14 minute read
K N O W N F O R
known
FOR
PUBLIC MARKETS
MARKET SQUARE
WHO DOESN’T LOVE A PUBLIC MARKET? BUSTLING WITH PURVEYORS SELL
ING LOCAL FOOD AND GOODS, THEY ARE OF
TEN ENRICHING AND FASCINATING PEEKS
INTO THE SOUL OF A CITY.
THESE MARKETS ARE ESPECIALLY GREAT
FOR GROUPS, TOO, SINCE LEADERS CAN
SCHEDULE A TOUR OF THE MARKET, LET
GROUP MEMBERS GO OFF TO ENJOY IT
ON THEIR OWN OR DO BOTH. OPEN YEAR
ROUND, FILLED WITH OWNER-OPERATED
STALLS AND SHOPS, THE FOLLOWING MAR
KETS OFFER AN EXPERIENCE THAT GROUP
VISITORS WON’T WANT TO MISS.
SAN ANTONIO
By Ann Purcell, courtesy Visit San Antonio
THE LARGEST MEXICAN MERCADO IN THE COUNTRY, San Antonio’s Market Square is a vibrant mix of festive colors, sounds and smells groups will love, said Dee Dee Poteete, Visit San Antonio’s director of regional communications.
“You can imagine experiencing the papel picado, the punched tissue paper, strung and fluttering over you; the music of a marimba band; the scents from an open food stall,” she said. “Groups should plan at least half a day for shopping and include one major meal. This is definitely a place to go for a stroll and maybe sit outside on a patio sipping a big margarita and watching the world go by.”
On a downtown plaza spanning three blocks and lined with shops, Market Square features more than 100 local vendors selling authentic Talavera pottery, handmade jewelry, leather goods, paintings and more. It’s just a few short blocks from the city’s main plaza, another attraction groups will want to visit. On weekends, Market Square comes alive with what Poteete calls “pop-up entertainment, festivals, celebrations and bands.”
And then there is the market’s Mi Tierra, the legendary, sprawling Mexican eatery that’s been owned by the same family since it opened in 1941. Festooned with elaborate decorations, it features strolling mariachi bands and a lovely panaderia filled with baked goods perfect for group members to take back to their hotel rooms.
VISITSANANTONIO.COM
PUBLIC MARKETS
READING TERMINAL MARKET
BY JILL GLEESON
SMUCKER’S AT READING TERMINAL MARKET
PHILADELPHIA
IF PHILADELPHIA IS AMERICA’S BIRTHPLACE, it’s also where the country’s public markets were born. William Penn established outdoor markets in the late 17th century, when he founded the city; they would eventually morph into Reading Terminal Market, one of the oldest and largest public markets in the country. Open since 1893, it offers more than 80 merchants tucked into a National Historic Landmark building in Center City and is a great stop for groups, according to Kimberly Barrett, communications manager for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“When I’ve done group visits to the market, we usually start at Philbert, the gold pig in the middle of the market that’s essentially its mascot,” Barrett said. “It’s very easy to do a tour of the perimeter of the market, and there’s a ton of open seating right there in the middle. So, if I want to go get doughnuts from Beiler’s and then someone else wants to get a DiNic’s roast pork sandwich, we can each bring our different goods back and sit together.”
Groups that would like a guided tour of Reading Terminal Market can book one with Taste of Philly Food Tour, but Barrett also recommends a stop at the city’s legendary Italian Market. An open-air market that runs for 10 blocks in South Philly, it’s home to Pat’s and Geno’s, two cheesesteak stands known around the world.
DISCOVERPHL.COM
Photos courtesy Reading Terminal Market
— K I M B E R L Y B A R R E T T, PHILADELPHIA CVB
SHERMAN PHOENIX CROSSROADS COLLECTIVE
MILWAUKEE
— C L A I R E K O E N I G , VISIT MILWAUKEE
Photos courtesy Visit Milwaukee
THEY SAY LOCATION IS EVERYTHING and Milwaukee Public Market, which opened in 2005, definitely benefits from its neighborhood, said Claire Koenig, communications manager for Visit Milwaukee.
“It’s right in between downtown proper and the Third Ward, which is known for its bars, restaurants and shopping,” she said. “It’s also adjacent to our permanent festival grounds, which is on the lake, so for groups going to a festival, the art museum or just doing lakefront activities, you’re within walking distance of the market, too.”
