Podcasts about Forbes Travel Guide

In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Jeff Wielgopolan, Service Director at Meadowood Napa Valley, a Forbes Travel Guide five-star hotel and spa. With over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality and his background as former Global Senior Vice President of Learning and Development at Forbes Travel Guide, Jeff shares his unique perspective on service excellence. From defining luxury as an experience where guests should“not have to think" to his innovative approach to staff training, Jeff reveals how Meadowood works on delivering world-class service while maintaining the personal touch that defines true luxury hospitality.

In this episode, Brian is joined by Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy, Innovation and Operations Officer with Forbes Travel Guide. Recognized as the global authority on luxury hospitality, Forbes Travel Guide professional inspectors travel the world to assess the finest hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruise ships based on hundreds of exacting standards that determine their coveted annual Star Ratings. Tune in to hear who Stuart Thanks for helping him along the way.

In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide. With over two decades of leadership experience in hospitality, Stuart shares how to balance innovation in hospitality, the guest experience, and profitability in the luxury sector. From his pragmatic approach to AI implementation to his emphasis on human connection as the core of hospitality, Stuart offers practical advice on how hotels can differentiate themselves in a tech-driven landscape while delivering exceptional experiences that drive loyalty, higher spending, and powerful word-of-mouth marketing.

Curtis Duffy is a renowned American chef and restaurateur known for his artistry and ingredient-driven menus. He owns and operates the esteemed Ever Restaurant Group in Chicago and has garnered international acclaim. Ever earned two Michelin stars, and his previous venture, Grace, earned three from 2015 to 2018.Duffy has been honored with Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star rating, Triple A's Five-Diamond rating, and the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef, Great Lakes Award in 2016. Recently, the Robb Report honored him as one of the top 50 most influential figures in fine dining.Chef Duffy's captivating journey is chronicled in the acclaimed documentary For Grace, which highlights his rise from adversity to culinary greatness.In addition to his culinary pursuits, Duffy is deeply committed to giving back to the community. He sits on the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts advisory board, where a $25,000 scholarship in his name is awarded. Duffy's past charitable efforts have included volunteering and serving as chef chair for the Grand Chefs Gala, a Greater Illinois Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraiser. He also participates in Chicago's Banchet Awards.In 2022, Duffy opened After, a come-as-you-are bar, and The Canvas by Ever, a high-end event space next door to Ever. Both places have received high praise.Unlocking Humanity with Host John Edmonds Kozma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In this episode, Emily Goldfischer, founder and editor of hertelier, interviews Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings at Forbes Travel Guide. Listen to hear insights into her career journey, the Forbes rating system, and the evolution of luxury travel.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction (01:20) Amanda's background in hospitality(04:34) The world of hotel ratings(08:46) Changes in the luxury traveler(10:04) Testing for intuitive service(11:23) Impact on female travelers(17:23) Retail and experiential collaborations(18:33) Women in leadershipA few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Welcome back to another episode of "Coffee with a Journalist." Today, we have a special guest who will transport us to the world of luxury travel: Jennifer Kester, the Vice President and Executive Editor at Forbes Travel Guide. Jennifer brings a wealth of experience and insights into what makes a travel destination truly exceptional. From her recent adventures in Santa Monica to the intricate process of hotel, restaurant, and spa ratings, Jennifer's journey is one of passion and meticulous attention to detail. We'll explore her take on effective pitching, the importance of strong publicist relationships, and even delve into some of her pet peeves. Plus, we'll get a sneak peek into Forbes Travel Guide's newest Verified Air Travel Awards. Grab your coffee and join us as we uncover the luxurious side of travel journalism with Jennifer Kester.

From Cruise CEO to World Cup Chair, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo shares her remarkable journey breaking barriers as Celebrity Cruises' first female CEO and now leading the 2026 FIFA World Cup host committee. In this candid conversation, she opens up about navigating the male-dominated cruise industry, leading through COVID-19's unprecedented challenges, championing gender diversity, and orchestrating major transformations. Lisa reveals powerful leadership lessons learned over her 40-year career - from starting as a door-to-door sales rep to becoming a trailblazing executive. She discusses building high-performing teams, turning setbacks into motivation, and her mission to create opportunities for women in leadership. Whether you're an aspiring leader or seasoned executive, Lisa's insights on resilience, authenticity and embracing new challenges will inspire you to dream bigger and believe in yourself.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Lisa Lutoff-Perlo's Backstory02:06 - Gender Balance in the Cruise Industry07:01 - Leading Through COVID-1911:35 - Lessons Learned from the Pandemic15:37 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Preparation18:47 - Current Ramp-Up for the World Cup22:10 - Gender Diversification in Leadership29:07 - Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace37:25 - Building Your Personal Brand40:00 - The Strength in Asking for Help42:25 - Future Plans for Julie43:59 - Embracing New Opportunitieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-lutoff-perlo/https://lisalutoffperlo.com/ABOUT OUR HOST:Ken Eslick is an Entrepreneur, Author, Podcaster, Tony Robbins Trainer, Life Coach, Husband of 35+ Years, and Grandfather. Ken currently spends his time as the President & Founder of The Leaders Lab where he and his team focus on Leadership Talent Acquisition. They get founders the next level C-Suite Leaders they need to go from being an Inc. Magazine 5000 fastest growing company to $100,000,000 + in revenue.  #seattlesports #worldcuporganizingcommittee #pressconference #seattleLisa Lutoff-Perlo is President & CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miami Host Committee, overseeing strategy, fundraising, fan activations, and operations for Miami's seven matches in the tournament. A recognized leader in global business, hospitality, and sports, she was honored with the South Florida Business Journal and Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Award.Previously, Lisa was Vice Chairman, External Affairs for Royal Caribbean Group, and from 2014 to 2023, served as President & CEO of Celebrity Cruises, becoming the first woman to lead a Royal Caribbean brand. She is credited with transforming Celebrity Cruises through bold innovations in ship design, service, and digital strategy, and for driving the company's post-pandemic recovery.Lisa is a trailblazer in diversity and inclusion, making history with the first all-female bridge crew and significantly increasing the percentage of women in leadership roles. Under her leadership, Celebrity Cruises became the first brand to earn Forbes Travel Guide's star ratings for its ships.She serves on the Board of AutoNation and chairs the Hornblower Group, and is the author of the best-selling leadership book Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart and Courage.You can learn more about Ken and his team attheleaderslab.coListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/ken-eslick/

During her long tenure as the US General Manager of Biologique Recherche, Laura relaunched the brand and drove revenue to increase by over 800%. A strategic leader, Laura identified market opportunities and took an active role in business development leading to partnerships with over 200 leading hotels, day, and medical spas. Laura cemented Biologique Recherche's position as a privileged hotel partner, resulting in the brand becoming The Official Skincare Brand of Forbes Travel Guide, and serving on the Forbes Standards Advisory Committee.  Laura built winning PR and innovative influencer strategies that yielded organic brand relevance and high consumer engagement. A strong operational leader, Laura recruited and cultivated a team of more than 40 professionals, building a leading education and sales department that worked synergistically to catapult market penetration and brand recognition across the US. Laura gained expertise in all aspects of importation, supply chain, and logistics having driven the externalization process multiple times as the company scaled. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst she began her career working for the French Government, then moved to Paris to pursue a position in commercial real estate sales. Laura loves to travel and still has a long bucket list of places to visit. Laura doesn't drink coffee but loves her daily matcha. She is proud of having learned to ride a bike a few years ago and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. A born and raised New Yorker, Laura speaks fluent French and attended the Lyçée Français de New York. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howdshedothat/support

