Istanbul Luxury and 4-star hotels in Istanbul had their beginning in the second half of the 19th century (1889) when the Orient Express extended its non-stop service from Paris to Istanbul. As a result, this city became an important tourism destination and, in 1892 local investors, in partnership with the Wagons-Lits company opened the Beyogul […]
Running WORLD
From the moment she entered the hotel lobby for our meeting it was obvious that this c-suite executive, the woman who leads Worldhotels, is “in charge.” It takes only a moment to reach the conclusion that Kristin Intress is sharp, smart, savvy, sophisticated and, as an American heading up a German company, she is going […]
Where to Find Naked Men? At Spas!
According to current data, men have discovered what women have known all along – spas are a great place to visit, and a day of beauty may eliminate (or at least postpone) a visit to the doctor or the therapist. With holiday and wedding seasons upon us, spa certificates and assorted potions from exotic destinations […]
Poorism: Is it tourism?
Hotel Space. The Final Frontier
When planning a business trip or a holiday adventure we may take a moment to look at the online brochure for the property or scan photos (lobby, rooms, dining) on a website; we may actually look closely at the pictures to see what the interiors look like, if the color schemes and furnishings are contemporary […]
Move Over Napa. Wine Industry Matures in Bloomington, Indiana
When I was told that there was a thriving wine industry in Indiana – I thought it was the beginning of a riddle. Well, much to my surprise (and delight) I learned that wine production and consumption is growing in Indiana and the reviews from wine competitions indicate the industry is gaining domestic and international […]
Famous for Beer: Bloomington, Indiana
Where It Is First of all, I am not writing about Bloomingdale’s! My attention for this story is on Bloomington, Indiana. Located in the Midwest region of the USA, it is approximately 50 miles from Indianapolis and within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. Over half of the population of the United States […]
Hispanic and Jewish Communities: The Link Between Salsa / Merengue and the Hora
When I received the invitation from the Office of the Israeli Consul General to attend a Latin music event, I was intrigued. Sponsored jointly by the Israeli Consulate and Univision Radio, this musical evening featured Israeli DJ Maor Levi and reggaeton performer Jory Boy. To highlight the importance of the evening, the Honorable Israeli Ambassador […]
Visit Turkey. Drink the Wines
With 99 percent of the population of Turkey noted as Muslim, it is frequently a surprise to learn that Turkey produces excellent wines. Turkey is an anomaly in the region. Compared to its neighbors (Syria and Iraq to the south; Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan to the east) this country is considered progressive […]
Turkey. C-Suite Tourism Executives
Turkey is a world-class holiday destination! The tourism product is so well-developed that it deserves to be a priority for leisure and business travelers. In the early 1950s, tourism as a viable economic engine in Turkey was very limited and only 29,000 people visited the country. Although the destination offered natural beauty, history and culture, […]