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• Lola Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo Lola – Not what you Think!

  Happy Hotelier

  GJE

  14 May 2012 | 3:10 pm

  See this Quirky Bicycle? Rather than resting on its side standard or a back standard, it rests on its front standard in front of a shop in The Noordeinde in The Hague. Lola? Off course when I hear or see “Lola” I associate that immediately with the famous Kinks song “Lola“, but this is not about that Lola and maybe I’m too old for you to remember this;-) The name of the shop is Lola Bikes and Coffee soon daringly being opened officially in the posh Noordeinde in The Hague directly opposite the Lion’s Den of the huge Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts. A…

• Walking Along the North Sea Trail from Eyemouth

  Europe a la Carte Travel Blog

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  16 May 2012 | 12:08 am

  One of our regular short day trips from Berwick upon Tweed is to the coastal town of Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, for a walk along the North Sea Trail towards Coldingham. The views were particulary attractive one afternoon in mid April. Although there was a chilly wind, it was sunny and bright. The white heads of the crashing waves contrasted sharply with the colour of the rocks. After our walk along North Sea Trail we had a late lunch at the Oblo Eyemouth. Love UK Walking Along the North Sea Trail from Eyemouth Best Places to Visit Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog.

• Zambian Landscape

  DeliciousBaby.com

  15 May 2012 | 10:58 pm

  I'm not able to properly describe the beauty and calmness of Zambian's landscape, so I wanted to share this picture and a quote that I think describes it perfectly. Zambian landscape "The Zambian landscape is one note endlessly repeated. At the Tunduma frontier, the character of the land suddenly changes. The rolling hills of south-central Tanzania fade away and the table-flat upland of the Zambian plateau begins. Open grassy country gives way to unending woodland, a featureless wilderness of spindly trees twenty to thirty feet in height. Mile after mile, hour after hour it remains the same.

• Malicious fake hotel reservation email issue

  travel-rants.com

  Darren Cronian

  1 May 2012 | 5:55 am

  From time to time we all receive those fake bank emails telling us to login and update our records. What are the chances of you receiving a malicious and fake hotel reservation email message though. Karen Bryan who writes on Europe a la Carte received such an email claiming to be from Booking.com. Fake Hotel ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Malicious fake hotel reservation email issue

• Secure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia Review

  Soul Travelers 3

  Soul Travelers3

  16 May 2012 | 1:30 am

  Secure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia ReviewWith so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to IS PUBLIC WIFI SAFE?With so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to neighborhood cafes and campgrounds, the convenience makes it is easy to forget that it's not safe and you may be putting yourself and your computer at risk. WHY YOU NEED A VPN FOR SECURITYMore and more people are using these handy public outlets at home and during travel abroad, without realizing the security risks because these free…

• 

  Happy Hotelier

• Lola Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo Lola – Not what you Think!

  GJE

  14 May 2012 | 3:10 pm

  See this Quirky Bicycle? Rather than resting on its side standard or a back standard, it rests on its front standard in front of a shop in The Noordeinde in The Hague. Lola? Off course when I hear or see “Lola” I associate that immediately with the famous Kinks song “Lola“, but this is not about that Lola and maybe I’m too old for you to remember this;-) The name of the shop is Lola Bikes and Coffee soon daringly being opened officially in the posh Noordeinde in The Hague directly opposite the Lion’s Den of the huge Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts. A…

• Impressions of Today’s 070 Twitterlunch in The Hague by 020

  GJE

  24 Apr 2012 | 2:52 pm

  Location just next to The “New” Church of The Hague which dates back to 1658 Birdies were necessary to keep the tweeps focussed Excellent sandwiches and soup by Pavlov KeesBteA had had his hair sharply coiffured for the occasion. The Organizing Trio. Thanks! Twitterlunch The Hague Yesterday Dutch Government resigned after Geert Wilders withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Today there was a big debate in Parliament here in The Hague whether or not to have new elections and before or after the summer holidays… But for me the most important event…

• The End of the Wilders Era?

  GJE

  21 Apr 2012 | 2:33 pm

  The End of the Wilders Era? As you may know, my hometown The Hague is the center of Dutch Government. Today Geert Wilders left the coalition talks that lasted already 7 weeks and were aimed to create an acceptable package of cutting expenditure by Dutch Government. Wilders stated he withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Less than two years, on another platform I presented Rutte (left on the photo) and Maxime Verhagen (right on the photo) as our new Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister when they started this adventure. Both with the typical Geert Wilders hairdo.

• America’s Cup World Series in Naples

  GJE

  14 Apr 2012 | 1:21 pm

  Team Energy Wins First Naples Fleet Race Photo AC The Spectacle is back with AC 34 For quite some time I’d left the America’s Cup for what it was: A court room affair. It was not very clear where they were heading. Returning to them again I see that Larry Ellison who is the defender of record with his team Oracle, has made some clever moves to bring spectacle back to the race courses. The 34th America’s Cup brings the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport back to the United States: New boats, a new format for the racing and television and web coverage as…

• Happy Easter!

  GJE

  8 Apr 2012 | 3:29 am

  And a Happy Easter to you all! Happy Easter! is a post from: Happy Hotelier. Would you like to subscribe to my newsfeed, or my weekly newsletter?

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  Europe a la Carte Travel Blog

• Walking Along the North Sea Trail from Eyemouth

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  16 May 2012 | 12:08 am

  One of our regular short day trips from Berwick upon Tweed is to the coastal town of Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, for a walk along the North Sea Trail towards Coldingham. The views were particulary attractive one afternoon in mid April. Although there was a chilly wind, it was sunny and bright. The white heads of the crashing waves contrasted sharply with the colour of the rocks. After our walk along North Sea Trail we had a late lunch at the Oblo Eyemouth. Love UK Walking Along the North Sea Trail from Eyemouth Best Places to Visit Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog.

• Review of Travelodge Dunfermline

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  15 May 2012 | 12:07 am

  We stayed at the Travelodge Dunfermline on the first night of our budget break in Scotland during early May 2012. The room cost £19 for a Saturday night booked during the December 2011 Travelodge Sale. It’s quite hard to get cheap Travelodge rooms on Saturdays, so this was a good price. Travelodge Dunfermline is located close to the M90 Perth to Edinburgh motorway. The hotel is a bit out on a limb, near an industrial unit. There’s often a restaurant next to Travelodges; here it’s a few minutes walk to a Harvester Inn at Halbeath Retail Park, where you’ll also find an…

• Is the Food at Gourmet Restaurants Better?

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  14 May 2012 | 12:12 am

  I am left wondering if gourmet restaurants serve better food, after eating at a variety of establishments during my recent visit to Portugal. I freely admit I’m no foodie with a refined palate. I really enjoyed lunch in Tomar which cost 13 Euro for two. Mary Goudie of Your Lisbon Guide and I both had the dish of the day, 2 pork chops with potato, served with tomato and lettuce salad and collard greens. Mary had a beer and a coffee and I had water to drink. The food was really tasty and the waitress a very pleasant young woman, who was working all the tables single handedly. I also had a…

• Do You Love the UK?

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  13 May 2012 | 8:45 am

  Do you love the UK? I do and I’ll be taking a UK staycation at least once a month over the next few months, as well as day trips from home.  Yes, I know all you fellow Brits are muttering what about the unreliable weather plus going abroad seems more exotic. However, I want to illustrate that you can have a great time on home shores. Below are some recent and upcoming UK highlights. Duddo Stone Circles – April 2012 In an example of discovering what’s on your doorstep, we’d driven past the sign for the Duddo Stone Circles on many occasions but finally made the decision…

• Join Me for Afternoon Tea at the Glasgow Thistle

  karen@europealacarte.co.uk

  12 May 2012 | 2:48 am

  Would you like to have afternoon tea with me at the 4 star Glasgow Thistle Hotel on Monday 11 June at 3pm? We’ll be tucking into freshly baked scones and cakes, accompanied by either tea or a glass of Prosecco. If you’d like to be my guest, you can: Leave a comment on this post Tweet with the hashtag #afternoonteaglasgow I’ll pick my afternoon tea guest at random from the blog comments and tweets. Groupon have asked me to roadtest their offers, so I wanted to share some the treats on offer with Europe a la Carte readers. You can enter the draw twice, once by leaving a blog…

• 

  DeliciousBaby.com

• Zambian Landscape

  15 May 2012 | 10:58 pm

  I'm not able to properly describe the beauty and calmness of Zambian's landscape, so I wanted to share this picture and a quote that I think describes it perfectly. Zambian landscape "The Zambian landscape is one note endlessly repeated. At the Tunduma frontier, the character of the land suddenly changes. The rolling hills of south-central Tanzania fade away and the table-flat upland of the Zambian plateau begins. Open grassy country gives way to unending woodland, a featureless wilderness of spindly trees twenty to thirty feet in height. Mile after mile, hour after hour it remains the same.

• Books and Online Resources about Zambia

  15 May 2012 | 10:21 pm

  Fiction and Novels about Zambia Before I leave for any trip, I like to immerse myself in books about the country. Sometimes that means reading about the local history, but more often I use fiction or personal stories to help me get deeper insight into the culture. Here are a few of the books that help me set the stage for my trip to Zambia. North of South: An African Journey Shiva Naipaul, brother of the famous author V.S. Naipaul, writes his humorous and sometimes unsettling observations after a trip to Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia in the 1970s. It's a great insight into attitudes among…

• Ribbon Cutting at Chilileka Basic School's New Library

  14 May 2012 | 9:02 am

  Missing a little context? Jump to the bottom to learn more about why I'm in Zambia this week. Spoiler alert - the libraries are real, and by the end of this day we cut a red ribbon I may have helped organize the Passports with Purpose fundraiser, but it was the work of about two thousand people (between bloggers, donors and corporate sponsors) who really built this project. So to load myself into a car, ride about 90 minutes outside Lusaka, and be greeted with such overwhelming enthusiasm felt a little bit like stealing someone else's glory. Here's my best effort to capture the feeling of…

• A Tour Through the Slums in Lusaka, Zambia

  12 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  I don't believe that it's ever possible to wrap your head around another person's experience. Not even your neighbors or close friends. And life in another country with its own culture and traditions is even harder to comprehend. Things might look similar, human needs are the same, but everything works just a little bit differently. Frankly, it boggles my mind, but it's worth an attempt, because the more we understand about one another, the more we can support each other. Kids playing in Lusaka's Garden District Beth, Michelle and I spent our morning in Zambia touring the Garden Compound,…

• Photo Friday: You Did This!

  11 May 2012 | 12:00 am

  Kids show off their spelling at Chilileka Basic School in Zambia I'm on an emotional high after visiting the Chilileka Basic School in rural Zambia yesterday. I'll write and post more pictures soon, but I thought I'd start by sharing this photo of spelling practice. Related Links Welcome to Zambia Visiting the Passports with Purpose Libraries in Zambia Passports with Purpose What is Photo Friday? Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated. The focus of the post should be on your photo. You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but…

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  travel-rants.com

• Malicious fake hotel reservation email issue

  Darren Cronian

  1 May 2012 | 5:55 am

  From time to time we all receive those fake bank emails telling us to login and update our records. What are the chances of you receiving a malicious and fake hotel reservation email message though. Karen Bryan who writes on Europe a la Carte received such an email claiming to be from Booking.com. Fake Hotel ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Malicious fake hotel reservation email issue

• Phone app to report unfair airport screeners

  Darren Cronian

  30 Apr 2012 | 2:33 pm

  Just a quick post for today and it’s from an article that I was reading on the Washington Post announcing an app called FlyRights which allows passengers travelling through the United States, to complain immediately to the government if they feel that they have been treated unfairly by airport screeners. Report unfair airport screeners The ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Phone app to report unfair airport screeners

• Consumers entitled to voice their holiday experiences

  Darren Cronian

  28 Apr 2012 | 1:46 pm

  Over the years I have written on a number of occasions about what my thoughts are on the future of holiday reviews and the debate about the trustworthiness of such reviews continues. I think it is important to remember that it is essential that consumers continue to be given a voice to express their experiences. ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Consumers entitled to voice their holiday experiences

• Chaos hits Heathrow Airport ahead of the Olympics

  Darren Cronian

  27 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am

  I have travelled into Heathrow airport a few times and my last memory was queuing for what seemed like for an eternity to go through the security and passport control. So, it didn’t completely surprise me when I read tonight about the latest chaos at Heathrow T5. Passengers delayed for hours Apparently thousands of passengers ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. Chaos hits Heathrow Airport ahead of the Olympics

• All-inclusive holidays damaging the local economy

  Darren Cronian

  25 Apr 2012 | 10:14 pm

  I have just finished watching an interesting piece on BBC News about the problems with all-inclusive holiday deals. Over the last couple of years there has been an increase in British holidaymakers opting for this type of holiday because they are finding them more convenient and affordable, especially for families. All-inclusive holidays impacting local businesses ...This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog. All-inclusive holidays damaging the local economy

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  Soul Travelers 3

• Secure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia Review

  Soul Travelers3

  16 May 2012 | 1:30 am

  Secure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia ReviewWith so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to IS PUBLIC WIFI SAFE?With so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to neighborhood cafes and campgrounds, the convenience makes it is easy to forget that it's not safe and you may be putting yourself and your computer at risk. WHY YOU NEED A VPN FOR SECURITYMore and more people are using these handy public outlets at home and during travel abroad, without realizing the security risks because these free…

• Penang at Night

  Soul Travelers3

  14 May 2012 | 1:39 am

  Penang at NightPenang is known for it's exciting nightlife which is intricately connected to it's Penang is known for it's exciting nightlife which is intricately connected to it's famous hawker stalls and night markets. Penang is very famous for it's food and eating culture. Many in Asia think it is the best in the world and even Singaporeans happily drive nine hours to enjoy the world-renown food. You'd be amazed at what they come up with, often just using a bicycle made into a mobile kitchen. One can almost feel the hustle and bustle of Gurney night life in this photo, where locals and…

• Paris for Families - Walking the Left Bank

  Soul Travelers3

  11 May 2012 | 1:54 am

  Paris for Families: Walking the Left Bank Bringing the kids to Paris? For families considering a trip to Europe with children,  PARIS WITH KIDS Bringing the kids to Paris? For families considering a trip to Europe with children ( from toddlers to teens), the City of Lights is a fabulous choice, we highly recommend. Paris is often thought of as an adult destination, but it is perfect for families with no shortage of things to do and activities for children. One of the best enchanting, educational and free things to do as a family in Paris, is just wandering about, enjoying this beautiful,…

• Bhutan's Breathtaking Green Organic Terraced Hills

  Soul Travelers3

  9 May 2012 | 2:00 am

  Bhutan's Breathtaking Green Organic Terraced Hills To visit this magical kingdom of Bhutan, tucked into the Himalayan To visit this magical kingdom of Bhutan, tucked into the Himalayan mountains between China and India takes ones breath away at every turn and gives us a glimpse of an isolated land, untouched in many ways by the 21st century. Most of the land is very mountainous and green, where more than 70% of it is covered in old growth, pristine forests protected by the government. The unique animals, plants and birds, surviving here for centuries untouched, are all protected. There is…

• Beautiful Bird in the Florida Keys

  Soul Travelers3

  7 May 2012 | 2:49 am

  Beautiful Bird in the Florida KeysWow, I loved this beautiful bird that was just sitting at the dock as I walked by in Key Largo, Wow, I loved this beautiful bird that was just sitting at the dock as I walked by in Key Largo, Florida when we stopped there to swim with dolphins. Bird watching is a popular activity in the Florida Keys as it is one of the top destinations in the world for bird fans and we can see why. Learning about animals as we travel the world as a family is one of the many ways we use our travel as education. We were at Dolphin Plus to swim with dolphins as we did in…

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  Jaunted - The Pop Culture Travel Guide

• New York: How To Get Tickets To 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in Brooklyn This Fall

  cmb

  16 May 2012 | 11:12 am

  Surprise, surprise. Jimmy Kimmel announced he's taking his ABC talk show on the road, but he isn't headed to Las Vegas or Manhattan...he's going to Brooklyn. Jimmy Kimmel Live will tape five shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music between October 29 and November 2. The episodes won't only be filmed in Brooklyn, they will also showcase the borough's neighborhoods, restaurants, music scene, and people.