Las Vegas has long been the ultimate destination for fun.Whether you're into the glamorous shows, high energy of the casinos, or countless options for delicious restaurants, Las Vegas has you covered. Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps, especially when it comes to introducing fresh and innovative experiences like the Sphere, Spiegelworld's DiscoShow, and Meow Wolf's Omega Mart at AREA15.With so much to see, do, and–of course–eat, it's a good idea to plan ahead. Today, Angie Orth welcomes Las Vegas expert Melinda Sheckells. She's been an editor and writer in Las Vegas for more than a decade, sharing her in-the-know local insights with publications like The Hollywood Reporter, Business Traveler, and Forbes Travel Guide. You'll hear about the best new entertainment on and off the Strip. She shares insider knowledge about the top restaurants, hottest shows, and most exciting music residencies coming to the city. You'll also learn about unique experiences that add a totally new dimension to the Las Vegas scene as well as where to find a vintage taste of Vegas. What You'll Learn:(2:05) Experiences to purchase your tickets for now(5:47) The vintage side of Vegas(8:33) Everything you need to know about Area 15(13:37) The most exciting new restaurants(20:56) When to visit and how to get the best dealsConnect with Melinda Sheckells:https://www.instagram.com/melindasheckells/https://linktr.ee/MelindaSheckellsConnect with AAA:Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa https://clubadventures.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprisesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprisesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Host Jack Thomas welcomes good friend, business partner and veteran of the hospitality industry, Matt Lavender. Matt was global director of evaluations for Forbes Travel Guide before founding Enlites, a consultancy working with world's leading hotels, restaurants and spas. Together, Jack and Matt founded The Fit Guide. Today, Matt shares what the world's leading hospitality brands do, and how we can adopt some of these practices and techniques to become fitness industry leaders.   GUEST RESOURCES Matt Lavender on LinkedIn Enlites The Fit Guide   THE FIT GUIDE Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide helps fitness lovers find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps fitness clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter The Fit Guide on LinkedIn   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram

In this episode, Stuart Greif, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares his insights on the power of leading with listening and the importance of understanding what's going on in the lives of the people on your team to unlock their potential.Listeners will learn:The importance of asking questions and understanding what's going on in someone's life before giving advice (01:49)How to flex and accommodate team members' personal lives and routines (03:05)The value of learning from mentors in various forms, including working relationships and observing how others operate (04:03)The concept of being a "learn-it-all" rather than a "know-it-all" and learning from people at all levels (05:10)The benefits of "reverse mentorship" and learning from younger team members (05:41)How to bridge the gap between people with different experiences and perspectives in an organizational context (06:48)The importance of creating time and space for connecting as human beings and encouraging diverse teams (07:49)Mentions:Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft (05:21)Chip Conley (06:23)A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Stuart Greif, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares his thoughts on supporting women and underrepresented groups in the hospitality industry.Listeners will learn:Why leaders need to recognize and address the lack of opportunity for underrepresented groups in business (01:30)How diversity in teams leads to better business outcomes, backed by Harvard Business School studies (04:11)The responsibility of executives to pursue diversity for the best outcomes in their businesses (05:16)How the younger generation is more open to diversity and will bring positive change, but current leaders still need to act now (08:31)The story behind Stuart's support of a book project on the history of Black and African American hoteliers (10:47)The gratification that comes from helping others and making connections to support projects and people in the industry (14:46)This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Stuart Greif, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares his perspective on the biggest opportunities for AI in hospitality.Listeners will learn:Why human connection and the "psychic kick" of serving others is still at the heart of hospitality (01:28)How AI can free up time and resources for hotel staff to focus more on engaging with guests by automating time-consuming administrative tasks (03:33)Examples of how AI is being used to improve productivity and the guest experience, such as summarizing key information for travel agents (05:33)The importance of identifying specific, repetitive tasks that can be automated with AI rather than trying to map the entire organization at once (08:03)How starting with a small number of tasks and iteratively improving AI solutions can lead to significant time savings (08:55) New to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, we're learning from Jeff Wielgopolan, a hospitality expert who has led learning and training for Forbes Travel Guide and is currently responsible for creating and maintaining the guest experience at Meadowood Napa Valley. Jeff shares his insights on what it takes to provide world-class hospitality and the importance of attention to detail.Listeners will learn about:World-Class Hospitality: Learn the secrets behind providing exceptional service that makes guests feel special and valued.Training and Development: Discover how to train staff to think and act like luxury guests, even if they have never experienced luxury themselves.The Power of Language: Understand the impact of using the right words and greetings to create a positive guest experience.Anticipatory Service: Find out how to anticipate guest needs and make their experience effortless and memorable.Attention to Detail: Hear a humbling story that underscores the importance of paying attention to every detail, no matter how small."Plus One" Philosophy: Learn how adding one extra element to your service can make a significant difference.Growth That Affects All Areas of Life: Explore how skills learned in hospitality can be applied to your personal life, making you a better friend, partner, and neighbor.Join us as we delve into the nuances of luxury hospitality and discover actionable tips that you can implement in your own work and life. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the industry, this episode offers valuable insights that will elevate your approach to hospitality.Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Send me a text message This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this research report: How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Bio: "Hi! I'm Yasmin. Here's a bit about me. Well, a lot about me. A few years ago, I fell in love with the Spanish island of Menorca and have since upended my life as I've sold or donated most of my belongings, save for my cookbooks/books and beloved kitchen items, so I can spend at least half the year in Menorca. You'll find more updates of this particular life period in my newsletter. Food was a happy part of my childhood, likely because my parents were adamant about us gathering around the table for every meal, no matter what crazy schedules we had, and some my favorite memories are around the dinner table. At Cornell University, I planned on being a doctor and even worked at Cedars-Sinai in LA for a year, but I knew deep down that it wasn't the path for me (we always know, don't we?).After making list after list trying to figure out what to do with my life, food and travel kept popping up. So at 23, I moved to NYC to work at a small publishing house and found the Food Studies Master's program at NYU, which felt like a dream come true—we learned about food through the lens of culture, history, politics and so much more, even writing our own food tours in NYC neighborhoods. My final project was a cookbook proposal titled, Dinner with Friends.I then had the very fun job of working on the 2010 Food & Wine cocktail book and freelancing at the magazine. From there, I ran the cooking section of a website as a food editor for two years, when I decided I had had enough of working at a desk and wanted to travel the world. In a fortuitous happening, I became an undercover luxury hotel, restaurant and spa inspector for Forbes Travel Guide for four years, complete with a fake name and credit card (Isabella Harper, if you're curious). She was great. I lived in NYC, LA and London during that time, traveling around the world, from Shanghai to Rio, all over North America, Europe and more, which is when I also learned the joys of traveling alone. During that time, I wrote a weekly recipe column for Serious Eats that, in another twist, became the basis for my first cookbook, Keeping it Simple. The book ended up being much loved (which warmed my heart!), and it's both exciting and surreal what's happened with my career since. Here's a brief summary: I'm currently a regular contributor to NYT Cooking and was also nominated for a Webby Award for my video work with The Kitchn. My recipes and writing have appeared online and in print publications such as The Washington Post, Food52, The Kitchn, Guardian Feast, Today Show Food, Epicurious and others. I've written two more books, and the third Cook Simply, Live Fully is out now!" Website: https://www.yasminfahr.co/about Buy the books: https://www.yasminfahr.co/books ________ If you follow my podcast and enjoy it, I'm on @buymeacoffee. If you like my work, you can buy me a coffee and share your thoughts

