More Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Traveler

It's getting down to the wire. If you are still searching for that perfect gift for the jet setter on your shopping list, here are a few original ideas. For more information, here I am on WJLA-TV in Washington describing the goods.

The AquaVault

It's happened to all of us. You're at the beach and you want to take a dip. But you have your car keys, and your iPhone, and other valuables to boot. What's a flip flop-clad gal/guy to do? Well, if she/he has an AquaVault, stuff can be safely stored in a lockbox while you hit the waves.

The AquaVault is basically a safe that attaches to a beach chair, a beach umbrella or other fixed objects. If it sounds familiar,  that's because it guest-starred on Shark Tank earlier this year. Sharp Shark Daymond John invested. If you want to invest in one, it's available on Amazon.com for $49.99. 

MeCam

The MeCam is the mini-me of GoPro and its ilk. Weighing in at one ounce and two inches in diameter, the MeCam takes pictures while being pinned to clothing or a backpack. The device can even shoot in low light.  This very 007 item is priced at $69.99. 


Alphaheat Battery Powered Heated Mittens

Alphaheat Mittens keep your mitts warm on the ski slopes or in a dog sled! Powered by an AA battery pack, these one-size-fits-most hand warmers can heat up to 120 degrees and can hold the charge for up to eight hours. They are available from The Warming Store for $49.99.







Bombata Bags

There are hundreds of cases available for iPads and laptops. But if  the jet setter on your list is the stylish short, a Bombata Bag might be the bomb. The Italian-designed line features leather-like vinyl in colors ranging from hot pink and lime green to more muted hues of blue, yellow and red. The MicroTablet briefcase goes for $55, while the Maxi bags start at $75.

Doppio Maxi Bombata Bag for 17 inch laptop

NapAnywhere

NapAnywhere is a new twist on the old neck rest.  In fact, it was a winner of the 2014 Product Innovation Award at the International Travel Goods Show. If you literally feel like nodding off, this flexible wedge can be molded to fit between the side of your head and your shoulder. It's held in place while you nod off with a strap that adjusts across your body. 

NapAnywhere costs $59.99 and comes in a range of colors, including hot pink, lime, cobalt, crimson and basic black.

Cloudz On-Hand Pillow

Cloudz hands travelers yet another take on the travel pillow. The On-Hand Pillow actually has multiple uses. You can stick your paw inside and cradle your head comfortably while sitting in the window seat. Or you can stick it behind the back for lumbar support.  The outer shell is super-cozy, while the inside, filled with microbeads, blends support and softness. It's available on Amazon for $15.99. 

Weego

How about a battery pack that not only charges your mobile devices, but your car as well? Weego is a pocket-size jump starter battery pack that can do it all. You can give juice to the main power pack at home or in your car (cables included), and then throw Weego in your glove compartment for those times when something in your car is in need of a charge. There's even a built-in flashlight. There are three Weego models, ranging in price from $99.99 to $289 (depending on type of engine you need to charge). Easy-to-follow-instruction are included, as are jumper cables. For the holidays, Weego is including an extra compact rechargeable battery pack with all purchases, a $19.99 value. For a store locator, visit www.myweego.com.

9 Things to Know About Martinique

1. Martinique is located in the Caribbean's Lower Antilles, between Dominica and St. Lucia.

2. No point on the island is more than 12 kilometers from the shore.

3. Ooh-la-la, it's French. Officially, Martinique is an overseas department of France.

4. Ooh-la-la, that means the locals speak mostly French, although Creole is also commonly spoken here. However, English is on the upswing, as the tourism bureau is encouraging more locals to learn English. 

5. That's because Martinique is suddenly receiving an influx of tourists from the United States. Cruise visits have jumped in the past few years, and this winter, East Coasters will be discovering the island big time.

6. That's because Norwegian Air is now flying non-stop flights from New York (JFK), Boston and Washington (the latter via BWI Airport) to Fort-de-France. Winter fares start as low as $79 one-way. That includes airfare and taxes, but you will pay extra for things like checked bags and water. Still....

7. The Euro is the currency here. And with the Euro almost on par with the dollar, that means Martinique, beyond the airfare, will be a bargain this winter.

8. Napoleon's main squeeze, Josephine, was born in Martinique. Folks here have mixed feelings about her, as this headless statue insinuates.

9. Local produce includes breadfruit, cacao, bananas, mango, sweet potato,guava, and passion fruit. Oh, and rum, if we can count rum as produce.

