Trazee Book 2017

trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2017

THE TRAZEE BOOK THE TRAZEES p. 6 MILLENNIALS AND BRAND LOYALTY p. 20 SPORTS AND WELLNESS TOURISM p. 24 TRAVEL APPS & GADGETS p. 32 URBAN EXPLORATION p. 36 2018 TRAVEL FORECAST p. 42 LIFE OF A TRAVEL BLOGGER p. 46

from the editorial team ®

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com

GOING OUR WAY WELCOME TO THE SECOND EDITION of The Trazee Book! This special print edition spins off our digital publication, trazeetravel.com, which presents reviews, tips and insights into destinations around the world. From braving the world’s longest suspension pedestrian bridge in Switzerland to exploring the GOING PLACES: Allie Menzione on Santoríni deserts of Egypt and everything in PHOTO: © ALLIE MENZIONE between, our extraordinary team of young, passionate contributors brings you the best the world has to offer.

For someone like me — a millennial with a passion for crossing destinations off her bucket list — Trazee Travel makes the perfect guide. Trazee helped me plan my own trip to Greece this summer, and it was fun to share my unforgettable experience with you. We understand our readers have diverse interests which range from luxury spa treatments to backpacking around the world; a cross-country expedition might just require a luxury spa treatment afterward, so we do our best to keep our young, multifaceted travelers up to speed.

If you’re planning a trip, Trazee Travel proves an invaluable resource to help you map out all aspects of your journey, from picking a destination to exploring its top attractions. If you’re looking for the best travel apps and gadgets that will prepare you for any destination, start your packing list here. Considering travel blogging? We give you an inside look into the lives of the writers who mastered their personal brands. Check out these features and more on the following pages. Also in this book, we recap The Trazees 2017 winners, announced on trazeetravel.com in July. This book puts the best aspects of our web publication, from Top Trends to Products, into the palm of your hand.

I’m incredibly excited to introduce this edition of The Trazee Book as the new assistant digital coordinator and as a consumer and contributor. Our team members proudly share their experiences around the world and provide the best in travel news and information in order to make your journey through the world and through life absolutely remarkable. Enjoy the best in millennial travel trends — by us, for us.

Tag us in your own travels @TrazeeTravel, and we’ll see you out there!

Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor NICOLE QUASTÉ nicole.quaste@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor ANGELIQUE PLATAS angelique.platas@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Content Producer DEBRA BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Digital Coordinator ALLIE MENZIONE allie.menzione@globaltravelerusa.com ART Art Director TRACEY CULLEN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor VANCE PICCIN

WRITERS JENNA PAYESKO JACK GUY MEGAN HILL

ete bios, For compl usa.com altraveler ob gl t si vi

CIRCULATION Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD, TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI Research Consultant SHARON STERNE ADVISORY BOARD Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE, COO MICHAEL KIELY, President CARLOS CAPPUCCIO, Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD, Deputy Vice President Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON, Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN DOHERTY, Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN, Vice President Special Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK, Secretary MARK LANE, Research Director FRANK LOVERME, Treasurer KEVIN RYAN, Director of Technology BOB HANCOCK, Director of Digital Advancement JARED TORGAN

ALLIE MENZIONE, ASSISTANT DIGITAL COORDINATOR

GENERAL COUNSEL THOMAS F. GOLDMAN CONTACT US

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® ®

ADVERTISING Publisher/CEO FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER tel 267 364 5811 ext 200 | fran.gallagher@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Vice President RICHARD T. EVANS tel 267 364 5811 ext 203 | dick.evans@globaltravelerusa.com

IN THE KNOW WE'RE DELIGHTED TO introduce the second edition of The Trazee Book! After our readers’ overwhelmingly positive response to last year’s inaugural edition, we are back with the best tips, tricks and travel information for any millennial planning a trip, big or small.

Our web publication, Trazee Travel, not only helps with travel planning, but also it is a source for inspiration, fashion, news, entertainment and even food and wellness trends. Our editorial team of millennials works hard throughPHOTO OP: Andrew Risch in the Everglades out the year to bring you the most upPHOTO: © ANDREW RISCH to-date information. I particularly find the “Under $100” lists perfect when I want to enjoy a weekend trip without hurting my wallet. Trazeetravel.com offers something for everyone, including great stories from all over the globe.

The Trazee Book is a special edition, not just because it appears once a year but because not many publications truly understand what we millennials are looking for in travel. This year’s edition is packed full of insider information, featuring timely topics such as the best travel apps and gadgets, trends in urban exploration and sports and wellness tourism. We give you an inside look at the life of travel bloggers and what to expect in the travel industry in the coming year. And be sure to check out your favorite travel-related products and services in our recap of The Trazees, the awards chosen by this in-demand audience of millennial travelers.

Whether you are a millennial or someone who wants to learn more about this dynamic generation, we hope you enjoy reading the 2017 edition of the The Trazee Book as much as we enjoy bringing it to you.

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trazeetravel.com TRAZEE TRAVEL 2017

contents

Trazee Travel 2017

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DREAMSTIME

PHOTOS: © TRAVELMATE, © SAMUEL ANTONIO | DREAMSTIME, © SONECHKA | DREAMSTIME, © EPICSTOCK |

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6 Best and Brightest Global Traveler and Trazee Travel celebrate the 2017 winners of The Trazees.

36 Abandoned Places Intrepid travelers explore urban ruins for one-of-a-kind experiences.

20 Behavioral Shifts What influences the brand loyalty of millennials?

42 Looking Ahead What can millennial travelers expect in 2018?

24 Mind, Body and Soul With a rise in health-related services, travelers find it easier to stay fit on the go.

46 On the Road Travel bloggers reveal the realities of roaming the world for a living.

32 Get in Gear Use apps and gadgets to make travel more pleasant and productive.

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FX E X P R E S S

ON THE COVER

P U B L I C AT I O N S , I N C .

trazeetravel.com | $4.99 | 2017

THE TRAZEE BOOK THE TRAZEES p. 6 MILLENNIALS AND BRAND LOYALTY p. 18 SPORTS AND WELLNESS TOURISM p. 24 TRAVEL APPS & GADGETS p. 32 URBAN EXPLORATION p. 36 2018 TRAVEL FORECAST p. 42 LIFE OF A TRAVEL BLOGGER p. 46

COVER PHOTO: Young couple in Ibiza PHOTO: © MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES | DREAMSTIME

Global Traveler and Globility are registered trademarks of Global Traveler magazine and of its parent company, FXExpress Publications, Inc. Global Traveler is not affiliated with any commercial interests within the travel industry. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor can the publisher accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited articles, photographs or other material.

AAM member 04-0361-2. AAM audited circulation 111,517. ISSN 1551-7187 ©2017 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

TRAZEE TRAVEL 2017 trazeetravel.com

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Best and Brightest Global Traveler and Trazee Travel celebrate the 2017 winners of The Trazees.

BY KIMBERLY KROL | PHOTOS BY ANNA MUHHINA PHOTOGRAPHY

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trazeetravel.com TRAZEE TRAVEL 2017

IN JULY THE GLOBAL TRAVELER AND TRAZEE TRAVEL team descended upon Boston, Mass., to attend the annual Global Business Travel Association convention and to celebrate the third annual The Trazees, hosting an award ceremony and GBTA celebration for the winners and for our esteemed clients and friends.

Held at the iconic and historic The Lenox Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay, the cocktail reception honored the biggest names in the world of millennial travel. For the third year trazeetravel.com, GT’s sister web publica-

tion, awarded the best and brightest in travel according to the all-important 18–35 travel demographic. Acceptees from a number of renowned travel brands were in attendance to represent their companies.

Trazee Travel is a one-stop resource for millennial travelers with news, tips, reviews and more updated daily. Reader nominations and nominations from the website’s intrepid group of contributors were collected December 2016–March 2017; FX Express Publications, Inc.’s management selected the final winners.

The Lenox Hotel dates to 1900, built by

hotelier Lucius Boomer; since its inception, it has held a prominent role in Boston’s hospitality scene, today providing both a historic element and a modern experience with exceptional service. It proved the perfect backdrop to celebrate our event, hosted in conjunction with the business travel industry’s most important annual convention.

To bring a bit of Brazilian flavor to the night’s festivities (in honor of Rio Carnival’s win as Favorite Worldwide Event), SambaViva performed three traditional dances throughout the evening, including baiana, a folkloric style; malandro, a samba style; and carnaval, a Rio-style samba.

