powers of the Internet to enable people around the world to vote for an updated version of the Seven Wonders of the World. REALITY CHECK only site visible from outer space fare in the vote? The ancient Greeks knew nothing of the Great Wall. Would the Chinese divert their attention from the upcoming Olympics long enough to wage a voting campaign for the updated Seven Wonders Herodotus and Callimachus. This of the World? provided him with some inforOn July 7, the final voting remation, but not a lot, since these sults were announced at an elabotravelers pretty much limited rate ceremony in Lisbon that featheir adventures to the Meditertured a heady list of cultural icons ranean. So his list was a bit limand Jennifer Lopez. ited in scope. The Jordanian royal family’s He wrote a short poem extolefforts paid off as Petra, sitting Richard Turen ling the virtues of the places that proudly at the edge of the Arahad been described to him by the bian desert, was among the wonvarious road warriors with whom he came ders selected. Machu Picchu, built when the in contact. I thought you might like to read Incas ruled in 1450 and uncovered by Hiit. This is the origin of the original list of the ram Bingham in 1911, made the list. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Rio de Janeiro’s nearly perfect statue of Christ the Redeemer in its privileged perch “I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Baby- atop Corcovado Mountain made the list, as lon on which is a road for chariots, and the did the Taj Majal and Chichen Itza. statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hangThe Colosseum has withstood major fires ing gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and and four earthquakes. It is a construction the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the miracle in which 50,000 screaming fans vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the enjoyed contests between man and beast as house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, well as full naval battles when the tunnels, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I which still exist, flooded the stadium field. said, ‘Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never I can’t help recalling the first of my many looked on aught so grand.’ ” visits to the Colosseum to contemplate the — Antipater, Greek Anthology IX.58 history that surrounded me as I stood in the middle of this structure. In my reverie, I was The problem with the original list is that interrupted by a fellow who wanted to sell four of the sites were destroyed by earth- me a watch once owned by Perry Como. quakes and two in fires. Only the pyramids And the seventh wonder? Yes, China was remain. So a new list actually did make some able to mobilize the votes, and the Great sense since listing wonders that the Clark Wall, the senior citizen among the new anGriswold family can’t reach by car seems cient wonders, did make the list. like a waste of effort. Among the losers were second-rate sites What happened, of course, is that some such as Stonehenge, Easter Island, Angkor, countries really got into this thing and some the Alhambra, the Statue of Liberty and the did not. The royal Kremlin. Oh, and I am saddened to report family in Jordan that the Acropolis didn’t make the list either. campaigned hard Perhaps in 2500 there will be another list, for Petra while India and the Greeks can make a run for it. launched a nationVivoli was never even nominated. wide political campaign on behalf of the Taj Mahal. In some parts of the world, the Contributing editor Richard Turen owns campaigns really got intense. Coca-Cola in Churchill and Turen, a vacation-planning Mexico ran ads begging people to vote for firm that has been named to Conde Nast’s Chichen Itza. list of the World’s Top Travel Specialists since There was excitement and one burning the list began. Contact him at rturen@travel question to be answered: How would the weekly.com. VICE PRESIDENT/EDITOR IN CHIEF: ARNIE WEISSMANN EDITOR: ROB FIXMER MANAGING EDITOR: REBECCA TOBIN EDITOR/NEWS & OPINION: Bill Poling (202) 429-9030; Fax (202) 429-9054 DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: Gerry Bourbeau MANAGING EDITOR/SUPPLEMENTS: Margaret Myre EDITOR/DESTINATIONS: Kenneth Kiesnoski CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kent M.C. 