GTP Magazine is an invaluable resource for insight into destinations and attractions for groups. Coordinating a leisure group trip whether for family, friends or a social group can be a lot like herding cats if you don’t choose the right venue to keep their interests. In a recent article in the magazine rediscovers a land of surprises in Central Florida.  

Before 1971, many people had never heard of Orlando.  Thanks to Walt Disney, Orlando is synonymous for fun, family and all things theme park related. But there is so much more to Orlando and the surrounding areas. It has natural beauty and is rich in cultural diversity.  It’s first opera house was built in 1884 inspiring a strong legacy of performing arts in the area including the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Ballet and many visiting troupes.  Nearby is also the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center, and Mennello Museum of American Art.  

Just north of Orlando is Seminole County.  ”For groups and reunions, it’s easy to hold events outdoors in parks or sporting fields,” says Sharon Sears, executive director of the Seminole Convention and Visitors Bureau.  The federally protected Wekiva River is one of the only two National Wild & Scenic Rivers in Florida.  You can kayak, canoe, picnic and hike there.  Up the St. John’s River groups may enjoy a ride along the River Ship Romance. the three to four-hour group tour’s narration focuses on the area’s wildlife. 

Groups gravitate toward the Tampa Bay area, home to this year’s Super Bowl.  You can still see cigars being hand-rolled in the historic downtown of Ybor City.  Ybor has red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies, and narrow brick streets that are filled with the roasting smell of Cuban Coffee.  Not to be missed, the culinary options of Ybor are a treat for all ages.  My personal favorite is The Columbia Restaurant. Built in 1905, this Spanish restaurant is famous for it’s 1905 salad, paella, flan, and the dinner entertainment of Flamanco dancers. The largest science center in the Southern U.S. is in Tampa.  MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) is a mile north of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. 

If a beach getaway is also on the itinerary, consider the white, sandy beaches of St. Petersburg/Clearwater.  From Ana Maria Island to Fort Desoto beach and Indian Rocks beach, there are miles of sandy shores to enjoy and explore. Pier 60 is a fun stop with street performers, artists and musicians.  And in downtown St. Petersburg, you won’t want to miss the Salvador Dali museum featuring over 2,000 pieces of art.  

Broaden your group travel experience in Central Florida for your next group getaway. http://orlando.grouptravelplanet.com/

As the travel industry fights for consumers’ travel budget $$, the question is not if people will travel but how?  The economic crisis is rewriting American consumption rules, probably for the better.  According to Time and Newsweek Magazines (who both respectively have been blanketing the crisis since last Fall) how we spend and how much we spend is changing.  I’m envisioning more of us being green not for the sake of the environment but out of necessity.  Depression-era-esque habits such as reusing aluminum foil and taking public transportation are en-vogue.  And travel is right in the mix. It’s not if consumers will travel but where will they go and what they will now be willing to spend.  

According to this week’s Newsweek issue: the travel industry is bracing for possibly the worst season since 9/11. The U.N. estimates that worldwide tourism will fall by up to 2 percent this year, with the Americas and Europe hardest hit. The number of international tourists going to the United States fell 9 percent during the year ending in January, and the amount they spent fell 7 percent. The number going to Britain fell 2.6 percent in 2008, and the number of Brits traveling abroad fell nearly 9 percent in the last three months of the year. Even France—still the world’s top tourist destination—saw a 3 percent drop in visitors, most of it coming at the end of the year as the crisis took hold.

Vacation feels like an entitlement to most people which is the saving grace of the travel industry.  Although it will feel the pinch of these economic times, it is not going to feel the battering ram of the automobile industry.  Travel marketers are getting more creative in reaching out to their resident-tourists, the in-town consumer who are now looking to “staycations” versus long-distance getaways.  And free breakfasts, massages, along with free days and nights at hotels and attractions are sweetening the deals for able travelers.  Studies are indicating that travelers are shortening the duration of their trips opting for long-weekend getaways compared to a week here and there.  A quick girlfriend getaway is now just what the doctor ordered for a group of friends who can book a $29/night rate in Las Vegas.  According to GroupTravelPlanet.com, 29% of visitors plan a girlfriend getaway every few months while 21% always take such a trip once a year.  Even those who have felt the pain of a recent lay-off are parlaying the time-off into a pink-slip vacation. Read the article in Time Magazine.  

I’ll keep saying it post after post  NOW is the time to travel.  Take advantage of deals online, become part of the twitterati pouncing on the travel opportunities that are too good to pass up.

Ahhhh, May! For me, this month has always stood for all things beautiful and fun. Summer travel is a bit closer, family reunions and church group retreats are within sight, and that long awaited visit to the theme park is so close I can taste it.  How is the summer travel season shaping up this year? With the economy in turmoil are groups getting together as planned this summer or are they modifying their plans to be more sensitive to the purse strings? 

A recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive indicates that people will still be traveling but not as far or for as long as prior summers. 

With peak travel season quickly approaching,  I wanted to remind group planners to consider the needs of of all member of your group.  Even the most exciting travel opportunity can create a few obstacles for a person with a disability.  

Good to know: According to Open Doors Organization research: 69% of adults with disabilities (more than 21 million people) have traveled at least once in the last two years. And, by 2030, nearly 24% of the U.S. population will be disabled.

