Working in the "Windy City!"

This week I am attending an industry conference in Chicago, and every time I land here I get excited about the City, the Food, the Architecture, the River, the Food, the Sports....

What a great city! For me, it's one of those cities that I always love to spend time in, but one of those that is immediately "off the radar" as soon as I leave. I'm not sure why, but as I thought about it, a lot of cities are that way for me - great to visit - but never really somewhere that I say I can't wait to re-visit or move too.


Luckily, I get to the "Windy City" once a year for one conference or another. I did learn today that the nickname - Windy City - is NOT due to the wind or weather coming of the lake - but a backhanded remark by a New York Sun editor, referring to all the boasting the city did about their hosting of the World's Fair in 1893!

Last night we had an opportunity to attend a reception and dinner at the new Trump International Hotel & Tower - and WOW! - is all I can say! The hotel is part of our Signature Hotels and Resorts program, and a few of our clients have actually stayed in the hotel already - even though the tower is still under construction above the hotel!

The reception was held on the 16th floor and the views were AMAZING! I've attached a couple pictures I took with the trusty iPhone. There were 200 of us - and the Trump Organization pulled out all the stops - a great time was had by all!

OK back to Work! :)

Legendary World Radio - Launched 09/06/08!

HELLO! What a weekend! We launched a new Radio Show this weekend called Legendary World Radio. Not just ANOTHER travel show - but a complete lifestyle show - featuring Travel, Food, Wine, Adventure, Stories, Friends and much more.

This is the show where we ask...

"When was the LAST time you did something for the FIRST time?"

It's all about discovery and experiencing this Legendary World we all reside in.

Our first show had a "Green Theme" and our in studio guest was my friend and fellow wanderer, Gina Murphy-Darling aka Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green has a highly acclaimed Radio Show called Mrs. Green Goes Mainstream - where she is moving the "Green" needle, one convert at a time - and makes it FUN! I can attest to this approach as I have started to change some of the practices within our office and in my personal life too!

On the show Mrs. Green announced her new cruise project, called "Mrs. Green Goes to Sea!" A very special cruise about "Going Green". She has some great presenters, programs and goodies planned for all participants! Check it out!

We were also honored to be joined by Tina Stotz, Manager of Sustainability, Auditing and Environmental Initiatives at Holland America Cruise Line. We had a GREAT conversation with her about all the impressive technologies and procedures put in place by today cruise industry to continue to improve their performance in the protection of the environment that is so important to all of us.

Check out our Radio Show website and sign up for our eNewsletter - you might win a cruise!

Alaska Cruise w/Sam The Cooking Guy!

WOW!  What a cruise!   I have just returned from a week in Alaska with a group of clients (now friends!) and Sam Zien.  Sam is better know in San Diego as "Sam The Cooking Guy" due to his highly rated television show of the same name.

You can view the pictures from my trip in the slideshow above or simply click on the picture and it will take you to the complete album to review quicker. I'll get back here and post some information on the trip, sights and other stuff as soon as possible.

Business!... and Pleasure!

Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure - was an IDIOT!  :)

I recently had to make a quick one night trip to San Diego to meet with some executives of Clear Channel Radio and the Dr. Laura Syndicated Radio Show to discuss our upcoming Dr. Laura Cruise.

It was a last minute meeting, set for the next morning.  I jumped on my trusty Southwest Airlines flight for the one hour trip to the shore - still not sure where I would spend the night.  As the flight dropped towards the San Diego Airport, I saw out the window an old friend - The timeless Hotel Del Coronado!  

Upon arrival in the baggage claim area I called a friend in the Sales Department to see if she could get me a room - within minutes I was in my rental car, heading across the Coronado Bridge to my FAVORITE Island Hangout - THE BRIGANTINE!

I lived in Coronado for over 8 years, and as anyone who has ever lived there - it becomes part of you.  And as soon as you cross that bridge - it is home once again!  With so little land to develop, it seems like it never changes.  The "Del", Glorietta Bay, Miguel's, The Brigantine and The Lambs Players are always there like old friends!

My first stop was my personal favorite - for a Brig Brew and a San Diego favorite - the Fish Taco!  YUM - I'm getting hungry just writing this!  KB and Brian were behind the bar - and of course, said hello, as if I had been in the night before - even though it has been a year since my last visit to the Island!

Now it was time to head over to the Del - right

 across the street and check in, and check out the latest happenings at one of my favorite hotels.  I checked in - and to my surprise - found that my friends in the sales department had upgraded me to an AWESOME oceanview suite!  THANKS AGAIN!  If you ever want to stay at the Del - give me a call and we will make sure you are treated like Royalty.  

The entire staff of the Del and all the KSL Resorts are an incredible group.  We have worked with them over the years and have enjoyed a wonderful business relationship.  It actually started in La Quinta, California when I was on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce with the current President of KSL Resorts - but that is another story.

The view from the suite was incredible - I was tempted to settle on the balcony, open a book and relax, but wanted to see the recent additions to the resort - the Beach Village at The Del.

