Many readers tell me they enjoy Global Traveler in favorite airline lounges, at home, or while on the road. This summer’s travel patterns have shifted: instead of crowding local beaches, many travelers are returning to cities and international destinations. That change has hit some coastal towns hard—places like Tybee Island, Georgia; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; and Florida’s Panhandle have seen vacation rental bookings fall by an estimated 10–20 percent. Travelers who once favored nearby shores are now rediscovering European cities, Asia, and South America as they resume long-planned bucket-list journeys.
Global Traveler recently completed its annual Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) audit. Over several months we reviewed subscription records, printed invoices, newsstand sales, and airline lounge and postal receipts. That verification helps us confirm circulation numbers and identify the best audiences and distribution channels for our content. We are also expanding our digital edition and app to increase reach in key lounges such as Air Canada Maple Leaf, Etihad, Emirates, and British Airways.
This month our team attended the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) 2023 Convention in Dallas. In partnership with GBTA, we distributed Global Traveler to every delegate before and throughout the event. Eight members of our staff, including myself, engaged with planners and attendees across the convention, and the response was excellent. Our cocktail reception at Aloft Dallas Downtown—where we presented The Trazees and Global Traveler’s annual Industry Leader Awards—was particularly well received and provided a great opportunity to connect with the industry.
I’ll end the month with a trip to Sarasota, Florida, to enjoy the Gulf of Mexico, local restaurants, and museums.
To celebrate my birthday, I booked a cruise on AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna and turned it into a Global Traveler-hosted voyage. A limited number of cabins remain available, and we’re planning an onboard pickleball tournament. I’m excited to fly Air France business class from New York’s JFK to Paris, then connect onward to Prague to begin the cruise. I hope you’ll consider joining this special trip.
Best regards, and enjoy the rest of the summer!
Francis X. Gallagher, Publisher and CEO