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FEBRUARY 2014

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Atlantic City not only is the East Coast’s gaming capital but

also one of its top shopping magnets, offering everything

from luxury boutiques to kitschy souvenir stores on the fa-

mous Boardwalk. And there’s no tax on clothing and shoes.

Tanger Outlets The Walk, a 15-block retail, dining and entertainment

venue located between the Boardwalk and convention center, features

upscale retailers with downsized prices. Among the outlets: Nike, Tommy

Hilfiger, Chico’s, H&M, DKNY, Adidas and Eddie Bauer, to mention just a

few of the national chains.

Casino hotels provide many of the shopping opportunities in Atlantic

City. The Pier Shops at Caesars showcases high-end boutiques featur-

ing designer clothing and baubles. Prestigious tenants include Burberry,

Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Catch the hourly water, sound and

light show in the towering atrium.

The Quarter at Tropicana is a three-level, vibrantly-colored complex

with 30 shops under one roof at the Tropicana Resort and Casino. Along

Old Havana-inspired streetscapes are stores like Swarovski, White

House/Black Market and The Old Farmers Almanac General Store, plus

restaurants, a comedy club, karaoke bar, IMAX theater and other enter-

tainment options.

Other casino hotel shopping options include The Waterfront, a marble

galleria at Harrah’s; The Shoppes at the Water Club at the Borgata; and

Spice Road at Trump Taj Mahal.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk offers more traditional temptations,

including saltwater taffy, fudge, beachwear and T-shirts emblazoned while

you wait.

Hamilton Mall, the area’ s largest indoor mall, is just off the Atlantic City

Expressway in Mays Landing, offering 140-plus stores and restaurants.

Touches of Old Havana charm shoppers at The Quarter at Tropicana.

Groups

Atlantic City

Spice Road at Trump Taj Mahal features eateries and specialty shops.

ADVERTISEMENT

LOVETourists shop, stroll and

gawk on the famous

Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Shopping has taken its place aside gaming as a must-do pastime in New Jersey’s

favorite seaside destination

12 Retail Revelry Swings Into High GearBY CAROLYN FEIMSTER

Brand new shopping malls and major expansions of existing favorites offer fresh options for travel groups

12

COVER STORY

c o n t e n t sON THE COVER:

Smart tour operators know a shopping mall visit brightens any group itinerary.

(Cover photo by ©iStock.com/Lighthaunter)

VOL. 24, NO. 1 • FEBRUARY 2014

FEATURES

8 Mission: Shopping BY VANESSA DAY

18 Heritage Clubs International Sets Sights on Laughlin

22 Texas Celebrates BY RANDY MINK

28 10 Top Caribbean Beaches

30 Discovering Central Connecticut BY RANDY MINK

34 Grand Strand Shopping Spree BY DAVE BODLE

38 Missouri with a French Accent BY RANDY MINK

42 10 Oklahoma City Must-Sees BY RANDY MINK

44 Seaside Virginia’s Culinary Bounty BY DAVE BODLE

46 Top Casino Picks

COLUMNS

6 On My MindBY JEFF GAYDUK

10 On TourBY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO

51 On MarketingBY DAVE BODLE

4 February 2014 LeisureGroupTravel.com

The iconic statue of Big Texgreets visitors to the Texas

State Fair in Dallas.

22

Singing the Praises of NashvillePublisher Jeff Gayduk stopped by to visitthe folks from the Grand Ole Opry duringthe recent American Bus Association Marketplace in Nashville, TN.

200

1907

8

447,021

800

Approximate number of food locations at the Texas State Fair

The year Oklahoma joined the Union

Wineries available for touringin Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

Population of Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia

Rose varieties at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in West Hartford, Conn.

60 Miles of beaches in the Myrtle Beach area

12,000,000Approximate number of shopping center jobs in the U.S.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

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It’s a huge time and money saver! Post your destination, desired travel dates and rooms needed and we’ll contact hotels on yourbehalf. Compare rates, amenities and perks on your own terms. You’ll save time,and are guaranteed the lowest group rate available.

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ON LOCATION


Seafood reigns supreme on coastal hops in Virginia.

Dallas CVB

To make good on errors in the 2014 Group Travel Directory, we provide the following information:

• The description in the listing for Das Dutch Village in Columbiana, Ohio was for a similarlynamed attraction. To set the record straight, Das Dutch Village has a restaurant, country inn,gift shop and a new year-round theater. Checkout the shows at dasdutchvillage.com• The correct website for Owatonna (Minn.) Tourism: www.visitowatonna.org

OUR BAD44

Virg

inia

Bea

ch C

VB


“IT’S FUN TO BE able to breathe again,” a tour operator colleague shared with me during

the recent ABA Marketplace in Nashville. He was referring to the improved economy and

the positive effects it had on his business.

Indeed, rising tides raise all ships, but it doesn’t mean we can put our business on cruise

control. With three years of headwinds at our back, here are five tips to get better results

in 2014.

#1 CLEAN YOUR DATABASE

It’s a fact of business - nobody buys something from someone they never heard of. That

being the case, what explains the bad emails, dead contacts and stacks of business cards

that never made it into your database? If you want to do better in 2014, start by tackling

your database. Strapped for time? Hire a local college student or recent graduate who can

take on this task as an internship or for a nominal project fee. They’ll get experience and

you’ll get someone who can run rings around you on the pc.

#2 KNOW WHEN TO BE A FARMER AND WHEN TO BE A FISHERMAN

Consider the difference between farmers and fisherman. Farmers plant their crops in the

spring, care for them all summer and bring them in in the fall. Fishermen wake up in the

morning hungry, so they get the rod and reel out and bait up.

What plagues people is that they go from one deadline to the next without looking down

the road. In other words, they don’t think like their prospects think. Dedicate one day a week

to farm. Evaluate your trip calendar. How does it jive with your customers’ planning habits?

Get emails, calls and brochures to key prospects. Plant those seeds. What you’ll find is

that being a better farmer makes you a better fisherman because the seeds you plant in

the spring will ripen in the fall, and your last-minute reservations result in a bumper crop.

#3 BECOME AN EXPERT…AT SOMETHING

We have been preaching about the rise of niche and affinity travel for the better part of

the last decade. Being that it’s the future of group business, what can you specialize in?

#4 STOP BEING SOCIALLY AWKWARD

Every day it consumes news coverage, floods your inbox and is on virtually every web-

site. Yet when I ask tour planners about social media, you’d think they just drank sour milk.

2014 is the year you recognize the significance that social media plays in your customers’

lives. Ask them what social network they use and commit to it for six months.

#5 BE FUNNY, CREATIVE, MEMORABLE

Do your voicemails sound like recorded scripts? Do you talk someone’s ear off without

letting them come up for air? The average person is exposed to 3,000 advertising messages

a day – how does yours stand out?

With an improved economy, pent-up consumer demand and scores of revitalized

destinations, 2014 can be your best year ever. Follow these tips and your boat will be

cruising faster than the rest of the fleet.

Happy traveling,

Jeff Gayduk, Publisher

Vol. 24, No. 1 February 2014

Editorial & Advertising Office621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406Willowbrook, IL 60527P 630.794.0696 • F [email protected]

Publisher – Jeffrey [email protected]

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Frontier & Mountain West/Illinois/Minnesota/Southwest – Linda RagusinP 630.794.0696 • F [email protected]

Florida & Caribbean – Eric Moore P 352.753.0736 [email protected]

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes noresponsi bility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made toensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty thatlistings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos,slides or manuscripts.

Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is publishedbi-monthly by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook,IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators,travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations.Other travel-related suppliers may sub scribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 peryear. The regular sub scrip tion price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copiesare $4.95 each.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406Willowbrook, IL 60527

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A publication

By Jeffrey GaydukON MY MIND

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When it comes to women and travel, shopping is usually

on the agenda. In fact, shopping has become syn-

onymous with girlfriend getaways. But Diana Ford and

her team at The Shopping Co. want to offer more than just desti-

nation retail therapy—they want to provide a truly memorable ex-

perience for tour groups.

“The Shopping Company is called The Shopping Company, but

it’s really for real women who want to have a fun girls’ trip,” says

Diana Ford, owner of The Shopping Co. “So, there’s always a shop-

ping component, but it’s really about experiences.”

Ford founded the business after she

spent years in the incentive-travel in-

dustry taking hundreds of groups all

over the world. She wanted to make

travel accessible to everyone and cater

to people in a unique way, and shop-

ping seemed like a great place to start.

“I wanted to focus on women’s trips and girls’ trips because

those have always been so fun for me,” Ford says. New York was

an obvious choice to include in The Shopping Co.’s travel pack-

ages, since it is a place many people want to visit, but are intimi-

dated by, she says. So, she made it more accessible by providing

a hassle-free trip—completely organized by her company—to

show tour groups the highlights of the city. “And not just the

touristy things, I give you the insider look at New York, so you live

more like a local,” she says.

Spa and shopping trips in Scotts-

dale, Arizona, are also popular vaca-

tions. This itinerary includes adventures

like a hot air balloon ride or a cocktail

night at a swanky bar to make it “a

whole girls’ trip,” according to Ford. In

ShoppingM I S S I O N :

For girls’ groups, The Shopping Co. wraps retail recreation and travel adventure into one neat package


DIANA FORDOwner of

The Shopping Co.By Vanessa Day

The Shopping Co. organizes trips

around the world for women travelers,

artfully combining shopping

and sightseeing.

LeisureGroupTravel.com February 2014 9

St. Louis, the company organizes resale bus tours, which have be-

come extremely popular, drawing people from all over the country to

participate.

While these tours are the most popular and sell out quickly, Ford

is looking to expand The Shopping Co.’s offerings.

“We’re trying to broaden women’s horizons,” she says. This

means adding new destinations, such as Dallas, Austin and London.

Ford is also looking to add Paris to the agenda, as well as some

cities in Italy, such as Milan, Rome and

Venice.

“There is more and more demand,” says

Ford. “Women now know that they need to

take care of themselves.” Many group tour op-

erators have witnessed this trend, too, and

are eager to cater to the growing market.

Tour and event planners interested in of-

fering clients a unique experience can look to

The Shopping Co. Ford and her team have

worked with groups of all sizes, with all budg-

ets. It can organize anything from a luxury,

VIP trip in Scottsdale to a budget-friendly New

York excursion, showing you can have a

memorable experience at any cost.

Ford emphasizes that groups hire companies because they want

something different, an insider’s tour. The Shopping Co. gives tour

groups not only an exclusive look into some incredible destinations,

but also manages every aspect of the trip so guests can have a

worry-free vacation they won’t soon forget.

For more information on The Shopping Co., visit shopco-

tours.com. LGT

feelin’

goodtake your group on a swingin’ adventure. reserve your seats today. 212-258-9875

wynton marsalis, managing and artistic director

jalc.org/groupsPHOTO BY MARYLENE MEY AND WHIT LANE

ere we are already into

February and I’m wondering

how many of you have your

tour calendar set, booked

and ready to go for the rest of the year.

