Slow travel is a grassroots approach that emphasizes sustainability, intentionality, and quality over speed and mass tourism. Slow travelers prioritize taking their time to get to know a place in its entirety – not just the main points of interest but also the culture, people, and everyday life. Unlike traditional mass tourism, slow travel emphasizes spending more time in each destination, experiencing local culture face-to-face. Rather than an effort to “tick off” as many places as possible, the slow traveler instead focuses on getting to know one place deeply Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I spoke to Carol Dimopoulos, the founder and CEO of Learning Journeys, about the term “regenerative travel.” There’s another term she prefers when speaking about the Learning Journeys style of delivering service. She calls it “restorative travel.”

Learning Journeys offers “Journeys of Transformation,” educational experiences that take place while traveling to special destinations. The programs are based on specific interests, such as photography, wildlife, arts and crafts, dance, music or gastronomy, and include encounters with various kinds of experts and teachers.

When traveling with valuable gear, such as cameras, jewelry, and prescription meds, it’s important to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of your belongings. Protecting your belongings is crucial to maintaining their value and functionality, whether you’re a tourist who enjoys taking photos as their travels progress, a diabetic who relies on insulin that needs to be kept cold, or someone who wants to show off different diamond bracelets when dining. We will discuss the best ways to travel with your treasures. We’ll explore some of the best alternatives available today.

For hosted advisors, knowing all the facts about different host agencies is a must. Yet, sometimes the facts found on the host company’s website aren’t the whole story. That’s where Host Agency Reviews will come to the rescue, in specific Host Week 2023. Now in its third year, registration is open for this virtual event featuring notable keynote speakers, offers, and information for advisors of all levels.

Ritz-Carlton is in. Four Seasons is in. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Orient Express, the company behind the most luxurious trains in the world, is joining the market for ultra-luxury yachting.

In 2026, the company says, it will launch the world’s largest luxury yacht, Orient Express Silenseas. In an indication of the plans for over-the-top experiences, Bastien Bazinm chairman and CEO of Orient Express parent Accor, said the ship will be “inspired by the Golden Age of the French Riviera…when writers, artists, painters, princesses, and movie stars spent time between Monte-Carlo, the beaches of Saint-Tropez, Cap d’Antibes, Cannes and its famous Croisette and discovered a refinement tinged with exquisite insouciance and joie de vivre, inviting them to extreme escapades.”

Promising “the quintessence of luxury, absolute comfort and dreams,” the 722-foot Orient Express Silenseas will feature 54 suites, including a monumental 1,415-square-meter Presidential Suite with a private terrace, two swimming pools including a lap pool, two restaurants, and a speakeasy bar.

The ship will have an oyster bar and a speakeasy, and “as a tribute to artists and culture,” will offer “incredible shows” in its Amphitheatre-Cabaret and a private recording studio. And taking a hint from current ocean racing technology, its SolidSail design will combine wind power with a state-of-the-art engine running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for a more environmentally friendly voyage.

She will sail the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter.

In addition to reviving the iconic train in 2025, Accor also plans Orient Express hotels in Paris, Rome, and Riyadh. For the new cruise division, a second ship is already on order, the company said.

Bring on the bagels! There’s one more brand in the hotel sector this month, as Hilton rolls out its newest brainchild, focused on the premium economy sector—with a free bagel bar breakfast in every property.

“Spark by Hilton signifies the start of something great” as Hilton addresses a need in the economy category, which is “growing dramatically but lacks consistency,” said Matt Schuyler, Hilton’s chief brand officer. The goal is to “deliver the essentials done exceptionally well for every guest, every time, along with friendly service.”