“We were pleased to celebrate another successful GBTA and the third annual The Trazees event at one of Boston’s

finest and most cherished hotels, The Lenox. Each year, trazeetravel.com continues to deliver all the need-to-know information for travelers ages 18–35, and we are honored to acknowledge the travel providers who, year after year, deliver wonderful travel experiences to this demographic. All in all, with the perfect setting, a buzzing city, our esteemed colleagues and our GT and Trazee teams, it was a wonderful evening,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel.

The 49th Global Business Travel Association convention welcomed more than 7,000 travel professionals from all over the globe. The 50th convention will take place next year in San Diego.

GRAND GATHERING:

Festivities at The Lenox Hotel in Boston included SambaViva performing baiana and carnival, and a speech by Dan Donahue, president, Saunders Hotel Group

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Award Acceptees urop e ir lin e in E F avor ite A Aer Lingus

THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

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1. Toni Stoekl, senior vice president, distinctive select brands, Aloft Hotels

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4. Clay McConnell, head of communications, Airbus

2. Julie Washington, global brand marketing, Aloft Hotels

5. Kim Priez, senior vice president, tourism, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau

3. Angela Geissler, director of accounts, North America, Munich Airport

6. Jill Weiss, director of North American media, Royal Caribbean

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7. Pamela Ewing, marketing manager, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board 8. Grigoria Kamaterou, director, Greek National Tourism 9. Krisi Lane, global loyalty marketing manager, IHG Rewards Club; Amanda Nather, associate manager, IHG Rewards Club

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10. Elisa Sainz, consul of tourism affairs, Tourist Office of Spain 11. Dahiana Alvarez, business travel manager, Meliรก Hotels International 12. Mark Bocchi, head of sales, Alaska Air Group

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13. Marcelo William Bottini, regional director, North America, Central America, Caribbean, Oceania and Asia, Aerolineas Argentinas; Ricardo Fernandez, regional sales manager, Aerolineas Argentinas 14. Eric Boulanger, manager, congresses and events, Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau

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15. J’Aimeka Ferrell, manager, marketing and promotions, HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport

18. Tony Labrador, business rental sales director, National Car Rental; Rick Vance, regional vice president, National Car Rental

16. Kenny Jacques, general manager, Moxy Hotel New Orleans

19. Rafael Lizarraga, vice president, business travel, Posadas

17. Tim Kraft, alliance sales development, Delta Air Lines

20. Neil Maxfield, senior vice president, concessions, Denver International Airport

21. Todd Neuman, executive vice president, the Americas, South African Airways 22. Richard Oliver, country manager, Qatar Airways 23. Anthony Potts, global corporate sales manager, oneworld 24. Jeff Wright, director of sales, North America, Aer Lingus

TRAZEE TRAVEL 2017 trazeetravel.com

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1. Jean-Claude Chaouloff, advertising manager, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel; Tim Kraft, alliance sales development, Delta Air Lines

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2. Rafael Lizarraga, vice president, business travel, Posadas; Carly Allen, associate publisher and executive vice president, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel 3. William Papa, director of sales, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel; Neil Maxfield, senior vice president, concessions, Denver International Airport 4. Jessica O’Keefe, director of sales, Egyptair; JeanClaude Chaouloff, advertising manager, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel

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5. Ashley Richards, account executive, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel; Fern Ottavio, director, passenger sales and marketing, TAP Portugal; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel 6. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel; Jean-Claude Chaouloff, advertising manager, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel; J’Aimeka Ferrell, manager, marketing and promotions, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 7. Dragan Drobnjak, sales manager, USA, Aeroflot Russian Airlines; Adib Kassis, general manager, Middle Eastern Airlines; Richard T. Evans, senior vice president, Global Traveler and Trazee Travel

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8. The Posadas team celebrating Fiesta Americana’s win 9. The Alaska Air Group team celebrating Alaska Airlines’ win

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trazeetravel.com TRAZEE TRAVEL 2017

WINNERS’ CIRCLE urop e ir lin e in E F avor ite A

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Qatar Airways

Aer Lingus THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE Aer Lingus

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE Delta Air Lines

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE 1. Delta Air Lines 2. American Airlines 3. United Airlines 4. Alitalia 5. Aer Lingus

FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM 1. Delta SkyMiles 2. United MileagePlus 3. Southwest Rapid Rewards 4. American Airlines AAdvantage 5. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE 1. Aer Lingus 2. Lufthansa 3. Turkish Airlines 4. Alitalia 5. Virgin Atlantic Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE 1. oneworld 2. SkyTeam 3. Star Alliance

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Alaska Airlines 2. JetBlue 3. United Airlines 4. Delta Air Lines 5. American Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA 1. South African Airways 2. Royal Air Maroc 3. Ethiopian Airlines 4. Mango

FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE 1. Airbus A350 2. Airbus A380 3. Boeing 787 Dreamliner 4. Boeing 777 FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE 1. Jetblue.com 2. Delta.com 3. United.com 4. AA.com 5. Southwest.com

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FAVORITE BUDGET AIRLINE 1. Southwest Airlines 2. JetBlue 3. Spirit Airlines 4. Frontier 5. West Jet FAVORITE AIRLINE TO SOUTH AMERICA 1. Aerolineas Argentinas 2. LATAM Airlines 3. Aeromexico 4. Avianca

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Qatar Airways 2. EL AL Israel Airlines 3. Etihad Airways 4. Emirates 5. Saudi Arabian Airlines FAVORITE AIRLINE IN ASIA 1. Korean Air 2. EVA Air 3. Singapore Airlines 4. China Airlines 5. Cathay Pacific Airways

PHOTOS: © QATAR AIRWAYS, © AER LINGUS, © VANDERWOLFIMAGES | DREAMSTIME

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY Portland, Ore.

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY Dublin

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

one on one

Learn more from Ilker Ayci, chairman, Turkish Airlines.

Ataturk International Airport provides a wide range of unmatched services.

Geographically positioned as a unique meeting place between Europe and Asia, Lounge Istanbul offers a place of quiet relaxation; a place to shower and revive; a place to snack, dine or watch food presentations; a spot for children to play; and an arcade full of exciting and challenging electronic diversions, integrated into a space that reflects Turkey’s rich cultural heritage.

We currently have 18 lounges under the Turkish Airlines brand; in addition, we have branded lounges around the world, which will increase.

Please tell us about Turkish Airlines’ premium class of service.

Passengers expect highly personal service and privileges throughout the journey, which requires keeping up with the latest trends in the travel industry. With this understanding at the center of our business-class offerings, we built a brand experience that leaves passengers eager to travel with us time and again.

The quality we attach to our entire range of services carries the core value of Turkish culture: hospitality. We won a multitude of awards through the years, excelling especially in business class.

The Turkish Airlines business-class experience begins and ends not at the airport, but at our passengers’ homes.

We recently launched Exclusive Drive, available on some U.S. routes to pick up the businessclass passengers in a private, chauffeured limo.

Please tell our readers about connectivity through Istanbul.

Flying to more countries than any other airline, Turkish Airlines has a network of 300 destinations in 120 countries on five continents. As a centrally located hub between the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, Istanbul provides excellent connectivity. The airline has extensive coverage in these regions, serving 113 destinations in Europe, 51 in Africa and 69 in Asia, including the Middle East and the Far East. In North America, we currently have 11 gateway cities.

What will Turkish Airlines’ current and future aircraft purchases provide?

In the next six years, we would like to expand our 337-aircraft fleet to 500 and secure a 4 percent share in global aviation.

Turkish Airlines has one of the world’s youngest fleet, with an average age of 6.5 years. In the near future, we plan to add new wide-body jets to expand our reach even further.

This will be possible with the Istanbul New Airport, a huge facility slated to become the largest in the world when complete.

The Istanbul lounge is highly rated by travelers; can you expand on the offerings?

Turkish Airlines’ world-renowned Lounge Istanbul at

Tell our readers about catering onboard Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines’ passengers enjoy an in-flight food and beverage service that has won many awards through the years from the industry’s most respected rating authorities so that our in-flight and lounge catering have become synonymous with high quality, great taste and excellent service. Some of the awards we have won in recent years include; “Best Economy Class Onboard Catering” and World’s “Best Business Class Onboard Catering” in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017

by Skytrax.

On most flight, passengers receive a specially curated menu of different local and international meal combinations prepared daily with the highest quality, freshest ingredients. Turkish Airlines has 112 menu combinations prepared by professional chefs; we never use frozen ingredients. With every meal, passengers are served Turkish olive oil and butter, accompanied by the spice of the month and an individual bread basket.