Hello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat. Today, we are joined by Richard Lebowitz, who oversees a team at Forbes Travel Guide that aims to bring awareness to star-rated hotels across the global luxury travel advisor community. Lebowitz is no newbie in the travel industry; he's had over 30 years of experience in travel and hospitality, 25 of them with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in various leadership positions, including as Regional Vice President of Luxury Lifestyle and Leisure of North America for the global sales office. He was also Senior Vice President of the Hotel and Resort Program at Signature Travel Network and, at the onset of the pandemic, he took a role as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Sharecare, which is a digital health and wellness company. While at Sharecare, Lebowitz rolled out Verified with Forbes Travel Guide initiative, a health security verification program for the hotel and travel industry. During this episode, you'll hear about Forbes Travel Guide's global rating system for luxury hotels, and the tools available to travel advisors who are sending their clients to these properties. We'll also touch on The Forbes Travel Guide verification program for advisors.  This episode is sponsored by Marriott Bonvoy.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Forbes Travel Guide (For more information on award-winners, articles and more) Travel Advisor Portal support@forbestravelguide.com   ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The biggest stages in the world are waiting to welcome you. Are you ready to take the stage? Let me teach you how…. Join The Elite Mastermind with me! There are only 20 seats available. Link here: https://heathermonahan.com/the-elite-mastermind/ In This Episode You Will Learn About:  How preserving the past builds you up for the future The tools you need to drive really ambitions projects How to harness optimism & pride to lead into innovation & prosperity     Why technology should be used to enrich our experience of history Resources: Website: https://diriyahcompany.sa/en  LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram: @jerryinzerillo Visit heathermonahan.com Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com  Show Notes:  What does it mean to preserve the past while looking towards the future? Today let's jump into one of my favorite interviews from the Leap 2024 tech conference with the visionary leader in hospitality and tourism, Jerry Inzerillo! As the CEO of Diriyah, Jerry is the master of intertwining the preservation of rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology in Saudi Arabia. He'll reveal what it is like to work closely with Saudi's royal family, his optimistic outlook on the country, and what it really means to invest in progress. Are you ready to be inspired by a tale of tradition meeting modernity? Let's dive in! If You Liked This Episode You Might Also Like These Episodes: #386: The 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples DON'T Do with Amy Morin Psychotherapist & Best Selling Author #396: Why Wealth Is Within Your Grasp: Create A Million Dollar Weekend Business with Noah Kagan Chief Sumo & CEO at AppSumo.com, Entrepreneur, & Author #399: Find Your Supporters: Why It's Time to Prioritize Your People with Heather! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jerry is the GCEO of Diriyah Company, a highly immersive, 63.2-billion-dollar Development, heritage, and tourism project. It will be home to 100,000 residents and aims to attract 50 million visits a year. Jerry is also Vice Chairman of Forbes Travel Guide who grew up in humble circumstances in Brooklyn and first visited Saudi Arabia in 1981. With over five decades in the hospitality and tourism industry, he has garnered global recognition as a visionary in the field, as well as a champion for Saudi Arabia and its people. In a conversation with Mo, they delve into the development and vision of Diriyah, emphasizing the significance of preserving Saudi Arabia's rich history with the support of UNESCO. Jerry reflects on his appointment by His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and shares his excitement for the future of Saudi Arabia. He highlights the ongoing enhancements to the quality of life in the country and the rapid evolution of tourism and prosperity.  0:00 Introductions 2:46 Giga-projects 4:57 60-Minutes Interview 8:26 Media coverage of Vision 2030 9:34 Ministry of Tourism 12:48 Decision to live in Saudi Arabia 15:44 HRH The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman 19:41 Growing up in Brooklyn 24:45 Civilization, humility, leadership 27:59 Is Saudi a “sleeping giant” 32:35 Childhood and college years 35:27 Hobbies 39:50 UNESCO and Diriyah50:00 Happiness, aging, finding peace 55:20 Rapid questions and future of Saudi 1:07:00 Worst and best advice 1:10:30 Ted Talk and closing words 

We chat with the head of ratings for the Forbes Travel Guide. Amanda Frasier fills us in on luxury in Las Vegas, new travel trends, and what Las Vegas could improve upon. We also chat with comedian, Michael Yo! He has a new weekly show at Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club on the strip. Yo moved here a few years ago and tells us what he loves about living here. He also fills us in on what you can expect if you go see his "Hot Mess Comedy" show. The Tropicana is getting ready to close its doors on April 2nd. And, the Bellagio has a new outdoor dining destination, near the pool! Need an attorney? Call LevelUp Law at 855-LevelUp or visit  LevelUpLaw.comVegasNearMe App If it's fun to do or see, it's on VegasNearMe. The only app you'll need to navigate Las Vegas. Support the showFollow us on Instagram: @vegas.revealedFollow us on Twitter: @vegasrevealedFollow us on TikTok: @vegas.revealedWebsite: Vegas-Revealed.com

Curious about what it takes for a hotel to earn a Forbes Travel Guide star rating? Jennifer sits down with Richard Lebowitz, the Senior Vice President of Travel Industry Outreach at Forbes Travel Guide, to discuss the rigorous evaluation process, as well as how Forbes Travel Guide is transforming the travel industry and how these changes could impact your business. Richard has extensive experience in the hotel and travel industry, including once holding a position on the Asta Hotel Distribution Committee. He shares insights into the history and mission of Forbes Travel Guide, the process of rating hotels, and the significance of the star awards. He also discusses the Endorsed by Forbes Travel Guide program and how travel advisors can leverage the Forbes Travel Guide ratings to enhance their clients' experiences. Connect with Richard Lebowitz: linkedin.com/in/richardlebowitz forbestravelguide.com/award-winners travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Advisors-prize-Forbes-Travel-Guide-endorsement Today we will cover: (04:20) Overview of Forbes Travel Guide and its history (06:40) Differentiating Forbes Travel Guide ratings from other hotel ratings (11:20) Highlights from the 2024 Forbes Travel Guide list; New travel trends and destinations (14:15) Selection process for hotels to be rated by Forbes Travel Guide (21:30) How travel advisors can utilize the list (26:00) Forbes Travel Guide Endorsement for travel advisors (33:20) Details about Forbes Travel Guide Endorsed Agencies (43:10) Building relationships and making connections in the industry (48:30) How Forbes Travel Guide lives up to its tagline THE NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/niche Join Niche - An interactive community membership for travel advisors wanting to grow their business! CUSTOM CLIENT EXPERIENCE: tiquehq.com/custom-client-experience We build magnetic client experiences that help you create more super fans! _____ FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

Stuart Greif is a Global Travel and Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, Advisor, Thought Leader, Speaker, Mentor and Investor. At Forbes Travel Guide, Greif drives strategy, innovation, and operations spanning over 80 countries and plays a leading role in Forbes Travel Guide's Responsible Hospitality initiative. He previously served as Microsoft Corporation's Senior Executive for Travel and Hospitality and led J.D. Power and Associates' Global Hospitality and Travel group.In this episode, Greif discussed various topics related to technology, sustainability, labor issues, and innovation in the hotel and travel sectors. He shared his insights and predictions concerning artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, diversity and inclusion efforts, the future of hospitality careers, and what sets hospitality brands apart in terms of service and experience.In this episode, you'll learn:Understanding Forbes Travel Guide's role and offeringsHow could AR, VR, and MR technologies transform the way hotels market themselves and provide guests with previews of their experiences?Technological Advancements and Ethical ConsiderationsThe significance of sustainability and its effect on travel and hospitality. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Stuart Greif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartwgreif/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/57Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

