The Group Travel Leader September 2025

AMERICAN

WHERE THE MOTHER ROAD

Meetsthe River Road

Celebrate 100 years of road tripping in the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the scenic beauty of the Great River Road. Follow the neon signs to the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park, dine at historic Route 66 roadside cafes, take a walk through the river bluffs and prairies and relax with a glass of locally crafted wine beside the Mighty Mississippi River.

Your one-of-a-kind adventure begins at www.RiversandRoutes.com.

GO

WITH THE EXPERTS

Grab your camera and board the 4x4 — you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Since 1993, Collette has been taking travelers to Africa to see their favorite animals in the wild. Boasting decades-long connections, our in-destination tour designers expertly curate every game drive, sanctuary visit, and river cruise to increase your chances of spotting some of the world’s most incredible wildlife.

Ready to see the elusive “Big 5” in the wild?

Small Group Explorations (max 18 travelers)

5 game drives

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Our company lost two dear friends this summer. One you likely know; the other, you have probably never heard of.

If you have been involved in group travel for a while, and especially if you attended any of the industry’s primary conferences and marketplaces, there’s a good chance you met Sandy Haines. Sandy grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and became one of the city’s quintessential tourism ambassadors. She spent much of her career working for the local chamber of commerce and its sister organization, the convention and visitors bureau, where she became the director of group tour sales.

I met Sandy about 15 years ago when I was in town covering the opening of a theme park. We met for lunch before I attended the park’s opening ceremony. That visit turned out to be my only time at the park, but the lunch was one of dozens of meals I would share with Sandy over the years.

Sandy and the Myrtle Beach CVB were wonderful supporters of the group travel industry and major advertisers in our magazine. But more than that, Sandy became a friend. She hosted me, along with many of our readers, on more familiarization trips than I can count. She joined our team for dinners at industry conferences and events. She loved to give me a hard time, and I loved being the butt of her jokes. That’s how you knew Sandy liked you.

Sandy died unexpectedly of a heart attack on June 1. She was 61. I had just been with her in Myrtle Beach about six weeks earlier. I still can’t believe she’s gone.

Later this summer, we said goodbye to another soul we loved. Rena Baer had worked with us as a copy editor and proofreader for longer than I can

EDITOR’S MARKS

remember. A veteran journalist, Rena was a skilled and dedicated editor, and she made every story she worked on better. If you have enjoyed articles in this magazine, you have enjoyed the fruits of Rena’s work.

Rena wasn’t just a colleague. Over the years, she became a real friend. I would often stop by her house on the way home from the office to deliver magazine layouts for proofreading, and during those visits she would ask not only about our work, but also about my life. She loved hearing stories of my young kids and telling me about her son, Matthew, who was quickly growing into a successful young man. We laughed, commiserated about the difficulties of our shared profession and spoke often of how blessed we were to work together.

Rena was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023. She fought valiantly and gracefully, giving thanks for every day she had until the end. She died July 30 at the age of 60. We all deeply miss her.

Of course, life will go on. But for those of us in the tourism industry who knew Sandy — and those of us here at The Group Travel Leader who knew Rena — it will never be quite the same.

RENA BAER

Following the Civil Rights Trail through Alabama was a life-changing experience for me. I had the incredible opportunity to explore key sites during a FAM tour hosted by Sweet Home Alabama and visiting Selma (with JoAnn Bland), Birmingham, and Montgomery opened my heart and mind in ways I’ll never forget. —ideal for group travel. These destinations don’t just tell the story of our nation’s history—they help groups connect to it. I didn’t just visit

For any Group Tour Operators seeking meaningful, transformative experiences—Alabama delivers.

Learn more at: www.alabama.travel

Mobile

GROUPTRAVELCON IS ON TAP IN OWENSBORO, OCTOBER 28–30

SALEM, Ohio GroupTravelCon is one of the nation’s premier events dedicated to connecting travel planners, tour operators and destination representatives in a focused, productive environment. Designed for those who organize annual trips for groups of 12 or more, the conference blends networking, education and inspiration to help planners take their trips to the next level.

It’s especially well-suited for any travel planners who were unable to attend other Group Travel Family Conferences earlier in the year. Unlike niche-specific events, GroupTravelCon is a one-stop shop for all group travel planners, no specialty required. Whether your trips focus on faith, alumni groups, seniors or something entirely different, you’ll find valuable connections and fresh ideas here.

Over the course of the event, attendees participate in one-onone marketplace appointments, connect with industry experts and discover new opportunities from destinations and attractions across the country. The conference offers a unique opportunity to build relationships face-to-face, forge partnerships and learn about resources that make group travel simple and more rewarding.

Whether you’re new to planning or have years of experience, GroupTravelCon is the place to share ideas and explore new opportunities that can enhance your travelers’ experiences. It’s more than just a meeting — it’s a catalyst for creating memorable journeys and strengthening the group travel community.

The 2025 GroupTravelCon will take place October 28–30 in Owensboro, Kentucky. This three-day event is the ultimate gathering for all travel planners, with no niche required. For more information or to register, contact Cassandra Blankenship at 800-628-0993.

Networking events create business relationships.

The riverfront Owensboro Convention Center delights delegates.

Bluegrass music is an Owensboro tradition.

SUPERB EVENTS HIGHLIGHT GOFC IN CINCY REGION

BY MAC LACY

HEBRON, Kentucky — More than 200 faith-based buyers and sellers gathered August 6–8 in the Cincy Region for the 2025 Going On Faith Conference, where they were treated to an evening dinner cruise hosted by BB Riverboats and an afternoon tour of the Ark Encounter. The conference was held at the Marriott Cincinnati Airport in Hebron, Kentucky, and two busy marketplace sessions yielded hundreds of appointments between attendees from the United States, Ireland and Italy.

“The entire crew from the Cincy Region did a magnificent job for our delegates,” said Going On Faith Conference general manager Jennifer Ferguson. “We’d like to recognize Lorey Hall and Stacey Howell of the Cincy Region, Nancy Willhoite of BB Riverboats and Eddie Lutz of the Ark Encounter for all their hard work to host this exceptional meeting.”

Captain Guy Gruters, a Vietnam War jet pilot who spent five years in a prison camp after being shot down, kicked off the conference with an inspirational recounting of his years during the war. His retelling of the bravery that his personal faith inspired during that conflict earned a standing ovation.

The BB Riverboats Ohio River dinner cruise took place on a sunlit evening, and, after dinner, delegates gathered on the top deck to take in both sides of the surrounding cityscape. Cincinnati and its landmark stadiums were on full display, and smaller vessels sped by the elegant riverboat in both directions.

The Ark Encounter is one of the most popular Christian sites in America, and delegates spent a couple of hours in the immense structure that immerses guests in the biblical story of Noah, his family and the animal kingdom

during the Great Flood. Afterward, many enjoyed the park’s petting zoo or a live performance during the park’s annual 40 Days of Christian Music event. Dinner was served at the on-site restaurant, Emzara’s Buffet.

Other meal sponsors included The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs and Visit Owensboro, next year’s host city.

“I’m tired, but I’m happy,” said Cincy Region’s Lorey Hall at the conference’s close.

“I think we’ve been able to introduce these planners to some great faith-based stops, including the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, Patriots Landing, area churches, the American Sign Museum, the Freedom Center and the Kentucky Faith Trail.”

For details on the 2026 Going On Faith Conference in Owensboro, Kentucky, visit gofconference.com.

The Ark Encounter was a faith-based favorite.

Delegates spun for prizes in registration.

BB Riverboats hosted a sunlit dinner cruise.