Thanks to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 most mobility obstacles have been removed or minimized in the United States but laws don’t cover all the practical challenges.  The best advice I can give is to not be afraid to ask questions. It’s important to know as much as possible about the person’s abilities and limitations and their desired level of independence or assistance. Find out if any particular equipment is required for the person to get around, when or if they need an assistant while traveling, and whether the hotels, attractions, etc. accommodate those needs.  You can check out the website for the Society of Accessible Travel and Hospitality for travel tips and resources.

Also, when coordinating group transportation  (check out CoachQuote.com orGroupTravelPlanet.com) consider not just the obvious – getting from point A to point B but what problems you could encounter along the way.  What is the roadside plan if there is a breakdown? It’s important to konw if the hydraulic lift on a charter bus can support a particular wheelchair as knowing weights, makes and sizes will be important to successfully on-boarding all passengers. And once you arrive, are there particular entrances, paths, etc. that your transportation company and/or destination provides for travelers with mobility challenges?

Remember, each person with challenges has specific needs and varying attitudes and opinions about how they would like to be treated. Being aware and anticipating those needs will ensure that everyone is included in the group.

Check out the March issue of GTP Magazine for a deep look at this issue.

The most recent issue of GTP magazine has a telling view of the growing trend of sports tournaments also becoming the family vacation.  Given the financial challenges of planning and attending amateur sporting events, more parents are doubling up: turning those games and matches into the family getaway.   With gas expected to be half the price of last summer, hotels pushing really great rates, and attractions offering deep discounts, it’s a great season for family travel.  

On GroupTravelPlanet.com families can build a custom trip itinerary based on the ages and interests of all involved. It’s a great online tool that allows you to identify the sites, interests and expected expenses of the trip but also let’s  each member of the family play a role in trip planning by selecting a piece of the trip plan.  And take advantage of the sports team’s numbers by securing group discounts through the Website for hotel reservations of 5 or more rooms.  In fact, a travel fundraising program, GTP Fundraiser, allows sports teams to earn money for their trips and organization expenses when trips are booked through GroupTravelPlanet.com.

This afternoon the United States officially issued a travel advisory to avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico.  So much for this morning’s post.  I’m hearing from lots of people with trips to MX for vacations in the coming weeks ahead.  Call your resorts/airlines for their policies related to this pandemic as most will allow for cancellation and/or re-booking at a later date for no charge.  For sure - American, United, Continental, US Airways, Mexicana and Air Canada are waiving usual penalties for changing reservations for anyone traveling to, from, or through Mexico, but have not canceled flights yet. 

Share with us your concerns or questions!

Just as tourism to Mexico begins to recover slightly after concern for visitor safety was heightened due to the escalating drug war, all eyes are on the country with the outbreak of Swine Flu.  The US has not made a travel advisory related to this outbreak, but many European countries are discouraging non-essential travel to Mexico.  So what do we do? According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) keeping in mind good health practices is most important: wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough, etc.  Many travelers to and from Mexico are said to be wearing medical masks on the airplane and in crowded public areas.  

Read more about swine flu on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.

Just as we should be keeping safety on our mind when traveling, so should we keep staying healthy ( regardless of where we are going).  I don’t think, at this time, travel plans should be cancelled or vacations postponed. If anything, it’s a good reminder to always be aware and vigilant about the situations and current environments of the places you are visiting.  Perhaps talk to a doctor before visiting a place, check the US Embassy Web site for that particular region, and contact your hotel as to what preventative measures they may be taking to ensure guest health and safety.

Mexico is a beautiful destination with gorgeous beaches and many cultural treasures.  And in light recent events, travel deals abound. Be smart, stay aware of travel advisories, and have a great trip!

 

There are no group booking or cancellation fees from GTP

The new www.GroupTravelPlanet.com launched today with the tools and features unique to leisure group travel.  It’s a really relevant, useful site with informative articles from GTP Magazine and most importantly the ability for you to book up to 50 hotel rooms in a single reservation.  Not only that but GTP Travel Group, the site’s parent company, has negotiated with hotels big and small for Special Group Rates to pass along to you.  And there are no booking fees from GTP!

 

I like seeing that it is more than just a site for booking travel because, let’s face it, putting together a group trip whether for 8 people or 80 takes a lot of work.  www.GroupTravelPlanet.com has all the tips, and destination and group-type information to help group travel planner plan, book and manage these trips.  GTP PlanIt! the itinerary builder is an exciting feature that allows you to build detailed trip itineraries and share them with travelers online. 

And that’s not all.  Check out the aGenT Plus program for independent travel agents. Start earning commissions on travel booked through www.GroupTravelPlanet.com.  GTP Fundraiser is a unique way for schools and other institutions to raise money for their groups while planning their group trips.   

Look for great deals, discounts and new features in the coming weeks and months ahead!

We’d like to know what you think of the new GroupTravelPlanet.com.  Leave a comment or send us a tweet @gtptravel

Space…the final frontier. Well, not exactly Captain Kirk!  Believe it or not, being able to book group hotel accommodations online as well as plan and manage that group trip is truly the final frontier; at least in the travel industry.  It’s amazing how far we have come in a mere decade with respect to planning and booking travel on the Internet.  We can book flights, reserve cars, and hotels virtually anywhere with a connection to the World Wide Web.  But have you tried to book more than 5 rooms online? Or reserve a bus to accommodate a group, online?  If you’re reading this, you probably have tried so you know how nearly impossible it is to do.  Planning for group travel is practically archaeic: a very manual, time consuming process that is primarily handled offline…Until now!