None of this waiting until October to

suddenly decide you’d like to do a

year-end holiday tour. No nonsense

like thinking in June it would be nice

to do a fall foliage trip to New England.

In short, if you haven’t got it together

for the rest of this calendar year, it’s

already too late!

My goal is always to be a year

ahead. For a trip next December you’ll

need to have the reservations booked,

costed and published ready for sale

April 1. That will give you from April l

to Sept. 30 to market and sell it. And

you’ll then have the last three months

– October, November and December

– to finalize everything. By “finalize

everything” I mean: get final payments

in from travelers, make up rooming

lists, pay hotels, go over day-by-day

itinerary with your motorcoach com-

pany, brief your tour leader and send

out final travel documents to your

passengers.

And that’s just for ONE tour! What

if you’re doing a trip per month? Or

more! If they’re just one-day trips, not

overseas, and you’ve been there, done

that before, maybe you can get away

with a shorter lead time. In this case,

of course, it will be less work, less

time spent on pre-trip preparation.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that

you can properly market it and do

justice to it if your planning is left to

the last minute.

Also, let’s be fair to your travelers.

It’s true that there are some folks who

can drop everything and take off on a

trip on short notice. But more likely

than not, your travelers like to plan

ahead. They may need to budget

accordingly, verify if their best friend is

available to travel with them and plan

their day-to-day schedule accordingly.

And, if truth be known, they savor the

planning for the trip almost as much

as the trip itself!

Booking your trips a year in advance

also gives you, the trip coordinator,

the advantage of assuring that there’s

balance in your year’s travel schedule.

You’ll want to offer a variety of trips at

various price levels and lengths of

time to fit the budget and schedule of

your potential travelers. Perhaps you’ll

want several one-day local trips, at

least one cruise (something different

each year please – not the same old

Caribbean 7-day sailing), maybe one

soft-adventure trip for your more active

clientele. You may want to include one

trip built around music – concerts,

performances, etc. Perhaps some-

thing for those interested in the arts –

a new museum or show being curated.

Maybe a weekend family trip for all

ages. Trips built around food are

always a success – dine-around, learn

to cook. When I’m tour escorting inter-

nationally, I always include a lesson –

in Belgium it was how to make yummy

Belgian chocolates, in colonial Mexico

it was enchiladas. I find that the trips

that folks remember fondly are those

wherein they participated in some ac-

tivity themselves, not just watched

someone else do it.

Bear in mind, too, that a trip can be

more than just a trip. It can be used to

raise money for a specific cause (cost

the donation into the trip and specify

that so much per person is being do-

nated to XYZ organization). Last year

I took a group on a half-day walking

tour in Berkeley, Calif. The day was

coordinated by a company called Bay

Area Green Tours and it specialized in

showing off all the “green” businesses

in town – ranging from a senior living

facility to a rock-and-roll music venue

. . .a fun and educational day.

All in all, there are trip possibilities

to fill up the next 50 years. The secret

is to ferret out those that are truly

interesting, varied in content, and

suitable for the ages, budget, and

interests of your clientele. Then, take

the leap and get them booked NOW –

not later. LGT

Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who designsand leads tours. Her travel industry consultingand educational firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com). Her e-book How toPlan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Tripscan be ordered on groupuniversity.com.

10 February 2014

By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTCON TOUR

The Right Way to Set Up a Trip Calendar

HIn scheduling your trips

for the year ahead,

consider a family trip

as part of the mix.

www.GroupUniversity.com

Knowledge is PowerKnowledge is Power

Keep Your Competitive Advantage, Break Into New Markets

Starting to plan a student trip?

Confused about the timetable

for your reunion? Looking to plan

a retreat for your church…or

seeking to become a group leader?

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cover these topics, and more!

Download dozens of How-to Guides, Whitepapers, E-Seminars and Tour Guides FREE of Charge!

A Premier Travel Media Company

Shopping center developers across the country are compet-

ing fiercely for the visitor dollar and coming up with some

pretty creative experiences to lure groups. No longer can

they offer just shops and restaurants with a coupon book and expect

you to include their centers in your itineraries. Here we explore what

the shopping center industry is doing to attract the visitor and how

tour companies can turn the shopping experience into a profitable

venture.

Visitors to a destination are going to shop—that fact has long

been established. So the challenge for the shopping destination is

to not only get the visitor to stay longer and spend more money, but

to find creative ways to encourage tour operators to not just “rec-

ommend” shopping but to include it in their packages and itineraries.

The Outlets Rule

Today’s consumer, in this age of overload and overindulgence, is

confronted with many choices, so to get his or her attention the key

is to make things simple.

Jennifer Devermann, tourism director of the recently opened

Fashion Outlets of Chicago, said, “The way we simplify the buy-

ing process for our customer is to offer information and services on

what we know they want. For example, it is well known that the least

desirable part of today’s travel is dealing with TSA. Fashion Outlets

of Chicago has come to the rescue and formed a partnership with

TSA-certified BAGS Inc. for a special concierge program that en-

ables our customers to print boarding passes and check their shop-

ping bags and luggage directly to their final destination.” Savvy tour

operators are promoting this program to their clients with high re-

marks.

Having to drive an hour outside a major city to shop the outlets

takes an entire day away from the destination, but The Outlets at

Assembly Row will deliver the experience in a location just eight

minutes from downtown Boston. Andrea Simpson, director, market-

ing & tourism/corporate communications, explains, “The Outlets at

Assembly Row will house your favorite outlet stores, but it is so

much more than shopping. Besides stellar dining options and en-

tertainment, our guests will have options that they do not normally

have when shopping at the traditional outlet centers. For example,

the only LEGOLAND Discovery Center in New England is here. Vis-

itors have the option of kicking back from shopping and toasting to

a great vacation in one of our waterfront restaurants or in our out-

door living room, or catch a movie, or bike along the river. It truly is

going to become the 'not to miss' attraction of the Boston area."

Free motorcoach parking, easy drop-off and group-friendly pro-

grams with VIP welcome packets will make Assembly Row an at-

tractive choice for tour operators packaging the Boston area.

Hybrids are Born

What do you call a center that is anchored by entertainment and

also includes retail? American Dream, located in Bergen County,

N.J. (at the Meadowlands) and strategically located just minutes

from midtown Manhattan, is a hybrid. Construction has resumed on

the 3-million-square-foot center and within 18 to 24 months a new

destination will be born. Anchors will include a DreamWorks theme

park, indoor ski slope, water park, performing arts center, observa-

tion wheel with views of New York City, multi-screen theater, NHL-

sized ice rink, aquarium and even a miniature golf course. Add in at

least 400 retailers, restaurants and services, and visitors to the NYC

Bloomingdales is part of the expansion at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center. Upscale shopping will highlight the new Buckhead Atlanta development.


Retail RevelrySwings Into High GearBrand new shopping malls, plus major expansions of existing favorites,offer fresh options for travel groups

By Carolyn J. Feimster, CMD, CRX


area will have to plan at least one day at American Dream.

“Nowhere in this country can someone find so many different ac-

tivities all in one easily walkable location, not even in the entire city

of New York,” says Alan C. Marcus, president & CEO of The Marcus

Group, Inc. “Think of how many of the 54 million people who are al-

ready visiting New York City annually will now include a trip to Amer-

ican Dream during their stay.”

Remaining competitive in New York City is always a challenge,

especially if you are located in a district where it is important to main-

tain the historical integrity in any new shopping center development.

Howard Hughes, Inc., owner of South Street Seaport, is accom-

plishing this with its redevelopment program that proposes not only

a new Pier 17 building but also a new marina, restoration of the his-

toric Tin Building and a mixed-use tower, as well as a plan to ensure

the long-term future of the Seaport Museum and its tall ships.

"The re-envisioned Seaport District will be a vibrant, highly-en-

gaging area while providing a critical catalyst for the revitalization of

Lower Manhattan," said David R. Weinreb, CEO of the Howard

Hughes Corp. "We are creating a one-of-a-kind experience incor-

porating the best that New York has to offer in entertainment, culture,

shopping and dining in a development that is economically viable

while effectively meeting the needs of the neighborhood and show-

casing the Seaport as a treasured part of New York City's past and

future."

Additionally, a new tenant is moving into the Fulton Market Build-

ing, formerly home to Bodies…The Exhibition and Gap. iPic Enter-

tainment has signed an agreement for an eight-screen, 505-seat

luxury movie theater to open in the second quarter of 2015. This in-

theater dining concept is a first for NYC and will complement the en-

tertainment planned for the Pier 17 building, which will include

shopping, a rooftop Amphitheatre, world-class restaurants and out-

door bars. All of this will elevate the Seaport from a favorite place for

groups to enjoy lunch and shop to a “must-see” destination for any

visitor to Manhattan.

Luxury is King

The World Trade Center, just a short walk on Fulton Street to the

West Side, rounds out Lower Manhattan’s retail development with

TBD

Ala Moana Center Honolulu, HawaiiPresently over 290 shops and restaurants, becoming

370 by the end of 2015.

Originally opened in 1959; expansion will be completed

by the end of 2015.

[email protected]

alamoanacenter.com

American Dream

Bergen County, NJ at the Meadowlands,

minutes from midtownManhattan

Many entertainment venues18-24 months following the

start of construction

[email protected]

americandream.com

Buckhead Atlanta Buckhead, Atlanta 50 stores and restaurants upon completion

Phased opening beginningsummer of 2014

[email protected]

buckhead-atl.com

Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Rosemont, IL, just minutes from O’Hare International Airport

130 designer outletsand two sit-down restaurants

Aug. 1, 2013 847-928-7514

[email protected]

Mall of AmericaBloomington, MN,

minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul

520 stores and restaurantsAug. 11, 1992, with

completion of next expansionphase set for 2015

[email protected]

mallofamerica.com

Palm Beach Outlets West Palm Beach, FL 500,000 square feet mixed retail and restaurants

February 2014 [email protected]

South Street SeaportNew York City –

Lower Manhattan TBDOriginal opening date was

1981 – redevelopment scheduled to open 2016

[email protected]

southstreetseaport.com

The Outlets at Assembly Row

Somerville, MA, eightminutes from

downtown Boston

Mixed-use neighborhood with 35 stores and restaurants Last weekend of May, 2014

[email protected]

assemblyrow.com

The Outlets at Tejon Ranch

Tejon, CA, between Los Angeles

and Bakersfield More than 70 stores August 2014 [email protected]

tejonranch.com

New York City – LowerManhattan 2015

[email protected]

wtc.westfield.com

NAME OFSHOPPING CENTER LOCATION

# OF STORES AND RESTAURANTS OPENING DATE CONTACT INFO

FOR TOURISM PROGRAMS

World Trade Center


the 2015 opening of Westfield Group’s 350,000-square-foot, world-

class shopping, culinary, and entertainment component of the giant

office complex. Part of this new development includes The Oculus,

a passageway between the World Trade Center and another retail

development that will have 150-foot-high ceilings and vertical win-

dows ribbed by white columns—all leased to fashion tenants.

