Joyful Reunions
As we worked on this issue, the Peaches & Herb song “Reunited” was on loop in my head: “Reunited and it feels so good …”. Turn to page 36 and you’ll get more context. In this issue we recap our fabulous August 2021 event in Washington, D.C., that celebrated the winners of Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards, trazeetravel.com’s The Trazees and whereverfamily. com’s Wherever Awards. For Fxexpress Publications, Inc., this was our first in-person awards event since December 2019 and, especially since experiencing all the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, believe me when I say it felt so good to be reunited! Once again, the greats of the travel industry could safely gather together for a night of celebration in honor of our beloved travel industry.
Similarly, it also felt great to travel again with some of my editorial counterparts, as evidenced by the smiles on my face and those of Katie Skrzek, vice president/ digital director, and Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator, as we headed to dinner together for the first time in quite a while on that balmy August evening in our nation’s capital. We enjoyed a meal at the same spot as many of D.C.’S elite, past and present, at Bistro Bis at Kimpton George Hotel. Learn more about the long-time favorite of Capitol Hill on page
30. I strongly recommend both Kimpton George and Kimpton Monaco Washington DC, the host venue for our event, for your next visit to D.C.
We’re currently gearing up for a few more in-person events and soirees, one of them being the annual
Global Business Travel Association’s convention. I spoke further with GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang in this issue (see page 24). She highlights the importance of restarting business travel but doing so safely. And I join Suzanne and Jeffrey Goh, CEO, Star Alliance, the subject of our other interview this month, in championing the recent decision to re-open U.S. borders to vaccinated travelers from other countries this month. As you read this issue, that new policy will be in effect, and we couldn’t be happier to say, “Welcome back!” and “We can’t wait to see you!” to our friends from around the globe. GBTA will be held in Orlando, Florida, this year; take a look at the meeting and event offerings in the city on page 58.
In this issue we also jet off to Lisbon; Abu Dhabi; Busan; Casablanca; British Virgin Islands; Antarctica; the Greek Isles; Croatia; and, closer to home, Louisville, Kentucky; and Long Beach, California. Join us next month as we announce the winners of our GT Tested Reader Survey awards! It’s hard to believe we’re approaching 2022, and we’re already hard at work planning content to bring you next year. Until then, keep enjoying the safe and happy reunions in your life — be it with loved ones, favorite destinations, old hobbies or a brand-new adventure.