There's a lot of talk about AI in hospitality technology now, but what are we not talking about but should be? Stuart Greif has a unique perspective on this topic as the Chief Strategy, Innovation, & Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, and in this episode - recorded in December 2023 - he shares what's going on with AI and its potential implications for you and your hospitality business. Do you want your teams to make better decisions and free them up to provide the best hospitality? You should meet Otelier - the software behind every great host. Otelier brings together the best features and functionality from MDO, Datavision, inTouch, HelloGM, Focal Revenue Solutions, and Broadvine to deliver a unified platform that meets the evolving needs of today's hotelier. Their product suite is built to optimize your portfolio's performance and make work more rewarding for both you and your teams - presenting the right information at the right time to make the best decisions more quickly and improve operational efficiency. Check out my interview with their CEO Vic Chynoweth and learn more at Otelier.io Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Jeannette talks to the fabulous Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Vice Chairman, External Affairs for the Royal Caribbean Group and author of “Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart and Courage". Lisa joins the show to talk about her fascinating business background, how she conquered the world of business, and what's coming in her future. Lisa talks about what makes a great leader, why women deserve a more prominent role in all aspects of life, and how the power of courage can transform your path through life. She also discusses her book, and talks about how it is built upon the transferrable lessons from her own life in business. KEY TAKEAWAYS People are drawn to leadership and magnetic power of those who steer the ships. True leaders are those we can lean on during the stormier times. Learning is not just about seeing the things we aspire to. It's about recognising what doesn't work, and calculating that into our life plan, too. Everyone has an ego, but the problems arise when we are led solely by it, instead of using it as an accelerating force. Many who enter business near the top don't arrive with the smarts and the skills that you can only gain by climbing the ladder progressively. BEST MOMENTS "I learned that a great leader is a great leader. And that's what people are looking for. Captains aren't looking for someone who was a captain to be their leader at the end of the day." "I always find it serendipitous that I ended up in the cruise business, hospitality on the ocean. And it's like this. My life came full circle and it was through no plan." "I was a woman who did it. And, you know, the subtitle of Making Waves is a woman's rise to the top using smart and courage." "I've had to be very conscious of that. You know, when I was my first promotion was going from a salesperson to a regional sales manager, which meant that I went from an individual contributor."   This is the perfect time to get focused on what YOU want to really achieve in your business, career, and life. It's never too late to be BRAVE and BOLD and unlock your inner BRILLIANCE. If you'd like to jump on a free mentoring session just DM Jeannette at info@jeannettelinfootassociates.com or sign up via Jeannette's linktree https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970     Lisa Lutoff-Perlo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-lutoff-perlo ABOUT THE GUEST Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is Vice Chairman, External Affairs for the Royal Caribbean Group, where she works on broad strategic initiatives with industry organizations and key external stakeholders. Prior to that, she served as President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises from 2014 to 2023, the first woman to take the helm of a Royal Caribbean Group brand and one of the few women then leading a multi-billion dollar brand. Lutoff-Perlo is a recognized trailblazer in the global hospitality industry. She was the driving force behind transforming and re-defining today's relaxed luxury cruise experience with a bold, innovative approach to ship design and service for both the industry and the Celebrity Cruises brand. Launching Celebrity's Edge Series in 2018, the ships were immediately hailed as game-changing for the industry and recognized on TIME Magazine's annual “World's Greatest Places” list. She also led the Celebrity brand through a digital transformation, tapping into new market opportunities, customer trends, a robust digital marketing focus and increasing guest loyalty. In the years leading up to the global pandemic, Lutoff-Perlo led Celebrity Cruises to historic financial performance. She then led the industry back into service on June 26, 2021, when Celebrity Edge was the first ship to sail from a U.S. port and went on to return the brand's business performance to historical ranges in the first full year post-pandemic. In 2023, Celebrity Cruises' ships were the first in the world to earn the coveted star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, further solidifying the brand's relaxed luxury resorts at sea brand positioning. A purpose-driven leader, Lutoff-Perlo also catalyzed cultural progress in the 200-year-old cruise industry by appointing the first American female Captain and the first West-African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship; making history with the first all-female bridge and leadership sailing in 2020; and, ultimately, increasing Celebrity's percentage of women on the bridge to 32%, far exceeding the maritime industry average of 2%. She has been recognized with numerous awards for business transformation, outstanding leadership, diversity and inclusion, and her numerous philanthropic efforts., and is a member of the Board of Directors of Fortune 500 company AutoNation (NYSE: AN) actively lending her expertise to numerous nonprofit boards. Lutoff-Perlo shares her powerful career stories and lessons learned in her leadership book, “Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart and Courage,” available in February 2024. ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 25 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams.  CONTACT THE HOST Jeannette's linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsU57ZGoPhm55_X0qF16_Q LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Email - info@jeannettelinfootassociates.com Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences of being Brave, Bold & Brilliant, which have allowed them to unleash their full potential in business, their careers, and life in general. From the boardroom tables of ‘big' international businesses to the dining room tables of entrepreneurial start-ups, how to overcome challenges, embrace opportunities and take risks, whilst staying ‘true' to yourself is the order of the day.Travel, Bold, Brilliant, business, growth, scale, marketing, investment, investing, entrepreneurship, coach, consultant, mindset, six figures, seven figures, travel, industry, ROI, B2B, inspirational: https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, the discussion highlights the Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards, recognizing luxury hotels in new destinations globally, including Dubai's significant achievement of five new Five-Star hotels. The episode also delves into the Michelin Guide's expansion in Florida, spotlighting 19 restaurants across Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Additionally, a surge in camping popularity is discussed, with an estimated 84.8 million Americans participating in 2023, alongside travel topics like American Airlines updated baggage fees, Delta Air Lines's unique flight for the 2024 solar eclipse, and an intriguing incident of a passenger boarding a flight without a ticket. The show wraps up with insights on customer service in hospitality, emphasizing it as an attitude rather than a department. Hospitality Hotline & GMC Report! Hospitality Hotline is open to everyone by using this link!

The 66th annual Star Awards celebrate the world's most outstanding hotels, restaurants, spas and cruises of 2024. Forbes Travel Guide's president of ratings Amanda Frasier joins 'Forbes Talks' to discuss.Read more here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2024/02/07/forbes-travel-guide-2024-star-award-winners-worlds-best-hotels-best-spas-best-restaurants/Stay ConnectedForbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.comForbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbesForbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbesForbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbesMore From Forbes: http://forbes.comForbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stuart Greif did a metaphorical backflip into hospitality, spending 18 months living in a hotel while working as a management consultant. These days, Stuart is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide. Susan and Stuart talk about going to summer camp, being an ally, and four-wheeling through the jungle.

