Major awards for three Canadian airports. A nice Air Canada sale. New hotels for Maui. Turkish Airlines becomes third busiest in the world. A new marketing plan for Fort Lauderdale. And a spiffy new Fairmont hotel/resort in Spain. Today’s blog post covers a lot of ground! TORONTO, VICTORIA AND ST. JOHN’S AIRPORT AWARDS Toronto Pearson Airport, along with airports in Victoria, B.C. and St. John’s, have won awards from Airports Council International (ACI). As part of ACI’s annual Airport Service Quality awards, The Montreal-based group handed out three “Best Airport Awards” for North American facilities that serve Read more
Turkish Airlines
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE – One of the richest histories of any city on earth. Wondrous places of worship. Remarkable food. Some of the world’s most interesting markets. And hotels for every budget. I recently spent eight days in Istanbul for a board meeting and then a full convention of the Society of American Travel Writers, and got to check out several hotels and some wonderful restaurants. I also had walking tours that included the Aya (also known as Hagia) Sophia, the amazing Basilica Cisterns, the Spice Bazaar, the sparkling, new Galataport shopping/dining/cruise port, and outside glimpses of the Blue Mosque and Read more
The food was terrific. But that wasn’t it. My lie-flat seat was lovely. But that wasn’t it, either. And, no, it wasn’t the surprisingly good Turkish wine, or the big screen TV. No, what I think back on as I reflect on my two business class flights on Turkish Airlines last month are the little things; the chefs in brilliant white aprons and white chef hats; the little salt and pepper shakers that were shaped like minarets; the small candle (battery-powered, of course) in a tiny paper bag that accompanied my main meals, and the two chocolates they hand out Read more