• How One Radioactive Man Has Us Rethinking Airport Security

  Omri

  16 May 2012 | 10:31 am

  We can't quite decide whether this story—which involves a traffic stop in Connecticut but which we'll connect to airport security in just a second—is quietly reassuring or deeply creepy. The things that police officers and security officials can do, and the different ways they can do them, are becoming harder and harder to catalog. Stratford firefighter Mike Apatow was driving along a Connecticut interstate when he found himself getting pulled over for no discernible reason. It turns out that Apatow has high blood pressure, and just that morning he had been to the hospital for a…

• Atlanta: Atlanta Airport's New $1.4 Billion Dollar International Terminal is Open!

  JetSetCD

  16 May 2012 | 9:36 am

  Smell that? That's the scent of brand new airport, as Atlanta's Airport opens the doors to their brand new Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal today. The building is 1.2 million square feet with 12 gates, and cost $1.4 billion to complete. Now that is finally completed, however, what can you expect as a traveler winging your way to or from far-away destinations? Yummy, convenient food options. Pei Wei Asian Diner, The Varsity (classic American burgers and hot dogs), Ecco Kitchen, Jekyll Island Seafood Company, Lorena Garcia Tapas Bar, Maison Mathis, Sweet Auburn Market Café, The Pecan,…

• Sounds Like American Airlines Could Be Open to That US Airways Merger After All

  kjb

  16 May 2012 | 8:20 am

  All right, we’ll admit that we don’t exactly know what’s going on with US Airways and American Airlines. It seems like one day the two airlines are all hot and heavy for one another, and the next day the relationship has turned a tad cold and sour. This week, the two airline lovers have been talking and texting once again, and American Airlines may be interested in continuing this type of relationship. Late last week American Airlines said that they would consider merger opportunities with the friendly folks over at US Airways. This is kind of the first time they’ve…

• London: Like It or Not, London's New Olympic Tower is Almost Ready for Business

  kjb

  16 May 2012 | 7:50 am

  If there’s one city around the globe that doesn’t need any more attention—or tourists—this summer it’s got to be London. The UK is throwing a sick anniversary party for the Queen, Will and Kate are doing their thing, and there’s a little sporting event rolling into town as well. Some added excitement comes from the city’s latest addition to the Olympic landscape, and it’s known as the ArcelorMittal Orbit. However, we're just going to call it the Olympic Tower. Rising almost 400-feet into the sky, the steel sculpture sits right by the Olympic Stadium, so…

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  Viator Travel Blog

• Team Europe Update: Ryan & Asha in Berlin

  Viator Travel Team

  16 May 2012 | 11:36 am

  Editor’s Note: Viator recently held a contest to “Win Your Dream Travel Job” where we selected 4 finalists to travel the world shooting video. Throughout the summer, these teams will travel and film in some of the word’s top destinations, documenting their experiences along the way. Go here to watch as their unforgettable journey unfolds! After a fun time in Amsterdam, Ryan and Asha hopped on a train to Berlin. Read on to find out what they did on their first stop in Germany! Here’s a look at some of the adventures they captured on their iPad: Day 1 Team Europe spent most of the…

• Top Travel Deals of the Week

  Viator Travel Team

  15 May 2012 | 8:20 am

  Looking for something new and fun to do while traveling this week? Check out the Viator Member-Only Deals available around the globe this week and make the most of your travel budget! Member-Only Deals provide exclusive access to deeply discounted travel deals you won’t find on any other website, with savings ranging from 20% to 75%! Viator members can enjoy instant, on-the-spot availability – but remember, these travel discounts are date-specific and go quickly – so when they’re gone, they’re gone! Choose from a wide array of activities each week in destinations from San Francisco…

• Save 50% on Dinner Cruises in New York City, Boston & Chicago!

  Viator Travel Team

  15 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  HURRY! On sale for 3 days only! Book select dinner cruises in New York City, Boston and Chicago at a 50% discount! For this limited time only, you can save 50% on cruises departing Sunday – Thursday! This deal is only available for 3 days – so hurry! You must book by May 17 to save 50%! This exclusive offer is available through December 30, 2012 (excluding July 4 and November 22).* Save 50% on New York City, Boston and Chicago Dinner Cruises! This is an amazing way to experience these waterfront cities! Dine on a delicious dinner as you enjoy a beautiful view of the city skyline. Feel…

• Team Europe Update: Ryan & Asha in Amsterdam

  Viator Travel Team

  14 May 2012 | 2:17 pm

  Editor’s Note: Viator recently held a contest to “Win Your Dream Travel Job” where we selected 4 finalists to travel the world shooting video. Throughout the summer, these teams will travel and film in some of the word’s top destinations, documenting their experiences along the way. Go here to watch as their unforgettable journey unfolds! From Dublin, Ryan and Asha flew to Amsterdam for their second stop. There they got to spend another four days touring the city and the surrounds. Here’s little a summary of what they did. Behind-the-scenes footage from the “Rasha”…

• The Isle of Skye: Explore Scotland’s ‘Misty Isle’

  Karen Gardiner Dion

  14 May 2012 | 10:22 am

  Scotland’s rural islands are some of the best places to get away from the hustle and bustle of the British mainland. The Isle of Skye is arguably one of the prettiest of the isles, and certainly the most accessible. The Isle of Skye, or An t-Eilean Sgiathanach in its native Gaelic, lies off Scotland’s north-west coast and is made up of six distinct peninsulas: Duirnish, Waternish, Trotternish, Minginish, Strathaird and Sleat. Visiting the island can feel like stepping into a place out of storybooks; indeed the island is associated with a bounty of myths and legends: from the warrior woman…

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  HOTELMARKETING.COM

• Mobile and its impact on hotel revenue management

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  16 May 2012 | 12:05 am

  Hotel marketers have so far not observed material differences in booking patterns between the online channels - brand web, online travel agent and mobile. What's more, the increasing trend to mainly offer last-minute exclusive deals via third-party mobile platforms cannot be a sustainable strategy.

• Top luxury travel trends in China

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  16 May 2012 | 12:04 am

  The rise in private property of Chinese people along with the appreciation of Yuan has induced this growing demand of luxury travel. There are millions of millionaires in China with personal wealth of RMB 10 or more, and they are 15 years younger on average compared to the travelers in Europe and America.

• Americans warming up to summer travel in 2012

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  16 May 2012 | 12:03 am

  Compared to 2011, more Americans are planning to kick-off the summer with a Memorial Day weekend excursion this year; however, they are conscientious about travel expenses, according to a new Deloitte survey.

• How to capture early bird summer travel bookers

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  16 May 2012 | 12:02 am

  With summer just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to develop a strategy for reeling in summer vacation travelers. Now is the time to begin targeting those diligent users who are actively planning their summer vacations.

• New Facebook study shows brands how to build engagement

  markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com

  16 May 2012 | 12:01 am

  To better understand what makes a successful Page post, Facebook recently conducted an internal study to discover which topics generate the most engagement. The study shows that speaking about subjects related to your brand is the best way to generate engagement.

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  Articles for T+L Magazine

• Best Hotels in Spain

  15 May 2012 | 8:31 am

• Most Over-the-Top Room Service

  10 May 2012 | 2:55 pm

• Most Over-the-Top Room Service

  10 May 2012 | 12:39 pm

  <p>Hotel room service gets creative with perks so appealing that you won’t want to check out.</p>

• Editor’s Note | June 2012

  9 May 2012 | 11:48 am

  This month in Travel + Leisure’s annual Hotels Issue we introduce a head-to-toe redesign of this 42-year-old publication. From the cover to the back page, you’ll notice a cleaner look, with larger images, simpler navigation, and more emphasis on digital and social media throughout. Feature stories now appear earlier in the magazine to showcase destinations and T+L’s award-winning photography. You’ll also find dynamic new sections that address a wide range of travelers’ needs: On Our Radar, our expanded compendium of news, finds, opinions, and obsessions; Trip Doctor, offering expert…

• World's Most-Visited Ancient Ruins

  8 May 2012 | 2:33 pm

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  USATODAY.com Feed

• JFK Airport trains employees to be nice

  16 May 2012 | 11:56 am

  John F. Kennedy International Airport is teaching some of its employees how to be N.I.C.E.

• Vegas on Lake Erie? Cleveland gets a casino

  16 May 2012 | 9:45 am

  A new casino opened in Cleveland this week under a new law permitting legal gaming venues in Ohio.

• New Oceania Cruises ship no copy of sister

  16 May 2012 | 9:41 am

  The 1,250-passenger Riviera sets sail today on its maiden voyage.

• British Airways upgrades in-flight service

  16 May 2012 | 9:11 am

  Passengers on British Airways will see some major in-flight changes within the next couple of years: better food, upgraded cabins.

• Atlanta airport opens Maynard Jackson international terminal

  16 May 2012 | 6:12 am

  Atlanta airport opens a new, $1.4 billion international terminal that the city calls its "new front door" for the world.

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  HotelChatter -

• New York: Will The Hyatt Union Square in NYC Still Open in July?

  juliana

  16 May 2012 | 11:52 am

  We've been tracking the opening of Hyatt Union Square in New York for quite some time now, getting excited about the good eats coming to the hotel and the funky guestroom designs. But the question remains--when will this hotel open?According to NYC & Company, the city's tourism organization which also tracks the development and openings of new hotels, the hotel should open in July. But we're not seeing so many good signs for that.For starters, there's no website and of course, no reservations are being taken. Also, it looks like the hotel has a few key staffing positions to fill, like that of…

• While Sheraton Partners Up with Wine Spectator, Four Points Remains the Place for BestBrews

  juliana

  16 May 2012 | 11:12 am

  If you're staying at a Sheraton Hotel this summer, expect to find a new sort of happy hour in their lobbies. USA Today reports that Sheraton has partnered up with Wine Spectator magazine to create a Social Hour where guests can sample premium wines with high grades from Wine Spectator. Beyond wine-tasting (sorry, no full free glasses will be poured), Sheraton will also unveil a new menu, Sheraton Selects, that pairs food with certain wines.The Social Hour program is set to go worldwide with Sheraton Hotels in Phoenix, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago kicking it off next week. The rest of…

• Shanghai: Gazing Out from The 91st floor at Park Hyatt Shanghai

  JasonD

  16 May 2012 | 8:30 am

  Few things are more coveted among hotels than claiming the title of "World's Tallest Hotel". However, just as "World's Tallest Building", chances are something just that little bit taller will be built soon enough. So is the case for Park Hyatt Shanghai, located on floors 79-93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, tallest hotel until The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong opened (which is set to be eclipsed yet again by the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai). That didn't stop us from popping in and taking the express elevator up to the lobby on floor 87 and restaurant 100 Century Avenue (named after the…

• Tucson: Maybe We Should Start Taking TripAdvisor's 'Style' Recommendations With A Grain Of Salt

  ASchechter

  16 May 2012 | 7:30 am

  Just the other day, we were planning out an upcoming trip through Arizona, and we decided to browse some hotel reviews on TripAdvisor; specifically, places in Tucson. But just as we were about to scroll down through the list of results, we noticed a row of boxes at the top of the screen with labels like "business," "romantic" and "trendy," each of which corresponded to different categories of hotels. Or, as TA calls them, "styles" of hotels. We dubiously clicked on the seventh one, which yielded four results. And, while we can't say anything bad about them, by no stretch of our imagination…

• Florence: Florence Is Having A Renaissance, As Far As Hotel Social Media Goes

  ASchechter

  16 May 2012 | 7:15 am

  Eventually, it's going to get pretty boring writing (and reading!) about every single hotel that launches a partnership with LobbyFriend, the newest hotel social media and city guide app to set the hotel world on fire. But for now (we hope), the excitement is still there... If for no other reason than that LobbyFriend is so darn secretive about which hotels they've partnered with! The Lungarno Collection, a boutique family-owned consortium boasting four hotels in Florence, Italy, will be the first European hotel brand (and only the second worldwide, that we know of) to offer the technology.

• 

  Holy Kaw!

• Mammals may not get to cool climates in time

  16 May 2012 | 12:09 pm

  Nine percent of the Western Hemisphere’s mammals—and up to 40 percent in some regions—may not be able to outpace climate change. “I think it’s important to point out that in the past when climates have changed—between glacial and interglacial periods when species ranges contracted and expanded—the landscape wasn’t covered with agricultural fields, four-lane highways and parking lots, so species could move much more freely across the landscape,” says Joshua Lawler, associate professor of environmental and forest sciences at University of…

• Time of year matters for vitamin D risk

  16 May 2012 | 12:08 pm

  When considering a patient’s blood vitamin D levels, it may be best to consider a lower threshold for concern, as well as the time of year. "In evaluating health risk," the University of Washington researchers conclude, "season-specific targets for Vitamin D blood concentration may be more appropriate than a static target when evaluating patients health risk." Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• The (not so correct) anatomy of sea life

  16 May 2012 | 11:52 am

  Marine biology, scharine schiology. Pleated Jeans skips scientific facts for its series of sea life diagrams. Via Pleated Jeans. (H/T @laughingsquid) Laughing is good for you. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• The mechanics of eclipses [infographic]

  16 May 2012 | 9:11 am

  When the moon passes in front of sun, as viewed from Earth, the eclipse that occurs is visible from a narrow path on Earth that corresponds to the location of the moon's shadow. During a total solar eclipse, this path is known as the path of totality. WARNING: Never look directly at the sun during an eclipse with a telescope or your unaided eye. Severe eye damage can result and scientists use special filters to safely view the sun. Via Space. The view from space. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Clean air improves heart health, Olympics show

  16 May 2012 | 8:39 am

  Using the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a lab, researchers found evidence that even short-term reduction in air pollution exposure improves a person’s cardiovascular health. “Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the Chinese government had proposed to reduce pollution levels to be comparable to other Olympic host cities,” says USC Professor Junfeng (Jim) Zhang. “We wanted to take advantage of such a huge intervention and look at what happens to people biologically.” Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Permalink |…

• 

  NYT > Netherlands

• Ratko Mladic Faces War Crimes Charges

  15 May 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military commander, went on trial at The Hague on Wednesday for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in the 1990s.

