on my mind ❖
On My Mind jeff gayduk
❖ jeff gayduk
It’s Showtime!
Vol. 22, No. 2 April 2012 Editorial & Advertising Office
621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com
Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com
Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Senior Editor – Dave Bodle
Welcome to the annual theater
readers tell us that they like this maga-
issue of Leisure Group Travel, our
zine for the great travel ideas our editorial
showcase of live entertainment across
team digs up, not extra large pictures of
the United States.
seafood.
dave@ptmgroups.com
Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com
You can’t cover theater and not include New York! As Randy Mink articulates in “Broadway Boom” (pg. 52),
onlIne – AlWAyS GroWInG At press-time we are flipping the switch
Regional Business Development Managers Illinois – Jim McCurdy
from Spider-Man to Blue Man, there’s
on the latest version of our uber-cool
lots new on the Big Apple theater scene.
directory search engine, GroupTravel-
Traveling west on I-78 opens up a
Directory.com. Version 5 takes the art
whole world of theatrical possibilities in
of search to a new level where you can
Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck
Pennsylvania – dinner shows, big-time
plan a complete group vacation online.
concert halls and historical venues.
The site is comprehensive without being
P 330.830.4880 • F 630.794.0652 harry@ptmgroups.com
Newcomer Coley Nelson covers eight
daunting. Big maps help you zero in on
must-see theaters in “Curtain Call,”
geographic regions. Easy search bars
page 46.
help refine look-ups. Browse videos,
This issue also has a strong international flair, with two of my favorite destinations – Costa Rica (Lance Harrell,
photo galleries and supplier deals in a new “Groups Wanted” section. Our new TourItineraries.com website
pg. 18) and Switzerland (Don Heimburger,
is growing nicely. Already with 250+ fresh
pg. 21). Though separated by 5,800
itineraries for your group, by summer’s
miles, the commonality between the two
publishing of this magazine’s fifth annual
is their natural beauty and commitment
Itinerary Planning Guide we’ll have over
to environmental tourism.
500 posted.
We are always trying to make
Not to be outdone, our flagship
Leisure Group Travel the most readable
website, LeisureGroupTravel.com, will
publication in the group travel market.
debut a new look in May. It’s the most
We continue to roll out design and
visited magazine site in group travel
content changes to further your reading
according to Compete.com, driving 2.5
enjoyment. Wider columns, bigger
times as many visitors per month as our
pictures and a more readable font are
nearest competitor.
just a few recent enhancements. These
We’ve been doing online “right” for a
are done within the context of a trade
long time. I’m proud of our accomplish-
magazine as we strive to focus on the
ments, and what’s to come.
written word, understanding it’s the most important element of a good magazine.
Mid Atlantic – Ellen Klesta
P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 ellen@ptmgroups.com
Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash
P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@ptmgroups.com
Southern – Dolores Ridout P/F 281.762.9546 dolores@ptmgroups.com Florida & Caribbean – Evelyn Stetler P 321.235.6002 • F 321.235.6094 evelyn@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.
Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.
Send Address Change to:
Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 609, Palos Heights, IL 60463
Enjoy the show! A
I have seen other magazines take re-
publication
All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.
designs to excess by removing complete editorial sections for ginormous photos.
Jeffrey Gayduk, Publisher
That’s awesome…if you’re Vogue, but
jeff@ptmgroups.com
6 April 2012
P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 jim@ptmgroups.com
LeisureGroupTravel.com