Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page 54)

PHOTO BY MELISSA JOACHIM COVER STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52 ested in. Wolfe also recommends looking for instructors who speak English if clients do not speak the local language. And one other important thing to keep in mind is that health and safety standards vary in other countries. One thing to avoid is any culinary tour that is a standard sightseeing tour, taking travelers to a different location each day, and taking them to “famous” restaurants. These aren’t tours but dining events, as Schrobat calls them. PHOTO BY NEIL GRIFFIN PHOTO BY AVANTI DESTINATIONS TOP RIGHT: Anna Tasca Lanza (second from left) and daughter Fabrizia (right) at the Anna Tasca Lanza Sicilian Cooking School at the Regaleali Estate in Sicily ABOVE LEFT: A cooking demonstration at Fagiolari Bed and Breakfast in Tuscany ABOVE RIGHT: Making mozzarella at the Caseificio CAVI factory in Cisternino, Apulia, Italy Prices of tours vary widely, depending upon accommodation level, locations and other elements on the itinerary. What’s in It for the Agent? Tour operators jumped on this bandwagon with both feet. When asked why, the unanimous answer was that they have a passion for food, wine and travel. That is the connector between agents and their clients. But the hard fact is that tour operators are experiencing huge success with this market. Culinary tourism gives travel agents an edge because it differentiates a tour product from others. Travelers want something new, different and educational. While other types of tourism are sure to come along, the need and desire to eat will always exist, and as the world’s food supply becomes expensive and its viability questionable, the desire to prepare one’s own food is certain to continue. Schrobat 54 | TravelAgent August 4, 2008 sees “unprecedented growth. We have not yet opened this venue up to its potential.” He adds, “the amount of interest is overwhelming…If you’re confident your client will enjoy this type of travel, you will be rewarded with rebooking opportunities for the same clients to the same regions.” As more Americans wish to expand their knowledge and palates, the opportunities to do that will continue to open. “The industry benefits because it provides destinations with a new way to attract visitors and share their culture and heritage. It’s an increase in tourism,” says Goldman. Travel agents and tour operators, particularly those who specialize in culinary tourism, play a vital role in arranging these types of trips, because they have established relationships with chefs and artisanal producers. Piegza says, “At Classic Journeys, it’s not just what we know, it’s who we know that makes our tours unique.” “This type of vacation cannot be done in a cookie-cutter manner,” Avanti’s Newmark says. “These are complex vacations—and would be almost impossible for travelers to do on their own and maintain the quality.” Culinary travel—just like food itself—has a unifying effect on the world. “In addition to making the global community a smaller, more interesting and personal place,” Piegza says, “culinary tours are low-impact on the environment and make expert use of each region’s agricultural resources.” The appeal particularly hits the ego of the affluent traveler. As Tour de Forks’ Goldman puts it, “When travelers return home and cook a meal for their friends that they learned how to make in Provence, that’s bragging rights!” I CONNECTING YOU View a podcast on culinary travel at www.travelagentcentral.com/video http://www.travelagentcentral.com/video

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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