With an extraordinary command of tint and hue, nature paints the world in countless shades of green — from the brilliant tones of lily pads, spruce trees and jungles to the blue-green of Caribbean tidal pools and the subtle inner green of a cucumber. Those variations make for fine poetry about the natural world, but … Read more

The Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau has launched a new tourism initiative called Beverly Hills: City of WELLTH. Inspired by the ideas of wealth, health and wellness, the WELLTH campaign emphasizes a shift away from material pursuit toward a richer life focused on wellbeing, purpose and happiness. The program highlights five practical pillars visitors … Read more

Buyers should exercise caution. Following a report from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) about illegal ivory trafficking, Thailand is stepping up enforcement. Foreign visitors can be arrested if found carrying elephant tusks or ivory items, even when they believe their purchase was lawful. “You will be … Read more

Four of Vienna’s leading museums are preparing major new exhibitions for early 2014. At the Belvedere, Wien – Berlin examines the contrasting and shared currents between the Secession movements in Vienna and Berlin. The show highlights the psychological intensity of Viennese expressionism alongside the vigorous passion of German artists, featuring works by Albert Paris Gütersloh, … Read more

The familiar black taxis that cruise through London’s busy streets are being replaced by quiet, electric models. The city has mandated that all licensed London taxi drivers transition from internal-combustion vehicles to electric cabs; currently 34 electric taxis are in service and about 20 new electric cabs are being added each week. These vehicles represent … Read more

The global interactive fitness platform Peloton brings studio-style cycling and fitness classes into users’ homes and now into hotel gyms. Business and leisure travelers alike are discovering the convenience of a connected bike that streams live and on-demand classes, making it easy to keep up a training routine while away from home. Peloton’s new Hotel … Read more

Delta Air Lines will introduce four self-service bag drop machines at Minneapolis‑St. Paul Airport this summer. The airline becomes the first U.S. carrier to pilot a bag drop equipped with facial recognition technology. Delta says the biometric bag drop will verify traveler identities by matching customers to passport photos, helping speed the check‑in of hold … Read more

Club Med has opened Club Med Belek, a new resort on the Turkish Riviera. The property offers 443 guest rooms, each with a private balcony or terrace, plus 16 two-bedroom villas that include both indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and dedicated butler service. The resort’s amenities include eight swimming pools, four restaurants and bars, … Read more

For the second installment in my series about Jeju Island, Korea’s premier golf destination, I played Pinx Golf Club with my Korean friends Mr. Han, Mr. Kim and Mr. Koo. The course was designed by celebrated architect Ted Robinson, who created more than 160 courses during his career, including Robinson Ranch near Los Angeles and … Read more

It has been a busy summer filled with vacations and business travel. I wrapped up the season with a trip to Dallas for the Global Business Travel Association convention, following a productive meeting in Chicago with Chicago O’Hare International Airport and United MileagePlus. © Francis Gallagher After Chicago, I tested the summer warmth with a … Read more