2011 aug lgt cvr-to-cvr
Post on 01-Mar-2016
243 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDLebanon Junction, KYPermit No. 414
A Premier Tourism Marketing publication • www.leisuregrouptravel.com
PO Box 609, Palos Heights, IL 60463 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
AUGUST 2011
A Premier Tourism Marketing publicationwww.leisuregrouptravel.com
†Promotion applies to new bookings made between September 1-30, will receive one coupon book per passenger, maximum of two per stateroom, extending up to $325 USD in onboard savings. Savings coupons have no cash value, are non-transferable and non-refundable. The promotion includes a reduced deposit of $100 which applies to �rst two passengers in a stateroom. O�er not available on full World Cruises and 45+ day World Cruise Segment voyages. *$1473 fare is based on category JJ on Coral Princess® cruisetour BB3, 5/18/2012, $999 fare is based on category J on Caribbean Princess® sailing 9/8/2012 on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares for other dates may vary. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the �rst two passengers in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth passengers. Oceanview stateroom may have an obstructed view. Government fees and taxes of up to $100 per person are additional, are subject to. Princess reserves the right to impose a Fuel Supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if the fare has already been paid in full. This o�er is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount, including onboard credits. O�er is not transferable and is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older and receive this o�er. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Ask about the Princess eZAir® program. Please refer to the applicable Princess Cruises brochure or princess.com for terms, conditions and de�nitions that apply to all bookings. ©2011 Princess Cruises. Ships of Bermudan registry.
Cruise Sale offer: $1,000 Group Leader Rebate for 30 Paid Passengers.
Also receive a reduced deposit of $100 per person and a coupon booklet!†
Call U.S. Tours:
2819 Murdoch Avenue
Parkersburg, WV 26101
10-Day Alaska CruisetourIncludes a 3-night Land Tour and a 7-night cruise
Coral Princess®
| Direct-to-the-Wilderness | 05 /18 /12
fares from
$1,473*
8-Day Canada & NE Cruisetour
Caribbean Princess®
fares from
$999*
Escape completely®
with Princess Cruises.®
con ten t s
18
ON THE COVER:
Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock
(Photo courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism)
Vol. 21, No.4 August 2011
COLUMNS4 On My Mind
by jeff gayduk
8 On Tour
by marty sarbey de souto
10 On Girlfriend Getaways
by lisa kasanicky
COVER STORY
COVER STORY18 ARkAnSAS MuSEuMS by dave bodle
SOUTH CAROLINA
Attractions enshrine everything from gangsters to Walmart
DEPARTMENTS6 Meet Our Writers
44 On Our Radar: MIDWEST
47 On Our Radar: WEST
FEATURES14 Infinite India by randy mink
24 Virginia for Girls Only by heather swick
27 South Carolina Fishing Holes by dave bodle
32 All About Atlantic City by sarah nelson
36 The Columbus Experience by melinda hughey
40 Illinois Girlfriend Getaways
45 Alaskan Adventures by heather swick
12 On Adventure Travel
by christopher doyle
50 On Marketing
by dave bodle
27READER ’SCH ICE��
AWARDS
CAST YOUR VOTE
See Our Reader Service Page Sant
ee C
oope
r Tou
rism
Reg
ion
4 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on my mind � jeff gayduk
I’M NO RICHARD DAWSON, but I do have the results from Leisure GroupTravel’s 2011 Group Intentions Survey.We asked readers a wide range of questionsregarding your business, planning andcustomers. Thanks to everyone who par-ticipated in this year’s study. Your inputwill help shape our editorial calendar foryears to come.The survey questions were:How is 2011 Business Compared to
Last Year?Much better 20%; little better 41%;
little worse 29%; much worse 10%.How Many Trips Do You Plan
Each Year?Averages were: 14 day trips; 6 two-to-
four night; 2 five-to-seven night; 1 eight +night; 2 cruises.Where in the U.S. Are Your Groups
Traveling?Northeast 55%; South 54%; West 46%;
Midwest 44%.Percentage of Groups That Travel to
the Following:Europe 38%; Canada 34%; Central/
South America 17%; South Pacific 11%;Asia 9%; Africa 5%.What Types of Groups Do You Plan
Travel For?Seniors 97%; religious 26%; students
15%; girlfriends 15%; reunions 15%;corporate 9%; other 4%.What Activities Do You Include
On Trips?Theater 84%; shopping 60%;
sightseeing cruises 58%; scenic rail 48%;gambling 45%; hands-on experiences 35%;adventure/outdoor 27%.
How Do You Plan Your Tours? Plan my own 79%; use a tour operator
64%; use a receptive operator 29%.What Industry Websites Do You Use
When Planning Trips?LeisureGroupTravel.com 56%;
GroupTravelDirectory.com 53%; Group-tour.com 26%; Grouptravelleader.com16%; Busrates.com 12%; Groupconnect-.com 9%. Average Lead Time When Booking
Trips:12+ months 13%; 7-12 months 47%;
6 months or less 40%.Type of Travel Your Group Prefers:Moderate 52%; economy 34%;
deluxe 14%.
CAST YOUR VOTE IN OUR 9TH ANNUAL READER’S CHOICE AWARDSVote for your
favorite travel companies and destinations in our9th annual Reader’sChoice Awards poll. There are two ways to vote – either
return this month’s Instant Infosm card, orvisit LeisureGroupTravel.com and click onthe Reader’s Choice icon @ the top of thepage. Cast your vote by September 15!
Happy Traveling,
Jeff Gayduk, Publisherjeff@ptmgroups.com
Vol. 21, No. 4 August 2011
Editorial & Advertising Office621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406Willowbrook, IL 60527P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652info@ptmgroups.com
Publisher – Jeffrey Gaydukjeff@ptmgroups.com
Managing Editor – Randy Minkrandy@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – John Klosterjohn@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – Elana Andersenelana@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – Dave Bodledave@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – Carol Smithcarols.csmith@gmail.com
Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowskirob@ptmgroups.com
Director of SalesTheresa O’RourkeP 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652theresa@ptmgroups.com
Regional Sales Managers
Illinois – Jim McCurdyP 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652jim@ptmgroups.com
Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Amy Janssens
P 630.294.0318 • F 630.794.0652amy@ptmgroups.com
Mid Atlantic – Ellen KlestaP 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652ellen@ptmgroups.com
Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl RashP 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274cheryl@ptmgroups.com
Southern – Dolores RidoutP/F 281.762.9546dolores@ptmgroups.com
Florida & Caribbean – Prof Inc. P 813.286.8299 • F 813.287.0651 jimg@ptmgroups.com
The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes noresponsi bility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made toensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty thatlistings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos,slides or manuscripts.
Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is publishedbi-monthly by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406,Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may sub scribe at thereduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular sub scrip tion price for all others is$18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.
Send Address Change to: Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc.P.O. Box 609, Palos Heights, IL 60463
All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in anyform without written permission of the publisher.
A publication
� jeff gaydukOn My Mind
Survey Says...
CAST YOUR VOTE BYSEPTEMBER 15!
READER ’SCH ICE��
AWARDS
Meet the Contributors to This Issue1
Heather, an editorial intern, is a junior
journalism major at Bradley University in
Peoria, Ill. She is editor-in-chief of the Bradley
Scout newspaper. Heather has studied in
Spain and most recently visited the United
Kingdom, where she explored Scotland,
Ireland and England. See Heather’s Virginia
article on page 24 and Alaska article on
page 45.
heather swick
see page 24
A mere week in India this past June only
whetted the appetite of Leisure Group
Travel’s managing editor, whose FAM
group braved 115-degree heat and some
digestive issues. Next time he wants to
explore tropical resorts in the south of
India and search for elusive tigers in a
game reserve—at a cooler time of year.
Read about Randy’s India experiences
on page 14.
randymink
see page 14
Author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to
Girlfriend Getaways, Lisa is also the
creator of AZSpaGirls.com, a guide that
speaks to a new generation of spa and
beauty enthusiasts. She appears regularly
on ABC’s Sonoran Living in metro Phoenix
and has been interviewed on Martha
Stewart Living Radio and ABC News Now.
See Lisa’s girlfriend getaways column
on page 10.
lisa kasanicky
see page 10
Based in El Cerrito, Calif., our long-time
columnist is the author of How to Plan,
Operate and Lead Successful Group
Tours, an e-book available from Premier
Tourism Marketing’s educational website,
groupuniversity.com. Marty founded the
travel industry program at Berkeley City
College, where she taught all aspects of
group travel for 32 years. Enjoy Marty’s
column on page 8.
marty sarbey de souto
see page 8
An editorial intern, Sarah is a senior
English and Spanish double major at
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich. She
will travel to Spain this fall to study at the
University of Seville and learn more about
Spanish culture. Sarah’s favorite vacation
spot is her grandparents’ cottage on Lake
Erie in Ohio. Read Sarah’s Atlantic City
article on page 32.
sarah nelson
see page 32
7,702
1959
370
4
Arkansas’ nationalranking in rice andpoultry production
Air miles fromNewark to Delhi
The year Alaska became the 49th state
Golf courses inSouth Carolina
Miles of boardwalkin Atlantic City
NUMBER CRUNCHING
28People born every minute in India
787,033Population of Columbus, Ohio
A prominent voice in the adventure travel
industry, Chris is vice president of the
Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
and editor of AdventureTravelNews.com.
His travels on five continents have
ranged from whitewater rafting and sea
kayaking to rock climbing, dog sledding
and skydiving. See Chris’ adventure
travel column on page 12.
christopherdoyle
see page 12
Become a fan of ours on Facebook and we’ll keep you informed of the
latest news in the industry by sending you Facebook updates when news
breaks. Simply search for “Group Travel” and look for the Premier Tourism
Marketing logo! Leisure Group Travel is also joining the Twitter craze.
Go to Twitter.com/LeisureGroup to get the latest “tweets” from the Leisure Group Travel staff.
A regular contributor to Leisure Group
Travel, Melinda explores the world with
senior adult bank travel groups she’s
served through her own company, The RH
Factor in Pulaski, Tenn. She currently is
working on a book entitled War Stories, a
chronicle of weird, wild and wacky things
that have happened during her exploits.
See Melinda’s Columbus, Ohio feature
on page 36.
melinda hughey
see page 36
Senior editor Dave Bodle, a former
publisher of travel trade publications,
heads up our Southern editorial cover-
age. He operates David’s Tour Connec-
tions, a receptive operator that serves
Myrtle Beach, the Carolinas and Virginia
and offers outgoing tours as well. See
Dave’s Arkansas article on page 18,
South Carolina article on page 27 and
marketing column on page 50.
dave bodle
see page 18
6 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
On the Write Side
IN THESE DIFFICULT economictimes, maybe your usual trip partici-pants just can’t muster the expenditurefor a major trip. Yet, they may not wishto admit out loud that this year theyjust can’t afford it. You don’t want themto disappear from your travel programforever and you’re afraid if you cancelyour bigger trip(s), you may never seethem again.
Why not offer a yearly series of one-day trips? This way they can enroll inthem one-by-one in accordance withtheir interests and their month-by-month budget. Perhaps one-day tripsare already a part of your offerings. But perhaps they’re not, or you’d likesome suggestions for some new ones.
Here are my suggestions for a dozenstarters. I’m sure you’ll have your ideasfor additional ones to add to the mix.Eleven are one-dayers; the last one is an overnighter.
1MONTHLY DINE-AROUND,trying new restaurants in town or
nearby surroundings. Get your membersinvolved by their suggesting restaurantsthey’d like to visit or those they’ve triedand liked. Be sure the chef is available to meet and greet them. Maybe the chefcan even give the group a cooking orshopping hint.
2COUNTY FAIR. A day at the fair can never go wrong. Include
roundtrip coach transportation andentry fee (if any). Let the group roamwhere they like within the fairgrounds.Perhaps include lunch (or coupons forlunch), the horse races or the eveningshow if there is one.
3CULINARY DAY. A cooking classday complete with a chef demon-
strating special dishes, perhaps onewherein the tour members chop andstir and actually participate rather thanjust sit and listen. Include handout ofrecipes. Perhaps add a morning visit tothe marketplace to select ingredientsand lunch wherein everyone eats whatthey produced.
4 ART MUSEUM BLOCK-BUSTER SHOW complete with
a docent giving your tour group a private explanation. Check out the biggies like Chicago’s Art Institute,New York’s Metropolitan Museum ofArt and San Francisco Museum ofModern Art. Excellent local museumsare curating blockbuster exhibits aswell but on a smaller scale.
