Recommend August 2016 - 8

E d it o r 's N o t e s In the June issue of Recommend we focused on selling destination weddings and honeymoons, and this month's theme, too, focuses on romance, but we've approached the topic with a completely different viewfinder. In this August issue, it's about romantic getaways, maybe a 1-year anniversary trip or an escape for empty nesters to rekindle the romance. As travel advisor Kim Goldstein says in the Mexico piece on page 22, regarding "couples who are just trying to get away for a romantic, relaxing vacation, I'm really seeing all ages," with Tom Varghese, owner of Travel Tom, adding, "Romance is alive and well- across all demographics." Millennials, for instance, are certainly your go-to for destination weddings and honeymoons, but you should be reaching out to them during milestone celebrations, as well, or just because, as this is a sizeable generation that loves to travel. In the Europe piece on page 36, I focus on Millennial couples traveling to Europe, with Virtuoso travel advisor Lynn Ciccarelli, owner of Bella Vacations, reminding us that Millennials "want to immerse themselves in a destination, but not in a backpacking way. They want to go to smaller off-the-beaten paths of Europe, not just the large cities." For this piece, we've highlighted tour operators that have created itineraries that are enticing to Millennials because they offer plenty of time for them to explore on their own, and as Ashley Woodring Lawson, Contiki's national sales director, says, it's important for "travel advisors to debunk the misconception of what a tour can be because when Millennials hear the word 'tour' they think of traveling with their parents, grandparents or family." In the Latin America feature on page 39, Carla Hunt goes down a different romantic avenue focusing on the romance of discovering less-trodden destinations such as Northern Peru, while Michelle Marie Arean focuses on sexy cities in North America (page 30) that deliver the extra "oomph" for an idyllic twosome escape such as Charleston, New Orleans and Miami, which William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the Greater Miami CVB, notes "arouses the senses, with its warm, sultry breezes, white sandy beaches, fragrant tropical flowers...." We've also got a handful of onsite and onboard reviews you'll want to feast your eyes on-from what to expect on the newly remastered Queen Mary 2 (page 16) to a China hottie, Hangzhou (page 28).-Paloma Villaverde de Rico E-mail me at paloma@recommend.com Official Florida Travel Industry Education Program Recommend has partnered with VISIT FLORIDA to create a course focused on Florida's Beaches. You'll get the 4-1-1 on the state's shorelines-whether bustling with activity or leaving visitors feeling as if they could be on a deserted island, Florida's beaches are for families, couples, watersports enthusiasts, and beach bums. When you graduate as a VISIT FLORIDA Beaches Specialist, you'll have access to prizes, including a Maui Jim gift card and a Loud Pill FM radio Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Speaker, valued at $75; and you'll receive 3 CEU credits from The Travel Institute or 12 CEU credits from ACTA. Graduates also receive sales support from VISIT FLORIDA and a personalized certificate. Go to visitflorida.recommend.com to enroll and become a VISIT FLORIDA Beaches Specialist. let's get social Hang out with us @Recommendmag on both Twitter & Instagram, group publisher/editorial director associate publisher editor-in-chief associate editor art director latin america editor caribbean editor cruise editor web editor/copy editor contributing writers laurel a. herman terence k. murphy paloma villaverde de rico michelle marie arean janet del mastro carla hunt ed wetschler vivian holley melissa bryant susan farewell, lane nieset, grisel diaz-ors corporate director of marketing sharon lewen ad traffic coordinator daimee feliz chairman/founding editor hal herman president/editorial director laurel a. herman executive vice president gary herman miami corporate headquarters: 5979 nw 151st. st., suite 120, miami lakes, florida 33014 tel: (305) 828-0123; fax: (305) 826-6950 caribbean, central & south america, new mexico: terry murphy, terry@recommend.com tel: (305) 828-0123; ext. 120; fax: (305) 828-0799 northeast usa, eastern canada, europe, africa, middle east: monique agaliotis, monique@worthit.com, tel: (917) 244-7000 florida, midwest usa, caribbean: brenda goodwin, brenda@worthit.com, tel: (305) 828-0123; ext.160; fax: (305) 826-6950 southeast usa, colorado, utah, idaho, montana, wyoming, texas, north & south dakota: karen smith, karen@worthit.com; (561) 419-8397 western canada, california, oregon, washington state, nevada, arizona: lisa marie costa, lisamarie@worthit.com, tel: (949) 244-4760 hawaii: alan rock, alanrock1@gmail.com, tel: (310) 721-2825 cancun: margarita alvarez, margarissima@gmail.com tel: 011 52 998 287 1545; fax: 011 52-998 884-1716 RECOMMEND, Vol. 31, issue number 11, (ISSN 0034-1452) is published monthly by Worth International Media Group. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 5979 N.W. 151st St., Suite 120, Miami Lakes, FL 33014.Periodicals postage paid at Hialeah, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RECOMMEND Circulation Department, P.O. Box 171070 Hialeah, FL 33017-1070. RECOMMEND is distributed at no charge to qualified travel agents and tour operators. Paid annual subscriptions are available for $48 in the U.S., $96 in Canada, payable in U.S. dollars in advance. Published for North American distribution. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Pitney Bowes International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Copyright© 2005 Worth International Media Group. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Recommend is not responsible for unsolicited photography, art or manuscripts. To manage your subscription online, visit www.recommend.com/subscribe or e-mail subscribe@recommend.com. as well as on facebook.com/recommendmag. And if you want to see what our editors are up to away from the office, follow them @EdWetschler & @AreanWanderlust. 8 august 2016 recommend.com http://orida.recommend.com http://www.recommend.com/subscribe http://www.facebook.com/recommendmag http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2016