Buckhead Atlanta will soon rival Madison Avenue and Rodeo

Drive as a new six-block neighborhood is redeveloped. Offering over

800,000 square feet of customizable space, including luxury retail,

restaurants and cafes, office space and two high-rise residential tow-

ers, Buckhead Atlanta conveys the ultimate street-scene dynamic.

Rocell Viniard, regional marketing director for OliverMcMillan, ex-

plains, “Our company has been traveling the world seeking interna-

tional brands that will make their Atlanta debut at Buckhead Atlanta.

And because our customers will expect amenities not found any-

where in the area, our full-service concierge will accommodate them

including offering a full-time Personal Shopper.”

Looking for the largest open-air shopping center in the world?

Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center with its 370 stores and restaurants

will claim that position when its latest redevelopment is completed by

the end of 2015. Scott Creel, senior marketing manager, said, “Ala

Moana Center is continually evolving to maintain its position as a

world-class international shopping destination. With Bloomingdales

already announced as one of two major anchor retailers, the ex-

pansion will feature a mix of exciting stores, dining and entertain-

ment that will attract international and North American visitors as

well as Hawaii’s local residents.”

Technology Rules

Minnesota’s Mall of America is a great example of using tech-

nology to make shopping easier. MOA’s recent introduction of an

Enhanced Service Portal (ESP) improves the digital and physical

shopping experience of its 42 million annual guests. It integrates

all the communication channels through which consumers contact

Mall of America into a unified service.

According to Doug Killian, senior director, international tourism

for Mall of America, “ESP, with its state-of-art technology, brings to-

gether our website, social media channels, tele-

phone, text and dispatch teams, guest services

and security into a newly designed high-tech

space that allows the ESP staff to actively listen

to consumers and retailers and promptly re-

spond to them. Consumers can check in on

Four Square and begin interacting with the ESP

team before arriving to get driving directions and

information about parking or events. ESP also

helps consumers with anything from basic re-

quests, such as bag checks and information

about specific retailers, to more personalized

needs, such as dining and shopping recom-

mendations.”

Tour operators will hear firsthand about this

new service when they meet with Mall of Amer-

ica reps at upcoming trade shows. They also will

learn about the next part of the mall’s ambitious

expansion plans, which will include a second

hotel, an office tower, grand event space and

150,000 square feet of retail space.

With new mega, outlet and upscale centers

opening across the country, and existing centers

stepping up their game, shopping promises to

become a larger component of the group travel

mix for the generation to come. LGT

American Dream will become a visitor magnet in metropolitan New York.

real brands.unreal savings.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5THNike Factory OutletGap Factory StoreGUESSWhite House | Black MarketIzodNautica Factory OutletCalvin KleinChico’s OutletJ.Crew | crewcuts FactoryVan HeusenAnn Taylor Factory StoreLevi’sAdidasNine West Outletand more!

OP

EN

FE

BR

UA

RY

14

I-95 at Exit 71 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach PalmBeachOutlets.com

REGISTER YOUR GROUP FOR A FREE GIFT AND COUPON BOOK!For more information, email [email protected]

America’s most desired brands at over 100 outlets.

Conveniently located off of I-95 with coach drop-off

and free, easy parking.

Palm Beach Outlets is the perfectgroup destination with savings of up to 70% off


Heritage Clubs International (HCI), the national loyalty or-

ganization for community banks, is setting its sights on

Southern Nevada for its annual conference and market-

place. Slated for March 10-14 in Laughlin (90 minutes south of Las

Vegas), the event brings together bank travel club managers with

destinations and tour operator partners.

Heritage Clubs is the original—and with the recent exit of Bank

Travel from the market—the only organization dedicated to the na-

tion’s community bank travel clubs.

The annual Heritage Clubs Peer Group event is known for hav-

ing a strong line-up of educational speakers and this year is no ex-

ception. The headliner is Randy Hellrung, instructor from the

International Tour Management Institute. He will share his exten-

sive knowledge of the various mobile apps available to tour direc-

Heritage Clubs International Sets Sights onLaughlin

Annual Peer Group Conference features top speakers, trade show and entertainment

Randy Hellrung Instructor, International Tour

Management Institute

Muriel ClarkSocial Media Expert

The Colorado River flows past eight casino hotels in fun-loving Laughlin, a desert oasis where southernmost Nevada meets Arizona and California.

on trade shows ❖

Las Vegas News Bureau


tors while out on tour. Hellrung has delighted Heritage Clubs

members in previous sessions.

“I could have listened to Randy all day! As club directors we

could relate to his experiences,” said Myra Horton of Iowa

State Bank, commenting on a recent seminar Hellrung gave

to HCI members. “He was an excellent presenter with so much

knowledge and insight.”

Social media will also be a main focus with social media

expert Muriel Clark discussing successful strategies and pit-

falls when developing social media programs. With a strong

background in banking, Clark will point out obstacles that con-

front banks when they begin using social media and how to

overcome them. She will also discuss the right social media

platforms for banks, how to use them, finding time for social

media and creating unique content.

In a session titled “Building an Emergency Reference

Guide,” bank club directors will collaborate to achieve a uni-

form process to provide an emergency reference guide for

HCI club directors in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Lively Trade EventSuppliers are encouraged to decorate their booth and dis-

play literature in an open trade show format. Bankers are in-

centivized to visit all booths, allowing for unrestrained time toThe Colorado Belle hotel resembles a Mississippi River paddlewheeler.

Las V

egas

New

s Bur

eau

find new destinations and discuss building itineraries. The tight

ratio of suppliers to bankers avoids oversaturation.

Working Hard, Having FunAfter a full day of learning, this group is ready to have

some fun! Good thing there are plenty of sightseeing tours

and social functions to round out the activities. Tours include

a visit to Don Laughlin’s classic car collection at the River-

side Resort. Nearby Oatman, Ariz. features wild burros,

staged gun fights and lunch at the famous Oatman Hotel,

where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned. At-

tendees also enjoy a cruise on the USS Riverside, traveling

under the Laughlin/Bullhead City Bridge to Davis Dam and

ending with lunch at a brewery.

Evening functions include a culinary event hosted by

Laughlin, Nevada partners at the Aquarius Resort and

Casino. And after a great week of working hard, Peer Group

attendees will hang loose on the white sandy beachfront of

the Colorado River at Harrah's Laughlin in a closing event

sponsored by Globus Family of Brands. As has become tra-

dition, the closing night event will include HCI’s awards and

recognition ceremony. For more information, contact Her-

itage Clubs International at 877-881-0229 or visit heritage-

clubs.com. LGT

on trade shows ❖

The trend this year is relevant regionaltravel shows that spotlight local des-tinations and more face-time be-

tween buyers and sellers. Leisure GroupTravel is a proud sponsor of the followingevents:

Midwest Marketplace Adds Post-Event Fam Trip

Response has been overwhelming forthe inaugural event, which takes place May4-6 near Madison, Wis. Destination repre-sentatives from seven Midwest states willmeet with tour buyers in one-on-one ap-pointment sessions. A post-fam will visitThe Fireside Theatre and Milwaukee attrac-tions. For fam details, contact Wendy Do-brzynski at Visit Milwaukee, 414-287-4222.Registration and show information isavailable directly from Circle Wisconsin,800-223-0652.

Spotlight Travel Network Adds Southeast Event

Spotlight on the Southwest Conferenceis now in its 16th year with the 2014 eventexpected to be more popular than ever. Ittakes place April 27-29 at the GrandCanyon South Rim in Arizona. 2014 her-alds the arrival of the Inaugural Spotlighton the Southeast, Aug. 11-13 in Biloxi,Miss. Sponsored in part by the MississippiGulf Coast Regional CVB and Visit Missis-sippi, the state’s tourism authority, theevent promises a strong Southern flair in

showcasing group-friendly destinationsacross the region. A post-fam is scheduledto Pensacola, Fla.

Spotlight Travel Network (STN) is an informal group of travel professionalsthroughout North America who value and

seek mutually successful business relation-ships. The group seeks to build open andhonest relationships, pursue growth andlearning, and adhere to a family spirit. Spot-light combines educational seminars, net-working functions and a trade show. Touroperators are primarily domestic and Cana-dian, ranging from small operations to largereceptive companies. The ratio of suppliersto operators is never more than 2.5 to 1. Formore information, visit spotlighttravelnet-work.com.

New England Travel ShowcaseLooking to create incredible New Eng-

land itineraries? The New England TravelShowcase aims to help. Set for Nov. 1-3 inSpringfield, Mass., the show will give touroperators the opportunity to meet withqualified suppliers during prescheduledeight-minute appointments, networkingsessions, meals and social events.

The show’s organizer, Chris Donnelly,said, "I have been a member of the New Eng-land group travel industry since 1985. Istarted as a sales representative and haveattended shows all over the United Statesand Canada but have never attended a groupshow in New England. Fifteen years ago, agood friend of mine, Jack O'Neil, and Ithought it would be great to offer a show inNew England, and I have had this on mydesk for that long. Other regional showshave been very successful, now is the timeto bring one to New England."

Expected to attend the November eventare more than 200 exhibitors from RhodeIsland, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecti-cut, Vermont and New Hampshire. In plan-ning New England’s only trade show forthe domestic group travel industry, the organizers aim to make sure time and investment produces results. In three daystour planners will learn about new prod-ucts and spark new ideas to create sell-able itineraries. Find out more by calling888-889-8681 or visit newenglandtrav-elshowcase.com.

2014 Launches Three New Regional Trade Shows for the Group Market


Give people a dinner party and they’ll probably give you a smile. Give people a dinner party overlooking the Colorado River and a chartered dinner cruise, kayaking, waterskiing, championship golf 300+ days a year and spa facilities, all at an incredible value, and they’ll write a song about you. Plan a winning get-together by calling our Laughlin sales staff or filling out an RFP at VisitLaughlin.com/meetings/rfp.

Little did you know “VIP” stood for Very Important Planner.

on location: west ❖


Big Tex has been a

Texas State Fair fixture

since 1952. Dallas’ Fair

Park is home to the

Cotton Bowl.

TEXASCELEBRATESAnnual special events across the state, from ethnic parties to rip-roarin’ rodeos, give group tour organizers some festive optionsBy Randy Mink

Parades highlight Fiesta San Antonio, the city’s biggest event of the year.

San

Anton

io CV

B

B ecause it has a personality and

cultural fabric all its own, Texas

looms large on the tour-planning

landscape, offering a diverse variety of

sights to see, both urban and rural.

Scheduling a fair, festival or

other special event is one of the best

ways to enrich your tour and tap into the

Lone Star State’s inimitable way of life.

Here is just a sampling of major events

that may show up on the radar of tour plan-

ners working on Texas itineraries:

Fiesta San Antonio, April 10-27. San

Antonio celebrates its diverse cultures with

parades, carnivals, balls, art fairs, concerts

and food. Highlights of this 2014 ABA Top

100 Event include the big Battle of Flow-

ers Parade, which attracts 350,000 spec-

tators, and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade,

one of the largest illuminated parades in

the nation. Along the River Walk mariachi

groups serenade guests from colorful

floats and one night it’s the Texas Cava-

liers River Parade. A Night in Old San

Antonio takes place several times in the

La Villita historic quarter, the site of 15

cultural zones comprising 200-plus food

and drink booths and more than a dozen

entertainment stages. Dates in 2015: April

16-26. (fiesta-sa.org)

Texas Ranch Roundup, Aug. 15-16, Wichita Falls. This

event showcases top historic Texas ranches, the hard work of

the real working cowboy and every facet of ranch life.

