Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page 52) COVER STORY LEFT: Kids learn a few things at Villa San Michele’s Children’s School of Cookery BELOW: Students get first-rate lessons at the Ritz Escoffier School at the Ritz Paris CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51 rappelling or even just sightseeing and shopping will not shy away from cooking: The TAM report points out that culinary travelers are also explorers. “Those who exhibit an interest in vacation activities associated with wine and cuisine were considerably more likely to have sought out vacation experiences associated with exploration.” Even if your clients are the spatreatment or roll-the-dice types, you can still sell a culinary trip: The report goes on to say that travelers who want food-related trips were also into “personal indulgences (e.g., to experience the good life, visiting a casino, experiencing nightlife) and romance and relaxation (e.g., to experience intimacy and romance, relax and recuperate).” Types of Tours There are culinary tours to satisfy anyone’s palate: Italian and French remain the most popular, but pan-Asian, Middle Eastern and Central and South American cooking tours are fast becoming sought after by travelers. A news release from the World Future Society stated that globalization will have a greater effect on the future of dining than anything else and “is the master trend that will drive the world of food.” In other words, people want to try new and interesting—sometimes exotic—new foods. In order to meet these demands, tour operators are scheduling trips to diverse parts of the world. Tour de Forks, for instance, is designing tours to Turkey, South India and Argentina. There are also vegetarian, health and wellness and medical-specific tours. Vacationers have two basic options. One is culinary vacations wherein clients stay at 52 | TravelAgent August 4, 2008 a specific hotel with the intention of taking multiday cooking instruction. There are many hotels around the world that offer instructional programs. A good place to start is Culinary Vacation Travel Guide (www.foodvacation.com). Note: Classes are seasonal at many properties. The other option is culinary tours that take clients to different cities to sample the various cuisines and participate in hands-on lessons. But even these vary in their designs. Stuart Newmark of Avanti Destinations says, “In Europe, the Avanti programs involve a stay at the hotel with a car rental for visits to the nearby countryside. This enables the visitor to experience the best of the region with the least amount of packing and unpacking.” Whereas, he says, “in Latin America, the culinary experiences may involve moving from one destination to another.” One group of suppliers that has jumped on the bandwagon is cruise lines. Holland America Line (www.hollandamerica.com), Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com) and Celebrity Cruises (www.celebritycruises.com) all have culinary programs, as do some of the smaller lines. Holland, in fact, has a Culinary Arts Center aboard each of its premium ships, where cruisers can participate in demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes. Tour operators can put together their own special program with the help of the cruise line. Clients can simultaneously cruise and cook. You also have to determine what your clients want. Do they want to stand in a kitchen and learn cooking techniques alongside master chefs, or do they just want to go to famous restaurants and eat and sip wine? These are two distinct clients. Schrobat estimates that “80 percent [of our clients] want the added value of the education and real cultural experience.” What to Look For The key to a good trip, says Edward Piegza, president and founder of Classic Journeys (www.classicjourneys.com), is to join a small tour group (a 16-guest maximum is ideal) that features a variety of activities and experiences and to look for a company with expert local guides. “They’re the ones who know their native land inside and out and who can really connect you to the artisanal producers,” he says. Schrobat considers these to be components of a great tour: cooking classes in private studios or kitchens, restaurants, wineries or villas; meals included with all classes (after all, you want to taste your work); hands-on participation or interaction allowed between the teaching chef and attendees; free time to enjoy local attractions of the region (instead of all cooking and working); books, aprons, menu cards or other keepsakes to inspire your client and get the rebooking; and all-inclusive rates. “When the tour is finished,” Schrobat says, “clients will have gained some great knowledge.” Tour de Forks offers “scheduled departures of small escorted luxury tours, guided by a culinary expert to ensure that our group gets the ultimate insider experience. We call it the ‘untour’ tour,” Goldman says, adding, “Putting clients in four- and five-star properties also goes a long way.” When searching for a culinary program for your clients, look for a couple of things. First, find out what kind of cuisine they are interCONTINUED ON PAGE 54 http://www.crystalcruises.com http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.foodvacation.com http://www.classicjourneys.com http://www.hollandamerica.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Africa Europe Pacific/Asia Hawaii Las Vegas Australia Alaska Central & South America Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel Air Consolidators Hotels Tours Gay & Lesbian Travel Agent Profile Bidding for Business Agenda Caribbean Update India Attacting More U.S. Travelers Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines Agent Access Classified Marketplace In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 8) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 9) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 14) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 15) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 16) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 17) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 20) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 21) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 22) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 23) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 24) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 25) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 26) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 27) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 28) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 29) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 30) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 31) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 36) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 37) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 38) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 39) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 40) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 41) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 42) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 43) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 44) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 45) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 46) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 47) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 48) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 49) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 50) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 51) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 52) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 53) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 54) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 55) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Air Consolidators (Page 56) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hotels (Page 57) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 58) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 59) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 60) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 61) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 62) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 63) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Bidding for Business (Page 64) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agenda (Page 65) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean Update (Page 66) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - India Attacting More U.S. Travelers (Page 67) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs (Page 68) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 69) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 70) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 71) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 72) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 73) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 74) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 75) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 76) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 78) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 79) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 80) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap4)
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