The market boasts some 20 vendors serving everything from Middle Eastern cuisine to tacos, seafood, ice cream, wine and, of course, cheese. Group members anxious to try heralded Wisconsin cheese curds should head to West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shoppe. Koenig also recommends the lobster roll from the St. Paul Fish Company and noted that for groups looking to get hands-on, Milwaukee Public Market offers cooking classes with vendors and city chefs in its demonstration kitchen.
Milwaukee, now in the midst of a bazaar boom, also offers Crossroads Collective, a food hall located across from the historic Oriental Theater, and Sherman Phoenix, an innovative market that champions businesses of color. Both opened in 2018. Third Street Market Hall is slated to debut next year across from the future home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
VISITMILWAUKEE.ORG
NORTH MARKET CHARLESTON CITY MARKET
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Courtesy Experience Columbus
WITH A HERITAGE DATING BACK nearly a century and a half, Columbus, Ohio’s North Market hosts some 1 million customers a year. They can choose from more than 30 vendors, who, according to Lexi Sweet, Experience Columbus’ public relations manager, “really show off the diversity of Columbus in one small footprint.”
That includes Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, an artisanal brand founded at the market and now sold nationwide in stores like Whole Foods. Groups are sure to get a sample of it should they sign up for a food tour of North Market, which Sweet recommends.
Housed in a two-story brick warehouse from the 19th century conveniently located downtown, North Market bustles with beer festivals, wine tastings and other festivities and also features event space should groups wish to enjoy a private, catered meal. North Market Bridge Park, opening in spring 2021 in Dublin, a Columbus suburb, will also offer event space.
EXPERIENCECOLUMBUS.COM
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Courtesy Explore Charleston
GROUPS INTERESTED IN EXPLORING the historic Charleston City Market would do well to leave an afternoon or even the whole day open for it. Four blocks long, the market features a jaw-dropping 300 vendors, with the surrounding streets home to businesses like Peninsula Grill, regarded as one of the best restaurants in the city. Within the market building itself, groups will find iconic Charleston goods including sweetgrass baskets, originally made for rice cultivation by the Gullah people, descendants of enslaved West Africans.
“The City Market has been the cultural center for Charleston since 1804, when the land was donated by the Pinckney family,” said Doug Warner, Explore Charleston’s vice president of media and innovation development. “It was a city market for produce and meats and other things, and about eight years ago, it went through a pretty extensive renovation, so now you’ve got local craft vendors, too.”
In addition to sweetgrass baskets, groups can find other made-inCharleston items from Brackish Bow Ties, feather accessories favored by celebrities, to stoneground grits. It also makes a great jumping-off point for other adventures in the area.
EXPLORECHARLESTON.COM
marketing YOUR PROGRAM
NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS SAFETY PROTOCOLS
BY ELIZA MYERS
Most travelers know the feeling of relief when technology saves the day.
Perhaps that means searching online for the nearest eatery for a “hangry” group member. Or it could mean Googling a quick group game to occupy travelers when an unexpected wrench is thrown into the day’s itinerary.
With the current pandemic travel restrictions, technology can also help make travel safer. These technologies are especially vital in today’s world, perhaps even more so than others, since they help passengers feel safe enough to book the trip in the first place.
To prepare yourself for when your members feel ready to hit the road again, think through these technological options that can prove indispensable for modern group travel.
CLEANING CHECKLIST
During the pandemic, group travel providers have brainstormed how to safely load groups back onto the motorcoach. Companies like Motor Coach Industries (MCI) have shared information on new technologies that can reduce the risk of onboard contamination.
For your next trip, consider chartering motorcoaches that have UV-C lighting for heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems designed to reduce airborne viruses, bacteria and mold by up to 99.9%. Another motorcoach protection is a new roof-hatch ventilation kit that keeps fresh air circulating. Airborne viruses are more of a concern in an enclosed space like a bus, and this method mimics the outdoors with more air movement.
To keep drivers safe, many motorcoach and bus companies sell transparent shields and partitions for around the driver’s cockpit. This and the other methods have already
been tested by bus companies across the country.
Motorcoach companies like MCI have also released recommendations for cleaning procedures. MCI advises a daily whole-coach disinfection using low-pressure fogging technology. Other ideas given for group leaders include clear partitions between passenger seating rows and unavailable seats clearly marked to properly space travelers.
MCI shares safety checklists that group leaders and tour operators can customize before sending them to their members to make sure everyone feels safe with the protocols.
WISHING FOR WI-FI
Under normal travel conditions, wireless internet (Wi-Fi) is one of the most soughtafter technologies for motorcoach travel. Though seniors rarely request it, as more boomers try out group travel, the desire to stay connected with family, friends and work via the internet will intensify.