Flying Chefs has been introduced on all long-distance flights and some shorter flights, with more than 400 Flying Chefs to work alongside cabin crew to cook and oversee food preparation, offering passengers all the luxury of dining in a restaurant high above the clouds.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL Moxy New Orleans

urop e ir lin e in E F avor ite A Aer Lingus THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD Munich Airport

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD 1. Munich Airport 2. Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport 3. Incheon Airport 4. Singapore Changi Airport 5. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA 1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 3. San Francisco International Airport 4. Boston Logan International Airport 5. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport FAVORITE AIRPORT DINING 1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Munich Airport 4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 5. London Heathrow

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FAVORITE AIRPORT SHOPPING 1. Denver International Airport 2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 4. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport 5. Los Angeles International Airport FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPS 1. Singapore Changi Airport 2. Dubai Duty Free 3. Incheon Airport 4. London Heathrow 5. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL 1. Moxy New Orleans 2. Hotel Zaza, Dallas 3. Element New York Times Square West 4. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix 5. Aloft New York Brooklyn FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Aloft Hotels & Resorts 2. Marriott Hotels & Resorts 3. Element Hotels 4. Moxy Hotels 5. W Hotels

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL 1. ME Miami 2. INNSIDE New York NoMad 3. Kimpton Muse Hotel 4. Moxy London Excel 5. Kimpton Alexis Hotel FAVORITE BOUTIQUE HOTEL CHAIN 1. Kimpton Hotels 2. Canopy by Hilton 3. Curio by Hilton 4. Tribute Portfolio 5. EVEN Hotels FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL LIFESTYLE HOTEL 1. Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle 2. The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton 3. EVEN Hotels, Brooklyn 4. The London EDITION 5. Hotel G Beijing FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE 1. Kimpton.com 2. Marriott.com 3. Hilton.com 4. Westin.com 5. Hyatt.com

PHOTOS: © MOXY HOTELS, © YORGY67 | DREAMSTIME

FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE 1. Lufthansa 2. Alaska Airlines 3. Delta Air Lines 4. Virgin Atlantic Airways 5. Aer Lingus

WINNERS’ CIRCLE urop e ir lin e in E F avor ite A Aer Lingus THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM 1. IHG Rewards Club 2. Starwood Preferred Guest 3. Hilton Honors 4. Marriott Rewards 5. World of Hyatt

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST 1. Vida Hotels and Resorts 2. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts 3. Address Hotels + Resorts 4. Starwood Hotels & Resorts 5. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY 1. Athens 2. Bangkok 3. Dublin 4. London 5. Sydney

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA 1. Barceló Hotels & Resorts 2. Sheraton Latin America 3. Four Seasons 4. Hilton Hotels 5. Meliá Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL 1. Element Hotels 2. Sofitel 3. Earth Lodge, Antigua, Guatemala 4. Jean-Michel Cousteau, Fiji 5. Hilton Hotels

FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION 1. Turks & Caicos 2. Greece 3. Aruba 4. Cook Islands 5. Hawai’i

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO 1. Fiesta Americana 2. Live Aqua 3. Rosewood Hotels 4. Westin Hotels & Resorts 5. Camino Real

FAVORITE COUNTRY 1. Spain 2. Ireland 3. Greece 4. Italy 5. Thailand

FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION 1. Thailand 2. India 3. Costa Rica 4. New Zealand 5. Australia

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PHOTOS: © BARCELÓ HOTELS & RESORTS, © PHOONPERM SUWANNARATTAPHOOM | DREAMSTIME

FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION Thailand

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA Barceló Hotels & Resorts

WINNERS’ CIRCLE urop e ir lin e in E F avor ite A Aer Lingus THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND BlueSmart

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE Royal Caribbean International

PHOTOS: © CELSO PUPO RODRIGUES | DREAMSTIME, © BLUESMART, © ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

FAVORITE EVENT AROUND THE GLOBE Rio Carnival

FAVORITE EVENT AROUND THE GLOBE 1. Rio Carnival 2. Running of the Bulls 3. Oktoberfest 4. Full Moon Parties 5. South by Southwest

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY 1. New Orleans 2. Chicago 3. Rome 4. Paris 5. New York City

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND 1. BlueSmart 2. Samsonite 3. Rimowa 4. Tumi 5. TravelPro

FAVORITE SHOPPING DESTINATION 1. Dubai 2. Paris 3. London 4. New York City 5. Milan

FRIENDLIEST CITY 1. Atlanta 2. Copenhagen 3. Chicago 4. Toronto 5. Boston

FAVORITE CREDIT CARD 1. Chase Sapphire Rewards 2. Venture Card from Capital One 3. American Express BlueSky 4. United MileagePlus Explorer Card by Chase 5. Bank of America Rewards

FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION 1. Bangkok 2. Barcelona 3. Miami 4. London 5. Las Vegas

FAVORITE CAR RENTAL COMPANY 1. National Car Rental 2. Hertz 3. Avis 4. Enterprise 5. Budget

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE 1. Royal Caribbean International 2. Carnival Cruises 3. Disney Cruise Line 4. Norwegian Cruise Line 5. Princess Cruises

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Loving Lisbon

Get to know this of-the-moment Portuguese city.

WHERE TO STAY Lisbon has been flush with stylish hostels well before it became a worldwide trend called poshtels. But at the moment, the top choice for a pocket-friendly home away from home is The Independente Hostels & Suites, whose dorm-style units feature triple bunk beds in cork, a major agricultural output in Portugal.

It’s in the heart of Principe Real, a fashionable district with leafy parks, see-and-be-seen bars and top-notch restaurants. Every booking comes with a modest breakfast of cold cuts, eggs and morning beverages.

If you want to elevate your holiday with more private lodgings, look into local hospitality firm Shiadu Group, which operates beautifully decorated hotels, guesthouses and apartments all over town. Its Monte Belvedere property in trendy Santa Catarina is a charming 11-room hotel, quietly tucked away from Lisbon’s recently buzzing din. For those with loftier budgets, there’s no trendier booking than the newly minted Memmo Principe Real, which stocks its bathrooms with Hermes bath and body products and boasts an outdoor pool with unbeatable vistas of downtown.

© ALTEZZA | DREAMSTIME, © HELISSA GRÜNDEMANN | DREAMSTIME

THE CITY EVERY TRAVELER is clamoring to visit, Lisbon is having its moment in a huge way. Its steep winding alleys, streets paved with patterned stones, buildings crowned with terra cotta and ceramic tiles swathed in every imaginable color have seduced the global travel community, rendering this capital on the Tagus River a major bucket list destination for just about every demographic out there.

Lisbon’s most iconic sights are easy enough to find; every guide has them listed. But for the millennial globetrotter who wants to seek out the proverbial road (or calçada) less traveled, he or she will have to dig a little deeper to discover the hot spots driving Lisbon’s contemporary culture.

WHERE TO EAT If you end up staying at Independente, you don’t have to venture far to have a great meal. Its rooftop dining room Insolito serves whimsical dishes featuring basic Portuguese ingredients. There are great cocktails, too, plus sensational views.

Over in Cais do Sodre, the Time Out Market is a gourmand’s dream thanks to stall after stall of delicacies from some of the country’s top chefs. Portugal’s biggest culinary names all operate a location here, serving affordable takes on some of their signature dishes, like chicken seasoned and grilled to perfection by Miguel Laffan; super juicy leitão from Henrique Sá Pessoa; or sharable petiscos from Susana Felicidade.

For something a bit more upscale, try Mini Bar from superstar chef Jose Avillez.

He has countless dining projects in Lisbon, but Mini Bar is where he’s at his most accessible while still injecting the creative twists that earned him his dazzling reputation. Here, the kitchen offers inventive small plates packed with flavor, from Ferrero Rocher balls stuffed with foie gras to fresh pieces of prawns serve atop a halfslice of lime.

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WHAT TO DO Portugal’s coffee scene orbits around a quick espresso. There are lots of kiosks all over the city selling shots for less than a euro. But if you’re looking for a more contemporary setting to a cup of Joe, head to the Copenhagen Coffee Lab, a sparsely decorated cafe that even prepares cold brews and pour overs.

If you’re on a working holiday, this is also a

great spot to join laptop-toting locals to bang out a few items from your to-do list.

Spend an afternoon walking through LxFactory, a group of 19th-century warehouses under the iconic Ponte 25 de Abril bridge in the western neighborhood of Alcantara. It’s now home to offices, shops and restaurants. Pop into Ler Devagar, a stunning two-floor bookstore that also occasionally hosts performances and par-

ties. Then break at Café na Fábrica for coffee and pastries.