The Group Travel Leader is taking a trip to explore Louisiana’s bayou culture, and we want you to come with us!

Our friends at the Louisiana Office of Tourism are arranging a familiarization tour of the cities and towns throughout the southern part of the state, and they’re inviting our travel planner readers to attend. The tour will take place March 19–23 and will include Thibodaux, Houma, Patterson and other communities along the way.

You’ll join Brian Jewell, our VP and executive editor, and Telisa Rech, our advertising sales manager, as they explore the area with our Louisiana hosts.

Highlights of the five-day tour will include:

• Greenwood Gator Farms — Learn about the heritage of alligator farming — and meet some of the creatures for yourself — at this visitor-friendly facility.

• Zam’s Swamp Tours — Explore the distinctive beauty of the Louisiana bayou with this interactive boat tour in Thibodaux.

• Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum — Get to know Louisiana’s Aviation heritage and its historic cypress lumber industry at this unique state museum.

• Faith Family Shrimp Company — Visit this family-owned business in Chauvin to see how its distinctive dried shrimp product goes “from the bayou to the bag.”

• Authentic Crawfish Boil — Enjoy the quintessential taste of the bayou with a celebration of its most famous delicacy.

Your hotel accommodations, meals, admissions and other expenses will be hosted by the Louisiana Office of Tourism. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the region.

You can apply to attend this FAM tour at grouptravelleader.com/la-fam. Space is limited, and applications close December 15.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us March 19–23 in Louisiana!

Join Us for a Trip to Louisiana

Travel planners can enjoy a bayou tour (top), visiting Faith Family Shrimp Company (middle) and a traditional crawfish boil (bottom) on a Louisiana familiarization trip with The Group Travel Leader.

MARCH 19-23, 2026

REGISTRATION CLOSES: DECEMBER 15

You can apply to attend this FAM tour at: GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM/LA-FAM

If you have any questions, call Telisa at 859-253-0455.

LO UISIANA FA M

PHOTOS COURTESY LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM

Telisa Rech

Brian Jewell

“The entire trip was well-organized and very informative. I fell in love with Savannah!”

S AV ANNAH FA M

— JEANETTE ROGERS, HAPPY PANTS TRAVEL

Savannah FAM highlights, clockwise from left: A walking ghost tour in the historic district; a group photo at Salacia Salts; Tybee Island Lighthouse Tour; a dolphin sighting

ONSITE IN SAVANNAH

TRAVEL PLANNERS DISCOVERED THE CHARMS OF THE HOSTESS CITY OF THE SOUTH

HISTORIC SQUARES, HEAPING PLATES AND HAINT BLUE — SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, OFFER INTRIGUE AND EARN THE CITY ITS DESIGNATION AS THE “HOSTESS CITY OF THE SOUTH.”

With cobblestone streets and live oaks draped in Spanish moss, Savannah blends timeless beauty with lively nightlife districts and one of the busiest ports in the country. It’s brimming with stories to tell and rich, diverse history around every corner, but it’s also home to great shopping and an innovative culinary scene bursting with bold flavors.

This July, 14 tour operators and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader experienced some serious Southern hospitality during a fourday familiarization trip. While there, they also got the chance to explore nearby Tybee Island, which teemed with the region’s diverse wildlife. Follow along with the group’s itinerary to learn about the many sides of Savannah waiting to be discovered.

ALL PHOTOS BY RACHEL CRICK

1 Day

Group travel planners and tour operators flew and drove into Savannah and got settled in at six hotels in the city’s historic district.

That afternoon, they were picked up from their respective hotels and shuttled to the Savannah Theatre to kick off the trip with a lively performance of “Hairspray: The Musical.” The historic theater is the country’s oldest continuously operating theater, dating back to 1818.

After the show, the group headed to The Pirates’ House, the legendary Savannah restaurant notable for its history and its Southern comfort food buffet. They enjoyed fried shrimp, macaroni and cheese, green beans, barbecue and coleslaw and had a bit of fun creating their own pirate names in one of the restaurant’s many private dining spaces.

After dinner, the group took a walking ghost tour of Savannah with a guide from US Ghost Adventures. They walked through the historic downtown district at sunset to hear chilling stories about sites of rumored haunts, from old inns to historic squares.

One of Savannah’s historic squares

The Savannah Theatre

A group shot with the ghost tour guide

2 Day

• HISTORIC TROLLEY TOUR

• ANDREW LOW HOUSE MUSEUM

• LUNCH AT BUBBA GARCIA’S

MEXICAN CANTINA

• AMERICAN PROHIBITION MUSEUM

• FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH

• GOSPEL DINNER CRUISE

The FAM group got an early start on the second day with a historic trolley tour that detailed many facets of the city’s history, from its founding to its most famous figures. Then it was time for a tour of the Andrew Low House Museum, the preserved historic mansion of a Savannah socialite. After a tasty lunch at Bubba Garcia’s Mexican Cantina, a Mexican restaurant just a block from River Street, the group headed to the American Prohibition Museum for a guided tour. They also visited the First African Baptist Church to learn about its inspiring past before enjoying a few hours of free time. The day closed with a gospel dinner cruise on the Savannah River.

TROLLEY TOUR

The telltale orange and green open-air trolleys are easily identifiable as Old Town Trolley Tours, one of the city’s top tour companies for more than 30 years. The group’s open-air tour of Savannah took them around the historic squares the city is famous for and gave a detailed account of its history, from its founding in 1733 by James Oglethorpe to its role in the Civil War. The engaging guide infused trivia and humor throughout the tour, along with fascinating anecdotes about some of Savannah’s most famous residents through the centuries.

ANDREW LOW HOUSE MUSEUM

Found in scenic Lafayette Square, not far from Savannah’s famous Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, the Andrew Low House Museum dates to the 1840s and was once home to Andrew Low’s daughter-in-law, Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts and is one of Savannah’s most prominent former residents. The group took a guided tour of the home, which is staged to appear as it would have during the 19th century and includes many furnishings from the original owners.

“There are so many themes to run with to meet and exceed any group’s expectations.”

—LAURA SCARBOROUGH, ART HENRY TOURS

Savannah’s historic homes

The group on Old Town Trolley Tours

On board a Savannah Trolley Andrew Low House Museum

“Savannah is a gorgeous, historic city with plenty to see and do. My favorite part was just wandering the city and taking in all its beauty!”

— JEANIE JOHNSON JEANIE’S JOURNEYS

AMERICAN PROHIBITION MUSEUM

Savannah’s American Prohibition Museum is the only museum in the country dedicated to the subject of Prohibition. With two floors of interactive exhibits, the museum explores the intersection of the political and social causes at the heart of the Temperance Movement in the early 1900s. The group took a guided tour through the museum to learn about the movement’s key figures and the impact of Prohibition on American life during the early 20th century. In an ironic twist, the group enjoyed a cocktail in the museum’s speakeasy at the end of the tour then perused the museum’s gift shops for souvenirs.

FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH

Thought to be home to the oldest continuous African American congregation in the country, First African Baptist Church is a cornerstone of Black history in Savannah. The church was first organized in 1773, and the current sanctuary was built by its congregation and completed in 1859. First African Baptist Church is on the National Register of Historic Places and contains some of its original fixtures, including the baptismal pool, light fixtures, stained-glass windows and the pews in the balcony, which were built by enslaved Africans. The group got the chance to tour the church and learn about its powerful history and its evolving roles in Savannah’s Black community throughout its tenure.