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Suarès CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Dean Blaine, Mark Chesnut, Harvey Chipkin, Laura Del Rosso, Bob Joselyn, Felicity Long, Kristin O’Meara Hillmann, Joe Rosen, Allan Seiden, Jorge Sidron, Richard Turen TRAVELWEEKLY.COM: MANAGING EDITOR: Kimberly Scholz WEB SERVICES MANAGER: Linda Buchanan WEB ADMINISTRATOR: Karen Nyland ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS MANAGER: Neal Tornopsky PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Michele M. Garth PRODUCTION SPECIALISTS: Adrian Carbunescu, Lisa Gonzales GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Simon Young PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Robert Brai TRAVEL WEEKLY MARKETING: DIRECTOR, N.C. OPERATIONS & MARKETING: Cindy D. Sheaffer MARKETING MANAGER: Kathryn Noval MARKETING ASSOCIATE: Megan Sierveld LETTERS engaged guide will tell me what they “experienced.” The sad thing from the passenger’s point of view is that, more often than not, those who have traveled with the detached escort don’t know what they have missed, as they didn’t know what to expect. That comes down to using an informed travel agent as opposed to the impersonal Internet. As Weissmann points out in his column, each tour operator uses much the same equipment, goes to the same places and provides excellent logistics. The one genuine difference between them is the guides they use. However, getting this across to prospective travelers over the Internet is not easy. Jim Holden Independent Safari Consultant Newport Beach, Calif. Please send letters for publication to Travel Weekly, attn: Letters Editor, 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, N.J., 07094, or e-mail them to TWletters@travelweekly.com. Travel Weekly reserves the right to edit all letters for length and to conform to our style and standards. EDITOR, CUSTOM PUBLISHING: Erin Etheridge PROJECT MANAGER, CUSTOM PUBLISHING: Michaela Siegrist GRAPHIC DESIGNER, CUSTOM PUBLISHING: Alissa Rea Williams MARKET RESEARCH ANALYSTS: Felisha Davis, Julius Cave W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . 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Irrigacion Mexico DF 11500 Phone: (011) 52-55 2122-3900; Fax: (011) 52-55 5395-4985 E-mail: jmdugay@towmar.com, pmartinez@towmar.com CANADA AMERICAN PUBLISHERS REPRESENTATIVES FRANCOISE CHALIFOUR 41 Britain Street, Suite 303, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1R7 Canada Phone: (416) 363-1388, Ext. 237; Fax: (416)-363-2889; E-mail: fchalifour@aprcanada.com EUROPE/ASIA MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL SALES: PIERRE-DENIS BERNOUX Phone: (201) 902-1932; Fax: (201) 902-2041; E-mail: pbernoux@ntmllc.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL: JOANNE NELSON Phone: (201) 902-1931; Fax: (201) 902-2041 NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA LLC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: GEORGE HUNDLEY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: TOM WRIGHT Continued from Page 1 before it takes effect. He said RCCL didn’t take “enough of a look at our business, and we want the opportunity to show them that.” Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of sales for Royal Caribbean International, would not confirm that its policy specifically targeted YTB or similar firms, but she said in an interview that RCCL had notified three companies and that they were “the most egregious and the largest and the ones everyone’s very familiar with.” The RCCL letter said the targeted companies “offer normal consumers the ability to become a ‘travel agent’ or ‘travel agency’ or receive ‘travel agent credentials’ with little or no professional training or certification.” Bauer and Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales for Celebrity and Azamara, both signed the letter and sent it to travel agents on Oct. 9. Bauer said she was immediately inundated by e-mail from travel agents applauding the decision. Bauer anticipates that any loss of revenue RCCL experiences from the canceled business relationships will be made up for in additional market share that agents give RCCL because of the decision. “I believe our brands will get more support as a result of this,” she said, adding that the three businesses did not represent a sizable percentage of RCCL’s business and that the card mill model hurts the cruise company. YTB, which reported $226 million in 2006 sales, earning it the No. 35 spot on Travel Weekly’s Power List, said it had booked $13 million in cruises with Royal Caribbean so far this year. Many agents told Travel Weekly that they commended RCCL’s decision (see box, this page, for additional comments). “I applaud Lisa Bauer for her actions,” said Pam Vermons of Glendora Travel Service & Cruise in Glendora, Calif. “All I can say is, it’s about time, and I hope they stick to their decision and enforce it.” Bauer said that besides the three firms it was now terminating, it will continue to look at the issue and at other alleged “card mills.” These retailers are often identifiable, Bauer said, by having a large agent membership with low per-agent returns. “If