Travel Mart - Las Vegas Aug 13-18

arriving at the gate for Travel Mart

I have just returned from an amazing, inspiring and informative travel conference! This annual event brings together the best of the best in travel; close to 1700 speakers, hotels, cruiselines, tour operators, destination and tourism representatives along with almost 1700 travel agents.
We spent long days meeting with, and learning about, the people who represent the product; in the evenings we were hosted for cocktails and dinners and got to know the people on a more personal note and to celebrate their successes - there were two awards nights. This fun but exhausting event allows us, your travel advisors, to absolutely do the best for you when we plan your vacations. I am so glad I took the time to go to Vegas in the middle of summer (would not be my first choice of a summer destination let me tell you).
I am now so much better equiped to advise my clients and design their itineraries with everything I learned, and all the connections I made, at Travel Mart!

my hosts and winners of best children's program -  Hotel Montage Deer Valley

Power of One | SUCCESS Magazine | What Achievers Read

Power of One SUCCESS Magazine What Achievers Read

Nature and Expedition Trips - Feb 2012 Borneo; Farm Sanctuary Oct 2011

I am working on re-focussing my travel business, to put my energy into developing and promoting itineraries to destinations I am passionate about and which get people engaged with the places they visit, whether locally or far away. I want to promote travel to places my clients are passionate about and in a way that fosters that passion; to encourage people to take their children along and teach them to travel responsibly. There are great things that can come from travel if we all try to be engaged with the people and places we visit.

I left the travel industry to go back to University in the summer of 1978; I took an Economics and an Anthropology course and I got the same mark in both courses. While studying Anthropology really was my passion, Economics was interesting and practical. As I am ever the practical person I chose to study Economics.

My interest in wildlife and particularly the big apes and the “Leakey” women who studied them and championed their survival (Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas) never waned. When I visited Kenya in 2006, I was able to visit the Chimpanzee sanctuary at Sweetwaters . The Chimp’s stories were heart-breaking, but seeing them in a healthy, safe environment and the clear bonds they had with one another was heart-warming. Although not the life they should have had it was so much better than what they had been living. Watching them was mesmerizing – I could have stayed there for days.

"George" - photo Karl Schulz



"Paco" - photo Karl Schulz



After my trip, I was lucky enough to meet the amazing Jane Goodall, but unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to travel with her or to her famous camp in Gombe. I will however, travel with Birute Galikas on the Orion II, an expedition cruise from Bali to Singapore in February. I have invited local animal activist, photographer and filmmaker, Jo-Anne McArthur, to lead my group. These two women are extraordinary in their own right and this will definitely be a once in a life time experience. To get close to wild and rehabilitated Orangutans and other wildlife in the forests of Borneo and to have experts there to inform and interpret what we are seeing – wow!

Orangu-tan photo courtesy of Orion Expeditions

Orion Expeditions

I am also planning a two night trip to the Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York, October 12th. Rescued farm animals, on their way to a certain death, have found safe and loving homes here. We will stay at the farm’s B and B and have the staff and Jo-Anne McArthur teaching us  to appreciate these animals as living, feeling creatures – not just as our food. Activities will include photography with Jo-Anne, hikes, village and winery visits.

Farm Santuary founder and friend - Jo-Anne McArthur photo

Jo-Anne McArthur and friend "Ndele"

For more information please see my links and the following:

www.weanimals.org

www.orangutan.org/dr-galdikas-bio

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/farm/newyork/

The Ritz Carlton Toronto

I just stayed at the new Ritz Carlton on Thursday night.  It is a beautiful and intelligently designed hotel; the employees are well trained and everyone seems genuinely nice – in fact being a nice person is a prerequisite to being hired.  I am a critical person and it takes a lot to impress me – The Ritz impressed me.

The decor is modern Canadian done in soft colours - maples, browns and creams with some red highlights (chandeliers).  They used all Canadian woods and there is a lot of marble and leather. They have over 400 works of art through the hotel all done by Ontario artists.

The menus (restaurant and spa) are focussed on Canadian influences. TOCA is the main dining room – full of light and fresh decor in the front, breakfast area and all dark woods and warm lighting in the dining area. It has a cheese room with two cheese specialists (the only restaurant in Canada to feature this) and two wine specialists on staff, a private dining room for 12 and a wine tasting room.
They offer a Chef's table experience in the kitchen; it seats 6 to 10 guests for an interactive experience.