GOSPEL DINNER CRUISE

Savannah Riverboat Cruises treated attendees to an evening of soulful music, down-home cooking and gorgeous views of the Savannah skyline. The group took a gospel dinner cruise on board the Georgia Queen, a paddle-wheel riverboat with four decks and three grand ballrooms, and was serenaded by a lively, local gospel choir as they enjoyed cocktails and a buffet of rich Southern cuisine, from cornbread to fried chicken a famous peach cobbler. After their meal, the group stood on deck to take in the beautiful scenery along the Savannah River.

On board the Georgia Queen First African Baptist Church

Bubba Garcia’s Mexican Cantina

Touring the American Prohibition Museum

The American Prohibition Museum

• TYBEE ISLAND TOUR

• DOLPHIN TOUR

• LUNCH AT NORTH BEACH BAR AND GRILL

• TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER

• TYBEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE TOUR

• TEA TASTING AT ASHFORD TEA COMPANY

• DINNER AT 45 BISTRO

The third day of the FAM began with a trip to Tybee Island to explore the community, which is affectionately nicknamed, “Savannah’s Beach.” The group took a guided shuttle tour of the city led by a local historian before exploring some of the island’s ecology with a dolphin tour and a trip to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Following a visit to the Tybee Island lighthouse, the group headed back to Savannah for a class and tasting experience at Ashford Tea Company, during which they sampled refreshing teas and small snacks. After a few hours of free time, the evening ended with a delicious farewell dinner at 45 Bistro, the upscale restaurant in The Marshall House, one of Savannah’s most notable inns on Broughton Street. 45 Bistro is known for its juicy steaks and fresh seafood.

TYBEE ISLAND TOUR

Owned by former history professor Jacilyn Ledford, Tybee Tour Company is dedicated to educating visitors and locals about Tybee Island. Ledford stepped onto the group’s coach to tell the story of Tybee, from its geography to its rich history. Along the way, she pointed out local landmarks and provided little-known facts that piqued the group’s curiosity about the barrier island less than 20 miles outside of Savannah.

DOLPHIN TOUR

Also located on Tybee Island, Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure is a popular excursion operator that takes groups for daytime and sunset dolphin cruises to see dolphins in their natural habitat. The group got the chance to take one of these boat tours along the waterways where the Savannah River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. They saw waterfowl, historic lighthouses and lots of dolphins that came to the surface to feed and even play in the boat’s wake.

Tea tasting at Ashford Tea Company

A gospel concert on board the Georgia Queen

Cockspur Island Lighthouse

The Georgia Queen

Tybee Island Lighthouse Campus

Skies over Savannah from the Georgia Queen

Tybee Island Lighthouse

“My favorite part was the dolphin cruise, the marine science center and the river cruise at night watching the city pass by.”

EXCITE EXPERIENCES

TYBEE ISLAND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER

Dedicated to educating the public and protecting Tybee Island’s marine life and ecosystem, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center was founded in 1990. It moved a new facility on Tybee Island’s North Beach in 2021 and contains classroom space and exhibits about local marine life and conservation. The group learned about some of the island’s endangered marine life, including right whales, before stepping into the center’s West Gallery to see its live animals, from sea turtles to alligators and starfish.

TYBEE ISLAND LIGHT STATION AND MUSEUM

The black and white stripes of the Tybee Island Light Station make it the island’s most easily recognized landmark. The lighthouse has nearly three centuries of history guiding ships into the Savannah River and has played a part in many wars, though the existing structure was commissioned after the Civil War. The group visited the lighthouse museum to learn about the evolution of the light station throughout the island’s history and the generations of lighthouse keepers who looked after it.

ASHFORD TEA COMPANY

Founded by tea sommelier and entrepreneur Wayne Ashford, Ashford Tea Company is a tea house on East Oglethorpe Avenue that serves homemade tea blends and educates customers about the health benefits of tea. The group enjoyed a tea tasting that showcased several refreshing teas and tisanes paired with light snacks, as well as a lecture on the power of this versatile beverage. The group finished the experience with time for shopping.

Dolphins sighted from Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventures

At the entrance of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center

— JJ BELL

A sea turtle at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Looking out for dolphins

Meeting marine life

Hermit crab up-close

On the final day of the tour, the travel planners began their day by enjoying a leisurely breakfast in their hotels. They then headed to Salacia Salts, a small business founded and operated by a former student of the Savannah College of Art and Design that creates cosmetic and health products using salts and natural ingredients from around the world. The group participated in a class where they made their own salt or sugar scrub to take home with custom combinations of ingredients and scents. After packing up their skin-care products and perusing Salacia’s shop, the group was bussed to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, a museum in Pooler near the Savannah Airport. A museum tour highlighting its aircraft, artifacts and films was followed by a tasty lunch at the museum café, which featured a buffet stocked with Southern comfort foods. From there, the group said their goodbyes and departed for home with plenty of ideas for return trips.

Historic aircraft at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

Making salt scrubs at Salacia Salts

Tybee Island Lighthouse campus

A fillet entrée at 45 Bistro

A group meal at 45 Bistro

Meet Ashley DeLucia, Our Newest Team Member

shley DeLucia has been named advertising sales manager for The Group Travel Leader and Pioneer Publishing. She will work alongside Telisa Rech to sell advertising and marketing programs to destinations and companies in the group travel and meetings markets. DeLucia is based in the home office of both companies in Lexington, Kentucky. As advertising sales manager, DeLucia will represent four brands: The Group Travel Leader, Small Market Meetings, Select Traveler and Going On Faith, all of which offer internationally known print and digital content for their markets. She will also sell sponsorships for “Gather and Go with Brian Jewell,” the group travel industry’s premier

podcast, and will sell OnSite destination familiarization tours for all four brands.

“Ashley has years of sales experience in the education field and has worked extensively with school districts across Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “After graduating from college, she spent a year teaching in Hanoi, Vietnam, and she also spent two years in Charleston, South Carolina. She traveled internationally as a student and brings a very broad-based perspective to our sales efforts for destinations throughout the world.”

DeLucia lives with her husband, Steven, and their three children, Elayna, Deacon and Piper, in Lexington. Clients can reach Ashley by phone at 859-253-0455 and by e-mail at adelucia@grouptravelleader.com

GET THE SCOOP: SECRETS OF A TRAVEL ICON

Legendary broadcaster Peter Greenberg is optimistic about the future of travel.

After decades reporting on travel and hundreds of travel shows for CBS News, PBS, Amazon and more, Peter has seen a lifetime’s worth of change and evolution in tourism — and he’s excited about the industry’s future. In fact, he still travels 300 days a year and loves telling people his secrets for finding deals and inspiring wonder in the American public. He joins this episode of the podcast to help you do the same.

Peter discusses some of the biggest changes that have taken place in travel and how today’s tourism professionals can make the most of them.

He explains why he’s optimistic about the future of cruising and how tour operators can become more profitable by pursuing specialization.

On Americans’ travel habits:

“It’s a sad state of affairs that only 38% of Americans have a passport. That means 62% have made a conscious decision not to see anything. That’s a continued sadness, because we live in a global village. I think so much of America has made a conscious choice to be uneducated. There’s this problem of a lack of curiosity and an overwhelming amount of fear. That combination is lethal.”

On his optimism about the cruies industry:

“During the pandemic, the CDC put a full stop on cruising. They would not allow any cruise ship to resume service unless they complied with about 75 new protocols. The cruise lines did, and they did a great job. So they cruise lines weren’t sailing, but the shipyards were very busy completing ships of every size and pedigree. The opportunity for travelers is they have choice now to go to ports they couldn’t go to before. There are so many places in the world that the only way you can access them is by ship…. The opportunities for people to explore in style and comfort are amazing.”