Back in downtown, stock up your souvenirs at A Vida Portuguesa. There are a few locations of this mini-chain, but the one nearly entirely covered with traditional tiles in Intendente is the most Instagram-worthy. Pick up chicly packaged soaps, craft beers, wool scarves and many other made-in-Portugal items.

Lisbon has always been a great destination for nightlife. An emerging cocktail bar scene has only made it more multifaceted. Sip on locally inspired libations in strikingly decorated interiors at Cobre near Cais do Sodre or Red Frog near the ritzy Avenida da Liberdade. The latter has just made the top 100 of the World’s Best Bars countdown. But nothing beats dancing the night away at decades-old super club Lux Fragil, which lures some of Europe’s top DJs. If you have the stamina, you’ll want to stick around all night and then head to the terrace when day breaks. It offers some of the most glorious sunrise views in the entire city, proving Lisbon stuns at nearly all hours.

Let TAP Air Portugal take you to Lisbon.

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Behavioral Shifts What influences the brand loyalty of millennials? BY ANGELIQUE PLATAS

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Endless shopping is available online.

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AS THE FIRST GENERATION OF ADULTS to come of age in the new millennium, the term “millennial” seems pretty straightforward, but a lot happened in the span of time it took to shape this generation.

Encapsulating everyone born between 1982 and 2004, the millennial generation covers a lot of ground. Some of us grew up without internet and cellphones while others were plugged in from the start.

Locking down habits, interests and the cultural significance of the millennial generation seems to be a source of fascination for major organizations and brands. So many ideas and opinions have been generated about this group, one might feel inclined to take them as fact, but one term’s general meaning cannot define us all.

As with all generalizations, this vague idea of who millennials are, their interests and what they do and want is not up for debate when

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statistics are involved. Millennials have already proven to be a generation of culture seekers, humanitarians and brand loyalists.

This segment of consumers has already made its mark on the economy as a choosy group of brand-loyal shoppers who are not opposed to switching for more affordable options. As the most plugged-in generation of consumers, seemingly endless options are at our fingertips. We make purchase decisions at the click of a mouse or touch of a screen based on price, availability and delivery time.

Consumers compare prices and brands through various outlets like never before.

With such a wide array of readily available options, one might assume millennials would easily stray from a specific brand in a sea of never-ending variety, but that is not the case. Even though we are the

most technologically savvy generation to date, millennials are still more likely to choose a trusted brand over shopping around.

According to an Elite Daily Consumer Study, more than half of millennials claim to be extremely loyal to their favorite brands, evident through the millennial social media presence. A recent CrowdTwist study found 43.5 percent of millennials admit to using social media to share their opinions about products and services.

Being passionate enough about an item, service or location to share it with friends and followers is a growing trend among this generation, and many companies have taken notice. Whether advertisers share ads mixed in with friends’ photos on our newsfeeds or disguise ads as shared posts from friends on our social media pages, reaching the millennial consumer has become easier — whether or not we will admit it.

In addition to the strong loyalty millennials hold to favorite brands, Elite Daily found only 1 percent of millennials believe they are affected in any way by advertising. Most believe in the brands they purchase, knowing and trusting their favorite brands based on performance and reputation. Millennials are more engaged with brands they deem to be authentic, which explains why they become so attached and loyal to them in the first place.

By following favorite brands, stores and restaurants on social media, consumers can interact with them and become more

invested in the product. As further revealed in the same study, 62 percent of millennials are more likely to become loyal and favor a brand that interacts with customers on social media.

Of course, a consumer’s general taste and style can account for loyalty to a specific brand. We shop our favorite brands online and scroll through newsfeeds of friends, bloggers, influencers and entertainment curated to our individual tech behavior. The more we search brands online and like and interact with them, the more new and similar brands and services populate our newsfeeds. Thanks to incredible algorithms on our streaming devices and social media outlets, we constantly receive ads and content tailored to our interests, making it even easier to lock into a specific brand.

Generally, members of this social generation of consumers incorporate goods and services into their own lifestyle, in a way creating a brand for themselves. They then share this brand with friends and followers on social media.

Remaining loyal to favorite brands and services may also be partially influenced by the unending array of options. Some millennial shoppers may be overwhelmed by the variety of choices and prefer to stick to what they know and love.

One thing is certain: The millennial generation of consumers is interested in an authentic experience and socially conscious brands.

Getting them to become invested in a brand and deem it a favorite

PERSONAL STYLE:

Millennials claim to be extremely loyal to their brands.

PHOTO: © ARTOFPHOTO | DREAMSTIME

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PHOTO: © RADUB85 | DREAMSTIME

SPREAD THE WORD: Shirts display larger logos, due in part to social media.

PHOTO: © RADUB85 | DREAMSTIME

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requires much more than a well-thought-out commercial. Millennial consumers are more interested in a brand’s actions rather than its words; authenticity speaks volumes. Nearly 50 percent of millennials agree.

Sharing experiences and opinions online has become the go-to expression for millennials showcasing their brand loyalty. Expressing brand loyalty through social media has even affected fashion trends, with noticeably larger logos, text and iconic symbols visible on clothing.

With the ability to tag, mention and share brands with social media followers, we are effectively staking our loyalty to that brand and, if it looks good, inspiring others to do the same.

Beyond material purchases, millennial brand loyalty extends to career moves and job tenure. Every two years the U.S. Department of Labor collects data on how long workers have been with their current employer as part of the Current Population Survey. According to the Pew Research Center’s analysis of the government data, the survey shows millennials to be quite loyal in their employment moves compared to the prior generation.

The Current Population Survey has been conducted since the early 1950s, and the current tenure questions began in 1996, allowing for comparisons between millennial workers and Generation-X workers when they were the same age. The data shows 63.4 percent

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of millennials working 13 months or more at their current position, more than the 59.9 percent of Generation-X individuals working 13 months or more at their position when they were 18–35 years old in the year 2000.

Further research shows 22 percent of millennials working at their current position for five years or more in 2016 and 21.8 percent of Gen-X individuals working five years or more in 2000, when they were the same age — indicating the inaccuracy of the popular belief that millennials tend to job hop or listlessly seek all-fun-no-work careers. Millennials are, in fact, equally or more loyal to their current positions than the generation before them. Researchers believe one influential factor may be the generation’s high level of education as a whole.

With more workers possessing higher levels of education, job tenure rates tend to increase. This could reflect a sense of loyalty or the possibility that higher degrees pave the way to careers more appealing to the general millennial workforce. Either way, those millennials who began their careers out of college have proven at least as loyal if not more so than the majority of their Gen-X counterparts.

Clearly, our loyalty levels seem to extend beyond material interests. Considering most millennials value authenticity and seek culturally aware organizations that yield positive results, it seems we know a good thing when we see it. Then we tell our friends about it.

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Mind, Body and Soul With a rise in health-related services, travelers find it easier to stay fit on the go. BY JENNA PAYESKO BALANCE:

Beach fitness PHOTO: © SYDA PRODUCTIONS | DREAMSTIME

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IT’S ALL ABOUT REJUVENATION. A majority of millennials adopts healthier lifestyles and travels in order to achieve health and well-being through physical, psychological and spiritual activities.

With people looking for more ways to boost self-confidence or manage stress, it’s little wonder mental and emotional healing vacations represent a rising trend in the wellness world. With a growing understanding that a healthy mind leads to a healthy life, retreats offering coaching in mindfulness, meditation and yoga help travelers who feel burned out reconnect with their minds, bodies and souls.

Once marketed at high-end spas, wellness services are expanding to hotels, airports and leisure destinations across

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the globe. Wellness tourism represents one of the fastest developing sectors in the travel market and continues to grow. Americans often seek digital detox trips offering the chance to unplug and boost mental and physical well-being.

But just as wellness travelers take vacations integrating physical training at a gym or spa, they also aim to include enjoyable aspects.

For example, if a foodie looks to incorporate menus with healthier choices, a wine and food valley hike in Napa offers an excellent option. Perhaps you enjoy trail running, hiking, swimming or skiing.

Are you looking for a Mayan detox in Mexico, or do you prefer zip lining in Costa Rica? Do you want to learn how to meditate, or simply stretch and realign? A growing interest in wellness-focused experiences can be attributed to our current fast-paced lifestyles.

