Design Destinations Magazine February 2021 Issue

February 2021

RYAN FORBES On Location

TELL YOUR STORY Through your Brand

KIEV

The Majestic City

ANTARCTICA

The Last Frontier

LADIES TRIP

How Women are Traveling Today 1

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LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR & FOUNDER In 2020 our world was turned upside down. And traveling was put on hold with no indication as to how long it would last. We soon started to immerse ourselves in daily zoom meetings and started doing projects that were once only on the "to do one-day" list. We watched almost every TV series available on Netflix, every movie, and sometimes even shows that we would have never considered before. We felt isolated, distant from our family and friends, and started to wonder if this was ever going to be over.

Then the miracle vaccine was released, and slowly people began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are not off the hook yet, and traveling is still very restricted, but we are now beginning to hope that soon we will be able to travel like before. I miss getting the feeling of anticipation before you take a trip, the challenge of going through airport security and boarding a plane. Now I have a list of places I will try to go first, and one of them is seeing my daughter who lives in New York more often. And of course, going to those places that make me feel at home. I know my name will be called one day, and I will finally get the vaccine, and soon after, my traveling will begin again In Design Destinations Magazine, we are featuring two new contributors, Ryan Forbes, a magnificent hospitality photographer, and Nader Safinya, a Branding expert. Both provide us with insight into their field.

We spot Ryan on location as he photographs Origins Lodge in Costa Rica Nader gives us an exciting insight on the importance of Branding. We also feature Alicia Diez with a beautiful article on Antarctica and Malorie Mackey in an article about how woman are expected to travel in 2021.

We are featuring Kiev in the Ukraine and Antartica; we are also featuring a beautiful bird who lives in the highlands of Central America and in Alicia’s Corner we are highlighting companies whose products support our environment.

I hope you enjoy this issue and do let us know your thoughts. We love to hear from you.

Franz E. Buchhalter Editor-in-Chief & Founder

DESIGN DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER FRANZ E BUCHHALTER MANAGING EDITOR CYNTHIA P. HOWLAND CONTACT: BUCHHALTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. 9121 SW 140TH STREET MIAMI, FL 33176 305 254 2128 INFO@BUCHHALTERIG.COM

Cover: Ryan Forbes for Avablu Origins Lodge Costa Rica

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CONTRIBUTORS “I discovered the beauty of photography at the age of 13 when my father, an Art Director, gifted me with his old camera. As my passion for photography grew, I found inspiration from the pages of my father’s photography and art books, along with my mother’s interior design, food and travel magazines. I would spend hours poring over them, getting lost in the imagery and visual story telling…which eventually led me to pursue a photography career in the hospitality/travel world. This has become and amazing and endless adventure!

After graduating from Hallmark Institute of Photography, I began my journey as a professional photographer traveling around the world photographing amazing people, food, architecture and gorgeous landscapes…which inspired the creation of the hospitality-focused photography company, AVABLU. No matter the subject I am photographing, I always strive to infuse my unique and creative perspective in the image in hopes the viewer will feel some of the very essence of what I’m experiencing. I love what I do and the people I meet in my work. I look forward to continuing this journey and making many more memories and friends along the way”.

AVABLUE.com RYAN FORBES - PHOTOGRAPHER

“I have always been passionate about travel for its potential to establish connections with people and places around the world; to educate people of the value of other cultures and history; for witnessing the marvels created centuries and millennia past; and of sampling cuisines from around the world. It is important to me to instill the passion of being a traveler or voyager, and not just a tourist. Finding an appreciation and respect for new people and places, and not as point of comparison, matters a great deal to me.

Travel and capturing moments with my constant travel companion, my camera, had always been part of my DNA long before I started my wonderful 30-year career of fulfilling travel dreams for clients to exciting and exotic lands. I certainly plan to continue traveling with my camera at my side, sharing those images with the hope of continuing to promote destinations and experiences while raising awareness of the importance of respectful and mindful travel so we can keep the earth safe”. @_aliciatravels ALICIA C. DIEZ - TRAVEL WRITER

“Branding has always excited me because I believe it represents the true soul of a business—it is the heart with which people relate to. And ever since I was a kid, I have been sensitive to the notion of hospitality and exceptional customer service and experience which led me to found Blackribbit, a branding agency specializing in boutique hotels.