someone has lots of agents but the revenue per location is really small, it does cause you to wonder what the business model really is,” she said. RCCL said in the letter that there was a host of negative consequences of the cardmill business: Consumer experiences with untrained agents tainted their encounters, the business reputations of accredited and certified travel agents were being undermined, the costs of Royal Caribbean’s operations had increased by having to provide benefits to people for whom they were not intended and customer services that Royal Caribbean expected a travel agency to provide were not being provided, despite the payment of a full commission. Bauer said that RCCL could enforce the decision because it could identify any host agency for which a travel agent works. She said that agents must have a state business license and either a CLIA, IATAN or ARC number, in addition to a letterhead or Web site and W-9 from their agency. Bob Sharak, CLIA’s executive vice president for marketing and distribution, said that to obtain a CLIA ID card, an agent must be affiliated with an active CLIA member agency and that the agency owner or manager must approve the application for the particular agent. The agent must also complete mandatory CLIA training. YTB’s concept Though YTB is a “networking company,” Sorensen he said it puts “major emphasis on the travel side. ...We want to legitimize the concept with our production.” On the other hand, he said, YTB makes no pretense of competing with “high-touch, high-service” travel agents. It is after the consumer who is comfortable booking on the Internet. He denied being a card mill, asserting that the travel emphasis was what differentiates YTB from card mills, which are merely networking businesses. He also said that YTB did not sell access to travel discounts meant for the trade and that YTB issued an entry-level ID card that looks nothing like the IATAN card and was meant for use at time of booking, not for obtaining travel benefits. YTB has an arrangement with major suppliers, including Royal Caribbean, whereby YTB screens its outside agents (called referring travel agents, or RTAs) for their productivity before allowing them to take a supplier’s fam or other offer meant for selling agents. He added that he assumed most suppliers did not accept the YTB card as justification for trade benefits. “I don’t know how to deal with that if suppliers do accept it,” he said. Petition drive Sorensen said that RCCL’s “senior management may have succumbed to the petition out there,” a reference to a petition drive that has attracted hundreds of signatures from agents urging suppliers to either not support multilevel marketing businesses or to differentiate between them and traditional agencies. (See report on Page 79.) Bauer denied having been influenced by the petition, saying she had not seen it. “It was completely our own internal decision,” she said. “The [card mills] were causing disruptions. Some of our advisory board members were saying it really is commoditizing the industry.” RCCL’s decision has put other cruise and travel companies on the spot, since many travel agents expressed the hope that they would follow its lead. As of press time, no other cruise line had made any official statement about its own dealings with so-called card mills. Vicki Freed, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president of sales, said that her line has always had a “strict policy in place” denying travel agent benefits to card mills. “Since these folks are so large in numbers, it was always difficult for us to determine who were the real producers in the group,” she said. “We took that no-benefits approach early on, so this has not been a problem for us. Many of their agents sail but at normal Carnival consumer rates. Simply put, they are denied travel agent benefits.” Norwegian Cruise Line did not respond to requests for comment. Kevin Froemming, president of Unique Vacations, worldwide representative for Sandals and Beaches, said that Sandals does not work with agents who do not invest in travel industry education. “It is a clear distinction that we made long ago,” he said. “Anyone who does not have a relationship with their customers and is not promoting brands runs the risk of being cut out of the marketing equation.” Enterprise spokeswoman Laura Bryant said, “At Enterprise, National and Alamo, we require only a valid IATA or CLIA card that must be presented at the time of rental for an agency-industry car rental discount. An invalid or suspicious card would not be accepted for a discount and would be reported through our security processes.” Gay Nagle Myers, Dan Luzadder and Michael Milligan contributed to this report. WHAT THEY SAID “We are