To cater to the demands of wellness-oriented travelers, a growing number of hotel restaurants feature menus with healthier choices, reduced portion sizes and restricted use of high-sodium and high-sugar products. The definition of “healthy” encompasses many cuisine styles, but the common thread is an enjoyable dining

experience. Farm-to-table dining, a popular trend, showcases local bounties of farms, gardens, bakeries, butchers and creameries in multicourse meals.

Beyond nutritious meals and spa treatments, hotels, resorts and airports target fitness enthusiasts with high-tech gadgets and stateof-the-art facilities. Guests have the opportunity to borrow Beats

by Dr. Dre headphones for spin classes, while others join running sessions and enjoy Peloton bike classes in guestrooms. Increasingly, hotels make exercising on the road even more accessible by providing equipment in guestrooms.

Several hotel brands offer equipment and accessories, making it easier for guests to stay fit while traveling. Hilton’s Five Feet to Fitness hotel rooms offer 11 pieces of workout equipment and accessories like an indoor Wattbike bicycle and Gym Rax. The main attraction is the fitness kiosk, a touchscreen display offering more than 200 videos on all of the equipment, cycling, high-intensity interval training and yoga classes. Kimpton Hotels and Resorts provides Gaiam yoga mats in every room and on-demand TV

BEST FOOT FORWARD: Morning run

PHOTO: © DMITRIY SHIRONOSOV | DREAMSTIME

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There are even bike-friendly hotels and restaurants where bikers can pause for refreshment, all while enjoying the noation’s famously warm welcome and fabulous food.

programming to guide guests through 15- to 75-minute flow or power yoga or Pilates sessions. The brand also offers a free roll-out service in which a staff member delivers flavored water and fresh or dried fruit and nuts to the room, lays out the mat and turns on the fitness channel. Westin offers fitness rooms with cycling bikes or treadmills, and its Peloton rooms include yoga mats, blocks and

IN-ROOM FITNESS:

In Hilton’s Five Feet to Fitness guestroom, the fitness kiosk, a touchscreen display embedded within the Gym Rax system, enables guests to receive equipment tutorials and follow guided workout routines.

PHOTOS: © HILTON

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straps, plus light weights for guests to use with Peloton’s Beyond the Ride stretching, core and toning classes. Hoteliers also court road warriors and fitness-focused travelers with complimentary workout gear like running shoes and clothes. Gyms can no longer be an afterthought at hotels.

While not every airport features convenient wellness services and facilities, a number offer lounges, trails and fitness equipment to keep passengers relaxed before an upcoming flight. Leadingedge airports include quiet rooms for passengers to practice yoga and meditate. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport offers an indoor fitness trail with views overlooking mountains, parks and preserves, while Vermont’s Burlington International Airport features a yoga space on its second floor along with a manicured roof, providing passengers the opportunity to relax and enjoy fresh air before a flight. Getting in touch with nature is a major element of wellness tourism, and airports like Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Dubai International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport created green space indoors for their passengers. Food options in airports evolved considerably beyond fatty and salty choices. Major airports now offer everything from organic, sustainable cuisine to vegetarian and vegan options.

Following the rising realization that the next segment of spa-goers

RUSH AND RELAXATION: Stand-up paddle boards (top), and a girl enjoys a spa day (bottom)

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is the younger generation, more spa and wellness retreats opened their doors to families. Don’t forget about the little ones; retreats no longer exclude children, and many invite the whole family to be pampered with an array of mini spa treatments designed especially for children. Focused on drawing kids away from their iPads and video games, action-packed kids’ clubs encourage children to experience new sports and activities, swapping out smartphones for bicycles, games and water sports.

With 71 percent of the planet covered in water, it makes sense our culture has finally taken to board sports as a form of relaxation.

Riding a new wave in wellness, people turn to board sports as a fun way to tone and shape up. From stand-up paddle boarding to indoor board fitness classes and surfing, board sports offer an excellent workout. Besides water activities, adventures like zip lining also fuel adrenaline and make for excellent physical options combining activity and nature. For adventurous vacationers yearning for a physical challenge, a variety of resorts pair nutritious dining options with personal fitness consultations and outdoor sports lessons.

The first wave of wellness travel revolved around stress-reducing spa treatments, yoga and meditation; however, now more highadrenaline travel categories like surfing enter the mix. Surfing has not only dramatically expanded its demographics to include women, families and luxury travelers, it also is now a part of

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MAKE A SPLASH: Surf lessons (above), and yoga on the beach (right) at the Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort in Panama

PHOTOSS: © SANSARA SURF AND YOGA RESORT

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comprehensive wellness at many properties where more extreme adrenaline-pumping adventure is topped off with spa relaxation for a profoundly relaxing mind-body effect. Surfing leads to a new genre of wellness travel with cool retreats from India to Iceland, blending surfing classes with yoga, fitness, spa therapies and healthy, organic food.

The Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort in Panama creates a rare and special place for wellness-inspired travelers. The retreat stay offers guests the opportunity to breathe, unwind and tune into their current needs and desires. Inspirational people from around the globe host world-class retreats here; from yoga teachers and wellness advocates to women empowerment leaders and meditation masters, the possibilities are endless. By participating in its learning-to-surf program, educational classes, workshops, training sessions and inhouse chef ’s menus, travelers undergo an amazing journey.

Aside from hotels, resorts and airports, cruises have increased their innovative wellness offerings to health-conscious passengers at sea. Canyon Ranch SpaClub aboard Regent Seven Seas’ ultraluxurious Seven Seas Explorer provides a range of wellness experiences including yoga sessions on deck, a thermal suite with hot and cold experiences, and exclusive body treatments inspired by locations the ship visits. UnCruise Adventures offers guests active experiences in

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nature like core strengthening while kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling. On board, a wellness instructor provides massages and conducts yoga and stretching classes.

Here’s to a year of more creative healthy travel and new escapes and experiences to expand the mind and heal the body.

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INSIDE ACCESS FROM CHASE brings once-in-a-lifetime experiences to select Chase Cardmembers.

These Cardmembers have the opportunity to purchase access to specially curated events, including celebrity meet and greets, private culinary and cultural events and behind-the-scenes views of the sports and fashion worlds.

Enjoy this glimpse of recent Cardmember experiences and visit InsideAccess.com to view current offers for select Chase Cardmembers.

EVENING WITH JOE MADDON IN CHICAGO! In 2016, Joe Maddon led Chicago to a 10th-inning, 8–7 win against Cleveland, and the team broke a 108year world championship drought to take home baseball’s most prestigious honor. The special Inside Access from Chase evening with Maddon took place at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago’s River North and included a cocktail reception and a buffet-style dinner. Following a moderated conversation and time for questions, guests had the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Chicago’s legendary manager.

As a memento, guests took home a pre-signed Joe Maddon baseball.

MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES IN NEW YORK!

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT WEEK WITH FOUR EVENT-PACKED DAYS! Select Cardmembers joined Inside Access from Chase for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Powered by Johnson Controls, Aug. 3–6, and enjoyed 12 events, VIP access, premium seating and four nights of hotel accommodations. Highlights included the Class of 2017 Enshrinement Ceremony, Hall of Fame Game, Gold Jacket Dinner, Enshrinees’ Roundtable Luncheon, Returning Gold Jacket Autograph Session and VIP parties including a private reception and meet-and-greet with Hall of Famers Orlando Pace and Dan Fouts. This memorable weekend for football fans closed with the Concert for Legends featuring Toby Keith and Kid Rock.

This special Inside Access from Chase evening began with a pre-show hors d’oeuvres reception with wine and beer followed by photos with Mary Wilson. Then, guests had the opportunity to hear firsthand from Wilson about her life on and off the stage during a moderated interview.

After the interview, Wilson and her band rocked the walls with musical numbers including “Love Child,” “Come See About Me,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Baby Love.”

Mary Wilson is the only constant member of The Supremes throughout the group’s 18-year existence. In 1988, Wilson accepted the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of The Supremes when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Get in Gear Use apps and gadgets to make travel more pleasant and productive. BY JACK GUY EXPERIENCED HANDS HAVE refined travel to a fine art.

Whether your priority is staying productive on the road or making the experience as stress-free as possible, these travel apps and gadgets will make life easier.

Today’s airport experience has become something to be endured rather than enjoyed. One way to recover some of the pizzazz of air travel is to use an airport lounge, allowing

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you to work or relax in comfort. LoungeBuddy, a free app that makes it easy to find which lounges are available on your trip, lets you buy access from your smartphone. Check into a lounge to send some emails in peace and quiet, or have a rest on a long layover.