With a background in graphic design and over fifteen years in the marketing field, I use design thinking to approach challenges and reach audiences through the power of storytelling. Having grown up around the globe, I developed an ability to identify the essence of a brand and relate with people by asking the right questions and focus not only on practical connections but emotional ones as well. I am driven by quality in simplicity, and I take great pride in offering easy-to-use, accessible solutions to complex problems and leaving a team feeling relief, confidence and determination in their business”. In addition to my commitment to the work, I try to maintain my collaborative efforts with humor, empathy and guidance”.

Find him online at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadersafinya or blackribbit.com NADER SAFINYA - BRANDING EXPERT

“As a born adventure lover, I was destined to be a travel writer and host. After graduating with a BFA in performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, I moved to Los Angeles, California where I began acting, writing, and hosting professionally. Through industry connections, I became the managing editor at VIVA GLAM Magazine and Fashionisers.com, a position I still hold with pride today. These opportunities quickly showed me just how strong my passion for writing was. In 2017, I published the memoir “My Playboy Story: Hopping from Richmond to Hollywood” and in 2018, my short story entitled “What Love Has Taught Me” was published in the anthology “Choices”. My work has been published in dozens of print and digital media platforms, leading me to start my own travel blog at www.maloriesadventures.com. Throughout my adventures in Los Angeles, I have traveled to dozens of countries for either work or play, which inspired my unique travel and adventure show entitled Weird World Adventures which streams on VIDI Space. As I continue my journeys in the world of travel, I think it’s important to encourage everyone to have a little adventure in their lives”.

MALORIE MACKEY - WRITER, ACTRESS

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ON LOCATION WITH

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PREPARING THE PERFECT SHOT “Once I arrive at a location, I scout the property and go over the shot list to decide on the best time of day and angle to photograph each shot. Once I know what time of day is ideal for each of the photos, I make a rough schedule for all shoot days. The stylist is the first onset to arrange, prop, steam/iron, and make everything photo-ready as my assistant and I set up the camera and lighting equipment (they also prep the models for the lifestyle shots).

During the shoot, if the weather cooperates, the shots usually go as envisioned; however, Mother Nature sometimes has different plans. It is essential to be flexible and pivot quickly with rearranging the schedule, or in some cases, finding another solution to capture the shot. For this shoot of Origins Lodge in Costa Rica, we frequently changed our shot list as the weather changed almost hourly. It really kept us on our feet and pushed us mentally and physically, but in the end, we got the shots (sometimes a little post-production magic helped).

The excitement of being on location and not truly knowing what you will end up capturing is such a thrilling feeling. We love the challenges that each photoshoot brings and look forward to all the new adventures to come!”

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ANTARCTICA

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THE LAST FRONTIER

Photos & Text By Alicia C. Diez

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A fascination from the time I was a child as I watched travel documentaries to an adult planning travel for clients, I hoped one day to visit Antarctica, which was to be the holy grail of destinations. Imagine the excitement of discovering the opportunity to travel to that sacred place!

Mention Antarctica, and images of a desolate land of vast expanses of snow and ice, and penguins with subzero temperatures spring to mind. Describing Antarctica's continent is always a list of superlatives: coldest, driest, windiest, iciest, southernmost.

As a firm believer in visiting destinations during the off-season, this is not the case for Antarctica! Off season would be the coldest months on the coldest continent - mean temperatures of −4 to −22 °F (−20 to −30 °C), and snowfalls recorded as much as 48 inches in a 48-hour period and the sun hovers only just over the horizon for months. My advice - stick to peak season, November to March!

Those who have traveled to Antarctica talk about the infamous Drake Passage, a 600-mile stretch of water where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, forming the roughest sea passage in the world! The crew referred to this sea passage as the Drake Passage, Drake Shake, or Drake Lake, depending on the swells' magnitude, which in some cases can reach up to 40 feet. As a lover of movement, I was not worried about those huge swells that one encounters on the trip to the frozen continent. Although we experienced Drake Lake, many of my fellow passengers were noticeably missing and did their best to survive the one ½-day voyage through The Passage.

The Captain announced that Antarctica was in sight, and those passengers who were missing in action forgot their bout with seasickness! Who wouldn't? After all, seeing the 7th continent is an experience not to be taken lightly.

Although it would still be some time before we arrived at the Antarctic Peninsula, you could gaze off at the landscape and daydream. Two revelations struck me as I stood on deck and gazed at that landscape, something that I had dreamed of seeing one day. The most immediate one was – there is no other place on earth where there is no history of human civilization! What an incredible realization!