To that end, Spark promises:

• Thoughtful Simplicity: Simple design with splashes of color and cheer that bring the outdoors in. Public spaces will feature “multi-functional seating from communal tables to rocking chairs,” where guests can eat breakfast, work, and socialize. Rooms will have open closets and in-room refrigerators.
• Reliable Service: “Happy and helpful service,” including 24-hour digital check-in and digital keys.  ​
• Unexpected Touches: Complimentary breakfast featuring premium coffee, juice, and a signature bagel bar with spreads.
• Consistent Quality: To ensure the goal of a consistent, quality guest experience, each hotel will be required to complete a full renovation, encompassing all guest-facing areas of the hotel, prior to joining Spark by Hilton.

Developers seem not to be put off by that last requirement. More than 100 deals are already in various stages of development across the country, and the first properties will open this year.

It is prudent advice to learn to accept reality for what it is. And the reality is nothing short of the truth. And the truth is that we are all playing on an imperfect game board. Once you feel like you have figured out how to play the game of life, ZINGO—somebody changes the rules.

Thirty-six travel advisors are feeling vindicated today as former Travel Troops host agency owner Matt Schumacher was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay them almost half a million dollars in restitution.

According to the “GOVERNMENT’S POSITION v. REGARDING SENTENCING,” Schumacher defrauded at least 36 travel advisors from August 2016 to January 2019 through “a scheme that was simple yet brazen: Schumacher repeatedly misappropriated for his own personal use and benefit commission payments that were instead meant for travel agents.” As the owner of Travel Troops, a host travel agency, “unfortunately for his victims…Schumacher routinely kept his travel agents’ money, siphoned their hard-earned commission payments for his own benefit, misled them, and left them behind when they complained or demanded their money. Schumacher’s fraud has been devastating to some of his victims, who relied upon their commission checks to make ends meet.”

In the end, US Attorney Andrew Luger wrote Schumacher owed $479,632.45.

“It also warrants emphasis that Schumacher committed this fraud knowing full well that his conduct would result in distress and hardship for his victims, some of whom considered Schumacher to be a close friend,” the statement added. “Preying upon such people reveals a great deal about Schumacher’s negative characteristics—greed, callousness, and selfishness, to name a few—that should also be considered in determining an appropriate sentence for Schumacher.”

Still, the government noted, “when, as here, the entirety of the fraud proceeds has already been spent, then there is little recourse left to the victims. “

In addition to these crimes, travel advisors have told TRO Schumacher crossed what they considered an ethical line by poaching travel advisors from other hosts at industry events. In one case, he convinced a travel advisor employed by another agency to siphon off $250,000 in bookings and put them through Travel Troops’ IATA number instead Travel Agent Who Stole $250,000 In Bookings From Her Agency Gets Jail Time (travelmarketreport.com). That agent was convicted and jailed in 2017, thanks to her agency owner, who called the police when she discovered the fraud.

 “Thank you for the update. He’s a POS,” commented one travel advisor when told the news.

Today, we will be hearing a lot about a Day of Service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This is an opportunity for businesses and individuals to give back to the community and make a positive impact. By participating in community service on this day, you can reap various business benefits and some personal ones as well. Read the rest of this entry »

We wondered when it would happen: When would a savvy river cruise company pick up the rest of Crystal River Cruises fleet. Nearly a year after Crystal went bankrupt, Riverside Luxury Cruises acquired the double-width Crystal Mozart. That left four recently Crystal-built river cruisers with an uncertain fate. We worried that with companies recovering from the pandemic no one would be flush enough with cash to purchase these spectacular ships.

The news about possible stricter requirements for independent contractors got me talking to travel advisors and agency owners about the relative advantages of being—and hiring—an IC vs. an employee. And in the end, it seems, there is no right answer. The road to happiness follows the twists and turns of each individual’s definition of success. Many have changed from one side to the other—and how they arrive at their decisions offers up some interesting insights for those considering a shift.