5 A DAY OF AGRICULTURALVISITS. Include opportunity for
members to pick or buy at fruit andvegetable markets. Meet with farmerswho follow organic, sustainable practices.See www.bayareagreentours.org for ideas.
6SHOPPING DAY with coachtransportation to several top stores
– not just one shopping center. Workout a plan with store management forcoupons for freebies. Maybe include anice lunch en route.
7FASHION SHOW. Check withdepartment stores and other fash-
ion outlets for dates of future fashionshows. Include entrance fee and perhapsa drink. Allow time for shopping afterthe show.
8CONCERT, indoors or a summeron-the-lawn venue. Many orches-
tras and little theaters schedule warm-weather outdoor programming. Takealong a picnic supper for all.
9MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION. Many families
are fractured these days. Mothers without kids. Kids feeling a bit lost aftertheir mothers have died. Be the focalpoint for a function to bring everyonetogether for next year’s Mother’s Day.
10 A FUNDRAISER of some sort.Cost into the trip a donation
from each participant for some needyorganization in your community. Hint– this will bring you local publicity andperhaps new members.
11THEATER ATTENDANCEat the newest edgy play opening
in a nearby theater. Maybe add a visitbackstage or a lecture before the playdiscussing the author’s work.
12 AN OVERNIGHT MINI-TRIP to the nearest
national park, staying in a lodge. Include a meeting with a park ranger, perhaps anevening sing-along around the campfirecomplete with s’mores and maybe a ghoststory or two. This might be an ideal timeto suggest participants bring along youngpeople in their family and plan it for aweekend when kids are not in school.
8 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who
designs and leads tours. Her travel industry
consulting and educational firm is Sarbey
Associates (sarbeyassociates.com).
� marty sarbey de souto, ctcOn TourOne-Day Tours – The Solution for Hard Times
Free meals for your driver and group leader• Ample free motor coach parking • All-inclusive nationwide pricing • Food that’s ready for a quick, hassle-free stop
• A wide variety of foods to accommodate specific diet choicesServing breakfast, lunch and dinner
© 2010 Buffets, Inc.
Service, Value, Variety
Reservations made easy. Visit www.buffet.com/leisuregroupemail: groupsales@buffetsinc.com or call 800-753-8207
Around 500 locations
I LOVE MY DAD. Love him to death.But during a recent phone conversation,he got slightly on my nerves – throughno fault of his own really. It’s just that Ican’t seem to escape the “G” word. Evenmy newly retired, slightly computer-challenged, non-Facebook-using fatherwas “on the Groupon” and now he wastaking travel advice from the group-dealgiant.“Yeah,” he said with such a burst of
enthusiasm that I thought he won thelottery. “I bought a Groupon to go skiing on the Fourth of July!”You see the dilemma. Swishing
through the remains of a late springsnow on July Fourth in Northern California? Very cool. Our retired heroes allowing Groupon to sway theirtravel choices? Not so cool. Over the last year, Groupon, Living
Social and Travelzoo, along with a myriad of other spinoffs, have prolifer-ated on the Internet and filled up ouremail inboxes with deals so amazing,they’re often hard to resist. The deal siteshave woven themselves into the fabric of our daily purchasing choices. Andnow, they’re barking up the travel tree.Because I advocate spas and girlfriend
getaways as a writer and television con-tributor, I’m looking at this purely froma consumer perspective. But here’s mytake on how to integrate them into yourgroup getaway planning.
BEAT ’EM AT THEIR OWN GAMEThe rise of the deal sites came partly
out of the sluggish economy. Businesseswere willing to discount their servicesdrastically, just to get customers throughtheir doors. They pay nothing to the
deal sites upfront (brilliant) and they geta big fat check from the sites after thedeal runs (even more brilliant). But, here’s the catch. Businesses are
generally required to discount their prod-uct or service by 50% and they get reim-bursed about 50% on that deal price.As a group travel planner, you can
broker a similar deal but the businesswon’t lose as much money on yourarrangement. For example, I recently came across
a deal for $210 worth of spa treatments
at a posh Arizona retreat for $99. Thespa will get reimbursed somewhere inthe neighborhood of $50 for each dealsold – as a spa know-it-all, I can tellyou that’s barely enough to cover theirexpenses. A $99 spa day at an upscale spa is a
perfect add-on to a girlfriend getaway. Ifyou were able to negotiate a similar dealfor your group, the advantage to thatspa is that the takers are paying the spadirectly the full amount of your “deal” –not to mention that you’re bringing agroup of women with pocketbooks fullof credit cards to their resort. Win-win.
CAN’T BEAT ’EM, JOIN ’EMNow, the flip side. You could also
integrate these group deals into youritinerary as an option or even plan thetrip around them. Take that same spa deal mentioned
previously. If part of the group wishesto spend a day at a posh Arizona spa –
voilà – you could pass along this fabu-lous deal and if it works for them, youplan the trip around it.The caveat, of course, is that deals
often have date limitations and thevenues are usually more crowded dur-ing those periods. To cover yourself, I would suggest reiterating the fineprint of the deal before encouragingthem to buy it.As consumers, we can’t live without
our daily deals. And as group travel organizers, you can’t kill ’em. But by
keeping the end goal in sight – femaletravelers getting a value-packed, mem-orable getaway – you can use the dealsites to your advantage.
10 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
� lisa kasanicky
On Girlfriend Getaways
Dealing with the Deal Sites
Girlfriend getaway planners can use dealsites to their advantage
Lisa Kasanicky is author of The Complete
Idiot’s Guide® to Girlfriend Getaways (Alpha
Books, 2009) and founder of ArizonaSpa-
Girls.com — a girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide to
spas, salons, beauty and wellness. The book
offers travel details on more than 70 destina-
tions in the United States and Canada ideal
for female-focused group travelers.
Tourism conTinues To occupyan important position in the globaleconomy. it has been called the greatestvoluntary transfer of wealth from rich topoor countries.* And, in both developedand developing countries, the sectorcommands attention as a means of sustainable economic development. For example: ecuador President rafael correa’s 2011 goal is to see tourism become the chief source of income (overoil) for the country, and in the unitedstates, President obama signed theTravel Promotion Act, the first-ever na-tional travel promotion and communi-cations program to attract moreinternational travelers to the u.s.
Adventure tourism as a subset of theleisure tourism industry is rising inprominence, as evidenced by mexicanPresident Felipe calderon’s statementduring the December 2010 coP16/united nations climate changeconference: “mexico needs to becomethe champion of adventure travel.”
The Adventure Travel Trade Associa-tion’s (ATTA) February 2011 survey ofnearly 100 tourism boards covering sixcontinents also reveals an increasing appetite for adventure. When asked,“How has the importance of the adven-ture tourism sector for your tourism organization changed?”, 89% respondedthat the sector is being given “increasingimportance” within their organization(versus the 42% indicated for “Prior to2007”). Furthermore, 52% of tourismboards had not yet recognized “adven-
ture tourism” as a stand-alone categoryprior to 2007. Today, a full 85% of re-sponding tourism boards now recognizeit as an independent travel sector. Thesesame tourism organizations reportedsimilar growth in the private sector, ashas ATTA, whose membership growthglobally continues at a steady and solidpace despite recent economic volatility.
For the group travel community,knowing why adventure tourism isgrowing and how to responsibly develop
this sector is essential to its success.Adventure, as a way of travel, is
increasingly appealing to consumers. infact, destinations such as new Zealand,Greenland and norway are now posi-tioning their offerings and marketingalmost exclusively towards adventuretravelers. Perhaps cementing the sector’smainstream appeal, pop culture figureoprah Winfrey teamed with TourismQueensland to market Australiantourism. “oprah’s ultimate Adventure”featured the talk show host zip liningand snorkeling.
in large part, adventure travel isgaining favor because it involves healthy-physical activities, allows for a deepercultural exchange with different peopleand an appreciation for the fragility ofplaces. it also is more often viewed as a“guilt-free” holiday option given thatmoney spent can penetrate more deeplyinto communities, contributing to localeconomies. it is transformative and turns
travelers into passionate evangelists andadvocates. Travelers’ firsthand experi-ences tend to leave powerful and lastingimpressions, often inspiring thoughtfuland helpful action. in this vein, adven-ture travel focuses on the triple bottomline of people, planet and profit.
responsibly engaging in adventuretourism development is no easy under-taking, but there are plenty of resourcesto guide thoughtful involvement.Presently, ATTA offers webinars and
regional meetings on sustainability efforts and best practices, details ofwhich are regularly featured in adven-turetravelnews.com. And, later this year,ATTA will officially launch its newATTA’s AdventureeDu initiative, auniversity-level adventure travel educa-tion and training program.
And, as always, ATTA’s annual con-ference, the Adventure Travel Worldsummit (adventuretravelworldsummit-.com), is where members of the entireadventure tourism supply chain repre-senting more than 50 nations explorethe trends, research, issues and oppor-tunities central to the rising prominenceof adventure tourism and its stayingpower.
12 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Christopher Doyle is vice president of Seattle-
based Adventure Travel Trade Association
(adventuretravel.biz.com). Credit for informa-
tion in this column also goes to the 2010-11
Adventure Tourism Development Index (ad-
ventureindex.travel) and co-author Christina
Heyniger (Vital Waves Consulting).
The Rising Prominence ofAdventure Tourism
� christopher doyleOn Adventure Travel
Some countries are marketing almost exclusively to adventure travelers
*Ashley, M. & (2009). “Can the private sector reduce poverty at scale? – evidence fromthe tourism value chain.” The CommonwealthMinisters Reference Book, 1-4.
Travel Bound is your partner for customizedgroups to destinations everywhere on earth!� Best prices & service available� Every itinerary totally customized� Price match guarantee� FREE quotes� 35,000+ hotels worldwide� 48,000+ sightseeing items� 7,000 museums, galleries & other attractions� 400+ coaches on daily access with 7,500+ drivers� 30,000 international supplier partners� Network of 26 offices worldwide for on-the-road support
Customized Groups:800-808-9547Groups.tb@gta-travel.com
www.BookTravelBound.com
Riding through the crowdedstreets of Jaipur in our air-condi-
tioned minibus, the jaw-droppingscenes unfolded one after another. Onethat really caught our collective eye wasa dilapidated bus with about 30 peoplesprawled across the roof, nearly everysquare inch occupied. Inside was jam-packed, too, on this 115-degree day.We took pictures of the roof riders
as they waved and smiled. For them, itwas all part of daily life in India. Forour Globus FAM group, the spectaclewas one of the bewildering sights thatkept us on the edge of our seats. It wasa slice of the real India, the India thatstays with you, the India you tell othersabout after a mesmerizing trip to thesubcontinent of Asia.On the six-hour drive from Agra to
Jaipur, one of my favorite experiences, Ikept my nose glued to the window, notwanting to miss a moment of the pass-ing parade—camel carts and oxcarts,
mango and banana vendors, stuffed-to-the-gills Jeeps with boys hanging offthe back, rickshaw drivers pedalingthrough impossible traffic. Stray cowsand dogs wander the streets, monkeysscamper across rooftops and boys herd
water buffalo (prized for their milk).And you want to get a picture of every woman gracefully draped in aturquoise, chartreuse, magenta or saf-fron sari—exclamation points in thestream of pedestrians spilling onto
14 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: south asia � randy mink
A kAlEIDoscopE oF ImprEssIoNs colors AN
uNForgETTAblE TrIp To ThE subcoNTINENT
Leisure Group Travel’s Randy Mink visits the Taj Mahal in Agra.
NFINITE
NDIAIM
ichae
l Lun
dqui
st
roadways. As for the men napping ontheir parked handcarts, you wonderhow they can sleep amid the constanthorn-honking and near-miss accidents.
With so much going on, there wasno way I was going to nod off on thebus. A nap could wait until I got home.I’m in India! I told myself. If ever therewas a place to gape and gawk, this is it.
Though India is packed with tradi-tional sights—temples, mosques, forts,the Taj Mahal—it’s far from a conven-tional destination. A journey to theworld’s largest democracy is moreabout lifestyles.
Tour director Anil Bahal of DistantFrontiers, Globus’ ground operator, toldus, “You never go to India for a vaca-tion. You go for the experience. Whenyou get home, you’ll need a holiday.”
The FAM trip for tour planners andtrade press was an abbreviated version
of Globus’ 14-day “Secrets of India,”using the same hotels and incorporat-ing the same activities. We did theGolden Triangle portion—Delhi, Agra
and Jaipur—taking the Shatabdi Express train from Delhi to Agra.Michael Lundquist, Globus’ nationalgroup sales manager, accompanied us.
