Select Traveler November December 2018

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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VOL.26 NO.6

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

KNOWN FOR: NATIONAL PARKS

contents

Courtesy Dobbs Productions and Bar Harbor COC

ON THE COVER: Acadia National Park remains among the country’s top national parks for its dramatic coastline and unspoiled panoramas.

Photo by Sara Winter.

16 libraries 28 philadelphia 10 12 14 20 33 35 TAP

checking in: conference: RONNI HANNAMAN

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MAC T. LACY CHARLES A. PRESLEY BRIAN JEWELL ELIZA MYERS HERBERT SPARROW DONIA SIMMONS ASHLEY RICKS CHRISTINE CLOUGH SAVANNAH OSBOURN KELLY TYNER DANIEL JEAN-LOUIS KYLE ANDERSON

FRENCH LICK

toolbox:

GROWING YOUR GROUP

PRESIDENTIAL

state: marketing:

SOUTH DAKOTA

RETHINK EVENTS

DANIEL JEAN-LOUIS

888.253.0455

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER

DANIEL@ GROUP TR AVELLE ADER.COM

Founder and Publisher Partner Executive Editor Associate Editor Senior Writer Creative Director Graphic Designer/Circulation Manager Copy Editor Staff Writer Director of Sales & Marketing Advertising Account Manager Advertising Account Manager

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PA S T & P R E S E NT

TR AVE L G UI DE

Select Traveler, the Magazine for Bank, Alumni and Chamber Travel Planners, is published bimonthly by The Group Travel Leader, Inc., 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507 and is distributed free of charge to qualified travel program directors throughout the United States. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants and other travel-related companies, may subscribe to Select Traveler by sending a check for $49 for one year to: Select Traveler, Circulation Department, 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. Copyright The Group Travel Leader, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

NAME OR ADDRESS CHANGES: If your copy of Select Traveler should be mailed to another manager in your organization, or if you personally know another travel director who is not receiving Select Traveler, please send your correction to: Select Traveler, 301 East High St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507, or call (859) 2530455.

perspective P U B L I S H E R ’ S

H

as any generation gotten a worse rap than millennials?

According to my sources, they’ve killed bar soap, would rather

rent than buy and don’t even think about going out until the rest of us are in bed. But my experience with this demographic hasn’t been so bad. I have two millennial sons who are both gainfully employed. One

recently married and has bought a home; the other holds down a full-time job while earning his MBA in the evenings.

I’m thinking about this because our office seems to be crawling with them these days. Even if you don’t count executive editor Brian Jewell, who is a tweener and claims to be a Gen Xer when he’s feeling old and a millennial when he’s not, we currently have four of these notoriously entitled types in our office every day.

We have two new salespeople, Kyle Anderson and Daniel Jean Louis, who are among the first to show up every day. So much for not being able to get out of the bed.

Sales can be a head-banging career choice, and these guys come in bright and early and haven’t spit the bit yet. Our staff writer, Savannah Osbourn, opened the place up a lot in the mornings before she decided to commute to our office in Lexington, Kentucky, from nearby Winchester.

Ashley Ricks is our IT person and also handles our circulation and social media, and she recently trained to become our second graphic artist. Yes, she is as busy as she sounds. For a millennial, she’s a bracket buster. But Ashley’s secret is out — she constantly claims to be an “old soul,” so, it’s like she doesn’t count.

I’d think we were special except that Charlie and Joe, who run the Select Traveler Conference from their office in Ohio, hired a videographer, Alex, right out of high school.

Alex is doing a great job. Maybe there’s hope for all of us yet.

Email me anytime with your thoughts at maclacy@grouptravelleader.com.

Mac Lacy 6

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P L A N N E R S

T A L K

B A C K

does your group enjoy holiday tours?

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SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA “I think our members really get into the holiday spirit by traveling during the holiday season. We like to alternate our holiday tours by doing a day trip one year and a multiday trip the next year. This year, we are taking a group to LeMars, Iowa, to see the Brown family’s ‘Christmas in Our Hometown.’ It is less than two hours away, a comfortable motorcoach ride for a day trip. This trip features a Christmas musical, along with lunch and an appetizer cooking class taught by Michaela Brown.”

KATE SANDERS

DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI PROGRAMS AND ALUMNI GROUP TRAVEL | OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CORVALLIS, OREGON “Typically, for our educational group travel program, the specific destination is more of a draw, as opposed to the time of year. Tours designed for a specific international celebration, such as the 75th anniversary of D-Day or the Oberammergau Passion Play, are more popular than, say, a generalized European holiday markets shopping trip.”

RANDY CALAGUAS

TRAVEL OFFICER | FIRST CITIZENS BANK MASON CITY, IOWA “Traditionally, we like to offer a holiday trip to somewhere close by, as well as an extended holiday trip. In past years, our day trips have visited decorated homes, holiday shows or holiday shopping destinations. Our longer holiday tours have included Branson, Missouri; New Orleans; the Rose Parade; New York City; and Chicago.”

MARIANNE VIRGILI

PRESIDENT AND CEO, RETIRED | GLENWOOD SPRINGS CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO “We have traditionally traveled in the fall to avoid Christmas holidays. Easter break does work for us, however, for spring travel. Usually we are on a tour on Halloween and have held Halloween parties in China, Ireland, Greece and the Danube River. Attendees are told to make a costume from what they brought with them or what they can pick up in their hotel room. It is really fun and some of our foreign tour guides have joined in. We got to introduce an American holiday tradition.”

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA “We have had a few holiday tours. We had two successful Christmas tours in New York City. We planned a Germany Christmas markets tour in December 2019, so only time will tell.”

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checking in RONNI HANNAMAN

W I T H

R O N N I

H A N N A M A N

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CARSON CITY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE C A R S O N C I T Y, N E VA D A The Carson City Chamber of Commerce in Carson City, Nevada, started offering guided tours 10 years ago as part of a non-dues revenue initiative.

The travel program has grown to 600 members and is open to the public, with some travelers joining tours from across the country.

Born: Wurzburg, Germany Education: B.A. in English, Grossmont College Employment: Hannaman held several previous jobs in travel-related fields, working as a flight attendant, director of visitor marketing for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, president of the Pennsylvania Travel Council and owner of a travel agency in San Diego. She started at the Carson City Chamber of Commerce in 2006.

Family: Married with two Cairn terriers Hobbies: Travel, reading and writing

Travelers with the Carson City Chamber of Commerce pose together in India.

BY ELIZA MYERS

I

t’s 4 a.m. in Carson City, Nevada. Most chamber of commerce executive directors would still be in bed. Not Ronni Hannaman. Executive director for the Carson City COC, she believes in the chamber’s travel program so completely that she’s willing to wake up in the middle of the night to make sure her travelers feel cared for on their way to their next destination.

She regularly greets travel members using the chamber office’s free parking and group transportation to the airport for their next adventure, no matter the hour.

“We can provide them with a breakfast, and I’m here at 4 in the morning to say goodbye to them,” said Hannaman. “We give them a travel gift each time. We work with them from the time they book with us to the end.”

After bidding her travelers adieu, Hannaman then goes back to the

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many demands of her job as executive director before retiring for the day.

This level of commitment played a role in the immediate success of the chamber’s travel program, which Hannaman started 10 years ago.

Today, about 600 travel members trust Hannaman and the chamber to take care of them on tours around the world.

B E T T I NG ON T R AV E L

When representatives from the tour company Collette approached Hannaman to start a travel program, she felt ready for the challenge.

Her entire career had centered on travel in one way or another.

She spent time working for Sea World and the airlines as a flight attendant before a seven-year stint at the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and 10 years as the president of the Pennsylvania Travel Council.

Hannaman even opened a travel agency in San Diego and ran it for seven years before taking over the Carson City chamber in 2006.

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“Travel has been my career,” said Hannaman. “When Collette introduced the idea of a travel program, I was very interested. The rest is history.”

Hannaman took a chance on a chamber travel program, although she knew of no other chambers in the state managing such a program. She tested the program with two trips the first year. The success of the two trips ensured that the program quickly became a permanent and important fixture for the chamber.

“We found the community was ready for organized trips,” said Hannaman. “Banks here did not offer travel programs as they do in the South and Midwest, so there was pent-up demand for group travel.”

The lack of travel agents in the area also led to more customers.

Hannaman discovered a wealth of potential travelers who had the funds but not the knowledge of how to organize a trip on their own.

SUCC ES S S EC R E T S

Hannaman. “They feel that if she can travel, so can they.”

Though non-dues revenue factored significantly in the formation of the travel program, Hannaman said her purpose for the program doesn’t end there.

“I have traveled all my life,” said Hannaman. “It is very interesting for me to watch those who have never really traveled. I like to look at everything through their eyes. We are not just in it to make a commission. We want them to have a wonderful experience. The program gives the chamber a way to connect with the public at large.”

tips

T R A V E L Not all chamber travel programs take off immediately. Hannaman attributes a lot of the program’s popularity to something that differentiates her chamber travel program from many others: opening access to trips to the wider community.

“It has surprised me that not all chambers are doing this,” said • If you are a chamber of commerce, consider travel Hannaman. “The trick is to not rely on our chamber members to be programs as a non-dues income revenue generator. your travelers. There is no way we could have been so successful with just the chamber members. We reach out to the general public. We • Take travel programs seriously. We treat our clients reach out to working people, too, but they don’t have the opportunity like gold and take care of them in any way we can. to travel like those that have retired.”

By opening the trips to the wider public, Hannaman can sell more trips, • Offer the trips as a service to the public. Lots of which increases the non-dues income revenue that is so valuable for champeople have the means to travel but don’t know how. bers. The amount raised doesn’t just mean a little extra cash. Commissions from the travel program allowed the chamber to buy its current building.

The travel funds take pressure off the chamber to attract new members to survive. Hannaman estimates that the chamber would have to attract 200 new members per year to earn as much as the travel program.

Although Hannaman places top priority on the travel program, she acknowledges that her e p l o re responsibilities to the chamber prevent her from 10- to 14-Night Alaska Cruisetours going on every trip. onboard Celebrity Millennium® “Unlike some of the bank travel planners that go on all the tours, chamber planners can’t,” said Seward/Vancouver departures e p l o re Hannaman. “I’ve gone on a few of them. SomeMay 2019/2020 May-1-September 2013 June –September September 14, 2012 times, if a group is big enough, I will meet them 10- to 14-Night Alaska Cruisetours somewhere along the line. I flew to London and onboard Celebrity Millennium® met a group in Wales once. But I didn’t have two Seward/Vancouver departures weeks to spend on a tour. Being on the West June 1 – September 14, 2012 Coast, it’s harder to find the time for every trip. I try to go on one trip a year with a group.”

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In addition to the group travel tips Hannaman has learned over the years, she claims that her “secret weapon” is Marilyn Foster, a travel writer about to turn 90 in January. Hannaman refers to Foster as her travel ambassador, since Foster writes about her travel experiences with the chamber in a section of the local newspaper.

Foster is a consummate traveler who usually keeps two future trips pending.

“Her columns have gained us more widows and other older folks who thought they were too old to travel or felt uncomfortable traveling alone,” said

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C O N F E R E N C E

connection

AFRENCHSELECT SETTING LICK TO SHINE IN FEBRUARY West Baden Springs Hotel offers luxury accommodations surrounded by a lovely natural setting.

T

BY DAN DICKSON he 2019 Select Traveler Conference is scheduled for February 10-12 and will have as its host not a midsize or large city, but instead a historic resort in rural southern Indiana surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest. And for travel planners, the French Lick Resort, with its two magnificent hotels as well as surrounding communities and attractions, offers plenty for tour groups to experience.

Kristal Painter, executive director of Visit French Lick West Baden, is excited about welcoming travel planners to the area.

“It means a lot to us because they’re going to experience us firsthand,” said Painter. “I don’t think words or photos can do our destination justice. Once those tour and travel planners see it themselves, they’ll be able to easily sell it to their customers.”

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Courtesy French Lick CVB

Everything begins with the hotels. The French Lick Springs Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by many to be an American classic. The main building was built in 1845; the current spa wing in 1901. The neighboring West Baden Springs Hotel is a National Historic Landmark.

The two hotels were restored in 2015 at a cost of $600 million.

There is a free 24-hour-a-day shuttle service between them.

The busy Select Traveler Conference is being held in wintertime and, therefore, will not include formal FAM tours of the area. Painter said the prime FAM touring time is spring through fall.

“For example, nearby Patoka Lake, which offers the scenic boat cruises, the wine and lunch and dinner cruises, schedules April to October,” she said. “French Lick Scenic Railway oper-

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T H A N K S

ates March through December, ending with the running of the popular Polar Express. The up-close animal encounters with elephants at Wilstem Ranch runs March through November.”

The same goes for Abbydell Hall, located on the former estate of basketball great and local native Larry Bird and now a dinner theater with Branson-style family shows March through December. However, the site’s banquet hall and boutique hotel are open year-round.

“I recommend people interested in a FAM contact us for April through October visits so we can include every one of the attractions people will enjoy,” said Painter.

Still, there are some fun year-round activities to enjoy, including tours of the resort facilities.

“We can get you on those daily tours to experience the history and the magnitude of the two hotels,” said Painter.

“That’s an experience groups will love. Also, the French Lick West Baden Museum, the French Lick Winery, the Bear Hollow Wood Carvers [chainsaw carvings and sculptures] and the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception are all great year-round options for groups.”

The CVB can assist with guided tours, transporting travel planners from place to place or setting up self-guided itineraries.