Gone are the times when a handwritten diary provided the only way to keep track of meetings and engagements. Today’s technology allows us to update our diaries online and share calendars with personal assistants, colleagues and family members.

A travel-specific app that creates itineraries based on flight confirmation emails, TripIt can then share the information with other users. It even sends notifications for delays, cancellations and gate changes, making the airport experience less stressful. It even notifies your driver when you land late.

Hotel booking apps have revolutionized the travel experience for many of us, and Hotel Tonight focuses on last-minute deals

EN ROUTE:

TripIt app (left) and LoungeBuddy app (right) PHOTO: © TRIPIT FROM CONCUR, © LOUNGEBUDDY

at a selection of carefully vetted properties. Whether you have a lastminute trip or you need another day of meetings to seal the deal, the Hotel Tonight app offers great deals at luxury hotels. Search for a place to stay tonight, tomorrow or next week, and take advantage of bargain rates at characterful properties.

For many business travelers, keeping track of expenses is a must. Apps such as Concur help you to file receipts and credit card charges and edit expenses in-app. You can even take photos of your receipts and import them to the app to eliminate holding on to hard copies. Sync Concur with the TripIt app to compile expenses and itinerary information in one place.

CityMaps2Go proves another helpful app for travelers. Instead of relying on local taxi drivers who may sense extra money to be made from an out-of-towner, use CityMaps2Go to get around like a local. The major boon of this nifty app: It works offline; so even if you haven’t got a data connection, you can navigate your way around a new city.

While smartphone apps can help travelers make life easier, gadgets focus on improving their experience of the physical world.

Take luggage, for example, which can seem more like a purely functional item than a pleasurable part of the travel experience.

However, if you pick the right luggage, you can make the humble suitcase work for you in ways previously impossible. With modern technology, smart luggage has become reality. Consider the Travelmate, capable of following you around wherever you go thanks to GPS technology and robotics.

Simply pair the suitcase with your smartphone and watch as the

Travelmate follows you through the airport, negotiating crowds and obstacles with ease and allowing you to keep your hands free. The autonomous suitcase only unlocks when you touch it and ships with a removable GPS chip you can attach to other items.

If you don’t want a fully autonomous suitcase, other pieces of

ON THE MOVE:

Travelmate luggage follows you wherever you go.

PHOTOS: © TRAVELMATE

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PERSONAL SPACE:

Bose QuietControl Wireless Earphones (above) and GL-iNet Mini Router (below) PHOTOS: © BOSE, © GL-INET

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smart luggage contain internal battery packs. The Bluesmart One, boasting a GPS tracker so you will know where your luggage is at all times, features two charging ports so you can keep your laptop and smartphone juiced on the move. A scale built into the handle lets you stay within carry-on weight limits with ease.

Carving out your own ecosystem in a hectic travel environment can be incredibly difficult, but investing in some noise-cancelling headphones can help. Whether it’s crying babies or aircraft hum, these headphones cancel out external noise by using opposite signals. Try the Bose QuietComfort 35, a set of over-the-ear cans known to be among the best in the business. If you prefer something more lightweight, check out the Bose QuietControl Wireless Earphones, which use a neckband for ultimate comfort and wireless signals for improved portability.

Given the amount most people use their smartphones these days, it’s no surprise short battery life is a common gripe among users. While you can use

smart luggage like the Bluesmart One to charge your phone, there are times when you won’t be able to plug in to your suitcase. The most convenient way to get some extra power is by using a charging case such as the Mophie Juice Pack Air, so you can stay online wherever you are.

Internet security is of paramount importance today and proves even more of a concern if you must access sensitive information on public networks. Airports, restaurants and hotels often offer free WiFi connections which, while a boon for productivity, can also represent a significant security risk. One way to make your connection safer? Use a mini router that creates a secure, private WiFi network for your sole use. Try the GL-iNet Mini Router, a cinch at $20.

Once secure communications have been established, it’s time to think about gadgets that can boost productivity. Instead of struggling with a touchscreen keyboard on your phone or tablet, type faster and more efficiently using the Omoton Ultra-

Slim Bluetooth Keyboard. With great portability, a long battery life and an affordable price tag of $14, it’s the perfect gadget for catching up on emails without a laptop. Who knows, it might even help you reach the promised land of “Inbox Zero.”

When it comes to making a big pitch or delivering a crucial presentation on the road, you need to know there won’t be any technical mishaps. Instead of relying on unfamiliar equipment that might have trouble connecting to your devices, use a portable micro projector. Check out Cube, small enough to fit in a pocket while providing a 120-inch image from phones, laptops and tablets. You don’t need any extra stress when it comes to making a presentation, and Cube removes any technical worries.

Whether you are a long-time traveler or relatively new to the game, these apps and gadgets will help make the experience easier, less stressful and perhaps even more enjoyable. While smart

luggage and noise-cancelling headphones can represent a significant cost, the apps mentioned here can have an enormously positive impact on your travel experience for minimal outlay. From keeping your luggage and data safe to helping you be productive on the road, modern technology can work for you.

POWER UP:

Bluesmart One luggage makes charging devices easy.

PHOTOS: © BLUESMART ONE

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Abandoned Places Intrepid travelers explore urban ruins for one-of-a-kind experiences. BY MEGAN HILL GHOST TOWN: Mining town of Sewell, Chile

PHOTO: Š RENAN GREINERT | DREAMSTIME

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DOES THE RUST AND DECAY of an eerily empty amusement park or decommissioned military base sound like an appealing daytrip?

Are you hoping to add images of the Earth reclaiming vast manmade structures to your Instagram account?

Then perhaps the new travel trend of urban exploration would appeal to you. Broadly defined as the up-close investigation and documentation of abandoned, manmade structures like schools, hospitals, power plants, warehouses, storm drains, mines, tunnels, ghost towns and more, urban exploration draws curious travelers looking for a unique experience. Sometimes there’s the added interest of a ghost story or other paranormal element, but generally the scenery provides the main focus of the experience.

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Often the hobby comes with challenges: It can be technically illegal to enter some of these places, for example, while others may feature unstable structures, harmful substances like asbestos and other dangers.

One of the top urban exploration destinations is the London Necropolis Railway, whose macabre name hints at its peculiar past as a rail line especially for transporting coffins to Brookwood Cemetery, once the largest cemetery in the world. Another, the abandoned Andean mining town of Sewell, Chile, is now a historic landmark; and the ultra-creepy Khayalami Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, serves up a derelict collection of medical equipment like X-ray machines, hospital beds, incubators and more.

EMPTY ROOMS:

Creedmoor State Hospital hallway (top), bathroom (bottom left) and antique X-ray machine (bottom right) PHOTOS: © SHERMAN CAHAL | DREAMSTIME

Entire neighborhoods and swaths of cities are ripe for exploration, like large sections of Detroit, Mich., whose nearly 80,000 abandoned buildings — from mansions to factories to a 100-year-old train station — provide popular subjects and canvases for photographers and street artists. In Kangabashi, China, the population of around 1 million people isn’t nearly large enough to inhabit the city’s numerous apartment buildings, and many streets sit empty. New York City proves a hotbed for urban exploration with locations like Creedmoor

State Hospital, a psychiatric ward founded in 1912; a half-sunken submarine at Coney Island Creek; and the vegetation-covered ruins of the Staten Island Farm Colony, a poorhouse on Staten Island.

Many are documented in photographer Will Ellis’ book Abandoned NYC. The trend gained popularity through social media and shows like Discovery Channel’s Urban Explorers and explorer extraordinaire Seph Lawless’ photo book Autopsy of America. Tour operators pick up on

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DESERTED:

Bumper cars at the abandoned Pripyat Amusement Park within the Chernobyl exclusion zone (above), Chernobyl kindergarten (right), and piano in an auditorium in Pripyat (far right) PHOTOS: © THEGRIMFANDANGO | DREAMSTIME, © ANDRIY BEZUGLOV | DREAMSTIME, © ALESSANDRO LUCCA | DREAMSTIME

the opportunity to offer exclusive access to some fascinating places. The appeal for guests? The chance to head off the beaten path and explore — safely and legally — places that aren’t on the radar of most tourist circuits.

“Urban exploration is a great way to engage with a city in a meaningful way beyond historical facts, figures and monuments,” says Vincent Rees, founder, Cobblestone Freeway Tours, a global tour operator. “At Cobblestone Freeway Tours, we have always looked to give travelers unique, immersive experiences, and urban exploration (in a safe and legal way) is definitely a part of that. Our tours can have travelers climbing old abandoned castles from Ireland to Ukraine or exploring back alleys with medieval cobblestones from Galway to Krakow.”