• Amsterdam Tries to Change Culture With ‘Repair Cafes’

  8 May 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Amsterdam’s Repair Cafe encourages people to bring old items that they might have otherwise thrown out to have them restored by expert volunteers.

• Dutch Confront the Euro Crisis

  1 May 2012 | 9:00 pm

  Netherlands faces its toughest test of economic resolve as it presses ahead with austerity measures to avoid being caught in Europe's long-running debt crisis; rather than protesting as people of Greece and Spain have done, many Dutch are facing hard times with grim determination. Photos

• Dutch Confront the Euro Crisis

  1 May 2012 | 9:00 pm

  With their economy in recession and facing new belt-tightening measures, the Dutch are showing grim determination.

• Dutch Cut a Fragile Deal to Salvage Credit Rating

  27 Apr 2012 | 9:00 pm

  The plan negotiated after the fall of the government last week preserves the pro-austerity alliance, but it is built on shaky ground.

• 

  Nieuwsblog nrc.next

• Next.checkt: ‘Voor 1 kilo biefstuk is 25 kilo voer nodig’

  Jessica van Geel

  16 May 2012 | 4:38 am

  In een artikel over het eten van insecten (‘Wen er vast maar aan’) in NRC Handelsblad van 16 april zegt Arnold van Huis, hoogleraar Entomologie aan de Wageningen Universiteit: „Om 1 kilo biefstuk te maken, is ongeveer 25 kilo voer nodig.” Hoe wordt dit cijfer berekend en waar komt het vandaan, vraagt lezer Mark Dijkstra uit Enschede zich af. Next.checkt de uitspraak en beoordeelt die als waar.   Waar is het op gebaseerd? Het vraagstuk draait om ‘voedselconversie’, oftewel: hoeveel voedsel moet een dier eten om 1 kilo in lichaamsgewicht toe te nemen? Daar zijn verschillende…

• AARRGH? GRMBL?

  Arjen van Veelen

  15 May 2012 | 8:35 pm

  Wat zegt een kip die tegen een lantaarnpaal knalt? TOK! Wat zegt een kikker die uit een boom valt? KWAK! Het is officieel: Dibi is geen mens, maar een stripfiguurtje En wat zei Tofik Dibi, veelbelovend Kamerlid uit Slotervaart, toen hij zich afgelopen maandag opwierp als leider van GroenLinks? BAM! Is dit een mopje? MOEHAHA? Of is Dibi kierewiet geworden? KOEKOEK? TOKTOK? Nee, hij zei het echt. Zijn nieuwe campagneslogan luidt ‘BAM!’ Want, legde Dibi uit, GroenLinks slaagt er nog onvoldoende in „om mensen te raken”. PETS! KLOENK! ROFFEL! KLARABOEM! BAM! Laten we vooral kalm blijven…

• Een tweede brein

  Ernst-Jan Pfauth

  15 May 2012 | 8:25 pm

  Waarom wordt er zo wantrouwend gedacht over het outsourcen van je geheugen? „De jeugd hoeft niets meer te onthouden”, houden niet eens zo ouden van dagen me vaak voor. Daarna beginnen ze de telefoonnummers van hun familie op te noemen. Ik ken alleen de huistelefoonnummers van m’n basisschoolvriendjes nog uit m’n hoofd en ternauwernood dat van mijn vriendin, omdat ik haar – met een vrijwel lege batterij – een keer kwijtraakte in een Kopenhaags pretpark. Maar zolang we niet in een postapocalyptische versie van Nederland leven (zonder elektriciteit, dus) zie ik dat niet als een…

• De Week van het Huisdier

  Renske

  15 May 2012 | 8:14 pm

  Het is de Week van het Huisdier, en dit jaar is het thema: het huisdier als lid van het gezin. Nu vind ik deze omschrijving vooral passen bij een hond: honden worden rondgereden in kinderwagens, hebben hun eigen profiel op Facebook („joehoe, dit ben ik! Met mijn lievelingstennisbal!”) en krijgen van hun baasjes te pas en te onpas poncho’s, gympjes en bruidsjurken aan. Bij een kat zal het je misschien lukken om een miniatuurbaretje op z’n hoofd te zetten, maar dan heb je exact twee tellen de tijd om de foto te maken. Van een extreem nijdig kijkende kat met een miniatuurbaretje op. De…

• Reflectie van een vrouw met paraplu in regendruppels, in het Duitse Hanover.

  fotoredactie

  15 May 2012 | 6:59 am

• 

  TREND HUNTER - The Latest Trends

• Vigorous Nature Shoots - This Rod McLean Photography is Breathtaking (TrendHunter.com)

  16 May 2012 | 8:48 am

  (TrendHunter.com) Athletically inspired, the Rod McLean photography is amazingly inspired. Capturing motorcyclists, boxers, swimmers, runnings, rock-climbers, yoga masters, bull-riders, horse-back riders and boaters...

• Search Engine Social Apps - The New Google+ iPhone App is a Beautiful Thing (TrendHunter.com)

  16 May 2012 | 8:37 am

  (TrendHunter.com) With a beautiful new photo display, entirely revamped navigation experience and an intuitive home screen, the new Google+ iPhone app will rock your socks off. The image-based new app offers a mobile...

• Hip-Hop Hero Matryoshkas - The Beastie Boys Nesting Dolls on Etsy Pay Tribute to Adam Yauch (TrendHunter.com)

  16 May 2012 | 8:27 am

  (TrendHunter.com) The Beastie Boys nesting dolls that pay tribute to recently passed rapper Adam Yauch are available on Etsy through seller Ginger Williams. The online craft marketplace has become a place where fans...

• Heroic Handheld Desserts - These Avengers Cake Pops are Super Sweet (TrendHunter.com)

  16 May 2012 | 8:17 am

  (TrendHunter.com) These Avengers cake pops aren't just ridiculously cute, but are in line with a reinvigorated enthusiasm for the comic series. Hilariously intricate and immediately recognizable, this is a well-...

• 100 Powerful Protest Fiascos - To Honor the Toronto G20 Summit Report's Civil Rights Violations (TrendHunter.com)

  16 May 2012 | 8:07 am

  (TrendHunter.com) The Toronto G20 Summit that caused seemingly endless controversy, political lashback and straight-up vandalization of the streets in Toronto now has a new level of contention: the proof that civil...

• 

  Core77

• Putting Dead Tree Branches to Good Use as Household Hooks

  16 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  You can never have too many wall hooks in your apartment, and mine are always full. But given that your average piece of bent metal will run you $5 a pop at a Manhattan hardware store, I've limited my urge to line my walls completely. If only I lived out in the sticks, I could use sticks. Etsy seller Gabriel Rutledge makes hers out of green maple twigs mounted to a distressed wooden board. John Robohm's Live Wire Farm is a Vermont-based outfit that manufactures goods from local hardwoods, and judging by all of the SOLD stamps on their website, does a brisk business in hooks. (more...)

• Visualizing Criminal Networks to Help Police Solve Crime

  16 May 2012 | 7:00 am

  Graph of the Internet. Law enforcement is an extremely complex line of work, as police officers have to keep up-to-date with events and people in the community, but usually from the sidelines or through second-hand information. Tools that can augment police officers' mental models of the communities they serve, especially in an ever increasing information-rich world, are critical to the future of policing. And that's where graph theory comes in. Graph theory looks at objects (nodes) and the relationships (edges) between them. These objects could be people, computers, or buildings, while the…

• Sonya Yong James Puts the Wool in Front of Your Eyes

  16 May 2012 | 6:00 am

  Atlanta-based Sonya Yong James is the textile designer and fiber artist behind Modern Fiber Lab, which produces handmade, sustainable goods from animal fibers. I work primarily with wool fibers and various felt techniques. Felt offers an extraordinary range from two dimensional design to sculptural forms for both interiors and personal ornament. No other material is as versatile. Felt is utilitarian, decorative, and completely renewable. I source all of my fiber from shepherds primarily in the United States. Everything here is a direct link to the natural world. It's safe to say James has a…

• Digitas is seeking a Senior Art Director US in Chicago, Illinois

  16 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Senior Art Director US DigitasChicago, Illinois Digitas—one of the world's leading digital marketing and media companies—is seeking a Senior Art Director, who will be responsible for the conception, design and execution of innovative visual materials for integrated, cross channel initiatives including: large web initiatives, online advertising and digital marketing. Individuals should possess strong conceptual and design skills and assist the Creative Director in improving the conceptual, technical and creative performance of staff within his or her group. » view The best…

• OMA completes the Syracuse Greek Theatre

  16 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Rem Koolhaas led OMA's recently completed scenography project for Teatro Greco, or the Syracuse Greek Theatre, a historical landmark in Italy that dates back to the 5th century BCE. Every summer the theatre stages three classic plays, and for this season's cycle they commissioned OMA to design a temporary stage that will remain up for Aeschylus's Prometheus Unbound (directed by Claudio Longhi), Euripides' Bacchae (dir. Antonio Calenda) and Aristophane's The Birds (dir. Roberta Torre). The stage—aluminum scaffolding clad with multilayer marine plywood—was designed in three parts,…

• 

  nrc.nl :: /

• Nederland onder 17 prolongeert Europese titel

  Marije Willems

  16 May 2012 | 12:37 pm

  Het Nederlands elftal onder 17 jaar heeft zijn Europese titel geprolongeerd. In het Sloveense Ljubljana was Oranje na strafschoppen te sterk voor Duitsland: 5-4. Lees verder

• Franse premier presenteert nieuw kabinet – ‘aantal opvallende keuzes’

  Marije Willems

  16 May 2012 | 11:04 am

  In Frankrijk heeft de socialistische premier Jean-Marc Ayrault zijn eerste taak volbracht: het samenstellen van een nieuw kabinet. De ploeg bestaat uit 34 leden, waarvan de helft vrouw is, zoals Hollande beloofde. Lees verder

• Lagere straf voor vastgoedhandelaar Paarlberg

  Judith Laanen

  16 May 2012 | 10:22 am

  Vastgoedhandelaar Jan-Dirk Paarlberg heeft in hoger beroep een lagere celstraf gekregen voor witwassen, oplichting, valsheid in geschrifte en belastingfraude, meldt persbureau Novum. Het gerechtshof legde hem een celstraf op van vier jaar, een halfjaar minder dan de straf die hij in 2010 kreeg opgelegd door de rechtbank. Lees verder

• #4812: Het Lenteakkoord: het zuur, het zoet en de effecten op een rij

  Erik van der Walle

  16 May 2012 | 10:16 am

  Het vandaag uitlekte Lenteakkoord omvat in totaal 16 miljard aan bezuinigingen en lastenverzwaringen (12,2 miljard na uitverdieneffecten). Hoe worden de lasten verdeeld en wat doet het met de koopkrachtplaatjes? Lees verder

• #4811: Next checkt: ‘Voor 1 kilo biefstuk is 25 kilo voer nodig’

  Marije Willems

  16 May 2012 | 10:14 am

  “Om 1 kilo biefstuk te maken, is ongeveer 25 kilo voer nodig”, zei Arnold van Huis, hoogleraar Entomologie aan de Wageningen Universiteit, onlangs in NRC. Next.checkt de uitspraak en beoordeelt die als waar. Lees verder

• 

  Travel news, travel guides and reviews | guardian.co.uk

• Luxembourg by e-bike: a natural high | Frederika Whitehead

  Frederika Whitehead

  16 May 2012 | 9:50 am

  The ability to flick a switch and top up pedal power with battery power gives me the extra push I need to master the ArdennesGust Muller, president of Luxembourg's cycling advocacy group LVI, promised me that "hills will just melt away" if I used an e-bike to tour Luxembourg. And this wasn't far from the truth.Although it has many miles of extremely pretty, pancake-flat leisure routes that follow old tram lines or run alongside its rivers, Luxembourg can also be hilly, particularly in the north of the country around the Ardennes.Using an e-bike, Muller assured me, would mean that I – and…

• How Greece's exit from the euro would affect UK consumers

  Jill Insley

  16 May 2012 | 8:13 am

  As the eurozone crisis intensifies, we look at the impact a Greek exit would have on savers, spenders and speculatorsThe experts agree: it's not a matter of if but when Greece will leave the euro. We've covered how this will affect people planning to take holidays in Greece, but what does the eurozone crisis mean for the rest of us?What effect will this have on the cost of borrowing?Banks worldwide, including British ones, have lent $167.7bn to Greece, according to the Bank for International Settlements quarterly review. This will result in banks either suffering because they have lost money…

• Top 10 swimming holidays

  Jonathan Knott

  16 May 2012 | 7:51 am

  Long-distance outdoor swimming was once the preserve of elite athletes or eccentrics such as 'Big River Man' Martin Strel, but a growing number of us are making swimming the focus of a holiday, be it by joining a boat-supported tour of lakes and coasts, or entering a race abroad. Here's our pick of swim trips to suit all levelsFOR NEWCOMERS'Short Swim' trip, CroatiaThe range of trips offered by SwimTrek – founded by coach and Channel swimmer Simon Murie in 2003 – already dwarfs those of its competitors, and the company's roster continues to grow. This year sees the introduction of a new…

• Prince Charles' favourite sport, polo, flourishes in the northern recession

  Martin Wainwright

  15 May 2012 | 11:00 pm

  Londoners are fleeing the crowded south for the season, says the White Rose polo club, and bringing their mallets northThe recession works in curious ways and one feature of northern life which has yet to be affected is polo-playing. The sport made familiar by Prince Charles and his coterie is even enjoying a mild northern fillip.The White Rose polo club based at North Cliffe between Market Weighton and the M62's last stretch towards Hull, says that:Londoners are looking to the north for an alternative to the maddening crowds of the City during this Jubilee and Olympic year.They actually call…

• Ask Tom: Live Q&A

  15 May 2012 | 7:18 am

  Tom Hall of Lonely Planet was online earlier today answering your travel queries. Scroll down to comments to to see his holiday adviceWith half-term just around the corner, Tom Hall will be kicking off this week's Q&A with a few tips on where to take the kids for the week – and the long jubilee weekend. And with Greece in the news, he will also be giving valuable advice for anyone planning a trip to the country this summer – including currency (which one to take?), whether to book, and the general lie of the landAfter that, it's anything goes – so if you have a travel query for him,…

• 

  Marriott on the Move

• China's "Nobility of Nature" - Bees, Honey & Clean Water

  Marriott on the Move

  15 May 2012 | 4:04 pm

  A Sustainable Way of Life  I want to take you on a trip via video to China’s Sichuan Province and introduce you to two young girls who live in the village of Guanba.  They know how important it is to protect their local rivers and streams.  One of the girls is 13-year old Dan Liu and the other is her sister Ying, who is 9. Their village is part of an innovative project called “Nobility of Nature.”  Two years ago this month, Marriott International and Conservation International partnered with the local provincial Chinese government.  The program promotes…

• Awards of Excellence

  Marriott on the Move

  9 May 2012 | 7:31 pm

  My father often said “take good care of the associates and they’ll take good care of the customers.”  That’s at the heart of how we do things at Marriott every day.  Our associates around the world put people first - whether it's inside the hotels or outside in the communities they serve.  Every associate has a commitment to teamwork, excellence and the Spirit to Serve.  But there are always a special few who really shine.  To recognize their terrific dedication, once a year we invite them to Headquarters and put on a special awards ceremony in their…

• What's an Executive Chairman?