Though we suffered through triple-digit heat in early June, travelers in falland winter can expect more pleasantweather in North India. Temperaturesin October reach into the high 80s,while highs in February are around 75.
The daily schedule for Globusgroups includes welcome leisure time.It’s not just go-go-go every minute.India can get too rich for the blood, andyou need time to recharge and absorbwhat you’ve seen. Everyone appreciatesa break from the high-intensity experi-ence and welcomes the chance to nap,go to the pool or get a massage.
One afternoon before dinner Iwalked across the street from my NewDelhi hotel and watched boys play a
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 15
Most visitors to Jaipur trek north to the hilltop Amber Fort, where an elephant ride is de rigueur. In the city proper, they can
prowl souvenir markets offering puppets and other crafts, photograph fruit vendors and ride a camel.
Agra’s Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb has
been called a “jewel box in marble.”Rand
y Min
k Ph
otos
pick-up game of cricket in the park.Then I went over to the pedestrianshopping area where cooks weregrilling kebabs at little restaurants withoutdoor tables. Standing cheek-by-jowl on one block were McDonald’s,Pizza Hut and Domino’s. (Burgers inIndia are lamb, chicken or vegetarian as the cow is sacred to Hindus. Anyonefor a Chicken Maharajah Mac?)
Here are some only-in-India expe-riences that Globus travelers can expectand that really brought the countryalive for me:
• Thrust yourself into the chaoticstreet life of Old Delhi on a 30-minuterickshaw ride for two through theteeming wholesale bazaars of the mostdensely packed quarter in India’s capitalcity. Weaving between bikes, handcarts,motorcycles and motorized rickshaws,your driver pedals through a labyrinthof narrow lanes covered in canopies oftangled electrical wires. At some pointsyou almost can stretch out and touchthe hole-in-the-wall stalls. Especially
gawk-worthy: the color-splashed fabricmarkets and grisly butcher shops.
• Another Old Delhi highlight isJami Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Seton a mound above the fray, the redsandstone building topped by threemarble domes is a beehive of activity.Our visit coincided with a Muslim pil-grimage. We had a field day taking pic-
tures of people milling about the court-yard and washing in the ablution tank.They were in a festive mood and glad topose for us. In fact, some had their owncameras and wanted to include us intheir group photos—we were exotic tothem. Before entering the mosque, wehad to remove our shoes and cover our-selves in a sarong or robe.
16 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: south asia �
Best known for its European and NorthAmerican tours, Globus has always
been strong in Asia and now is “looking fora much more prominent slice of the pie,and India fits into that as a unique and ex-otic touring destination,” said Mike A.Schields, Globus’ managing director,groups and emerging markets.
India “certainly stands apart from allother destinations in the world,” he said. “Itis a chance to get completely outside ofyour current world and comfort zone.Everything is so different and unique vs.our lives here that it makes you both ap-preciative and awestruck at how we live andhow they live.
“India appeals to a certain type of trav-eler so the qualification process and targetmarketing have to be very selective,”Schields said. “Groups that have doneChina, Southeast Asia, Russia and South
America would be appropriate for India.”Globus’ 14-day “Secrets of India”
(priced from $2,929, plus air) includes thewell-traveled Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra,Jaipur) circuit. The North India itineraryalso features Varanasi, the holiest of Hindupilgrimage cities; Khajuraho temples;Udaipur; and Ranthambore National Park,famed for its tigers. Ten departures in2011-12 are scheduled from Sept. 24 toMarch 10. Groups are limited to 20 in a full-size motorcoach, and there are a few flightsas well. A four-day South India extension isavailable.
India is a “natural group market as fewpeople would just wing it individually,”Schields commented. “Our goal is to growthe destination slowly and carefully via thegroup markets, targeting those groups thatare looking for lifetime experiences.
“We also want to push our extension
programs in the south of India, as the coun-try is very large and diverse, and regionaldifferences are significant,” he continued.
Globus’ Monograms division, geared totravelers who want more independence,also offers India options.
For details on Globus programs in India,visit globusfamilygroups.com.
Globus ProGrams In Ind Ia
Globus’ Michael Lundquist tests his snake-charming skills at the Amber Fort.
• The Taj Mahal, one of the mostfamous buildings in the world, is thevery symbol of India and more thanworth the crack-of-dawn wakeup call.To beat the heat and the crowds,Globus groups make a sunrise visit tothis world wonder, making their way intwo-person tongas (horse carriages) tothe outer gates. The clip-clopping ridethrough the quiet streets of Agra is thelull before the storm of vendors hawk-ing postcards and snow globes depict-ing the marble masterpiece.
No matter how many times you’veseen pictures of this ethereal monu-ment to love—designed by EmperorShah Jahan as a monument to his wife,who died in childbirth—there’s noth-ing like feasting your eyes on it the firsttime. For even the most jaded traveler,it’s a great travel moment.
• Another classic experience is theelephant ride up the ramparts of theAmber Fort, high on a hill north ofJaipur. The 20-minute ride in a two-passenger metal basket (howdah) se-cured on the back of an Asian elephantis a standard activity at the fort, asprawling complex of palace apart-ments, gardens and courtyards. As your beast of burden trudges uphill,you’ll have lots of photographers snap-ping your picture and they will houndyou afterwards to buy.
• A special Globus feature is a pri-vate-home dinner in Jaipur, the “Pink
City.” Just steps from the rough-and-tumble streets, groups enjoy a home-cooked meal at Sankotra Haveli. (Ahaveli, traditionally for merchants ornoblemen, is a multi-story mansionbuilt around courtyards.) The familyhas lived there since the 1720s.
Our group was greeted with flowernecklaces and led into an open-air sit-ting room where hors d’oeuvres werepassed around and conversationflowed. Next came a tour of the home.On the upper terrace, Padmini Singh,our hostess, told us not to provoke themonkeys on the adjacent buildings. Inthe dining room we had sari-wearingand turban-wrapping demonstrationsbefore the meal. I sat next to Mrs. Singhand had a chance to ask all kinds ofquestions about food and life in India.
Later we encountered a torchlightwedding procession right outside ourhotel. A marching band played as thegroom rode a white horse and peopledanced in the street with the bride.When the revelers noticed us takingpictures, they invited us to join in.
To say that India provides sensoryoverload would be an understatement.It makes other destinations pale incomparison. We barely skimmed thesurface in five full days, but even a life-time would be insufficient to experi-ence the rich tapestry of India, a landinfinite in its splendor and passion forliving. LGT
• The population of India is 1.2 billion, making it the second mostpopulous nation on earth (afterChina). With 28 people born everyminute, India grows by 18 millionannually. A third of the population isunder 15 years of age.
• India, a third the size of the U.S., isthe world’s seventh largest country.It is bordered by China, Nepal andPakistan.
• For North American travelers, Indiais halfway around the world. Ourgroup’s nonstop Continental Airlinesflight from Newark to Delhi covered7,702 miles in 13 hours, 28 minutes.
• Indian Railways, with more thanone million employees, is the largestemployer in the world.
• Hinduism, practiced by 80 percentof the population, is India’s mostprominent religion, yet it has moreMuslims than any country but Indonesia.
• Besides Hindi and English, 16 official languages (and over 800 dialects) are spoken.
Resplendent in saris, Amber Fort groundskeepers gladly pose for tips. Stunning tablecloths tempt shoppers in Jaipur.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Tour planners on the Globus
FAM trip offer their thoughts on
India as a tour destination. See the article at
http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=24666.
INDIAf a s t f a c t s
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 17
Arkansas comes by its slogan“The Natural State,” well,naturally. With more than
60 percent of its land wooded, andblessed with abundant lakes, streamsand rivers, Arkansas is proud of its out-door beauty. From hunting and hikingto fishing and boating, both residentsand visitors take full advantage of thestate’s recreational offerings.
Never to be overlooked, however,are Arkansas’ significant historical andcultural contributions to the regionand the nation. Covering many topics,the museums of Arkansas paint a widebrushstroke, offering educational andentertaining stories. Here’s a dozenthat might interest your groups:
Jacksonville Museum of MilitaryHistory, Jacksonville. This militarymuseum fosters an appreciation for
on location: south � dave bodle
Travelers go back in time at the Arkansas Museum of
Natural Resources and Bill Clinton’s birthplace (right).
Museum
Top-notch museums add a cultural slant to
Arkansas itineraries
The Delta Cultural Center in Helena spotlights the region’s blues music.
18 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Medley
Phot
os co
urte
sy o
f Ark
ansa
s Dep
artm
ent o
f Par
ks &
Tou
rism
the men and women who haveserved our country. Its missionensures that the freedoms weenjoy are not taken for granted. Anew exhibit is the “C-130/360Virtual Tour,” which provides a360-degree interior view of theC-130 Hercules plane. Observeevery part of these workhorses,including instrument panels andthe cargo compartments thattransport our troops in Iraq,Afghanistan and throughout theworld. (jaxmilitarymuseum.org)
Arkansas State Capitol, LittleRock. A tour of the almost-cen-tury-old capitol and surroundinggrounds is a must for every visitorto Arkansas. A permanent display,“Call of Duty: Arkansans at War,”is located on the fourth floor.(sos.arkansas.gov)
William J. Clinton Presiden-tial Library & Museum, LittleRock. An on-going goal is tobring exciting temporary exhibitsto the museum. Here are three toround out 2011: Elvis at 21(through Aug. 21) is an exhibitfrom the Smithsonian Institutionof photographs by AlfredWertheimer of Elvis Presley at the
very beginning of his fame. Elvis(through Sept. 11) highlightsitems from the collections of theClinton Presidential Library, President Clinton and Graceland.Nathan Sawaya: Art of the Brick(Oct. 1, 2011-Feb. 12, 2012) re-veals the Lego® artwork of NathanSawaya. (clintonlibrary.gov)
President William JeffersonClinton Birthplace Home Na-tional Historic Site, Hope. Thetwo-story, white-frame house thatbelonged to Clinton’s grandpar-ents was our 42nd president’shome until age 4. Growing up, heregularly returned for summer va-cation and weekends. A NationalHistoric Landmark, it was pre-sented into the national park sys-tem on Jan. 2, 2011. Park rangersprovide tours of the house andconduct interpretative programs.(nps.gov/wicl)
Gangster Museum of Amer-ica, Hot Springs. This recentlyopened museum investigates HotSprings’ infamous past and itsmore notorious visitors. Gallerieshost photographic displays andartifacts related to the era (1920s-1940s) when the city’s hot min-eral baths and gamblingentertained Al Capone, LuckyLuciano, Bugs Moran, FrankCostello and a host of the richand famous. (tgmoa.com)
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Exhibits at the State Capitol bring Arkansas history alive.
ll types of groups includingprofessional tour companies
and travel agencies, senior groups,bank travel clubs, church groups,military, school and family reunions,wedding parties and more havediscovered Eureka Springs as apopular destination.
An extraordinary experience awaitsyour group in Eureka Springs.Cradled within the beautiful OzarkMountains of Northwest Arkansas,our picturesque Victorian Villagetruly is a “one of a kind” place. It’srefreshingly different from any othergroup travel destination. Groupsfrom all over the United States aswell as many other countries arediscovering a new way to beentertained. We have broken themold, getting away from “cookiecutter” itineraries.
A
Obtain Arkansas
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
L a k e C h i c o t S t a t e P a r k
888-AT-PARKS • ArkansasStateParks.com
unique visitsunique visitsWith 52 diverse Arkansas state parks to With 52 diverse Arkansas state parks to
choose from, there is always something new
for your group to discover.
Play City.LGT/11
Spa City. Hot Springs is famous for natural thermal spas and historic Bathhouse Row. But with the South’s newest gaming center, stunning woodland gardens, delicious dining and more – you can call us whatever you like.
Visit hotsprings.org or call 1-800-922-6478 for your Group Tour Planner now.
Bloom City.