On the value of tour operators:

“We now live in a world of specialization. I use about six or seven different travel agents depending on where I’m going. If I want to do a barge trip in France, there’s a travel agent or a tour operator that does nothing but that. They have preferred supplier relationships. And they can really give me a better experience…. Tour operators have been forced to become specialists and to create itineraries that are not just trapping people on a bus going to a tchotchke store.”

To sponsor an episode of Gather and Go contact: To listen to the full episode, go to:

TELISA RECH telisa@grouptravelleader.com

859.253.0455

Overseas IN FROM

The Metropolitan Museum of

gallery includes more than 30,000 works, ranging from sculptures and jewelry

to segments from

Art’s Egyptian

(left)

the Temple of Dendur (right).

THESE AMERICAN ART MUSEUMS FEATURE INTERNATIONAL MASTERPIECES

BY SARA HORN

Paris has da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” Madrid has Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory.” Florence has Bottecelli’s “Birth of Venus.” But you don’t have to have a passport to experience the profound impact and deep connection that works of art from around the world have to offer.

These American museums boast a wide range of impressive collections from other countries that will inspire and delight.

Lila Acheson Wallace Galleries of Egyptian Art

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

NEW YORK CITY

In New York City, The Met’s massive collection of approximately 30,000 objects from ancient Egypt dates back as early as 300,000 BC to the 4th century AD. These pieces, important for their artistic, historic and cultural meanings, can be seen throughout the 38 galleries that showcase the collection and take the visitor on a journey through Egyptian history, beginning with the Predynastic Period (4500 BC) and ending with the last phase of Rome’s occupation of Egypt (AD 400).

The vast collection was established in 1906 when the museum created the Department of Egyptian Art to oversee what the museum already owned and, in the same year, commissioned an expedition that went on to conduct archaeological excavations in Egypt for nearly 30 years. As a result of their work, numerous objects were gifted to the museum by the Egyptian antiquities service, making up the core of the collection today.

Notable pieces in the collection include the Temple of Dendur, a 2,000-year-old temple that was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Augustus; the Old

ARTS

CULTURE

Kingdom offering chapel of Perneb’s mastaba; the jewelry of Princess Sithathoryunet; and the temple statues of Dynasty 18’s female pharaoh Hatshepsut. Groups are welcome but limited to a maximum of 50 people. Private guided tours may be requested through the museum’s website.

METMUSEUM.ORG

Adolpho Leirner Collection of Brazilian Constructive Art

THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

HOUSTON

The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston is home to one of the most significant collections of Latin American art in the United States and offers what some believe are the finest examples of Geometric Abstraction by Brazil’s most significant artists of the post-World War II era.

Adolpho Leirner was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but went to college in England, where he studied textile engineering and design. While he was there, he became interested in architecture and design and started learning about the Constructivist movements of the first half of the 20th century. It was after he returned to Brazil that he purchased his first work, “In Red,” by artist Milton Dacosta, and then went on to collect more than 100 examples of Concrete and Neo-Concrete groups between the 1950s and 1960s. The collection includes artists such as Lygia Clark, Waldemar Cordeiro and Helio Oiticica.

Groups of 10 or more can request self-guided group visits or docent-guided group tours, which are available by reservation through the group ticket sales office.

MFAH.ORG

Cone Collection of Modern Art

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

BALTIMORE

While most art collectors associate the works of Henri Matisse with France, you will find the largest collection of his art at the Baltimore Museum of Art, thanks to two sisters who devoted their lives to the pursuit of beauty and collecting bold, modern works. Claribel and Etta Cone traveled extensively during their lifetimes, acquiring more than 3,000 pieces of art, including 600 works by Matisse, like his iconic “Blue Nude.” The museum’s collection also includes pieces from other modern artists, such as Picasso’s “Mother and Child,” Cezanne’s “Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from the Bibemus Quarry” and Van Gogh’s “A Pair of Boots.”

Other international galleries include Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Pacific Islands. Group tours are offered by the museum, limited to 60 or fewer people, and can focus on a specific theme, such as collection highlights, contemporary art, Black artists and the Cone Collection.

ARTBMA.ORG

VISIT SIKESTON VISIT SIKESTON

Picasso’s “Mother and Child” at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Richard and Erna Flagg Collection of Haitian Art

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

MILWAUKEE

In the early 1970s, Richard and Erna Flagg began collecting 20th-century Haitian art, and over the next 20 years, they amassed one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind. Eventually, the Flaggs gifted their collection to the Milwaukee Art Museum so as many people as possible could enjoy it and get a rare insight into how the Haitian visual culture developed. The 90 pieces are celebrated for their Vodou religious symbolism and Christian iconography. The collection showcases masterworks like Hector Hyppolite’s “The Adoration of Love,” Rigaud Benoit’s “Haitian Family” and Serge Jolimeau’s “Demon.”

Guided tours are led by docents and last one hour. Groups of 10 or more should request their group tour at least eight to 10 weeks in advance.

MAM.ORG

Chinese Collection

NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Imagine the origins of a museum coming from the generosity and imagination of two complete strangers. That’s the story of Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, whose genesis happened thanks to a newspaper man leaving his wealth behind to purchase works of art for a new public museum, and a retired school teacher who left funds after her death to purchase land for that museum. Both individuals, who likely never knew each other, dreamed of a public art museum where anyone could visit and enjoy the beauty and culture of fine works of art. Together, their gifts made that common dream a reality.

The museum is most known for its Chinese collection. Considered one of the finest collections in the West, it features more than 7,000 works showcasing every era of Chinese art, thanks in part to one of the museum’s first curators, art historian Laurence Sickman. He began purchasing numerous pieces of Chinese art that didn’t cost much but had an undeniable presence and begged for someone’s attention.

Some of the collection’s most famous pieces include a 12th-century polychrome wooden sculpture, “Guanyin

Discover important works of art at the Columbus Museum, or stroll through the historic streets of Uptown, where the city’s story comes to life. With its captivating landmark sites, cultural experiences, exceptional dining, and new hotels, Columbus offers a memorable destination for your group.

PHOTOS COURTESY BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

Above: Van Gogh’s “Pair of Boots” in Baltimore

Left: Cezanne’s “Mont Sainte-Victoire” on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art

of the Southern Sea,” as well as ancient Chinese bronzes, jades and an extensive collection of Chinese paintings. As part of the collection, there is also one of the largest groupings of scroll paintings outside of Asia, which includes the only work attributed to Qiao Zhongchang, a master of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Groups of up to 60 people can request a docent-led guided tour. Tour themes range from collection highlights to religion in art and custom requests.

NELSON-ATKINS.ORG

Getty Villa Museum

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM

LOS ANGELES

Businessman J. Paul Getty’s work in the oil industry made him extremely wealthy, and he used his wealth to collect beautiful art, which he saw as a civilizing influence on society. His collection became so vast, he eventually built a museum in Malibu, California, to house it and modeled it after an ancient Roman villa.

Today, visitors can walk through this re-created Roman country home and its four tranquil gardens and explore over 4,000 years of ancient art, from the Stone Age to the final days of the Roman Empire. Highlights of this collection include “Victorious Youth,” a life-size Greek bronze statue celebrated for its realistic depiction and artistic skill, and “Lansdowne Heracles,” a Roman marble statue that showcases the influence of Greek mythology.

Reservations are requested for groups of 15 or more, and architecture and garden tours are available.

GETTY.EDU

Ancient Greek sculptures in the villa at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles

ARIZONA

By Elizabeth Hey

Wonder and awe permeate Arizona. Throughout the state, its varied landscapes, culture and historical spots add depth and breadth to any trip. Near the southern border, Tucson’s Mexican-American traditions are evident; while upscale Phoenix, the nation’s fifth largest city, perfectly combines luxury and nature. Northward, rugged wilderness beckons with soaring cliffs and red-rock formations.