The luxury travel segment has always been about high-touch service and premium experiences. In a rapidly changing post-pandemic world where AI turns the service model upside down, over-the-top experiences collide with sustainability concerns, and a renewed appreciation for authentic engagement fosters an even more fragmented landscape of travel providers, what does that mean for the luxury market?In this episode, guests, Stuart Greif, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, and Jim Bendt, owner of Pique Travel, a luxury travel agency in Minnesota, join the pod to share their unique perspective on the future of luxury travel.It's a segment of the market that is challenging its own traditional ideas, welcoming new and different types of travelers and experiences, and diving into new technology with both feet.What exactly is “luxury travel”, anyway?The intersection of high touch and high techWhat does the “Connected Trip” mean in a new AI-driven worldCan luxury travel be sustainable?Who is the luxury traveler? It might not be who you thinkFollows:Gilad Berenstein - hostCara Whitehill - hostStuart Greif - guestJim Bendt - guestGo Deeper:Trend Report: What We Learned at Virtuoso Travel Week 2023 VirtuosoCan Luxury Travel Be Sustainable? Sustainable Travel InternationalGen Zs don't have a lot of money, but they're traveling anyway CNBC8 things to know about the future of luxury travel The Points GuyFuture of luxury travel: The latest trends shaping the luxury travel industry Deloitte

How can we define quality and excellence in hospitality so that we can measure it and get better? I can't think of someone better qualified to answer this question than Stuart Grief, Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide - the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas. In this episode, you'll learn how they approach the challenging problem of rating diverse hotels worldwide, the surprising methodology they use - and Stuart's insights on guest service, technology, and operational excellence gathered from a career of leading global hospitality businesses. What did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

How did I come up with the wine pairings mentioned throughout Wine Witch on Fire? Why is wine marketed so differently to men versus women? What can you do to support your mental health in an era where you have to be online? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa on the Wine Road Podcast and Jeff Sammut on Canada Now. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Could an online pile-on like I experienced in 2012 happen today? What can you do to support your mental health in an era where you have to be online? Why did I use real people's names in my memoir? How did I come up with the wine pairings mentioned throughout Wine Witch on Fire? Why is wine marketed so differently to men versus women? How do I manage the different aspects of an online-based career? Which Sonoma wineries must you visit on your next trip? Which wine pairs best with catharsis? What was it like when I realized my husband of 20 years wanted a divorce? Looking back, were there signs that I missed? How did I communicate with my son about the difficult situation that was my divorce? Why did feeling alone lead me to reexamine my whole life? Why is it important to me that we have more conversations about overdrinking? How did I manage to curb my overdrinking after the year from hell? What is it about podcasting that makes it great for connecting with people?   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About The Wine Road Podcast and Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa bring a wealth of knowledge and personal experience regarding, food, wine, events, and travel in and around Northern Sonoma County. Dubbed the Click and Clack of Wine—their snappy banter and laugh filled show provides insider tips on wine tasting and advice for listeners planning everything from a day trip to a two week stay in Wine Country. Marcy Gordon is a freelance wine and travel writer. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications including Wine Enthusiast, Forbes Travel Guide, Sonoma Discoveries, and The San Francisco Chronicle. In 2017 she was awarded a fellowship to the prestigious Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. Her blog Come for the Wine was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Wine Blogs in 2015. Beth Costa is the Executive Director of the Wine Road. Beth has been at the helm of Wine Road for the past 17 years. Prior that she managed the tasting rooms for Kendall-Jackson Winery. Beth has lived in Sonoma County for the past 30 years and loves to get out and explore – rivers, redwoods and the ocean are big draws!   About Canada Now and Jeff Sammut Canada Now shares the stories that matter to Canadians, going beyond the headlines to shine a spotlight on the cities, towns and people that motivate and inspire us each and every day. Host Jeff Sammut goes coast to coast across the country talking to Canadians about Canadians and the stories that affect us all, big and small.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/262.

Filip Boyen wears a multitude of professional hats and all are crucial to luxury hospitality.

Today we're diving deep into a role that's central to our ability to provide hospitality: housekeeping. International Housekeeping Week is coming up, and to learn more about this, today we're joined today by Stephanie Leger, Chief Excellence Officer at First Rate Hospitality. With a track record of leadership that includes roles at luxury brands such as Ritz Carlton as well as serving as a service evaluator for Forbes Travel Guide, Stephanie has now trained more than 20,000 people in hospitality to date. In this episode, we'll explore the significance of housekeeping in the guest experience, discuss common pitfalls in training, and even touch on something called the Housekeeping Olympics. What did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Today on The Grail I sit down with Josiah Citrin and talk all things food including the pressures of being a 2 Star Michelin Chef. Josiah is one of the most incredible Chefs in the industry and also a very cool Human.  Josiah is a two-star Michelin chef and owner of Santa Monica's highly-acclaimed Mélisse, Charcoal Venice,Charcoal Sunset and Dave's Doghouse at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles and Indian Wells Tennis Garden. His culinary philosophy, “In Pursuit of Excellence” sets the standard for all of his concepts, whether fine-dining or casual. Citrin discovered his passion for food through his family at an early age, growing up in Santa Monica and Venice with a mother who was a caterer, and a French grandmother who cooked family meals. Their knowledge, combined with his excitement for cooking and business, led him to pursue a culinary career. Citrin moved to Paris to explore his French heritage after graduating from Santa Monica High School, and worked for three years at fine Parisian restaurants Vivarois and La Poste, gaining an understanding of and respect for the rules of traditional French cooking. This invaluable experience taught him both the art and discipline of cooking and fine dining, and formed the definitive basis of his training. He returned to the United States in 1990 and began applying his skills at Los Angeles' finest restaurants—notably Wolfgang Puck's celebrated Chinois on Main and then at Granita. After two years, Josiah moved on to join Patina and Pinot Bistro and cooked alongside famed chef and savvy restaurateur Joachim Splichal. Citrin subsequently became chef at Capri restaurant in Venice and Jackson's in West Hollywood. With a heightened interest in French gastronomy and a spirit for entrepreneurship, Citrin launched JiRaffe in 1996 alongside childhood friend and fellow chef Raphael Lunetta. Selling his interest to JiRaffe to Lunetta in 1999, Citrin pursued his lifelong dream of opening his own fine dining establishment by debuting Mélisse which opened to critical acclaim and has been impressing the culinary world ever since. HONORS Citrin's honors include: Two Stars from Michelin Guide (2007, 2008, 2021), #1 for Top Food in Los Angeles and #1 American-French Restaurant for Food in Los Angeles by Zagat (2013, 2014), “Best Wine List” by LA Weekly (2015), “Top 100 Restaurants in the World” by Elite Traveler (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Five Stars by Forbes Travel Guide (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), “Top Ten New Chefs” by Food & Wine magazine (1997), and “Best Chefs of the Year” by Los Angeles magazine (2012).