Ranches will compete in chuck wagon cooking, cowboy art,

and rodeo events like bronc riding, calf doctoring, team brand-

ing and wild cow milking. Also check

out more than 200 booths at the

Bit, Spur & Western Collectible Tradeshow.

(texasranchroundup.com)

National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration, Sept. 4-

7, Lubbock. The largest gathering of cowboys in the world, now

in its 26th year, celebrates and preserves Western heritage and

cowboy culture at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Included are

entertainers, poetry and storytelling, Western author panels, film

and movie seminars, a Youth Wild West Day, horse-handling

demonstrations, a horse-themed parade, Native American In-

dian activities and presentations, the Chuck Wagon Cook-

off, exhibits of Western artworks, and merchandise for sale.

(cowboy.org)

State Fair of Texas, Sept. 26-Oct. 19, Dallas. The grounds

of Fair Park become the Fried Food Capital of Texas for 24 days

as concessionaires cook up everything from the signature corn

dogs to fried grilled cheese sandwiches, fried Nutella and

chicken-fried meatloaf. Guests at the fair, one of the biggest and

longest-running state fairs in the country, also enjoy free con-

certs, livestock competitions, carnival rides and an auto show

featuring 2015 models. The 212-foot Texas Star is the tallest

Ferris wheel in the Southwest. A ride up Top o’ Texas Tower pro-

vides panoramic views of the DFW Metroplex. The park is the

year-round home of the Music Hall, Cotton Bowl and eight mu-

seums. (bigtex.com)

Oktoberfest, Oct. 3-5, Fredericksburg. The three-day cel-

ebration of Fredericksburg’s German heritage features more

than 50 varieties of German, domestic and Texas beer and tons


Dall

as C

VB

of food booths serving up German favorites like strudel, potato

pancakes and sauerkraut. Oktoberfest also features live music

on four different stages all weekend long, including oompah at

its best. (oktoberfestinfbg.com)

Texas Rose Festival, Oct. 16-19, Tyler. This 2014 ABA

Top 100 Event, a tradition dating back to 1933, is highlighted

by the grand floral Rose Parade. Festivities also include the

Queen’s Coronation, the Rose Show and Queen’s Tea—

amidst a backdrop of brilliant roses. An art show, arts and

crafts fair, horticulture workshops and grape stomp at Kieper-

sol Winery are other crowd-pleasers.

(texasrosefestival.com)

WRCA World Championship Ranch

Rodeo, Nov. 6-9, Amarillo. This four-day

blowout celebrates all things cowboy.

Twenty ranches from across the US and

sometimes Canada qualify for this event.

More than 25,000 people make their way

through the turnstiles at the Amarillo Civic

Center to catch the rodeo action, enjoy

cowboy art and music, and shop for

everything from saddles, boots and tack

to jewelry, clothing and ranch accessories.

(wrca.org)

The Polar Express™ Train Ride,

Nov. 14-Dec. 30, Texas State Railroad,

Palestine and Rusk. This six-week event,

based on the book and movie, is the rail-

road’s largest and most popular trip. En-

couraged to dress in pajamas, guests ride

the rails between Rusk and Palestine

while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies

and listening to the story read by actor

Liam Neeson. Singing and dancing chefs

and attendants add to the festivities,

which are highlighted by a visit from Santa

and his elves. (texasstaterr.com)

Christmas Capital of Texas, Nov.

14-Jan. 4, Grapevine. Officially desig-

nated as the center of all things Christ-

mas by the Texas State Senate,

Grapevine puts on more than 1,400

events over a 50-day period, including

Christmas stage shows at the historic

Palace Theatre, the Light Show Spec-

tacular at the Town Square Gazebo and

a night parade down old-fashioned Main

Street, which is decorated with a million

Obtain Texas visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-infoon location: west ❖


Bronc riding at the World Championship Ranch Rodeo, Amarillo.

Amar

illo C

onve

ntion

& V

isitor

Cou

ncil


lights. The Grapevine Vin-

tage Railroad offers North

Pole Express runs, plus

Christmas Wine Train ex-

cursions for adults. Another

focal point of yuletide fun is

the massive Gaylord Texan

Resort, whose ICE! attrac-

tion showcases colorful ice

sculptures inside a refriger-

ated tent. The resort’s Lone

Star Christmas display fills

three atriums with elaborate decora-

tions, from giant snowmen, candy

canes and nutcrackers to a life-size

gingerbread house. (grapevinetexas-

usa.com/christmas)

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,

Jan. 16-Feb. 7, 2015. Established in

1896, the nation’s oldest livestock show

attracts one million people from around

the world. The World’s Original Indoor

Rodeo® features events like bull and

bronc riding, steer wrestling and barrel

racing. Outside Will Rogers Coliseum,

the Carnival Midway offers rides and

food, while regional bands entertain in

the Rodeo Roadhouse. In downtown

Fort Worth on the first Saturday of the

show, the All-Western Parade is horses

and wagons only—no motorized vehi-

cles allowed. (fwssr.com) LGT


Oktoberfest celebrates Fredericksburg’s German heritage.


Stev

e Raw

ls


Top 10 CaribbeanBeaches

Le Carbet Beach, MartiniqueLe Carbet is notable for its very softsand and incredible sunsets.

Pinney’s Beach, NevisHome to the world-famous Sunshine’sBeach Bar, Pinney’s Beach is amiles-long stretch of sand beginning at theNarrows, which passes between St. Kitts and Nevis.

Frenchman’s Cove Port Antonio, JamaicaFrenchman’s Cove is frequently usedfor movie locations, most recently theTom Cruise and Cameron Diaz flickKnight and Day.

Grand Anse Beach, GrenadaThis beach fronts a number of tophotel properties, and the wide stretchof sand represents the best of laid-back Caribbean beach vibes.

Long Bay Tortola, British Virgin IslandsNotable for its spectacular sceneryfeaturing the famous green, hillyhumps that dot the British Virgin Islands, along a half-mile slice of sand.Courtesy of caribbeanjournal.com.

The Caribbean has some of the best beaches in the world,

so selecting the best of the lot is a little like having to choose your favorite chocolate. Armed with snorkels and swimsuits, the editors of Caribbean Journalhave selected their Top Caribbeanbeaches.

Lighthouse Bay, BarbudaLighthouse Bay is a paradisiacal sliveron quiet Barbuda, an island home to less than 2,000 people.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand CaymanWith what might have the Caribbean’swarmest waters, Seven Mile Beach is ahaven for diving, snorkeling, and doingnothing at all.

Cabbage Beach Paradise Island, BahamasThis public beach, on the north side ofParadise Island down from the AtlantisResort, boasts the whitest of sand andan unmatched turquoise that only theBahamas can deliver.

Maundays Bay, AnguillaMaundays Bay is one of the jewels of tiny Anguilla.

Trunk Bay, St. JohnThe white-sand Trunk Bay is part of theVirgin Islands National Park, a nature preserve that covers much of this U.S. island.


MMGY Reports Strong Interest in Caribbean TravelAccording to MMGY Global’s 2013 Portrait of American

Travelers, the Caribbean outranked Europe, Mexico and

Canada with mid-income consumers considering an interna-

tional leisure trip in the next two years. The report ranked des-

tinations according to annual household income, with the

Caribbean coming out on top with consumers earning less than

$125,000 annually, while Western Europe trended higher with

consumers making above $250,000.

Bahamas to Welcome New Mega ResortConstruction is in full swing at Baha Mar, the largest sin-

gle-phase resort development in the history of the Caribbean.

This $3.5-billion development in Nassau in the Bahamas en-

compasses 988 acres along one of the world’s most beauti-

ful white sand beaches. Once finished in December 2014,

Baha Mar promises astonishing surprises and artful luxury

unique to the Caribbean—a distinctive melding of world-class

hospitality and authentic Bahamian culture through four dis-

tinguished hotel brands: Rosewood, Mandarin, Grand Hyatt,

and the centerpiece of the resort complex, The Baha Mar

Casino & Hotel.

Water sports will abound — snorkel, scuba, windsurfing,

sailing or simply relaxing on the over half-mile-long beachfront.

Resort amenities include a 100,000-square-foot casino, a sig-

nature, 18-hole championship golf course by Jack Nicklaus

and a private island experience via a short 15-minute boat ride

where groups can enjoy fully catered affairs or simple picnics

on an exclusive piece of paradise. For more information, visit

bahamar.com. LGT

The Baha Mar resort complex is set for completion by this December.

C A R I B B E A N N E W S

John Groo for The Mark Twain House & Museum Derek Dudek/visitNewHaven.com

on location: northeast ❖

S tretching from the Massachusetts border to Long Is-

land Sound, a distance of less than 60 miles, Central

Connecticut is a compact vacationland loaded with clas-

sic colonial villages, tranquil farmlands and two major cities with

thriving cultural scenes. Much of this delightful slice of New

England lies along the Connecticut River, which starts

near Canada and flows into the sea at Old Saybrook.

In small towns, groups can have a field day tour-

ing historic houses and museums. Shops along vin-

tage waterfronts and idyllic town greens brim with

antiques, crafts and gifts. Outlet shopping malls

lure groups to the state’s southern shoreline. For

urban pleasures, Greater Hartford and Greater New

Haven abound with crowd-pleasing choices.

Hartford, the state capital, rests on the banks of the Connecticut

River and offers a number of sites for groups inter-

ested in art, architecture and history. Options include

a tour of the gold-domed State Capitol and, in adjacent

Bushnell Park, a whirl aboard one of the 48 hand-

carved wooden horses on the antique carousel,

which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Groups may want to schedule a stop at

Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in West Hart-

ford, especially in June/July when the roses are

in full bloom. The oldest and third largest mu-

nicipal rose garden boasts 800 rose varieties.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of

Art, a Hartford treasure house dating from

1842, is said to be the nation’s oldest continuously operated pub-

lic art museum. Among its most impressive holdings are Baroque

Discovering Central Connecticut

From New Haven, sail into Long Island Sound

aboard the double-masted schooner Quinnipiack.

Hartford, New Haven and the entire Connecticut River Valley offer New England

charm and lessons in American history

By Randy Mink

Top sights include the Mark Twain

House, Yale University Art Gallery

and Yale’s Peabody Museum.

The Mark Twain House & Museum

© Elizabeth Felicella, 2012


and Impressionist masterpieces, colonial furniture and Hudson

River School landscape paintings. Gallery goers will see works by

Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, O’Keeffe and Dali.