For more information, and awe-inspiring video, check out my most recent Let's Talk Live television segment.

More posts to follow soon.

The Gadget Guru: More Nifty Product for Travelers on the Go

Hope everyone caught my recent appearance on Great Day Washington. If not, here's the link. 

These are some of the innovative travel gadgets and gizmos we discussed. For more, see this post.

The AquaVault

It's happened to all of us. You're at the beach and you want to take a dip. But you have your car keys, and your iPhone, and other valuables to boot. What's a flip flop-clad gal/guy to do? Well, if she/he has an AquaVault, stuff can be safely stored in a lockbox while you hit the waves.

The AquaVault is basically a safe that attaches to a beach chair, a beach umbrella or other fixed objects. If it sounds familiar,  that's because it guest-starred on Shark Tank earlier this year. Sharp Shark Daymond John invested. If you want to invest in one, it's available on Amazon.com for $49.99. 

Knirp's Travel Umbrella

Umbrellas of a different sort are sold by Knirps. This X1 Pod is an umbrella that fits inside a sunglass case, making it easy to throw into a carry-on bag or even a purse. 

Where to Buy: For a store locator, go to www.knirps-usa.com.  List price is $49.95 

NapAnywhere

NapAnywhere is a new twist on the old neck rest.  In fact, it was a winner of the 2014 Product Innovation Award at the International Travel Goods Show. If you literally feel like nodding off, this flexible wedge can be molded to fit between the side of your head and your shoulder. It's held in place while you nod off with a strap that adjusts across your body. 

Where to Buy: www.napanywhere.net for $59.99. Colors include hot pink, lime, cobalt, crimson and black.

#TravelToppers

Greetings to all. Do you want travel advice from the pros? Do you have travel advice to share? Please join me as I host #TravelToppers on Thursday, December 3 at 1 PM Eastern Time/6 PM London Time on Twitter. The discussion this month focuses on Presents & Predictions.

I'm tweeting as @dailysuitcase

Here are the questions.

Presents:

1. What's the best gift to give your favorite traveler?

2. What's on your travel gift wish list?



3. Present at the airport without presents?  What do you purchase as last-minute gifts?

Predictions:

Q4: Which country or continent will see the largest tourism increases in 2016? Why?

A giraffe bellies up to a watering hole in Namibia

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site

Chile's Easter Island is one of the
most remote places on earth

Q5: What U.S. city will experience the largest tourism increases in 2016? Why?

San Francisco

Chicago

Q6: Which country will experience the largest decreases in tourism numbers in 2016? Why?

Istanbul, Turkey

Jerusalem, Israel

Paris, France

Beijing, China

Moscow, Russia

Q7: What will be the hottest tourism trend in 2016?

Tourism, Terrorism and Tactics for Travelers: Nine Tips

In the wake of the recent terror attacks in France, Mali, and to some extent, Lebanon, travelers are once again faced with the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" I have a rather unique perspective on this issue. In addition to covering travel for the likes of CNN and other national outlets for more than 20 years, I assisted the Travel Industry Association of America* (TIA) in media outreach after 9/11.

Much of the effort to get people traveling again was focused on the international market. At the time, the Internet, was not nearly as ubiquitous as it is today, and outlets like Twitter and Facebook, et al, did not even exist. Imagine that, Millennials.

Media messages, therefore, were mainly delivered via print and television. For international television outlets, I produced a video news release starring the President and Bill Marriott. The message--the USA was safe and open for business. I also wrote articles that were placed in international travel publications. For the domestic market, TIA tasked me with developing special See America travel supplements for USA Today. 

Three days after the recent attacks in Paris, I attended a media luncheon held in Washington, DC by Atout France, the country's tourism promotion arm. I was glad to see the event was not cancelled, as it sent a message that France was staying strong and carrying on. All travelers should follow suit. Yes, the U.S. State Department just put out a travel caution, but it really doesn't say anything new....and it certainly isn't very specific. For more on this, check out this op-ed from ETurboNews.

If you are considering a trip overseas, I would suggest the following:

1. Do check government websites for country-specific travel advisories and travel warnings. For Americans, the place to start is travel.us.gov.  At times, State Department travel advisories may be tinged by politics, so I suggest cross-checking. The Canadian government site is http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories, while the United Kingdom's advisories are housed at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. The Australian government's website, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx, may offer added insight into countries located in southeast Asia.

2. Do consider staying at a non-Western hotel chain....or one that doesn't advertise its chain affiliation on its sleeve. 