Today's podcast guest for EPISODE #100 is Brian Gullbrants. As a leader, every day his mission is to MAKE IT (the experience) BETTER FOR EVERYONE (employees, guests, stakeholders). This is truly a noble approach but one that Brian executes daily. We discuss his contributions to his family's restaurant business growing up. His dad convinced him that sweeping up the parking lot was a game called "Disneyland" - similar to the cast members that would use a pan and a broom to keep Disney's streets clean. We also discuss: -Remembering his initial learning about the culture of Ritz-Carlton and being called a gentleman for the first time -His foray into management, working twice as hard for less pay, and loving it -With his team at Wynn, they are "breaking records and winning awards." For the past 15+ years, Brian has been writing messages to every employee every day to ensure everyone is walking the talk and living and breathing their values. He suggests that problems need to be corrected and then "shaken off like an etch-a-sketch" to be fully erased to be able to move on. More about Brian Gullbrants: He is the Chief Operating Officer - North America for Wynn Resorts, a position he was promoted to at the start of 2023, after serving as the President of Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. In his current role, Brian is responsible for all operations in both Las Vegas and Boston, while supporting all future developments in North America. Prior to his return to Las Vegas, Mr. Gullbrants was the President of Encore Boston Harbor where he played an integral role in leading the final construction, grand opening, and stabilization of Wynn's first integrated regional resort on the East Coast. Before moving to Boston, Mr. Gullbrants served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, which he opened for the Company in 2008; his role expanded to oversight of both Wynn Las Vegas and Encore hotels in May 2011 as Executive Vice President and General Manager. He led the effort to establish Wynn hotels and spas as the first in Las Vegas to earn Five Star awards from Forbes Travel Guide. From 1988 to 2008, Mr. Gullbrants held significant leadership positions in operations, general management and corporate management at Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. As Vice President of Operations, Mr. Gullbrants was responsible for overseeing all operational disciplines for The Ritz-Carlton Company worldwide. THIS 100TH EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Team Baarman at ConferenceDirect Are you responsible for planning meetings and events for your organization? Are you struggling with the overwhelming tasks that come with ensuring a successful event, especially with limited time, resources, and staff? Team Baarman at ConferenceDirect understands your challenges and has the perfect solution! They specialize in creating inspiring experiences that drive measurable results. Here's how they can help: •Save time and effort with our personalized event planning services. •Optimize your resources to ensure the best possible outcomes. •Achieve tangible and measurable results for your events. Ready to make your events unforgettable? Connect with them through the following link: https://doug-baarman.go-conferencedirect.com/services/ I encourage you to have a simple discovery call to help them understand your needs and provide you with a tailored plan that they'll manage for you. It's that easy! Doug.Baarman@ConferenceDirect.com 240-994-8599

Kathleen from Plenty of Sunshine Travel met with Laura from Celebrity Cruise Line for this week's cruise chat. . This week we are diving deeper into all the amazing things that make your cruise special when cruising with Celebrity! . There are so many beautiful spaces designed by Nate Burkus! They are designed to be relaxing areas and also include great nightlife! I enjoy going to the silent disco - seeing everyone dancing to a different tune is interesting. It's fun to participate and to watch. . Dining on Celebrity cruise lines has won awards! The meals are fantastic and well thought out! You will love it! Everything is perfect - right down to the butter! The whipped butter flavors change each evening, and you will have a treat. . FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST DESTINATION Discover up to eight countries in one voyage with unique cultural experiences. CULINARY Savor a new restaurant at every meal made from scratch by more than 200 chefs from around the world led by a Michelin-starred chef.SERVICE Experience the world at your service with a personalized touch from ship to shore. DESIGN Relax with the world's best designers to focus on your comfort down to the smallest detail. WELLBEING Rise or rest to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. . Celebrity Cruise Line is the only cruise line to be the recipient of Forbes Travel Guide four-stars! What an honor. There are three series of ships. MILLENNIUM SERIES, Which has a guest capacity of 2,193 passengers. SOLSTICE SERIES has a guest capacity of 2,848 passengers. EDGE SERIES holds 2,918 guests Three ships in the Galapagos year-round. Next, we looked at all that is included with the Retreat! This is a ship within a ship! We took a deep dive looking at the Edge Series ships and the areas around the ship - including the dining venues and the bars. I love the Sunset Bar. You cannot beat a Sunset at Sea! My favorite time of day. . Finally, we took a look at Flights by Celebrity. This is, honestly, my cruise line to book the air with! You make choices. You are not stuck with what they assign you. It's all about the options with Celebrity cruise line!! If you want to learn more about Celebrity Cruise Line or any other cruise lines I have met with. Please get in touch with me at info@PlentyofSunshineTravel.com. You can also fill out this simple form https://bit.ly/3mxFUNd, and I will get back to you. . Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to ensure you catch all upcoming cruise videos. . If you want to see the images on this week's episode, click HERE to see our YouTube Channel. . Search #PlentyofSunshineTravel on Facebook or Instagram to see our posts. . . . #celebrity #travelagent #CruiseSpecialist #Cruise #CruiseGuru #TravelAgent #canadiantravelagent

Ready to discover how the world of travel and hospitality is being revolutionized by cutting-edge technology? Join us in an enlightening conversation with our special guest, Shane O'Flaherty, Microsoft's Global Director of Travel, Transportation, and Hospitality. Shane brings a wealth of experience, including his time at the helm of Forbes Travel Guide, and he offers valuable insights into the role of AI in personalizing the customer journey and empowering employees to work more efficiently.Together, we explore the transformative impact of technology on the airline and hotel industries, emphasizing the importance of digitizing workflows and harnessing data for informed decision-making. Shane shares how Microsoft's products and services are future-proofing businesses with the help of AI-driven insights and decentralized ID. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true expert in the hospitality and travel sector and elevate your understanding of how technology is shaping the future of these industries.What did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

This week Melissa is joined by world-renowned tourism visionary and CEO of Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Gate ‍Development Authority, Jerry Inzerillo, about his work to transform Diriyah, which is considered the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, into one of the world's top international destinations by 2030. Previously the Vice Chairman of Forbes Travel Guide and awarded the prestigious “Tourism for Peace” award, Jerry is a travel industry veteran who launched Atlantis in the Bahamas and Dubai, as well as Sun City in South Africa. He is one of the principal leaders in Saudi shaping the seismic shift of the country as it moves away from its dependence on oil and expands into other industries, principally tourism.Diriyah is a massive multi-billion dollar project, considered to be one of the most ambitious projects of this century.  At Diriyah, Jerry and his team are literally building a city from scratch and transforming it into an urban oasis with sporting and wellness facilities, cultural and educational centers, and resorts.Melissa and Jerry discuss the rapid transformation of Saudi Arabia, the changes they've witnessed in only the last few years, and the drastic impact tourism is having on the country. Jerry gives an inside look at how history is being made in Saudi and his hopes and plans for the future of Diriyah. Plus, Melissa speaks with Indagare Productions Director, Kathryn Nathanson - who visited Saudi Arabia with her in the fall of 2022 - about the idea of traveling to the Kingdom today. They'll discuss their personal experiences in the country and provide important information to better help travelers understand Saudi Arabia.

In the last year, The Restaurant at JUSTIN Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles has received massive accolades, including a Michelin star and a five-star recognition in Forbes Travel Guide's 2023 Star Awards. Such are the results of the culinary team's efforts, spearheaded by Chef Rachel Haggstrom. A native of Temecula, Rachel knew she wanted to cook when she first read about Chef Thomas Keller in high school. Little did she know she'd wind up working in his kitchen at The French Laundry a handful of years later. We chatted about the precision of plucking leaves, quiet kitchens, and IKEA efficiency.   Website: justinwine.com Instagram: @justinwine

My guest today is Chef André Natera. With a 27-year culinary career, André Natera has cooked with Michelin-starred chefs and received numerous awards from Dallas and Austin media. Most recently, the Culinary Director and Executive Chef of Forbes Travel Guide's largest four-star hotel in the world, Fairmont Austin, where he oversaw the culinary program including the only four-star restaurant in Austin, Texas rated by Forbes Travel Guide, Garrison. He now devotes himself to mentoring the next generation of culinary leaders through his work with Chef's PSA. André makes his expertise accessible through the popular podcast Chef's PSA and also the host of “Run the Pass” and the online class “Leading Like an Executive Chef”.  His  Chef's PSA book series is designed to be comical yet helpful for new cooks and chefs in the kitchen who may not know the ins and outs just yet. Natera has worked with and been a member of prestigious organizations such as The James Beard Foundation Awards Committee, ment'or BKB, Texas Food and Wine Alliance, and the Epicurean World Master Chef Society. In this episode we chat about recipe writing using the AI system ChatGPT, how this will affect chefs and restaurant owners, predictions for AI integration into the food world and much more! Check out his work at chefspsa.com and follow him on Instagram @chefspsa Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for this podcast at linecookthoughts.com