In every region, Native American heritage influences culture. And with an abundance of upscale resorts, many with award-winning spas and golf courses, it’s evident why groups choose this Southwest mecca.

Enchantment

Resort offers luxurious accommodations hidden among Sedona’s gorgeous red stone formations.

POPULAR DEMAND

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

Showcasing the Sonoran landscape, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix juxtaposes towering saguaros, beachball-shaped cacti, vibrant wildflowers and Palo Verde trees. The garden is located near downtown, and its five loop trails meander through diverse desert habitats that support wildlife. Docent-led tours highlight the garden’s living collection, while classes explore landscape design, art, wellness and more. Major events include Las Noches de las Luminarias, when 8,000 sparkling luminarias shine amidst musical performances during select November and December evenings. In February, the Devour Culinary Classic features food and wine tastings by local restauranteurs, as well as live music and the arts.

VERDE CANYON RAILROAD

Chugging through the Verde Valley’s red-rock wilderness, the Verde Canyon Railroad starts its 40-mile round-trip journey in Clarkdale. Built in 1912, the track crosses trestle bridges, travels through a 734-foot tunnel and passes ancient Indian ruins. Spring through fall, Saturday Starlight Tours offers a sunset-to-starlight journey through a narrow chasm only accessible by rail. In summer, the Grape Train Escape offers wine tasting and complimentary charcuterie. Groups will be greeted with a glass of Champagne and charcuterie in their private coach with access to open-air viewing. Additional catering is available.

SHARLOT HALL MUSEUM

Showcasing Arizona’s heritage in Prescott, the Sharlot Hall Museum invites history buffs to explore its 11 buildings. In 1928, Sharlot Hall began preserving Arizona’s past, including the original Territorial Governor’s Mansion constructed from logs on its 1864 site. Recently designated an accredited arboretum, the gardens feature 89 species of trees and woody plants. Yavpé Ethnobotany Garden was developed collaboratively with the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, and the rose garden touts 180 historic varieties. Native trees, shrubs and perennial cultivars of pioneer families are still being added. Events include living history days, the Prescott Indian Art Market and Frontier Christmas.

COURTESY DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

An evening excursion on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Prescott’s Sharlot Hall Museum

COURTESY DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

Sunset in Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden’s Cactus Gallery

COURTESY SHARLOT HALL MUSEUM COURTESY SHARLOT HALL MUSEUM

Exploring Rattlesnake Canyon

UP AND COMING

ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER AT LOWELL OBSERVATORY

Under Flagstaff’s dark skies, the solar system’s magnificence is displayed at the Lowell Observatory’s new Astronomy Discovery Center. Tours highlight the observatory’s contributions, including the discovery of Pluto and its role in the Apollo 11 mission. Lowell Universe Theater schedules cosmic presentations with stargazing offered year-round. The Giovale Open Deck Observatory features six advanced telescopes revealing rich star fields, colorful planets and expansive galaxies. “Strange New Worlds,” a live, outdoor presentation under dark skies, explores planets orbiting distant stars and the search for life across the cosmos, all from the comfort of reclining, heated seats.

The new Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory

BY ABE SNIDER, COURTESY LOWELL OBSERVATORY

BY

Scottsdale’s Native Art Market

The Frybread Lounge in Scottsdale

COURTESY EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE

ANTELOPE, RATTLESNAKE AND OWL SLOT CANYONS

Adventure lovers have long known about northern Arizona’s slot canyons located just east of Page. Perhaps the most famous is Antelope Canyon, where sunlight and swirling rock patterns deliver dramatic photos. Led by a Navajo guide, who shares information about the history, ecology and culture of the area, groups can tour Upper Antelope Canyon to discover an accessible sandy floor and wide passages creating a sandstone cathedral. Lesser known and newer guided tours at Rattlesnake and Owl canyons by Black Streak Canyon Tours aren’t as crowded. Rattlesnake Canyon’s narrow passageways and towering openings refract light for amazing perspectives. Wider Owl Canyon showcases red-rock cliffs and winding sandstone passageways.

NATIVE ART MARKET

Silversmiths, potters, carvers and painters display their wares at the indoor Native Art Market in Old Town Scottsdale. The market supports more than 400 Native small businesses, which affords Native artisans a place to sell to the public. Indigenous musicians and dancers perform and explain the backstories of their dances while shoppers sip complimentary wine and Piñon coffee. Next door, The Frybread Lounge, the only Indigenous-owned restaurant in Old Town, serves healthy ancestral food sourced from Native food producers. A second outdoor art market opens November through March at The Arizona Center.

OVERNIGHT SENSATIONS

TUBAC GOLF RESORT & SPA

Named one of 2024’s “Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Historic Golf Courses,” Tubac Golf Resort & Spa was established on a Spanish Colonialstyle ranch dating to 1789. Located on the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona, the Santa Rita Mountains serve as backdrop. Three iconic golf courses lie between ponds and tall cottonwoods. The property boasts casitas, posadas and haciendas with private patios, a full-service spa and dining at the Stables Ranch Grille. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, which follows the 1775-1776 Spanish colonizing expedition from Mexico to San Francisco, connects on-site, affording lovely views.

Tubac Golf Resort & Spa

COURTESY EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE BY JARED KLAIN, COURTESY BLACK STREAK CANYON TOURS

A dance performance at the Native Art Market Owl Canyon in northern Arizona

OVERNIGHT SENSATIONS

ENCHANTMENT RESORT

Tucked into Sedona’s private Boynton Canyon and accessible only to guests, the Enchantment Resort delivers quiet luxury. Adobe casitas, each with a private deck or patio, hug red-rock canyon walls. Guests can simply unwind or choose activities such as guided hiking or mountain biking on trails that branch off from the property, as well as pickleball, fitness classes, poolside lounging, stargazing and fireside chats detailing the canyon’s history. The resort’s Mii amo Spa has been repeatedly lauded as one of the world’s top destination spas. Backcountry Jeep tours and side trips to the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff remain ever popular.

MEMORABLE MEALS

THÉA

Opened in December 2023, The Global Ambassador hotel touts five internationally themed dining options spearheaded by Phoenix restauranter Sam Fox, who teamed up with local celebrities, including Dierks Bentley, Devin Booker and Larry Fitzgerald. Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “Best New Hotel Restaurants in the World,” Théa transports diners to another continent. This hip, European-style bistro showcases views of Camelback Mountain — arguably some of the best in the city — especially from its expansive balcony. Théa’s elevated menu features one of the nation’s largest rosé collections, a robust cocktail program and shareable, Mediterranean-style cuisine.

EL CHARRO

Said to have invented the chimichanga, El Charro in Tucson is the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Established in 1922, it melds traditional Northern Mexico-style and innovative Tucson-Mexican cuisine using local ingredients. The carne seca involves marinating thin beef strips and air-drying them in a cage above the restaurant’s patio before the meat is roasted, shredded and grilled. From guacamole made tableside to signature enchiladas, it’s no surprise that El Charro has been a James Beard Award nominee. Lastly, dessert is a must, featuring family recipes such as tres leches cake and hazelnut-chocolate tamales.

Dining al fresco at Thea in Phoenix

COURTESY VISIT TUCSON

Hiking in Whitefish

Traditional Mexican food at El Charro in Tucson

A casita at Enchantment Resort

Actors perform Shakespeare’s works in a re-creation

of the Bard’s historic Globe Theatre in the town of Staunton.