The CVB is still making plans but expects to host the conference’s opening night dinner, which will also include entertainment.

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T R A V E L

T O O L B O X

5 great ways to gain new travelers

BY BRIA N JE W E LL

S

ometimes, growth requires implementing new ideas.

Your travel program has a specific mission — to grow loyalty and engagement with your bank, alumni group or chamber of commerce — and the more travelers you reach, the more successful that mission will be. You might have a core group of travelers on whom you can count to join your trips each year, but the ongoing success of your program will require you to successfully recruit new travelers over time.

Flyers and newsletters might be your first option for publicizing your travel program’s offerings, but your marketing efforts shouldn’t stop there. If you’re looking for some novel ways to grow your group, try these five ideas. You’ll likely attract some new travelers who never would have joined you otherwise.

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AUTOMATE COMMUNICATIONS Relying on phone calls, newsletters and catalogs is a limited way of reaching travelers because each of these activities is time intensive, and your time is limited. Instead, try targeted, preplanned emails, which allow you to reach a wider audience at a lower cost and with less time investment. Using any one of numerous mass email services, you can set up campaigns that will send a series of messages to anyone on your list. Some of these offer powerful programs that allow you to target potential customers and send customized emails that change based on their behaviors — all automatically.

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OFFER INCENTIVES The people who already travel with you can be your greatest marketing force if you encourage them to bring their friends and family members on your trips. Offer incentives to your current members for recruiting new travelers. This can be simple things like Starbucks gift cards or more elaborate gestures such as room upgrades or other travel benefits. You could even offer a cash bonus or a referral fee. Also, consider an incentive program for frequent travelers: For example, people who travel with you four times get an upgrade, discount or special gift on their fifth trip.

REVAMP YOUR IMAGE People’s perceptions of your travel program and the trips you take may be the biggest thing holding them back from joining your group. Potential travelers may perceive your trips as too expensive, too long, too boring, etc. Take a hard look at your itineraries, photos and marketing materials to make sure they’re not sending a message you don’t intend. If your group is perceived as old or boring, try to attract some younger travelers to your trips and assure them they will have a good time. And keep your travel club’s website and Facebook page fresh and updated.

ENLIST PERSONALITIES You can often attract increased interest in a trip if you can enlist a high-profile, well-known personality from your organization or community to come on the trip with you. This could be the president of your bank, a well-loved professor from your university or even a media personality from your town. If you’re working with a tour operator or a hotelier that offers comps, you may be able to use one of your comps to host this person on the trip free of charge, which

TRAVEL NEAR AND FAR If you are locked in to doing specific kinds of trips — only day trips,

will go a long way toward convincing them to come with you.

only mystery tours, only international — you’re missing out on a lot of travelers who aren’t interested in those kinds of experiences. Try adding one or two different types of trips a year, and see if they attract different travelers. Don’t rule out certain destinations just because they would require flying, overnight stays or higher-than-normal prices. If you can offer interesting experiences over a range of tour types, you might convince new travelers to join you for an adventure.

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COLLECTIONS

of

consequence

A chapel at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum Courtesy Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum

An exhibit on Jackie Kennedy

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Courtesy John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

A bust of Harry S. Truman

By Bruce Mathews, courtesy Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum

A piece of the Berlin Wall at the Ronald Regan Presidential Library and Museum N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

presidential libraries capture america’s moments

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

P

residential libraries are more than just repositories of documents. They are windows into the lives of the country’s most influential leaders.

There are 14 presidential libraries and museums across the country, dedicated to presidents from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. Most of them began as repositories, places to store documents, audio, video and artifacts collected during a president’s term in office to make sure they would always be available to the public. But over time, they evolved into so much more.

Now they are masterpieces in their own right, with artful buildings, beautiful gardens and memorials to commemorate the men who held the highest office in the land.

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM SIM I VALLE Y, CA LIFORNIA Step aboard the Air Force One Boeing 707 plane that carried Ronald Reagan more than 660,000 miles during his term as president, or put yourself in the former president’s shoes as you peruse a full-size replica of President Reagan’s Oval Office at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The Air Force One Pavilion is by far the biggest attraction at the library and museum, said Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. It also makes the museum and library one of the splashiest and most modern of the presidential libraries.

Visitors clamor to tour the “flying White House,” which was also used by six other presidents. They also can peek into one of Lyndon B. Johnson’s Marine One helicopters and walk around a presidential motorcade from the Reagan era that includes a Secret Service chase Suburban and 1980s police vehicles.

Reagan enthusiasts can visit the memorial site where Reagan and his wife, Nancy, are buried or a large segment of the Berlin Wall that commemorates the president’s role in bringing the wall down in 1991.

The museum includes 10,000 square feet of temporary exhibit space to house exhibitions on everything from Pompeii and the Vatican to Genghis Khan, the Titanic and George Washington.

WWW.REAGANFOUNDATION.ORG

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND BOYHOOD HOME ABILENE, KANSAS

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home has been a work in progress since it broke ground in Abilene, Kansas, in October 1959. It started back in 1946 when Eisenhower’s boyhood home was given to the Eisenhower Foundation as a museum. Since that time, the campus has expanded to include the

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Eisenhower library, a visitors center and a museum. The complex also includes a place of meditation, where Eisenhower; his wife, Mamie; and their firstborn son are buried.

This year, the presidential library is completely renovating its museum space and hopes to reopen it on D-Day, June 6, 2019, in honor of then General Eisenhower’s contributions during World War II. “The new exhibit plan is frankly quite beautiful, but quite emotional also,” said Dawn Hammatt, director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library. “We get to use all of these new educational concepts, new to the museum field, about how people learn and what people learn to tell this amazing story about these two people, both Eisenhower and his lovely bride, Mamie.”

Using the writings and recordings of both Ike and Mamie, the exhibit tells the story of their lives through their own words. Eisenhower was the first president to use the television as a means of communicating with the American people, and although there aren’t as many videos as one would find with a modern president, visitors will be treated to some of these early broadcasts.

Ike’s boyhood home is a big draw, and “we see an awful lot of veterans coming through our doors who want a moment to reflect and be thankful,” Hammatt said. “It’s incredible.”

WWW.EISENHOWER.ARCHIVES.GOV

HARRY S. TRUMAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

Step into President Harry S. Truman’s shoes as he makes some of the most difficult decisions of his presidency in the White House Decision Center at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Visiting groups are assigned roles as a Truman adviser or as Truman himself. They are then given a scene setter that transports them back to issues of the day, such as whether to desegregate the armed forces or recognize the country of Israel.

Using formerly classified documents, the group must persuade the president of their opinions in the matter, and then the president must answer to the “media” to defend his final decision.

“It is the crown jewel of the Truman Library,” said public programs officer Jennifer Vitela of the organization’s reconstruction of the White House West Wing.

Participants go from being an adviser and learning about the issue to gleaning more information about the situation from government documents to asking questions from an informed place, she said. The simulation is so popular that the military uses it to train officers on how to make decisions.

The Truman library opened in Independence, Missouri, in 1957 to hold all the personal items and papers Truman collected as president, vice president and a U.S. senator.

Visitors to the library and museum learn about his life growing up

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Tour SOUTHEAST INDIANA

RiveR Town Spend a day along the Ohio River Scenic Byway and explore historic Aurora. Follow an urban arts trail with your artist guide, tour landmark mansions, enjoy a “Linens & Luxury” luncheon and visit a small brewery with a big history.

“Wonderful experience, Top-notch service!”

- CB&S Bank Shining Stars, Russellville, AL

in Independence as well as the time he spent as a soldier during World War I. One of the most influential presidents of his time, Truman is credited with the formation of the United Nations, NATO and Medicare. He also signed the Marshall Plan, or the European Recovery Program, which helped Western countries rebuild after the devastation of World War II. WWW.TRUMANLIBRARY.ORG

GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

President Gerald Ford tripped and fell once while disembarking from Air Force One, and the world ever after thought of him as clumsy. But the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, paints a much different picture of Ford. He was athletic, an MVP football player for the University of Michigan. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers to play professionally, but he opted to continue his studies and attend law school at Yale University instead, said Kristen Mooney, public affairs specialist at the Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

Ford joined the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II and served on the USS Monterey as a lieutenant commander. A model of the aircraft carrier is on display at the Ford museum.

It was while he was serving in the military that he decided to get into politics. Upon his return from the service, he not only met and married his bride, Betty Bloomer, he also ran against an incumbent Republican for a congressional seat and won, jump-starting his political career.

At the museum, guests are transported back in time to the Ford White House through a full-size replica of his Oval Office complete with his original desk set. A replica of the White House Cabinet Room engages visitors through pictures and stories of the major events presidents discussed while in that space. “Most people don’t know about that,” said Mooney.

“People think of the Oval Office, but the Cabinet Room has a wonderful history to it as well.”

Ford became Richard Nixon’s vice president upon the resignation of Spiro Agnew. When Nixon resigned as president, Ford stepped in and served out the rest of Nixon’s term. Unlike other presidential libraries, Ford’s papers are not housed in the Grand Rapids facility. Instead, Ford donated his personal papers to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, starting well before he became president of the United States.

WWW.FORDLIBRARYMUSEUM.GOV

JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM BOSTON

“Windows of Aurora” Hillforest Victorian House Museum

OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

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Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

South of I-74 & west of I-275, 20 minutes west of Cincinnati

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

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The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum overlooks old Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline. Though many visitors come to the library to pay their respects to and remember the country’s first Catholic president, who was assassinated during his third year in office on November 22, 1963, the museum doesn’t dedicate much space to the assassination. Instead, the organization focuses on the president’s life and administration and the “terrific presidential legacy he left behind,” said Ian Shepherd, visitor operations manager for the facility.

Exhibits explore Kennedy’s early life through his term as president. Guests walk through galleries that explore his presidential campaign, the debates and his inauguration to the White House. They also highlight his decisions during the Vietnam War and the Cuban missile crisis, two of the biggest ordeals of his young presidency.

No library and museum dedicated to John F. Kennedy would be complete without a tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy. The museum keeps a rotating exhibit of the former first lady’s dresses and gowns from her time in the White House.

A temporary exhibit running until fall 2019 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the president’s birth with 100 different artifacts related to his life. “It gives him a more personal human feel, so people can get a little bit closer to who he was as an individual person rather than the presidential side of things displayed in our permanent exhibits,” said James Roth, deputy director of the library and museum.

The Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum also lays claim to the Ernest Hemingway Collection, a selection of Hemingway’s papers, photographs and mementos that were donated for inclusion in the Kennedy library by Hemingway’s wife, Mary, after her husband’s death. “Ernest Hemingway: A Life Inspired” opened in June 2018.

Visitors may also view the Freedom 7 Mercury space capsule that took NASA astronaut Alan Shepard on the United States’ first manned spaceflight in May 1961. The capsule is on loan to the JFK library until the end of 2019.

WWW.JFKLIBRARY.ORG

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Step Into Little Rock’s Oval Office

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Eli Murray Photography

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S T A T E

o f

M I N D

one for the ages SOUTH DAKOTA STAYS ON EVERYONE’S LIST

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Mount Rushmore is an icon of South Dakota’s scenic Black Hills region.

Passage of Wind and Water in Rapid City

Courtesy Rapid City CVB

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f your travelers enjoy beautiful scenery, classic Americana and the delights of an old-fashioned road trip, it’s time to take them to South Dakota.

From the faces of Mount Rushmore to the world’s only Corn Palace and the urban cascades of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has more than its share of distinctive destinations. Bring your group to explore the Black Hills and beyond, and it might be one of the most memorable domestic trips you’ll ever take.

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D E ADWOOD

ICONIC RAPID CITY

S I O UX FALLS RAPID C IT Y

M I TCHELL

Rapid City’s Art in the Alley Courtesy Rapid City CVB

City of Presidents

Courtesy Rapid City CVB

A Native American dancer at Crazy Horse Memorial

Courtesy Rapid City CVB

Plein Air Easton Art Festival

There’s no better place to begin a South Dakota adventure than Rapid City, a buzzing small city in the beautiful Black Hills.

Rapid City is the jumping-off point for travelers who come to see South Dakota’s two mosticonic attractions: the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Mount Rushmore famously features the faces of four American presidents carved in granite. In addition to admiring the monument, visitors can look through an on-site museum and hike a short trail down to the sculptor’s workshop at the foot of the mountain.

About 15 miles away, the Crazy Horse Memorial is another mountain carving that pays homage to the most famous Native American leader in South Dakota history. Carving continues at the site, which is privately funded, and is expected to take many more years to finish. But groups visiting today can see the relief of Crazy Horse’s face in the mountain, learn about the carving of the sculpture and explore the complex’s museum and Native American art market.

Visit Rapid City, the local convention and visitors bureau, encourages groups to plan daytime and evening visits at both sites.

“We really try to get them to go to the lighting ceremonies at Mount Rushmore,” said director of tourism sales Lindsey Beasley. “And Crazy Horse has a laser light show. They’re both roughly an hour and a half to two hours.”

There’s sculpture of a different kind to explore downtown, where the City of Presidents project gives travelers the opportunity

By John Wolf, courtesy Rapid City CVB

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to encounter influential figures from American history.

“We have life-sized bronze presidential statues placed downtown on our street corners,” Beasley said. “It’s one of the largest public art displays in the country. There’s a self-guided walking tour people can do to see them. You can go get your photo taken with your favorite president.”