  Marriott on the Move

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:03 am

  I don’t have an opportunity to hand out many business cards, but my new card says “Executive Chairman.”  You don't see that job title popping up on careerbuilder.com. You might be wondering what my new job is all about.  I guess you need 40 years of experience as CEO.  It doesn’t hurt to have your name above the door. In applying for the job, I told our board of directors I’m ideally suited for the position.  They never asked for my resume'.  But if they had, here it is: I worked in the accounting office when I was 14 sorting invoices and doing…

• This Isn't Your Dad's Courtyard Anymore

  Marriott on the Move

  23 Apr 2012 | 1:22 pm

  If you haven’t been to a Courtyard hotel lately, check out the slide show of photos below. As one magazine described it, “This isn’t your dad’s Courtyard.”  A few years ago, we started our “refreshing business” project.  Now, we’ve reached a milestone of five hundred hotels with a new look and feel.   Ben Franklin once said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”  Courtyard didn’t just change in one area.  It took on a total redefinition of its lobby space to meet the changing needs of business travelers and it continues to…

• Cleaning up the Red Sea One Dive at a Time

  Marriott on the Move

  22 Apr 2012 | 1:25 pm

  IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY The Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Red Sea Resort sent me a video of their recent community service project.  The hotel associates cleaned up the beach, but didn’t stop at the water’s edge.  They strapped on scuba tanks, dove into the sea and hunted for buried garbage.    Sharm El Sheikh is a beautiful resort destination located in south Sinai Egypt.  The beaches are golden and the water clear. It’s like swimming in an aquarium and now it’s a cleaner aquarium. The yearly beach and underwater cleanup project brings the entire…

• 

  OPUS Hotels' Blog

• Bird is the Word

  Nicholas Gandossi

  10 May 2012 | 4:53 pm

  If you had to guess how many times the online game Angry Birds  is played every month, what number would you guess? Well when I asked my 82 year old Dad, he said,  “What the beep is Angry Birds?”  My 12 year old daughter on the other hand, when asked, guessed 2 million,  which was significantly closer than my Dad’s response… The real answer is 23.4 million, per a recent blog at gameindustry.com.  Crazy when you think about it.  Then I started to wonder how much OPUS Vancouver contributes to that monthly number, now that we have an iPad in every one of our hotel…

• Have you ever stayed in the Penthouse?

  Nicholas Gandossi

  3 May 2012 | 11:08 am

  We’ve all dreamed of being upgraded to first class on our overseas flight, or whisked up to the penthouse when we arrive to check into our regular room.  The reality is that most of the time our dreams are crushed and we spend our flights sitting snuggled up to the stranger on our left and entertaining the baby on our right. This month, we’re all about making that long awaited dream come true for our guests.  We’re offering our opulently designed penthouse suite at an unheard of $399 rate.  To celebrate the occasion we’re even giving one loyal friend an indulgent and complimentary…

• Keep the Dream Alive- OPUS Vancouver Playoff Giveaway

  Nicholas Gandossi

  17 Apr 2012 | 4:02 pm

  To celebrate the huge success of our beloved Vancouver Canucks this season, we are giving away a signed Alex Burrows jersey! If When the Canucks make it past the first playoff round, we will give away another amazing prize package each time Vancouver eliminates a team. Expect the prizes to get even MORE fabulous as each round continues! Enter to win 2 ways: 1. Leave a comment on our blog, telling us who your favorite Vancouver Canucks player is. 2. Tweet the following: “I entered to win a signed Vancouver #Canucks jersey from @OPUShotel http://bit.ly/IZEu41 RT to enter!” We will draw a…

• Team OPUS aka Team Fit

  Nicholas Gandossi

  17 Apr 2012 | 1:04 pm

  10 kilometers, that was the required distance to drag my body along to cross the finish line, so I could say that I completed the annual Vancouver Sun Run.   Yes, it wasn’t a marathon, but when you’re 45 years old,  running and finishing a 10 km run feels a lot different than when you did it back in your 20′s or 30′s.   What spurred me on was the great energy from the other 50,000 runners gathered this past Sunday; and especially from our very own Team OPUS Vancouver runners.   From our Chief Engineer who clocked in a fantastic  time of 45 minutes, to our…

• Are you ready for Mother’s Day?

  Nicholas Gandossi

  5 Apr 2012 | 4:48 pm

    Yes, Mothers Day is  just around the corner.  Sunday May 13 , the big day where we collectively recognize and celebrate just how important and special our Moms are.  With that in mind, here is an idea that some restaurants in Vancouver are doing that may interest you.  Select restaurants, including our very own  Cento Notti,  are collecting anywhere from 10% to 35% of their  sales on Mothers Day, to be donated to BC Children s Hospital.  With 90 cents of every dollar raised going directly to fund specialized medical equipment for infants and kids, you…

• 

  A Luxury Travel Blog

• London’s best hidden wine bar

  Sage Russell

  14 May 2012 | 2:53 pm

  Rush-hour on the Strand can make London feel like a town of nothing but tourists and theatre-goers. The black cabs and red buses whirl by as confused, map touting foreigners scamper across the streets. The well-heeled, well-suited business men pile into the posh hotels and swanky gastro pubs. If you watch carefully, however, you’ll see a few, in-the-know locals slipping into the shadows of the side streets to share an afternoon drink and a chat with friends or co-workers. If you follow them, you may find yourself on Bedford Street, just beyond the Adelphi theatre. Walk briskly and you’ll…

• Free bikes in Amsterdam!

  Carol Atkins

  14 May 2012 | 2:45 pm

  One of the absolute highlights of my last vacation (which was a Europe tour) was visiting Amsterdam. If you haven’t been, go. If you’ve already been, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to go again. The city is stunning and charming all at once. I went with a group, my usual mode of travel. And while there are many advantages of group travel, one of my most memorable days of the trip was when my partner and I broke away from the group and jumped on a pair of free bicycles. You heard me – FREE! Wherever you go there are white bicycles that are free for public use. Just pick one up…

• Fine dining in Gran Canaria

  Peter Lydford

  14 May 2012 | 2:34 pm

  When going on holiday on Gran Canaria you’re going to expect the best of the best. The super red status of the resort all year around means that you have the most glorious weather and the premier beaches which were imported especially – yes you read that right, sand from the Sahara and Coral from the Caribbean have been brought in you make your stay all the better.  There is nothing better to accompany the perfect beach holiday than the best dining you’ll find on the Canary Islands, so here for your convenience are some of the best restaurants Gran Canaria has to offer. Casa…

• 3 choice picks from the Condé Nast Hot List 2012

  Carole Booth

  14 May 2012 | 1:23 pm

  Condé Nast Traveller have announced their Hot List for 2012 with the latest annual batch of fabulous worldwide hotels getting some coveted recognition. The publication is one of the most influential and widely read in the luxury travel industry – and from our perspective it’s nice to see some of our personal favourites taking pride of price amongst the elite. I’ve picked out three from the total list of 60 for a special mention. Fusion Maia, Da Nang, Vietnam This little gem takes pride of place on the Hot List – but you might not realise it’s a luxury hotel from the outside. The…

• A different Amsterdam – historical heaven at Hotel 717

  Jared Morgan

  13 May 2012 | 3:29 am

  Amsterdam. The very mention of the Dutch capital conjures so many different images for many different people, a vast majority will no doubt involve illicit substances or other unsavoury activities. However, this view of Amsterdam is only a small part of what makes it one of the most illustrious cities of Europe. Amsterdam has one of the highest standards of living in the World (13th) as well as being home to the oldest stock exchange as well a series of historical and cultural sights that you cannot find anywhere else. One of the top financial centres of Europe and the cultural capital of…

• 

  Front Desk

• The Hotel Business Hits a Pothole

  Ed Watkins

  14 May 2012 | 11:36 am

  My guess is most of you are believers in small government and lower taxes. There’s a lot of sentiment in the U.S., as is being played out in the national election cycle, against raising taxes to fund government functions many deem unnecessary. Getting lost in this widespread mood of austerity is a major function of government that, if not addressed, could have major negative effects on the hotel industry and perhaps your business. As colorful Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says, the nation is “one big pothole.” Put another way, the nation’s roads, bridges, tunnels and other…

• Room Key Adds Inventory Through Travelocity and Drops Beta Tag

  Eric Stoessel

  11 May 2012 | 5:53 am

  The coming together of six of the biggest and most competitive hotel companies to create Room Key showed just how important it was to the founding partners to create a lower-cost alternative to OTAs. Yesterday, Room Key removed its beta tag and officially launched to consumers with several new features, including inventory from the unlikeliest partner: Travelocity. Yes, you read that right. Room Key — the brands’ meta search-engine answer to online travel agencies — worked out a deal with the big, bad wolf. And it was a smart move, and one that shows CEO John Davis is running Room Key,…

• A Lesson From a Hotel Industry Tragedy

  Ed Watkins

  7 May 2012 | 12:04 pm

  On Feb. 18, well-respected state hospitality association official Tom Sponseller disappeared from his office in Columbia, SC, the first event in a long, multi-faceted tragedy that undoubtedly could have been prevented. This tale is a pertinent lesson for anyone in the hotel business—or any business—who serves on boards of directors of industry organizations or non-profit charitable groups. As executive director of the South Carolina Hospitality Association, Sponseller was the executive in charge of the group’s finances. As many overworked, overstressed executives do, over time he placed…

• Evolving AAHOA Still a Force in Lodging

  Eric Stoessel

  4 May 2012 | 5:30 am

  After 23 years, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association is still going strong. Founded in 1989, AAHOA continues to grow and this year will top the 11,000-member mark, an amazing number. What those 10,000-plus members represent in the industry is even more impressive: more than 20,000 hotels totaling $128 billion in value. For proof of that, you didn’t need to look any further than yesterday’s opening general session that included an industry leaders panel with moderator Buggsi Patel of BHG Hotels, Navin Dimond of Stonebridge Companies, Bharat Patel of Sun Development, Vinay Patel of…

• Public Companies Signal Strong Year for Hotels

  Ed Watkins

  1 May 2012 | 6:11 am

  If the first quarter is any guide, the U.S. lodging industry may be destined for a record-breaking year. Like most of corporate America, U.S. public hotel companies had a great start to 2012: improving profits, rising occupancies and rates and, most impressively, strong gains in RevPAR. Both hotel brand companies and ownership groups posted solid numbers in the first quarter. Wyndham said RevPAR at its domestic hotels rose 9%. Starwood, whose profits quadrupled from a quarter earlier, saw North American RevPAR increase by 7.1%. For Marriott, the RevPAR gain was 6.8%, while its group bookings…

• 

  Elliott.org

• Are energy fees about to make a comeback?

  Christopher Elliott

  15 May 2012 | 10:00 pm

  The Oyster Bay Beach Resort is a highrise hotel in St. Martin that promises guests white sand beaches, "breathtaking" views of the Caribbean and a "paradise found."

• Am I being scammed by Celebrity Cruises?

  Christopher Elliott

  14 May 2012 | 10:00 pm

  arryl and Carolyn Sigel believe they were scammed by their cruise line. After you read about what happened to them on the Celebrity Summit, you might agree with them.

• I slammed my Kona condo online and now it’s keeping my deposit

  Christopher Elliott

  13 May 2012 | 10:00 pm

  With its dramatic black volcanic rock, stunning seascapes, and impossibly tasty coffee, Kona, Hawaii is one of the world’s most unexpected destinations. And when Lynn Regan booked a condo there last year, she was looking forward to experiencing the Big Island’s differentness.

• What do you really know about the TSA?

  Christopher Elliott

  13 May 2012 | 5:30 am

  When it comes to the TSA, you may know less than you think.

• Hey, are you listening?

  Christopher Elliott

  12 May 2012 | 7:33 am

  Do airlines listen to their customers? In this week's newsletter, I ask the question.

• 

  Travel Blog - Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique & Luxury Hotels

• How to… fare bella figura: the Finishing School guide to faking it in Italy

  Lucy

  14 May 2012 | 10:15 am

  You’re in Italy. You’re armed with an insider guide (ours, hopefully). You know *all* the best places to go. So why are your attempts to order an afternoon coffee on a sunlit Roman piazza ridiculed? Why does requesting parmesan for your spaghetti alle vongole earn you instant presentation of the bill? And why, at the next ristorante, do you wait 45 minutes to settle up? There are obvious answers (your pronunciation; cheesy clams are revolting; you didn’t ask) but, to pass yourself off as a seasoned Italy buff, you’re going to need more help. Which is why we’ve…

• Oundle Mill: hotel of the week

  Sarah

  11 May 2012 | 10:20 am

  This week, we’re lusting after all things green, fresh and springy. We want to eat butter-dipped asparagus, plump peas, tender lamb and citrus puddings. We also want the sun to shine. Though today’s hotel of the week can’t guarantee the latter, it can provide all of the former, thanks to its tempting new spring menu. Please be upstanding for the very lovely Oundle Mill hotel in Northamptonshire… Style Mill with a gloss Setting Serene on the Nene Why this week? To celebrate its new menu, the hotel has a host of foodie events and extras in the planning, including…

• Globetrotting beauty: Crème de la Mer brand aficionado Taj Giles shares her world view

  Lucy

  8 May 2012 | 10:51 am

  Crème de la Mer has become a beauty icon: editors rave about the skin-plumping, glow-enhancing properties of the original Moisturizing Cream, even coining the phrase ‘Crème de la Mer skin’ to describe a flawless complexion. So legendary is its efficacy, staff at certain glossy magazines have even been known to remove their heels to sprint for review samples. Luckily, Smith members won’t have to resort to such unseemly tactics, because we have teamed up to bring you an exclusive Crème de la Mer offer. In the spirit of sharing, we persuaded globe-hopping UK brand manager…

• New for May: Smith hotels in Italy, Jamaica, Australia, Thailand, Spain, New York and Devon

  Rachel

  8 May 2012 | 7:25 am

  This month, we ventured to Italy where we found an eco-friendly farmhouse, Masseria Cervarolo hotel in Puglia, and Torre Fiore Hotel Masseria, a former fort in Basilicata. Over in Spain, the family-run Primero Primera hotel in Barcelona won us over with its mid-century style, and in the UK, we relaxed in traditional British fashion at Combe House hotel in Devon. Then we headed to the Caribbean, where we took our cue from James Bond and went sunning in style at Goldeneye hotel in Jamaica. In New York, we found the glamorous side of Gotham at the new Nomad Hotel and hung out at the very hip…