DESTINATION

VIRGINIA REAL

2026 IS A PERFECT TIME TO VISIT THIS HISTORIC STATE

“EBY TOM ADKINSON

verything that has happened in the U.S. has a connection here.”

That’s Jim Coggin, tourism sales manager at Visit Virginia Beach, bragging about his state. He was talking specifically about Virginia’s role in American history, but he would have been on similarly solid ground talking about Virginia as a showcase for all things cultural — both domestic and international.

Building itineraries around Virginia’s many cultural and historical attractions is a breeze. Destinations can take tour clients to ancient Rome, to Shakespeare’s England, to Colonial America and even to performances of entertainment giants such as James Taylor, John Legend and Steve Winwood. From the Tidewater region to the Shenandoah Valley to the rolling hills of Northern Virginia, choices abound. Here’s a sample.

VIRGINIA BEACH AND NORFOLK

Your group can start with a lighthearted photo with the mythological Roman god of the sea, Neptune. Virginia Beach’s Neptune is a 34-foot-tall bronze statue that is a landmark on the city’s boardwalk. The statue is also the inspiration for the annual Neptune Festival, a September celebration for more than half a century, that is filled with music, food and more sculptures. Specifically, the festival invites world-class sand sculptors to create gigantic — although temporary — scenes on the beach while surfers ride the waves behind them.

More permanent works can be found in the adjacent city of Norfolk at the Chrysler Museum of Art, with its 50 galleries and more than 35,000 paintings, sculptures and other pieces of art. Of special note at the Chrysler Museum of Art is the Perry Glass Studio, which more than tripled in size in 2024, expanding from 9,200 square feet to 33,200 square feet. The enlarged space enhances the museum’s international reputation in the world of glass arts and includes a 200-seat amphitheater “hot shop” that gives your group up-closeand-personal views of live performances and glassblowing demonstrations.

“For visitors who want to try a hands-on, first experience with the material, the facility and teaching staff are designed and equipped to create a memorable and safe experience,” said Robin Rogers, glass studio manager and program director.

Beyond the museum, Norfolk is famous for public displays of glass art. Visit Norfolk says the city has more free art glass to see than any other city. As delicate as glass art is, Norfolk provides a contrasting attraction that projects unbending strength — the USS Wisconsin, the largest and last battleship the U.S. Navy built. The gigantic battleship, now a museum, is part of Nauticus, a maritime discovery center on the downtown waterfront.

HISTORIC TRIANGLE

Virginia’s Historic Triangle — the storied region encompassing Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown — is laden with historic and cultural attractions. The Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are three perennially popular major attractions here, along with the modern novelty of the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park.

Colonial Williamsburg, which marks its 100th birthday in 2026, is the world’s largest U.S. history museum — 301 acres of the original Colonial city, 89 original buildings, 515 reconstructed buildings, plus lodging, restaurants and abundant programs.

Colonial Williamsburg’s two art museums — the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum — command special attention. They are under one roof, and they can captivate a group’s attention. It’s almost a shame to restrict time amid the colorful and whimsical folk art and the exquisite American and British antiques and decorative art from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, but so much more awaits elsewhere.

For instance, it’s likely your group will see archaeologists at work at a dig somewhere in Colonial Williamsburg, but that’s only the start of the process of bringing history back to life. The other part used to be out of sight in laboratories and workplaces, but that changed this year with the opening of the Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center. As Jack Gary, the director of archaeology said, “This facility [allows] us to show guests the process of discovery inside the lab.”

RICHMOND

Richmond succeeded Williamsburg as Virginia’s capital, and it is a worthy tour stop, especially because of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It opened in 1936 during the Great Depression as a statement of faith in the future and the founders’ belief in the value of art. VMFA’s story began in 1919 when a politician, Judge John Barton Payne, donated 50 paintings he had collected to the state. Gifts from others followed, and Payne proposed a challenge grant of $100,000 to build a museum. Extra money from the Works Progress Administration tipped the scales.

The museum has continued to grow. Expansions opened in 1954, 1970, 1976, 1985 and 2010 to accommodate spectacular donations and acquisitions of art. Another new wing, this one 173,000 square feet, is planned for 2028.

COURTESY

Virginia Beach’s King Neptune statue

COURTESY VIRGINIA BEACH CVB

A glassblowing demonstration at the Chrysler Museum of Art

BY TOM ADKINSON

A VMFA treasure is a collection of Fabergé pieces from tsarist Russia. No other American museum has a bigger collection of Fabergé art — 200 objects by or attributed to the Fabergé firm. VFMA has five of the famous bejeweled Fabergé eggs, intricate and delicate pieces that open to reveal even more jewels and surprises. The gallery for these treasures offers you 360-degree views of the eggs and large video projects to enhance the experience.

The museum’s ancient art spans more than 5,000 years of human history, stretching from pre-dynastic Egypt to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. One notable piece is a statue of a Roman emperor whose name is more famous than his image: Caligula. Caligula ruled for only four years before his own guards assassinated him. He was so reviled that virtually all public images of him were destroyed. The museum has one of only two surviving full-length statues of this emperor, grandson of Augustus Caesar.

Multiple galleries offer visitors African art; gold and textiles from South America; European masters (Poussin, Goya, Delacroix and Monet among them); American masters such as John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer; English silver; Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture; original waxes and bronzes by Edgar Degas; and much more.

A bust of Sir Walter Raleigh from a historic building in Colonial Williamsburg

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

The scenery changes as your group rolls west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. It is easy to understand why Thomas Jefferson appreciated the setting for Charlottesville, Monticello and the University of Virginia, all of which are fascinating tour stops. Although Jefferson never dined at Michie Tavern, an early-American structure relocated near Monticello in 1927, your group can get a Jeffersonian vibe — and a good meal — there today.

The historic Downtown Mall in Charlottesville appeals particularly to groups that want to disperse and explore. It is an eight-block pedestrian space where two- and threestory commercial buildings line its edges. Shade trees rise amid brick pavers, and colorful cafe umbrellas create a slightly European flavor. The mall has 120 shops, 30 restaurants, buskers, the 1931-vintage Paramount Theater and an every-Friday concert series, called “Friday After Five,” from mid-April through early September.

Your group can trade Thomas Jefferson for William Shakespeare after a 50-mile drive to the Shenandoah Valley town of Staunton. (Pretend the “u” doesn’t exist and say “Stanton” to fit in.) Staunton is home of the American Shakespeare Center and the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world’s only re-creation of a London playhouse where Shakespeare’s company began performing in 1608.

A show in this 300-seat Renaissance theater is unlike almost all others because, as the players announce gleefully, they “do it with the lights on.” Why is that? Plays in Shakespeare’s time were during daylight hours, so the lights are on for historical accuracy. Expect interaction between players and audiences, especially audience members whose seats are directly on stage. Also, consider enjoying “Shakespeare Uncorked,” a pre-show wine and beer tasting.

Plays are presented in repertory, so it is possible to see more than one during a short visit. The autumn 2025 schedule features “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” (a fresh spin on the classic comedy) and “The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read” (a non-Shakespeare production involving maritime museum statues that come to life). The playhouse’s version of “A Christmas Carol” is a Virginia tradition.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

In densely populated Northern Virginia, a cultural destination stands out as a retreat from a crowded environment: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. It is a lasting monument to one woman, Catherine Filene Shouse, a highly honored public servant and philanthropist who started accumulating farmland outside of Washington, D.C., in the 1930s as an escape from the city and as a gathering place for family, friends and the Washington political community.

