Top execs tend to ignore company travel policy

A survey on business travelers by PhoCusWright shows that about two-thirds of company workers in the management and executive levels flout travel policies in their booking activities. "Lower-level employees are more likely to comply with policy than upper management and executives, who kind of do their own thing," said Carroll Rheem, director of research at PhoCusWright. Reasons for deviation include convenience, loyalty points and better pricing.

And many people think this problem is just limited to our elected/appointed officials! 

First coordinated US tourism campaign to launch in May

A $150 million marketing blitz is ready to promote the USA to travelers worldwide. This is in response to a drop in the country's overall share of world travelers in the decade following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The U.S. Travel Association initiated the campaign with the support of several large tourism groups and travel businesses, and it was approved by Congress as part of the Travel Promotion Act of 2010.

To draw foreign travelers back, the campaign will launch billboards, magazine ads, online videos and television commercials, emblazoned in colorful images of city scenes, forests and beaches and the message "Discover America." 

The marketing blitz will begin in May in Canada, Britain and Japan, followed later in Brazil, South Korea, India and Germany. Although the campaign is designed to promote the country as a whole, private travel industry firms that donate a minimum of $1 million in cash and $4 million in in-kind contributions to the campaign get mentioned in the ads by name, with online links and phone numbers included.

Tourism Works for America! Inbound tourism can and does create local jobs in the US of A. Contact your elected officials and tell them to continue to support these initiatives!  

Sad end for the original "Love Boat"

The original Pacific Princess, which helped to popularize cruising worldwide as the "Love Boat" in the hit television series of the same name, is headed to the scrap yard.

The ship sailed for Princess between 1975 and 2002, and was the TV home to Captain Stubing, Cruise Director Julie, Purser Gopher and Bartender Isaac from 1977 to 1986, when The Love Boat series aired on ABC.

The show helped make Princess Cruises the most famous cruise brand in the world.

The Pacific Princess left Princess' fleet in 2002, and has sailed for several companies since, including Spain-based Pullmantur, Brazil-based CVC and Quail Cruises, also based in Spain.

For the past couple of years, the ship has been docked in Genoa, Italy, and last month, she was sold for 2.5 million euros to a Turkish ship-breaking company called Cemsan.

In 2002, Princess acquired another vessel and christened it Pacific Princess, and that vessel still remains in the Princess fleet.

As an rookie travel agent she was one of the 1^st ships that introduced me to the cruise industry. So it’s s a teary farewell then to the grand ole gal! 

I've progressed from a novice cruise consultant to a Princess Commodore Agent. Princess Cruises & I have grown professionally over these years! 

Ohio's 2012 International Beer Fest

Cleveland Ohio's 2012 International Beer Fest features appearances by celebrity brewers, respected authors and entertaining personalities sharing enlightening industry insights on the SPEAKeasy, Brew U and Tasting Room stages. From discussions to demonstrations, renowned beer experts reveal how they have shaped the industry will meet patrons during interactive sessions. Schedules can be found on-line at www.ixbeerfest.com.

According to Robert Peterson, President, I-X Center.  “We are proud that International Beer Fest has quickly grown to become the largest beer centric festival in the Midwest!”

Tickets may be purchased online at www.ixbeerfest.com. For more information call 216.265.7468 or visit www.ixbeerfest.com. 

You can also follow the International Beer Fest on Facebook and Twitter.

Check back frequent as I'll keep you updated! 

Ohio's 2012 Beer Fest

What do you call an event with over 200 stellar breweries from around the world pouring upwards of 800 select beers? Why it is the Ohio International Beer Fest! All hail the humble hop plant!  

The International Beer Fest returns to Cleveland Ohio’s International Exposition (IX) Center during the weekend of May 11^th & 12^th.  This unique event showcases s the world of beers and beyond!

Shakespeare's birthday

According to tradition, the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. It is impossible to be certain the exact day on which he was born, but church records show that he was baptized on April 26, and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newborn. Shakespeare's date of death is conclusively known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 years old and had retired to Stratford three years before.

London is a great place to use as your base and make day trips into the English countryside. Strafford is frequently combined with an itinerary that includes the hills of the Cotswolds and the university town of Oxford.