Art lovers should also plan to visit Main Street Square to see “Passage of Wind and Water,” a large-scale, ongoing public sculpture project. Other popular group activities include visits to the Prairie Edge Trading Company, which features the region’s largest collection of Native American art, craft and music. And the Journey Museum showcases the history and traditions of Native American groups and pioneers who called South Dakota home. www.visitrapidcity.com

A Deadwood shootout Courtesy Deadwood History Inc.

The Adams House in Deadwood

A Wild West interpreter in Deadwood

HISTORIC DEADWOOD

About 40 miles from Rapid City in the heart of the Black Hills, Deadwood is a small town with an outsized tourism industry. Legalized gaming came to Deadwood in 1989, but the city’s rough and wild past included plenty of illegal gambling, as well as shootouts and other misadventures featuring some of the most infamous characters of the Old West.

Today, Deadwood’s success as a gaming destination helps locals preserve its history and tell its stories to visitors in a variety of compelling ways.

“From Memorial Day weekend to the third weekend in September, we have historic re-enactors downtown,” said Amanda Kille, marketing and sponsorship director for the Deadwood Chamber and Visitors Bureau.

“The most popular part of their schedule are the shootouts on Main Street, when they re-enact a real shootout from Dead-

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Courtesy Deadwood History Inc.

Courtesy Deadwood History Inc.

Courtesy Talbot County Office of Tourism

Mitchell’s Corn Palace

The sitting room at the historic Adams House Courtesy Deadwood History Inc.

Courtesy SD Tourism

Dakota Discovery Museum

An exhibit at Prehistoric Indian Village Courtesy Mitchell CVB

Courtesy Mitchell CVB

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wood’s history at 2, 4 and 6 o’clock. Each one is a different script. And we re-enact the death of Wild Bill Hickok four times a day.”

In addition to the shootouts and the gaming, groups visiting Deadwood enjoy visiting the town’s trio of historic museums. The Adams Museum is the oldest museum in the Black Hills and has exhibits on Wild Bill, Calamity Jane and the discovery of gold in the area. The Adams House, another museum, is a restored Victorian house with original furnishings. And the newest attraction, the Days of ’76 Museum, houses the area’s largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles, including an 1876 stagecoach. www.deadwood.com

CORNY MITCHELL

About 75 miles west of Sioux Falls, the town of Mitchell might not garner much tourist attention were it not for its unique and iconic attraction: the Corn Palace.

Since 1892, the city’s large civic building has been decorated with corn. There have been several Corn Palaces in downtown Mitchell over the years. The current one is a permanent structure whose exterior is adorned with murals made entirely of local corn. The murals are designed by local artists and change every year.

“It takes about 325,000 ears of corn to make the murals,” said Emily Hennagir, marketing coordinator at Visit Mitchell. “In the summer months, we give free guided tours.

There’s a timeline that goes throughout the building that talks about why we have this crazy Corn Palace in town and what it means to our community.”

Groups that spend time in Mitchell should also plan to visit the Dakota Discovery Museum, which features historic buildings from throughout the prairie, including an old schoolhouse, a train depot, a church and the home of one of the Corn Palace founders.

Another popular stop, the Prehistoric Indian Village, preserves the site of a 1,000-year-old Native American settlement.

“They do excavations during the summer, but you can actually view the dig site all year round,” Hennagir said. “The people would come and build mud huts to live in, so the village has reconstructed what they believe those would have looked like. You can walk through them and see how they were set up for multiple families to live there.”

Mitchell’s newest attraction, the Guns of History Museum, features displays of numerous Native American firearms. www.visitmitchell.com

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SCENIC SIOUX FALLS

Falls Park

Photos courtesy Sioux Falls CVB

Downtown Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls’ Sculpture Walk

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Near the eastern edge of the state, Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Groups will find many natural and cultural attractions on the banks of the Big Sioux River, as well as many other interesting stops on the outskirts of town.

“The Big Sioux River runs through the heart of Sioux Falls, and it’s a real benefit to our town,” said Jackie Wentworth, group tour sales manager for the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have a big Riverfest and many other events that happen right on the riverfront.”

Falls Park is the city’s most famous site. This 123-acre park in the center of town features a series of waterfalls that send more than 7,400 gallons of water down a 100-foot-high cascade every second. The park has an information center, a cafe and an observation tower, which offers great views of the waterfalls and surrounding Sioux Falls.

Groups visiting Falls Park may also want to explore the Sculpture Walk, which connects the park to nearby Washington Pavilion. The Sculpture Walk features a series of public art each year created by area sculptors. The sculptures are on display for a year before being sold to private individuals and being replaced by new artwork.

This fall, the city is celebrating the completion of the Arc of Dreams

by South Dakota sculptor laureate Dale Lamphere. This permanent installation will be the capstone of the Sculpture Walk.

“It’s a massive steel structure that’s going to span the Big Sioux River,” Wentworth said. “It’s seven stories high and the length of a football field. At the center is going to be a 15-foot gap representing the leap of faith that dreamers take to see their dreams come true.” www.visitsiouxfalls.com

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Better order more name badges.

With 53 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, an exhibit hall and 1,300 guest rooms, the Galt House can easily accommodate large groups and conferences. Start planning your next event 24 selecttraveler.com at galthouse.com/meetings.

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BRING YOUR GROUP TOUR TO LIFE.

Fall in love with the rhythm of the waves with hands-on experiences and uncommon access offered exclusively for groups. Plan your group’s Live the Life Adventure at VisitVirginiaBeach.com/GroupTour.

CAPITAL C U L T U R E

BY ELIZA MYERS

A pizza-making demonstration with Experience Rhode Island Tours

Both La Gondola Providence and Providence River Boat tours run during the dramatic WaterFire art installations along Providence River.

Courtesy Providence/Warwick County CVB

EXPERIENCE RHODE ISLAND TOURS

sailors and scholars find port in providence

P

rovidence, Rhode Island, defies expectations of a typical New England city.

Founded by a renegade preacher in 1636, Providence started as an experiment of religious and political freedom. From there, it transformed into a major New World seaport and is now a cultural hub and academic community.

Groups can explore this intriguing city in several different ways, including an authentic gondola ride to experience the town’s Italian heritage. Historic tours explain the city’s many interesting characters, and river cruises connect visitors with the city’s seafaring past.

Even ghost tours reveal the Revolutionary War history alongside spooky stories.

Whether by motorcoach, foot, cruise or gondola, travel planners should consider these high-quality city tours to introduce groups to the capital of Rhode Island.

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How did Providence evolve from a radical religious settlement to a Renaissance city? Experience Rhode Island Tours walks participants through the city’s ups and downs on a variety of highly rated tours.

The family-owned company relates information about the local cuisine, culture, people, sights and stories.

“The owners are two brothers that grew up here, moved away and then moved back before starting Experience Rhode Island Tours,” said Elsie Swearingen, leisure sales and visitor center manager for Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They have really interesting narratives about the evolution of Providence from our Colonial history to our present. They are very knowledgeable about all aspects of the town’s history.”

The company has earned a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor, and it was recognized as a Star of the Industry in 2017 by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association. The basic 90-minute tour, Discover Providence, takes groups around the city in a climatecontrolled tour bus with plenty of stops for photos of the city’s architecture and waterfront panoramas. Groups stop for a tasty treat in the city’s Little Italy.

Planners can also opt for a more elaborate excursion with the company’s 3.5-hour Dinner and a Cruise tour that includes dinner at a Rhode Island pizzeria, dessert at a local cafe and a ride down Providence River to the center of the city. Groups can delve into the culinary scene with the Dine Around Providence tour or Italian heritage with a Viva La Providence tour, which ends with a gondola ride.

Courtesy Kentucky Bourbon Trail

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LA GONDOLA PROVIDENCE

Men decked in traditional striped shirts and flat straw hats ferry guests past the sights of Providence during a La Gondola Providence tour. Rather than being gimmicky, these tours strive for authenticity. Handcrafted in Venice, each gondola is 36 feet long with handsculpted, elaborate details on each vessel. Providence’s Venetian-style walkways and bridges set the mood for passengers.

“The tour takes you through the downtown area,” said Swearingen. “You float under the Venetian-style bridges, where they have candlelight chandeliers. It is really like ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ It is a unique experience.”

Owner Matthew Haynes extensively trains each of his gondoliers in the art of paddling the river using long, thin paddles to propel the gondolas. Each of the guides can also sing Italian love songs and provide background information on the history of Providence as the town slides past.

Though the company owns only three gondolas that fit six passengers each, they regularly accommodates larger groups with several tour options. One tour offers Italian-style wine and biscuits and onshore musical entertainment for waiting guests. Other add-ons include Italian-themed walking tours and pasta-making demonstrations.

Groups can also complete the experience with a trip to Providence’s Little Italy, known formally as Federal Hill, which attracted many Italian immigrants during the start of the 20th century. The neighborhood still retains its Italian heritage with themed restaurants, specialty shops and an Italianate fountain and square.

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Here are just a few shows coming this season:

PROVIDENCE GHOST TOUR

Lantern light sets the mood as it sends shadows spilling out over the darkened streets of Providence’s historic East Side during a walking tour with Providence Ghost Tour. The tour combines tales from the city’s long and sometimes dark history with paranormal reports of past residents lingering on in the neighborhood.

“Providence Ghost Tour has one of the coolest tours,” said Swearingen. “The thing that sets it aside from other ghost tours is that it was developed with research. The two founders did a lot of research to make sure what they were telling is true.”

History is charged with spine-tingling details during these tours, which are led by theatrical guides. The lantern tours run from May through November, with routes starting and stopping at Prospect Terrace Park.

Stories focus on famous politicians, dignitaries, literary figures and love affairs. For example, horror writers Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft both found inspiration in the town’s haunted history.

The tour often stops at University Hall at Brown University, which served as a military hospital during the Revolutionary War. Guides connect the savage 18th-century medical techniques with tales of former patients who supposedly never left the premises.

PROVIDENCE RIVER BOAT

During Providence’s WaterFire nights, fire serves as a work of art. Flickering flames light the dark surface of the water to animate the buildings reflected in the ripples.

Since the events began in 1997, Providence River Boat has taken visitors on cruises to see the 80 burning braziers of the city’s Riverwalk and Waterplace Park. WaterFire lightings occur about twice monthly from May through November.

Even if groups can’t catch this unusual light show, the river boat company offers cruises down the Providence River, along Waterplace Park and Providence Harbor on a regular schedule and at customizable times for private charters. Daytime tours and sunset cruises provide splendid skyline views of the city.

“The tours go up and down the Providence River and talk about the history of the city, including the shipwrecks that have happened in our bay,” said Swearingen. “They can show evidence of those shipwrecks, depending on the tide. Captain Tom is incredibly knowledgeable. He talks about when Providence was part of the rum trade and other details that help you understand how Providence was integral to the beginning of America.”

Groups can also combine the tour with wine tastings from the local Gooseneck Vineyards on the Vineyard Voyages tour. Personalized tours can add music, catering and breakfast doughnuts upon request.

www.goprovidence.com

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Feb 5 – 10, 2019 School of Rock Feb 26 – Mar 3, 2019 The Phantom of the Opera Mar 21 – 31, 2019 Waitress May 28 – June 2, 2019

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Background Photograph Courtesy of Robert Emerson

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HISTORY LESSONS FROM

PHILADELPHIA Independence Hall preserves the place where America’s forefather’s signed America into being.

Courtesy Philadelphia CVB

THIS WORLD HERITAGE CITY CELEBRATES 1776 EVERY DAY

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BY ELIZA MYERS hiladelphia may be America’s most historic city.

In 2015, UNESCO named Philadelphia America’s first World Heritage City. This honor is bestowed to cities that have World Heritage Sites of “outstanding universal value” as well as a plethora of other historic and cultural sites.

The jewel at the center of Philadelphia’s historic crown is Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Beyond that, the city features numerous world-class museums and over 60 National Historic Landmarks.

Groups can see why this modern city earned such accolades by exploring its standout historic landmarks, attractions and museums, each of which help tells the story of the birth of a nation.

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INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

In July 1776, 56 men risked their lives to defy the king of England.

The building where these men courageously signed the Declaration of Independence still stands, with exhibits detailing how the site helped form America.

Guided tours of Independence Hall reveal the story of the site during the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the U.S. Constitution at the same spot 11 years later. Groups can feel transported back in time by viewing George Washington’s “rising sun” chair, the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence and the original draft of the Constitution. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Independence Hall is part of the larger Independence National Historical Park.

Another one of the park’s icons, the Liberty Bell, stands prominently in front of Independence Hall. Displays of historic documents

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and photographs and information surrounding the bell help explain its history as a symbol of freedom.

With more then two dozen historically significant buildings in the park, fitting them all into one trip can prove difficult. Groups can tour on their own or with a guide to give the tour more focus.

“There are a lot of receptive tour operators that can provide costumed Colonial presentations for groups,” said Jim DePhilippo, tourism sales manager for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They lead walking tours around the historic district, which includes many of the sites at the park. Centipede Tours Philadelphia is one company many groups use.”

Other sites of interest for groups in the park include the President’s House, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Independence Visitor Center, the National Constitution Center and Christ Church.

CITY TAVERN

Happy hour in Colonial days meant hearty fare and a dark porter after a day hashing out the details of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers threw back drinks and dined on local fare at the original 1773 City Tavern. Today, a re-creation of City Tavern built in the 1970s stands on the site of the original and serves historically accurate Colonial fare for diners.