How many people can say they will set foot on a land devoid of indigenous culture, language, cuisine, and architecture – no human civilization had inhabited that land! Wow! The second mind-blowing realization was that Antarctica is a vast place, about 1.5 times the United States' size, yet it is not a country! Since 1961, it exists as the Antarctic Treaty with 54 countries as members. Imagine that! A truly magical place - what modern-day could exist today as a treaty with 54 members? Is this not a truly unique and special place?

If those two realizations don't make an impact, the scenery and the animal life need no words to bring a tear of sheer joy to your eyes. It is truly a spiritually and emotionally jarring experience to witness the magnitude and beauty of what I sampled on Antarctica's trip! Every day brought one new transfixing moment after another.

The itinerary was not provided in advance to anyone as it is subject to the weather. The weather indeed dictates what is possible and is subject to change at a moment's notice. On this particular trip, we were very fortunate; cooperative weather followed the ship, for the most part, to visit: Halfmoon Island, Deception Island, Orne Harbour, Culverville Island, Base Brown, Damoy Point/Dorian Bay, and Wilhelmina Bay. Those not moved by travel’s power may find that six days along the Antarctic Peninsula's tiny portion as repetitive. Still, to a true traveler/voyager, it is not enough, but enough to be life-changing.

Would I return if given the opportunity? ABSOLUTELY!

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KIEV

THE MAJESTIC CITY

By Franz E Buchhalter

In 1912 a widower and his three young children left their homeland and the communist regime and went on a road that would take them to New York and then to Chicago, where they settled and formed a successful life. The youngest of the three children was my great grandfather Eron. Ever since I learned his history, I wanted to visit Kyiv in Ukraine, his hometown. On my birthday, before the pandemic spread, I was fortunate to see this majestic city, and I felt something special the minute I stepped into this beautiful city and felt close to my heritage.

trading and Jewish quarters where the House of Contracts - the old merchant’s trading exchange - was built in 1816.

One of the most exciting points of interest is the Lavra or the Monastery of the Caves. The 11thcentury monastery, with its famous catacombs system, in which the mummified bodies of early monks and saints are entombed.

As you tour the city, you will encounter Independence Square, a place where locals gather during celebrations. The city also features some of the most impressive monuments built under the communist period, as the Motherland Monument sits just a short car ride from the center of the city.

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is located in the north-central of the country along the Dnieper River. Your first impression is that the town is surrounded by many churches with golden domes and pastel colors.

Kyiv is a city with an ancient and proud history that dates more than 1,000 years as the center of the Kyivan Rus, the first eastern Slavic state. Destroyed during World War II, it was restored to become an economic and cultural center surrounded by historical monuments, including Saint Sophia’s cathedrals, a beautiful example of the early Rus-Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture. Another beautiful example of Baroque architecture is the Saint Andrews Cathedral, constructed in the 18th century. Near is Podil, the former

Kyiv is also a city to experience its culinary offering, which included the famous beet soup. There are plenty of great restaurants in the town. One of my favorites was the 11 Mirrors Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, which offers a great menu and fantastic city views. Another great mention is Catch Seafood Restaurant, a tremendous experience of Ukrainian and Eastern European cuisine.

As my tour of Kyiv came to an end, I left wanting to experience more and perhaps take a trip through the countryside, but that will be on my next trip, which I hope to be soon.

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Photo by Iurie-Cialaividhusl - Unsplash

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Photo by Franz Buchhalter

Photo by Michael Sturgeo - Unsplash

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Photo by Franz Buchhalter

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Photo by Franz Buchhalter

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Photo by Hristo Sahatchi - Unsplash

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QUETZAL

THE RESPLENDENT BIRD

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Guarded by the ancient spirits in Central America's highlands is the Quetzal. The Mayans and Aztecs considered this bird sacred, and its plumage was used in ceremonial headdress by royalty. Today this magnificent bird is considered among the world's most beautiful birds.

There are many legends about this beautiful bird, but I like one that was told to me as a young boy about how the bird got the red chest. The legend went that when the Spaniards came to Guatemala, and the indigenous fought them. The last warrior standing was Tecun Uman, but when he was wounded and fell, the Quetzal came down from the skies and fell on the warrior's chest, tinting his chest red forever.

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Photo by Zdeněk Macháček - Unsplash

This amazing bird is special not only for its legendary value but also for the way it lives. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to one meter long. Contrary to the male, the females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Quetzals pairs use their powerful beaks to hollow hole nests in rotted trees or stumps, and young quetzals can fly at about three weeks of age. Another interesting fact is that these birds seldom survive in captivity, and this trait is valued in the country of Guatemala where the Quetzal is the symbol of the nation.