Chef's Table






TOCA Breakfast

TOCA BAR is a raw bar with an amazing mixologist who creates unusual custom drinks. I had a rum, watermelon and aloe drink - very interesting presentation.
The other restaurant and bar is DEQ – it has the feel of a living room with a cozy nook like a library with a fireplace. The restaurant is for sharing plates and features a charcuterie table and custom flatbreads. It has an outdoor pizza oven with a large heated deck and a fireplace.


DEQ Charcuterie Table



The hotel has a signature fruit infused water (changes daily) in coolers available in various spots around the hotel.
Everywhere you look there are lots of neatly rolled towels. When I mentioned the showers are confusing (multi-heads and taps with no labels to be seen- without my glasses) the spa attendant listened to my comments and came back to tell me that they would be labeling them better. I was impressed by that and the fact she was always quietly there anticipating my needs – a pillow for my head in the jet pool, a bathmat coming out of the shower (which I had failed to put down) in addition to keeping the place spotless!
The relaxation room is large and light filled with many large comfy recliners and blankets, club chairs, a balcony which wraps around the treatment rooms. There is a service table with waters, teas and snacks (fruit and nuts and cookies). There is also a spa menu for food and drink.

The hotel rooms are all the same, but they are very well appointed, spacious and comfortable; an upgrade is to a higher floor and view. There is an in-mirror TV in the bathroom as well as heated marble floors, a Bose sound system (upgraded in the suites), Flat screen TV, Blu-ray DVD player, complementary bottled water. For additional charge but unique treat they have a martini ingredients and shaker set up with a recipe card in the bar (beautiful glassware in the rooms), as well as a choice of interesting snacks. Internet and Wi-Fi is available for a fee but is free in executive level rooms.

Minibar martini fixins and truffles

The executive rooms are on the 18th - 20th floors. The club lounge is lovely with nice views, lots of windows. They serve 5 light meals per day, teas coffee, waters and alcohol is included here. It would be worth the premium to upgrade

Executive Lounge

There are 56 corner suites (650 sf) with a powder room, living area with pull-out sofa, chair and ottoman and desk with leather chair; a larger bathroom and the bedroom area can be shut off from the living area. There is good closet space and all the suites have views. The suites can be connected to a standard room by an extra door leading to the main hall.

Suite 

There are two floors of meeting rooms and conference space which can be configured to different sizes. There is also an executive boardroom with a private lounge area for the group’s food and beverage service.
There are three sets of elevators off the lobby - one for the meeting rooms, one for the guest rooms and one for the parking and underground tunnels access.
Finally there is a gift shop off the lobby with high quality Ritz and other branded gift items, food and toiletries. The spa has a larger gift shop selling product and clothing.



EExecutive Lounge Breakfast


A five star addition to Toronto for sure – don’t wait to experience it!















 

Jost Van Dyke, BVI's; Easter week, 2011

Just returned from a nine night chill vacation with my husband and son. We stayed at the lovely White Bay Villas - we had a 2 bedroom, self catering Hillside Unit - the Coconut. Very clean and pleasant accommodations with killer sunset views.
It is a steep hike from here to the beach or town - a car is needed. We had big plans to get to know the surroundings - rent a dingy, do some sailing, maybe a day trip to St John's to check it out. However, we did  very little but relax. We read some books, drank some rum punch, hiked a little, ate a lot, took in a bit of sun and a little island music at Foxy's, Ivan's Stress Free Bar and the Soggy Dollar Bar.
There are a lot of party boats that come into the bay by the Soggy Dollar now, but it remains more a sailboat haven right next door at Ivan's. Things have changed though since our last visit in 2006 - unfortunately for those of us who like peace and quiet. For those who like to party it is all good though.

We drove the amazingly step and somewhat questionable roads to get to restaurants in Little Bay and beyond, dodging goats and rocks while driving on the left side. On our last day we got trapped in Ivan's parking lot (not really a parking lot, but a street access which became a parking lot) when we went to the beach and then a wedding ceremony happened while we were gone. We had to wait for all the SUV's to vacate before we could get out. Got to love the islands!
It was all lovely. I am still trying to restart my motor, but I think I left the starter on Jost! I guess I will have to go back for it:).

Photos coming soon.

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Meet+Yvette%3A+The+Chimp+Who+Survived+30+Years+in+Medical+Research

Travel Tips: What to Do When the Weather Doesn't Cooperate | Frommers.com

Travel Tips: What to Do When the Weather Doesn't Cooperate | Frommers.com