As a child, travel journalist Mark Chesnut often dodged discomfort by hopping on the nearest plane, train or bus. Raised by a single mother in New York State and navigating the world as a young gay boy in the 1970s, he is the first to admit that he often turned to travel as both a physical — and figurative — escape.  From creating imaginary airlines to “gate raiding” at local airports and posing as a female travel agent to get free airplane posters, Chesnut has long used his enthusiasm about travel to tap into his creativity — a skill that he puts to daily use while working as an award-winning freelance travel writer for publications such as HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post), Forbes Travel Guide, Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, among others.   In this episode of Humans of Travel, Chesnut takes listeners along on his journey toward radical self-acceptance. He describes the challenges of coming out to his traditional-but-supportive mother, his transformative trips across the globe and how, through persistence, he was able to turn his passions into a career. We'll also hear about how Chesnut's role as a travel writer has shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he has dealt with the rise of “travel shaming.”   Note: Chesnut's memoir, tentatively titled “Prepare for Departure: A Travel Writer's Notes on Life, Death and Growing Up Different,” will be published by Vine Leaves Press. It will be available for pre-order in May 2022.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Instagram: @mundera   Twitter: @MunderaMedia  Latin Flyer Travel Blog: LatinFlyer.com   Youtube: YouTube.com/LatinFlyerTV  ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Determined to help others in the community avoid the pain and loss he felt, Josiah Citrin speaks candidly about what the loss of his son Augie about the painful loss of his son, Augie as a result of fentanyl poisoning. Like so many who believe they are using a familiar substance, Augie died tragically when he was poisoned by the counterfeit narcotic.  Josiah Citin Background:  Josiah Citrin is a culinary expert and veteran of Los Angeles's gourmet dining scene, with more than 25 years of experience. He is a two-star Michelin chef and owner of Santa Monica's highly-acclaimed Mélisse, Charcoal Venice, and Dave's Doghouse at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles and Indian Wells Tennis Garden. His culinary philosophy, “In Pursuit of Excellence” sets the standard for all of his concepts, whether fine-dining or casual.Citrin discovered his passion for food through his family at an early age, growing up in Santa Monica and Venice with a mother who was a caterer, and a French grandmother who cooked family meals. Their knowledge, combined with his excitement for cooking and business, led him to pursue a culinary career. Citrin moved to Paris to explore his French heritage after graduating from Santa Monica High School, and worked for three years at fine Parisian restaurants Vivarois and La Poste, gaining an understanding of and respect for the rules of traditional French cooking.This invaluable experience taught him both the art and discipline of cooking and fine dining, and formed the definitive basis of his training.  He returned to the United States in 1990 and began applying his skills at Los Angeles' finest restaurants—notably Wolfgang Puck's celebrated Chinois on Main and then at Granita.  After two years, Josiah moved on to join Patina and Pinot Bistro and cooked alongside famed chef and savvy restaurateur Joachim Splichal. Citrin subsequently became chef at Capri restaurant in Venice and Jackson's in West Hollywood. With a heightened interest in French gastronomy and a spirit for entrepreneurship, Citrin launched JiRaffe in 1996 alongside childhood friend and fellow chef Raphael Lunetta. Selling his interest to JiRaffe to Lunetta in 1999, Citrin pursued his lifelong dream of opening his own fine dining establishment by debuting Mélisse which opened to critical acclaim and has been impressing the culinary world ever since.  Citrin's honors include: Two Stars from Michelin Guide (2007, 2008, 2021), #1 for Top Food in Los Angeles and #1 American-French Restaurant for Food in Los Angeles by Zagat (2013, 2014), “Best Wine List” by LA Weekly (2015), “Top 100 Restaurants in the World” by Elite Traveler (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Five Stars by Forbes Travel Guide (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), “Top Ten New Chefs” by Food & Wine magazine (1997), and “Best Chefs of the Year” by Los Angeles magazine (2012).

In today's episode, we speak again with the world-renowned Curtis Duffy, a Michelin-starred chef and owner of Ever restaurant in Chicago. Some of Curtis's many achievements include earning three Michelin stars at his former restaurant, Grace, as well as earning two Michelin stars at Avenues in the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago, IL. He also received Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star rating, AAA's Five-Diamond rating, and the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef, Great Lakes Award in 2016.As a member of the prestigious Disciples d'Escoffier International, Curtis focuses on leading teams to a greater vision—all by harnessing camaraderie and competition. More recently, he was a challenger chef on Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Listen as Curtis talks about how he prepared for the Iron Chef competition, the food scene in  Chicago, and how to build a family culture in the kitchen. 

KOPU strives to deliver the best tasting water in the world while minimizing impact on the Earth.The Miami Guide sat down with Mindy Mahy founder of The KOPU Water Company, to talk about how she and her husband launched KOPU, building a brand founded on love and respect for the planet and each other.Interview Notes:- What inspired you to start KOPU?- Why did you choose Oregon?- Why is sustainability so important for your brand?- Why aluminum? recycle reusable?- How dit the partnership with Forbes Travel Guide come about.- What can we expect from you in the future?- Where can listeners learn more about you?Quotes from the interview:You can not be luxury if you don't take sustainability into accountAs consumer values shift with climate change and mindfulness of environmental impact, KOPU Water uniquely bridges luxury and sustainability by harmonizing with the health of guests and diners as well as the Earth.  KOPU spring water is exceptionally smooth in taste and naturally alkaline with a pH of 8.0. KOPU Sparkling water has award-winning fine champagne-like bubbles that elegantly hydrate. Body-fortifying minerals include calcium, magnesium and potassium as well as naturally occurring silica, which is known as the “beauty mineral” and is a building block of collagen. The company exclusively packages within beautiful, lightweight aluminum bottles. Due to the value and ease of recycling aluminum, 75% of all aluminum ever created is still in use today. Recycled KOPU bottles will re-emerge on average within 60 days and be reformed into electric cars, airplane frames or beverage cans and bottles. KOPU is a thoughtful alternative to imported bottled water brands and is exclusively sold within fine dining restaurants and other dining venues within luxury hotels.  Podcast show notes available here:https://themiamiguide.com/show22Follow KOPU Waterhttps://kopuwater.com/https://www.instagram.com/kopuwater/Follow The Miami Guide:https://themiamiguide.com/

Erika has over 18 years of hospitality experience with high-profile brands including The Walt Disney Company, Marriott International, and Forbes Travel Guide, the global rating star system for luxury hotels, restaurants & spas. Her expertise is in luxury standards training and leadership development, operations management, quality assurance, and guest experience. Some of the luxury properties clients are The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Four Seasons, Wynn, Encore, Nobu, Montage, Auberge, Edition. 