Beach Village, an exclusive enclave within the iconic setting of the oceanfront resort, offers an ultra-luxe contemporary vacation experience. Located on Coronado’s award-winning beach and inspired by the original hotel’s coastal architectural style, the guestrooms and suites at Beach Village offer dining and living spaces with fully-equipped kitchens and gourmet-quality appliances, cozy fireplaces, plush 400 thread-count bedding, spa-style baths with soaking tubs and spacious ocean-view balconies and private terraces. Guests of Beach Village enjoy private pools and hot tubs, private access to the beach and personalized concierge service to tend to your every need.

It is my goal for this summer to find a way to reserve one of the One and Two Bedroom Villas for a little escape this summer from the Tucson heat!

After my sightseeing and walk on the beach, it was back to the Suite where I ordered Room Service and enjoyed a relaxing dinner on the patio and an early night - this was after all a BUSINESS TRIP!  :)

SLAMMED is the Word!

We have been SWAMPED here at the office for the last month!


I'm not complaining, but I have not been able to put up a day by day account of my trip to The Galapagos! And my friends have not let me forget it! :)


So I have decided to at least get a link up here to my pictures! The are not captioned or explained, but at least there are there.



I'll try to get back here and add some commentary soon... But future trips are looming on the Horizon - so we will see.

Off to Ecuador and The Galapagos!

Well, it's FINALLY here!

We are off to South America!  I am traveling this week with 34 other Travel Professionals from the Southwest United States for an exciting and educational trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands!  The agents are all members of "The Association of Travel Agents of America" (ATAA), of which I am the current President, and get the pleasure of co-hosting this trip with fellow board member Bruce Iacobelli.  Hey - tough job, but SOMEBODY has to do it!  :)

Today we are flying all flying to Quito, Ecuador for two nights before heading off to the Islands and our Adventure!

Quito is at approximately 9500 feet, and one of the highest airports in the World.  It is also very near the Equator (Lat. 0 00'00" S) - and one of the highlights of our tour tomorrow morning!

Upon my return from the trip I will upload pictures, commentary, etc. right here - so stay tuned!  We have a Travel Show in Tucson the weekend of my return, so it may take until the following week to get everything uploaded and ready for you - but I promise I will get it done!

Fiesta Bowl 2008!

Hello Everyone - sorry for the few month absence, but I'm back!  And have just gotten home from an AMAZING couple of days in Glendale Arizona and the FIESA BOWL!

It all started with a phone call from my mom, asking if I was interested in going, as she has some good friends from West Virginia that were going to the game and had access to tickets!  My mom, always the adventurer (now you know where I get it) immediately said yes and called to see if I wanted to meet her and the group for the game.  Of course, I too said "YES!" and set out to find some rooms and learn about the teams.

Mountaineers?  Sooners?  I was not familiar with either team, but does it really matter!  It's the FIESTA BOWL - and in the new Glendale Stadium to boot - home of the upcoming Superbowl XLII!

We decided to stay at the Wigwam Resort, as that is where Mom's friends were staying (Doug, Susan, their daughter Lindsay and husband TJ) - and it is very close to the Stadium.  We arrived on New Years Day around 2PM - just in time to take in the Florida vs. Michigan Game by the pool and meet everyone.  After Michigan beats Florida, we were off to Scottsdale for the W.V. Mountaineers Founders reception and party!  The ballroom was filed with fans from not only West Virginia, but all over the country - here in Arizona to cheer their team to victory!  By now, mom and I were honorary "Mounties", with our Blue and Gold on and as excited about the game as everyone else!

After the party we headed back across town (Even with the 101 loop done - the Scottsdale to Glendale drive is about an hour!) and decided to make a stop at the new Margaritaville that opened up right next door to the stadium.  As you can imagine - this was my idea - and mom got to learn about Parrotheads, Phun and all kinds of new things.  

Well - on game day the resort erupted in a sea of Blue and Gold - and Red and White, with the Sooners Fans outnumbering us 10 to 1.  We had to listen to the news of the Mounties impending doom, how they did not have a chance as the coach had quit, and how Sooners were due a win - yada, yada, yada...   We headed out to the stadium about 1:00 PM after Mexican food and some killer Prickly Pear Margaritas near our hotel - recommended by Lindsay!  Great Call!

We got to the stadium and started to meet up with friends of Doug and Susan's from WV.  Many of them had their motorhomes and tailgate parties where in full gear already!  We hung out here for awhile and met some people who had extra tickets - so they swapped with us and our tickets went from the endzone to the 20 yard line!  SWEET!  We bought some WV "gear" enjoyed all the excitement, the rivalry, the energy and headed into the stadium around 5PM for the 6PM game.  The stadium is beautiful and very well laid out.  If you are lucky enough to get to go to the Super Bowl (I'll be there if my SD Chargers are!) or to a Cardinals Game - you will see what I mean.  The concourse and concessions are set up perfectly, lines were minimal and it was very easy to get in and out of the stadium parking - even for a sold out game!

The Mounties came out strong, and never looked back!  It was a beating like no one imagined!  The WV Mountaineers looked awesome and beat the Sooners by 20 points!  It was a great game and I can't wait to visit WV in the future and try to take in a game!

I'm off to the Galapagos in a week - and will have LOTS of great pictures when I return!  Speak to you then!