3. Do buy travel insurance. If you have to nix a trip due to terrorism, or are stuck in a place because of events, travel insurance policies often cover trip cancellation and expenses borne from delays in getting home, including extra hotel nights and added flight costs. This USA Today story offers more details.

4. Do be vigilant. Be extra-aware of your surroundings. Avoid political demonstrations and mass gatherings.

5. Do be aware of anniversaries of political and/or controversial events within a country.

6. Don't publicize your nationality  

7. Always have a hard copy of emergency contacts with you. Include in the contact list the address and phone number of your country's closest embassy or consulate.

8. More advice from MI5, the United Kingdom's noted security intelligence agency, is here. 

9. In offering this last piece of advice, I must serve up a cliche, thereby making an exception to my rule of avoiding trite and banal phraseology. Here goes: If you stop traveling, the terrorists win. So, go, go, go.


*TIA was the predecessor to the US Travel Association.

The Soft Sell: Hotels, Collections and You

Continuing my extensive coverage of developments in the lodging industry, here's a story about the new wave of hotel collections. So-called soft brands are a way for mega-hotel companies to incorporate some originality and individuality into the mix. This article appeared in the October issue of Lodging Magazine. 

The Soft Sell

Laura Powell And The Lodging Staff

THE INDEPENDENT HOTEL’S GUIDE TO SOFT BRANDS

More and more travelers today, especially the younger generation, prefer independent hotels with a touch of moxie to cookie-cutter alternatives. But as more hotels declare their independence, it can be increasingly difficult to get noticed in an ever-competitive landscape. Enter the concept of membership in a hotel collection.

Within the past few years, nearly every major hotel company has added a soft brand collection to its portfolio. Neil Cantor, head of the Choice Ascend Hotel Collection, points out that the scrum in the space is caused by "chains that want to be where the consumer is." From an owner's perspective, being part of a soft brand collection has a multitude of advantages, not the least of which are maintaining autonomy while increasing visibility and access to resources. Guneet Bajwa, managing principal of Presidio Companies, is working with Starwood's Luxury Collection on a soon-to-open resort in St. Helena, Calif. "Soft brands give owners the freedom to provide a unique experience without being boxed in by standards," he explains. Jay Patel, co-owner of Wintergreen Hospitality, says the entry of the Franklin Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C., into Hilton's Curio Collection, "gave us an immediate presence on a global landscape that you could only dream of on your own." That was because of the connection to strong global sales and marketing channels, prodigious guest loyalty programs, reservations and customer care systems, and revenue management and back-of-house processes.

Another benefit is easier access to financing, explains Jim Brady, developer and owner of The Press Hotel in Portland, Maine, which recently joined Marriott's Autograph Collection. "There's no question about it," Brady says. "Having the big red M is a very important factor to lenders. It's like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval."

Independent hotels can also gain access to the training programs offered by bigger brands, says Scott Sussman, the hotel and marketing director of The Peacock Inn in Princeton, N.J., an Ascend Hotel Collection member. "Learning is a big bonus of belonging to Ascend," Sussman says. "In addition to training, we can go to conventions and have the ability to network with other hoteliers and share best practices."

Then there's the matter of sheer buying power. The savings achieved through being part of a collection can be substantial. Aside from economies of scale in terms of guest supply and intranet purchasing, Sussman points out that affiliation with Choice's Ascend gives his hotel better negotiated rates with online travel agencies and lower credit card fees.

So, for the independent, it may seem the best of all worlds. But not all independents may be cut out for collection life. According to a number of owners, a fitting hotel should have a strong streak of personality and a unique presence in its market. Samuel Leizorek, managing partner of Las Alcobas Mexico City, which joined the Luxury Collection earlier this year, says being part of a soft brand requires the dedication of a hands-on owner. "Owners who might want this have to be highly involved in the day-to-day management of a property...people who retain the soul of an innkeeper and manage a property with great attention to details," Leizorek explains. Jon Cummins, president of Amerimar Enterprises, the management company for St. Ermin's Autograph Collection Hotel in London, agrees it's a proposition for an active owner. "You are responsible for creating and furthering your own individual brand and identity," he says.

For collection candidates, the next step is selecting the right brand. To achieve the right fit, Press Hotel's Brady says it's important to evaluate the local marketplace. "Look at the competitive landscape in your own backyard," he says. "Look at supply/demand dynamics in the market and make cost/benefit decisions based on that."