Make the highpoint of Arkansas Make the highpoint of Arkansas
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Fort Smith. With aplanned move after the first of the year, the small art centerwill become a state-of-the-art museum meeting nationalstandards. The new location in downtown Fort Smith willbe equipped to facilitate national and international travelingexhibits. (fsram.org)
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, Prairie Grove. The1862 Battle of Prairie Grove was the last time Confederateand Union forces faced off in Northwest Arkansas. The on-siteHindman Hall Museum reopens later this summer followingrenovations and will feature new exhibits and interpretationof the critically important battle that kept Missouri in Federalhands and eventually aided in cutting off Texas from the Confederacy. (arkansasstateparks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield)
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville.Opening to the public on Nov. 11, the new museum,
founded by Wal-mart heiress AliceWalton, will presentan overview ofAmerican art, in-
cluding American masteworks, lesser-known pieces from theColonial era and contemporary works. Several works from theCrystal Bridges permanent collection have been or are currentlyon loan at various museums throughout the United States.(crystalbridges.org)
Walmart Visitor Center, Bentonville. The fully restoredWalmart Visitor Center has re-opened in the historic TerryBlock building. There are several additions to the newly ren-ovated center dedicated to Walmart and its founder, SamWalton. The center will introduce an expanded gallery wherevisitors can view a variety of new and restored items signifi-cant to Walmart’s history. (walmartstores.com)
Delta Cultural Center, Helena. Every exhibittells a story that defines the economic importanceand social impact of the Mississippi River. NativeAmericans, European explorers and early pioneersare all portrayed. The growth of Delta towns, the Civil War and the region’s rich music historyare on display. (deltaculturalcenter.com)
Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie,Stuttgart. Germans traveling from Ohio settledin Arkansas’ Grand Prairie and planned for a newcolony and Lutheran synod. Although the landwas unsuitable for cotton, newcomers in the late1800s harvested rice and soon Arkansas was onits way to leading the U.S. in rice production. Themuseum focuses on the settlers and the area’s nat-ural environment. (grandprairiemuseum.org)
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources,Smackover. Dedicated to the early 1920s pioneersof South Arkansas’ oil industry, the museum por-trays a story of wealth, rowdiness, danger and waste.Focusing primarily on the oil boom, the exhibitioncenter features vintage photographs, period gaspumps, roughnecks working a site and moderndrilling techniques. An elevator ride allows the vis-itor to see a large diorama that depicts undergroundseas and scenes from the Industrial Revolution. Avideo and walk down a re-created Smackover streetwith storefronts and vintage automobiles are part ofthe experience. (amnr.org) LGT
on location: south �
Clinton Library exhibits remember Elvis Presley.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
For a look at five great attrac-
tions in Northwest Arkansas, log on
to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=24405.
Discover one of New England’s favorite group travel attractions!
�e World’s Largest Candle Store, �e World’s Greatest Christmas Shop and Yankee Candle™ Home, all under one roof! Yankee Candle® Flagship is more than a store - Explore a wonderland of fun ... visit with Santa … catch snow�akes year ’round in the Black Forest …stroll through our authentic Bavarian Christmas Village … Satisfy every food craving with lunch or dinner at our award-winning Chandler’s Restaurant, sandwiches and more at Mrs. Claus Bakery & Café or the sweet taste of our famous fudge.
Contact our Group Travel Department today to learn more at grouptour@yankeecandle.com.
757-258-1002
Discover one of Virginia’s favorite group travel attractions!
�e World’s Largest Candle Store, �e World’s Greatest Christmas Shop and Yankee Candle™ Home, all under one roof! Yankee Candle® Flagship is more than just a store. It is always snowing in Holiday Park and visit with Santa in his Toy Shop! Hickory, Dickory & Doc, our animatronic band, will entertain your group in the Town Square. Mrs. Claus’ Bakery & Cafe o�ers an assortment of co�ees, teas and tantalizing treats for dessert as well as an array of lighter fare. �ere is something fun for everyone!
Group Tour Contact Information: Call 1-877-616-6510 or Email us at bhuss@yankeecandle.com.
on location: south � heather swick
When it comes to love, allgirls have their hearts seton something a little dif-
ferent. But when it comes to your girl-friend getaway, think of Virginia aseveryone’s perfect match.
Quaint, sophisticated and steeped inhistory, Virginia has aged like the finewines it is famous for. American charmis visible even in the most modern towns,and chances are a treasure trove of an-tiques, gourmet food or spectacular out-door views is never far away.
For a delectable food and wine selec-tion, Floyd is the place to settle in andstay awhile. For the group seeking aquiet, remote getaway, the Bent Moun-tain Lodge Bed and Breakfast providesjust that. A flower garden, gazebo, porchand rooms overlooking Southwest Vir-ginia’s Cahas Mountains make this theideal setting for your group to unwindafter a day spent wining and dining. TheMountain Rose Inn, a Victorian-stylebed and breakfast, is also a top groupchoice.
Because a trip to Floyd requires atleast a sample of the county’s wine, theBlue Ridge Wine Trail ensures yourgroup gets a wide and varied tasting.The trail offers wine, mead and cider with stops at Villa Appalachia,Chateau Morrisette and Amrheinwineries, Foggy Ridge Cider and BlackSnake Meadery. Remember to take thescenic route when getting aroundFloyd; the Blue Ridge Parkway is aNational Scenic Byway visited for itsnatural beauty. This route is especiallyincredible in the fall when flamingleaves paint the countryside in a rain-bow of colors.
Natasha’s Market Café at the Harvest Moon Gallery is available fororganic brunch, lunch and dinner.
Everything from the crackers to thedesserts are made in-house, and whenyour meal is done there is plenty ofshopping available at the gallery.
The area offers enough boutiqueand specialty stores to satisfy even the
most avid shopaholic, but the NewMountain Mercantile is the hub of alllocal artistries. More than 100 artistsand craftsmen are represented withitems including books, candles, beads,jewelry and pottery. (floydvirginia.com)
Williamsburg Winery, a favorite
with girlfriend groups, is a place for
touring, tasting and relaxing.
Virginiafor Girls Only
From mountain townsto coastal resorts, the state
abounds with getaway options
24 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Kelly
J. M
ihal
coe/V
irgin
ia T
ouris
m C
orpo
ratio
n
Winchester is known as an artistichub, and with good reason—Shenan-doah University provides a college-townatmosphere with concerts, operas, playsand festivals. The Shenandoah AppleBlossom Festival takes place here everyMay and more than 250,000 peoplefrom around the world attend. Whilefamily fun abounds at the festival, thereis no shortage of activity for girlfriends.Live music, dancing, luncheons, celebrityappearances and carnival shows are justa fraction of what visitors can expect.
Veramar Vineyard is a picturesquelocation for a stroll or tasting, and forthose who dream of creating their ownwines, the vineyard hosts a three-daywine camp with meals and lodging. Fora shopping break in Winchester, browseLoudoun Street for a wide selection ofantique, boutique and specialty stores.(visitwinchesterva.com)
An oceanside excursion is always acrowd pleaser, and Virginia Beach is noexception. Seventeen blocks of outdoorcafes ensure that you never go hungry. Ifyou have a hankering for seafood, you’vecome to the right place. Chesapeake Baycrab cakes, steamed shrimp and stripedbass are all local favorites.
Being a health-conscious city, Vir-ginia Beach has many health and well-
ness spas. The Flowering Almond Spaat the Founders Inn is pure decadencefor you and your girlfriends. The Vir-ginia Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast, located right on the water, is a completetrip in itself: cozy lodging, seaside spaservices and gourmet breakfasts. Spenda morning at the beach and, after lunchon the boardwalk, visit the Cape HenryLighthouses for views of the AtlanticOcean and Chesapeake Bay. (visitvir-giniabeach.com)
Chesapeake City is Virginia’s go-todestination if you are looking for a rus-tic escape from the bustle of everydaylife, and it is the perfect backdrop forkayaking, bird watching, fishing, hiking,biking and camping.
Spend a day kayaking in Virginia’ssecond-largest natural lake, LakeDrummond, and explore the wetlandsin the Great Dismal Swamp NationalWildlife Refuge. Stop by FamousUncle Al’s Hot Dogs and Grill orWood Chicks BBQ for lunch or savorseafood at the Rose Bay SeafoodRestaurant.
Carafe Wine Makers allows yourgroup to taste and create a wine of itsown. Delicious wine at an affordableprice makes this the perfect stop for girl-friends, and each bottle is personalizedwith labels designed by you.
Chesapeake City is home to ample“Virginia Green” certified lodging op-tions. For a stay that is as kind to theearth as it is to its guests, opt for theTown Place at Greenbrier, Aloft Chesa-peake or the Candlewood Suites Chesa-peake. (visitchesapeake.com)
Richmond is ideal for a trip to thepast. Stroll the streets of the HistoricDistrict and you will be walking in thefootsteps of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert E.Lee, Patrick Henry and Lt. StonewallJackson. Explore the tastes and sights ofthe city with a bar crawl through favoritelocal haunts like Legend Brewery orCapital Ale House. For classy dinner op-tions to begin a night out, try RowlandFine Dining in the Fan District or sa-vory French cuisine at Chez Max. Par-ticipate in the Richmond tradition ofSunday brunch in the Rotunda lobby ofthe Jefferson Hotel.
Tour the vineyards at the James RiverCellars Winery, Woodland Vineyardand River City Cellars, where a winetasting is offered every Friday night. Towine a bit more, explore the shops atOnce Upon a Vine, Strawberry StreetVineyard and Wine Lovers.
Richmond has a rich selection of artgalleries and exhibitions. The Manches-ter District Art Galleries, Virginia Mu-seum of Fine Arts or a tour of the publicartwork and sculptures allows yourgroup to sample a wide spectrum of tal-ent. (visitrichmondva.com)
Regardless of the season, the townsof Virginia, from the mountains to theseacoast, have much to offer you andyour girlfriends. Why should the lovershave all the fun? LGT
on location: south �
Obtain Virginia
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
Groups enjoy touring Virginia homes during Historic Garden Week in April.
Tour members in Gloucester take a
break from Main Street shopping.
26 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Beth
Fur
gurso
n/Vi
rgin
ia T
ouris
m C
orpo
ratio
n
Virg
inia
Tou
rism
Cor
pora
tion
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 27
on location: south � dave bodle
A ccording to a U.S. Fish andWildlife Service report, the 2006National Survey of Fishing, Hunt-
ing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation,there are nearly 30 million anglers morethan 16 years of age in the United States.The creative tour operator will find nu-merous ways to tap into this market andSouth Carolina is just the place to begin. Although South Carolina ranks 26th
in population, it is No. 8 in anglerspending and in the top five states innon-resident fishing destinationsranked by retail sales. Both saltwaterand freshwater anglers have discovered
an abundance of fishing opportunitiesin the Palmetto State.South Carolina is blessed with
bountiful fishing from the mountainsto the coast and beyond. The best place to begin is the websites of theSouth Carolina Association of Tourism Regions (scatr.com). If there’s fishing in the region (and there most likely willbe), these local organizations will haveall the information. Years ago my grandson and I were
gathering background for a story in a series titled “On the Road with Dylanand Pop-Pop.” One of our stops was in
the Capital City & Lake Murray Country region. This area is home tosome major fishing tournaments, in-cluding a stop on the televised BassMasters Elite Series. The good folks at the tourism office
arranged for us to do a morning of fishing. Already four days on the road, I did not cherish the idea of getting a 9-year-old out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to beat the dock by 6:30. We arrived on timeand were at our fishing spot on LakeMurray at 7:00. By 8:30 we had ourlimit and were unable to get the bait outof the water quick enough! We both
Consider fishingas a hook on your
next group offering inSouth Carolina
South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Country, home to Lakes Marion and Moultrie, holds a number of fishing records.
Good CatchGood Catch
Sant
ee C
oope
r Tou
rism
Reg
ion
had a great time and still cherish some wonderful memories.Off I-95 is the Santee Cooper
Country region, home to Lakes Marionand Moultrie. Due to its easy access andnatural abundance this area is a hot bedof fishing opportunities. A quick lookon its website gives a complete listing of
United States Coast Guard-approvedguides. You’ll see where they are locatedand the type of fish you can expect tocatch with them. Other than fishing license, sunscreen and a cooler ofdrinks and snacks, your guide will supply everything you’ll need. However,be ready for some action because theSantee Cooper Country lakes hold anumber of fishing records. With 30 million people fishing, you
might just be able to fill a tour that includes, lodging, fishing and meals.
Although most lake guides accommo-date only four to six passengers on aboat, multiple guides can be used to accommodate a larger group. A more realistic option is adding
fishing to any South Carolina itinerary.Shopping or a museum tour might notbe for everyone. A morning of fishingjust might attract a few extra passengers.Of course, a fishing component is a perfect addition to any multi-genera-tional tour.Closer to the Atlantic Ocean,
numerous fishing opportunities can befound in all coastal tourism regions. TheLowcountry & Resort Islands, HistoricCharleston region and the MyrtleBeach Area & Grand Strand provideeverything from rivers and marshes tosurf, pier and deep-sea adventures. On Hilton Head Island the 70-foot
Captain Hook party fishing boat specializes in group outings of morethan 20 passengers. Most group hotelscan make all the arrangements. TheHoliday Inn will even provide a cook-
ONLINE EXCLUSIVEFor travel ideas in South
Carolina’s Thoroughbred Country
tourism region, log on to http://leisure-
grouptravel.com/?p=24407.
on location: south �
28 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
South Carolina’s Atlantic coast offers a variety of group fishing options.