“They have recaptured the ambiance of the original tavern,” said DePhilippo. “The servers all wear Colonial costumes. The chef has re-created recipes that were served in the 1700s. The experience is quite popular because of the uniqueness of it.”

Groups can sample Jefferson’s favorite sweet potato biscuits, beer from Franklin’s personal recipe and other period-appropriate goodies. The proprietor, chef Walter Staib, researched the culinary history of the original tavern extensively to create the menu, which features made-from-scratch using local ingredients. Staib, who also stars in a hit television series, “A Taste of History,” earned the restaurant a Five Star Diamond Award for its traditional yet sophisticated offerings, such as a turkey pot pie in a sherry cream sauce.

The restaurant offers three floors, 10 dining rooms and a spacious garden with room for groups.

City Tavern

Courtesy City Tavern

Colonial fare at City Tavern

FAIRMOUNT PARK

Colonial life in the 1700s moved too fast for many wealthy men and women at the time. They escaped from the dirty and loud realities of town to an area now known as Fairmount Park.

“In Colonial days, people would get out of the hubbub of the city by building mansions in Fairmount Park,” said DePhilippo. “Fairmount Park has six of these historic homes that give perspectives on life in the 18th and 19th centuries. The park is an important part of our city. Fairmont Park helps you look at the history of Philadelphia from a slightly different angle.”

Many cities eventually tore down their Colonial mansions to make room for city growth. In an effort to preserve the quality of the city’s water, Philadelphia officials purchased Fairmount Park and the mansions that stood on the 2,000-acre tract of land.

Many of the mansions, including the Strawberry Mansion, underwent significant improvements for the 1976 Bicentennial. The home offers programming such as holiday events, themed tours and author lectures. Visitors learn how William Lewis — a Quaker, lawyer and abolitionist — originally built the home that eventually entertained celebrated guests like the Marquis de Lafayette.

Another home open for group tours almost burned to the ground in 2003. Woodford Mansion houses a collection of Colonial furniture and household items. The 1756 home was the first of Philadelphia’s famed Colonial Georgian mansions and is now a National Historic Landmark.

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Smoke fills the room, the floor shakes, and gunshots erupt at the Battlefield Theater in the Museum of the American Revolution. The theater re-creates a soldier’s sensory experience on the front lines of the Continental Army during a British attack.

The 2017 museum goes beyond 500 artifacts on display, drawing guests into the history viscerally with 20 lifelike figures and 31 audiovisual experiences.

“A visit to our historic district would be missing out on the fuller history of the development of the country,” said DePhilippo. “The Museum of the American Revolution tells the story of the war and its broader context.”

Groups follow the journey to independence chronologically, beginning with the roots of the conflict in the 1760s through the war’s aftermath. The museum represents various perspectives from the time, with a replicated Oneida Indian council house and a volume of 1773 poems from America’s first published black female poet, Phillis Wheatley.

At one multimedia presentation, visitors can see Washington’s headquarters tent, where he contemplated historic decisions during the war. The 118,000-square-foot museum is also renowned for its collection of art, manuscripts and weapons used during the war.

www.discoverphl.com

Museum of the American Revolution Courtesy Museum of the American Revolution

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Courtesy City Tavern

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known

BY REBECCA TREON

F O R

NATIONAL PARKS

G R E AT S M O KY M O U N TA I N S N AT I O N A L PA R K

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE

G R A N D T E T O N N AT I O N A L PA R K

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING Courtesy Gatlinburg CVB

WITH THE 520,000-ACRE Great Smoky Mountains National Park as its backdrop, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has sweeping views from two of its most popular attractions: the 407-foot observation tower, the Space Needle; and the Sky Lift, a 2.1-mile aerial cable car that goes from downtown to Ober Gatlinburg, the city’s amusement park and ski resort.

The park has 150 hiking trails, many with wildflowers, wildlife and waterfalls. Viewing is prime, as the park is one of a handful of International Biosphere Reserves around the world. Biking enthusiasts will love the Gatlinburg Trail, a 3.8-mile round-trip trail that starts near a stoplight downtown. Several scenic drives traverse 800 miles, whether it’s to see flora in the spring, changing fall colors or snowy winter white. Groups can enjoy a picnic along the four-mile trail leading to Ramsey Cascades, the tallest falls in the Smokies.

Downtown Gatlinburg is chock full of activities for groups, such as visiting one of the town’s many moonshine distilleries, craft breweries and wineries. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has sharks, tropical fish and penguins in an award-winning facility. The city also is a hub of traditional Appalachian crafts, from hand-stitched quilts to handmade baskets and brooms, pottery and musical instruments.

Courtesy Visit Jackson Hole

THE GRAND TETON AND YELLOWSTONE national parks are two of the most visited in the world, known, of course, for their scenic vistas, their wildlife viewing and geothermal features such as Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser. Outdoor enthusiasts won’t have to look far to find rafting, horseback riding, fishing and hiking opportunities, and nearby Jackson Hole is known as a skier’s paradise — Snow King and Jackson Hole Resorts are conveniently located in town.

“A must-do for visitors is the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram,” said Elisabeth Rohrbach, director of membership at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. “It can hold up to 100 people and ascends 4,000 feet in 10 minutes.” There is a seasonal ropes course and a roller coaster at the resort, too.

Astrotourism, aka stargazing, is a popular pastime, and nonprofit Wyoming Stargazing offers groups complimentary private group viewings and guided tours. The Center for the Arts offers an incredible range of dance, music and spoken-word performances. On Sunday nights, locals and tourists alike will want to head to the Stagecoach Bar for what locals refer to as “church” in nearby Wilson, Wyoming. A live band plays country music while people two-step — an event that’s taken place there for 40 years.

WWW.JACKSONHOLECHAMBER.COM

WWW.GATLINBURG.COM

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H O T S P R I N G S N AT I O N A L PA R K

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

By Bill Solleder SelectTravel_StCharles _Nov_Dec_18.pdf

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12:43 PM

HOT SPRINGS, IN THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS of Arkansas, is the only town in the country that’s inside a national park, and it’s known for its eponymous thermal springs.

“We have 47 hot springs in the area that are at 143 degrees, with eight bathhouses dating from the 19th and 20th centuries along Bathhouse Row’s historic district,” said Cora Easterday, group travel and visitor services liaison at Visit Hot Springs. The baths at the Buckstaff, Quapaw and Arlington motels are modernized and offer spa treatments.

The park’s biking trails have been ranked by the International Mountain Biking Association on its Epics list. The four lakes in the park are among the cleanest in the country and are popular fishing destinations.

Hot Springs was the original home of baseball’s spring training camp and was popular with players like Babe Ruth. The town’s museum and visitors center are in the former Fordyce Bathhouse, and many people bring water bottles to the area’s many water jugging stations to reap the benefits of drinking mineral water. One of the bathhouses has even been converted into a brewery: The Superior Bathhouse Brewery uses the thermal water to brew its beer.

Also in town, Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden in a beautiful forest setting. It includes a nature preserve along Lake Hamilton and several curated themed gardens with regional flora, like magnolias, camellias and azaleas.

Docent-led tours are available within the gardens. A large water and theme park, Magic Springs, is a popular attraction.

WWW.HOTSPRINGS.ORG

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R O C KY M O U N TA I N N AT I O N A L PA R K

BOULDER, COLORADO

By Abbie Youngs, courtesy Boulder CVB

KNOWN FOR SCENIC TRAIL RIDGE ROAD and Long’s Peak, one of the Colorado’s 53 “fourteeners” — peaks higher than 14,000 feet — Rocky Mountain National Park features popular hiking trails to sites such as Bear Lake and Emerald Lake. Visitors frequent nearby Estes Park, home to the Stanley Hotel — where Stephen King got inspired for “The Shining” — and elk herds strolling through town.

Groups will enjoy a visit to the nearby city of Boulder, a “hippie” college town whose fame was cemented in the 1970s sitcom “Mork and Mindy.” The hourlong trip down the Peak to Peak National Scenic Byway, which winds through Boulder Canyon, is the best way to arrive. Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides, the official concessionaire of Rocky Mountain National Park, offers customizable experiences for groups to enjoy Colorado’s beautiful wilderness, from hiking and biking to fishing and zip lining.

“Boulder’s pedestrian mall along Pearl Street is a great way to get a feel for Boulder,” said Kim Farin, director of marketing at the Boulder Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “It’s an intimate historic district lined with trendy modern shops, sophisticated dining, lots of street performers and great people-watching.”

Colorado is known for its craft beer scene — it’s been called the Napa of beer — and Boulder boasts 25 breweries. It’s home to the Dushanbe Tea House, an authentic restaurant transported from Tajikistan; tea lovers will also enjoy the popular tour at Celestial Seasonings, the largest tea factory in the country. The Dairy Arts Center offers cinema, dance, theater and music.

WWW.BOULDERCOLORADOUSA.COM

BAR HARBOR, MAINE

Explore.

More.

IN MAINE, ACADIA NATIONAL PARK is one of the most picturesque parks in the country, with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.

Boat excursions featuring whale watching, rangerled tours that highlight nature and wildlife in the park, and lobster and seal watching tours are all popular activities for visitors. There are guided hiking and kayaking tours, too.

“Bar Harbor has a wonderful self-guided walking tour,” said Alf Anderson, director of membership and sales at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “The Bar Harbor Historical Society has placards along the walk describing the historical events in town and celebrating the rusticators, who really developed the town’s tourism. It’s a sort of museum in the streets.” Similar tours can be made through the picturesque village on bikes or Segways, and those can be led by a tour guide or self-guided.

The Abbe Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, offers a glimpse of the history and culture of the area’s Native Americans, and the Acadia Workshop Center offers art workshops like plein-air painting to tourists. Many of Bar Harbor’s restaurants and shops are unique and family owned, offering a true slice of local life.

WWW.VISITBARHARBOR.COM

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EVENTS THAT PROMOTE TRAVEL AND DAZZLE

BY ELIZA MYERS

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fter dining on Spanish tapas and wine while gazing at pictures of the Spanish countryside during a promotional event, a group trip to Spain can seem like an irresistible opportunity. Add in some lighthearted conversation with old friends, and you’ll find yourself signing up on the spot.

Loyalty group travel planners use events to entice anyone on the fence about traveling to an unfamiliar destination with themed entertainment and a chance to socialize. After managing the endless details related to group travel, many travel planners use the same skills to craft an event that impresses. Some group leaders even piggyback on events unrelated to travel to grab new members who might not have considered group travel before.

Instead of relying on another flyer, orchestrate captivating events that will lead with fun and end with a growing group membership.

takes less time. Dan Stypa, associate director of alumni programs for Rice University, plans a destination debut event in the summer, during which he unveils future travel opportunities with food and drink from around the world. Past faculty members, travelers and potential future travelers come to chat, eat and sign up for tours on the spot.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

Loyalty group travel programs, such as alumni associations, don’t always revolve only around travel. Many also plan educational or social events. Many chambers of commerce plan networking events. Bank clubs frequently host guest speakers who discuss financial tips. Members attending these events might not have considered group travel.

PREVIEW PARTIES

Though potential travelers can toss aside a flyer for a trip to Switzerland without much of a glance, the opportunity to dine on chocolate and cheese fondue while chatting with friends can prove much harder to ignore. Travel planners frequently plan pretrip or preview parties for upcoming tours to build excitement and convince reluctant travelers.

Longer trips especially benefit from pretrip events, since members are often more reluctant about both the distance and the idea of spending more money. The face-to-face time with an enthusiastic travel planner promoting a tour, plus the themed details, make the tour seem more feasible.

To set the mood, plan your pretrip event with destinationrelated appetizers, decorations, a preplanned travel presentation and awe-inspiring photos. Try not revealing the cost of the trip before the event to prevent people from automatically staying away because of the price tag.

For some loyalty travel planners, frequent pretrip events aren’t practical because members might come from all corners of the globe. If this is the case, plan a conference call a few weeks before the trip so each of the members can virtually meet and talk through all the questions about the tour. Though you can’t use these calls to recruit new travelers, the time together will build anticipation and relieve any lingering concerns.

Other travel planners find that one big event each year showcasing all upcoming destinations generates more interest and

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Consider taking advantage of these types of events to add some promotional time talking about upcoming tours. Though the attendees may have come for nontravel content, a short presentation given with enthusiasm and confidence can often attract the attention of those who may not have previously given travel much thought.

You can also take advantage of other events being held in your area. Representatives from chambers of commerce that sell trips to the wider community can attend any event in the area where potential travelers might frequent. For example, a church conference could prove an ideal place to sell a trip to Jordan to conference attendees who may not be aware of your organization or travel program.

If your organization doesn’t host any events and no outside events make sense, try creating your own event. Social gatherings or events with a topic you know will interest your members often gain the most attendees.

Gail Day, event coordinator and tour leader for the United Community Bank in Blairsville, Georgia, once tried this tactic.

She started with a Valentine’s Day party talent show made up of staff that turned into a professionally produced event that reached 6,000 attendees at its peak. This extreme example not only increased interest in the travel club but also gained the bank a vast amount of new business.

ON-THE-ROAD EVENTS

Since event planning and group travel planning call upon skills, many travel planners craft memorable events during tours to foster a feeling of loyalty to the organization. For example,

Many travel planners craft memorable events during tours to foster a feeling of loyalty to the organization.

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Northwestern University’s alumni association hosts special receptions at destinations with local alumni. The university even welcomed local alumni to a cocktail party in South America. Travelers came back raving about this intimate outing.