One of the most popular places for urban exploration tours is the restricted relic

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of Chernobyl, site of the infamous 1986 nuclear plant accident in Ukraine.

The catastrophic incident left what some refer to as the world’s largest ghost town, with its abandoned power plant and reactors and the empty streets of the town of Pripyat, evacuated after the explosion. There’s even an amusement park that sits eerily vacant. Solo East Travel and Rees’ Cobblestone Freeway Tours, among others, offer excursions into the 19-mile-wide blast area.

Another company, Eat Riga, offers an urban exploration tour of parts of its eponymous Latvian capital city, including an old paper factory, a military installation and a former sanatorium. The day-long tours can be customized to fit tour goers’ interests. Kiev Free Walking Tours also features an urban exploration package that takes visitors on a subterranean adventure through decommissioned metro tunnels most residents don’t even know about.

For those hoping to view a completely different perspective of New York’s heavily visited Ellis Island, pick the Hard Hat Tour offered by Statue Cruises. Skip the famed Statue of Liberty and instead tour the island’s hospital complex, closed to the public for 60 years. Now visitors can wander the ghostly halls of the contagious disease ward, the autopsy theater, power plant and dormitory rooms for tuberculosis patients. In case all of that isn’t bizarre enough, French artist JR painted haunting portraits of immigrants and other historical images on some of the peeling walls and stacks of chairs.

IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE:

Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital operating room (left) and stairway (below) PHOTOS: © KAREN FOLEY | DREAMSTIME, © DEMERZEL21 | DREAMSTIME

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RUST AND RUIN:

The abandoned plant at Gas Works Park in Seattle PHOTO: © SIMATHERS | DREAMSTIME

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In the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Underground Tour walks attendees through the abandoned spaces just beneath the busy streets of the city’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. The humor-inflected tours show off some of Seattle’s original sidewalks and businesses. The city’s Gas Works Park is another popular spot with its massive steel structures of the former Seattle Gas Light Co. gasification plant — the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the United States — and skyline views drawing photographers aplenty. The park was also the site for the paintball scene in the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You. The Educational Adventure tours offered by the University of Northern British Columbia take small groups of tourists to hardto-reach former mines, ghost towns, salmon canneries and even an abandoned cemetery overgrown with moss and trees. Ruins of boats, docks, homes and more await at sites otherwise difficult for travelers to access.

For those wishing to explore forts, ruins and other sites on their own — and legally — take these tips into consideration: Stick to historic sites open to the public. Many, housed in state parks or

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other historic areas, are safe and legal to explore. When in doubt, ask local government authorities for permission to enter. If the site is privately owned, research local property deeds and other records to obtain contact information for the owner. Don’t take souvenirs, as tempting as they may be, as it’s often illegal to hang onto any keepsakes from your visit; your photographs and memories will have to suffice. Invest in safety gear like dust masks, hard hats, flashlights, sturdy boots and long-sleeved clothing that will keep you covered and protected against scrapes and cuts.

Most of all, watch your step: There are dangers inherent in exploring abandoned buildings and structures, and many can have unstable floors, walls, ceilings and other elements. Animals or ne’er-do-wells may be squatting inside, or there may be noxious chemicals and other dangerous substances to avoid.

Whether you choose to plan your own adventure or go on a packaged excursion, there’s plenty to look forward to, says Rees.

“Nothing can leave an impression more than a tactile and emotional experience like climbing around places where history has happened and where you can truly feel yourself as a part of it.”

As we continue to swing for the fences, we know that any advancement can have a life-changing impact.

Whatever it takes.

Stand up for the 16 million people living with cancer in the U.S. and Canada. Visit StandUpToCancer.org/MLB

Stand Up To Cancer is a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) organization.

Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit MLB.com

Looking Ahead What can millennial travelers expect in 2018?

BY KATIE SKRZEK

CONNECTED:

Millennial travelers seek inspiration from travel experiences shared on social media.

PHOTO: Š ROSSHELEN | DREAMSTIME

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TECHNOLOGY, WORLD POLITICS, weather and a host of other factors all affect the travel landscape, as we’ve seen in 2017.

The travel industry constantly evolves to adjust to the changing needs of intrepid travelers. Millennial travelers remain a highly sought-after demographic, and travel-related companies around

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the world work hard to meet their demands.

According to research from Internet Marketing Inc., millennial travelers are always connected. They are more likely to book a last-minute trip to fulfill their wanderlust desires. Flash sales, limited-time offers and short-term deals attract the millennial traveler. This group also does its homework, with 85 percent looking at multiple sites before booking flights and accommodations. While traveling, 60 percent will upgrade their experience by purchasing in-flight WiFi, automatic check-in or early deplaning. Despite the flaky stereotype, millennials demonstrate brand loyalty to companies offering discounts and upgrades.

Travel apps are the preferred method of interacting with brands in the travel industry. Social media is key, with 97 percent of millennial travelers posting about their experiences while

traveling. What millennials see on social media often inspires upcoming trips. Social media will continue to influence travel trends as users utilize current platforms and new platforms emerge.

According to the Global Business Travel Association’s 2018 Travel Forecast, the organization predicts a general increase in travel prices, at about 4 percent in some sectors. Global airfare is expected to rise 3.5 percent, hotel prices 3.7 percent and ground transportation (taxis, trains and buses) only 0.6 percent.

The airfare increase reflects the rise in global crude oil prices.

While ground transportation prices are expected to increase only by 0.6 percent in 2018, the number is projected to increase to 5.5 percent by 2022. The global hotel price increase does not reflect pricing on a regional level. Europe is expected to post high increases while prices are anticipated to drop in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Geopolitical risks, uncertainties in emerging markets and ever-changing political environments in Europe and the United States mean today’s travel professionals have more than ever to take into account when building their travel programs,” said

Jeanne Liu, vice president of research, GBTA Foundation. “The most successful programs will have to keep a watchful eye on both geopolitical risks and a rapidly changing supplier landscape as they reevaluate strategy often and adapt as necessary.”

Thrillist, the online travel and lifestyle brand, covers big cities around the world as well as lesser-known destinations. Thrillist predicted eight U.S. cities poised to become the next “it” destinations: Houston, Texas; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Columbia, S.C.; Vieques Island, Puerto Rico; Boise, Idaho; San Marcos, Texas; Charlotte, N.C. Ranking and consumer advice media company U.S. News & World Report revealed its annual ranking of the best vacation destinations for 2017–2018. For best places to visit, Rome came in at the top spot, with Sydney and Porto in second and third. Best island in the world goes to Santoríni. The Galápagos Islands and Bora Bora are must-sees, too.

Expect to see millennials travel the world for 2018 events.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 9–25, 2018. In addition to competing athletes,

ROMAN HOLIDAY:

The Eternal City remains a top travel spot.

PHOTO: © CITALLIANCE | DREAMSTIME

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SUPER FUN:

Events around the world such as ComicCon International in San Diego draw millennials.

PHOTO: © SAMUEL ANTONIO | DREAMSTIME

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Olympic fans from around the world will make their way to South Korea to see the international sporting events. Later in 2018, the 2018 FIFA World Cup takes place in Russia July 14–15. The popular soccer (or football) tournament is held every four years in a different worldwide destination.

Besides these sports events, millennials will travel the world for other popular events and festivals including Coachella in California, San Diego Comic-Con, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Oktoberfest in Germany, Carnival in the Caribbean, Holi in India and the Cannes Film Festival in France. Millennials will take advantage of companies like Airbnb, HomeAway and other short-term rentals while visiting these cities.

Booking a private trip to the moon is a possibility. Elon Musk’s aerospace manufacture and transport company, SpaceX, announced plans to send two private citizens on a trip around the moon in late 2018. While this notion has been thrown around by various financial backers in the past, including Virgin Group founder Richard Branson’s short-lived Virgin Galactic, the passengers scheduled for the Dragon 2 spacecraft trip have already made a deposit. A specific launch date had not been announced at press time.

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Companies will likely continue the growing integration of technology with their product offerings. Travelers can also expect to see a trend toward “smart” hotels, according to the GBTA 2018 Travel Forecast. Guests will have access to messaging and more in-room entertainment options. Brands will offer app features including check-in and check-out options plus the capability to control the television and room temperature and unlock the hotel room door, all via smartphone apps.

Brands including Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue have worked with Gladly, an omni-channel customer service platform, on customer service initiatives. Travelers are able to interact with the brand via a variety of channels. As we know, millennials are attached to their devices.