Dangerous mountain travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada range are forecast through this weekend, leading to treacherous journeys and hazardous whiteout conditions. With blowing winds and heavy snow likely to affect roads, highways, and mountain passes throughout the region, travelers are advised to finish their travel plans by 1 pm Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued an advisory warning that dangerous conditions prevalent in the Lake Tahoe high country should be taken seriously. The combination of gusty winds and snowfall could reduce visibility at times. This could create near-zero visibility or “whiteout” conditions with limited visibility due to snow drifts or heavy snowfall. These conditions could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and put them in hazardous situations.

Additionally, the NWS is expecting significant accumulations of snow above 7,000 ft., with up to 2 feet possible at some locations by Tuesday morning. Many roads may become impassable as a result of deep snowdrifts obscured by falling snow. This will increase the risk for vehicles attempting to traverse these routes Monday night into Tuesday morning. These include Interstate 80 from Donner Lake down to Truckee, along with Highways 89 & 267 over Brockway Summit from Truckee down toward Tahoe City. Additionally, travel is highly discouraged on Highway 88 around Carson Pass as well as Highway 108 heading over Sonora Pass into Mono County through Monday night..

The NWS also warns those heading out on skis or other recreational activities that avalanche danger could become significant in areas where several inches of new precipitation falls quickly over existing large accumulations of snowpack already present on mountain slopes higher than 7500 ft. Heavy winds also impact avalanche danger and can create areas where collapses are more likely due to increased loading on cornices or slabs of weakly-bonded wind-drifted powder near ridge tops.

Snowfall rates could be quite intense late Sunday afternoon onward through Monday afternoon. Travel plans involving mountain passes or ski resort destinations in the Sierra Nevada range involve dangerous traveling conditions prevailing through Monday night into Tuesday morning.

⚠️Dangerous mountain travel conditions are forecast tomorrow – Monday. If you have travel plans, it will be best to finish your travel by 1 pm tomorrow. Travel is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED through Monday night! Blowing winds & heavy snow will cause whiteout conditions. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/hPn5lfIHDX

— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 12, 2023

On Wednesday, Canada experienced a brief disruption to its aviation warning system, the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. This system is operated by Nav Canada – a private non-profit organization that owns and operates the country’s air traffic control – and alerts airlines and pilots of potential hazards in the sky. The United States experienced a similar disruption at the same time. The connection, if any, between the two incidents is not clear.

Nav Canada began experiencing problems with entering data into the NOTAM system in the morning hours, which prevented them from sending out updates to airlines regarding any current or upcoming threats. As a result, many flights were grounded until the issue was resolved. Once back online, those affected needed to wait for updated information before they could take off again.

The NOTAM system provides crucial guidance on navigating hazardous airspace and allows for greater efficiency in planning flights since pilots can easily access information about potential risks ahead of time.

Nav Canada indicated no flights were delayed by the disruption and the system was back online by the early afternoon.

pic.twitter.com/xLCZ0CVwvz

— NAV CANADA (@navcanada) January 11, 2023

NAV CANADA continues to investigate the cause of the outage; at this time, we do not believe it to be related to the FAA outage experienced earlier today. https://t.co/GnxLSFLU38

— NAV CANADA (@navcanada) January 11, 2023

Attention travel advisors! The latest threat of extinction is from artificial intelligence: AI chatbots are now predicted to take the place of travel advisors. This buzz was raised to a roar last Nov. 30, when OpenAI released to the public its ChatGPT, a technology that can carry on chats that seem uncannily human, and can answer questions on a wide range of subjects. OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public as part of its research and data collection, sort of crowd-sourcing its research and development.

New European river cruise operator Riverside Luxury Cruises has announced that it has taken ownership of four additional river vessels from the former Crystal Cruises, in addition to the already-acquired Crystal Mozart. The ships are set to join the fleet starting this spring and will embark on voyages along the Rhône & Saône Rivers as well as the Rhine.