Hartford’s exclusive Nook Farm neighborhood has the homes

of two nationally known 19th century literary figures. The gabled,

red-brick Mark Twain House & Museum showcases the 19-room

Gilded Age mansion where Samuel Clemens penned some of his

most famous works, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, inthe third-floor Billiard Room. Built in 1874, the Victorian Gothic

home features Louis Comfort Tiffany-designed interiors trimmed

with elaborate stenciling and carved woodwork. Save time for the

Ken Burns film on Mark Twain in the museum building.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, not far from the Twain

house, has items that belonged to the author of the anti-slavery

novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written in 1852. She lived in the home

from 1873 until her death in 1896.

Hartford’s lively arts scene includes Broadway shows and sym-

phony concerts at the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts, a

1930s Art Deco jewel that claims the country’s largest hand-painted

mural suspended from the ceiling. Behind-the-scenes tours are

available.

East of Hartford, groups can travel back to the 1700s in Wethers-

field, the state’s largest and most picturesque historic district, with

50 houses built before the Revolutionary War.

Stroll the brick sidewalks of Main Street and pop

into vintage homes and warehouses that house

one-of-a-kind shops. Choose from a wide variety

of flower, vegetable and herb packets at Com-

stock Ferre, the oldest catalog seed company in

the Northeast, or across the street at Hart Seed.

Several homes are open for tours, including the

1752 Joseph Webb House, which served as

Gen. George Washington’s headquarters in May

of 1781.

In Rocky Hill, near Wethersfield, Dinosaur

State Park’s giant geodesic dome covers 500

well-preserved dinosaur tracks embedded in an-

cient sandstone. An exhibition center has diora-

mas and interactive displays, and the park’s

arboretum features plant species from the age of

dinosaurs.

Childhood memories come to life at Barker

Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum in

Cheshire, a repository for more than 80,000 car-

toon-themed items, from lunch boxes and bob-

ble heads to toys, books and board games.

Visitors revel in California Raisins advertising

props, Star Wars action figures and collectibles

that recall favorites like Popeye, Batman, the Flintstones and

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each item is marked with its esti-

mated value, though none is for sale.

New Haven is best known as the home of Yale University;

many places of tourist interest revolve around the Ivy League

school. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History has every-

thing from dinosaurs and diamonds to meteorites and mummies.

You can see pieces of Mars and moon rock, marvel at impressive

dioramas of North American mammals, and learn about Native

Americans and other cultures. Yale University Art Gallery, with

paintings by masters such as Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh, is

the oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere,

founded in 1832. Other campus museums include the Yale Uni-

versity Collection of Musical Instruments and Yale Center for

British Art. The Quinnipiack Schooner offers excursions in New

Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.

The lower Connecticut Valley abounds with charming maritime

towns where groups can shop amid the historical surroundings.

Essex (pop. 6,500), with its white clapboard houses and riverside

marinas, looks much as it did at the height of its shipbuilding pros-

perity in the mid-19th century. A Fodor’s guidebook calls Essex “a

dream of a New England waterside town,” and it’s popular for

movie shoots. The Essex tour agenda often includes a visit to the


Kind

ra C

lineff

/visit

New

Hav

en.co

mObtain Connecticut visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-

friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Connecticut River Museum and lunch at the 1776 Griswold

Inn, one of the country’s oldest continuously operating inns;

chicken pot pie and sticky toffee pudding are signature menu

items.

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat combines a 12-mile,

roundtrip train ride with a Connecticut River excursion aboard

the Becky Thatcher, a replica Mississippi-style riverboat. Trav-

eling in vintage coaches pulled by a steam locomotive, pas-

sengers take in quintessential New England scenery as they

travel over bridges and trestles, rivers and creeks. They board

the riverboat in Deep River Landing for a 1¼-hour cruise, then

get back on the train for the return trip to Essex’s 1892 rail-

road station.

Another sightseeing highlight in the Lower Connecticut River

Valley is Gillette Castle State Park. Built of fieldstone from 1914-

1919, the whimsical, medieval-style home was personally de-

signed for its owner, William Gillette, an eccentric actor/playwright

best known for his portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. There are built-

in couches, a movable table on tracks and 47 doors, each with a

different, hand-carved latch. The hilltop estate overlooks the Con-

necticut River.

Also set along the river is the Goodspeed Opera House, an

1876 Victorian landmark in nearby East Haddam. Famed for de-

veloping new musicals, it was the birthplace of the original pro-

ductions of Man of La Mancha, Annie and Shenandoah. The

2014 season (April-December) will feature Damn Yankees, IrvingBerlin’s Holiday Inn and Fiddler on the Roof.

The artistic theme continues in Old Lyme, a Connecticut River

town where American Impressionism blossomed in a boarding

house (now the Florence Griswold Museum) that was the home

and studio of artists at the turn of the 20th century. Groups can

combine a visit to Old Lyme and Essex with a 1½-hour journey

across the river on Connecticut River Expeditions’ vessel

RiverQuest, a 50-passenger, twin-hulled pontoon boat.

The shoreline towns of Central Connecticut, between New

Haven and Old Saybrook, draw beach-goers in summer and

shoppers year round. Located off I-95 are two factory outlet

malls—Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets in Clinton and

Tanger Outlets in Westbrook. Boutique shopping is the pas-

time in Guilford, whose tree-shaded town green, flanked by

steepled churches and clapboard houses, is one of the pretti-

est in New England. Madison also has a town square with

smart shops and is home to Hammonasett Beach State

Park, the state’s most visited attraction with over a million

guests annually.

Connecticut may be the third smallest state, but it packs a big

punch. Happily for groups, the short distances between towns

makes touring Central Connecticut a breeze. LGT

on location: northeast ❖


Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is a beauty spot in West Hartford, Conn.

What do they serve at 125-year-old dinner parties?

What’s it like to feed a stingray?From learning Irish dance moves to face-to-face encounters with stingrays, Columbus is

full of unforgettable hands-on experiences perfect for groups of all sizes. Start planning

your Columbus visit today at experiencecolumbus.com/tours or call 800-354-2657.

What will you experience?SM

What do 500 butterfl ies sound like?

on location: south ❖

SpreeShopping

From outlet malls to theater gift nooks,shopping rates high as a group

tour activity in the Myrtle Beach areaBy Dave Bodle

Broadway at the Beach, a Myrtle Beach retail/entertainment hub exuding a youthful vibe,

offers 75 shops. Left: Step out in style from Dixie Divas at The Market Common.


Grand Strand


egardless of the reason that brought us to

South Carolina’s Grand Strand, there’s one

common activity on our “to do” list. Sure,

getting to the edge of the continent and eat-

ing some of the area’s great seafood is cer-

tainly on the agenda. However, what we’re talking about here is

shopping. It’s hard to imagine any shopping destination shining

brighter than the Myrtle Beach area.

Shopping malls with major store anchors, no problem.

Quaint areas with unusual specialty shops, that’s certainly avail-

able. Outlet malls with hundreds of

stores, take your choice of two.

There’s more than one shopping,

dining and entertainment complex

here. Don’t forget the beachwear

stores that only seem to be on

every corner. The sports enthusiast

is not forgotten with five huge

golf/tennis choices and the leading

outdoor adventure store.

Where to begin shopping is

about as challenging as what to

buy. Let’s begin our shopping jour-

ney with a look at some of the large

special interest stores and dispel a

myth. The two mega golf stores in

North Myrtle Beach are the PGA

Superstore and Golf Dimensions.

These two stores and the area’s

newest addition, Golfsmith, have lo-

cations in Myrtle Beach, too. Conveniently placed between the

two communities at the Myrtle Beach Mall is the Bass Pro

Shops Outdoor World. Here’s where we dispel the myth! There

are more major brand men’s, women’s and kids casual clothing

and accessories than what you’d find in some major department

stores.

Now that we’ve pinpointed special interest stores, let’s make

room for the shopping bags and begin our trek in North Myrtle

Beach. Quite a few of the events that take place off the beach

happen on North Myrtle Beach’s Main Street. Festivals, con-

certs and parades are all part of the story. Here in the home of

South Carolina’s state dance, the shag, you’ll find some charm-

ing specialty shops. In fact, at one stop we can find all of our

shagging music and dancing shoes. We’ll certainly find beach-

wear and souvenirs. The men and women’s boutiques have

smart fashions, and, as you’d expect, there’s a gift shop that’s

sure to have exactly what we want.

Situated between the Intracoastal Waterway and Highway

17 South in North Myrtle Beach sits Barefoot Landing, the

area’s original mix of shopping, dining, entertainment and

nightlife. With 16 restaurants including Greg Norman’s Aus-

tralian Grille Waterfront Restaurant and the Flying Fish Public

Market & Grill, we’ll find something to please every palate. And

there’s much to do when the sun goes down.

Opened in 1993, Alabama Theatre brings live entertainment

with ONE The Show, regular celebrity appearances and the

South’s Grandest Christmas Show. Gaylord Entertainment, no

stranger to the bright lights of show business, produces these

award-winning signature shows. The Guest Artist Concert Se-

ries brings in top touring acts

weekly. Of course, nightlife and

great food are alive at the House of

Blues. Both venues have out-

standing gift shops.

We came to Barefoot Landing

to shop, and there is an abun-

dance of specialty stores that are

sure to fit any style. From acces-

sories, apparel and gift shops to

jewelry, shoes and more, those

perfect finds are waiting for us.

With plenty of places to eat and en-

tertainment filled with memories in

addition to shops, let’s plan to

spend more than a few hours at

Barefoot Landing.

Talk about convenience, just

south of Barefoot Landing at the

intersection of Highway 17 and 22

is the Myrtle Beach Mall, which offers a perfect blend of retail-

ers you’ll certainly recognize and some intriguing specialty

shops. In addition to Belk’s Men and Belk’s Women, Books-a-

Million and JC Penney, you’ll find Victoria’s Secret, Bath and

Body Works and Hallmark. Islamorada Fish Company at the

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Ruby Tuesday are good

lunch or dinner stops.

You might be asking, “When are we ever going to get to our

first outlet mall?” Right now! Almost directly across the highway

and with easy access from the Myrtle Beach Mall is Tanger

Outlet Highway 17 N. This is one of two Tanger Outlets in the

Myrtle Beach area. If one is good, then two must be great. Both

offer group services for 15 or more. They’ll provide us a meet &

greet, a complimentary coupon book, merchandise rewards at

host stores and a gift card bonus if we stay a minimum of one

hour. Of course, we’re staying for more than an hour. There are

100 stores at each Tanger location, including Coach, Polo Ralph

Lauren Factory Store, OshKosh B’gosh and Old Navy Outlet, to

name a few.

R

Coastal Grand Mall, the Myrtle Beach area’s largest indoor

shopping center, offers national chains and local favorites.

Obtain South Carolina visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

You’re probably getting the picture that

the Myrtle Beach area is a shopping

mecca, but we still haven’t gotten to the

area’s largest shopping-dining-entertain-

ment complex, or the largest enclosed

mall. And let’s not forget the area’s spe-

cialty shops and theater gift shops. We’ll

check them out in just a few minutes, but

let’s get to the big one first.

We really can spend a full day (or even

two!) visiting Broadway at the Beach.

