Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 - (Page 86)

TOURS SOUTHWEST Death Valley National Park America’s SOUTHWEST Girlfriend getaways heat up in the desert the pressures of day-to-day life. “Girlfriend getaways have gone from a multi-million dollar trend three years ago to a $6 billion business segment today,” says Renie Cavallari, chief inspiration officer and CEO of Aspire. As more and more women juggle work and home life, spending quality time with friends and family offers a fun way to escape from these pressures. Here are some examples of such trips, centered on outdoor activities, spas and gambling, for inspiration. BY JENNIFER MERRITT IT’S BEEN 24 YEARS SINCE CYNDI LAUPER sang about how girls just want to have fun. It seems that mantra still rings true among many women in 2007, as 40 percent of 2,029 females plan to take a girls-only vacation within the next three years, according to a survey by AAA (www.aaa.com) and Aspire (www.aspireinnovativelearning.com), a training and consulting company. This was the first time that the two companies have collaborated to release a survey, which was conducted online and via telephone, as well as through telephone focus groups, but the concept of girlfriend getaways is nothing new. The report found that 24 percent of women have taken such a trip in the past three years, prompted by a desire to bond with friends or family or to escape 86 | TravelAgent October 15, 2007 Fun in the Southwestern Sun One of the best places to construct such a trip is the Southwest region of the U.S., as it provides the types of getaways and activities women are looking for, says Cavallari. “In addition, airfare into many of the most popular Southwest destinations like Scottsdale and Las Vegas offer competitive pricing as compared to New York City or San Francisco,” she says. “There are direct flights from many destinations, which makes travel easier.” WomanTours (www.womantours.com) offers inn-to-inn road bike tours for women. One of its most popular in 2008 is to Death Valley National Park in parts of southern California and Nevada—February tours already are sold out, only leaving the November 2-7, 2008 trip available. “Lots of women want to do a tour in the off season and there aren’t a lot of places to bike in the winter,” Jackie Marchand, president of WomanTours, says of the trip’s popularity. CONTINUED ON PAGE 88 http://www.aaa.com http://www.womantours.com http://www.aspireinnovativelearning.com

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Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe Central & South America Special Supplement: Ski University Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Caribbean Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon Packages Jamaica’s New Minister of Tourism Talks About the Country’s Future Special Package Deals Cruises Hotels Ski Multi-Generational Travel Tours Cover Story: Luxe Life of the Stewart Clan Business Operations - Agent Profile Technology Transportation The Industry - Agenda Caribbean News PATA Travel Mart ITME Report Latest Cruise and Hotel News Travel Week In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 15, 2007

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