Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 - (Page 14)

Agent CONTRIBUTORS Insider We asked agents at All-Travel in West Los Angeles: What is your favorite out-of-theway restaurant, and why? JOE PIKE is Travel Agent’s associate editor covering the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico and Central and South America. In this issue’s cover story, he shares selling tips from his recent trip to Barbados (where he is pictured). When he’s not touring his beats, Pike also frequents the hottest travel industry events in New York City, where he recently mingled with Puerto Rico tourism officials as well as Virgin Group owner and famous entrepreneur Richard Branson. The next major Caribbean event on Pike’s calendar is the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) in Punta Cana at the end of the month. SANTA MONICA Patrick Mack suggests Bruno’s in Santa Monica. “The restaurant has redcheckered oil cloths on the tables and no décor to speak of. If you order the chicken parmigiana, in a few minutes you will hear Bruno preparing it in the kitchen. This place has excellent pizzas and good, honest Italian food. The portions are large, prices are reasonable and Bruno bakes his own bread daily.” MARK ROGERS is a senior editor at Travel Agent. He covers Hawaii, the South Pacific and Asia, as well as California, where he is based. At least twice a month he travels to attend trade conferences around the region, providing him upfroint access to industry newsmakers. In this issue, Rogers takes a look at trends in tourism to India; profiles Lynda Turley, a Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent; and showcases Molokai, Hawaii’s “Friendly Isle.” He is shown here in California at the Salton Sea. DAVID EISEN covers the cruise and hotel beats for Travel Agent. He just returned from Las Vegas (a few dollars richer!) after attending the Carlson Global Business Conference (he is pictured at the event on the far left with Yvonne LePenotiere, Carlson’s chief branding officer), where he rubbed shoulders with an array of Carlson hotel executives. Next, Eisen heads off to South Florida for CLIA’s cruise3sixty conference in Ft. Lauderdale, followed by the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami. SANTA FE “Harry’s Roadside Diner is great for breakfast and lunch, they also serve dinner,” says Eric Maryanov. “In the summer, they have outside dining. The great thing about the restaurant is that it is on the outskirts of Santa Fe, so it is not somewhere tourists would be. They also have a full bar and excellent, local southwest food.” GEORGE DOOLEY, Travel Agent’s contributing editor covering retail and technology, has a long-standing reputation as one of the top travel industry journalists. In this issue, Dooley notes that while some say that there are too many awards in this industry, three leaders in particular deserve their recent recognition. See his story on page 104. Dooley also explores IT Group’s adaptation of the Open Travel CRM as the preferred technology provider for its 900-plus members. See page 91. HANAPEPE, KAUAI “Hanapepe Café is a good choice,” says Bobbie Abood. “Andrea, who is originally from Southern California, owns the café. It offers great natural and vegetarian foods. Andrea’s mom mom has a bakery in the restaurant and bakes the most incredible stuff.” 14 | TravelAgent March 17, 2008 DEBBIE STRONG is a story editor at Travel Agent and also frequently writes about the booming spa industry. She is an annual attendee at international spa tradeshows and conferences and has traveled all over the U.S. and Mexico, scouting out the newest spas and relaying that information to our readers out of our Manhattan offices. In this issue, Strong reports on the rising trend of girlfriend getaways (see page 60) and shares the highlights of her recent visit to Aruba to view the newly redesigned Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino (where she is pictured). She also just returned from the Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa, the newest resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Watch for her report in an upcoming issue.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Contributors Africa: Lodges that will Make your African Safari through Tanzania Unforgettable Special Supplement: Honeymoon Specialist Africa News and Briefs Caribbean: The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino is a Perfect Choice for all Types of Clientele Hawaii: The Less-Visited Island of Molokai Provides a taste of Old-Time Hawaii Central and South America: Where to Enjoy the Reefs, Rainforest and Ruins in Belize’s Maya Country Hotels: Properties that Cater to the Growing Trend of “Girlfriend Getaways” Cruises: Increasingly, Cruisers are Choosing Outside Companies for their Off-Ship Excursions Barbados: A Caribbean Travelers' Dream Airline Update: Several European Airlines Offer New Nonstop Service Ski/Snowboard: Three New Hotels Hit the Slopes in Wyoming, Utah and British Columbia Multi-Generational Travel: Cavallo Point: the Lodge at Golden Gate is a New “Green” Hotel Outside of San Francisco Agent Profile: Lynda Turley of Alpine Travel of Saratoga in Saratoga, CA Agency Profile: Largay Travel’s Company Retreat Cover Story: Barbados Technology: Open Travel CRM Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite from Jordan Travel Mart Harrah’s Draws Younger Clients to Atlantic City Cruise News India’s New Hotels and Nonstop Flights Saluting Travel Industry Contributors Report from Travel South In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

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