It's also important to peer into the future. If an owner is involved in buying and selling, length of contract might be a huge factor, says Scott Kucinski, vice president of operations and investor relations for Sotherly Hotels. "REITs, for example, may not want to be encumbered by lengthy and expensive franchise agreements, which can make a sale more difficult," he notes. Sotherly partnered with Preferred Hotels for its historic Georgian Terrace property in Atlanta because the brand offers a lower fee structure than many of the new collections and a shorter contract length, Kucinski explains.

Then there's that fee structure itself. Some collections take a set percentage of all revenue. Others base percentages only on room revenue. Rabin Ortiz, general manager of Copamarina Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, says he likes the fact that the BW Premier Collection takes its percentage "solely from reservations made through Best Western channels versus a straight revenue cut. In other words, we only pay for the business Best Western drives to us."

In the end, choosing a collection may also be about the company you keep. Richard T. Widman, president of Charming Inns, owner of Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, S.C., appreciates being part of a collection of hotels that have unique personalities yet share the same high standards. "What appeals to us as part of Small Luxury Hotels is that although the properties are very different, the level of quality and luxury across the brand is consistent," Widman says. "As the number one luxury hotel in our market, we want to be associated with similar properties around the world."

Trending: Millennial Hotels --5 New Brands to Watch

Here's my newest piece for the Orbitz blog. 

Noticed a slew of bright new hotel brands popping up all over the
 place lately? You can thank Millennials.

Big lodging chains are working hard to attract the younger 
generation with quirky, fresh brands such as Marriott’s Moxy, 
which appeared on the scene a few years back to appeal to 
“a sassy, determined, individualistic consumer.”  

Moxy, Milan

So what does this trend in Millennial hotels mean for your next 
stay? In many cases, you’ll find cozier guestrooms offset by 
well-appointed lobbies, perhaps suggesting the young ones spend 
more time in communal spaces instead of their rooms. Moxy’s
lobby, for one, will have an industrial chic vibe, featuring zones for
computing, caffeinating and conversation. Unisex bathrooms are 
planned for the lobby, too. A New Orleans Moxy is set to open in 
the  first quarter of 2016, making it the brand’s second location
after Milan, Italy.  

Hotel RL, Washington, DC

Meanwhile, Hotel RL is the hip brand coming from Spokane, 
Washington-based Red Lion Hotels. The public areas here feel 
more Pacific Northwest coffeehouse than chain hotel, and forget 
about a front desk—there isn’t one. Also are in short supply are the
buttoned up and blazered staffers you see at the big chains; instead
expect twenty-somethings hanging out in jeans, T-shirts and 
colorful, coiffed hair. Once you figure out who’s who, it’s easy
enough to settle in. The lobby features a barista bar, a live stage,
and a game room stacked with classic board games. Rooms are a
bit more conventional, with plush beds and large walk-in showers.
The first Hotel RL is now open in Baltimore, along with a second
one that opened in October in Washington, DC.

Even Hotel, New York, NY

Perhaps more fitster than hipster is EVEN. This IHG brand is all 
about wellness. Each guest gets an orange sport-top water bottle, 
which can be filled at filtered water stations on each floor. Even-numbered rooms (which, oddly enough, are the only rooms) contain fitness equipment ranging from exercise 
balls and resistance bands to yoga mats.  For a more extensive 
workout, each EVEN location has a hefty athletic studio on the 
main floor. When it comes time to grab some chow after hard 
workouts, the restaurant menu is packed with healthy nosh like 
quinoa and kale. EVENs are now open in Rockville, MD; Norwalk,
CT; and New York City.

Rendering of Best Western’s Vib in Valencia, Spain

Best Western and Hilton are both looking to debut fresh, youthful 
brands in 2016, as well. Vib—that’s pronounced vibe—is Best 
Western’s entry, featuring lobbies that do quadruple-duty as 
check-in area, bar/coffee lounge,  gaming center, and gathering 
space. A Zen Zone, located on a mezzanine cantilevered over the 
lobby, will be a public place where guests can work above it all. 
Here again, guestrooms will be smaller than your typical room, with
 space-saving features like platform beds with storage below.   

Canopy by Hilton is also trying to reinvent the concept of the lobby
with Canopy Central, a public area that will serve as a living room 
for guests and neighbors alike. It also will house a Transfer Refuge,
containing DIY luggage storage and changing areas with showers 
for travelers on the go. Free-ranging staffers, aka enthusiasts, will 
don oxford shirts and blue jeans. Rumor has it that some may even
sport Converse hightops in bright orange, the hotel brand’s
loud-and-proud signature color.