Fishing charters are not the only vesselssailing from one South Carolina port. A
ruling by state legislators now allows localcounties to approve gaming vessels to sailfrom their deep-water ports to internationalwaters. The Myrtle Beach area has the onlytwo such gaming ships.
The Big M Casino is a 186’ vessel withslots, blackjack, roulette, craps and Let ItRide and 3-card Poker. A buffet is included
in the cost of every cruise. The cruises de-part twice a day, Tuesday through Sunday.
With a passenger capacity of 600 the237’ SunCruz Casino ship is a casino thatjust happens to be on a ship. There are 320slots, every imaginable table game, and apoker room featuring Texas Hold ‘Em anda sports betting lounge. A buffet with everycruise and entertainment in season adds tothe experience. SunCruz sails twice daily
Tuesday through Sunday andevenings only on Monday.
SunCruz Casino welcomesgroups and recently introduced a$60 Value Fun Book for groups of10 or more. Tiered pricing is hon-ored and a complete group packageis available.
Both ships are located just min-utes from North Myrtle Beach at theLittle River, SC fishing village.
Ample coach parking is available at eachdock. Both casinos offer transportationfrom most area hotels.
The hour sail into international watersprovides a relaxing time to enjoy the scenicbeauty along the Intracoastal Waterway andbuffet. The three hours of gaming startswhen the slots are turned on and the livedealer table games begin. —Dave Bodle
Myrtle Beach Offshore Gaming
SunCruz passengers enjoy gaming,
entertainment and buffet dining.
Sout
h C
arol
ina
Park
s, Re
crea
tion
& T
ouris
mSu
nCru
z C
asin
o
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 29
ing demonstration with your catch ontheir outdoor deck. The Charleston region offers
offshore fishing in the Atlantic. BothMatt Galvin of Coastal Yacht Chartersand Captain Rich Harris and wifeTheresa of Reel Deal Charters arehappy to work with groups. In the Myrtle Beach area from
Georgetown to Murrells Inlet to LittleRiver, there’s something for everyone’sfishing interest. The easiest option toarrange might just be pier fishing.Most likely there’s a pier close to where
you’re staying and it has the equipmentyou need. A South Carolina fishing license is not required on private fish-ing piers.In Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports
Lodge offers a variety of fishing packages for small to mid-size groups. Standard fishing packages and a newfly-fishing package await the seriousrecreational fisherman. The luxuriouslodge includes fish preparation stationsto clean and package your catch forshipping. Outdoor grills are available,or simply leave the cooking to the staff.
Captain Dick’s in Murrells Inletand Little River Fishing Charters offer a variety of options. Half-daycharters, gulf stream excursions and anovernight fishing trip provide a menuthat can be tailored to your time andbudget.Regardless of where you drop a line,
there is likely a South Carolina statepark (southcarolinaparks.com) nearby.They’re perfect for a “catch and cook”addition to your itinerary. Imagineturning your catch over to an executivechef, allowing him to prep your dinnerwhile you return to your hotel for somemuch-needed rest. Converge at a statepark pavilion that evening for a cook-ing demonstration and dinner. A wonderful dinner, followed by
roasted marshmallows and an abun-dance of fish stories, makes for a greatending to a South Carolina fishing ex-cursion. LGT
Hickory Knob State Resort Park rests alongside Strom Thurmond Reservoir on the Savannah River.
Obtain South Carolina
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-infoTry trout fishing on the Middle Saluda River at Jones Gap State Park.
Sout
h C
arol
ina
Park
s, Re
crea
tion
& T
ouris
m
Kristi Driver, Group Travel Managerkdriver@nccommerce.com919.733.7413
north carolinavisitnc.com
From outdoor recreation and unique
lodgingtoartsandcultureandmorethan
100wineries, thecharmingsmall towns
and vibrant urban locations of North
Carolinaoffersomethingforeveryone.
Where the Where the W GPS ihere the GPS ihere the s always set to fun. GPS is always set to fun.
Where time is not Where time is not Wmeasured by a clock.
Where every visit creates lasting memories
Motorcoach travelers know that Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to make memories. Could be because there’s so much to see and do here … shopping, shows, Dollywood® or the majestic beauty of our Smoky Mountains. Or it could be that warm welcome they receive, kind of like visiting an old friend. Whatever the reason, they know that every visit creates memories that will last a lifetime.
Motorcoach travelers know that Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to make memories. Could be because there’s so much
or the majestic beauty of our Smoky Mountains. Or it could be that warm welcome they receive, kind of like visiting an old friend. Whatever the reason, they know that every visit
PigeonForgeTours.com
1 - 8 0 0 - 2 8 5 - 7 5 5 7
Where you bring luggage Where you bring luggage W but lose baggage. but lose baggage.
here you bring luggage but lose baggage.
A tlantic City, New Jersey has beena tourist Mecca for more than a
century and continues to reinvent itself.For group travelers, the “Las Vegas of the East” offers a Mother Lode ofgaming, shopping, dining and sightsee-ing opportunities, many of them con-centrated along the famous Boardwalk.
Elaine Zamansky, manager of media relations of the Atlantic CityConvention and Visitors Authority, said the iconic oceanfront promenadeincludes “four miles of free, well-guarded, white sand beaches and aboardwalk lined with seven casinos,restaurants, amusement piers, miniature
golf, souvenir and clothing stores, a shopping/dining pier, Boardwalk Hall(entertainment arena), attractions andgreat people-watching opportunities.”
From traditional sights to new de-velopments, here is an overview ofwhat’s what in Atlantic City:
GAMINGThere are 11 casino hotels in
Atlantic City: Atlantic City HiltonCasino & Resort, Bally’s Atlantic City,Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, CaesarsAtlantic City, Harrah’s Resort AtlanticCity, Resorts Atlantic City, ShowboatCasino, Tropicana Casino & Resort,
32 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: northeast � sarah nelson
High-rise casino hotels, like the Showboat and Trump Taj Mahal, light up
the shoreline of Atlantic City, a holiday haven since the late 1800s.
All About
Atlantic CityThe Eastern Seaboard’s casino capital is a
winning destination for tour groups
Travel the Boardwalk on a rolling
chair, a classic tourist experience.
Phot
os co
urte
sy A
tlant
ic C
ity C
onve
ntio
n &
Visi
tors
Bure
au
Golden Nugget Atlantic City, TrumpPlaza Hotel & Casino and Trump Taj Mahal Casino & Resort.
Zamansky said, “Trump Marinahas been sold to Landry’s Inc., ownerof the Golden Nugget, and has beentransformed into the Golden Nugget,with new restaurants by Landry’s andrenovations throughout the property.”(goldennugget.com)
Revel Entertainment plans on open-ing Revel, a new beachfront casinohotel, in May 2012. When construc-tion is complete, Revel will include150,000 square feet of gaming spaceand 500,000 square feet for entertain-ment, dining and shopping. Revel’s two towers will hold 3,800 guestrooms. Plans also include a 5,000-seatspecial events center and AtlanticCity’s first wedding chapel. (revelen-tertainment.com)
Resorts, Atlantic City’s first casinohotel, opened Club Piscopo on June30, 2011. Stand-up comedian Joe Pis-copo, born in New Jersey, is well knownfor his Saturday Night Live skits, filmroles and impressions. Performers atClub Piscopo will include Piscopohimself and other comedians, musiciansand entertainers. Zamansky added,“Resorts Casino has re-branded itselfunder new ownership with a Roaring20s theme, and has opened Prohibitionnightclub, Torch whiskey bar, EastWind Asian gaming area and noodlebar, among others.” (resortsac.com)Borgata opened in 2003 and was
the first hotel casino built in AtlanticCity since Trump Taj Majal in 1990. It includes fine and casual dining, twoentertainment venues, nightclubs, a spaand specialty shops. Borgata’s maintower has 2,000 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and the casino has161,000 square feet of gaming space.(theborgata.com)
SHOPPING AND DININGAtlantic City Outlets - The Walk
is a 15-block retail outlet mall that alsofeatures dining and entertainmentvenues. This open-air shopping centerhas 100 well-known retail stores, including Bath & Body Works, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Guess, H&M, J Crew, Nike, Old Navy and The Gap. (acoutlets.com)Pier Shops at Caesars, located next
to Caesars Casino, includes many upscale designer stores as well as nine
restaurants. The shops are on four underwater-themed floors: the Board-walk (gift and entertainment shops),Skybridge (higher-end shops), Prome-nade (restaurants and nightlife) andOne Atlantic (space for special eventsand parties). The fountain at the PierShops at Caesars is famous for its daily choreographed shows. (thepier-shopsatcaesars.com) The Quarter at Tropicana is an
Old-Havana-themed shopping, dining and entertainment center at Tropicana
Oceanfront diversions include beach frolics and Steel Pier thrill rides.
Carmine’s at The Quarter at Tropicana serves Italian dishes family-style.
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 33
Casino & Resort. The Quarter also hasan IMAX theater and a spa. (tropi-cana.net)
Other casino hotels with shoppinginclude Borgata (Borgata Shops andThe Shoppes at Water Club), Harrah’s(The Waterfront Shops), Trump TajMahal (Spice Road) and Resorts.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS
Groups traveling to Atlantic Cityshould definitely spend time at the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the world’sfirst boardwalk (opened 1870). TheBoardwalk, Atlantic City’s lifeline, hassouvenir shops and restaurants and pro-vides access to casinos, hotels and otherentertainment venues. Download a pod-cast or print a copy of the “BoardwalkWalking Tour” to learn about the Board-walk’s history and main attractions.
Garden Pier, a pier stemming from theBoardwalk, serves as a cultural centerand includes the Atlantic City Histori-cal Museum, Atlantic City Art Centerand Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.
One unique way to see the Board-walk is a ride in a rolling chair. Relaxwith up to three people as an attendantpushes your rolling chair along. Thechairs have been around since 1887.Royal Rolling Chairs offers Boardwalktours. (609-347-7148)
Zamansky mentioned trolley toursas a fun way to see Atlantic City.Among offerings from Atlantic CityTrolley Tours are “Shorelines & andShipwrecks Tour,” “Splash of AtlanticCity Tour” and the brand new “Roaring20s Trolley Tour.” (gatrolley.com)Steel Pier is Atlantic City’s family
amusement pier. The pier originallyopened in 1898 and was known for the famous entertainers that performedthere. Steel Pier has been making acomeback since 1993 and featuresgames, helicopter rides, prize wheelsand 24 rides. (steelpier.com)
Visitors can also explore AbseconLighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest light-house. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and remained active until 1933.Climb the 228 steps to the top and visitthe museum in the keeper’s house. (abseconlighthouse.org)Atlantic City Aquarium displays
100 marine species including coral, eels,fish, octopi, sharks and turtles. Makesure to watch the “Dive and Dine” showwhere an aquarium diver feeds and interacts with marine animals in theFish of the Mid-Atlantic tank. Guestscan ask the diver questions during theshow. Groman, a 100-lb. loggerheadturtle, is a must-see. (acaquarium.com)
Another way to see marine wildlifeis by going on Atlantic City Cruises’dolphin watching cruise. The two-hour ocean cruise is narrated by a ma-
rine naturalist. (atlanticcitycruises.com) Lucy the Elephant is an example of
novelty architecture in nearby MargateCity. The elephant is six stories high(65 feet tall) and was built by real estatedeveloper James V. Lafferty in 1881 todraw potential buyers to his properties.Lucy has been more than just a touristattraction over the years— she has beena business office, campground center-piece, cottage, restaurant and tavern.Climb a stairway through her hind legsfor a panoramic view. A gift shop andrestaurants surround Lucy. (lucytheele-phant.org)
Atlantic City offers more grouptravel options than almost any other re-sort city on the East Coast. For gam-ing, shopping, dining out andsightseeing, the choices are limitless.
For more information, contact theAtlantic City Convention and VisitorsAuthority, 609-449-7151; atlanticci-tynj.com. LGT
Obtain New Jersey
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
34 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
For a look at other New Jersey
coastal resorts, log on to http://
leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=24616.