• L’Andana Hotel in Tuscany: hotel of the week

  Rachel

  4 May 2012 | 9:33 am

  Looking for relaxation, refined dining and perhaps even some springtime sunshine? Escape to L’Andana Hotel in Tuscany, where the spa staff stand ready to soothe and the menu’s overseen by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse (we can’t guarantee endless days of Tuscan sun, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be warmer than rainy old England). Style Tuscan hunting lodge Setting Sublime solitude Why this week? Smith members can save with our L’Andana Hotel offer: extend your Tuscany break with three nights for the price of two. And, classic car fans will want to be in…

• 

  Get a Hotel Room

• 3 Great Restaurants In Agios Sostis

  15 May 2012 | 7:50 am

  3 Great Restaurants In Agios Sostis  Anyone who has ever been to Agios Sostis knows that this place is about as picture postcard perfect as anywhere else in the Peloponnese. Situated on the southern end of the island of Zante it has that perfect 'village' feel where you feel totally relaxed as soon as you set foot here, and what better way to relax than to start the morning in a typical taverna watching the sun rise whilst drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.Alternatively, you can kick back in the evening over a Meze and a glass of Ouzo or two, followed by some fresh…

• Review of the Hilton Times Square

  15 May 2012 | 2:12 am

  Adam BrukThis is a guest post contributed to Get A Hotel Room by Adam who is a writer for www.travelproducts.com where he shares his travel experiences and helps travelers find the products they need for their trip. He also helps international travelers find adapters and converters like these so they can use their appliances when traveling abroad."I recently took a weekend trip to New York City and wanted to truly experience life in the big apple. There isn’t a better way to experience all New York City has to offer than to stay at one of the most popular attractions, Times Square! ""I was…

• Guest Post: Neltje & Dominican Republic's Dream Project

  3 May 2012 | 5:23 pm

  This week, GetAHotelRoom asked a few bloggers to guest post and share their travel experiences with us.About the Author: [Neltje Ann]  ~ The writer of AspiringNurse.com wanted to guest post with us this week and share her vibes on her excursion to the Dominican Republic. Neltje's daily role is all about infusing and instilling her nursing knowledge in others, whilst promoting certified medical training within the healthcare sector, so if you're interested in studying to become a neonatal nurse or want to find out the daily ins and outs of…

• Coogarth Holiday Cottage | Martindale | Get a Room in the Lake District

  1 May 2012 | 5:33 am

  Place of Interest: Martindale, Howtown, Ullswater, Penrith, Cumbria.Get a Room at: Coogarth Self Catering Holiday Cottage, Ullswater [www.coogarth.com]View Larger MapView Larger MapSLEEPS 6 PEOPLE  - GET A ROOM IN THE LAKESDeep within the Lake district 528 ft above sea level sits the most remote, peaceful and unspoiled village of Martindale. You would barely spot in on the OS maps, but Martindale is a truly deep and meaningful place shrouded in onion skins of history.Martindale is a popular secret spot amongst the walking and hiking community - made known by the summit of…

• Highlight of the Week: Lettings in Vale do Lobo

  16 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am

  Who can resist the Algarve for the perfect sunshine break? And where better than Vale de Lobo?  Think relaxing. Think calm sea. Think golden beaches. Sounds like utopia right? Well in Vale de Lobo you get all this and more! It seems that lettings are being booked up like decadent fish dishes in this region of the world.Just to wet your appetite let's take a look at what is currently on offer a stones throw away from your favourite Portuguese beaches:[Images Courtesy of : Haven on Earth - If you want to find More villas to rent in Vale do Lobo - visit www.havenonearth.co.uk]This lavish…

• 

  Travel News & Deals - latimes.com

• National parks from California to New Mexico rev up for eclipse

  16 May 2012 | 6:15 am

  Fade to ... almost dark? An annular solar eclipse will be visible in part of the West on Sunday hours before sunset when the moon will cover up all but a sliver of the sun. Inside what's called the annular path, a "ring of fire" will appear as the moon passes in front of the sun.

• Riverside: Mission Inn offers package for members of the military

  16 May 2012 | 6:00 am

  The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside has a special offer for active and veteran members of the U.S. military this month: $159 a night for a room that includes dinner for two and valet parking. It's a good discount off the usual rates -- and might make for a nice Memorial Day getaway.

• Yosemite: Insider tour presents the stories behind the landscape

  16 May 2012 | 5:30 am

  You may think you know Yosemite National Park ,  but you can get to know it  intimately through the Yosemite Insider Experience , a two-night, three-day adventure. Even better, new dates have been added for fall.

• Tanzania: REI offers 20% off a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro

  15 May 2012 | 6:00 am

  Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania rises 19,340 feet above sea level, the high point on the African continent and one of the "seven summit" high points of the world that's special to climbers. Outdoors retailer and travel operator REI will offer 20% off a six-day trek to the top of the peak for those fit enough -- and motivated enough -- to make it to the summit.

• Tuesday Travel Ticker: Pirate ship sails San Diego

  15 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Did you know that strawberries, though considered a fruit, are technically a member of the rose family? Then you are ripe for the California Strawberry Festival this weekend in Oxnard. On 50 acres, the event features two concert stages and an array of strawberry treats, including strawberry beer. There’s also Strawberryland for the kids. Info: (888) 288-9242 or www.strawberry-fest.org . . . . Speaking of kids, here’s yet another summer activity in family friendly San Diego: Pirate Ship Adventures offers daily cruises aboard an 83-foot sailing ship , including a special July 4…

• 

  Intelligent Travel

• I Heart My City: Katja’s Siena

  I Heart My City

  16 May 2012 | 10:30 am

  Swiss expat Katja Meier arrived in Siena in 1999, fell in love with an olive grove, and never left. She lives with her Tuscan native husband and their two badly behaved Swiss-Italian kids in Southern Tuscany, working as a health and life coach and organizing retreats for people from all over the world who are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. She started a travel blog – MapItOut – because she says she owes her best travel adventures to kind locals who have taken her by the hand, and wanted to repay the favor. Here are a few of Katja’s favorite…

• Karmic Charleston: Laura the Librarian

  Aric S. Queen

  16 May 2012 | 8:11 am

  After spending a day at Fields to Families – a Charleston charity that collects fresh produce from farmers and distributes it to the needy — volunteer coordinator Tina Arnold pulled me aside and said, “If you really want to meet someone doing good things, you should go to the soup kitchen here and ask to meet “The Librarian.” That’s all she said, but I could tell by the look on her face that everything would be explained to me once I got there. Laura The Librarian had just gotten back from the dentist when I arrived, her mouth still swollen. Needless to…

• The Radar: Fiji for the Rest of Us, 7 Countries with Cheap Grad Degrees, How to See Hamburg

  Elaura Rifkin

  16 May 2012 | 5:57 am

  The word Fiji calls to mind white-sand beaches, pristine water, and steep price tags. Learn the secret to booking a trip to this island paradise without taking out a second mortgage. [New York Times] Higher education in America is expensive. But if you love to travel, there are other options. Here are seven countries where you won’t have to live like a grad student while you get your Master’s. [Matador Network] Sometimes you don’t have an entire day to spend wandering around a city. Find out how to see the sights in Germany’s second largest city a flash! [Easy Hiker] Got…

• Charleston in Black+White

  Aric S. Queen

  15 May 2012 | 7:47 am

  Oh, how I wished for nine days to walk around with a camera. But what I got was about an hour. So what you get are a few quick snaps from my iPhone. They won’t blow you away, but hopefully they’ll add to your ongoing list of reasons to visit Charleston.  

• A Couple of Keepers: Tracy + Paul Wilkes

  Aric S. Queen

  14 May 2012 | 1:32 pm

  You have to wonder what Paul and Tracy Wilkes did. Rob banks? Run a Ponzi scheme? They had to have done something terrible. Because no couple devotes so much of their time to doing good. Tracy “Get back in the building.” I got back in the building. Something about her shouting at me, locking the door behind me and rushing us into a room where a dozen or so people – mostly kids – were waiting, wide-eyed and worried, but safe. “There’s a big fight outside — about 50 neighborhood teens — and some of them probably have weapons.” The way Tracy Wilkes talks, this is just one…

• 

  Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

• Chelsea Hotel Tenants’ Association Reaches Settlement with Chetrits

  Anonymous Blogger

  14 May 2012 | 6:53 am

  Legends has obtained a copy of the consent order in the tenants’ association’s lawsuit against the Chetrits (Judith Childs, et. al. vs. Chelsea Dynasty LLC, et. al. and NYC Department of Housing and Preservation).  The Tenants’ Association represents approximately 35 of the 98 tenants remaining in the building, and approximately 31 of the 69 remaining units.  The tenants association sued, basically, to force the Chetrits to remediate the mold and other hazardous conditions in their apartments (some of which resulted from the recent demolition) and to perform any further…

• No Room on The Inn: DOB Denies Permit for Proposed Chelsea Hotel Rooftop Addition

  Anonymous Blogger

  7 May 2012 | 3:44 pm

  Good news from DOB: according to Matthew Katz of dnainfo.com they have denied the Chetrit's a permit for the rooftop addition due to inconsistent and inadequate information about the plan provided by the Hotel's current owners. The problem, it seems, is that the building is overbuilt. Basically, it has too many square feet and is too tall for the space, according to current zoning regulations. (The current building was grandfathered in.) So any proposed additions would only add to the problem. Look for the Chetrits to attempt to get around this problem in one way or another. We spoke…

• Local Politicians Visit Chelsea Hotel to Denounce the Chetrits

  Anonymous Blogger

  6 May 2012 | 10:27 am

  CB4 Chairman Corey Johnson addresses the Hotel's concerns at press conference earlier today in front of the Chelsea Hotel. State Senator Tom Dunane, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, and CB 4 Chairman Corey Johnson were all present.  Several politicans mentioned issues related to the Tenant's Association Lawsuit against the Chetrits, addressing such concerns as asbestos abatement, mold, hazardous conditions during construction and demolition and in general poor living conditions for the tenants.  Johnson addressed the…

• Worthless, Uncool, Quasi-Mystico-Artistico “Cultural” Event to be Held at Chelsea Hotel

  Anonymous Blogger

  3 May 2012 | 7:07 am

  As if we needed reminding that the Chelsea is over!  After Patti Smith retained her integrity by cancelling her management-sponsored concert for the Chelsea Hotel tenants, King and Grove (the management company run by Ed Sheetz and Ben Pundole) vowed that they would continue to hold “cultural” events at the hotel.  We are pleased to announce that they have kept their word.             Oddly, Chelsea residents, who had planned to protest Smith’s concert with a die-in and book burning, were not invited to this…

• Zaldy and Dmitry Throw "End of Chelsea Hotel" Art Bash

  Anonymous Blogger

  30 Apr 2012 | 8:38 am

  Every month we lose more of our neighbors.  Zaldy and Dmitry turned their apartment into an art gallery for their final week at the Chelsea.

• 

  TravelingMamas.com

• Happy Mother’s Day

  CajunMama

  13 May 2012 | 5:07 am

  Happy Mother’s Day from TravelingMamas.com. Photo from Mother’s Day on the Carnival Magic cruise ship inaugural season.

• Traveling with the Nokia Lumia 900 #Lumia900

  CajunMama

  11 May 2012 | 4:56 am

  I’ve had the Nokia Lumia 900 in hand for almost a month. The first two days of use, I had so much fun snapping photos and learning my way around this Windows Phone. I had an iPhone until it fell in my back pond, but I had already been wishing for the Lumia 900 since I first saw it at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. Traveling and working via smartphone can be a daunting task and I was able to manage things somewhat with the iPhone. However, I also had to bring along a larger camera and a higher quality digital video camera to help gather all the images and footage of the destinations I was…

• Elvis Presley’s Graceland

  CajunMama

  9 May 2012 | 4:02 am

  A stop in Memphis on Amtrak’s City of New Orleans. A few hours to kill. A taxi ride to see a King. These three things made up what turned out to be a fun and kitschy solo excursion to Graceland, the mecca of all that is Elvis Presley. I hailed a taxi from my downtown Memphis hotel and took the 15 minute ride for my personal pilgrimage. This place isn’t just a house on the top of a hill. It’s a destination full of museums, restaurants, shops, and even a hotel. Across the street stood that iconic white gate I’ve seen in so many movies and on television. Visitors…

• Family Trip Giveaway: Colonial Williamsburg

  CajunMama

  6 May 2012 | 11:09 pm

  In anticipation of summer, Colonial Williamsburg has a special trip giveaway offer for Traveling Mamas readers. One lucky family will have an opportunity to win one (1) complimentary 4 day/3 night package getaway to enjoy interactive history and unparalleled southern hospitality at one of the country’s most popular must-sees for families. This summer, Colonial Williamsburg will be introducing a variety of new interactive programming adding to the fun, and the Colonial Williamsburg Resort is celebrating 75 years of hospitality, so you’ll enjoy the best in customer service, as well. Program…

• Love these Zoubaby monogrammed boots!

  PhillyMama

  6 May 2012 | 1:54 pm

  I am totally in love with these new boots I just ordered from Zoubaby, a cute new company that offers mongrammed rubber waders for moms and daughters alike.  They’re keeping my feet both dry and stylish during this rainy Philadephia spring – can’t beat that!  Because even the most organized of moms can’t control the weather (and goodness knows that “organized” is not an adjective most would use to describe me),  Zoubaby (www.zoubaby.com) boots were designed with the practical yet hip mom (now, that sounds like me) in mind.  Be it spilled cereal or…

• 

  Nancy D Brown

• Things to See and Do in County Mayo, Ireland

  Nancy Brown

  14 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  Finding the Green: A Visit to the Rugged Coast of County Mayo, Ireland A recent milestone in life prompted the fulfillment of my lifelong dream of visiting the land of my Irish roots.  I’m not really sure how Irish I am, but in my mind I’m as green as the clover. The timing seemed right, [...]

• Sanuk Standard Checked Out Sidewalk Surfers Travel Gear Review

  Nancy Brown

  11 May 2012 | 8:58 am

  Stylish sandals for surfers and slackers Should I feel guilty that I’m attracted to Sanuk shoes sandals? Afterall, I’m not a buffed and toned surfer. I’m a travel writer. I believe that comfort trumps fashion in footwear. But there is such a thing as fashionable AND comfortable footwear and I have found it in Sanuk [...]

• The Beverly Hills Hotel Turns 100!

  Marsha Takeda Morrison

  9 May 2012 | 3:54 pm

  There isn’t a more famous hotel in Los Angeles than the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. Its pink exterior and distinctive script logo flanked by palm trees is practically synonymous with L.A., and the list of stars that have lounged around the luxurious pool and sipped a drink in the famous Polo Lounge is too long [...]

• Luxury and Comfort at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona

  Jodi Grundig

  9 May 2012 | 1:04 pm

  Scottsdale, Arizona is full of luxury resorts, so it’s difficult to know exactly which resorts are the best to stay in.  When I travel alone, or with my family, I’m essentially looking for the same things – deluxe amenities, a comfortable room, and fabulous service.  On our recent family vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona, we stayed [...]

