Leisure Group Travel interviewed a veteran group of destination marketing organization representatives to gauge what has happened this year and where they see it going in 2009.
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Paul Grant didn’t start off working in the travel industry—he actually got into it by accident. He was originally an industrial office manager and after the company was forced to downsize, he found himself in search of a new direction. He saw a “Drivers Wanted” sign for a motorcoach company and decided to apply. He started working as a part-time driver at Lakefront Lines in 1992 and from there his career in the travel industry took off. Working in and around the travel market as a driver, Paul learned a lot about the industry and met many different people.
Eventually Paul decided he could run tours on his own, and bought a tour company called Ilona’s Professional Tours in 1994. Four years later, in October 1998, Lakefront Lines contacted Paul and asked to buy his company. He agreed, and is now working for Lakefront Lines again, this time as the manager of the tour department in their Toledo office. “It was sort of a series of events that got me here,” he said.
The Toledo tour department sells largely to the senior retail market. Twice a year the office puts out a catalogue of tours, which contains information about tours offered through Lakefront Lines.
Amanresorts Revives Adriatric Retreat Amanresorts just unveiled Villa Miločer, phase one of the Aman Sveti Stefan resort on Montenegro's dramatic coastline. Once a popular playground for celebrities from the film and fashion worlds, the tiny islet of Sveti Stefan is still one of the...
Collette Foundation Announces 2009 Project Sites Collette Vacations remains committed to supporting partner communities around the world through the efforts of the Collette Foundation. In 2009 the foundation will develop partnership projects in Egypt and Fiji, with additional projects scheduled in...
Recession Puts Halt to Casino Developments The capital markets meltdown and plunging economy have conspired to kill the most prolific casino hotel expansion ever. Struggling with liquidity concerns and plummeting earnings, gaming and lodging companies are halting projects midway through...
Alberta Releases 2009 Travel Guide Travel Alberta, the destination marketing organization for Alberta, makes trip planning to “Canada’s Rocky Mountain Playground” easy with its just-released 2009 Official Alberta Vacation Guide. The 72-page color guide covers Alberta’s six...
One Mistake Too Many Last week I was in a rush and at the last moment I decided to recycle a Monday Message I wrote a few years back. The message was timely and I pulled...
Tips for Tour Operators Heading into 2009 John Stachnik, president and founder of Mayflower Tours, and past president of both the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and National...
PhoCusWright debunks Online Travel Myths Myth #1: The number of online travel buyers in the U.S. is declining. In fact, that number is on the rise, as documented in The Consumer Travel...
The Future of Meetings Rising gas prices, airline cutbacks, canceled and delayed flights, skyrocketing travel costs…these are just a few of the challenges facing...
Palace Resorts Goes “Green” Palace Takes Steps on Making Their Resorts Environmentally Friendly Today, with the focus on the environment, sustainable resources and the drive to...
Green Travel Tips It's become quite common for corporations to speak in ?green?, but individuals are the ones who can enact change. Active Journeys are committed to...
Tips and Ideas for Group Travel Planners ...Whether your group consists of active adults seeking an adventure abroad, college students looking for a history lesson, veterans reuniting for a...
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