Category Archives for Destinations.
Hawaii has awarded a new tourism marketing contract for a campaign that lays out what kind of travel they want to attract. In particular, as they’re desperate to drive a resurgence in Maui visits, they want Europeans to be more respectful and spend more.
Devastated by fires, the island’s economy is 80% dependent on tourism. They’ve been asking tourists to come back but too many people are shaming people not to do so, calling tourists ‘exploitive’ when the locals are now facing unemployment as a result.
A New Yorker flying to Israel ran into extra security screenings and delays flying to Israel and she says that, as a Palestinian, she’s a victim of the Jewish state. Is she?
Noor Fawaz was booked through Chase travel to fly El Al from New York to Tel Aviv. El Al’s security processes are more rigorous and extreme than most airlines. They profile! Ms. Fawaz got extra questioning, and this was acknowledged to her.
Last week I wrote that Maui’s mayor said it was time for tourists to return to the island. Just stay away from the western part. They need visitors to Wailea. They need visitors to Kihei.
And many of you slammed me, calling me insensitive to the tragedy that had occurred on the island. Now the Governor is asking for people to return, locals are asking him for a state of emergency, and local unemployment has increased ten-fold.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and International Civil Aviation Organisation conducted a “pre-audit” in June, to prepare for next year’s formal Universal Safety Oversight Audit, to give them a chance to rectify problems first. They identified two issues, both problems in the United States, but it’s the details here that are scary.
At least 16 students were deported from the Atlanta airport in one day after arriving from Delhi on a Delta flight. They all had valid F1 visas to study at St. Louis University.
A week ago United Airlines made an announcement about its flights to China that is not true. They said they would add 10 weekly flights between the U.S. and China. They will not do so.
Delta announced that it would add six weekly flights between the U.S. and China. It probably won’t do this either.
West Maui is in shambles. Lahaina has largely been destroyed. 111 people are confirmed dead, with as many as 1,000 still missing. Over 2,000 structures were damaged – most of them residential. But slowly life is being put back together. Verizon cell phone service was just restored. Yet Maui already needs tourism back.
Tirana is going to feel like a European city. The northern part of the country will seem underdeveloped. It’s a highly seasonal (summer) destination located in Southeastern Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It is both relatively safe and affordable. You’ll see castles and other architecture in addition to beaches, and you’ll eat soured milk casserole and drink coffee. There are more coffee shops per capital in Albania than anywhere else in the world. Albania does seem to be having a moment.
The town of Lahaina on Maui is being absolutely pummeled by fire, spurred by wind from a hurricane that passed by. Hundreds of people evacuated. Power and cell service have been down for many. A Presidential Disaster Declaration is expected. Maui lacks ICU beds and burn victims are being flown to Oahu.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