WHEATONARTS
We offer Flexible and Affordable Adult and Student Group Packages!
wheatonarts.org 800.998.4552 | Millville, NJ 08332
Visit the Museum of American Glass Only museum collection devoted exclusively to American glass. Special exhibitions and tours.
Enjoy Special Glass Studio Shows
Watch Artist Demonstrations in the
Ceramics and Woodcarving Studios Shop Award Winning Museum Stores
One-of-a-kind gifts. Free packaging!
Bake Shoppe and Café Scenic Picnic Area
April through December Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 10am to 5pm
One of Southern New Jersey’s Most Popular Cultural Destinations!
Located Less Than An Hour From Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Cape May!
on location: northeast �
Historic Absecon Lighthouse is
New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse.
ATLANTIC CITYExcitement Is Always In Season!
• Sizzling Casino Action• Exhilarating Nightlife• Distinctive Dining• Rejuvenating Spas
• Stylish New Shopping• Free Beaches• Electrifying Entertainment• Legendary Boardwalk
For group tours, contact Heather Colache at 609.449.7151 or hcolache @accva.com
STAY CONNECTED
For group travelers, the hottestthing in Columbus is the opportunity to really experiencewhat this eclectic and enter-taining state capital has tooffer. And on a recent four-
day FAM trip, the Experience Colum-bus team packed in enough ideas tocreate an endless array of itinerariessuitable for girlfriends, senior adults,families, students or virtually any otherspecial-interest group. Instead of merely taking a passive
look around, visitors on Experience
Columbus’ experiential tours get to immerse themselves in imaginative en-counters ranging from creating a workof art to being cast as a newly-signedbaseball player starring in a press conference. With an entertainment-packed city center ringed by a collectionof charming suburbs, the Columbusarea generates enough activity to keep agroup busy for days.For girlfriends looking to get their
groove back, Columbus offers infinitepossibilities built around culinary,artistic, gardening and shopping.
The picturesque suburb of Wor-thington, reminiscent of a New Eng-land village, imparts a sensory nirvanain the form of candle making, wine-tasting and spa services, plus a bit ofcard-making at a vintage letterpressthrown in to satisfy artistic types. The“Wax, Wicks & Wine Experience” be-gins at The Candle Lab, where a mind-boggling selection of more than 100scents encourages inventive blendingfor the soy candles group memberspour and take home. Next up and next door, House Wine hosts a tasting
36 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: midwest � melinda hughey
Groups in Columbus can satisfy their culinary impulses, create their own pizza and learn how baseball bats are made.
THE COLUMBUS OHIO’S CAPITAL ABOUNDS WITH INTERACTIVE FUN FOR TOUR GROUPS
E X P E R I E N C E
�
experience that encourages guests tosample vintages by the ounce or theglass, with a huge selection of bottlesfor purchase. A delicious distraction juststeps away is also a Columbus staple—Graeter’s Ice Cream. A gourmet dinneris as close as the Historic WorthingtonInn, just across the street. Exotic morels harvested by the executive chefhimself starred on the menu the nightwe visited.Girlfriend groups can hone their
culinary skills in myriad ways withvisits to downtown’s 135-year-oldNorth Market, where Chef CaJohnof Flavor & Fire presides over a spice-mixing class and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream has fascinatingflavors (like rhubarb and lime car-damom or goat cheese and cherry)that demand to be sampled. In his-toric Dublin the bakery Irish Treats presents an opportunity to decoratecupcakes with intricate designstaken from the Irish Book of Kells.International culinary adventurerBethia Woolf ’s Columbus FoodAdventures can tailor a tour focus-ing on the city’s thriving food-truckofferings.Artful gardening—both botanical
and topiary—blooms throughoutColumbus, with acres of manicuredbeds designed to dazzle the most ar-dent horticulturalist. And across town,tea at the Gahanna Herb EducationCenter complements an informativeclass on the culinary, medicinal and aro-matic use of herbals, proving why thetown is known as the Herb Capital ofOhio. Out at Franklin Park Conserva-tory, meticulously-tended communityvegetable gardens form the perfect set-ting for a wood-fired pizza experience.An outdoor brick oven is tended by achef who stands ready to help groupmembers create their own custom pies,
which are cooked and served onsite.Art connoisseurs will love the
Columbus Art Museum’s “Artist For ADay Tour” celebrating George WesleyBellows, a favorite son who createdmore than 600 paintings in 25 years.The experience opens with a welcominginterpretive conversation by an actresswho captivatingly portrays Bellows’Aunt Eleanor Smith Doggett. She ac-quaints visitors with her nephew’s lifeand works. Visitors then proceed into
the galleries and, instead of staring atthe art, are equipped with an assort-ment of art materials, including sketchpad and pencils, and encouraged to reproduce their favorite work of art. Columbus offers retail therapy in a
big way at Easton Town Center, wherebreakfast and a fashion seminar atNordstrom can be followed up byscrapbooking classes and workshops atArchivers, a superstore of page decor.During summer months, outdoormovies, concerts and the Easton Art
Fair enhance one of the city’s largestshopping venues. But Columbus is far from a ladies-
only destination! On the outer fringe of the city center and within view of the sleek skyline rests Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers,an AAA-affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The new stadium was unveiledin 2009 as a state-of-the-art replace-ment for the 31-year-old Cooper Stadium. Here group members canseize the spotlight by becoming aColumbus Clipper for a day, from“contract-signing” to faux press conference. Throughout the ball-park, the team’s history is so artfully exhibited that it could share equalbilling with a game for entertain-ment value. Clipper executive JoeSantry is a walking history book ofteam lore. Working hand-in-glove with the
Clipper experience is an up-closelook at professional baseball bats andhow they are crafted at PhoenixBats. Deceptively small, this part-ner-owned operation produces andsupplies bats to major leaguers andothers. Tours follow the bat-craftingprocess from raw wood to slickly-lacquered finished product, with vis-itors gifted with their very ownminiature, personalized version of a
Phoenix bat at the tour’s conclusion.With the emphasis on getting trav-
elers involved and peeking behind the scenes, Columbus has been a leaderin experiential tourism. Group plannerswill discover a gold mine of fresh itinerary ideas. LGT
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 37
An actress discusses the art of
Columbus native George Bellows.
Obtain Ohio
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
Because the only thing better than telling old stories is creating new ones.
If you’ve ever been to Columbus, you know it isn’t your ordinary destination. Its one-of-a-kind festivals, unique hands-on attractions and freethinking attitude make it a city like no other and one your
group is sure to love. So start planning your Columbus visit today at ExperienceColumbus.com/tours or by calling 800-354-2657.
COMING IN 2012
ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST PLACES FOR FUN
Columbus Museum of Art.Rachel Trinkley, 614-629-5942, www.columbusmuseum.org
Columbus Zoo and AquariumRoger Dudley, 614-645-3521, www.columbuszoo.org
COSISusan Peters, 614-228-2674 ext. 2542, www.cosi.org
Eastern Ohio Tours
Dixie Wyler, 740-754-1833, www.easternohiotours.com
Ohio Village Lesley Cornathan, 614-297-3219, www.ohiohistory.org
SHOPPING SO GOOD YOU NEED EXTRA LUGGAGE
Easton Town CenterBethany Braden, 614-750-0616, www.eastontowncenter.com
Prime Outlets–Je� ersonvilleKristen Hauer, 740-948-9091, www.primeoutlets-je� ersonville.com
WHERE TO REST YOUR HEAD
Embassy Suites Columbus Airport Lindsay Phillips, 614-536-0211, www.columbusairport.embassysuites.com
Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown ColumbusGene Minnich, 614-559-2000, www.columbusdowntownsuites.hamptoninn.com
Hilton Garden Inn Columbus/PolarisTeresa Shay Tompkins, 614-846-8884, www.columbuspolaris.gardeninn.com
Hilton Garden Inn–OSU Maggie Mungai, 614-263-7200, www.columbusuniversityarea.stayhgi.com
Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown Capitol Square. Tyson Schweitzer, 614-221-3281, www.holiday-inn.com/cmh-cityctr
University Plaza Hotel & Conference CenterJohn Loree, 614-456-1156, www.universityplazaosu.com
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH PERSONALITY
DublinMary Szymkowiak, 614-792-7666, www.irishisanattitude.com
Gahanna
Katrina McDonald, 614-418-9114, www.visitgahanna.com
Licking County Ben Clemons, 740-345-8224, www.escapetolickingcounty.com
Worthington.Mindy Mace, 614-841-2545,www.visitworthingtonohio.com
SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAKE COUNTY: There is nothing
quite like walking in the world-renowned Chicago Botanic Garden inGlencoe. Walk the 24 gardens with yourgirlfriends for a relaxing morning duringthe summer months. Or tour CuneoMansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills,an estate completed in 1918. It has beendonated to Loyola University and nowoffers summer concerts, art classes andguided tours of the gardens.
Long Grove Historic Village, withover 80 specialty shops and various festi-vals throughout the year, is the perfectshopping getaway. Extreme shoppershead to Gurnee Mills, where you willfind more than 200 stores.
Catch a show at the historic GeneseeTheatre, Waukegan’s newest venue forBroadway shows, musical acts and come-dians. Or see a musical at the in-the-
round Marriott Theatre at LincolnshireMarriott Resort. (Lake County CVB,800-525-3669; lakecounty.org)
ST. CHARLES: If you and your girl-friends are the crafty type, check out FineLine Creative Arts Center. Purchasecraft supplies for knitting, drawing, cro-cheting and more at the Fine Line ArtShop. The center offers classes in variousmedia as well, so be sure to see what isavailable during your stay in St. Charles.Fine Line also has three galleries of art.
See a live performance at Steel BeamTheater or Pheasant Run Resort. Bothoffer a variety of excellent performances socheck the show listings and pick the rightshow for you and the girls. (St. CharlesCVB, 800-777-4373; visitstcharles.com)
DUPAGE COUNTY: Book the“Suite Shopping Package” at EmbassySuites Hotel Chicago-Lombard/OakBrook and receive one Chicago Pre-
40 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: midwest �
Tour planners putting together girlfriend trips will find
unlimited options across Illinois. A combination of festive
shopping, top-notch theater and carefree sightseeing, along
with tempting hotel packages, make the state a Mecca
for ladies-only escapes. Here are three prime areas to
consider for the next outing without the boys:
Possibilities abound in Chicago and beyond
G I R L F R I E N D I L L I N O I S
GETAWAYS
mium Outlets and one Yorktown Mallcoupon book. Also receive 20 percentoff restaurant and room service, fourcans of soda and a bag of popcorn tobring back the days of sleepovers withthe girls. Contact the DuPage Con-vention & Visitors Bureau to get aDuPage Deals card. It offers around40 discounts and special offers. (630-575-8070, discoverdupage.com)
—Nicola Trumbull
PLAY IN PEORIAAnyone planning girlfriend get-
aways should not overlook the river-front city of Peoria in Western Illinois.A city with a small-town feel, Peoriahas plenty to entertain your group ona weekend outing.
Downtown flourishes in the warmermonths, and the boys of summer offer acheap night out at O’Brien Field, homeof the Peoria Chiefs minor league base-ball team, an affiliate of the ChicagoCubs. Every night has a themed event,and there are fireworks and concertsafter select games. A sightseeing cruiseon the Spirit of Peoria Riverboat is amemorable way for your group to enjoysummer on the Illinois River.
Downtown Peoria abounds withbars, pubs and clubs. Club Apollo is alocal favorite for a dressier night out,offering drink and food specials, danc-ing, pool and a nightly in-house DJ.The Irish pub scene is the hallmark of a Peoria night out. Kelleher’s IrishPub, Donnelly’s Shamrock Pub andSully’s are the best.
For gaming and buffet dining, theriverfront’s Par-A-Dice Hotel andCasino in East Peoria is a favoritewith girlfriend groups. In addition to
Par-A-Dice, there are more than 20downtown lodging options.
Kickapoo Creek Winery, a shortdrive from Peoria, offers tastings, toursand a private room for catered meals,plus picnic areas, walking trails andtwo lakes.
Peoria has two large malls, North-woods and the outdoor Shoppes atGrand Prairie. Northwoods has de-partment store shopping along withtwo stories of food and clothing stores,and Grand Prairie has more specialtydining and shopping options. Next tothe Shoppes at Grand Prairie is the 18-theater Rave Motion Pictures movietheater, which just opened a 3-DIMAX theater. (Peoria Area CVB,800-747-0302; peoria.org)
—Heather Swick
DOWNTOWN CHICAGOThe Magnificent Mile, the world-
famous shopping boulevard thatstretches from the Michigan AvenueBridge to Oak Street, is the epicenterof girlfriend getaways in Chicago. The street abounds with designer bou-tiques and familiar chains, from Gucciand Tiffany to Macy’s and the DisneyStore. The chief magnet is WaterTower Place, a vertical mall with more than 100 stores and restaurants.The 900 North Michigan Shops and North Bridge are other multi-levelmalls. Cruises on the Chicago Riverand Lake Michigan provide anotheractivity option.