Costa Rica and Guatemala have dedicated sanctuaries to protect this bird but deforestations are their main enemy.

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HOW WOMEN ARE TRAVELING TODAY 48

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INTRODUCING THE “NEW” LADIES’ TRIP

By Malorie Mackey

The world is changing. In fact, 2020 could have brought forth one of the most drastic changes of our lifetimes, especially to the way we travel. In early 2020, COVID halted all travel plans as severe restrictions were put in place. Expeditions were cancelled. Trips with friends were brought to a halt. Destination weddings were postponed. And here we are in 2021 with travel still being relatively non-existent.

While domestic travel is a possibility at this time, most places aren’t encouraging it until we see the widespread release of the COVID-19 vaccine. So, what’s a girl to do? Well, in these changing times, we are seeing a lot of travel trends rise and change. So, here’s something to rise from the ashes of COVID-19 to give us some travel inspiration: a new kind of ladies’ trip.

With international travel being questionable, ladies are banding together to form their own sanctuaries with their closest confidents. Whether that be through RV travel, wellness retreats, or experiencing the beauty of nature with companions, COVID has definitely transformed the idea of a ladies’ trip and made it new and unique. Here are a few ways you can see this change and safely experience it for yourself.

Road trips are no longer a thing of the past, but rather a shining hope for our future. With domestic travel being the only real option, going on an RV getaway with your closest girlfriends is the way to go. Create your own safe space in an RV with your girls, gather some groceries, and go on that long-awaited road trip. Now may be the best time in your life to see the beauty and wonder your own country has to offer.

If that’s not your thing, wellness retreats are in, and with health being such a major theme of 2020, why wouldn’t they be? Grab your closest friends and travel to a wellness retreat. Stay safely in one place while getting massages, relaxing, and truly taking time for yourself.

And what’s a wellness getaway without getting girl time?

You can express your concerns and work through your troubles with your best friends by your side.

If you’re more of a nature lover, then there are options for your ideal ladies’ trip, too. Nature is an important part of travel that we can easily reconnect with. Many travel destinations or attractions are still closed across the 50

Photo by Jackie Parker - Unsplash

world, so why not, instead, connect with the natural beauty of our world? There are so many important and iconic natural attractions; why not connect with them in a whole new way? By visiting national parks and camping (perhaps in your RV with your girlfriends or out under the stars), you can see your home country as you’ve never seen it before.

Lastly, while traveling during our new ladies’ adventures, it’s important to remember to stay safe. Be sure to get a quick COVID test before leaving for your trip, and have your fellow companions do the same.

Knowing you’re all safe to travel should be an important part of your travel plans at this time. Be sure to pack fashionable masks. Perhaps, your fellow ladies and you have all planned matching outfits? Pack some cute masks to mix and match your looks. The locations you will be visiting will surely all have different restrictions, so be sure to respect the rules of each place you visit. An important part of being a traveler is being respectful to all locations. And, lastly, have fun!

There’s nothing quite like having a unique adventure with your girlfriends. Be sure to enjoy every second of it as you live out a different type of ladies’ trip in 2021 and beyond.

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USE YOUR BRAND TO TELL YOUR STORY

By NADER SAFINYA

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hy is branding for hotels so

important?

As long as you want people to relate to you, branding is important.

Developing a brand enables you to define who you are, who you are selling to and how you intend to do that.

The importance of building a brand is that it allows you to cohesively reach an audience with empathy and understanding in order to instill trust in them. We all want people to buy our products or services and we also want to give them a reason to repeat their buying behavior. That means creating an experience for them that is rare and significant enough that inspires them to do what they did over and over again.

"I am a snowboarder. I love to snowboard. I will never be satisfied with doing it once - I want to experience that feeling over and over again. I also love to eat, I love to drink, and I love attending the same bar over and over again because the atmosphere is a place I like to call home. "

activities throughout the year. Your place provides accommodations in an ideal location, but also offers food and beverage, and nightlife.

Meanwhile you’re not the only place in the area that provides these services. How do you differentiate yourself and give people a reason to choose you?

Your hotel doesn’t have to be better to succeed - it has to resonate with the right guests to inspire loyalty.

When you connect with your audience you create experiences that cater to them in ways that result in lasting memories and repeat business. Your story can make that connection. The reason you developed your business is something people can empathize with.

The brand discovery process will dig deep into that reason and reveal how and why your idea came about and will connect with your audience on a personal and emotional level.

Aesthetics, design, and usability are all important, but a connection to a story is what will keep your customers both grateful and loyal.