If wireless connectivity is important to your travelers, you can either charter a motorcoach that already offers Wi-Fi or install a Wi-Fi system yourself. For commercial-grade Wi-Fi vehicle capacities, you might expect to pay between $273 and $651 for the setup.
Other motorcoach amenities popular for groups are onboard restrooms, DVD players and electronic charging outlets. For an upscale experience, some motorcoach companies even provide satellite TV. Watching live sports while on the road can prove quite enjoyable for passengers.
To keep your technology flowing throughout the trip, choose hotels with free Wi-Fi. Hotels that charge for internet can irritate travelers, so choosing properties that provide free internet access will help keep your travelers happy. Sometimes, you can also work with hotel providers to bargain for free internet as part of your group’s package.
NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS SAFETY PROTOCOLS
INTERNATIONAL CALLING AND DATA
All travelers abroad must decide for themselves what to do about their cell phones. For group leaders who need to stay in contact with work associates back in the states, as well as call for local help, ensuring connectivity in a foreign country can prove imperative.
Loyalty program directors sometimes receive this additional plan for free if they have a phone issued by their company. Other times, directors are left on their own to figure out how to continue to call, text and post on social media while on a trip.
Perhaps the simplest way to ensure a seamless transition is to purchase an international plan with your phone’s carrier service. Before you automatically choose this option, read through the various plans carefully. With many carriers, users can rack up fees from unknowingly using too much data, even with an international plan.
If you have cellular data turned on, many of these international plans may be activated by background data from apps refreshing, email syncing and device updates. Add international plans to each device before your trip or turn your phone to airplane mode if you wish to avoid fees.
Frequent travelers often cite carriers’ international plans as a reason to switch companies because these plans can vary widely in price. AT&T and Verizon’s international plans are similar because they offer a day pass for $10, then discounted rates for longer stays, which also differ depending on how much data you need.
Many travelers relish T-Mobile and Sprint’s international plans because they both provide some free international texting and basic data at no extra cost. For faster data and more services, both charge extra fees.
Other options for group leaders include international and local SIM cards. You can either use these SIM cards with your own unlocked, GSM-compatible phone or rent or purchase a phone when you arrive. Check the rates of these different options, though, because these cards may end up more expensive than carrier plans.
If you don’t need to make calls or text with a local phone number, you could consider GigSky, an international SIM card just for mobile data. The pricing is less expensive than many international phone plans, depending on the carrier. Google Fi is another inexpensive option that can provide data by switching between cellular networks to use Wi-Fi to call and text whenever available. Check to make sure your phone is compatible before you purchase either option.
Tour SOUTHEAST INDIANA
Fall Mums, Farms & Markets
Meet a friendly herd of alpaca, tour a greenhouse, visit an orchard and find locally made specialty foods and fresh produce in the Fall.
“Fun Farm & Market Experiences!”
- Clarksville Parks & Rec,
Clarksville, IN
Indianapolis
INDIANA
1
OHIO
Cincinnati
KENTUCKY
Louisville Lexington South of I-74 & west of I-275, 20 minutes west of Cincinnati
www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198
WHERE we’v e BEEN
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce LAKELAND, FLORIDA
TRIP: Israel TOUR OPERATOR: The Israel Adventure DATE: May and June 2019
The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce took 43 travelers to see the highlights of Israel. The group explored historic and religious sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Galilee and Bethlehem.
“The group especially enjoyed their boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, seeing an ancient gate in Tel Dan and visiting the most historical sites in Jerusalem, such as the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They also loved learning from The Israel Adventure’s Dr. Joe Davis, a professor of theology in the College of Christian Ministries and Religion at Southeastern University. His knowledge of the land made the stories come to life.” — SARAH BREED,
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Courtesy Ark Encounter
Gail’s Globetrotters DENTON, TEXAS
TRIP: Northern Lights of Finland TOUR OPERATOR: Collette DATE: December 2018
For eight days, the group journeyed across Finland with stops at Helsinki, Ivalo and the Lapland region. The trip was a small group tour restricted to no more than 24 passengers.
“The adventure was amazing with so many highlights, but our biggest thrill was seeing the northern lights on several occasions, as well as spending three nights in a glass igloo cabin at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Each cabin came with its own sauna. What I heard most was how much they enjoyed the pristine beauty of the area. The reindeer sled ride in search of the northern lights was a once-in-alifetime experience we will never forget.”
— GAIL MARTINEZ, OWNER