In 1996, she donated 100 acres to the U.S. government to create a place where arts could be enjoyed in harmony with nature. It became America’s only national park devoted to the performing arts. Its centerpiece is the Filene Center, a 7,028-seat covered amphitheater with open sides that provide views of the surrounding woodlands. World-class artists from every genre of the performing arts have entertained audiences from its stage.

Another venue, The Barns at Wolf Trap, offers a big contrast. This is an intimate 382-seat theater crafted from two restored 18th-century barns. The acoustics bring out the best in artists ranging from bluegrass and rock bands to jazz trios and chamber quartets. It offers more than 80 performances from October through May.

Even if your group can’t take in a Wolf Trap performance, the National Park Service offers other ways to enjoy the park with behind-the-scenes tours of the Filene Center and gentle walks on two trails.

A performance at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

BY RON BLUNT, COURTESY WOLF TRAP NATIONAL PARK FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

A performance of “Julius Caesar” at the American Shakespeare Center BY

A LIVE OAK LEGEND

NATCHITOCHES HAS GROWN FROM AN OUTPOST TO A LOUISIANA LANDMARK

TBY KEVIN OSBOURN

ouring Natchitoches, Louisiana, feels like strolling onto a movie set.

Maybe that’s because the area was featured prominently in the classic film “Steel Magnolias.” Or perhaps it’s due to the charming historic downtown, with its wrought-iron balconies and beautiful homes with stately live oaks.

Whatever the reason, groups love visiting Natchitoches, where they take sunset river cruises, tour plantations, visit the filming locations used in “Steel Magnolias” and amble the incredible 33-block Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District along Cane River Lake.

One of the best times to visit is during the fall festival season, after the temperature drops. Other great options include the Christmas Festival of Lights or Mardis Gras.

Guests come for the city’s nostalgia and to shop at Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile, Louisiana’s oldest general store. They visit downtown art galleries and browse specialty shops that offer crafts, home décor and antiques.

“We are known for our historic charm, festive traditions and warm hospitality,” said Ariana Rachal from the Natchitoches Convention & Visitor Bureau. “Tour groups love our rich history, small town atmosphere and annual festivals that show our authentic Louisiana culture.”

LOUISIANA’S OLDEST SETTLEMENT

Natchitoches (pronounced NAK-a-tish) is the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana. Its name comes from the Natchitoches Indian word meaning “Place of the Pawpaw,” and the town boasts a fascinating history as a French trading outpost, a gateway to Texas and a unique cultural blend of French, Spanish and Creole traditions.

Cotton once reigned as king, and even today, visitors can see cotton fields while driving country roads. Much of

ARTS & CULTURE ISSUE

Groups touring Natchitoches can tour Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, which replicates an 18th-century French military installation.

this history is captured at the 63-acre Cane River Creole National Historical Park, which includes Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in America. Both offer tours displaying the landscaping and buildings that once stood there.

The plantations do not shy away from their past. At Magnolia Planation, as many as 24 two-room brick slave cabins once housed a family in each room. Even after the

Civil War through the 1960s, Magnolia remained a successful farming operation.

Melrose Plantation was built by and for free people of color with a blend of French, African and Native American influences. It served as a hub for writers and artists, including Clementine Hunter, whose vibrant paintings of plantation life are on display.

To experience local military history, groups can visit the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, a replica of an 18th-century fort, along with Los Adaes State Historic Site, a strategic outpost that served as the capital of Texas and features the remains of a Spanish fort. The Fort Jesup State Historic Site is where thousands of settlers once passed on their way to Texas.

MEAT PIES AND CAJUN DELIGHTS

No visit is complete without eating a Natchitoches meat pie, a featured menu item at restaurants like Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant. The pie consists of ground beef, pork or a blend of both, seasoned with the Cajun trinity: onions, bell peppers and celery.

And while staying in Natchitoches, be sure to sample deep-fried Louisiana corn fritters, chicken and sausage gumbo, crawfish and other Cajun delights.

Another restaurant known for Cajun cuisine is The Loft at Five Thirty, which offers ribs, fresh seafood and traditional jazz each Thursday. A wide variety of other live music echoes throughout Natchitoches, including Zydeco, country, gospel, blues and rock.

St. Augustine Catholic Church in Natchez, about a 20-minute drive south of Natchitoches, is the cultural center of the Cane River area’s French, Spanish, Native American and Black Creole community. It was built for free people of color and stands as a testament to the resilience and faith of the Creole community.

Groups can tour several sites around town that featured prominently in “Steel Magnolias.” The home of lead character Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, played in the film by Julia Roberts, is the most popular stop on a film tour. But groups also visit St. Augustine Catholic Church where Shelby was married, Mrs. Robeline’s Boarding House on Rue Touline and American Cemetery, where Shelby’s funeral took place. Susan Harling Robinson Memorial Park, near the Steel Magnolias House, features the film’s actresses and honors playwright Robert Harling’s sister, Susan, who was the real-life inspiration for Shelby.

A wonderful way to experience it all is to board the red, white and blue Cane River Queen for a cruise. Captain Paul Lohr shares interesting facts about Natchitoches history as the ship passes the Rue Beauport Riverfront, a project that revitalized the riverbank.

For those who prefer water sports to enjoy the river, visitors can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, either as a solo adventure or with a group.

RIVERTOWN FESTIVALS

Natchitoches boasts a long list of beloved festivals.

When temperatures are high in July, guests enjoy folk crafts and Cajun music at the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, held in the air-conditioned Prather Coliseum of Northwestern State University.

A few weeks later, Natchitoches hosts the Cane River Zydeco Festival on Labor Day weekend, followed by the Meat Pie Festival and the relatively new and popular Bigfoot Festival.

A major attraction during the first weekend each October is the Classic Car Show, when people drive their vintage cars from the West Coast and other places, parking along the river and on downtown streets. Also during October, Tappedtober offers craft beers, wine and a great musical lineup.

One of the best-known events is the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival, which runs for six weeks until January 6. Visitors pack the town to experience the parade, live

A historic Natchitoches home

Brickwork documenting various spellings of “Natchitoches”

Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant

REAL FLAVOR. REAL HISTORY. REAL ADVENTURE.

In Louisiana’s River Parishes uniquely flavorful aromas delight the senses from the gumbo pots and smokehouses along the Andouille Trail, to the woody, curling smoke rising along the Mississippi River during the holiday celebrations of Bonfire Country.

Make adventure your destination in the waterways of New Orleans Swamp Country where you can fish the Catfish Capital of the Universe, hike on boardwalks raised over marshy swamplands, or kick back and enjoy a guided bayou boat tour. Our history, both real and unvarnished, is felt in the landmark homes of New Orleans Plantation Country and the museums along the 1811 Slave Revolt Trail, offering compelling and authentic experiences.

With our wide array of beautiful meeting spaces, flexible itinerary customization, and lagniappe such as multilingual tour leads, group travel is made easy in Louisiana’s River Parishes. LARiverParishes.com

entertainment, carnival rides, river cruises and carriage tours, as well as to see streets covered with 300,000 lights.

The town continues the party during Mardis Gras, when all of Louisiana celebrates with live music and king cakes.

No matter what time of year people visit, Natchitoches provides a warm welcome to everyone.

“One thing that sets us apart is our welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere,” Rachal said. “Locals love our tourists and treat them as family.”summer. Spectacular fall foliage and in winter, the snow truly transforms the garden. And it’s always 85 degrees in the Climatron!”

Adjacent to the gardens, Tower Grove Park is also worth a visit.