Whether your group is an alumni association or a different organization, consider making loyalty events part of your travel itineraries. For example, chamber groups with a trip full of members sometimes plan social events with local business owners with whom their members might wish to collaborate.

All types of groups can plan an elaborate farewell dinner that reminds travelers of the organization that made the tour possible in the first place. Use the merriment of the moment to your advantage.

THE SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF GEORGETOWN.

MALL TOWN CHARM. PURE SMALL

SCOTT COUNTY

– Equine Activities –

• Minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park • Old Friends Retired Thoroughbred Farm • Group Horseback Riding

– Picturesque Downtown – • Specialty Shops • Antiques

• Scott County Arts and Cultural Center • Cafes and One-of-a-kind Restaurants • Georgetown and Scott County Museum

– Other Charming Attractions –

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, KY, Inc. Tour • Golf • Country Boy Brewing • Bourbon 30 Spirits • Ward Hall • Yuko-En Japanese Friendship Garden • Nearby Wineries and Bourbon Distilleries • Close proximity to the Ark Encounter

and Keeneland Race Course

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TRAVEL

ALLIANCE

PARTNERS TR AVEL GUI D E

PUBLISHED BY THE GROUP TRAVEL LEAD ER

HELLO FROM TAP’S NEW HEADQUARTERS

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TAP also continues to provide valuable education to the travel industry.

Sign up for TAP Into Travel webinars every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

These webinars feature fantastic destinations, exciting and fresh tour programs and important information on industry trends. You can review topics and sign up by clicking the “Webinars” tab at www.tapintotravel.com.

Also highly rated is our Buyers Educational Tour (BET on TAP), designed

for potential new TAP partners and for new travel sellers of TAP tours. BET

on TAP runs in conjunction with the unmatched industry event TAP Dance, set for June 8-13, 2019, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

We’re helping in other ways, too. Are you a travel professional with clients

his past year has been

booking on your website? The TAP customized Tour Wrap is for you. This

Alliance Partners (TAP).

clients.

one of change for Travel The change includes the

announcement of a new

management company: Break the Ice Media. I am thrilled to be the new executive director of TAP and to be leading the TAP management team from our offices

in Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester. TAP is now in its 17th year, and the leadership is strong, the

enthusiasm is high, and the power of partnership has

marketing tool allows you to receive higher commissions and never lose your It takes all of us working together to make our individual businesses a suc-

cess. I look forward to connecting with you to share more about the power of the TAP community. Join us.

TAP TOURS GO TO A VARIETY OF DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING CROATIA’S ADRIATIC COAST.

never been greater. Outwardly, TAP has remained the same consistent, innovative travel organization.

I immediately felt the strong sense of community

and shared mission from all those associated with TAP. The team and I are bringing innovative award-winning

marketing expertise to TAP’s already-strong presence in the tour and travel industry. The power of the TAP

brand continues to elevate all partners — clients, tour operators and suppliers — as each partner-operator must

adhere to a high set of standards, which are assessed

annually to ensure the highest quality experience for

Courtesy Custom Holidays

your clients.

The partners continue to bring unique and fresh

destinations to their clients. Take a look at some of the

trips profiled in the following pages. TAP is known for leading the industry by offering the first Guaranteed Departure program. While exploring these tours, also

check the scheduled departures and custom tour ideas.

SINCERELY,

LISA DOERNER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERS, LLC

You’ll find everything at www.tapintotravel.com.

866-373-0790 | WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM | MARKETING@TRAVELALLIANCEPARTNERS.COM

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2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

NEW

FRONTIERS

BY B R I A N J E W E LL

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DOER N ER A N D BR E A K THE ICE L AU NCH TA P FORWA R D IN 2019

ravel Alliance Partners, often referred to as TAP, has undergone significant changes this year, including retaining a new management company and hiring a new executive director to replace longtime leader Stefanie Gorder.

Founded in 2001, TAP is a consortium of tour companies around the United States, each with its own area of specialty or regional expertise. The partnership consists of 28 members who buy and sell one another’s tours. The partnership allows each TAP member to offer its customers a wide array of products and gives the TAP partner that operates each tour a wider network of potential customers from around the country. The TAP catalog is large and diverse, featuring motorcoach tours, safaris,

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cruises, sporting events and other travel experiences.

That idea was groundbreaking, and in the 17 years since its founding, TAP has continued to innovate with new products, ideas and events. Much of the creative drive came from Gorder, who served as executive director of the organization for nine years.

“Stefanie was amazing for what she was doing,” said TAP president Nick Calderazzo, who owns the New York-based Twin Travel Concepts.

“She grew TAP and created new programs. She was extremely dynamic and creative and reshaped what TAP was.

“She decided to move on. It was her decision — she wanted to do some different things with her life, and we parted on very good terms.”

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Gorder’s departure brought the opportunity for TAP partners to look for a new leader with fresh perspective and a breadth of leadership experience. They found those in Lisa Doerner, who took over leadership of the organization this summer.

“We wanted to keep the momentum of growth and change and being

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

“They are marketing strategists and PR professionals,” Doerner said. “Their clients are in tour and travel, and they bring knowledge of that industry to the team. I bring more of the operational business management. So I’m essentially overseeing everything that’s happening for the TAP company, and I’ll have three or four people from Break the Ice who jump in to help with different things.”

PROGRAM CONTINUITY

NASHVILLE IS A PERENNIALLY POPULAR DESTINATION FOR GROUPS TRAVELING WITH TAP TOUR OPERATORS. Courtesy DeNure Tours

on the cutting edge of our industry,” Calderazzo said. “That’s how we ended up with Lisa. She doesn’t come from our industry, but she comes with a vast knowledge of different ways of doing things.

“We already know what we know. We wanted someone to tell us what we don’t already know.”

Doerner has spent more than 20 years in business development roles at various organizations, including the Xerox Corporation and an association of technology professionals in Rochester.

“My background is about relationship building and working with teams,” Doerner said. “My role and goals were really similar to what I’m doing her at TAP: to increase efficiency and work with our marketing team to elevate the TAP brand and provide more value to the TAP operators so they can be more successful.”

BREAKING THE ICE

In addition to hiring Doerner, the TAP partners decided to expand their marketing and outreach efforts by retaining the services of Break the Ice Media, a marketing and public relations firm also based in Rochester.

Break the Ice will serve as the organization’s management company and will bring its considerable tourism marketing experience to bear in promoting TAP through traditional and social media.

“We chose Break the Ice because they have an excellent marketing background,” Calderazzo said. “It was important to us to have a strong marketing and social media presence. We felt like we needed more support.

Stefanie was great, but she was on her own, and now we have a company supporting the executive director.”

Break the Ice has experience working with tourism clients such as the nearby Finger Lakes wine region.

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

Though much has changed in TAP’s inner workings this year, the partners’ goal has been for the customer experience to remain smooth and consistent.

“From the outside, you won’t see any difference at all,” Calderazzo said.

Group travel planners can continue to count on the TAP programs and services that have made the organization a tourism leader for years. Among those is its signature series of Guaranteed Departures. TAP was the first organization in the tourism industry to publish a catalog of trips that are guaranteed to operate from the time the first passenger signs up so that group leaders never have to worry about a trip being canceled. Calderazzo said the partners are adding more Guaranteed Departures than ever for 2019.

Another program, TAP Into Travel Tuesdays, has been growing in popularity. This weekly webinar series offers travel professionals and trip planners free online education about destinations and other tourism issues each Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Webinars are archived online so planners can access and view them at any time.

TAP’s signature event, TAP Dance, will also continue uninterrupted. The 2019 edition will take place this June at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne, Wyoming; more than 200 Preferred Professional Travel Providers from throughout the industry will attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

With a strong foundation and new leadership, TAP is poised for growth on various fronts in 2019 and beyond.

“I’m getting a lot of interest from some awesome destinations calling to find out more about TAP,” Doerner said. “The stronger our relationship with these destinations, the stronger our tour operators become and the better tours we can provide. There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.”

Calderazzo said the 28 TAP member companies are also looking to expand their ranks by strategically bringing new partners aboard.

“We’re making a big push for more partners,” he said.

“We’re looking for people who are the right fit. They have to be a certain size, and they have to want to do this.”

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HELLO, WORLD!

TALBOT TOURS ADVENTURES IN COSTA RICA FEATURE UP-CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH TROPICAL WILDLIFE.

BY E LI Z A M Y E R S Courtesy Talbot Tours

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TA P COM PA N IES OFFER GLOBA L A DV EN TU R ES

ravelers can stand face to face with an elephant herd, float in the Dead Sea or stare up at the Sistine Chapel on international adventures with Travel Alliance Partners (TAP).

The organization’s tour operators carefully craft their international itineraries to ensure that each trip is a life-changing experience.

Groups can explore the world with these readily available international TAP tours.

COSTA RICA

Passengers cruise through the Tortuguero Canals to see some of Costa Rica’s abundant flora and fauna on Talbot Tours’ Costa Rica tour. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas and a colorful bird population help make Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Based in San Jose, California, Talbot

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Tours takes groups to this tropical paradise with the goals of seeing wildlife, admiring stunning vistas and interacting with the local culture.

Over a quarter of Costa Rica is preserved for conservation. This allows guests to easily enjoy the country’s diverse topography, from jungles to volcanoes. Instead of rushing groups from one site to another, this itinerary features shorter drives between overnight stays, with two nights in each outlying area.

The nine-day tour starts with a banana-processing and -packaging plant tour to learn more about one of Costa Rica’s prime products. Other highlights of the tour include visiting the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, sampling local flavors at a small bakery and exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forest. There, guests can soar on one of the longest zip lines in Costa Rica or explore the virgin cloud forest on elevated walkways.

The tour ends with a farewell dinner, traditional Costa Rican dancing and toasts with the local drink, Sangre de Bruja.

HOLY LAND TOUR

Visitors walk the same routes as Jesus on the spiritually moving 12-day Holy Land Tour with Ed-Ventures. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, Ed-Ventures runs between four and eight of these tours annually, with itineraries that can be customized for Catholic and Protestant groups.

Groups spend three nights at a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee. During the day, travelers enjoy a quiet boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, view the 2,000-year-old Jesus Boat and attend a church service on the Mount of

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

DUBROVNIK’S ADRIATIC COAST

The itinerary includes free time for guests to meander through small towns, such as Waterford, Ireland, and Cardiff, Wales.

ATLANTIC MARITIMES

Courtesy Custom Holidays

Beatitudes, the place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.

Guests also explore Nazareth, float in the Dead Sea and view the surrounding beauty from the top of the Mount of Olives. Travelers often feel emotional while retracing Jesus’ last steps in Jerusalem as the tour moves from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Via Dolorosa and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The next stop in Bethlehem celebrates Christmas year-round with a visit to the Church of the Nativity and lunch with local Christians.

Ed-Ventures offers an optional three-day extension to Jordan, where visitors enjoy Petra, Mount Nebo and a jeep tour of Wadi Rum. Returning travelers often tell Ed-Ventures staff that they believe they understand more about the Bible and feel closer to God after the trip.

HEART OF THE BRITISH ISLES

From London to Edinburgh to Dublin, the 16-day Heart of the British Isles tour reveals the fascinating history and rich culture of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Image Tours, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, developed the itinerary with two-night stays in five of the overnight cities for a comprehensive tour of two islands.

Guests immerse themselves in the local culture as they travel, with an English tea in Jedburgh, time to explore historic York and optional themed dinner shows in Scotland, Ireland and England. Other favorite stops include Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hadrian’s Wall, Edinburgh’s city tour and the Caernarfon Castle in Wales. For August departures, Image Tours adds the Edinburgh Military Tattoo experience. The spectacle of performing military bands from around the world has become a client favorite.

Once in Ireland, stops at the Kildare National Stud Farm, Dublin and the Ring of Kerry and a sheep dog demonstration showcase aspects of Ireland’s heritage. The trip ends back in England for a tour of charming Bath, mysterious Stonehenge and exciting London.

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

Guides who live in Atlantic Canada share details only locals know during Atlantic Tours’ Atlantic Maritimes programs. These locals know the area’s insider secrets, such as the customary way to eat a lobster. The Dartmouth, Novia Scotia, company is offering an impressive 14 guaranteed departures of the 13-day tour in 2019.

Visitors breathe in the salty air as they view the unspoiled vistas and charming fishing villages of Novia Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. One of the first tour experiences is a cruise on Shediac Bay aboard a lobster boat. Passengers learn about the fishing industry while watching it operating firsthand before they savor a lobster meal.

Next, groups visit the Bay of Fundy, where the world’s highest tides created the flowerpot-shaped formations at Hopewell Rocks. The tour goes on to alternate natural activities like whale-watching and cultural experiences at picturesque towns such as St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick.

At Lunenburg, renowned for fleets of fishing schooners, groups walk through a remarkable preserved colonial settlement. Book lovers adore the visit to the Green Gables Heritage Site at Prince Edward Island, which inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic “Anne of Green Gables” books.

GRAND TOUR OF ITALY

Groups use all their senses on Durgan Travel Service’s Grand Tour of Italy. They smell freshly cooked pasta dishes, listen to hushed sounds of awe in cathedrals and view lovely medieval towns from Venice to Capri.

Based in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Durgan Travel Service attributes the success of the Grand Tour of Italy to its including most of the sightseeing and food costs in the price. The tour covers a lot of ground, using hotels in Tuscany, Rome and Sorrento to serve as a base for touring the surrounding areas.