• Leave Stress Behind at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country, Lantana Spa

  Nancy Brown

  7 May 2012 | 8:02 am

  When you enter the 26,000 square-foot Lantana Spa with its 30 treatment rooms, a simple red ribbon is presented to you. Following the ritual of the Los Siete  Nudos people, the ribbon is a vessel used to carry your stress away. Each knot you add to the ribbon represents a stress you carry. You determine [...]

• 

  Hotel Law Blog

• Hotel Lawyer from Meet the Money® -- Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC) announces its top 10 challenges for hotel industry in 2012

  9 May 2012 | 10:07 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 9 May 2012 Along with Mike Cahill of Hospitality Real Estate Counselors (HREC) and Sean Hennessey of the Lodging Investment Advisors, I am privileged to be one of the co-chairs of the Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC). LIIC is the hotel industry "think tank" whose membership owns or operates many billions of hotel investments, and involves all aspects of the industry. LIIC Annual Survey I am grateful that Mike Cahill takes responsibility for analyzing LIIC's annual survey of lodging…

• Meet the Money® conference talks about Hotel loans and equity investment, creating value with hotel value-add and repositioning, hotel opportunistic investment, deal making and much more

  9 May 2012 | 9:41 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 9 May 2012 Hotel Lawyers in Los Angeles at JMBM's Meet the Money® 2012 The hotel lawyers at JMBM'S Global Hospitality Group® were out in force and mingling with about 350 hotel industry leaders that joined us in Los Angeles this week for the 22nd annual Meet the Money® 2012 conference. What is different about Meet the Money®? There is a lot to like about this conference. We are not in the conference business, and we don't make a profit on this event, so we run the conference at the highest…

• ADA compliance and defense lawyer alert: Charles Schwab settles claim over website accessibility

  7 May 2012 | 3:36 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 07 May 2012 Hotel Lawyer ADA defense alert: Charles Schwab settles claim over website accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act On May 2, 2012, Charles Schwab & Co. announced an initiative to make its website more accessible for all customers, particularly those who are blind or have sight disabilities. This high-profile development was part of the settlement of a claim by Kit Lau, a Charles Schwab customer for more than 25 years. While many have focused on the Americans with…

• EB-5 ALERT: California's new TEA approach will discourage EB-5 investment in California

  4 May 2012 | 4:58 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 04 May 2012 EB-5 LAWYER ALERT: California has adopted a new TEA policy as of April 30, 2012. It will severely affect California's ability to compete for EB-5 financing. My partners, Catherine Holmes and Victor Shum, have alerted us to an important new development that will affect new development projects in California. The State of California has decided that it will not certify any new "targeted employment areas" or TEAs under the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program. If you develop hotels and…

• Join us at Meet the Money® in Los Angeles May 7-9, 2012. Get the latest on debt and equity financing and what's up in the hotel industry.

  1 May 2012 | 1:49 pm

  By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 01 May 2012 Hotel Lawyer in Los Angeles at Meet the Money® 2012 My staff and I are making final preparations for the 22nd Annual Meet the Money® conference and I couldn't be more excited! This year's theme is "Rise above the global financial tempest" and our speakers are ready to share the experience, knowledge and insight that enables them to find financing, create value and get deals done in the midst of our current global challenges.

• 

  My Jet Set Life

• JSI 011 Rob & Kim Share More Bloopers, The Worst Hotel Experience Ever and Kim’s Secret Weapon for Saving Cash on International Airfare!

  Kim

  5 May 2012 | 8:25 am

  In This Episode: In This Weeks Podcast Rob and Kim take you to France for more bloopers, Rob’s solo flash-mob, Kim’s money saving tips for airfare and a trip down memory lane before Rob and Kim were jet-setters! Can’t get enough of Rob & Kim’s Jet Set Insider show? Then subscribe to this podcast and get a weekly update on Rob and Kim’s travel adventures. For more information about Rob and Kim and Jet Set Life please visit www.JetSetLife.TV Audio Only Player:

• Improving My Bucket List with 1,000 Place To See Before You Die!

  Kim

  4 May 2012 | 10:41 am

  Spoiler Alert: Read through to the end for a CONTEST!!!!!! Ahhhh….The Bucket List. So many things, so many places- sometimes my head just spins when I think about everything I want to do and see in my lifetime. Almost every time I sit down to write my Bucket List- I end up with a blank piece of paper. It’s actually something that I struggle with- it’s like there are soooo many places that I can’t think of one! Because I am a big believer in knowing what you want, I needed to solve this little dilemma, or I’ll never find those crazy, obscure and MUST see places! I…

• JSI 010 Rob & Kim Share Their Secret Places to Party, Chill and Soak in the Sun This Summer!

  Kim

  21 Apr 2012 | 3:17 pm

  In This Episode: In This Weeks Podcast Rob and Kim wet your appetite for fun in the sun as they take you to their favorite, secret summer jet-set destinations! Can’t get enough of Rob & Kim’s Jet Set Insider show? Then subscribe to this podcast and get a weekly update on Rob and Kim’s travel adventures. For more information about Rob and Kim and Jet Set Life please visit www.JetSetLife.TV. Audio Only Player:   Check out Rob & Kim’s chat with the Ushuaia Hotel as they prepare for their first ever Ibiza experience this summer!

• Becoming The New Jet Set

  Kim

  11 Apr 2012 | 10:48 am

  The term jet-set originated in the 1950′s through reporter, Igor Cassini, of the New York Journal-American who wrote under the pen name “Cholly Knickerbocker”. Ironically, I had a chance encounter with his grand-son a few years ago while sipping a Bellini at Caffe Paszkowski in Florence one evening. I digress. Back to the jet-set. Originally, this term was to describe a fashionable, international social group, composed of wealthy people who travel frequently by jetliner to stylish destinations, exclusive parties and such. It’s a wonderful fantasy for most, just jetting…

• JSL 009 Rob & Kim Share Their Once in A Lifetime Experiences, Piss Off a World Class Tango Instructor and Take You Behind the Scenes in Rob’s First Visit to the Brazilian Waxer

  Kim

  18 Mar 2012 | 8:07 am

  In This Episode: In this weeks podcast Rob and Kim take you behind the scenes of their experiences with hang gliding and helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, join them as they screw up their first tango lesson in Buenos Aires and then sneak into the waxing room with Rob as he explores the Brazilian Wax! Can’t get enough of Rob & Kim’s Jet Set Insider show? Then subscribe to this podcast and get a weekly update on Rob and Kim’s travel adventures. For more information about Rob and Kim and Jet Set Life please visit www.JetSetLife.TV Audio Only Player:

• 

  Gadling

• Time-Lapse Video Shows Europe's Changing Borders, 1000 AD to 2003

  McLean Robbins

  16 May 2012 | 1:00 pm

  Filed under: Europe, Video This quirky time lapse shows how Europe's borders have expanded, contracted, and expanded again. We're pretty sure the original intent was to help those studying for a World Geography test or the like, but it's a fun tool for travelers too - is the area you're visiting this summer a part of the original Hapsburg empire? Has the hotel you're staying in always been in France? Watch it. We're sure you'll enjoy.Time-Lapse Video Shows Europe's Changing Borders, 1000 AD to 2003 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use…

• World's Oldest Backpacker To Travel Europe This Summer

  Jessica Festa

  16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Filed under: Stories, Europe, Budget Travel, News When most people think of backpacking, they picture a bunch of youths in their mid-20s eating street food, hiking to city sites and sleeping in dorms of 10 or more travelers. Australian nomad Keith Wright is breaking the stereotype, and at 95 years old, has planned a two-month backpacking tour of Europe for this summer. Nicknamed the "world's oldest backpacker," Wright began backpacking when his wife passed away 10 years ago. Since the age of 85, the Aussie has been exploring the world solo, selling his home, staying in hostels, sipping brews…

• Museum Month: The Tenement Museum In New York's Lower East Side

  Jessica Marati

  16 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Stories, North America, United States Often, it's the sights that are just around the corner that you somehow never get around to exploring. You say that you'll go one day, but there's never a real rush. You tell yourself that it will always be there. For me, that sight is the Tenement Museum, located in the heart of New York City's Lower East Side, a block and a half from the apartment I've called home for the past three years. The Tenement Museum celebrates New York's immigrants by exploring the history of a single tenement building at 97…

• Museum Month: Pizza Brain, Philadelphia's Pizza Museum

  McLean Robbins

  16 May 2012 | 10:00 am

  Filed under: Festivals and Events, Food and Drink The world's largest collection of pizza memorabilia will soon be housed in an unlikely home - not Italy, or New York or even Connecticut, but in Philadelphia, a city better known for its hoagies and its cheesesteaks than its 'za. But thanks to 27-year-old Brian Dwyer, the Guinness World Record holder of pizza memorabilia, the dream to open a pizza-themed museum will become a reality late this spring or early this summer at Pizza Brain, the world's first museum dedicated to Pizza. As might be expected, the museum will also function as a…

• Are Hawaii's Beaches Disappearing?

  Kyle Ellison

  16 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  Filed under: Learning, North America, United States, EcotourismAccording to a recent New York Times article, yes, they are. This is scary news for a destination whose economy is not only tied to the billions of dollars beachgoers spend annually while visiting the islands, but whose sandy shores also provide a way of life for ocean minded locals and surf enthusiasts who have literally been raised on the state's golden sands. According to the New York Times piece, over the last century approximately 9 percent of the sand on the state's three largest islands - Hawaii, Maui and Oahu - has…

• 

  Tony Wheeler

• Crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2

  Tony Wheeler

  13 May 2012 | 3:36 pm

  ▲  On 5 March in Melbourne, Australia I got up at dawn and drove over to Port Melbourne to see the Queen Mary 2 arrive in dock. A couple of weeks earlier I’d stopped in at Rabaul on my way through Papua New Guinea, having arrived in the country by a very much smaller boat – powered by a 30 horsepower Yamaha outboard – as part of the back door to Bougainville route from the Solomon Islands. In Rabaul they were talking about the QM2 arriving in their volcano-rimmed harbour in a couple of weeks time. ▲ So it was very appropriate that on 4 May Maureen and I sailed out…

• Haiti – Music, Art & Politics

  Tony Wheeler

  8 May 2012 | 4:40 am

      ▲ RAM cuts loose at the Oloffson Hotel  Haiti may have been knocked flat by the earthquake, but the music and art is as vibrant as ever. On my previous, pre-earthquake, visit to Port-au-Prince I stayed at the Oloffson Hotel and caught RAM on their regular Thursday night appearance. The Oloffson was the Hotel Trianon in Graham Greene’s Papa Doc novel The Comedians. And RAM is the house band, voodoo jazz (or correctly vodou jazz). The earthquake may have changed plenty, but not RAM. They’re still fantastic, fronted by Lunise and two seductively athletic dancers,…

• Back to Haiti

  Tony Wheeler

  3 May 2012 | 6:01 am

  I was in Haiti before the earthquake, so my April trip, kicking off from the Dominican Republic, was a return visit. Things are still a long way from back to normal. The tent camps are still everywhere although one right in the centre of the  capital, Port au Prince, had recently been removed. Ditto for the camp in the main square of Pétionville. But some of the city’s major sites still tell sad stories and they’re stories that will take a long time to put right.Before the earthquake the National Palace in the centre of the city clearly came from the giant white…

• In Darkness

  Tony Wheeler

  30 Apr 2012 | 4:50 am

  Nick Lake’s novel jumps back and forth between Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and Haiti during the slave revolt which led to liberation from France. In ‘Now’ we’re with Shorty, 15 years old and trapped in a hospital room which has collapsed with the earthquake. He was there with a gunshot wound from Port au Prince’s ongoing violence. ‘Now’ alternates with ‘Then,’ the story of the inspired Toussaint L’Ouverture and his struggle to liberate his country from France. Eventually L’Ouverture is double-crossed and he…

• Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic

  Tony Wheeler

  27 Apr 2012 | 8:41 am

  Maureen and I flew in to Santo Domingo from New York, spending a few days in this fine old colonial city before taking a bus to Port au Prince in Haiti. There’s not a lot to see in the DR’s capital, but it’s easy enough to spend a couple of days wandering the Zona Colonial admiring the Spanish era buildings and statues.◄  Like this one of Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.But lounging at cafes, this one is on the Parque Colón, is another fine way of passing the time in Santo Domingo. ▼ My favourite sight was the Faro a Colón…

• 

  Budget Travel Tips - EuroCheapo

• Exile in Paradise: Americans in Florence

  hiddeneurope

  16 May 2012 | 7:23 am

  A dense web of connections links America with Florence. Some argue it massively invigorates the Tuscan city, while others aver that Florentine life has been distorted by the American impact on the city. What view you take on the American influence on Florence, there is no doubt that the Italian city (as seen through American eyes) has most certainly made its mark on American life and even the American soul. Charmed lives on the banks of the Arno American writers and artists have been inspired by the city’s artistic and literary heritage. Florence, with its plentiful supply of cheap marble,…

• Bad news for BERlin: Airport Edition

  Hilary Bown

  15 May 2012 | 7:44 am

  While meeting an arriving friend at Berlin’s Tegel Airport last week, we both heaved an internal sigh over what would be our last trip to that airport. Tegel’s no more special than any other airport really (although its design *is* unique, if entirely impracticable in the current airport security climate), unless you count all the personal arrivals and departures that took place there. While it may stop existing in the real world, like any place one might have spent a fair amount of emotionally-charged time, it will continue to haunt my dreamscapes until I die. You see,…

• Paris: Our 10 favorite shopping districts

  Theadora Brack

  14 May 2012 | 10:36 am

  By Theadora Brack in Paris— Tripping to Paris? Do you plan to shop? Well then, look and listen! Throughout Paris, there are shopping zones where you can buy anything, as well as scattered districts where clusters of stores carry similar items. Shopping fanatics, unite. Here’s a mini-guide. So dust off the printer! But first, a few tips: 1. In France, most ATM machine “keys” do not include letters, just numbers. So what to do if you’ve memorized your password as “Rosebud” and not as “9693292”? Get thee quickly to a payphone booth! Here the keys include both numbers and…

• Getting to Know France’s Gard Region

  Guest Post

  10 May 2012 | 9:04 am

  By Terri Fogarty, publisher of EuropeUpClose.com— If you’ve fallen in love with France as I have, you have probably traveled there more than once. Now that you have seen Paris and beyond, including all the regular tourist attractions, its time to learn about the fabulous Gard region of France. The Gard is located just west of Provence in south central France. This magical region abounds with natural beauty and less touristy towns, which makes it even more attractive to those looking for the France Profonde (The authentic France). Pont du Gard The Gard’s most popular attraction is the…

• Summer 2012 Rail Services in Europe

  hiddeneurope

  9 May 2012 | 8:04 am

  In mid-December each year most of Europe’s rail and bus companies revamp their schedules, but many also do some mid-year tweaking of their timetables. So here’s what is in store for the upcoming summer period. The new summer schedules will feature in the June 2012 edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, which is published on May 28, 2012. New link to St. Petersburg A much-needed rail service from Tallinn to St Petersburg is planned to start on May 27. This new daytime service is a joint venture of Estonian rail operator GoRail and RZD Russian Railways. Look for a seven-hour…