Today's podcast guest is Cameron Lee. A viral influencer with MILLIONS OF LIKES. He has had the unusual ability, even from a young age, to know himself and the environment required to be in for maximum success and happiness. As a child moving to the US from Taiwan and not knowing English, he told his parents, "I need to be in the class that challenges me in order to learn quicker." He continues with this self knowledge as an entrepreneur creating his own luxury travel marketing/public relations brand. He helps travel destinations and services through his brand partnerships. We discuss: -Creating an influencer business when other brand partners weren't delivering, with a focus on the customer. He delivers what his clients need, not what he wants to share. -Doing what "Most People Don't" by reaching out during his internship to marketing executives sharing his ideas, instead of being satisfied with getting coffee and donuts for the staff. -His efforts to help increase awareness for Asian actors. -Providing ideas for aspirational travelers and to encourage everyone to follow their dreams Cameron has been profiled by The Washington Post as “One of the travel influencers changing the way we see the world.” As a creator, he has spoken on a panel hosted by Facebook on the state of travel and diversity in travel advertising. He is a frequency speaker at Pepperdine Business School and has been a keynote speaker at Pinterest on how to leverage social media as a branding tool for individuals and brands. Prior to becoming a content creator, Cameron worked in PR/Marketing for over 10 years in fashion, entertainment, and hospitality. Cameron combined his passion for travel with his professional background and launched his social media platform. Focused on luxury lifestyle and travel, Cameron creates visual stories taking his audience on a visual journey of the best in life and travel. He has been interviewed by Business Insider, Parade Magazine, Out Traveler, and his photos have been featured by CNN Travel, Forbes Travel Guide and many other travel platforms. More can be found at: https://outwithcameron.com https://www.instagram.com/thecameronlee/ TikTok: @thecameronlee

In this episode we are speaking with Michael Conte, Director of Spa and Wellness, at Meadowood Napa Valley. He has worked with Resort Spas that are Forbes Travel Guide 5 Star rated as well as serving on the Forbes Travel Guide Standards Advisory Board. Whether you are an esthetic student, an aspiring luxury resort employee, a sole practitioner or a spa owner/director you will learn how to provide 5 Star Service for your brand.

In this episode, Shellee and Sharael discuss:The pressure of getting into outstanding colleges Not knowing where to start in getting into collegeHaving a strong college application resumeSupporting your child's decision Key Takeaways:Matching their hobbies or activities to what they think an outstanding college is seeking is already a lot of pressure on kids, that is why parents should also take a breath and consider what their child really wants. Work with people who are knowledgeable in getting your child college ready and who have concrete plans that you could follow step by step. Someone they could go to for advice and who gives them a clear and easy plan to navigate the admissions process.Having a strong college application resume can boost your chances of getting accepted into your preferred college or university.Let your child grow on his/her own. You may have doubts and concerns about their preferences but at the end of the day, the choice is still up to them and your respect and support on their decision creates a big impact in their life.   “Just follow your heart. I know it sounds cliche, but you know, doing what you are passionate about…I think as a parent, it really is important also to do what you love, and be an inspiration for your children and showing them that you can be successful, and you can be a great parent.” – Sharael Kolberg  About Sharael Kolberg: Sharael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Hawaii. She has been passionate about travel and writing for more than 20 years and loves to entertain, educate and inspire people to see the world through writing for various outlets, and exploring different places that bring a new sense of wonder to herself and others who read her writing. Her work has been published in various magazines, newspapers, and websites, including Outside magazine, Sunset magazine, Forbes Travel Guide, Orbits, Travelocity and many more. She is also the founder of the travel blog FamilyTravelChannel.com.She is a breast cancer survivor, has done several events and fundraisers for Susan G. Komen, and continues to advocate for breast cancer awareness.She and her daughter have been part of the College Ready Plan and is sharing her story of preparing her child for college. Connect with Sharael Kolberg:Website: www.sharael.comEmail: sharaelkolberg@gmail.comFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/familytravelchannelTwitter: www.twitter.com/sharaelkolbergLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharaelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/familytravelchannel/  Connect with Shellee Howard:Website:  https://collegereadyplan.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_WodPHDfSWEbiPdsRDbyQTwitter: https://twitter.com/gocollegereadyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-ready/Email: shellee@collegereadyplan.com  

Host Kyle Anderson speaks with Senior Vice President, Forbes Travel Guide, The Americas Jennifer Lodge as part of our Next Level Casino Careers interview series.

A man riding a scooter has died after being hit by a car overnight on East 7th Street between Allen Street and Springdale Lane. Texas energy officials expect cryptocurrency mining to require as much as 6 gigawatts of electricity by this time next year - that's enough to power the entire city of Houston. Coming price hikes from Austin Energy will impact low-income and low-use customers hardest, some will see increases over 80%. Three Austin hospitality properties have made the exclusive 2022 Star Awards list from Forbes Travel Guide - the Garrison, Fairmont and Four Seasons hotels make the cut at the four-star level. Austin FC takes a three-game winning streak on the road this weekend, they face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday - Austin trails only Los Angeles FC in the MLS Western Conference, and by only two points. #10 ranked Texas Longhorns Baseball faces #8 Oklahoma State at home in a three game Big 12 series starting Friday. Austin's newest pro sporting franchise, the PBR bull-riding team the Austin Gamblers, hosted a public greeting event at Republic Square Park yesterday - they'll hold the first sporting event at the new Moody Center in August. Don't forget - early voting ends on Sunday for the May 7 election, including several state constitutional amendments and Prop A, which if passed would formally ban arrests in Austin for personal marijuana possession. Polls are open today and Saturday from 7am to 7pm and in Travis County, you can vote Sunday too from noon to 6.

Jerry Inzerillo has just by named HOTELS 2021 CORPORATE HOTELIER OF THE WORLD. He is a genuine and sincere man whose career started in Brooklyn at age 13 when the kindness of a Judge's scribble (indicating his birth date), allowed him to begin work. Work as a busboy was more festive than his daily life. He was able to "go to parties and get paid for it". Growing up was "more struggle than victory" yet had the love and founding principles of his parents. The 2nd of 5 kids. Now in his life he is able to exhale, and do things noble and items that he wants to do. He is about serving not proving now. In his career, he has found success through working harder and being more sincere than his competition. He never forgets to remember a kindness and continues to serve as a derivative of good deeds and intentions. Congratulatons Jerry on an outstanding life and career! Inzerillo has developed and operated some of the world's most famous and successful lifestyle brands in tourism and entertainment. In June 2018, he was appointed by HRH The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be the first CEO of the newly created Diriyah Gate Development Authority. The authority will turn the UNESCO site of the first Saudi state into one of the world's great gathering places. Upon completion, the $20 Billion USD development will add 27 Billion Saudi Riyals to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's GDP, and provide 55,000 job opportunities. The development will be home to a population of 100,000 people, and will aim to attract 27 million visitors annually. As CEO of Forbes Travel Guide from 2014 to 2018, he was successful in the globalization from the company's North American origins to more than 100 countries worldwide. Previously, his leadership led to the conceptual success of breakout brands such as Atlantis, One&Only Resorts, Ian Schrager Hotels, Four Seasons and Hilton Hotels. Inzerillo was president/CEO of IMG Artists, the leader in artist management, performing arts and lifestyle events planning from 2012 to 2014. Inzerillo is the recipient of a host of awards and distinctions, including a cameo role in the James Bond film, ‘Casino Royale' in addition to being featured on the front cover of Forbes magazine. Jerry Inzerillo is married to former CNN anchor Prudence Solomon. Their daughter, Helena Zakade Inzerillo, was named by her Godfather, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela. Inzerillo resides in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and New York City.