The 10-night trip begins with a full-day guided tour of Florence, including the Academia Museum, the home of Michelangelo’s “David.” Next, the group ventures to Venice to walk the narrow, historic streets and learn the history of the city at Doge’s Palace.

After touring some of Tuscany’s medieval towns, guests explore ancient Rome with tours of the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Guides explain the art treasures inside the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Pompeii, the Amalfi Drive and the beautiful isle of Capri also captivate visitors.

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TANZANIA AND THE GREAT MIGRATION SAFARI

“Serengeti” means “endless plains” in the native Maasai language.

Groups see the expansive landscape of the Serengeti on CTN Travel’s Tanzania and the Great Migration Safari. Based in Midland, North Carolina, CTN Travel has customized many of these 12-day tours for clients, including several bank groups over the last few years.

Each of the safari vans seats six or seven people, so every traveler gets a window seat. At Lake Manyara National Park, the tour begins with a game drive to see some of the park’s famed elephant herds and tree-climbing lions.

Afterward, groups arrive in Olduvai Gorge where Mary Leakey found the remains of early prehistoric humans and the oldest known human footprints in Africa. Once in the Serengeti, the real show begins with thousands of migrating wildebeests, Cape buffaloes and zebras grazing across the landscape.

Guests can connect with the warmhearted locals during visits to a coffee plantation, a local school and a Maasai village. The Ngorogoro Crater stands out to many travelers for its incredible wildlife population and views of the extinct volcano. Pink flamingos, hyenas and the “big five” —lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards — frequently appear for tourists there.

PEGGY’S COVE IN NOVA SCOTIA

ADRIATIC CRUISE Courtesy Nova Scotia Tourism

TREVI FOUNTAIN IN ROME

DOME OF THE ROCK IN JERUSALEM Courtesy Durgan Travel Services

Courtesy Ed-Ventures

IRELAND’S RING OF KERRY

A TRIBAL ENCOUNTER IN TANZANIA Courtesy Image Tours

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The vibrant blue waters of the Adriatic Sea beckon travelers to the historic and stunning coastal cities of Croatia. Guests stroll the country’s cobblestone streets and walk in the footsteps of the ancients on Custom Holiday’s small-ship cruise that holds 36 passengers.

The Allen Park, Michigan, tour company says this experience is more like a yacht tour than a cruise because of the intimate atmosphere on board and the ability to sail right into port. The tour works well as a multigenerational adventure for families.

The trip begins in Porec, then travels to the romantic town of Rovinj. From there, passengers sail to Brijuni National Park, Pula, Zadar, Krka National Park, Split and Hvar. Each of these Old World cities offers opportunities to explore and discover centuries of local history. Passengers can even jump into the clear Adriatic Sea with a swimming stop on a small island.

The tour continues to Korcula, a walled city believed to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. The final stop, Dubrovnik, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.”

The price of the cruise includes all excursions. Each explores the local area and gives a glimpse into a culture that is a mix of Italian art and Slovak heritage.

AN AFRICAN SAFARI Courtesy CTN Travels

Courtesy CTN Travels

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

Shopping for destinations? Elevate your expectations. Because in Oklahoma, we take group travel to new heights. Mosey on down to the world’s largest stockyard — then dine and shop in Stockyards City. Stand in awe of an authentic European palace built by a 1920s oil baron. Marvel at the marvelous East Meets West Statue, the Capitol of Route 66.

Move to the hypnotic rhythms of the pow wow, where ancient heritage lives and breathes.

Find adventures and itineraries at TravelOK.com/Group.

CIRCLE THE DATE

SHENANDOAH TOURS’ MYRTLE BEACH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS ON THE COAST.

BY E LI Z A M Y E R S

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hen a travel planner adds holiday lights, compelling sports events, historic anniversaries or world-famous parades to an itinerary, customers respond with increased interest. Travelers who might have put off visiting a destination are more likely to go when there’s an exclusive event or special occasion involved.

These Travel Alliance Partners tours are built around exciting events to create memorable experiences.

NASHVILLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

Guests enter a fantasy world made entirely of ice at the Ice! experience at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. DeNure Tours’ clients rave about the castles, tunnels and intricate figures carved with 2 million pounds of ice by 40 artisans during their 46

Nashville Country Christmas tour.

This five-night trip is a best seller for the Ontario-based tour company. Many customers remark on how much they appreciate the tour’s included Christmas shows and the three-night stay at the Gaylord Opryland.

The four-star hotel immerses guest in the holiday spirit with its Country Christmas, which includes the Ice! experience, decorated Christmas tree displays and 2 million twinkling lights. Performances at the resort and the nearby Ryman Auditorium showcase legendary country music singers such as Trace Adkins, Amy Grant and Vince Gill.

The itinerary also leaves plenty of time for shopping at the Opry Mills Mall and the Treasure for the Holidays craft show.

Guided tours of Nashville showcase the interesting history and culture of the town.

Nashville’s Historic RCA Studio B is also a favorite stop on the tour. Visitors learn about the art of recording with handson exhibits and see artifacts from artists who have recorded there, such as Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND

Baseball fans often include the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, among their bucket list events. Sports Travel and Tours allows groups to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event on its Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend tours each year.

Based in Hatfield, Massachusetts, Sports Travel and Tours

Courtesy Shenandoah Tours

EXCLUSI V E E V EN TS A R E A TA P MEM BER TR A DEM A R K

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

MAGNOLIA TABLE IN WACO

Courtesy Main Street Experiences Courtesy DeNure Tours

ICE! AT OPRYLAND RESORT

Courtesy Advance Tour and Travel

A ROSE PARADE FLOAT

Courtesy Advance Tour and Travel

NIAGARA FALLS AT NIGHT

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

offers five different spending packages for customers. The Base Hit package is the basic value rate. At higher price points, packages include the Legends of the Game Round Table event at Doubleday Field, better seating, autographed baseballs and a hotel closer to Cooperstown.

Participants love the excitement of attending the special weekend event, which draws about 45,000 baseball fans each year. The three-day tour starts with downtime in Albany, New York, for shopping and dining. The next day, guests immerse themselves in the history of the sport at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Parade of Legends brings more than 50 Hall of Fame members to walk on a route that ends at the front steps of the museum for the Red Carpet Arrival Ceremony. The next day, groups watch the nearly three-hour ceremony from reserved seats.

GRAND ILLUMINATION AND 100 MILES OF LIGHTS

Dramatic fireworks, caroling, dancing and historic presentations impress guests looking for holiday cheer on the Grand Illumination and 100 Miles of Lights tour from Mid Atlantic Receptive Services.

The Stephens City, Virginia, company crafted the tour to take advantage of the nightly holiday lights and events that take place in the Virginia Beach area.

Historic homes, military museums and historic attractions highlight this trip to Virginia destinations such as Yorktown, Newport News, Williamsburg and Richmond. The tour begins with a driving tour of the holiday lights at the Virginia Beach boardwalk.

The hub-and-spoke tour explores the military history of the region at the Yorktown Victory Center and the Mariners’ Museum and Park. Virginia’s history and old-fashioned Christmas traditions come alive at Berkeley Plantation and Maymont Mansion.

Each night, groups see Christmas lights in a different location, such as Christmas Town at Busch Gardens, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Jamestown Christmas. Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination stands out as the most elaborate celebration, with fireworks, music and period-dressed historical interpreters. The Colonial-era Christmas decorations are handmade with natural materials.

ROSE PARADE PLATINUM EXPERIENCE

Color, whimsy and spectacle make a trip to the Rose Parade an unforgettable experience. Groups can see the flower-covered floats up close on Main Street Experiences’ Rose Parade Platinum Experience tour. Guests stay at one hotel for the entire six-day tour, exploring Southern California and partaking in Rose Parade-related events. Among the favorites is the Showcase of Floats, which allows guests to examine the impressive floats almost close enough to touch after the parade.

The New Year’s Eve Gala features a champagne toast, a live band and a casino. The next day, the group watches the Rose Parade before heading to the Southern California Backyard Barbecue on the hotel lawn. The luncheon allows guests to relax after the thrilling parade. In the evening, the group gathers on the hotel’s lawn again for an outdoor movie.

Based in Lakewood, California, Main Street Experiences has been sending groups to the Rose Parade for over 30 years. The tour operator credits the tours’ success to the added experiences, such as shuttles to the beach so guests can enjoy the Pacific Ocean. The tour also builds in time for members to decide their own activities.

HGTV’S FIXER UPPER TOUR

After five seasons of renovating houses in Waco, Texas, celebrity remodelers Chip and Joanna Gaines ended their hit television show “Fixer Upper” in April. But fans of the show can continue to enjoy its highlights on a Texas tour with Advance Tour and Travel.

The company, based in Ozark, Missouri, decided to create the tour after hearing from group clients who loved the show. The HGTV’s Fixer Upper Tour spends six days in Waco and Dallas to explore the area and relive moments from the hit program.

Groups start with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. After a tour of Dallas, participants depart for Waco and dine at hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new restaurant, Magnolia Table. Afterward, guests can shop for home decor handpicked by Joanna at Magnolia Market.

The “Fixer Upper” theme continues the next day with a driving tour past some of the homes featured

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on the show, as well as Harp Studio and Baylor University. That evening, groups tour Homestead Traditional Crafts Village to learn about the attraction’s handcrafted items.

The next day, visitors discover the backstory behind JDH Iron Designs, a company featured several times on the show. Groups spend the rest of the day in Dallas before heading home.

MYRTLE BEACH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Groups can combine the warm feeling of the holidays with the beauty of the beach during Shenandoah Tours’ Myrtle Beach Christmas Special. The Staunton, Virginia, company crafted this four-day tour for a quick seaside escape during the hectic holiday season.

The oceanfront Caribbean Resort provides a comfortable place to access the beach, swim in an indoor pool or sit on the balcony to listen to the waves. The itinerary offers the chance to relax at the beach or venture out for a shopping excursion at Tanger Outlets.

“The South’s Grandest Christmas Show” at the Alabama Theatre is the tour’s first structured outing. The performance explores Christmas history and traditions with characters, costumes and songs.

After a free morning at the beach, visitors attend another show, “The Carolina Opry Christmas Special.” The show features festive music and dancing by a talented cast. The tour ends with a seafood dinner and time to walk along the beach before departing the next morning.

HIPPIES AND HONEYMOONS

In 1969, 400,000 people overran a dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains of New York for a music festival now considered a pivotal moment in music history. To celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Twin Travel Concepts has developed the Hippies and Honeymoons tour.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts now sits where the music festival once took place and will honor the anniversary with special events taking place in 2019. Tour participants explore this museum for a dramatic depiction of not just Woodstock, but the entire cultural movement of the 1960s. A VW bus, art from the era, concert footage from the festival and other interactive exhibits provide the background history of the decade.

The five-day tour goes beyond Woodstock with stops throughout central New York. The Villa Roma showcases the quaintness of the Catskills resort era with elegant rooms and scenes familiar from the film “Dirty Dancing.” Other attractions in the area include the Turning Stone Casino, the Erie Canal Cruise, the George Eastman Museum and the Jell-O Gallery Museum.

Twin Travel Concepts, based in Kinderhook, New York, also includes Niagara Falls, a popular honeymoon destination, on the fourth day of the tour. Travelers marvel at the powerful natural beauty of the falls and enjoy the evening Illumination of the Falls light display.

The final day includes stops at Niagara attractions such as the Cave of the Winds, the Maid of the Mist cruise and the Niagara Power Vista Center.

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2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

Explore New York.

1000 Islands Niagara Falls USA

Cayuga Ithaca

Tina Mt. Pleasant Director of Leisure Group Sales

Sarah Imes Tour & Travel Manager

Destination Niagara USA tmtpleasant@niagarafallsusa.com 716-282-8992 ext. 315 niagarafallsusa.com

Ithaca Convention & Visitor’s Bureau sarah@visitithaca.com | 607-272-1313 visitithaca.com

In Niagara Falls USA, adventure doesn’t call-it roars! Whether you’re looking to enjoy the sights at a leisurely pace, or seeking adrenalinecharged thrills, Niagara Falls USA offers a plethora of activities to create an unforgettable experience year-round. Whatever adventure you choose, you’re certain to be moved by the sights, sounds and soul of Niagara Falls USA.

In the heart of NY’s Finger Lakes region, between NYC and Niagara Falls, Ithaca is best known for stunning waterfalls and dramatic gorges. Ithaca is the perfect hub for a regional Finger Lakes tour, a short drive to the Corning Museum of Glass, MacKenzie Childs, Captain Bill’s Boat Cruise and other popular attractions. There’s always something to discover, explore and share in Ithaca.

We’ll supply the Ithaca experience, you pack a keen sense of curiosity.

Rhonda Vaccaro Group Tour & Meetings Sales

Tillie Youngs Sales Manager

Cayuga County Office of Tourism groups@tourcayuga.com | 585-287-8838 tourcayuga.com

1000 Islands International Tourism Council tillie@visit1000islands.com | 800-847-5263 tour1000.com

Drink in the unspoiled beauty of Cayuga County. See the rolling farmlands, feel the fresh country breeze, relax to the sounds of trickling waters, bask in the warm glow of a Finger Lakes sunset and sip a fine local wine while unwinding and discovering New York’s fabulous Finger Lakes. Whatever is desired, Cayuga County’s towns and villages are perfect for sightseeing, shopping, dining and enjoying the lush Finger Lakes region.

