Recommend July 2017 - 8

E d it o r 's N o t e s
There's no end in sight for the growth of the
wellness travel sector-more and more travelers
want to take their lifestyle on the road with
them. What used to be a vacation style just for
the elite, has become increasingly mainstream,
adding yet another niche to your list of specialist
vacations....and it's one that can add quite a bit to
your bottom line. As Kristin Karst, executive v.p.
and co-owner of AmaWaterways, notes in the
High-Energy Cruising article on page 15, "We believe
guests are looking to take steps to ensure that their vacation time is an extension of
their wellness-oriented lifestyle."
The July issue delves into wellness vacation options throughout the world. Whether
it's a meditative & culinary retreat in Bali (page 21) or Sports Week at the Barcelo
Bavaro Grand Resort (page 19), the options are limitless and span many activity
levels. Nowadays, it's not surprising for clients to find themselves taking a fitness class
with an Olympic champion while on a transatlantic sailing; or taking a meditative
walk in a forest in New Mexico (page 17). And many wellness retreats aren't just
about the physical activities, with a number of them incorporating journaling sessions,
nutrition classes, and, of course, time at the spa, as well as time for social good in the
destination's local community. Wellness vacations are all-encompassing, and, says Tom
Klein, COO, Canyon Ranch, "it's a $3.72 trillion global industry. We are experiencing
a phenomenon where healthy living is morphing into all aspects of consumer life
and experience."
Another hot niche is faith-based travel-with close to 350 million people traveling
each year for religious and pilgrimage reasons, according to the World Tourism
Organization. In the Europe story on page 22, the focus is on some of the best tour
operators to seek out for faith-based groups, because as Kari Hansen, travel consultant
at Travel Leaders Market Square, says, tour operators "provide the best-bang-for-thebuck value, important in this price-conscious market."

21st Annual Readers' Choice Awards
It's that time of year again-the time to vote for your favorite hotels, resorts, tour
operators, cruise lines, destinations and other travel suppliers. The voting process has
begun at recommend.com/rca. You have only until July 13 to cast your vote, and
to thank you for taking the time to vote for your favorites, you'll be entered into a
drawing for a chance to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards (one entry per agent
please). We'll be announcing the winners in the December 2017 issue, and this year
we'll be giving prizes to the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.
-Paloma Villaverde de Rico

group publisher/editorial director
associate publisher
editor-in-chief
managing editor
design/production manager
caribbean editor
cruise editor
web & copy editor/
social media coordinator
contributing writers
marketing manager
ad traffic coordinator
digital production manager
director of media & engagement

laurel a. herman
terence k. murphy
paloma villaverde de rico
michelle marie arean
janet del mastro
ed wetschler
vivian holley
melissa bryant
carla hunt, susan farewell,
lane nieset, grisel diaz-ors
ali behar
daimee feliz
jorge bastidas
jennifer pichaco

chairman/founding editor hal herman
president/editorial director laurel a. herman
executive vice president gary herman
executive editor paloma villaverde de rico
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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've landed
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 some great prizes; 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
full color, printable certificate. Go to visitflorida.recommend.com to enroll and
become a VISIT FLORIDA Beaches Specialist.

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RECOMMEND, Vol. 32, issue number 10, (ISSN 0034-1452)
is published monthly by Worth International Media Group.
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8 july 2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2017