Be prepared for more bans and restrictions. More destinations will be added to the U.S. Department of State’s travel alerts and warnings. Similar to the laptop ban, travelers may need to check their devices.

Keep an eye out for more airline and hotel mergers and unique offerings. Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America in late 2016 and plans to drop the Virgin branding sometime in 2019. Marriott International, Inc. completed the acquisition of Starwood Hotels &

Resorts, Inc. in late 2016. This trend is nothing new, and travelers can expect to see other instances occurring in 2018. Booking will open in May 2018 for The Ritz-Carlton’s new luxury yachts.

The first yacht sets sail in 2019.

The sharing economy will continue to grow. The popularity of short-term home rental programs like Airbnb and HomeAway has no end in sight. This year saw the creation of other similar companies, including WanderJaunt, a Phoenix-based startup. The short-term rental brand takes out long-term leases on properties before outfitting them with standardized décor and amenities, then markets them on sites like Airbnb, TripAdvisor and VRBO. Per GBTA’s 2018 Travel Forecast, Uber and Lyft are expected to continue their double-digit growth at about 10 percent in 2018 before slowing to single-digit growth in 2019.

According to a report from the Global Wellness Institute, travelers spent $563 billion on wellness tourism in 2015. Health and wellness travel will continue to influence hotel brands.

Hilton announced a new fitness feature, Five Feet to Fitness, offering more than 11 pieces of fitness equipment and accessories for guests to work out with from the comfort of their own room. This program is expected to roll out to properties in

Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York and San Diego over the coming months and into 2018. Even Hotels, a wellness brand of InterContinental Hotels Group, features in-room training options in all guestrooms. Westin Hotels & Resorts partnered with cycling company Peloton to offer in-room stationary bikes to guests booking a WestinWORKOUT guestroom.

Safe travels, wherever 2018 takes you!

SAIL AWAY:

The Ritz-Carlton's new luxury yachts PHOTOS: © THE RITZ-CARLTON

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Travel bloggers reveal the realities of roaming the world for a living. BY NICOLE QUASTÉ IT HAS BECOME EASIER than ever to travel the globe, opening up a world of possibilities when it comes to person-to-person information sharing.

People want to see the world — whether it’s from the window of a plane or the comfort of their own home — and many are turning to travel blogs to do just that.

Getting paid to travel seems like an out-of-reach dream, but for many it’s a reality. The life of a travel blogger is an interesting one, full of adventure and fluidity, but as a relatively new career path, it’s still a bit of a mystery.

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PHOTO: © DWNLD777 | DREAMSTIME

On the Road

Travel blogs complement and enhance physical travel. They promote a democratization of the travel industry, allowing more people around the world to learn about destinations; share opinions; and discuss ideas, recommendations and experiences. In short, travel bloggers are changing the world of tourism.

To better understand the life of travel bloggers, I talked to Caroline Makepeace, Kristin Addis and Sabina Trojanova, three successful travel bloggers.

Caroline Makepeace, her husband and her two children travel the world and share their experiences and advice on y Travel Blog, launched in 2010. Over the next three years, the family will embark on an American road trip across all 50 states.

Kristin Addis is the author of Be My Travel Muse, a blog emphasizing off-the-beaten-path, immersive adventures and enriching cultural experiences. A Southern California native, Addis left her job and started exploring the world in 2012.

Sabina Trojanova’s blog, Girl vs Globe, documents her extensive adventures around the world while also focusing on responsible and

pected. She now travels several times a month from bases in Vienna and Great Britain, and often by land if possible, in an effort to promote environmentally responsible travel.

There’s more than one way to be a travel blogger, and every blogger finds him/herself on this path for different reasons. For Makepeace, travel blogging was a way to see more of the world, make a profit and help others travel. A former investment banker, Addis “wanted something wildly different,” that would also allow her to see the world. It was “about moving into a lifestyle with more freedom.” Trojanova sought a more creative outlet for her writing than her political science and broadcast journalism degree offered and opted for an alternative to a traditional desk job.

It all sounds ideal, but like any job, there are obstacles and a lot of hard work. Balancing work, health, sleep and a semblance of a social life is difficult for everyone. Throwing frequent travel into the mix surely creates a recipe for exhaustion, yet for bloggers it’s a way of

PHOTO: © SONECHKA | DREAMSTIME

sustainable travel and lifestyle choices.

For those who do not operate a travel blog, it may seem like a foreign concept (pun intended). How often do bloggers travel? Do they have a home or are they always on the road? Is it full-time or part-time? Like any nontraditional, entrepreneurial career, the job description varies.

The Makepeaces are full-time bloggers, alternating between travel and time spent at home. “Having the home base makes it easy for us to catch up on work instead of doing it while we are traveling,” Makepeace explains.

For Addis, the road is life. She has an apartment in Berlin, but she spends most of her time moving from one place to another.

For others, travel blogging is a part-time endeavor, or at least starts off that way. When Trojanova launched her blog, she was living in Russia, working and attending school. From there she transitioned to full-time blogging, a process she describes as organic and unex-

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PHOTO: © CHATCHAI KIMTONG | DREAMSTIME

life. While there’s a lot to gain in the world of travel blogging, there endeavor, not only for the bloggers but for their audiences as well. are also sacrifices.

I asked the bloggers: What do you find your audience is looking for I asked Makepeace about some of the difficulties, and she the most in travel blog content? revealed, “Time is the biggest challenge, and oddly enough, the Addis’s audience seeks experiences. “I try to make these travel is.” adventures as accessible as possible. I’m just a normal girl doing lessFor the Makepeaces, sacrifices than-ordinary things, and everyone who include not having their own home and wants to, and has the drive, can as well ‘Having the whole world to solid investments, as well as the distance by following the steps I share,” she says. choose from makes it incredibly from extended family. For Addis, it’s the According to Makepeace, y Travel same. difficult to settle down anywhere.’ Blog audiences are looking for advice.

She says, “The biggest sacrifice is “We have such a diverse audience, and stability. I realized that being in one only a small majority of them want to — SABINA TROJANOVA, TRAVEL BLOGGER place doesn’t really suit me, though travel full time. Most just want to find [travel] does make maintaining friendways to fit travel into their lifestyle and ships and especially romantic relationships quite difficult.” are looking for tips on how to do that,” she says.

Trojanova describes her job as both a blessing and a curse.

Trojanova also finds variety in her audience’s needs. While “Having the whole world to choose from makes it incredibly difficult some simply want to “be transported somewhere beautiful through to settle down anywhere.” Despite her love for and commitment to the power of words,” others visit her blog for practical travelher career as a travel blogger, she reveals, “It can be lonely, physiplanning advice. cally demanding and makes coming home very difficult. In fact, it Of course, it’s not easy for everyone to travel the world. I asked makes the very concept of ‘home’ feel foreign.” the bloggers: What is your advice to those who want to travel more Despite these challenges, travel blogging proves a lucrative but are faced with financial or schedule challenges?

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PHOTO: © MARIEMAERZ | DREAMSTIME

Trojanova acknowledges the difficulties that many face, In a similar vein, Trojanova says, “Sometimes exploring your explaining, “It’s more about how we spend our money, not own country can be just as enlightening, and you’ll save a lot of how much we have.” She explains that if travel is truly a priority, it money on transport.” is often more attainable than people realize.

There are a lot of travel blogs out there, and they all have “If you own a computer, have great photos we can gaze upon a bank account, have a university longingly for hours on end. These ‘If you own a computer, have a education and live in a country blogs, however, offer more than their bank account, have a university that affords you a passport that lets aesthetics. They provide valuable you leave, you can travel. Teach information. Bloggers have the unique education and live in a country abroad, go somewhere cheap like ability to enlighten those who think that affords you a passport that Southeast Asia or travel near to travel is out of reach. They open your home,” Addis suggests. doors to new places and not only give lets you leave, you can travel.’

Makepeace says, “Go through people a glimpse but also help them your expenses and work out what experience those places for them— KRISTEN ADDIS, TRAVEL BLOGGER is not necessary. Put that money selves. They’re reaching families with you save into your travel funds.” If children, older people and younger traveling abroad isn’t an option at the moment, she adds, “I’d also audiences making meager salaries with limited vacation days, and look at what you want to gain from your travel experience and see they’re inspiring all of them to branch out, to save for experiences how you can get that locally. It will be much cheaper and you’ll rather than possessions and to see the world, simply because it’s feel like you’re traveling.” there, it’s accessible and it’s beautiful.

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