I hope this winter’s weather didn’t disrupt your travel plans too much. Severe snow and deep freezes made travel difficult across the eastern United States, and many regions experienced nearly shut-down conditions. Fortunately, our Business Travel Symposium took place the week before a near-record snowstorm and bitter cold hit Philadelphia. My thanks to our sponsors, IHG Business Edge and TAP Air Portugal, for supporting the event and enriching the panel discussion.
Be sure to read the recap on page 34 of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards gala, held Dec. 17 at Loews Coral Gables Hotel. That memorable evening celebrated excellence in travel across airlines, destinations, hotels and wines. Honorees flew in from the United States and around the world — the most distant attendees came from Serbia and Korea — to accept awards chosen by our readers. Join me in congratulating the winners and recognizing the outstanding service and experiences they provide.
Looking ahead, we will present our Leisure Lifestyle Awards for the second year in a row at InterContinental Miami on April 20. This year’s slate includes both new honorees and familiar favorites. Please join us as we recognize the cruise lines, destinations and resorts that deliver exceptional leisure travel experiences and take great care of their guests.
Golfing at The Island Golf Club in Ireland © Francis X. Gallagher
Enjoy the final installment of my golf reviews from Ireland. Over the past six months I’ve reviewed each course we played — Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Baltray, Royal Dublin — concluding with The Island Golf Club in this issue. As I noted in every review, we were fortunate to enjoy consistently clear, sunny weather throughout the trip — or, as the Irish put it, “bright” and “grand.” If you’re considering a golf trip to Ireland, I recommend contacting Conn Connolly, owner of Real Irish Golf. Conn crafts tailored itineraries that include tee times, caddies, drivers and hotel arrangements, managing every detail from airport pickup to departure to make the trip seamless.
This year our annual golf trip returns to Kiawah Island. For years we had grouped at Myrtle Beach, but over time the quality of accommodations, courses and restaurants no longer met our standards. I’ll share more about Kiawah and other highlights in the next issue, which will also feature the full list of Leisure Lifestyle Award winners.