A Year of Major Moments: Highlights and Lessons Learned

The team has just returned from the sixth WhereverFamily Wherever Awards, hosted at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. It was a delight to revisit this landmark property, originally built to house the General Post Office. The building’s design is credited to Robert Mills, the architect behind notable structures across Philadelphia and Charleston and best known for the Washington Monument. We extend our thanks to Bill Hanley, Kimpton Monaco’s director of sales and marketing, and the entire staff for helping make the Wherever Awards a success. This year’s top winners included United Airlines and United MileagePlus, both recognized for stepping up to better serve traveling families.

Our next event will be held at The Union League of Philadelphia on June 27, where we will celebrate the winners of Global Traveler’s 11th Leisure Lifestyle Awards. These honors recognize the finest destinations, cruise lines, tour operators and other providers catering to luxury leisure travelers.

On Aug. 15, Trazee Travel will present the ninth annual Trazees at Aloft Dallas Downtown. That hotel, the first in the Aloft brand, is often cited as embodying the brand’s signature design. The Trazees coincide with the Global Business Travel Association’s annual convention, a key industry moment when new products and services are unveiled. Trazee Travel reaches a broad audience of travelers, especially those aged roughly 25 to 40, making the Trazees an influential celebration of emerging travel trends.

Finally, Global Traveler will mark the 20th anniversary of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards with a gala at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on Dec. 13. We look forward to exploring this elegant venue and its wide range of amenities, from fine dining and tennis to the Chuan Spa. We hope you’ll join us and make a long weekend of it at The Langham.

Enjoy your spring travels, and save me an aisle seat!

Francis X. Gallagher

Publisher and CEO