• 

  World Hum

• Paul Theroux on ‘Multilayered and Maddening’ Hawaii

  The World Hum Editors (jim@worldhum.com)

  14 May 2012 | 7:43 am

  Paul Theroux lives in Hawaii but finds aspects of the archipelago’s culture to be mysterious and nearly impenetrable. When he set out to talk with natives about local traditions, he was met with silence and monosyllabic replies, even when he turned up with gifts of honey from his own bees. I had never in my traveling or writing life come across people so unwilling to share their experiences. Here I was living in a place most people thought of as Happyland, when in fact it was an archipelago with a social structure that was more complex than any I had ever encountered—beyond…

• Video: Luis Alberto Urrea on the U.S.-Mexico Border

  The World Hum Editors (jim@worldhum.com)

  9 May 2012 | 9:22 am

  Luis Alberto Urrea has written a number of great books—fiction and non-fiction such as “The Devil’s Highway”—about the U.S.-Mexico border and life in the two countries. He appeared on Moyers & Company recently, where he discussed migrant deaths, book-banning in Tucson, growing up in Tijuana and a San Diego suburb, and a range of related topics. Great stuff. Here’s the hour-long show:

• River a Mile Deep

  The World Hum Editors (jim@worldhum.com)

  2 May 2012 | 1:57 pm

  Michael Shapiro rafts down the Colorado in the wake of Captain John Wesley Powell

• River a Mile Deep: Three Videos

  The World Hum Editors (jim@worldhum.com)

  2 May 2012 | 1:54 pm

  Videos from Michael Shapiro's 24-day rafting trip down the Colorado River

• River a Mile Deep: Five Great Photos

  The World Hum Editors (jim@worldhum.com)

  2 May 2012 | 9:19 am

  Images from Michael Shapiro's 24-day rafting trip down the Colorado River

• 

  Get a Hotel Room

• 3 Great Restaurants In Agios Sostis

  Red2Black

  15 May 2012 | 7:50 am

  3 Great Restaurants In Agios Sostis  Anyone who has ever been to Agios Sostis knows that this place is about as picture postcard perfect as anywhere else in the Peloponnese. Situated on the southern end of the island of Zante it has that perfect 'village' feel where you feel totally relaxed as soon as you set foot here, and what better way to relax than to start the morning in a typical taverna watching the sun rise whilst drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.Alternatively, you can kick back in the evening over a Meze and a glass of Ouzo or two, followed by some fresh…

• Review of the Hilton Times Square

  Red2Black

  15 May 2012 | 2:12 am

  Adam BrukThis is a guest post contributed to Get A Hotel Room by Adam who is a writer for www.travelproducts.com where he shares his travel experiences and helps travelers find the products they need for their trip. He also helps international travelers find adapters and converters like these so they can use their appliances when traveling abroad."I recently took a weekend trip to New York City and wanted to truly experience life in the big apple. There isn’t a better way to experience all New York City has to offer than to stay at one of the most popular attractions, Times Square! ""I was…

• Guest Post: Neltje & Dominican Republic's Dream Project

  Red2Black

  3 May 2012 | 5:23 pm

  This week, GetAHotelRoom asked a few bloggers to guest post and share their travel experiences with us.About the Author: [Neltje Ann]  ~ The writer of AspiringNurse.com wanted to guest post with us this week and share her vibes on her excursion to the Dominican Republic. Neltje's daily role is all about infusing and instilling her nursing knowledge in others, whilst promoting certified medical training within the healthcare sector, so if you're interested in studying to become a neonatal nurse or want to find out the daily ins and outs of…

• Coogarth Holiday Cottage | Martindale | Get a Room in the Lake District

  Red2Black

  1 May 2012 | 5:33 am

  Place of Interest: Martindale, Howtown, Ullswater, Penrith, Cumbria.Get a Room at: Coogarth Self Catering Holiday Cottage, Ullswater [www.coogarth.com]View Larger MapView Larger MapSLEEPS 6 PEOPLE  - GET A ROOM IN THE LAKESDeep within the Lake district 528 ft above sea level sits the most remote, peaceful and unspoiled village of Martindale. You would barely spot in on the OS maps, but Martindale is a truly deep and meaningful place shrouded in onion skins of history.Martindale is a popular secret spot amongst the walking and hiking community - made known by the summit of…

• Highlight of the Week: Lettings in Vale do Lobo

  Red2Black

  16 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am

  Who can resist the Algarve for the perfect sunshine break? And where better than Vale de Lobo?  Think relaxing. Think calm sea. Think golden beaches. Sounds like utopia right? Well in Vale de Lobo you get all this and more! It seems that lettings are being booked up like decadent fish dishes in this region of the world.Just to wet your appetite let's take a look at what is currently on offer a stones throw away from your favourite Portuguese beaches:[Images Courtesy of : Haven on Earth - If you want to find More villas to rent in Vale do Lobo - visit www.havenonearth.co.uk]This lavish…

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  nerd's eye view

• Shift

  nerd's eye view

  16 May 2012 | 10:05 am

  Inside baseball, friends. Not interested? Here’s a story about that time I went on safari in Tanzania. Man, that was amazing. Over the last year or so, I’ve been culling a lot of my social media feeds. I’m unfriending, unsubscribing, unfollowing. The reason for this dieting? There’s been a marked shift in the tone of what’s broadcast through my online travel channels. A change of focus, of attitude, of goals underlying the creation of the “stuff” that makes up the corner of the web where I spend most of my time. Lately, I feel like bloggers about…

• Breaking Badass

  nerd's eye view

  12 May 2012 | 4:27 pm

  I snapped a string on stage last night. The Castaways were playing Loverboy’s Working for the Weekend. It’s a fun song to play, it’s fast and drives, and even though I don’t know how to do the fancy chord progression, I feel like I’m part of it because of the beat underneath. I was hammering on that D chord hard, fast, when the string went. It stung my wrist, sharp and fast, and surprised the hell out of me. The fretboard felt naked without the string there but I couldn’t quit right in the middle of the song. Apparently, I am a consummate professional…

• Yeah, But Why? Really, WHY?

  nerd's eye view

  10 May 2012 | 8:51 am

  I’ve been rolling an idea around in my head for a few months, this idea that there seems to be a shift in the landscape of blogging about travel. Rather than define this for you now, I’m asking you to help me confirm or invalidate my sense of how things are going. I’d love to have you answer a question that’s both simple and kind of complex. Why did you start your travel blog? Why are you blogging about travel now?  In case you’re nervous, know that I don’t think there’s a right answer. I’m not looking for the complicated back story or your…

• Homes of the Stars

  nerd's eye view

  7 May 2012 | 12:19 pm

  I was up in the “attic” of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History yesterday, on a balcony lined with boxes and metal lockers and drawers with those little metal slots designed to hold a label that says something in Latin, or something illegible in an elegant script, or something neatly typed on a yellowing index card and then, cut to fit. There were boxes of bones labeled “Reburial Only” and a carton that had “Porcupine, Old, Not Cute” scrawled on it in sharpie. I peered through a vertical window into a lab lined with more cardboard boxes, when I leaned…

• To the Crossroads

  nerd's eye view

  24 Apr 2012 | 7:48 pm

  My soul feels completely intact after my band played a fantastic show at Seattle’s Greenlake Forza Coffee. The Castaways were the supporting act for a Team in Training/Leukemia Lymphoma Society fundraiser. We played three solid sets of music and while, yes, mistakes were made, even our normally understated bass player admitted to being all whacked on endorphins after it was over. And I was sore the next day, not just from three hours of standing on the concrete floors, but from the jumping up and down. I mean that literally. I was totally into it. We had two test runs for our new stuff…

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  Galavanting Women's Travel Magazine & Web Series

• Infographic: Making the most of your romantic getaway - 563

  27 Apr 2012 | 7:13 am

  Whether you’re looking for a last minute vacation or have planned yours well in advance, who doesn’t want all the secrets to making sure your getaway with that special someone is fun and romantic? Well here’s a fun and informative infographic put out by On the Beach about just that: Wanting to book a romantic holiday abroad stirs a variety of thoughts and feelings: Does she like all inclusive holidays? Is this a lame idea? Will he like it? Will there be enough things to do? Should I bother booking a transfer?! No matter the decision, you can guarantee that you’ll have…

• Review: Go Girl Guides: Thailand - 562

  27 Apr 2012 | 5:40 am

• Photo Essay: Get to know Jamaica through Little Ochie

  9 Mar 2012 | 6:12 am

  It’s not a stretch to associate Jamaica with jerk chicken, reggae and Sandals Resorts. To deal in clichés, one doesn’t have to dig very deep. It’s an island nation with a lot to offer that gets overlooked in favor of surface aspects, well known for a reason. After all, Jerk Chicken is amazing. Reggae music has its merits. And Sandals Resorts do have a lot to offer if you’re a couple looking for a romantic escape from reality. The real Jamaica, however, isn’t as easily pigeonholed as cliché might suggest. Local cuisine in Jamaica is far more varied…

• Review: Cathay Pacific Business Lounge Tour in Hong Kong - 561

  9 Mar 2012 | 6:09 am

• Review: Boutique Hotel Garni Allegra in Belgrade, Serbia - 560

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:29 am

• 

  Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

• The Beautiful Temples and Gardens of Kyoto

  NomadicMatt

  15 May 2012 | 6:44 am

  I’ve dreamed of Kyoto and its thousands of temples for as long as I’ve dreamed of Japan. I love Japanese architecture and zen gardens. One day, when I own a home, my backyard will be designed as a Japanese zen garden, complete with pond, koi fish, rock garden, and little waterfall. On my recent visit to Japan with G Adventures, Kyoto was the only place I wanted to see as much as Tokyo. Though it rained (sometimes heavily) during my visit, Kyoto, with its temples and gardens, was even more beautiful than I had imagined. I spent hours wandering historic streets and darting in and…

• The Weekly Photo: Khao Sok Park in Thailand

  NomadicMatt

  13 May 2012 | 7:24 am

  A rushing river in the lush Khao Sok National Park in ThailandTraveling soon? Book your travel below with my favorite companies and help support this website: Cheap Flights from Vayama | Travel insurance from World Nomads | Accommodation from HW | Guidebooks | G Adventure Tours©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

• How to (Legally) Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days

  NomadicMatt

  8 May 2012 | 9:12 am

  As I’ve been planning my move to Sweden, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas. This is a problem encountered by travelers every year and a question that regularly pops up in my inbox.“How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?” I am asked.It’s a great question with a very complicated answer. I’ve always known it to be difficult but until I started researching on how to stay there, I never knew how difficult. But in the process of this research I’ve come to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than…

• The Weekly Photo: Kanazawa Castle

  NomadicMatt

  6 May 2012 | 7:19 am

  Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, JapanTraveling soon? Book your travel below with my favorite companies and help support this website: Cheap Flights from Vayama | Travel insurance from World Nomads | Accommodation from HW | Guidebooks | G Adventure Tours©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

• Why Jessica is Never Going to Ireland With Her Boyfriend But You Can Realize Your Dreams to Go Anywhere

  NomadicMatt

  3 May 2012 | 9:30 am

  “Your job sounds like the most exciting job in the world,” the cute blond girl — let’s call her Jessica — said to me. Jessica had just overheard a conversation with some friends I hadn’t seen in years and they were peppering me with questions about my job and lifestyle. People I meet usually do, and I’ve gotten used it.“He has the best job,” replied my friend.“So, can you get me to Ireland cheap? I really want to go.”“Sure,” I replied. “Tell me about your trip.”Normally when I’m asked about these things, I talk a little bit about my travel guides…

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  My Itchy Travel Feet

• Dining outdoors at Tohono Chul Tea Room

  Donna Hull

  15 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  Tohno Chul Tea Room, Tucson, Arizona Are you a fan of eating breakfast outdoors—especially while on a trip? There’s something decadent about lazing over a cup of coffee after a delicious meal while nature provides the entertainment. Here’s an insider’s tip:  if you’re boomer travel plans include Tucson, Arizona, save a morning for breakfast at Tohono Chul Tea Room. Alan and I have enjoyed many breakfasts at the hacienda-style residence that is part of Tohono Chul Park, named one of the Great Botanical Gardens of the World by Travel + Leisure. I’m always…

• Saturday’s scene: at the end of the road in Utah

  Donna Hull

  12 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  End of the road at Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab, Utah. The road through Dead Horse Point State Park, near Moab, Utah, ends at a parking lot with an overlook to the Colorado River some 2,000 feet below. It’s not only the end of the road for human visitors. Legend says that the point was also used as a natural corral for wild horses. The cowboys picked the best ones then left the other horses to die of thirst—a gruesome story for a spectacularly scenic spot in the American Southwest. On this visit, Alan and I were ending a photography workshop in Canyonlands and Arches National…

• Travel dreaming with Wildjunket Magazine

  Donna Hull

  10 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  The April/May edition of WildJunket Magazine. Photo courtesy WildJunket What happened to travel magazines that encouraged travelers, including boomers, to explore the wild places still left on earth? National Geographic Adventure used to be my go-to for travel inspiration, even though some of the adventures were beyond my boomer capabilities. Sadly, the magazine is no more. But there’s hope with a new kid on the magazine block. And, this one’s electronic. WildJunket Magazine, published by travelwriter Nellie Huang and her designer husband, Alberto Molero, focuses on stories about…

• Snorkeling at Moon Reef on a private excursion in Fiji

  Donna Hull

  8 May 2012 | 10:00 am

  On the way to Moon Reef “We’ve booked a private cruise excursion to go snorkeling at Moon Reef when we dock in Suva, Fiji. There’s room in the minivan for two more. Would you like to go with us?” asked Randy, one of our new cruising friends on Seabourn Odyssey.  Of course Alan and I said yes to an active boomer travel adventure that involves snorkeling and possible sightings of spinner dolphins, Moon Reef’s claim to fame. As our minivan traveled on the two-hour journey to Takalana Bay Retreat, it became evident why there was no Seabourn cruise excursion to Moon…

• Saturday’s scene: pull up a chair

  Donna Hull

  5 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  Cancun beach Happy Cinco de Mayo. How will you be celebrating? Alan and I like the idea of pulling up a lounge chair close to the turquoise water on a Cancun Beach. This particular beach fronts the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort. After a day of celebrating with margaritas and guacamole, we might just splurge with a dessert of Nutella quesadillas. But will the residents of Cancun be celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Possibly not. According to a Wall Street Journal article, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated regionally in the state of Puebla, located in East-Central Mexico, to commemorate an 1862 victory…

• 

  tripwolf travel blog - your travel guide

• Five Travel Companions to Leave at Home

  Eva

  10 May 2012 | 3:47 pm

  I’m a die-hard solo traveler – happily single-winging it since my first solitary trip to England in 2003. But every once in a while, even I get seduced into taking a trip with friends. Sometimes, everything is fantastic: great laughs, great memories, and great photos. Just as it should be. And then there are the [...]