Checking out the website prior to arrival

for valuable coupons is a good idea. Upon

arrival let’s stop at the Visitor Center to get

a welcome greeting and map to plot our

shopping strategy.

When ready to take a break from ex-

ploring the 75 shops, there are plenty of

restaurants (24!) offering everything from

hot dogs to sushi. Hard Rock Cafe, Planet

Hollywood and Landry’s Seafood, among

others, welcome groups. We’re not going

to go hungry, and we certainly will not be

lacking entertainment options. In addition

to a dozen spots to listen to live music,

comedy and karaoke, Broadway at the

Beach is home to two live entertainment

theaters.

The Palace Theatre Myrtle Beach is

host to Hot Jersey Nights, a walk down

memory lane with the Four Seasons and

their perfect harmonies. Also new are Illu-sions of Magic, an amazing show for all

ages, and Jersey Nights Christmas Spe-cial. Legends in Concert Myrtle Beach fea-

tures the “World’s Greatest Live Tribute

Show.” A live band and dancers back up

tributes from today and yesterday. Enjoy

both theaters’ gift shops.

The Carolina Opry has entertained

groups for 28 years, and today it’s hard to

choose between the four fabled shows in

this single theater – The Carolina Opry,The Good Vibrations Show, The CarolinaOpry Christmas special and LIGHT Seethe Music. CDs from cast members along

with photos and souvenirs, T-shirts and

hats capture the memories.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

offers an entertaining evening of skills

demonstrated by knights in the Battle of

Champions. The feast alone is reason

enough for our visit. It’s a four-course meal

fit for a king and his majesty’s court. Like

me, though, your favorite cast members

just might be the magnificent stallions.

Yes, we’ll have time for the gift shop.

I’d be happy to share a few tales of pi-



The Myrtle Beach area has two

Tanger Outlets, each with 100 stores.

rates along the Carolina coast, but it’s better

to see them in action. We’re headed to Pi-

rates Voyage Dinner Attraction to witness

two competing pirate camps battle for lost

treasure. All the action takes place on the

deck of their pirate ship, in the 15-foot-deep

lagoon and above the ship. Regardless of

the victor, we will enjoy a delicious four-

course feast. The soup is delicious and it’s

available in the gift shop. Do not leave the

building without some.

Hang on to your seats—we still have two

more shopping stops.

We’ll find the Myrtle Beach area’s largest

indoor mall—Coastal Grand Mall—on the

south end. With Dillard’s and Belk serving

as anchors and JC Penney, Sears and

Dick’s Sporting Goods as the supporting

cast, will we need more? Absolutely. My fa-

vorite, Jos. A. Bank, is there along with Aber-

crombie & Fitch, Lane Bryant, Bed Bath &

Beyond, Ethan Allen, La-Z-Boy Galleries,

Men’s Wearhouse and a host of other na-

tional brands and local specialty stores. After

shopping hard, we’re going to be hungry. Do

we eat at the area’s largest food court, or do

we dine at one of the restaurants adjacent

to the mall? We’re sure to find something to

please every appetite.

What happens when the U.S. Air Force

decides to close the Myrtle Beach Air Force

Base? Many of us saw good friends trans-

ferred and the community lost a great neigh-

bor. By 2008, though, a new village setting

emerged. The Market Common, a shop-

ping, dining and living center, is a commu-

nity within itself and one we want to visit.

Here’s where we go to find the area’s only

Barnes & Noble, Tommy Bahama, Orvis and

CityMac Apple Specialist Store. When we

get hungry let’s choose between Travinia

Italian Kitchen and P.F. Chang’s China

Bistro; both are on the top of my list.

I’m delighted you could come along while

I show off the shopping extravaganza found

in the Myrtle Beach area. Using the worn out

adage “shop till you drop” may not be ap-

propriate, but frankly I’m exhausted. LGT

M Y R T L E B E A C H O C E A N F R O N T

Featuring 6 oceanfront pools (with hot tubs and heated pools), Sanctuary Spa, fitnesscenter, complimentary Hampton “On the House” hot breakfastbuffet, and 90-seat conference and meeting facility. Spaciousaccommodations include 2-BR family suites with kitchenette,oceanfront master BR, and separate kids’ BR with bunk bedsand a queen-size bed.

www.HamptonInnOceanfront.comor call 877-946-6400 and ask for our Sales Department

1801 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577/843-946-6400

TOP RANKED BY TRIPADVISOR.COM


on location: midwest ❖

ute, charming, quaint. Hidden gem.

Oozing with character. They’re clichés

that usually make me cringe, and I try

to avoid them. But all fit Ste. Genevieve.

It’s just that kind of place.

Those overused descriptions came to mind

as I walked the narrow streets of Missouri’s oldest

town, a place that I had always heard about but never visited, even

though I was in the general neighborhood on several occasions. I’d

been aware of its claim as the oldest European settlement west of

the Mississippi and pictured it being right on the banks of Ol’ Man

River. Well, the town was waterside at one time, until a devastating

1785 flood forced residents to move to higher ground two miles away.

Steeped in French colonial heritage, Ste. Genevieve is a National

Landmark Historic District with restored homes, antiques and gift shops,

art galleries, inviting restaurants and atmospheric bed-and-break-

fasts—a perfect setting for a girlfriends getaway, a mystery tour or

any group tour. Old-time street lamps set the tone in this town of

4,440, just an hour’s drive south of St. Louis.

Ste. Genevieve’s earliest inhabitants were French-Canadians who

in the 1740s settled a region known as Illinois Country, part of a vast

territory held by France. Though Spain acquired the territory in 1762

and Americans of English and other descents moved in after the

Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the town kept much of its French charac-

ter. Many Germans arrived in the mid-19th century, and they also con-

tributed to the cultural fabric, as did the famous art colony that flourished here

in the 1930s. Ste. Genevieve celebrates its heritage with several themed festi-

vals throughout the year, including Jour de Fete in August, the French Festival in

June and Rural Heritage Days in October.

Missouri With A French Accent


CM

issou

ri D

ivisi

on of

Tou

rism

Laid-back, artsy and oh-so-historical,Ste. Genevieve captivates groups

with small-town pleasuresBy Randy Mink

In the rolling hills around Ste.

Genevieve, wineries like Chaumette

Vineyards offer tours and tastings.

Several buildings from the French

colonial era, with their fenced-in gardens,

wide porches, steeply pitched roofs and

walls of vertical, hand-hewn logs, are

reminiscent of those found in Quebec,

Normandy and Louisiana. The Louis

Bolduc House, built in 1792 by one of the

richest men in Ste. Genevieve, is one of

the best preserved such houses in the na-

tion and a group-tour staple. Also on the

circuit is the 1792 Bauvais-Amoureux

House, 1806 Jacques Guibourd House

and 1818 Felix Valle House State His-

toric Site, the latter a limestone building

featuring an authentically stocked mercan-

tile store and the owner’s living quarters.

The Ste. Genevieve Museum provides

another window onto local history. Many

groups visit Ste. Genevieve Catholic

Church, an imposing red-brick building

dedicated in 1880 and surprisingly large for

such a small town; church tours can be

arranged. All these historical sites are

within easy walking distance of each other.

The best place to start your group’s day

is the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center,

operated by the town’s tourism depart-

ment. Exhibits and a 10-minute video shed

light on the town’s history. For groups

larger than 15, the center can arrange a

discount rate for admission into the historic

homes. It also can furnish costumed

guides, arrange outings to nearby winer-

ies, and schedule special performances by

the French carolers and French militia.

For accommodations, Ste. Genevieve

has the 48-room Microtel Inns & Suites

on the outskirts of town. Smaller groups

The French militia appears at Ste. Genevieve festivals and can perform for groups as well.

February 2014 39

Visitors can be serenaded in French by Les Petits Chanteurs, a children’s singing group.

Ste.

Gene

viev

e Tou

rism

R. M

uelle

r


might consider splitting up among the historic district’s bed-

and-breakfast inns. The graciously restored Southern Hotel,

the largest B&B, offers eight rooms appointed with Victorian

antiques. Built as a hotel in 1805, it was renowned for its fine

food, gambling rooms and pool hall. The Inn St. Gemme

Beauvais also has eight rooms, plus a private cottage; its can-

dle-lit restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays offers a classic

French dinner open to the public.

Other group-friendly restaurants include the Genevieve

Cafe, located outside the downtown historic district;

Audubon’s of Ste. Genevieve, opening this spring in a for-

mer hotel; and two venerable places on the courthouse

square—The Anvil Saloon and Historic Old Brick House.

The latter claims to be the oldest brick building (1785) west of

the Mississippi. Both the Old Brick House and Anvil Saloon

offer buffet options for groups and are known for their fried

chicken. One local specialty on their menus is liver dumplings,

a German-inspired side dish much like the noodle-like spaet-

zle. The Anvil Saloon, with high ceilings, exposed brick walls,

vintage photos and original maple floor, boasts an exquisitely

carved maple bar that has been in place since 1855, when a

steamboat struck a local sandbar and needed to unload some

of its weight. The apple and peach crumb pie are both loaded

with big chunks of streusel. An upstairs room can seat groups

up to 60. Other downtown dining options are Sirro’s, Stella

and Me Lunch Cafe and Station 2 Cafe.

For visions of Mark Twain, have your bus drive down to the

ferry landing, where you might see the boat that takes pas-

sengers, cars and even motorcoaches across the Mississippi

to Illinois. The nearest bridge is a half hour’s drive at Chester,

Ill. Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area, 10 miles north of

Ste. Genevieve, offers the best river lookout point.

Also outside of town, in the rolling hills of Ste. Genevieve

County, await several wineries that offer tours and tastings.

Chaumette Vineyards & Winery, more like a wine resort, com-

mands a stunning setting with views of the vineyards and Ozark

foothills. It has a restaurant, spa, gift shop/art gallery, wedding

chapel and villa accommodations. Crown Valley Winery and

Weingarten Vineyard also can handle large groups. In down-

town Ste. Genevieve, wine enthusiasts pursue their passion at

Ste. Genevieve Winery and the Show-Me Shop, a gourmet

foods store with Missouri-made wines, cheeses and sausages.

To round out a Ste. Genevieve itinerary, groups might con-

sider a tour at Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary, a rescue facil-

ity for exotic cats that have endured neglect or abuse. A

permanent home to five tigers and a lioness, it offers 40-minute

general tours and longer specialized tours.

For complete tourist information, contact the Ste.

Genevieve Welcome Center, 800-373-7007; groups@visitste-

gen.com; visitstegen.com. LGT

on location: midwest ❖ Obtain Missouri visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Southeast Missouri history comes to life at the exquisitely restored Southern Hotel, the town’s largest B&B, and the Ste. Genevieve Museum.

Fred LynchMissouri Division of Tourism

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

See newscasts, witness rescue efforts and

hear survivor accounts of the horrific April 19,

1995 terror bombing of downtown’s Alfred P.

Murrah Federal Building.