Downtown hotels offer attractivepackages that may be just right foryour girlfriend escape to the Big City.
Girlfriends on vacation have a chance to unwind at Peoria-area wineries.
Enjoy a night at the theater at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 41
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
For an overview of group-friendly
attractions in Alton, Illinois, log on to
http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=24676.
Among the offerings: DoubleTree Chicago Magnificent Mile has a “Girls Get-
away” package that includes a $50 gift card valid at over 70luxury retailers inside the 900 North Michigan Shops, pluscocktails and an appetizer at the hotel bar. The hotel is closeto Navy Pier and has a seasonal outdoor pool. (866-778-8536,doubletreemagmile.com)
Red Roof Inn Downtown Chicago, one block east of Michigan Avenue, builds a package around Bike & Roll Chicago’s “Sites@Nite” Segway tour in lakefront Millennium and Grant parks. A highlight is seeing Buck-ingham Fountain’s water and light display. (312-787-3500, redroof.com)
JW Marriott Chicago, an elegant hotel housed in a former bank building in the city’s financial district, features a “Shop ’Til You Drop” package that includes $100spending money at Macy’sand a State Street visitorsavings pass. (312-660-8200,jwmarriottchicago.com)
—Julianna McHale
on location: midwest �
Obtain Illinois
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
ILLINOISOne of the world’s greatest collections of Pontiac and Oakland auto-
mobile brand items is on display at the brand new Pontiac OaklandAutomobile Museum in Pontiac, Ill. Featured are antique and classiccars, dealer signs, toy model kits, brochures and oil cans that span the pe-riod from the brand’s earliest days as the Pontiac Buggy Co. to the endof the car line in 2010. Pontiac is also the home of the Illinois Route 66Hall of Fame & Museum. (800-835-2055, visitpontiac.org)
SOUTH DAKOTASoaring Eagle Zipline, the Black Hills’ hottest new attraction, is now
open at Rushmore Cave in Keystone, 30 minutes south of Rapid City.The area’s first zipline gives riders the sensation of flying while acceler-ating 700 feet down the mountainside on a suspended cable in a side-by-side seat. (605-255-4384, rushmorecave.com)
WISCONSINThe world of Cleopatra VII, lost to the sea and sand
for nearly 2,000 years, will surface at the Milwaukee Public Museumon Oct. 14 when Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt opensits doors. The timed-entry exhibition, running through at least April30, 2012, features nearly 150 artifacts on view for the first time in theU.S. and helps visitors experience the present-day search for the elusivequeen, which extends from the sands of Egypt to the depths of the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria. (414-223-4676, mpm.edu)
New attractions in America’s heartland provide group travel planners with fresh itinerary ideas
These are among the developments creating a buzz in the Midwest:
Midweston our radar
Harley-Davidson Museum
Visitors to Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson Mu-
seum experience the heart-thumping adventure
and life-changing freedom offered by the best-
known motorcycle brand in the world. Exhibit
galleries celebrate the people, products, culture
and history of the iconic, Milwaukee-based
company. Museum-goers view vintage motorcy-
cles, learn about engines and motorcycle design,
and watch video clips of Easy Rider and other
Hollywood movies that spotlight the thread of
rebellion associated with motorcycle culture.
Highlights include Elvis Presley’s 1956 KH
motorcycle and the 1903 Serial Number One, the
oldest known Harley-Davidson bike in existence.
Stories include the launching of a global, inde-
pendently-owned dealer network; the company’s
contribution to America's efforts in two world
wars; and the emergence of color and style in the
mid-1920s. Visitors can hop on a variety of
Harley-Davidson motorcycles and pose for
pictures. Located on 20 riverfront acres in down-
town Milwaukee, the three-building museum also
features a restaurant, cafe, retail store and
indoor/outdoor event spaces. (h-dmuseum.com)
S H O W C A S E
44 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
It’s no surprise that “Alaska” is theAleut word for “great land.” Sea-soned and novice adventurers alike
can attest to the rich natural landscape,from the millions of lakes and rivers tothe dizzying heights of Alaska’s steep-est mountain peaks.
The great outdoors is Alaska’s claimto fame and most precious possession,and groups will find no shortage of day,week or multiple-week excursions totempt the adrenaline junkie within.
Consider it the United States’ ownrustic backyard—worlds away, but nopassport required.
Living among the flora and fauna isone of the main draws of an Alaskanadventure trip. There are countlessgroup tours to choose from, many ofthem complete with lodging or camp-ing packages. Alaska Adventure Tours(travelalaskaoutdoors.com) and Cam-
pAlaska Tours (campalaska.com), bothin Wasilla, are set up to work withgroups of 10 or fewer people. On tours ranging from one to three weeks,campers experience remote trails, glacier hiking, a soak in hot springs,fishing and animal watching. Each touris unique in that weather conditions,animal sightings and the guides’choices shape every experience. Thereare itineraries available for various interests, ages and difficulty levels.
Alaska Group Tours in Anchoragehas a six-day trip for guests to raft, hikeand boat their way through theAlaskan wilderness. Four days arespent in remote lodges surrounded bywildlife where adventure sports, fishingand mountain biking are available.(alaskagrouptours.com)
Ecotourism, meaning traveling re-sponsibly to natural areas and leaving
little or no impact during your stay, iscentral to any Alaskan trip. AlaskaWildland Adventures is known for itsexciting travel packages as well as itsdiligence toward protecting the earth.Alaska Wildlife Adventures offerstwo- or three-day lodge stay packagesor six- to 11-day complete vacations.The adventure trips include sea kayak-ing, hiking, rafting and fishing, butthere also are many day packages tochoose from, such as fishing and raft-ing. Each trip is operated out of one offour lodges. Add-ons are available forany lodging package. These include afull day at Glacier Bay National Park,trekking in Prince William Sound,bear viewing at Redoubt Bay Lodge onBig River Lakes, touring the cities ofBarrow and Nome, and touring a longstretch of the Arctic Ocean coast.(alaskawildland.com)
on location: west � heather swick
A D V E N T U R E SALASKAN
Challenge your groups with active options in the wilderness
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 45
Kayakers explore the pristine waters of Ailik Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park (inset) and Prince William Sound .
Bria
n Ad
ams a
nd Ja
son
Can
non/
Trav
elAla
ska.
com
46 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
The benefit of a camping or adven-ture tour is that it includes a variety ofoutdoor activities. However, manycompanies focus on one activity.
Kayaking and rafting are Alaskanstaples. The duration and difficulty ofeach course vary, so there is a paddlingroute for everyone. The Nenana Riverin Denali National Park is the mostpopular whitewater river in Alaska.Nenana Raft Adventures has tripsfrom a few hours to an overnight stay.(alaskaraft.com)
Backcountry Safaris in Sewardprovides three different rafting excur-sions, one a three-day “Bear GlacierAdventure Camp” and two other seven-day trips. Groups also have the optionof setting up a custom itinerary for thenumber and age range of people in at-tendance. Guests kayak near glaciersand waterfalls, and it’s common to seehumpback and orca whales. (backcoun-trysafaris.com)
For an out-of-the-water adventureexperience, Denali ATV Adventuresoffers a dynamic experience for adultgroups. Tours range from two to five
hours and are available in one- andtwo-person vehicles. Routes travelalong old coal mining shafts, theAlaska Range and near the TeklanikaRiver. (denaliatv.com)
Glaciers are Alaska’s nature-mademonuments, and they make for a mem-orable, serene backdrop for a hikingtour. St. Elia’s Alpine Guides offershalf- and full-day glacier hiking tripsthroughout Anchorage. Both trips travelthrough the Root Glacier and the vistasof Mt. Blackburn. Glacial-hiking shoes,called crampons, are offered to eachhiker. The half-day trip is ideal for be-ginners and families, while the full-dayexcursion is a bit more adventurous.The chances of discovering an ice cave
or blue pool for the first time are high.(steliasguides.com)
In recent years, zip lining has becomea much more mainstream activity forthe average traveler. Alaska Canopy Adventures offers a three-and-a-half-hour zip line expedition through theEagle Creek Fly Zone near the TongassNational Forest. The tour extends overeight zip lines and three suspensionbridges, all ranging from 100 feet to 850feet above the forest ground. From thetree platforms, groups often see eaglesand bears. (alaskacanopy.com)
A campfire under the midnight sun.A rare glimpse at the aurora borealis.Kayaking through glaciers hundreds offeet tall. Alaska is indeed an adven-turer’s playground, equipped with someof the most ethereal natural wondersearth has to offer. Whether your groupis seeking a pulse-pounding trip downa whitewater river or an afternoon fish-ing capped off with a dip in a hotspring, the Alaska wilderness, seem-ingly untouched by the modern world,is the perfect companion. LGT
A guided river adventure from Haines showcases the untamed wilderness.
River banks in the Kenai Peninsula provide ideal sites for camping.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
For adventure travel ideas in
Utah, log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com
/?p=24364.
Obtain Alaska
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact group-
friendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
on location: west �Br
ian
Adam
s/Tra
velA
lask
a.co
m
Fran
k Fl
avin
/Tra
velA
lask
a.co
m
ARIZONAMission San Xavier del Bac, located nine miles south
of downtown Tucson, is offering free guided tours for thefirst time in its 214-year history. Volunteer docents lead45-minute tours Monday through Saturday and explainthe mission’s rich history and ornate interior that includespainted murals and original statuary. Tours of the mis-sion, a National Historic Landmark, are made possiblethrough Patronato San Xavier, a nonsectarian, nonprofitorganization founded in 1978 to promote the restoration,maintenance and preservation of the mission, which wascompleted in 1797. The tour schedule is subject to changebecause the mission is a working Roman CatholicChurch. (520-294-2624, sanxaviermission.org)
CALIFORNIACentral Coast Food Tours has started guided
walking tours through downtown San Luis Obispo. Fo-cusing on the town’s culinary riches, the two-mile walkis on mostly flat-terrain city sidewalks that thread alongcreeksides, picturesque landscapes and historic citystreets. There are typically six to seven pre-arrangedfood and beverage tasting destinations on each tour.Cost is $49 per person, including all food and wine tast-ings. There is a maximum of 12 people per tour, and private tours for small groups can bearranged. (centralcoastfoodtours.com)
SeaWorld San Diego has unveiledTurtle Reef, an interactive attraction thatgives guests an up-close look at morethan 60 sea turtles as well as an immer-sion into the life cycle of these threat-ened and endangered species. The focalpoint of Turtle Reef is a 300,000-gallonaquarium featuring hawksbill and greensea turtles. Also included are interactivegames, a touch-screen tracking map anda ride that takes passengers on a rescuemission of their own. (800-257-4268,seaworldsandiego.com)
Previews have begun for a brand newCirque du Soleil production, IRIS, AJourney Through the World of Cinema, atKodak Theatre on Hollywood Boule-vard, home of the Academy Awards.Directed by French director-choreogra-
Planners organizing group tours will find many new itinerary brighteners in the region
on our radar
Take a look at what’s happening in the West:
West
Turtle Reef is the newest crowd-pleaser at SeaWorld San Diego.
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 47
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
For those who seek comfort, adventure and a connection to the natural beauty of the
Southwest, Inn of the Mountain Gods, five-time recipient of AAA’s Four Diamond rating
for luxury, accommodations and service, is the ultimate locale for a relaxing getaway.
