Leisure Group Travel Magazine
April 2026Turn the pages of Leisure Group Travel Magazine and discover a world of possibilities for your next group adventure. Because every journey is better when shared.
Leisure Group Travel Magazine
April 2026Turn the pages of Leisure Group Travel Magazine and discover a world of possibilities for your next group adventure. Because every journey is better when shared.
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Journeys that Matter
There are trips you take because you need a vacation and then there are journeys that have a deeper meaning.
Those journeys are the spirit behind the April edition of Leisure Group Travel. This month, LGT explores how tour operators take groups to some of the most incredible, and rare, religious events in the world. We talk to planners who share their insights on bringing groups to such major performances as Italy’s La Passione di Cristo in Sordevolo, a once-every-five-years production that transforms an entire village into a living stage. We also take readers inside the rare public open house of the Salt Lake Temple, an event that offers access many travelers may never see again in their lifetimes.
LGT also features the annual Illinois Group Tour Planner, which returns with fresh inspiration from the Land of Lincoln. Whether it’s day trips near Chicago, scenic drives along the Great River Road, outdoor adventure in Shawnee National Forest or the presidential legacy of Springfield, Illinois continues to prove itself as a versatile, group-friendly destination.
Alongside Illinois, the Virginia Group Tour Guide showcases a historic state that seamlessly blends history with forward momentum. This year, we highlight new additions to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, look ahead to the Bristol Sessions Centennial in 2027 and preview how the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will mark its 100th anniversary in 2026.
LGT also has a conversation with Riviera River Cruises, where the company explains how innovative itineraries and an unmatched value proposition are redefining premium river cruising.
As usual, LGT gives you insight into the tourism business that no one else can match. So, whether you’re planning around a rare open door, a historic anniversary or a tried-and-true regional favorite, this issue is designed to help you think ahead.
Happy reading,
Jason Paha, Chief Editor
April Edition Special Sections
Illinois Group Tour Planner
Illinois is like no other state, and when you visit, you’re sure to find that we are a destination filled with a wide range of offerings.
Virginia Group Tour Guide
Virginia offers unparalleled heritage, cultural and performing arts, outdoor adventures and scenic vistas, music and artesian trails, and an exciting culinary scene.
Leisure Group Travel Features & Columns
Sacred Moments on Global Stages
Tour operators are securing access, managing logistics, and building itineraries around the world’s most extraordinary faith-based gatherings.
Inside the Salt Lake Temple Open House of 2027
Every so often, a destination offers travelers something that cannot be replicated, extended, or rescheduled. Miss it, and it becomes history. Catch it, and it becomes a story you tell for the rest of your life.
Louisiana Lights Up Summer for Groups
The Pelican State delivers culture, cuisine, and connection across every region.
A Journey Through Texas’ Historic Missions
Discovering the Lone Star State’s missions through history and heritage.
Midwest Marketplace: The Midwest’s Must-Attend Group Travel Event
Circle Wisconsin’s signature marketplace has connected tour operators and suppliers across the region, creating high-value partnerships and unforgettable itineraries.
Why the Right Technology Partner Matters More Than the Software
When you start down the road of researching software solutions for your business, platforms quickly start sounding the same.
Value Meets Vision on Europe’s Rivers
In this conversation with Riviera River Cruises, the company details how innovative itineraries and an unmatched value proposition are redefining premium river cruising.
Southern US Experience Guide
This Experience Guide covers some of the most appealing Southern States in the country.
Sample Itineraries
Holiday Cheer Along Lake Erie
Celebrate the season with a festive three-day journey through the charming lakeside communities of Shores & Islands, Ohio, where holiday traditions, local history, and scenic beauty come together for a memorable group getaway.Â
A Festive Fairfax Escape in Northern Virginia
Celebrate the season in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, where historic estates, dazzling light displays, and timeless traditions create the perfect holiday getaway for groups.
Enjoy Three Unforgettable Days in Amarillo
Big skies, bigger flavors, and a deep-rooted Western heritage set the stage for a three-day adventure in Amarillo.
Striking a Chord in Greensboro, North Carolina
This three-day itinerary invites visitors to experience the city’s rhythm: mornings fueled by beloved neighborhood cafés, afternoons filled with culture and outdoor adventure, and evenings soundtracked by some of the Triad’s most iconic music venues.
Three Days in Myrtle Beach
With its wide sandy beaches, lively entertainment, and welcoming Southern hospitality, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, offers the perfect coastal escape for groups.
Explore Branson’s Bright Lights & Ozark Adventures
Live music floats through the Ozark air, neon theater marquees light up the night, and down-home flavors anchor every meal in Branson, Missouri.
Three Fabulous Days in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Residing at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge delivers an unbeatable mix of natural beauty, high-energy entertainment, and down-home Southern hospitality.
Destination Showcases
Billy Graham Library
NarroWay
Atlantic City
Colorado Springs
Starkville, MS
Canyon Spirit
Alaska Railroad
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Why Journeys that Matter Should Shape Your Group Travel Planning
Some trips are simply getaways — and then there are journeys that leave a lasting mark. The April edition of Leisure Group Travel explores the kinds of experiences your groups will talk about for years: rare faith-based events that can’t be rescheduled, historic destinations that connect travelers to something bigger than themselves, and itineraries built around moments that only come around once. Whether it’s a once-every-five-years passion play in an Italian village or a landmark temple open house that may never happen again, these are the opportunities that elevate a group tour from routine to unforgettable.
This issue takes you inside the logistics and planning behind the world’s most extraordinary religious gatherings, showing how tour operators are securing access and building itineraries around sacred events on a global stage. We also feature the annual Illinois Group Tour Planner — packed with fresh inspiration from Chicago day trips to Great River Road drives and the presidential legacy of Springfield — alongside the Virginia Group Tour Guide, which highlights new additions to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, the upcoming Bristol Sessions Centennial, and Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
From Louisiana’s summer culture and cuisine to the historic missions of Texas to premium river cruising with Riviera River Cruises, this edition is built to help you plan ahead with purpose. Every feature, itinerary, and destination showcase is designed to give group tour operators the insight and inspiration to craft meaningful, well-timed journeys. Because the best group travel doesn’t just take people somewhere — it takes them to something that matters.