Then head outside to

the Field of Empty Chairs

overlooking a reflecting

pool. Each of the 168

bronze-and-stone chairs

represents a life lost. Also note the Survivor Tree,

an American elm dating back to 1927 that mirac-

ulously withstood the blast. (oklahomacityna-

tionalmemorial.org)

Myriad Botanical Gardens & Tropical Bridge Conservatory

Take a break from frenetic city life at this 17-

acre downtown oasis just west of the Cox Con-

vention Center. The cylindrical, steel-and-glass

conservatory, known as

the “tube,” houses more

than 2,000 plant vari-

eties in two distinct cli-

mates. Be sure to leave

time to walk the grounds,

which include a lake, innovative water features,

sculptures and flower gardens. The Great Lawn

and Band Shell host concerts and other special

events. (myriadgardens.com)

O klahoma City is not only the capital of Oklahoma but takes pride in the title “Horse

Show Capital of the World,” as it hosts more national and international equine events

than any other city. But even if your group doesn’t get to a rodeo or horse show,

there are many year-round attractions that display the state’s cowboy roots and Native

American heritage.

In addition to Western swagger, visitors discover that Oklahoma City abounds with urban

flair. First-rate dining and entertainment options, along with thought-provoking cultural sites,

provide plenty of fuel for itinerary planners. Here are 10 ideas on what to include on a swing

through Oklahoma’s largest city:

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

The country’s wild ’n’ wooly past comes alive

at this home to one of the world’s most compre-

hensive collections of

Western and American In-

dian art and artifacts. Pop

culture rears its head in

the nostalgic exhibits on

TV and movie cowboys.

Also explore the Rodeo Hall of Fame and Prosper-

ity Junction, a replica `frontier town with store-

fronts and walk-in buildings. Save time for the

awesome gift shop. (nationalcowboymuseum.org)

Oklahoma History Center This Smithsonian affiliate, located across from

the State Capitol, tells the story of Oklahoma in

galleries filled with thousands of artifacts and

more than 200 hands-on

audio, video and com-

puter activities. Besides

touching on cowboys and

early pioneers, the mu-

seum spotlights aviation,

World War II, the oil industry and the state’s lo-

cation in Tornado Alley. One gallery spotlights all

39 Indian tribes of Oklahoma. (okhistory.org)

Bricktown Entertainment District Enjoy a night on the town in this former ware-

house area, a beehive of activity just east of down-

town. Choose from music

clubs, sports bars, cafes,

fun shops and dozens of

restaurants, many with

outdoor patios. Stroll or

take a water taxi cruise

along the mile-long canal that flows below street

level, catch a minor league baseball game at

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark or visit the Ameri-

can Banjo Museum. (welcometobricktown.com)

Stockyards City In this historic commercial district that is

home to the Oklahoma National Stockyards Com-

pany, shop for cowboy

boots, enjoy a great steak

and witness real cowboys

at work at the world’s

largest live cattle auction

beginning every Monday

morning. Groups will have fun browsing the

Western wear shops on South Agnew and Ex-

change avenues. Have dinner or rib-stickin’ break-

fast grub at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, an OKC

institution since 1910. (stockyardscity.org)

OKCMust-Sees

10 Top Attractions By Randy Mink

Groups can find plenty to do downtown,

including a night out at Chesapeake Energy Arena,

home of basketball’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Making friends at the

Oklahoma City Zoo

42 February 2014

Obtain Oklahoma visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

FROM OUR RUGGED WESTERN PAST TO THE MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF OUR CITY’S EVER-CHANGING SKYLINE, OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE PERFECT

BLEND OF HISTORICAL PRIDE AND FORWARD PROGRESS. IT’S BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL …

PAST PR E S E NC E

VISITOKC.COM

Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum

Named the 2008 Best New Attraction in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association,

the museum spotlights famous and not-so-famous Oklahomans through high-tech, touch-screen

displays. It houses the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, which honors native sons

and daughters like Gene Autry, Reba McEntire, Will Rogers, Jim Thorpe and

Mickey Mantle. The stately building is the former home of the Mid-Continent

Life Insurance Co., and tours of its president’s office as furnished in the

1920s are available. (oklahomaheritage.com)


Science Museum Oklahoma Explore hundreds of interactive exhibits, visit the

planetarium, navigate a Segway obstacle course

and enjoy a larger-than-life movie experience in

the Dome Theater. Amateur

sleuths are taken through a

crime scene and forensics

lab in Whodunit: The Sci-

ence of Solving Crimes.

Also popular are entertain-

ing shows that focus on scientific fun, plus the

exhibits on space and aviation. The museum is

home to the Oklahoma Space and Aviation Hall of

Fame and International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

(sciencemuseumok.org)

Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Across the parking lot from Science Museum

Oklahoma are the expansive grounds that 2,000 an-

imals, including 50 endan-

gered or threatened species,

call home. Highlights in-

clude the state-of-the-art

Elephant Habitat and Great

EscAPE, a rain forest envi-

ronment with gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees.

The Oklahoma Trails section has creatures native to

the state, including bears, bison and bobcats. Also

catch a sea lion show and check out the Cat Forest,

Lion Overlook and Children’s Zoo. (okczoo.com)

Frontier City Oklahoma City’s only theme park, set in a replica

1880s Western town, is an all-day fun kingdom of-

fering rides, attractions and theater shows. Roller

coasters include the Rodeo

Round-Up, Silver Bullet and

Wildcat. Prepare to get wet

at Wild West Water Works

activity area or while riding

Renegade Rapids and Mys-

tery River Log Flume. Make sure to catch the gun-

fight stunt show. (frontiercity.com)


It has been said before, but worth repeat-

ing: Like an army, groups move on their

stomachs. Touring Virginia, there’s no end

to dining options for your group travelers.

Virginia certainly has a rich tradition of food

and drink. In the early 1800s founding father

Thomas Jefferson planted and cultivated

grapes. Today Virginia wineries utilize the fer-

tile grounds in more than 225 locations. Local

distillers and craft breweries are also spring-

ing up throughout the Commonwealth.

The first official Thanksgiving

in America took place at Berke-

ley Plantation in 1619. The menu

is long gone, but it’s a good bet a

catch from Virginia’s abundant

waters was on the table.

Enough history, though. Let’s

fast forward to the present and

take a look at one of Virginia’s

treasures. The “Coastal Harvest

Feast,” an itinerary offered by

the Virginia Beach CVB, is a de-

lightful taste of seaside Virginia

communities. From the Atlantic

Ocean and Chesapeake Bay through the

area’s rich agricultural heritage, you’ll enjoy

a true taste of the region.

Our arrival in Virginia Beach begins with

an introduction to some of the city’s best

group-friendly restaurants. Off the beaten

path on Rudee Inlet you’ll experience a pro-

gressive tasting at Rudee’s on the Inlet and

Rockafeller’s Restaurant. A nice finish to the evening is a stroll in

the gentle sea breezes on Virginia Beach’s famous boardwalk. Just

off the boardwalk on Atlantic Avenue is the Seaside Raw Bar,

which serves up good oysters and clams.

On day two we depart Virginia Beach and roll across the Chesa-

peake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Our first stop

will be the Cherrystone Aqua Farm for a tour that takes us through

the development of both oysters and clams. Virginia oysters have

a regional flavor. In fact there are seven regions and each has a

distinct salinity and a rating by saltiness, sweetness and but-

tery/creaminess. Our visit today borders on the Upper Bay and

Lower Bay Eastern Shore regions.

Lunch with an incredible view is at the Aqua Restaurant in

Cape Charles. You know the oysters we’re enjoying are fresh.

They were harvested and sent from the Cherrystone Aqua Farm

this very morning.

For dessert we’ll venture to Cape Charles’

quaint downtown and the Cape Charles Cof-

fee Shop, housed in a former bank and cloth-

ing store. Remnants of the latter’s architecture

are still prevalent.

A visit to Virginia’s Eastern Shore is com-

plete with a stop at Chatham Vineyards. The

owner provides insight into the business with

a tour of this award-winning winery. After-

wards enjoy a tasting and some refreshing

palate cleansers.

We’re headed back to the Vir-

ginia mainland over the Bay

Bridge-Tunnel. It is still considered

“One of the Seven Engineering

Wonders of the Modern World.”

Consider the Barbecue on the

Bay option at Virginia Originals,

the only restaurant on the Bay

Bridge-Tunnel, and save time for

shopping in the gift store.

On our way to the Virginia

Beach Farmers Market the next

morning, there are plenty of fun

things to do. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine

Science Museum defines the importance of

Virginia’s abundant waters, while the Military

Aviation Museum shares the area’s rich avia-

tion history. The region’s largest farmers mar-

ket is a showplace for farmers and their

harvest. Be ready to sample everything from

ice cream to seasonal fruits and vegetables.

For lunch and an afternoon of exploring, we’re off to Smithfield.

The Virginia Landmarks Register states Smithfield is “perhaps the

best preserved of Virginia’s Colonial seaports.” Here history and,

yes, hams blend seamlessly into a charming small town.

We’ll start our visit with a delightful lunch at the Smithfield Inn

Restaurant & Tavern. Enjoy Chesapeake Bay favorites and Smith-

field Ham on a yeast roll. The afternoon goes by quickly as we visit

the Smithfield Museum and browse the shops on Main and Church

streets in Smithfield’s Historic District. Taste of Smithfield is a cafe

and gourmet grocery featuring Smithfield Hams and all varieties of

Virginia peanuts.

A short drive leads to Darden’s Country Store, where we step

inside a wooden shed and have the host share the process of tra-

ditional Virginia ham curing. It takes about a year for the ham to be

cured, seasoned, cooked and sliced thin.


SEASIDE VIRGINIA’S

CULINARY BOUNTY

By Dave Bodle

Obtain Virginia visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info


From ham to clams, the“Coastal Harvest Feast” tourdishes up a smorgasbord of

tasty options

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: For a look at culinary-themed itineraries throughout Virginia, see Dave Bodle’s article at http://tinyurl.com/mbrug37

After returning to our hotel for a brief rest, we’re off to the Virginia Beach Town Cen-

ter. The area’s hottest destination is a mix of shopping, dining and entertainment options

all within walking distance. Enjoy dinner at one of 17 restaurants.

Culminating a culinary tour of Virginia Beach is a Harvest Feast at Cellars Restaurant

Bar & Lounge at Cherry Point Manor Bed & Breakfast, where the chef specializes in

“French country with a Southern flair.” Local aqua and agricultural seasonal products

are always featured. Many of the items you might just recognize from your travels the

past few days.

Thanks for joining me on this tasty adventure and do remember–Virginia is for Food

Lovers! LGTAn adventure of historic proportion is waiting for your groups—at two living-history museums that explore America’s beginnings. They can board replicas of colonial ships. Grind corn in a Powhatan Indian village. Try on English armor inside a palisaded fort. And join historical interpreters at a Continental

guided tours and hands-on programs. Tell them not to forget their cameras. Because the history here is life size. And their memories will be even bigger!

1-888-868-7593

Make Room for the Memories.


Scioto Downs RacinoColumbus, Ohio

Scioto Downs has brought gaming to the

Columbus community for over 50 years.

Ohio's first Racino brings Video Lottery Ter-

minal (VLT) gaming and harness horse racing

together. The gaming floor has more than

2,100 of the industry’s most popular games.

