Travel Agent - March 3, 2008 - (Page 8)

Agent CONTRIBUTORS Insider What are your shopping tips for for your favorite destinations? GEORGE DOOLEY joins Travel Agent after a 20-year stint with Travel Trade. He began his travel career as manager of press relations for ASTA and was a vice president of Doremus & Company (now OmniComGroup) handling travel and insurance accounts. He has also worked with Airbus industries, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, the National Air Carriers Association and World Airways. In 2001, ASTA named him Travel Journalist of the Year. “What continues to amaze me,” he says, “is the pace of change in the industry—in technology, marketing, promotion and the number of new initiatives. Travel is truly a dynamic industry.” BANGKOK “Get clothes tailor-made in Bangkok,” says Sharleen Wollach of Carefree Vacations, in Carmel, CA. “I took my favorite pair of pants to a tailor there and had them make four (more pairs) in different colors You don’t even need to try them on because it is made just like your favorite article of clothing.” JERRY SOVERINSKY is a Chicago-based journalist. He worked as a European tour guide for nearly 20 years, living in more than a dozen countries. His writing credits are as diverse as his interests: The Boston Globe, National Lampoon, Chicago Tribune/RedEye, American Greetings, Frommer’s Budget Travel, Toronto Globe & Mail, among dozens of others. In this issue he writes about the Dominican Republic, however, adventure travel is a notable passion; he’s pictured here during a solo cross-country bicycle tour. PHOTO BY EVAN KAFKA KAPAA, KAUAI Bobbie Abood of All-Travel in West Los Angeles, CA recommends Imperial Jewelers in Kapaa, Kauai. “They will basically create anything you want in gold. We had them make rings and an heirloom bracelet. They offer great quality and the best prices on the island.” LOIS FRIEDLAND writes about Denver-based host agency The Travel Society in this issue. While attending the company’s annual meeting, she was intrigued by the number of independent travel agents and consultants who make a healthy living focusing on specific market niches. Friedland, who lives in the Rockies, 35 minutes from downtown Denver, loves to travel and looks for any excuse to write about skiing, golf, luxury travel or adventure travel. She is About.com’s adventure travel guide (www.adventure travel.about.com). AFRICA “When traveling in Africa, the rule of thumb is: If you see it and love it, buy it. You will not see it again,” says Sylvia Berman of Post Haste Travel in Hollywood, FL. “In Franschhoek, South Africa, there is a small shop that carries homemade dishes, adorned with local beads Remember, when shopping, you have to carry your purchases home, so make sure they will fit in your suitcase or bring an empty suitcase with you.” JOE PIKE is Travel Agent’s associate editor covering the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico and Central and South America. Whether at his office in New York City or island hopping in the Caribbean, Pike is always rubbing elbows with top tourism officials, looking to get the latest scoops to help agents sell. In this issue, he highlights several of Latin America’s latest properties. Most recently, Pike wrote a cover story on the Cayman Islands and took a tour of Barbados. His next stop will be the Dominican Republic for the grand opening of Maxim Bungalows. Also, look out for Pike’s new casino column, which debuted in this past issue and will focus on casino news and openings in the Caribbean. MARK ROGERS, senior editor, recently sat down with Hunter Wang, CEO of Panda Travel USA, a tour operator with numerous programs to China. In this issue, Rogers previews Panda’s plans to increase its share of the U.S. market on page 80. Rogers covers Hawaii, the South Pacific and Asia, as well as California, where he is based. In this issue, he recaps news from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008. 8 | TravelAgent March 3, 2008 http://www.adventuretravel.about.com http://www.adventuretravel.about.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - March 3, 2008

Travel Agent - March 3, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Special Supplement: Planet Hollywood Florida: We Checkout Four Hotels in Key West, the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. Europe: Ruthanne Terrero’s Tuscan Adventure Pacific/Asia: Five-Star Hotels in Bangkok Las Vegas: Where Your Clients Go for Golf Outings Central & South America: Starwood Leads Expansion by Hoteliers in Latin America Pacific Northwest: The Fairmont Empress Celebrates its 100th Birthday this Year Alaska: Take a Tour of Anchorage Alaska Briefs Caribbean & Bahamas: La Romana in the Dominican Republic Offers Fun and Pampering Cruises: The Key to Success for River Cruise Lines Full Panama Canal Transits Cruise Briefs Cover Story: Hot Hotels Special Supplement: Spa Specialist Hotels: Venice Beach Eco-Cottages Hotel Briefs Auto Europe: Company Offers Competitive Prices and High Commissions Agency Profile: The Travel Society Charts a Course for Expansion Revelex Revolution: Deal with Am Ex affirms status as Major Provider in Travel Industry Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Volunteer Leadership Future of Hawaii’s Cruise Industry Panda Travel, USA Caribbean News In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - March 3, 2008

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