I recently had the opportunity to be introduced to a selection of the unique and delicious wines from Spain. The Master Class was directed by Alexander LaPratt who has been a Sommelier at Le Bernardin, DB Bistro Moderne, and the French Laundry as well as the head Sommelier for Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten. In 2010 […]
Rum is your Brain Food, Alcohol, and New York Lifestyle
Rum could be placed in a FOOD group, after all – it is made entirely from sugar cane elements; it might even be considered a dessert, because it is sweet. However, it is a spirit and placed among alcoholic beverages with unique advantages that include antibacterial properties, and it has been recommended to treat strep […]
New York Emergency Rooms: Un-American, scandalous, and dangerous
“Do not get very sick in New York City… so sick that you require emergency care,” warns Dr. Elinor Garely. She suggests that “Hospitals look to the hospitality industry for guidance and direction if they have an interest in turning a sick patient into a healthy visitor.” Business travelers and tourists frequently get sick while […]
Beach Tourism Unmasked: COVID-19
Tourism is an economic engine for many countries, and it has grown exponentially since the 1970s when less than 200 million people traveled outside their own country for a holiday; in 2019, over 1.5 billion travelers were considered tourists. For both leisure and business travelers, the infrastructure for travel experiences is “expected.” From public and […]
Caribbean: Flaws in Paradise
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” – James Michener Reality is Harsh There are at least two sides to the Caribbean tourism industry: the side travelers experience as they transit from airports in air-conditioned vans and limos to their hotels, and the locals’ […]
Cruise Industry Flunks Safety Tests
Seasick A recent study of the global cruise industry and tourism crises revealed a systematic failure within the industry to understand the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to (and including) 2019, the cruise lines were the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry. In 2018, the total economic contribution (direct, indirect, and induced) of cruise tourism to […]
If Living is a Priority, Should You Cruise?
Although it is hard for me to believe, each and every year approximately 30 million people spend time and a great deal of money ($150 billion yearly) on cruise ships, although it creates the perfect environment for the spread of infectious diseases. Empowerment Cruise ships bring large numbers of people together in crowded, relatively small […]
Hotels and Travel Reimagined. Better? Perhaps. Certainly Different!
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste” Rahm Emanuel (American politician: adviser to U.S. President Bill Clinton; U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Mayor of Chicago). If not better, hotels and travel reimagined are easily different. Not Same Same Dr. Eran Avraham, left, and Dr. Izaak Cohen from Bar-Ilan University walk through […]
Live like a Local in St. Maarten
St. Maarten is governed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, although there are very few signs of the Dutch influence remaining. Today, this Caribbean island (shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas collectivity), is a lively island nation (approximately 100 miles east of Puerto Rico), that has become a major port for cruise ships and a […]
Aviation: A Stepping Stone to Caribbean Tourism Expansion… or Not
Unless you live in a Caribbean country, there is no way to reach the islands without using air and/or water transportation. No one has yet found the funding or engineering skill-set to build roads, rails or tunnels as connectors to the region; therefore, the development and sustainability of the region is dependent upon an air and/or […]