Also enjoy seasonal harness horse racing

every May-September and daily simulcast

wagering, experience live entertainment and

dine in one of four restaurants, including The Grove Buffet with its seven food stations.

Scioto Downs Racino is open 24/7, 365 days a year. (sciotodowns.com)

Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield ParkNorthfield, Ohio

This brand new casino opened Dec. 18 at

Northfield Park, a popular spot for live

harness racing and simulcasting year-round.

Featuring 2,200 Video Lottery Terminal (VLT)

machines, the massive gaming and enter-

tainment complex between Cleveland and

Akron sizzles with a rock vibe and offers live shows with multiple stages and areas for

concerts and events. Decorated throughout with a priceless collection of rock and roll

memorabilia, the Rocksino has four restaurants, including a Hard Rock Cafe and

Kosar’s Wood-Fired Grill. (hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com)

Decadent buffets, electrifying entertainment and thechance to strike it rich inject any tour itinerary withhigh-stakes fun, immersing travelers in a magical

world that seems light years away from the ordinary.Highlighted here are gaming meccas that will makeyour groups feel like they’ve won the jackpot:

Top Casino Picks


Clipart.com

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino ResortCherokee, North Carolina

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

Resort is an enterprise of

the Eastern Band of the Cherokee

Nation and located in the heart of

the Great Smoky Mountains of

Western North Carolina. The

Casino offers over 4,000 games

including slot machines and tradi-

tional table games such as black-

jack, roulette and craps. The

property also features over 1,100

hotel rooms, 10 restaurants, the Essence Lounge, a 3,000-seat Event

Center, Mandara Spa and plenty of shopping. (harrahscherokee.com)

Royal River Casino & Hotel Flandreau, South Dakota

Royal River’s casino floor features more than 350 slot ma-

chines, along with blackjack, roulette and a dedicated poker

room. Guests at the 120-room hotel enjoy spacious accommodations

with whirlpool bath tubs, plus a swimming pool and hot tub. River’s

Bend Restaurant is known

for its sumptuous buffet. The

Royal Room features nation-

ally known musical artists

and comedians. Group tours

are welcome, with packages

available for both day trips

and overnight stays. (royal-

rivercasino.com)

Circus Circus Las Vegas, Nevada

Located on the Las Vegas

Strip, Circus Circus has

100,000 square feet of gaming

in four full-size casinos. The

resort’s 3,767 guest rooms and

135 suites are housed in three

towers and five, three-story

buildings. Circus acts perform on the Carnival Midway, which offers 200

classic games. The five-acre Adventuredome, the largest indoor theme

park in America, has a roller coaster, swinging pirate ship, Ferris wheel

and FX theater with two 4-D special effects ride films, plus 20 other rides

and attractions. (circuscircus.com)

HOP ON THE BUS AND SET

YOURSELF FREE!

GROUP SALES 330.908.7772 [email protected]

10777 Northfield Road | hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.comfacebook.com/hrrocksinonp | twitter.com/hrrocksinonp

FOR FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP 24/7, CALL THE OHIO RESPONSIBLE GAMING HELPLINE AT 1.800.589.9966. ©2014 Hard Rock International (USA), Inc. All rights reserved.

Reasons to book your motorcoach group to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort TODAY:

For more information or to book your group, call toll free 1-877-778-8138 or email [email protected].

®

G R O U P M O T O R C O A C H I N G W I L L G E T Y O U R E S O R T I N G T O M O R E F U N T H A N E V E R !


Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort HotelCoeur d’Alene, Idaho

Guests at this Inland Northwest playground can indulge in a massage or facial at the

spa, hit the bingo hall or try their luck at more than 1,600 video gaming machines.

Every month there are more than 1,100 jackpot winners. Another popular amenity is

Circling Raven Golf Club, one of the finest new golf challenges in the region. Guests at

the 202-room resort can choose from multiple restaurants and bars, including a food

court, High Mountain Buffet and Chinook Steak, Pasta & Spirits. (cdacasino.com)


Clip

art.c

om

ver the past few years I’ve

dedicated considerable

space to finding new cus-

tomers. Hopefully some of

those thoughts worked and money in-

vested has paid dividends. However,

as any astute businessperson knows,

bringing in a new customer is not the

end game. Today, let’s give some

thought to marketing ideas that turn

those new customers into repeat,

long-term, loyal clients.

Let’s be honest. The tour & travel

business is based on relationships.

We accept the idea that by providing

good customer service, they will cer-

tainly come back. That’s a great start.

However, if you think it’s unnecessary

to have a formal customer retention

program, now’s the perfect time to turn

the page.

New business is certainly the lifeline

of any business, but here are the facts

from a SumAll study. They might just

help us understand why customer loy-

alty programs are possibly more im-

portant than new customer strategies.

� Of our first-time customers, 27

percent will make an additional pur-

chase. However, customers that have

purchased four times will return 60

percent of the time.

� Up to 40 percent of our business

revenue can come from repeat busi-

ness. It’s important to note that this

revenue comes at a lower cost since

there is less investment than needed

to attract a new customer.

� Those businesses on the high-

end percentage of repeat business

experience higher revenue returns

than businesses on the lower end of

repeat percentages.

� Repeat customers tend to spend

more than first-time buyers. This fact

would seem to make the case for a

tour company to offer product in both

the value and luxury price points.

Okay, this customer retention thing

makes sense, but where do we go

from here. Following are some obser-

vations from outside the industry that

just may apply.

We touched on customer service

and recognize its importance, but let’s

be certain to emphasize personalized

attention. Throw away the thought that

one size fits all when we think of our

customers’ interests. Based on buying

habits (both our product and others),

let’s personalize our customer offers

and communications. I’ve borrowed

the term “this is a high-touch industry.”

Let’s not leave that thinking on the

marketplace floor.

For years direct marketing folks

have known that the best time to sell

someone is right after they’ve bought.

When a tour is successful, we must

have a follow-up offer ready. They

took the tour because the theme and

accompanying options attracted them.

Now is the perfect time to offer those

very customers something that’s the

same, but different. Destinations, too,

need to be thinking a “series” of same,

but different itineraries for operators.

This past year I’ve visited more than

a dozen states via air, rental car and

train. I have mileage cards from all of

them, plus hotel and even restaurant

incentives. How many of us in tour

& travel have a customer rewards

program? Of course, we use comps

to incentivize individual tours, but how

many are offering a long-term program

that promotes and encourages addi-

tional travel? Operators can reward

their groups by mileage traveled,

overnight stays or dollars spent. A sup-

plier with a program that rewards oper-

ators over the long-term helps that

operator sell more tours to their desti-

nation.

Years ago a close friend and I did a

series of training workshops for tour &

travel suppliers. I vividly remember my

partner saying that the first 30 minutes

of a group’s arrival at the hotel will set

the tone for the entire tour. If they have

a bad experience, they’ll be reliving it

the entire trip. The point is simple.

Whether you’re a tour operator or

supplier, make certain that both for

first-timers and loyal customers, their

very first experience is exceptional

and memorable.

We work hard to get new business.

To keep those customers, we need to

work even harder. LGT

By Dave BodleON MARKETING

O

Looking Ahead To Our APRIL ISSUE

� Family Travel � Glorious Gardens � Theaters/Shows � Minnesota � California � Wyoming� Michigan � Kansas � New York � Pennsylvania � Travel South States � Central & South AmericaSee our page-flip edition & past issues at LeisureGroupTravel.comWe can help showcase your business to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 or [email protected]

Contact Dave at 843-997-2880 or [email protected].

For Repeat Business, Consider A Customer Loyalty Program


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R E S P O N D B Y M A R C H 1 5

❑ Billy Graham Library, Charlotte, NC

❑ Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, Asheville, NC

❑ Celtic Tours World Vacations

❑ Collette

❑ Das Dutch Village, Columbiana, OH

❑ Florida’s Emerald Coast

❑ Globus Family of Brands

❑ Goway GroupsOnly/Goway Travel Ltd

❑ Hampton Inn & Suites, Myrtle Beach, SC

❑ Honor's Haven Resort & Spa, Ellenville, NY

❑ Lincoln CVB, NE

❑ North Myrtle Beach CVB, SC

❑ Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, TN

❑ Switzerland Tourism

❑ The Living Word, Cambridge, OH

❑ Tyler CVB, TX

❑ U.S. Tours

❑ VisitNorfolk, VA

❑ Wyndham Extra Holidays

Religious Travel

Planning Guide

❑ Alabama Theatre, Myrtle Beach, SC❑ Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, TX❑ Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, NJ❑ Avalon Waterways ❑ Captain Jack's Seafood Buffet, North Myrtle Beach, SC❑ Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV❑ City of Lewisville, TX❑ Coeur D'Alene Casino Resort, Worley, ID❑ Collette ❑ Dallas Summer Musicals, TX❑ Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, CT❑ Experience Columbus, Columbus, OH❑ Fargo-Moorhead CVB, ND & MN❑ Greater Birmingham CVB, AL

❑ Group Sales Box Office/Broadway.com, New York, NY❑ Hampton Inn & Suites, Myrtle Beach, SC❑ Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield, OH❑ Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee, NC❑ Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Williamsburg, VA❑ Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY❑ Lake County CVB, IL ❑ Laughlin CVB, NV❑ Louisiana Travel Promotional Assoc., LA❑ Mall of America, Bloomington, MN❑ Marriott Chicago Southwest at Burr Ridge, IL❑ Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mashantucket, CT❑ Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

❑ New Orleans Hotel Collection, LA

❑ North Myrtle Beach CVB, SC

❑ Oklahoma City Tourism, OK

❑ Outlet Shops of Grand River, Leeds, AL

❑ Palm Beach Outlets, West Palm Beach, FL

❑ Royal River Casino, Flandreau, SD

❑ Scioto Downs Racino, Columbus, OH

❑ Ste. Genevieve Dept. of Tourism, MO

❑ Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, Waco, TX

❑ U.S. Tours/Norwegian Cruise Line

❑ VisitNorfolk, VA

❑ Yorktown Sailing Charters, VA

Please have suppliers contact me via: ❐ Mail ❐ Email ❐ Phone

Send more information on companies in the following categories:❐ Attractions ❐ Casinos ❐ Cruise Lines ❐ Destinations ❐ Hotels

❐ Restaurants ❐ Theaters ❐ Tour Operators ❐ Travel Insurance

Send information on the following regions:❐ Northeast ❐ Midwest ❐ South ❐ West ❐ Canada ❐ Europe ❐ Asia ❐ Latin America

Request Advertiser Info

For more information call 800.762.5345 or your local Travel Agent. www.gocollette.com

For the 7th year in a row, Collette has

received Leisure Group Travel’s

Platinum Reader’s Choice Award

for the top Tour Operator. Not

only do we deliver extraordinary travel

experiences, but our fi nancial stability puts

group leaders at ease because they know

they can trust their travelers to us.

We have successfully operated guided

travel for 95 years. For generations,

Collette has been family-owned

and operated and has given travelers

inspirational adventures around the world.

guided by travel

Your Group Deserves Platinum