• Uruguay: Eat Gnocchi and Prosper

  lisamarimer8

  9 May 2012 | 7:07 am

  Say hello to our new blogger, Lisa!   So here I am, a non-beef eater, living in Uruguay, the land of the world’s best beef.  Luckily, one can easily survive on pasta, fish and vegetables in Uruguay and not have a cow, so to speak. Despite their love of grass-fed beef, Uruguayans reserve one day [...]

• Travel Gear Giveaway: Let’s get “Classy, sassy, and a little bad-assey”

  adena

  8 May 2012 | 7:48 am

  We’re psyched to bring you yet another travel gear giveaway ~ on May first we announced the winner of the Versalette, an innovative travel garment by {r}evolution apparel.  We felt like we left out the boys ~ so this time, we’re giving away two packages to get you where you’re going with wit and style. [...]

• The Tirol Eagle Walk: A True Alpine Experience

  AustriaUK

  8 May 2012 | 3:40 am

  The “Austria’s Hidden Treasures” blog series is brought to you by the Austrian National Tourist Office and will show you fresh views and enchanting surprises. www.austria.info/treasures. The Tirol Eagle Walk: A True Alpine Experience To the question, ‘Where can I walk in the Tirol?’ the traditional answer has always been ‘everywhere’. We know, though, that [...]

• Unlikely History Lessons from Vienna

  admin

  7 May 2012 | 1:36 am

  “I’ve long been able to do what Klimt is capable of! Ha ha!” bragged a certain Mr. Egon Schie-le, posting a modified Klimt painting. Followed by Klimt’s calm reply: “Oh my goodness, Egon. I’ve had prettier models in my studio…” At this juncture, Freud just had to get involved: “Oh God, a nightmare.” With lots [...]

• 

  Hotel News

• Raise a Glass: Sheraton Launches New Wine Program

  16 May 2012 | 12:40 pm

  For travelers seeking out a special wine-tasting experience, they can now test and sample some of the finest varietals at Sheraton hotels around the world.

• Spate of Lawsuits Flows From Nashville Inundation of 2010

  16 May 2012 | 9:30 am

  Gaylord Entertainment Inc., whose Nashville hotel and entertainment properties sustained more than $250 million in flood damage two years ago, and others are charging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service with negligence and failure to act during the event.

• Marriott Vacations Worldwide Owner Services Recognized for Excellence in Customer Service

  16 May 2012 | 8:25 am

  "It is this dedication that has enabled us to reach high levels of success operationally and to consistently increase our customer satisfaction scores." Owner Services is home to more than 650 associates worldwide and focuses on providing excellent customer service to more than 420,000 Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and ... (more)

• Deutsche Bank Analysts Begin Coverage on Marriott

  16 May 2012 | 4:21 am

  The firm set a "hold" rating on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on MAR.

• Guilty plea entered in slot machine scheme

  16 May 2012 | 12:16 am

  The brother of a former analyst for the state's largest casino company pleaded guilty Tuesday in an elaborate slot machine scheme to unlawfully win $863,895 on the Strip.

• 

  USATODAY.com Feed

• Meeting planners optimistic on hotel functions

  16 May 2012 | 5:31 am

  A poll of meeting planners shows new optimism about the number business-related gatherings being planned.

• Sheraton launches 'Social Hour' wine tastings

  16 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  Starwood's Sheraton chain is launching a wine-tasting hour as well as a new wine menu curated by Wine Spectator, the wine lover's bible.

• Some travelers ask, 'Where's Whole Foods?'

  15 May 2012 | 9:44 am

  A surprising number of people sometimes pick their hotels based on proximity to a Whole Foods or other specialty supermarket.

• Hanoi hotel to open bunker to tourists

  15 May 2012 | 4:53 am

  Hanoi's landmark Sofitel hotel plans to open the secret, war-time bunker to tourists next month.

• Gaylord resort opens new outdoor venue

  15 May 2012 | 3:41 am

  The Gaylord National Resort debuted RiverView Terrace, its 15,000-square-foot outdoor event space on the Potomac River.

• 

  How To Make My Blog

• Blogging On The Go

  Marko Saric

  15 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  For many bloggers, the need to blog on the go is a reality. Fashion bloggers live blog during fashion shows, travel bloggers during traveling from the exotic beach while sipping on a fruity drink. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• How to add Dynamic Content Gallery to a Thesis blog

  Marko Saric

  10 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  I consider my blog a blogazine, however, no matter how much I love it, I currently could not afford to pay a coder for a unique magazine skin. But I still want my blog to embody a magazine feel. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Being a professional travel blogger – Matthew Kepnes

  Daniela Diamare

  8 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  As a child he wanted to be like Indiana Jones, he ended up being a professional travel blogger. By mixing the adventure of blogging and travelling he almost made his dream come true. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• How to move from Tumblr to WordPress

  Marko Saric

  3 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  Are you thinking of switching your blog from Tumblr to Wordpress? Here's a simple step-by-step guide on moving from Tumblr to WordPress. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 28 Keys to Successful Blogging

  Marko Saric

  1 May 2012 | 12:27 am

  These are the keys to successful blogging that I have learned through my blogging experience and the experiments I have taken. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 

  Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

• Toren Ajk & Michael Sprouse on Today’s ShoeMoney.TV Show

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  15 May 2012 | 5:16 am

  Former Playboy and Epic executive Michael Sprouse is in the house to co-host todays ShoeMoney.tv show. Today my guest will be mobile advertising expert Toren Ajk. Should be a good one don’t miss it! 1pm CST on ShoeMoney.tv BTW you have a few more days to grab my latest video series – The Local Internet Marketing Blueprint for only $49!! Trying to increase your Google rank that is like no other?

• Why You Should Make Your Own Product (And Not Be An Affiliate)

  Justin Goff

  15 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Hey, Justin Goff here… I’ve made a living as a product owner and an affiliate for the past 5 years.   Now, one of the easiest ways to make money online is to be an affiliate for another product. And while I recommend being an affiliate marketer to a lot of new people, once you know what you are doing you should really be making your own products. Whether your product is something like a DVD, a vitamin supplement or even something common like phone chargers – having your own product gives you SO much more control over what you are doing.   Along with that, there’s a…

• FTC Scores Big Court Win Against DRTV Veterans

  WilliamRothbard

  14 May 2012 | 6:00 am

  In a much-awaited decision, a federal judge has granted summary judgment in favor of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against DRTV veterans Gary Hewitt and Doug Gravink and their company, Family Products LLC, in the case FTC v. John Beck Amazing Profits et al. Hewitt and Gravink sold “John Beck’s Free & Clear Real Estate System,” “John Alexander’s Real Estate Riches in 14 Days,” and “Jeff Paul’s Shortcuts to Internet Millions” through national infomercials. The FTC obtained a preliminary injunction in 2009 but failed to get an asset freeze, which allowed the defendants…

• The Local Marketing Blueprint is live! (save 75% off limited time)

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  12 May 2012 | 6:28 am

  Back a couple months ago we surveyed our list and blog readers as to what they were interested in more. Learning internet marketing for their companies or offering services to these companies. We received over 5,000 responses and it was split pretty much right down the middle. So I created a course that was tailored to both parties and for a limited time its ONLY $49!!! Check it out on Udemy now – there is a free video in every course if you would like to demo before purchasing. ==> http://shmny.me/localmarketingblueprint This course is designed for 2 people. Business owners - The…

• @unclecreepymma – Free Shirt Friday Future UFC Champ Ian McCall

  Jeremy Schoemaker

  11 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  Today I am happy to feature Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall who sent me this legit shirt: Ian is currently ranked the #1 125lb fighter and will be fighting for the UFC Championship soon. WAR CREEPY! and the UGCTT! If you would like to see your website or company featured on Free Shirt Friday click here Trying to increase your Google rank that is like no other?

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  @ProBlogger

• 5 Effective Tricks to Create a Killer Call to Action

  Guest Blogger

  16 May 2012 | 7:04 am

  This guest post is by Greg Digneo of Sales Leads in Thirty Days. Here’s the dirty little secret: there are actually two steps to building an extremely popular blog. The first and most popular step is to drive traffic by guest posting, social media, and SEO. The far less sexy step is to convert that traffic into loyal readers who will become the backbone of your community.  Who will share every piece of content you produce with their friends.  And who will ensure that every post sparks an engaging discussion. But most of all, they will be the first to buy your products and services. The…

• Get Obsessed with Your Message

  Guest Blogger

  15 May 2012 | 1:01 pm

  This guest post is by Danielle LaPorte of DanielleLaPorte.com. Blog = up? Posts = rolling? It’s time to get obsessed with your message. A quick dictionary moment, to differentiate between your voice, your topics and your message. Your voice is what makes your writing distinctive, compelling, unmistakably you. You’ll carry your voice from your blog, right into your book. Seamless, identifiable. Individual. Your topics are the categories or subjects you write about (Eco-luxe weddings on a shoestring budget! Savvy corporate management, with heart and soul! Thrifty vegan recipes!) Your…

• On the Elusive “Next Level” of Blogging

  Darren Rowse

  15 May 2012 | 7:04 am

  We’ve all heard of it—the elusive “next level” that so many bloggers talk about online. But what is the next level? How many levels are there? Is there an end point in leveling up? These are all worthwhile questions—especially for more experienced bloggers who have spent a lot of time and energy in reaching the level they’re already at. For these bloggers, trying to reach the next level can involve a degree of risk, so the steps that get us toward the next level might be taken slowly and with care. On the other hand, the web isn’t exactly undersupplied with…

• Grab Your BWE Virtual Ticket for $100 Off—24 Hours Left

  Darren Rowse

  14 May 2012 | 5:09 pm

  Wish you could get to Blog World Expo this year, but can’t make it to New York? Me too. I’ll be in Queensland with the winners of my blogging competition, but I know there are plenty of bloggers from other countries, as well as within the States, who won’t be able to attend Blog World this year. Fortunately, you and I don’t need to miss out on the information and fun of the Expo (and if the speaker list for this year is anything to go by, the conference is going to be really impressive). We “remote” bloggers can still “attend” on a BWE virtual…

• Install Your First WordPress Theme

  Guest Blogger

  14 May 2012 | 7:09 am

  This guest post is by Karol K of ThemeFuse. Seeing a headline like “How to Install a WordPress Theme” on ProBlogger might seem strange at first. This doesn’t sound like a “pro”-thing at all, right? If you’ve been dealing with WordPress for a while then this is probably even more than obvious to you. However, everyone starts somewhere, and there are plenty of experienced bloggers who haven’t ever installed a WordPress theme—but would like to give it a try. Maybe you’re installing your first theme right now, and you’re searching for a…

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  Copyblogger

• What Does it Take to Write a Billion-Dollar Marketing Story?

  Amy Harrison

  16 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  In 1984, two artists used a simple process to create a story that captivated an audience for years and generated billions of dollars in revenue. That same process is being used today by a master copywriter to attract hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers. With companies creating millions of web pages of content marketing, finding an untold story or a new angle can feel like an impossible task. Especially when you want to avoid creating a story so unique nobody understands it … or wants to pay for it. So how do you create a story that cuts through the noise and strikes at the heart…

• How to be a World-Changing Writer

  Pace Smith and Sonia Simone

  15 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  As a copywriter, you know that words have power. You know words can influence, inform, and inspire. They can persuade your fellow humans to do some amazing things (or to do the wrong things, but we won’t go there today). What you may not realize is that your words can change the world. Here’s something else that’s really cool that you might not have realized … The keys to world-changing writing are also the keys to damn good copywriting. But as you know, good writing doesn’t happen all by itself. So let’s talk about what it takes to be damned good ……

• WordPress Hosting That Means Business

  Brian Clark

  14 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  Did you know Copyblogger Media has a WordPress hosting division? Many people don’t, because it’s been a bit under-the-radar. The whole thing started with our frustration with web hosting in general. Specifically, the fact that a lot of “WordPress hosting” amounts to generic one-click installation of the CMS on a standardly-configured box — which simply doesn’t cut it for optimal performance and security. So, last year we decided to manage our high-traffic network of content and product sites ourselves. We did this by bringing into the family a team of people who themselves…

• The Truth About Making Money While You Sleep

  Jonathan Morrow

  14 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  Want to hear about the day in the life of a so-called “successful entrepreneur?” Yesterday, I stayed in bed until about 2 PM. I watched the last few episodes of Mad Men. Around sunset, I took a leisurely stroll down the beach. When I got back, I hung out with a friend for a couple of hours, ate dinner, and went to bed. In other words … I goofed off. And while I was goofing off, my business generated a pretty decent chunk of revenue. You want to know the coolest part? I did absolutely nothing to “earn” it. I didn’t check my email. I didn’t talk to…

• 7 Instructive Content Marketing Links

  Robert Bruce

  12 May 2012 | 6:00 am

  This week on The Lede … Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams Nightmares? An Email Marketing Autoresponder Schedule that Sells 3 Quick Tips To Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking Does Your Domain Say “Trust Me?” Why “Freemium” Fails for Startups: 3 Business Lessons from the Band New Order 5 Basic SEO Truths We Can Learn from Star Wars Peter Shankman on the Value of an Audience If you want to grab more useful links (than the seven we highlight here) every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams…

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  Lorelle on WordPress

• Do Not Delete Comment Spam. Mark Spam as Spam.

  Lorelle VanFossen

  10 May 2012 | 3:16 pm

  Is comment spam one of the things that gets you down? Are you taking it personally? Are you confused by comment spam and how to handle it? I’ve been speaking at a variety of meetups lately on web publishing, blogging, and podcasting, and the topics often turn to managing comments and comment spam. “I’ve started [...]

• WordCamp San Francisco August 4, 2012

  Lorelle VanFossen

  8 May 2012 | 11:48 am

  WordCamp San Francisco 2012 is set for August 4 this year at the Mission Bay Conference Center. A developer hack day is scheduled for August 5th, and a survey looking for the best WordCamp speakers is open for recommendations. I know it’s me, but who’s counting. Honestly, if you have attended a WordCamp in the [...]

• May Day Protests: Having Your Say Beyond the Web

  Lorelle VanFossen

  2 May 2012 | 5:22 pm

  Yesterday was the annual May Day protests across the United States. I stumbled upon the Portland, Oregon, May Day protest parade on my way to meet with the panel members for the WordPress Theme Panel at WebVisions 2012. The power of the blog is the ability to have your say. A blog doesn’t guarantee the [...]

• WordPress Theme Panel at WebVisions 2012

  Lorelle VanFossen

  30 Apr 2012 | 9:22 am

  Webvisions is in Portland, Oregon, May 16-18, 2012, and I’ll be there presenting “Crank WordPress to 11” featuring four top WordPress designers and developers showcasing how they have pushed WordPress beyond traditional limits and taking your questions about how they do it and if WordPress can take it. Friday, May 18, at 1:30PM, I’ll be [...]

• 201 WordPress Books

  Lorelle VanFossen

  26 Apr 2012 | 12:01 pm

  As part of my project to bring WordPress into colleges nationally, I did a quick survey of how many books have been published about WordPress. I was asked by several major publishers to publish the first book in English on WordPress but had to decline due to my traveling schedule and work load, so it’s [...]