That is the essence of branding. The ability to allow your audience to feel so comfortable with your product, place or service that they won’t consider another experience over the one you provide them.

Once you establish your brand essence, it must transcend all media in order to reach your audience to ensure an optimal and consistent experience. You shall never reach everyone, but providing a perfect, memorable experience for your audience is how you will achieve not only success but acclaim.

Let’s say you are a destination establishment intended for mountain

That is branding, and why it is important.

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ALICIA’S CORNER Alicia C. Diez

CONTINUING TO DO OUR PART, EACH IN OUR WAY In the hope that we can continue our new sensitivity to more mindful travel, let’s look at what we can do and enjoy our contributions!

As we should all be aware, plastics have become an extremely serious global issue which cannot be ignored any longer.

Well, it seems that about 9 billion single-use plastic travel bottles and 6 billion silicone travel bottles will end up on beaches and in landfills in our lifetime.

Yes, recycling plastic gets confusing - plastic is not created equally and not recycled equally. So, how can we continue to do our part in the recycling efforts? Look at products that are generated from existing plastic. If companies have economic incentives to be creative in using plastics, they will find more ways to find and use this discarded plastic!

One company which springs to mind: Cadence. This company manufactures adorable honeycomb-shaped containers. You ask what is so special about these containers, they are made largely of recycled plastic which is durable, the lids can be personalized, and the sides are magnetized. Ideal for placing in suitcases, and, if not traveling, the containers fill a multitude of uses for keeping personal items organized. And Cadence’s packaging is eco-friendly as well, plus their products are made in the USA! Take a look at www.keepyourcadence.com and see their initiatives for cleaning the planet.

Besides water bottles ending up in the waters and landfills, think about shampoo and conditioner bottles. How many of those get used and discarded a year? Would you like to reduce those numbers, consider Earthling Co. which manufactures shampoos and conditioners in wonderful scents as a bar of soap packaged in a biodegradable box. It makes it easy for travel – no leaky bottles! www.theearthlingco.com

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Traveling or not, Girlfriend Collection will tick the box of doing good for the environment as the company states their active wear is sustainable and ethically made. Active wear and leggings are made in large part from recycled polyester and plastic bottles which would otherwise be destined for landfills. In addition, Girlfriend Collective is inclusive by having sizes ranging from XXS to 6XL and featuing models who could be someone you know. They also believe in transparency, just visit their website: www.girlfriend.com

What else ends up in landfills that will take an eternity to degrade? There are so many different items that are part of everyday life that we never consider them as polluting our planet. Recently, road trips became popular, so many of us would have seen one such item item as we drive along the highway - billboard signs. That’s right, millions of pounds have ended up in landfills! Who would have thought of reusing a billboard? Rareform is a company that has repurposed billboard signs and fashioning them into bags, wallets, totes, etc. which travelers, and non-travelers alike, can use to do their part in raising awareness by sporting one about town. www.rareform.com 57

An American legend

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett is an American actress, director, producer, and activist. Her artistic career began soon after graduating from Yale University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Arts. She has appeared in many films along with some of the most talented leading actors. For her portrayal of Tina Turner in the biopic What's Love Got To Do With It (1993) she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won the Golden Globes Award for Best Actress. Bassett has additionally portrayed real-life figures, Betty Shabazz, in both Malcom X (1992) and Panther (1995), Katherine Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), Voletta Wallace in Notorious (2009), and Coretta Scott King in Betty & Coretta (2013). Her other notable film roles include Reva Styles in Boyz n the Hood (1991), Bernie Harris in Waiting to Exhale (1995), Rachel Constantine in Contact (1997), Lynne Jacobs in Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and London Has Fallen (2016), and Queen Ramonda in the acclaimed film Black Panther (2018) and in Avengers Endgame (2019).

Bassett earned nominations for her roles in films such as The Score (2001), Akeelah and the Bee (2006), Meet the Browns (2008), and Jumping the Broom (2011) and won awards for her performances in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) and Music of the Heart (1999), among others. Bassett's performance as Rosa Parks in the 2002 film The Rosa Parks Story was honored with her first Primetime Emmy nomination.

In 2013, Bassett had a recurring role in the horror anthology series American Horror Story: Coven, earning her second Primetime Emmy nomination for her performance as Voodoo queen Marie Laveau. In 2018, Bassett began producing and starring in the drama series 9-1-1, playing Los Angeles patrol sergeant Athena Grant.

Design Destinations Magazine is a quarterly publication produced by Buchhalter International Group

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