The 1000 Islands is a sightseer’s paradise and a popular destination located along the peaceful border between northern New York State and southeastern Ontario, Canada. The region boasts over 200 miles of freshwater coastline and over 1,800 islands. Scenic cruises to castles and lighthouses, craft beverages, amazing fishing, helicopter tours, quaint boutique shopping, on-the-water dining and more, make 1000 Islands a destination to be visited again and again.

WESTWARD

ANDERSON VACATIONS’ ALASKA AND THE YUKON EXPLORER FEATURES A VISIT TO STUNNING DENALI NATIONAL PARK.

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BY E LI Z A M Y E R S

TRAIN TRIPS HIGHLIGHTING THE AMERICAN WEST

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n an age of suburbia and artificial intelligence, the wild, untamed American West looms large in travelers’ minds. The landscapes in the West seem to stretch on forever, often without a trace of human life.

What better way to contemplate these vast expanses than by train? Choose one of these train-themed Travel Alliance Partners tours for a relaxing way to experience the Wild West.

YOU ARE THE RAILROAD ENGINEER

Instead of sitting idly while the scenery goes by, passengers take charge of the train themselves on the You Are the Railroad Engineer tour with Leisure West Tours and Cruises. According to previous participants, operating a steam locomotive is a big thrill and the highlight of this four-day tour.

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Based in Brighton, Colorado, Leisure West Tours and Cruises offers this interactive tour on the Nevada Northern Railway in mid-October and other dates as requested. The company designed the tour for small groups and has scheduled previous tours for as few as two and as many as eight.

The Nevada Northern Railway is the country’s only railroad engineer program that lets guests operate a locomotive.

Group members take turns standing at the controls of a steam locomotive and a diesel locomotive on each train’s main lines.

Guides walk them through blowing the whistle at road crossings, controlling the throttle, ringing the bell and other train operations.

After donning the engineers’ caps, participants feel the heat of the coal-banked fire and watch the steam fill the sky from behind the throttle of a 19th-century steam locomotive. They also explore the rail yards and historic Nevada mining towns of Ely, McGill and the surrounding area.

COLORADO TRAIN ADVENTURE

Though 19th-century train passengers eyed the passing Colorado mountains wistfully imagining gold, today’s groups can ride across the state simply to appreciate the breathtaking mountains, clear lakes and untouched scenery.

The Colorado Train Adventure tour from Western Leisure allows guests to ride three scenic train routes as they circle the Centennial State. Western Leisure, based in Midvale, Utah, reports that the eight-day itinerary works well for fall foliage tours and for all levels of mobility.

Courtesy Anderson Vacations

TAP OPERATORS HAVE

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

Past tours rode up the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, but that attraction is now shut down for repairs; the company is researching replacement activities.

At the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, guests ride a vintage train along the Arkansas River for stunning views. After a visit to the rail town Salida and Great Sand Dunes National Park, guests board a train on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Western Leisure clients often say this route delightfully surprised them with its open vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The next stop, at mysterious and intriguing Mesa Verde National Park, also ranks as a customer favorite.

But the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad remains the biggest draw of the tour for the Wild West fun of Durango, and the famous train ride’s rugged peaks and alpine meadows.

Courtesy Western Leisure

CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD

RED CLIFFS UTAH ADVENTURE BY RAIL

One type of traveler might leap at the chance to relax at a resort with jaw-dropping red cliffs in full view, but another might opt to insert some adrenaline into the experience with a Slick Rock Hummer Safari ride. Both types of travelers leave happy on Joy Tour and Travel’s Red Cliffs Utah Adventure by Rail.

The eight-day tour from the Cincinnati-based tour operator begins onboard a train traveling from Denver to Grand Junction, Colorado. After seeing lovely mountain scenery from the Amtrak train, guests settle into the Red Cliffs Adventure Lodge in Moab, Utah, for four nights. The lodge’s cliffs and optional excursions of Hummer and horseback rides allow visitors to choose their own adventure during built-in free time.

From the lodge, groups embark on a scenic raft trip on the Colorado River and explore Canyonlands National Park. At Arches National Park, travelers hike past some of the famed arches and learn about the formations’ geological history at the 18,000-square-foot visitors center.

Other highlights of the tour include time at Capital Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park and a whole day at Zion National Park. Joy Tour and Travel’s clients consistently rave over the tour, with many reporting that they would consider booking the Utah trip again.

UTAH’S BRYCE CANYON

Courtesy Joy Tour and Travel

ALASKA AND THE YUKON EXPLORER

One of the most popular tours in Anderson Vacations’ 25-year history is Alaska and the Yukon Explorer. The tour ventures into the Alaskan and Canadian wilderness for awe-inspiring scenery and abounding wildlife. The Calgary, Alberta, company credits some of the tour’s popularity to the fact that it offers both a driver and an experienced tour manager instead of a driver who also serves as a guide.

The customizable 12-day tour limits seating to 28 participants on a 56-passenger motorcoach for window seats and plenty of personal space. The tour winds its way to the Klondike gold rush town of Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon province for a demonstration of the enormous Gold Mining Dredge, one of the largest wood-hulled dredges in North America.

Clients rank the full-day excursion into Denali National Park as a top highlight for its spectacular mountain scenery and frequent wildlife encounters. Another highly rated excursion sends visitors on a cruise of Prince William Sound to witness massive chunks of glacial ice crashing into the water. Puffins, otters, sea lions and whales make frequent appearances.

To ride on one of Yukon’s famous railways, groups can add an excursion aboard the White Pass and Yukon Railway in Skagway. The railroad follows a mountain route along the original Klondike trail.

A RAILROAD ENGINEER EXPERIENCE

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

Courtesy Leisure West Tours

ARIZONA’S TRAINS

When in search of Arizona’s red rock canyons, richly hued fall foliage and riparian ravines, why not travel in style? First-class passengers aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad not only admire magnificent panoramas but also sip on champagne and snack on Southwestern-style appetizers from a shaded open-air viewing car.

This fully restored vintage train ranks as a high point on Alki Tours’ Arizona’s Trains trip. The six-day itinerary with the Seattle-based tour operator offers two scenic railroad rides that bookend experiences in some of Arizona’s most dramatic landscapes.

The Grand Canyon Railway, operational since 1901, still enchants visitors with larger-than-life vistas and authentic characters and musicians eager to bring the Old West to life. At the end of the ride, guests immerse themselves in the overwhelming beauty and history of Grand Canyon National Park.

Participants can venture out to view a sunrise over the canyon before a naturalist shares the history and geology of one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

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Groups also especially love their private tour of the galaxy at the Lowell Observatory and the abundant art galleries and natural scenery in Sedona.

The tour ends with an upscale train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad.

ARIZONA’S VERDE CANYON

SURPRISING NEVADA

Courtesy Alki Tours

NEVADA’S HOOVER DAM

VERDE CANYON RAILROAD Courtesy Alki Tours

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Courtesy Shebby Lee Tours

Though travelers might initially associate Nevada with the highrolling casino experience, the Surprising Nevada tour from Shebby Lee Tours reveals another side of the state. The Silver State’s rich railroad heritage and natural wonders fill the seven-day custom tour. Shebby Lee Tours is based in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The tour introduces guests to the state with a half-day raft tour through the Black Canyon. The water excursion begins below the immense Hoover Dam, where the canyon walls rise 2,000 feet from the river’s edge. The raft glides past waterfalls, hot springs, bighorn sheep and other natural wonders.

The next day, groups try ancient activities such as corn grinding, fiber-making, petroglyph painting and atlatl throwing at the Lost City Museum. The tour’s next stop, Valley of Fire State Park, showcases displays of real petroglyphs.

From there, the itinerary focuses on Nevada’s railroad heritage at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum in Ely. Guests ride a historic steam train and visit Ely’s Renaissance Village, a museum consisting of homes restored to represent the various ethnic backgrounds.

Groups see more natural wonders at Great Basin National Park before ending their trips with a hop-on tour of the Las Vegas Strip.

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

CLEAR

THIS VIBRANT WISCONSIN LIGHTHOUSE IS A HIGHLIGHT OF LET’S GO TRAVELIN’S GRAND TOUR OF DOOR COUNTY, MACKINAC ISLAND AND LAKE MICHIGAN.

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WATERFRONT VACATION

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rom the seaside charm of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Florida’s relaxing beaches and the historic cities and towns along the Mississippi River, waterfront destinations offer a wide variety of opportunities on Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) tours. TAP tour operators build engaging itineraries along ocean beaches, calming lakes and mighty rivers across the country.

MACKINAC ISLAND, DETROIT AND CHICAGO

Groups can see the bright lights and world-famous attractions of Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee, as well as rural gems, on Tri-State Travel’s tour of Michigan and the Great Lakes region. In Galena, Illinois, Tri-State Travel offer this trip as a custom tour for groups so travel planners can tailor the tour’s hotel and details to fit their needs.

The eight-day journey begins with two nights in Detroit to explore this quintessential American city. Groups enjoy

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

a fascinating tour of Ford Motor Company’s Rouge Pickup Truck Plant, the Motown Museum and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. Next, guides introduce the Bavarian culture of Frankenmuth, Michigan. After a stop in Bronner’s Christmas Store, the tour continues with a carriage ride into Elk County.

Many groups call their two-night stay at Mackinac Island, Michigan, a highlight of the trip because of the ferry ride, carriage ride and lunch at the Grand Hotel. The peaceful island’s restrictions on motor vehicles allow guests to imagine they have stepped into the pages of a historical novel.

Cherry pie in Traverse City, Michigan, a ranger-led tour of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and a ferry trip across Lake Michigan also delight groups. The itinerary then leaves time to explore Milwaukee and Chicago. A view from the Chicago Skydeck and lunch on historic Navy Pier end the waterfront tour.

CAPE COD, MARTHA’S VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET

Shingled cottages, pristine beaches, maritime history and towns famous for their charm create the perfect blend of picturesque views and intriguing stories on a tour in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket tour with Fancy-Free Holidays doesn’t just pass

by Cape Cod on its way to somewhere else; rather, it provides time to explore the island.

Based in Naperville, Illinois, the company created the six-

Courtesy Let’s Go Travelin’

SHOVE OFF ON A TAP-DESIGNED

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Courtesy Southwest Adventure Tours

EXPLORING LAKE POWELL

day hub-and-spoke tour so guests could experience the area without the hassle of changing hotels. Fancy Free Holidays can add a pre-night hotel stay for those needing extra time to arrive.

The in-depth tour starts at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

The Forefather’s Monument, Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II tell of the perils the first Pilgrims faced. From there, groups take a high-speed ferry to Nantucket Island to explore cobblestone streets and Quaker-style homes.

Groups also visit other Massachusetts towns in the area, among them Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, Oak Bluffs and Hyannis. Along the way, they enjoy a traditional lobster dinner, embark on a whale-watching cruise and learn about one of the area’s most famous former residents at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

FLORIDA GETAWAY

Wade Tours’ Florida Getaway is all about relaxation. The Schenectady, New York, tour operator allows travelers plenty of free time during the 10-night tour to lounge by the beach or discover exciting St. Pete Beach nearby.

Sandy beaches, sparkling blue water and incredible sunsets encourage travelers to sit back and listen to the waves on Florida’s west coast. Known as the sunset capital of Florida, St. Pete Beach also offers the handicapped-accessible Suncoast Beach Trolley, which delivers guests to several attractions from the hotel.

Wade Tours offers “a la carte excursions” or an all-day trolley pass to explore beyond the beachside resort. One popular stop, the Don CeSar hotel, is an opulent pink palace built in 1928.

The beach town Pass-a-Grille offers intriguing history, such as the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, which displays artifacts from the 16th century to the present day. More quaint shops and restaurants lie off Eighth Avenue, the town’s main shopping district.

Even without leaving the Dolphin Beach Resort, the tour’s hotel property, beachgoers can keep busy with shopping, restaurants and resort entertainment on-site.

LOBSTER IN CAPE COD

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Courtesy Fancy-Free Holidays

CHICAGO’S LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE

Courtesy Choose Chicago

MISSOURI LIFE

The powerful, muddy waters of the Mississippi River live on in the American imagination. Groups can explore the river that inspired Mark Twain on the Missouri Life tour with All American Tours. The company, based in Ellington, Missouri, offers this customizable itinerary for a laid-back journey along the river with stops at some of the Show Me State’s most beloved attractions.

The six-day tour begins with Mark Twain in Hannibal. A narrated trolley tour, the Mark Twain Home and Museum and the Molly Brown House Museum introduce travelers to Mark Twain’s hometown. For the evening’s entertainment, guests climb aboard a riverboat for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi River.

Period-dressed docents meet groups in St. Charles to give colorful background for the historic town and its French influences. The Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum depicts the town’s days as the edge of the frontier.

The two-day stay in St. Louis stands out as a highlight of the trip. With the Gateway Arch renovations complete, participants can look over the city from an unparalleled vantage point on the iconic structure. Other St. Louis stops include the Cathedral Basilica, the Missouri History Museum and the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

More memorable history and charming towns await in Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau.

LAKE POWELL HOUSEBOAT TOUR

Clear blue water and rusty orange canyons as far as the eye can see make a sweeping backdrop for Southwest Adventure Tours’ Lake Powell itinerary. Based in Cedar City, Utah, the company runs custom tours to the lake with different price points depending on the level of luxury desired by the group. Larger budgets can include a personal chef, private dinner cruises and additional experiences.

To maximize time on the pristine lake, groups stay in houseboats while they explore the 186-mile-long Lake Powell. Groups typically split into 10 or 12 per houseboat and enjoy

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

views of some of the lake’s 96 canyons and 1,960 miles of shoreline.

