Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 - (Page 6)

EDITOR'S LETTER LUXURY T R AV E L A D V I S O R jmcmahon@questex.com rterrero@questex.com llambert@questex.com Regaining the Zest just attended a musical, the same one I really enjoyed the preview of before it debuted on Broadway 11 years ago. Of course, the quality of the show had changed, as there had been quite a turnover of performers over the past decade. It was just different, similar to the way that families are different from other families; there’s a sameness to the basic clan concept, but their interactions and their way of executing even the most mundane gestures is off. As I was watching this particular show, however, I realized I wasn’t getting caught up in the extravaganza the way I expect to when I’m experiencing greatness. The actors were doing their jobs, but they weren’t synching the way the cast had in that original, phenomenal performance I’d seen, when I’d felt elevated for two hours plus. How had this show lost its passion and why wasn’t anyone concerned about getting it back? They’re charging $250 for centerrow orchestra seats, for goodness sake! Retaining the original fervor that you possess when you make a debut is imperative. As luxury travel advisors, have you changed your staff dramatically since you’ve first launched your business? Are you now working with a troupe of agents who weren’t around for those early giddy days when you started constructing those custom FITs, whose every detail was of vital importance to the trip’s success? Does your staff know of your passion, of the emotion you feel when a client’s trip comes off 100 times better than you had even imagined? If not, I propose that you hold regular meetings through which you can compare notes, brainstorm and check in with each other so that you can regenerate the buzz you felt when you first started acting on your own stage. By the way, I’m pictured here with John McMahon, group publisher of Luxury Travel Advisor and Jaume Tàpies, international president of Relais & Châteaux. We were gathered for the grand opening of Maison des Relais & Châteaux on 53rd Street in Manhattan. The space is just remarkable, with a charming fireplace and a demonstration kitchen where chefs from Relais & Châteaux properties will prepare cuisine for special events. The Maison, which follows the opening of similar properties in London and Paris, is the hotel company’s way of setting its own stage for its customers, to demonstrate the passion they have for authentic luxury travel experiences. Inspiring and Educating Sellers of Affluent Travel Group Publisher: John McMahon (212) 895-8243 Editorial Director: Ruthanne Terrero, CTC (212) 895-8423 Managing Editor: Lindsay Lambert (212) 895-8434 I Staff Editors: Mark Rogers, Erin F. Sternthal, Joe Pike, Susan J. Young, Dave Eisen, Daniel Butcher, Debbie Strong, Mackenzie Allison, Jennifer Merritt ADVERTISING & SALES STAFF Eastern U.S./Europe Associate Publisher: Kimberly Ziegler (212) 895-8268 Caribbean/Latin America/Mexico Stephanie Gordon (305) 854-1622 West Coast Thomas Favorite (818) 788-8253 Hawaii Simone Perez (808) 394-2090 Europe Ritchie Markus (41) 1 918 1717 Catherine Tondelli (39) 06 522 46 050 Asia: InterAct Media & Marketing Australia/New Zealand: Neil Pollett 64 7 572 2233 kziegler@questex.com stephanie@gordonmediagroup.com tfavorite@questex.com simone@abbottcommunications.com ritchiemarkus@ggaweb.ch ctondellli@alice.it hazelli@starhub.net.sg neil@newzealandluxury.com TRAVEL AGENT CUSTOM SOLUTIONS: Associate Publisher, Southern Hemisphere: Peter Gatt (212) 895-8292 Senior Managing Editor: David K. Moseder (212) 895-8447 pgatt@questex.com dmoseder@questex.com ART, CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION, MARKETING Associate Art Director: Debbie Sheehan dsheehan@questex.com (212) 895-8429 Assistant Art Director: Alba N. Negrón-Diaz anegron@questex.com (212) 895-8427 Designers: James Huntley, (212) 895-8433 jhuntley@questex.com Katy Lin, (212) 895-8432 klin@questex.com Bogdan Migulski, (212) 895-8428 bmigulski@questex.com Production Director: Marilyn Hiris mhiris@questex.com (212) 895-8439 Production Manager: Sarah Ross sross@questex.com (212) 895-8440 Director, Audience Development: Heidi Spangler hspangler@questex.com (216) 706-3705 Reprints: LuxuryTravelAdvisor@reprintbuyer.com (800) 290-5460, ext. 139 Marketing Manager: Bernadette Mari bmari@questex.com (212) 895-8264 CORPORATE President & C.E.O.: Kerry C. Gumas Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer: Tom Caridi Executive V.P.: Robert S. Ingraham Executive V.P.: Tony D’Avino Executive V.P.-Corporate Development: Claudia Flowers V.P. & General Manager: Don Rosenberg V.P.-Digital Media: Seth Nichols V.P.-Human Resources: Diane M. Evans For a $100 subscription to Luxury Travel Advisor, call 216-706-3705 between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm EST; fax: 216-706-3714; e-mail: hspangler@questex.com or send a written request to Heidi Spangler, Luxury Travel Advisor, 600 Superior Ave Suite 1100, Cleveland, OH 44114. RUTHANNE TERRERO, CTC Editorial Director rterrero@questex.com Copyright © 2008 Questex Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording or information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by Questex Media Group, Inc. for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923; phone: (978) 750-8400; fax (978) 750-4470; call for copying beyond that permitted by Sections 107 or 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. For those not registered with the CCC, send permission request in writing to questexpermissions@reprintbuyer.com or phone 800-494-9051 ext. 100. Luxury Travel Advisor does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. Luxury Travel Advisor welcomes unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations and other materials but cannot be held responsible for their safekeeping or return. Questex Media Group, Inc. provides certain customer contact data (such as customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses) to third parties who wish to promote relevant products, services and other opportunities which may be of interest to you. If you do not want Questex Media Group to make your contact information available to third parties for marketing purposes, simply call toll-free (216) 706-3705 between the hours of 8:30 am and 5 pm CST and a customer service representative will assist you in removing your name from Questex's lists. Outside the U.S., please phone (216) 706-3705. 6 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | March 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Dublin: We Tour the Irish Capital’s Top Offerings Puglia, Italy: Where to go for Complete Tranquility Small Meetings: Inspiring Settings for your Corporate Client The Thompson Beverly Hills: Bold New Style Arrives in Southern California US Grant: Unabashed Luxury in Downtown San Diego Sailing the Danube: Low-Key Luxury on River Cloud II Sin City Spas: The Latest From Some of our Favorite Las Vegas Retreats Bob Boulogne: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' COO Targets Elite Travel Advisors The Pulse Exotic Car Rental Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008

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