Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 - (Page 10)

Agent CONTRIBUTORS Insider What destination surprised you recently? MARK ROGERS, senior editor, recently traveled through Japan as a guest of the Japan National Tourist Office, visiting Tokyo and Kyoto to research upcoming articles in Travel Agent. In this issue, Rogers showcases a selection of family-friendly resorts in Hawaii, and discusses the impact that turmoil in Tibet has on the region’s tourism industry. Rogers covers Hawaii, the South Pacific and Asia, as well as California, where he is based. Later this month, he’ll join Hawaiian Airlines for its inaugural Honolulu/Manila flight. ALASKA “I would say Alaska after just revisiting after 12 years,” Joan Novack of Majesty Travel in Edgewater, NJ, says. “By cruise ship or by a combination of cruise/tour, Alaska offers beauty, history and the chance to see something unique. Alaska is a multigenerational destination to be enjoyed by all.” ADRIENNE ONOFRI, contributing writer, is the author of Walking Brooklyn: 30 Tours Exploring Historical Legacies, Neighborhood Culture, Side Streets, and Waterways, published by Wilderness Press. In the 10 months since the book came out, hotel development in Brooklyn has really picked up, and in this issue she writes about new boutique-style properties there. Onofri recently served as acting managing editor of Travel Agent for four months and is now a contributing editor. She is shown here in Brooklyn Heights. VIETNAM “The place that surprised me was Vietnam,” Sharleen Wollach of Carefree Vacations (a Division of San Diego Travel Group) in Carmel, CA, says. “I went in 2006 and was expecting an unfriendly country, and instead the people were friendly.” JOE PIKE is Travel Agent’s associate editor covering the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico and Central and South America. In this issue, he shares information with agents from his new column, which focuses on the casino industry in the Caribbean. For the column, he had the pleasure of interviewing Ada Pérez, the director of El Casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan. When he’s not touring his beats, Pike also frequents the hottest travel industry events. Pike just returned from the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) in Punta Cana, which he will discuss in a later issue. MICHIGAN “In northwest Michigan, I visited Petoskey, Harbor Springs, etc.,” Bobbie Abood of All-Travel in West Los Angeles, CA, says. “I had never been to this part of the world I am used to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and never realized that lakes have beaches and waves. I took a ferry to Mackinac Island, which was too commercial for me, but still beautiful. I saw the Grand Hotel and would love to see Mackinac in the winter when no one is there.” GEORGE DOOLEY, Travel Agent’s contributing editor covering retail and technology, has a long-standing reputation as one of the top travel industry journalists. He notes that interviewing amazingly capable travel agents with great business expertise is a joy, as is agents’ amazing willingness to share ideas and best business practices. In this issue, Dooley examines how host agency Travel Counsellors is looking to expand its home-based franchise model to the United States (see page 60). DAVID EISEN covers the cruise and hotel beats for Travel Agent. His latest trip was to South Florida to cover CLIA’s cruise3sixty conference and the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, where he met with cruise industry insiders. He is pictured here with Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises Senior Vice President of Sales Dondra Ritzenthaler. The slew of new cruise ships coming online will keep him busy over the next months, with visits on Carnival Splendor and Holland America’s Eurodam. 10 | TravelAgent April 14, 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: The châteaux-hotels of the Dordogne and Quercy in France Middle East: Although Dubai is Expanding, it is not Bursting at the Seams Pacific/Asia: Pattaya is Southeast Asia’s Sunny Paradise Pacific/Asia Briefs Las Vegas: New York City Dining Comes to Sin City Hawaii: Accommodations in Hawaii for the Entire Family Central & South America: Cayo Espanto is the Private Island Resort for Clients to Get Away from it All Caribbean: Iberostar Property Opens in Rose Hall, Jamaica Running El Casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan Africa: Africa Travel Association’s 11th Annual Symposium Spotlight on the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Cruises: Experts Share Views on the Direction Cruise Pricing is Heading Cover Story: Home Counsel Car Rental: Vacation.com Joins with Hertz to Grow Car-Rental Sales Transportation Briefs Northeast USA: Brooklyn’s Hotel Le Bleu Agent Profile: Gary Mansour of Mansour Travel Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Violent Protests Halt Travel to Tibet Celebrating Company and Agency Innovations Sheraton Upgrades Brand through Renovations and Redesign Earning Opportunities and Agent Recognition In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

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