Lake Powell straddles the corner of Utah where Navajo and Hopi tribes lived for centuries. Along the trip, groups can see ancient petroglyphs, 1,000-foot multicolored rock walls and one of the largest natural bridges in the world, Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

Groups can kayak, fish and try other water sports as they cruise to the various marinas of Lake Powell.

GRAND TOUR OF DOOR COUNTY, MACKINAC ISLAND AND LAKE MICHIGAN

Lighthouses, scenic shorelines and quaint towns line the Lake Michigan shoreline of Door County, Wisconsin. A seven-day trip to the area with Let’s Go Travelin’ is especially popular during the fall when the trees are ablaze with oranges and reds throughout the countryside.

Based in Hermitage, Tennessee, Let’s Go Travelin’ can customize the trip for a group of 20 or more, although set dates are also offered for 2019. Previous passengers especially enjoyed seeing the quaint towns along Wisconsin’s coast and the ferry crossing of Lake Michigan.

The itinerary starts with a trolley tour of the Door County peninsula, with stops at lighthouses, shops and wineries. An evening’s entertainment at one of the many theater venues ends the first full day.

After a ferry crossing to Washington Island, groups ride the Cherry Train to see some of the island’s scenic and historic sites. The next day, guests depart for a two-night stay at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel.

From there, groups enjoy final stops at Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

take your next tour somewhere

new

CLEARWATER BEACH

Courtesy Wade Tours What tour doesn’t need to stop somewhere new to ensure an experience that’s fascinating, fresh and fun?

In Oklahoma City there’s something new to discover on

DOOR COUNTY’S WASHINGTON ISLAND FERRY Courtesy Let’s Go Travelin’

ARIZONA’S LAKE POWELL

every corner. From our gleaming new downtown to the Old West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. From a new appreciation of our spirit at the

Courtesy Southwest Adventure Tours

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to being welcomed like a new friend everywhere you go. Add us to your next itinerary and you’ll soon discover that around here, things are more than just new. They’re OKC new.

FLORIDA’S EMERALD COAST

Courtesy Wade Tours

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

UNI_17-OKC-029 Group Tour_Group Travel Leader.indd 1

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TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERS Alki Tours can your make your World Wide Travel Dreams come true. Check out all our web site has to offer. We look forward to making your travel dreams come true! www.alkitours.com

KIM VANCE 417-485-7445 We specialize in great customer service and hands-on outside the box itineraries. We make sure our passengers experience everything the destination has to offer.

ADVANCETOURANDTRAVEL.COM KIM@ADVANCETOURANDTRAVEL.COM

JAYME MILLER 206-935-6848 WWW.ALKITOURS.COM

JAYME@ALKITOURS.COM

DAVID G. BURNS 800-905-0590 Since 1970, we have offered the perfect all inclusive distinctive and economical package tours throughout the US and Canada, for groups of 30 persons or more. Five offices across the US. ABA, NTA, TAP WWW.ALLAMERICANTOURS.US

DAVID@ALLAMERICANTOURS.US

JIM WARREN 866-814-7378 Anderson Vacations is the leader in customized tour planning for Canada, United States and Australia/New Zealand.

We also feature sheduled departures and Independent travel arrangements.

WWW.ANDERSONVACATIONS.CA

RICHARD ARNOLD 800-565-7173 Atlantic Tours offers custom-designed group programs, scheduled guaranteed departures and self drive/city stays in the Canadian Maritimes, step-on-guides, private cruise shore excursions and day tours.

WWW.ATLANTICTOURS.COM

RARNOLD@ATLANTICTOURS.COM

CARLA MEIEROTTO 319-753-2864 Offering custom planned group tours for those wishing to expand their travels with the aid of a Burlington Trailways professional driver and a friendly, experienced tour host.

TrailwaysTravel.com WWW.TRAILWAYSTRAVEL.COM

CTN Travels begins in 28 year of serving a variety of group travelers. Customized group tours are our specialty. Groups of all sizes are welcome.

RICK@CTNTRAVELS.COM

JULIA BRYAN 800-668-6859 DeNureTours is a Canadian company that began in 1960. Our vacations in North America, Britain and Europe feature a kaleidoscope of experiences designed to turn ideas and dreams into lasting memories.

WWW.DENURETOURS.COM

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JULIABRYAN@DENURETOURS.COM

TOURS@BURLINGTONTRAILWAYS.COM

We offer guests an exciting and informative tour coupled with a cost effective rate. Our tours include planned activities as well as ample time for guests to pursue their own interests.

RICK PHARR 800-596-8687 WWW.CTNTRAVELS.COM

JWARREN@ANDERSONVACATIONS.CA

SUE BIGGS 313-388-0448 WWW.CUSTOMHOLIDAYSONLINE.COM SUE@CUSTOMHOLIDAYSONLINE.COM

Award-winning full-service agency with a focus on high-value European group tours with Italy a specialty.

Our forte is to be able to customize a European Tour to meet your exact specifications for your expected number of travelers.

RICHARD DURGAN 800-234-9959 WWW.DURGANTRAVEL.COM

RDURGAN@DURGANTRAVEL.COM

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

W W W.TA P I N T O T R AV E L .C O M JACK HINTZ 800-421-3330

SHANNON LARSEN 507-289-3332 With decades of experience creating tours, Ed-Ventures has gained the skills and reputation for delivering top-notch customized group tours to worldwide destinations.

WWW.ED-VENTURES.COM

SHANNON@ED-VENTURES.COM

Family owned & operated since 1916- we specialize in tours of the Southwest and Mexico, sightseeing tours, (culinary and local), and vehicles for charter from vans to state of the art motorcoaches.

“TJ” THOMAS B. MORGAN, JR WWW.GRAYLINEARIZONA.COM

800-276-1528

INFO@GRAYLINEARIZONA.COM

Fancy-Free Holidays has been offering first class travel experiences to the most sought after destinations since 1989.

We specialize in great service with exceptional quality.

WWW.FANCYFREEHOLIDAYS.COM

JUSTIN OSBON 800-968-9161 Image Tours is a 3rd generation family owned and operated company specializing exclusively in escorted Europe Tours since 1939.

WWW.IMAGETOURS.COM

JUSTIN@IMAGETOURS.COM

GREG WINGHAM 513-777-8221 Joy Tour & Travel has been developing exciting trips for groups since 1985. We serve mid to upper scale clientele with nice hotels that are 3 star or better and many inclusions and few options.

WWW.JOYTOURS.COM

GREG@JOYTOURS.COM

TOURS@FANCYFREEHOLIDAYS.COM

LEE DAHL 303-659-4858 Experience the true Southwest. We offer unique, active and informative travel experiences. Our philosophy is to provide the best value and service possible.

WWW.LEISUREWESTTOURS.COM

LWT@LEISUREWESTTOURS.COM

We are Peach Cobbler, Fried Green Tomatoes, Grits and Gravy.Golf, Music, History and Culture and more fun than you can shake a stick at.

We love it all and we want to take you there.

From our innovative day and multiday tours to our specialized Rose Parade and WINOS itineraries, we have provided our travelers with unique and enriching experiences since 1985.

JUDY JOHNSON 866-992-8784

LAURIE LINCOLN 800-300-6246

WWW.LETSGOTRAVELIN.COM

JUDY@LETSGOTRAVELIN.COM

WWW.MAINSTREETEXPERIENCES.COM

Our tours are designed with a “love of discovery”. We include upscale accommodations, exciting and unique attractions. Our Tour Directors are professional and experienced, to ensure everyone has fun.

KATE SCOPETTI 800-769-5912 Mid Atlantic Tours and Receptive Services operates hundreds of hand crafted, custom tours for groups traveling to Washington DC, NYC, Virginia, the Mid Atlantic Region, and the World!

WWW.TAKEAFUNTRIP.COM

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM

MARS@TAKEAFUNTRIP.COM

LAURIE@MAINSTREETTOURS.COM

TONY MINDEN 503-585-3979 WWW.ORWEST.COM

TONY@ORWEST.COM

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TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERS SHEBBY LEE, CTP 605-343-4852 Journeys of Exploration and Discovery. Explore the West where legends live. Enjoy magnificent western parks as you’ve never seen them before with special insights provided by experts in the field.

WWW.SHEBBYLEETOURS.COM

SHEBBY@SHEBBYLEETOURS.COM

Receptive Tour Operater focusing on adventure, scenic, and photography tours throughout the Southwestern US. Small Group Experience from 1 to 25 customers.

Private and Custom Tours also.

STEVE EVERIDGE 800-572-3303 A tour operator based in Staunton, Virginia, offering superior escorted tours throughout the United States and Canada since 1972. Quality vacations at value pricing with a personal touch.

WWW.SHENANDOAHTOURS.COM

We offer Baseball Road Trips, Spring Training, Hall of Fame packages, Major Sporting Events and can customize packages to fit your schedule and budget.

MICHAEL COLDESINA 800-662-4424

JASON MURRAY 800-970-5864 WWW.SOUTHWESTADVENTURETOURS.COM INFO@SOUTHWESTADVENTURETOURS.COM

Talbot Tours offers groups, individuals and families exceptional values on tours, cruises, and international destinations. Fully escorted and independent travel services.

SERGE TALBOT 800-662-9933 WWW.TALBOTTOURS.COM

INFO@TALBOTTOURS.COM

WWW.SPORTSTRAVELANDTOURS.COM

TWINTRAVELCONCEPTS.COM

NICK@TWINTRAVELCONCEPTS.COM

MIKE@SPORTSTRAVELANDTOURS.COM

ANDY HILLARD 800-779-4869 We own and operate an award-winning fleet of deluxe motorcoaches, including a tour division that provides fully escorted travel packages for both individuals and groups throughout the United States.

WWW.TRISTATETRAVEL.COM

NICHOLAS CALDERAZZO 917-575-6600 Always thinking of something new, quirky and surprising, our tours are custom-designed to your tastes and budgets.

NY City, The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are home.

SHENANDOAHTOURS@COMCAST.NET

INFO@TRISTATETRAVEL.COM

CRYSTAL DELORENZO 800-955-9233 Wade Tours & Travel, a family owned business since 1926, serving the Northeast offering single & multi-day tours across the continental US and Canada with our fleet of modern state-of-the-art coaches.

WWW.WADETOURS.COM

CRYSTAL@WADETOURS.COM

SHAWN HORMAN 800-532-2113 Western Leisure is a full service receptive tour operator specializing in custom group tours to the National Parks of the west and along the Pacific Coast.

WWW.WESTERNLEISURE.COM

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INFO@WESTERNLEISURE.COM

LISA DOERNER 866-373-0790

WWW.TAPINTOTRAVEL.COM MARKETING@TRAVELALLIANCEPARTNERS.COM

2019 TAP TRAVEL GUIDE

W H E R E

w e ’ v e

B E E N

billings chamber of commerce BILLINGS, MONTANA TRIP: Spirit of Ireland TOUR OPERATOR: Aventura World DATE: November 2017 For eight days, members of the Billings Chamber of Commerce discovered Irish history, music and culture with an entertaining local tour director. The group explored Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Tralee, Galway and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

“Ireland is an absolutely beautiful country and has fully earned its nickname as the Emerald Isle. Its rolling hills, castles and sheer cliffs were truly awe-inspiring. The view out the tour bus window looked like a postcard. It was fascinating to experience the contrast between the lively cities of Dublin and Belfast and the charm of smaller seaside communities like Waterford and Galway.”

— JENNIFER REISER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

university of washington alumni association SEATTLE TRIP: Wolves of Yellowstone TOUR OPERATOR: Orbridge LLC DATE: January 2018 The University of Washington Alumni Association connected members to the famed landscapes of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, including Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful and Lamar Valley. The tour also spent some time in Jackson, Wyoming, and Bozeman, Montana.

“Through this trip, University of Washington alumni and friends connected with nature and wildlife under the blanket of winter. Our expedition leaders were top-notch. It was incredible to feel as though we had the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone to ourselves.

Sighting a moose, bison frosted in snow and the elusive wolf are moments we’ll never forget.”

— NICHOLE MCGREW, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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Museums, architecture, music, and life. Art and Museums, architecture, music, and life. Art and culture is the soul of a destination, and we want you culture is the soul of a destination, and we want you to experience it firsthand. With 100 years of guided to experience it firsthand. With 100 years of guided touring experience, tours to all seven continents, and touring experience, tours to all seven continents, and full-time industry-leading Tour Managers, your travelers full-time industry-leading Tour Managers, your travelers will be in good hands. Combine that with more local will be in good hands. Combine that with more local cuisine, more inclusive activities, and more flights out of cuisine, more inclusive activities, and more flights out of any gateway and we can show you a whole new world. any gateway and we can show you a whole new world.

WITH WITH IT’S IT’S YOUR YOUR CHOICE, CHOICE, CHOOSE THE EXCURSION CHOOSE THE EXCURSION THAT FITS YOU. THAT FITS YOU.

CULTIVATE CULTIVATE YOUR YOUR FOR FOR

love ART & CULTURE ART & CULTURE

Offer the world to your travelers with journeys to all seven continents.

Offer the world to your travelers with journeys to all seven continents.

Call 844-445-5663 now or your local Travel Call 844-445-5663 now or your local Travel Agent to learn about our booking offers!

Agent to learn about our booking offers!

CST# 2006766-20 UBN# 601220855 Nevada Seller of Travel Registration No. 2003-0279 CST# 2006766-20 UBN# 601220855 Nevada Seller of Travel Registration No. 2003-0279