The newly acquired ships include the 106-passenger Crystal Bach (now known as Riverside Bach), Crystal Mahler (now Riverside Mahler), Crystal Debussy (Riverside Debussy), and Crystal Ravel (Riverside Ravel). Both the Riverside Debussy and Riverside Ravel will be ready to welcome guests when they launch their inaugural trips Spring 2023. However, those eager to experience a voyage aboard the Riverside Bach or Riverside Mahler will have to wait until 2024, when these vessels debut.

This latest acquisition is yet another move for the new German river cruise operator setting out to expand its selection of vessels with added amenities and state-of-the-art facilities. Each ship offers spacious lounges and cabins with high ceilings, staterooms with balconies, a fitness center, a spa area, a library, and multiple dining venues.

The news comes just months after Crystal Cruises filed for bankruptcy due to financial struggles aggravated by travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Crystal ceased operation in January 2022, and the Riverside acquired ships did not sail during 2022.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all flights in the U.S. following a computer system glitch. The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system, which provides operational information to flight operations, “failed” Wednesday morning. Systems are being restored. However, once fully operational, there will be delays as flights resume and metered into the air.

4,000 Flight Delays and 500 Cancelations at this time.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

The President has been briefed by the Secretary of Transportation this morning on the FAA system outage. There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates.

— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) January 11, 2023

Update 5: Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the U.S. following an overnight outage to the Notice to Air Missions system that provides safety info to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted.

We continue to look into the cause of the initial problem

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

Update 4: The FAA is making progress in restoring its Notice to Air Missions system following an overnight outage. Departures are resuming at @EWRairport and @ATLairport due to air traffic congestion in those areas. We expect departures to resume at other airports at 9 a.m. ET.

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

Update 3: The FAA is still working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage.⁰⁰The FAA has ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9 a.m. Eastern Time to allow the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information.

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

While some functions are beginning to come back on line, National Airspace System operations remain limited.

Those of you who have come to know me, realize that I am a bona fide bookstore junkie. On my way to somewhere recently, I was once again sucked into an airport
bookstore (they build them for people like me) and I exited the facility 20 bucks lighter.

I was soon the proud owner of The Daily Drucker, a 360 article composite of business-related thoughts penned by the famous Peter Drucker himself. | flipped to January 25, page 27 to the article titled Reinvent Yourself.

London is a city known for its diverse and vibrant food scene, with a wide range of restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world. From fine dining to casual eateries, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Here are some of the best restaurants in London: Read the rest of this entry »

“New Year’s Day is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.  Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” ~ Mark Twain

New Year’s resolutions often are a topic of derision. We treat the annual ritual of making promises to ourselves as a joke, a light-hearted acknowledgement of our inability to keep a commitment.

Something about that sits poorly with me. Read the rest of this entry »

Delta Airlines’ new partnership with T-Mobile will offer free in-flight Wi-Fi to all SkyMiles members beginning February 1st. This is an expansion of the existing agreement between the two companies, which offers free Wi-Fi on Delta flights to T-Mobile subscribers.

This new service will provide SkyMiles members with unlimited access to in-flight Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to stay connected while in the air. Passengers will be able to use their phones, tablets, or laptops while they travel without worrying about running out of data or paying for additional services. Additionally, this free service allows users to surf the web, check emails and social media, watch videos and listen to music – all for free during their flight.

In addition to providing free Wi-Fi access for its passengers, Delta Airlines also plans to leverage this new partnership with T-Mobile by offering targeted advertising opportunities for companies looking to reach customers at 35,000 feet. Companies wishing to leverage this opportunity will be able to reach consumers through direct advertisements on their devices as well as through sponsored content that is provided by Delta and T-Mobile’s partner network.

The announcement of the new partnership between Delta Airlines and T-Mobile has been met with enthusiastic approval from frequent flyers.

One good thing about a week-long conference on a cruise ship is the opportunity to sit and chat about how we all got to where we are. I did that recently with the smart and businesslike folks who own Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchises. And so I thought I’d share a few of the tales of how to succeed in business and how to just love what you do that I heard there.