Located in Mescalero, N.M., near Ruidoso in the southwestern portion of the state and
situated snugly in the heart of the Sacramento Mountains at 9,600 feet, Inn of the Moun-
tain Gods is New Mexico’s premier mountain locale.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be enchanted by original works of art throughout
the property, roaring fireplaces in the lobby and a tranquil setting that makes the every-
day world feel a million miles away. Beyond that, discover an endless variety of activi-
ties, entertainment and escapes. From luxury rooms and suites, exciting casino games,
a championship golf course and dozens of opportunities for outdoor recreation including
fishing, hiking, biking and hunting, the Inn has it all. (innofthemountaingods.com)
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Located in downtown Oklahoma City, this shrine pays tribute to those who were killed,
those who survived and those changed forever by the April 19, 1995 terror bombing of the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Museum visitors can watch TV newscasts, witness
heroic rescue and recovery efforts, listen to survivor accounts and click on a touch screen
for reminiscences of victims by family and friends. Artifacts include twisted metal from the
rental truck used by the perpetrator. In the Gallery of Honor, family and friends have
remembered their loved ones with photos and such personal mementoes as a Secret
Service badge, Marine Corps pin, stuffed animal or Precious Moments figurine. Videos
show excerpts of funerals. Nearly 20 percent of OKC metro residents attended at least
one funeral. The outdoor memorial includes a grassy area with a Field of Chairs over-
looking a reflecting pool. Each of the 168 bronze-and-stone chairs represents one who
died. (oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org)
S H O W C A S E
on our radar: west �
pher Philippe Decouflé and featuring a scoreby Grammy Award-winning composerDanny Elfman, IRIS brings together dance,acrobatics, live video, filmed sequences andanimation, taking spectators on a voyagethrough the history of cinema and its genres.The premier is set for Sept. 25. (877-504-7164 or la.sales@cirquedusoleil.com; cirque-dusoleil.com/groups)
Tulalip Resort Casino
Tulalip Resort Casino is one of the largest and
most distinctive gaming, dining, entertainment and
event destinations in Washington State. Recog-
nized with a AAA Four Diamond award and named
to the 2011 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, Tulalip
Resort Casino offers a variety of award-winning
dining choices, casino excitement, a world-class
spa and a multitude of live entertainment and pre-
mium shopping options. Conveniently located
between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., the resort is
an ideal location to visit for a day or for a week, with
370 exquisite guest rooms and suites that feature
premium pillow top beds, large separate walk-in
showers with three body sprays and granite coun-
tertops. The guest experience is complete with
24-hour room service, a tropical indoor Oasis pool,
a full service concierge to assist with any need, a
fitness center and an on-site floral service.
(tulalipresort.com)
Westfield San Francisco Centre
Custom-made for girlfriend getaways, Westfield
San Francisco Centre is one of the city’s top group
travel attractions. The iconic destination, just two
blocks from famed Union Square, occupies the site
of the historic former Emporium Department Store,
a structure built in 1896 and once hailed as the
“Grandest Mercantile Building in the World” with its
grand Beaux-Arts facade and elegant glass dome.
Westfield San Francisco Centre boasts the West
Coast flagship of Bloomingdale’s and the second-
largest Nordstrom in the United States. The more
than 200 shops include Herve Leger by Max Azria,
Hugo Boss, Vera Bradley, San Francisco’s first
Michael Kors and the only Edition by Banana Re-
public. Westfield San Francisco Centre’s VIP Pass-
port program entitles group travelers to hundreds
of dollars in savings in special offers. Culinary pro-
grams for groups, including chef demonstrations,
cooking classes and wine tastings, can be
arranged at several of the restaurants and food
purveyors. (westfield.com/sanfrancisco)
S H O W C A S E
48 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
ONLINE EXCLUSIVETo read more about Tulalip
Resort Casino, see the article at
http://leisuregrouptravel.com/p?=24602
Napa Valley Ziplines, in the west-ern foothills of Yountville, will openin October. The seven-zipline coursewill be constructed on 200 acres be-hind the Veterans’ Home of Califor-nia. A portion of Napa ValleyZiplines proceeds will be donated tothe home. The course is designedspecifically for first-timers. The firsttwo ziplines will be the shortest andslowest of the course, designed to easeparticipants into the adventure. Threeof the next five ziplines will be over1,200 feet, with the longest reaching2,000 feet. (707-944-9947, napaval-leyziplines.com)
MULTI-STATEBrendan Vacations has five new
itineraries in its just-released 2012-2013 USA & Canada brochure. Newadditions include the nine-day “Col-orful Trails of the Southwest,” whichstarts in the resort town of Scottsdaleand takes in Oak Creek Canyon,Monument Valley and Mesa VerdeNational Park, plus the history andculture of Taos and Santa Fe. Dininghighlights include a cowboy barbecuewith wine in Moab, Utah. The pack-age is priced from $2,199 per person,land only, based on double occupancy.
The new eight-day “National ParksWonders” begins in Salt Lake Cityand travels through scenic Jackson,takes in the snow-capped mountainsof Grand Teton National Park, ex-plores the Grand Canyon of Yellow-stone National Park and includes avisit to Mount Rushmore in SouthDakota. Price is from $1,850 per person. (800-421-8446, brendanvaca-tions.com)
TEXASThe Museum of the American
Railroad just broke ground at its new12-acre site in Frisco. The project will
relocate one of the nation’s finest collections of 20th Century railroadartifacts and exhibits from Dallas’ FairPark. The first phase of constructionincludes installation of nearly onemile of trackage at the museum’s newsite just south of Frisco Square. Thetrains will move in late 2011, with a soft opening in the works for mid-
2012. The new Frisco facility willallow the museum to greatly increaseits footprint and showcase its 40-piece assemblage of historic locomo-tives and rail cars, including thenation’s premier collection of Pullmanfirst-class sleeping cars from the1920s. (museumoftheamericanrail-road.org)
*Weather permitting. Must be 21 or older to enter casino. The Mescalero Apache Tribe promotes responsible gaming. For assistance, please call 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
Luckier
InnoftheMountainGods.com1-800-545-6040 | Mescalero, NM near Ruidoso
Booking Info: jokazhe@innofthemountaingods.comFULL CASINO | CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF
Where heaven and earth meet, so can you. Incredible convention and meeting facilities are only the beginning of your experience at Inn of the Mountain Gods. From full casino action and award-winning dining to championship golf and unparalleled mountain scenery, even your keynote speaker will be speechless.
> 273 luxury rooms and suites> 40,000 sq. ft. of fl exible meeting space
> Championship golf course*> Fine and casual dining> Full casino
> Ski Apache*> Fishing*> Horseback riding*
LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 49
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF Augustyou are probably putting the finishingtouches on your 2012 catalogue, placingadvertising in local media for your holiday trips, and posting everythingabout your business on Facebook. Theplan is to finish strong in the fourthquarter of 2011 and set the stage for aprofitable 2012.
With all the new media opportunitiesand of course the traditional media, donot overlook one very effective methodof reaching your target audience. A goodpublic relations program should be anintegral part of your marketing mix. Regardless of where your news appears—print, broadcast or online—it carriesthat coveted third-party endorsementcredibility. And by the way, publicity isfree and measurable exposure!
A good public relations programcannot be handled on a “when some-thing happens” basis. Like all marketingefforts, it must be planned and imple-mented in a timely fashion. Here are afew easy steps to get you started:
Begin by developing a strong medialist. A good list is the cornerstone ofyour public relations effort. Virtuallyevery name, address, telephone numberand e-mail address is sitting on the coffee table of your reception area, orwithin easy reach on your computer.
Research the daily and communitynewspapers that service your area. Ad-dresses, telephone numbers and e-mailaddresses for travel and business writersand editors need to be in your database.Add the same for the news directors attelevision and radio stations.
Develop a second list for publica-tions that need your information 60+days before publishing. Local/regionalbusiness magazines and industry tradepublications with extended lead timesshould top your second list. Do notforget the associations to which you belong. Most likely each will have apublication of some sort.
Online opportunities cannot be over-looked. Every media outlet from the localweekly newspaper to leading publicationslike Leisure Group Travel has an onlinepresence. Exclusive web editorial is oftenfeatured along with the publication’scurrent issue. Regular e-newsletters arepublished and often there are blogsmaintained by the editorial staff. Thesenew media outlets almost double theneed for relevant editorial.
Step two is to identify news fromwithin your organization – employee
awards for length of service, communityservice or safe driving are a start. Blowyour own horn. If you serve on boards orhave received industry recognition, tellthe world. Recognize customers who exhibit longevity and are regular travelers.
Simply stated, all organizations haveplenty of news if they just stop andthink for a moment. You do not have to do this alone. At your next managersmeeting, dedicate 15-20 minutes to exploring company news opportunities.I’ve moderated these exercises and amalways surprised at how much informa-tion the managers will supply.
Step three is developing a series ofstory ideas. These take more thought,but often result in a feature story. Determine what your company doesbest and write a paragraph about thatattribute. Highlight your unique or unusual trips that are scheduled. Whynot feature all your holiday trips?
Step four is create a “Media” page foryour website and post the story ideasthat you’ve developed. Also, place allnews releases on your site. Photographsshould certainly be an important part ofyour media page.
Finally, designate someone within yourorganization to manage the program.The owner/gm may be the spokesper-son, but keeping publicity on scheduleis not their focus.
Regardless of how you get started,stick to the plan. A 12-month publicrelations program that’s properly administered will yield good resultswith only minimal effort.
50 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com
Contact Dave at 843-712-1140
or email dbodle@sc.rr.com.
Five Easy Steps to an Effective Public Relations Program
� dave bodleOn Marketing
See our page-flip edition & past issues at
LeisureGroupTravel.comWe can help showcase your business
to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 oradvertising@ptmgroups.com
LOOKING AHEAD TO OUROctober Issue
• Religious Travel
• Culinary/Agritourism
• Fall Foliage
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Oregon
• Wisconsin
• Michigan
• Vermont
• Mississippi
• Louisiana
• New Hampshire
• Alabama • Europe/Canada
AFFIX
POSTAGE
HERE
Reader Info CenterP.O. Box 609Palos Heights, IL 60463
FOLD HERE
Researching destinations, attractions and tour companies is a cinch, with Instant Info,SM from Leisure Group Travel!
Free Tools for QuickerTrip Research & Planning
AUGUST 2011
Return via mail or fax to 630.794.0652
Return your Reader Service Card
by September 15
Complete and return your print Instant Info Card
via mail or fax, or go online to LeisureGroupTravel.com
and click on the Instant Info tab.
� Search by state/country
� Search by keyword
� Search by category
Short Circuit Your Trip Planning Process
With Instant Info!
Connect directly with suppliers via email, web or phone or request brochures
in one easy step.
� Please continue to send Leisure Group Travel � Cancel my subscription
Name ___________________________________________ Title ______________________
Company __________________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________ State _________ Zip _________________
Phone ________________ Fax _______________ Email _____________________________
Signature ___________________________________________ Date ___________________
City of Birth _________________________________________
� Subscribe to InSite E-newsletter
Where is your group planning to travel in 2012? ________________________
Comments on Leisure Group Travel _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
� Detach this card from the magazine, and affix postage
� or fax this page to 630.794.0652
� Visit our Instant Info Center at LeisureGroupTravel.com
R E Q U I R E D
R E Q U I R E D
R E S P O N D B Y
S E P T E M B E R 1 5
AUGUST 2011
INSTANT INFO CENTER
� Arkansas Parks & Tourism
� Arkansas State Parks
� Arlington Resort & Spa, Hot Springs, AR
� Atlantic City CVA, NJ
� Buffets Inc. Restaurants
� Cherokee Cultural Tourism & Heritage Center, OK
� City of Geneva, IL
� Eureka Springs CVB, AR
� Experience Columbus, OH
� Faith Travel Conference & Expo
� Globus Family of Brands
� Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee, WI
� Hot Springs CVB, AR
� Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, NM
� Iowa Group Travel Association
� McHenry County CVB, IL
� Mount Magazine State Park & Lodge, Paris, AR
� Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
� North Carolina Department of Commerce
� Oklahoma City Memorial, OK
� Peoria Area CVB, IL
� Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, TN
� Princess Cruises
� Travel Bound
� Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip, WA
� U.S. Tours
� Victorian Condo-Hotel Resort &
Conference Center, Galveston Island, TX
� Virginia Beach CVB
� Virginia Tourism Corporation
� Westfield San Francisco Centre, CA
� WheatonArts & Cultural Center, Millville, NJ
� Yankee Candle Village, MA, VA
I prefer suppliers to contact me via: � Mail � Email � Phone
Please send more information on companies in the following categories:
� Attractions � Casinos � Cruise Lines � Destinations � Hotels
� Restaurants � Theaters � Tour Operators � Travel Insurance
Send information on companies in the following states/countries.
List states/countries: _______________________________________________
Request Advertiser Info
Favorite Domestic Destination
_____________________________
Favorite International Destination
_____________________________
Favorite Hotel Chain
_____________________________
Favorite Tour Operator
_____________________________
Favorite Cruise Line
_____________________________
Favorite Casino
_____________________________
Favorite Theater
_____________________________
Favorite Attraction
_____________________________
READER ’SCH ICE��
AWARDS
CAST YOUR VOTE
top related