grateful that [Royal Caribbean] shares a fundamental concern voiced by many regarding those who seek to diminish and cheapen the value of the travel agency community.” — Michael Batt, Carlson Leisure Group “Everybody should really be concerned about who is selling their product, and RCCL wants to make sure that only professional sellers of travel are representing their brands and selling their products.” — Fred Miller, Marriott International “This announcement is good news to legitimate travel sellers whose businesses depend upon consumer trust and to consumers who look to their travel agent for expert and professional service.” — ASTA “It benefits the professional travel agent industry. ” — Barry Richcreek, ARTA “Their commitment to upholding the highest business standards will most certainly be rewarded with an even greater respect from members of the Ensemble Travel Group and other professionals in the travel agency community.” — Jack Mannix, Ensemble “I am thrilled that one of the largest cruise lines has addressed a major industry problem.” — Vivian Ewart, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “The association can only wish that many other travel suppliers, and hotel chains in particular, will follow suit and help the industry fight the proliferation of such card mills.” — Christiane Theberge, Association of Canadian Travel Agencies “The trade needs to take the initiative to control its own destiny.” — Travel Research Online 78 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M NEWS Agent’s crusade against travel MLMs finds backers on Web By Michael Milligan It was a Friday afternoon, and John Frenaye had logged onto one his favorite travel agent chat groups on the Internet. Many topics were being discussed, but one in particular was riling up the agents in the group. The topic had to do with multilevel marketing firms, also known as MLMs. The businesses purport to sell travel agent credentials to consumers, who then use them for discounted travel benefits. “Everyone was complaining,” said Frenaye, president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Arnold, Md. “Agencies are being impacted by a lot of the MLMs out there.” One agent in the chat group commented that a travel MLM had lured several of his clients away. Agents were especially annoyed that many suppliers accept sales from MLMs. “Someone said, ‘We need to get the suppliers to listen,’ ” Frenaye said. That gave Frenaye, who also writes a travel column for the MSNBC cable television network, an idea. He drafted a petition designed to call suppliers’ attention to the impact travel MLMs are having on agencies. By late afternoon, agents on the Internet were circulating copies, and within a week more than 570 agents had signed it. Royal Caribbean Cruises brought even more attention to the issue last week when it announced that its three brands will no longer do business with what it called “card pliers than do comparable sales by professional travel agents. “There’s one outfit that if you go to the help page [on their Web site] it says, ‘If you are having problems with any travel that you’ve booked with us, click here.’ You click there and it leads to the toll-free numbers of the suppliers,” Frenaye said. “I said [to one supplier], ‘You are paying these people 16% [commission] to give out your [tollfree] number? For 16%, shouldn’t they handle the problem?” At the same time, Frenaye said, it appears that some suppliers hold professional agents to different standards than the individuals selling through travel MLMs. In the petition, Frenaye wrote: “As a Carlson Wagonlit Travel agency, I need to produce so many berths per year to achieve the next commission level and marketing dollars. Why is this not enforced on [travel MLMs]? Why are the franchises and consortia not screaming about this?” In the petition, Frenaye states: “Because I buy TurboTax does not make me an accountant. If I sell a watch on eBay, I am not a jeweler. Why does our industry allow someone with no experience to call themselves a travel agent?” Frenaye argued that unlike professional agents, MLM travel sellers “provide no service to the customer. They provide no advocacy to the customer.” Frenaye said that he did not expect MLMs to disappear and did not begrudge suppliers that continue to work with them. “They have to make the decision that’s right for their own business,” he said. “I don’t think they need to get rid of them. They just need to hold them to a different level” than professional agents. Meanwhile, the petition continues to circulate among agents and suppliers. While Frenaye hopes to gather at least 1,000 signatures, he still isn’t sure what he will do next with it. But at the very least, Frenaye said, he hopes that the petition will alert suppliers to how travel MLMs affect the professional agencies that sell their products. “I thought that really needed to be presented to them in some way,” he said. “If nothing more than poking a hornet’s nest to say, ‘This is really costing you.’” John Frenaye said sales by travel MLMs come at a higher cost to suppliers than comparable sales by professional agents. mills” (see report, Page 1). Royal Caribbean’s announcement was widely cheered by agency groups and the agency community at large. “Suppliers, I think, don’t have any idea,” Frenaye said. “They are looking for income from [travel MLMs] and revenue. If that market provides that, and obviously it does, you can’t [blame them].” However, Frenaye said, sales by travel MLMs come at a higher cost to travel sup- QUEEN Continued from Page 1 Line, said the decision to order another vessel was a result of strong bookings for the new Queen Victoria. Cunard, Marlow said, “is experiencing excellent demand, and that’s what’s giving us the confidence to announce the building of another ship. Especially with Queen Victoria, the response is fabulous.” Cunard will introduce the Queen Victoria, currently nearing completion at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, Italy, yard, in December, bringing its fleet to three. It will be reduced to two in November 2008, however, when the 40-year-old QE2 is retired to Dubai. The new Queen Elizabeth will take its name from Cunard’s first Queen Elizabeth, a vessel that sailed from 1938 to 1968. That ship was named for the Queen Consort, Elizabeth, mother to the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Marlow said that the Queen Elizabeth would be a sister ship to the Queen Victoria and, like the other ships in the current Cunard fleet, would be constructed as an ocean liner, rather than as a cruise ship. The distinction, Marlow said, between a liner and a cruise ship is that the liner is longer and has a strengthened hull. Also, the Queen Elizabeth, like the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria, will have more double- and triple-height interior spaces than traditional cruise ships offer as well as more elegant and grand spaces. markets in the U.S. and the U.K. The new liner is the latest in a string of Marlow said that the Queen Elizabeth new ship orders to serve the luxury segwould target the same market as ment of the world’s cruise marthe other Cunard ships. ket, as luxury cruise companies She described that target as are reporting increased demand “those people looking for a more for upscale product. Operators traditional voyage on an ocean Silversea Cruises and Seabourn liner… that slightly more soCruises have both placed ship orphisticated traveler who wants to ders in the last year, while Cryshave a traditional ambience and tal Cruises recently hinted that learn something while they’re it could soon sign a new-build away at sea.” contract. Carol Marlow President The Queen Elizabeth will be Marlow said that Cunard has Cunard Line British-flagged and homeported always sourced from an interin Southampton, England, along national market. As other cruise with the other Cunard vessels. Cunard said lines have reported, Cunard’s market has that details of its design and itinerary are been expanding in continental Europe and forthcoming. also in Australia, as well as its mainstay ARE YOU A PERILLO PERKS MEMBER YET? Sign up today & enjoy all Perillo has to offer. The benefits of Perillo Perks. Perillo Perks agencies can get big bonus commissions, and your booking agent can win great prizes like iPods, trips and gift cards. All you have to do is join and start selling Perillo. LY ITA HAW AII Perillo’s Italy & Hawaii Tours are easy sales! Our all-inclusive, escorted vacations to Italy and Hawaii have been legendary for 63 years. With time-tested itineraries, great guides, fun activities and scrumptious meals, I promise they’ll come home happy! “BRAVO!” to all of our Perks members. Thank you for making 2006 our best year this century! I’d like to personally thank our top 3 winning Perks agents who I recently hosted in Rome. To see a photo gallery of our weekend in Rome, go to perilloperks.com and click on “Perks eNews Newsletter.” For brochures, our FREE DVD or to book reservations please call: 1- 800- 431-1515. Visit our website at www.PerilloPerks.com to join. W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 79 w h a t ’s n e w • w h a t ’s h o t 1 wireless technology, optional wide-area network technologies provided by Sprint (subscription required), an integrated fingerprint reader for security and something Sony calls LocationFree software that enables enhanced entertainment options. The operating system is Microsoft’s Windows Vista Business. Starts at $2,200; www .sony.com/vaio. Sony VAIO TZ. At only 2.7 pounds and as thin as a rail at less than an inch, this notebook computer was a wonderful travel mate during a recent 10-day trip in British Columbia that included several flights aboard cramped float planes, where luggage space was at a premium. The laptop features an 11.1-inch screen, a full keyboard, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, next-generation 2 1 2 Arthur Frommer’s Expandable Trolley Upright. Yes, the redoubtable travel writer, publisher and founder of Frommer’s travel guides is out with a line of luggage designed to be lightweight, durable and fairly priced. The 21-incher (shown here), like most bags in the new collection, has a graphite frame, in-line skate wheels, a one-button-locking trolley handle, front and back pockets, an integrated ID tag on the trolley uprights and a zip-out suiter panel. For extra packing, the bag expands by two inches when you need it. The Frommer’s set ranges from a 29-inch trolley to a 12-by-10-by-9-inch personal bag. $79.99; www.ebags.com. 3 3 4 Cool Vest. Taking your dog on a trip to the Hot Zone? This import from Japan might be just the thing to keep Fido cool and comfortable during the dog days. The Cool Vest, which contains no chemical gels, is made of a washable fabric that absorbs and retains water so that simply soakBecker Traffic Assist Highspeed GPS. The average driver needs a global positioning system (GPS) just to navigate through the maze of GPS units on the market. The German-engineered Becker, introduced in the U.S. by Harman International and sold exclusively at Office Depot outlets and online, offers a speed-limit alert and display in addition to the usual bells and whistles: a 3.5-inch touch screen; 64 megabytes of memory, expandable via an SD card; builtin Navteq maps of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico; two internal speakers; a WMA-MP3 player; and a JPEG viewer. A universal dash-mounting system enables the unit to be attached to a bicycle, if that is how you are heading down the road. $199; www.officedepot.com. 4 ing the adjustable vest provides man’s best friend with protection from direct and indirect sunlight. At the same time, its laminated lining keeps dogs dry. From mini dachshund ($50.95) to German shepherd ($58.95); www.gramercydistribution .com/productinfo.html. 5 Flatterme Leg Pocket. This cute and effective theft deterrent is designed to give travelers a leg up on pickpockets and other evil-doers lurking at airports and train stations and in hotel lobbies. Appropriate for men and women, the Leg Pocket — a wallet attached to the wearer’s leg, ankle, thigh, wrist, bicep or calf with an appropriately sized band — is available in lamb leather, patent leather and suede. From $31 to $35; www.flatterme.com. 5 Got something for What’s New, What’s Hot? E-mail Joe Rosen at jrosen@travelweekly.com. Looking to Hire? CLASSIFIED FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT EMMY MORALES EMORALES@TRAVELWEEKLY.COM OR 201.902.1951 Reach the top candidates with Travel Weekly. Armed with the latest knowledge of industry news and analysis, Travel Weekly readers are the best candidates to help make you more money. When you are looking to hire, think Travel Weekly Classified. In print. Online. Only Travel Weekly Classified. 80 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 W W W . T R A V E L W E E K L Y . C O M Working together Winning together Customer Solutions Partnership Want to win in the travel industry? Then you need a partner that’s behind the world’s top travel success stories. You need a partner that understands the unique challenges you face in this changing marketplace. You need to be working with Amadeus. Amadeus has trusted, long term partnerships with travel agencies, airlines, hotels, corporations, tour operators, car rental agencies, cruise lines and many other travel businesses. We never forget that our success depends on your success. Make Amadeus your technology partner, and you’ll see the results. Distribution & Content Sales & e-Commerce Business Management Services & Consulting ® Let us help you win. Visit www.us.amadeus.com or www.ca.amadeus.com today. *Guests earn two stamps per night (maximum of 10 stamps per stay) for qualifying stays between September 1 and November 30, 2007. Guests receive a $50 room credit on a future stay when redeeming eight stamps during the promotion period. Offer valid at any Econo Lodge or Rodeway Inn hotel in the U.S. Stamps will be awarded upon completion of the stay. For program details, visit easychoiceonline.com or see the EA$Y CHOICE stamp card. © 2007 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. 07-593/08/07 © 2007 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. 07-593/08/07