Let us help you plan your visit:

Willma Harvey, CTP, CTIS Director of Sales and Business Development willma@lariverparishes.com | 985-359-2783

The area between Forest Park and the botanical gardens, called “the Hill,” is a place to relax after touring, home to classic St. Louis culture. Italian immigrants began to arrive in the 1880s, joining the Irish, German and African-American enclave that had sprung up near the city’s highest point. Home to baseball great Yogi Berra, the Hill was also the birthplace of St. Louis-style pizza. Square-cut and graced with gooey Provel cheese, the savory pie originated in 1964 at the first Imo’s Pizza, still family-owned and now a successful regional chain.

The city’s signature appetizer, toasted ravioli, is said to have been invented at Charlie Gitto’s. It’s available there as well as at the neighborhood’s other Italian eateries. For dessert, try gooey butter cake, a favorite found all over the city.

Minor Basilica of Immaculate Conception

Music at a Natchitoches festival

BELEAGUERED BUT BULLISH BELEAGUERED BUT BULLISH

ASSOCIATION LEADERS UNITE

TO TACKLE OBSTACLES TO TOURISM GROWTH

CARYLANN ASSANTE, CEO, STUDENT AND YOUTH TRAVEL ASSOCIATION (SYTA)

TERRY DALE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, UNITED STATES TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (USTOA)

FRED

FERGUSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION (ABA)

CATHERINE

PRATHER, PRESIDENT, NTA

After years of record-setting tourism growth in the post-pandemic era, a challenging trade policy environment has injected uncertainty — and, in some cases, significant declines — into the travel industry. The Group Travel Leader spoke with the leaders of four tourism associations to get their perspectives on these challenges, as well as opportunities that may be growing in spite of them.

Why does tourism investment have so many detractors in government? Farming, alternative fuels and industrial development have all earned favorable treatment as vital components of our economy. Why is tourism disregarded for its economic contributions?

PRATHER: It’s so confounding. Tourism contributes tremendously, both economically and diplomatically. This would be a great question to pose to legislators: Why is tourism disregarded for its economic contributions? Once they reflect on the numbers alone, how could they not place greater value on our contributions and ensure that policy decisions and political rhetoric don’t have devastating effects on our essential tourism economy?

Looking at a table of U.S. employment by industry, we can see that leisure and hospitality surpasses employment in both retail trade and manufacturing. It doubles financial and construction activity. It’s greater than agriculture, mining and utilities.

The devastating cut in funding for Brand USA is a huge alarm for those of us in the industry. And federal funding cuts are pushing spending decisions to the state level, and states are already looking at redirecting tourism funding to other needs.

DALE: Why don’t we get recognized as a significant contributor to our nation’s economy? It’s not for a lack of education and awareness. Between USTOA and Brand USA, we’re [on Capitol Hill] all the time. We’re present. We’re engaged. During COVID, when it became dramatically apparent that hotels were empty and restaurants were less full, they recognized the loss of tourism and how valuable it is to local economies.

“Looking at a table of U.S. employment by industry, we can see that leisure and hospitality surpasses employment in both retail trade and manufacturing.”

What I think we’re doing wrong is that we’re not writing big [campaign] checks. And, at the end of the day, whether it’s fossil fuel or agriculture, they write checks. I’m not going to say we don’t, but we don’t in the kind of way that carries the weight of other segments of our economy.

MANY AMERICAN DESTINATIONS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE COMBINATION OF DECREASED VISITATION FROM OVERSEAS AND DECREASED FUNDING FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.

CATHERINE PRATHER

“A lot of people on the Hill still don’t understand Brand USA, so we have more educating to do. When we can expand our coalition, we can win.”

ASSANTE: My instinct is that tourism is very easy to see and impact, unlike other industries. Consumer goods, manufacturing — you just can’t shut down a plant, but you can shut down tourism very quickly by legislation or making decisions about visas or access. The very fact that travelers can choose not to travel — they can do without that. But they’re not going to not buy Apple phones or goods from China. We’re very visible, and it’s easy for the Canadians to make the decision not to travel. You can see it really quickly and really feel the impact.

FERGUSON: In the tourism community, we’re very fragmented. You have the bus association, the tour focus, the inbound focus, U.S. Travel. But what we have learned is that we have to do more to put the coalition to work to have a unified message. We have to expand our reach. When I was a congressional staffer and even when I was a lobbyist, Brand USA wasn’t at the top of my mind. I didn’t understand until I joined ABA what it is and why it matters. A lot of people on the Hill still don’t understand Brand USA, so we have more educating to do. When we can expand our coalition, we can win.

Inbound tourism to the U.S. has fallen significantly this year. Is this having any knock-on effects on the domestic traveler? Does it create any opportunities?

DALE: I think it does create opportunities for the domestic traveler. We always tout that the international traveler spends more per day and stays longer. But with the dramatic drop this year, my assumption would be there are some good packages for domestic travelers to take advantage of.

We do a lot of work with the national parks. They cut 1,100 positions then they scramble and try and rehire the 1,100 positions, and then they cut billions of dollars. Even the national park experience, I’m not sure what that’s going to be for our domestic travelers because everything has been turned upside down.

ASSANTE: From a domestic perspective, we have remained steady or even grown with in-country travel. And in-country travel in Canada has grown because Canadian students are staying in Canada and traveling around Canada. For North American students traveling outbound, we’re hearing that Europe is a popular destination. So, they’re traveling to Europe, but not traveling to the Middle East, Asia or India. They are sensitive to what’s happening around the world.

Interest in traveling to Europe seems to be on the rise among American student groups.

FRED FERGUSON

Policy changes have led to uncertainty about staffing levels and experience opportunities in America’s national parks.

What is concerning right now is the high cost of transportation. The weakening American dollar is making it more expensive to travel abroad.

FERGUSON: We operate the largest domestic travel show in North America. Our Marketplace 2026 is shaping up to be spectacular. We’re going to Reno, Nevada, which is the first time in 20 years we’ve been west of the Mississippi River. What that tells you is that businesses aren’t going to sit on their hands. If they’re losing inbound travelers, they’re going to go find it somewhere else. Domestic travel is a trend they’re pursuing. Our industry has to be able to answer the call. Right now, they’re doing that.

PRATHER: Are we seeing an increase in domestic travel? There are indications that Americans are shaking off earlier concerns about the economy, but not to the levels we had hoped would happen. In May, we saw that U.S. outbound travel increased 4.5% over last year, but that doesn’t necessarily point to an increase for domestic tourism. More than anything, this heightens the need for the United States to be more receptive to Canadian travelers to help keep our tourism economy strong. The economic uncertainty and chaos are causing people to tighten up a bit. We’re hearing about trips being shorter and closer to home.

We’re several years into the AI revolution. How are your organization and your members using it? What’s possible?

ASSANTE: I just finished an association survey on AI. We’re running a number of sessions on how to use AI for RFPs. It gathers information from destination websites and puts it into a format for an itinerary that saves time for a group travel planner that is working with a school and developing a number of itineraries. I have heard also that many of our supplier members are developing AI content. They’re drawing from their own content as opposed to using outside tools like ChatGPT. They want their team’s AI to pull from the approved, correct content.

FERGUSON: We’re trying to use our platform to teach our membership. We’ve had speakers at our in-person events. We’ve done webinars. We’re going to continue to do that. From ABA operations, we’re embracing the use of AI tech and tools. We’re a very small team, so when we’re able to automate tasks or use tools to save time, that gives us more availability to answer member questions. So, we’re pushing our dollars further. This is about maximizing our staff, not cutting staff.

PRATHER: At an association level, we have a chatbot that was developed by our corporate partner Satisfi Labs. It was trained on our own language to ensure it was going to be good content. It has saved some staff time. NTA tour operators are using AI to build or enhance itineraries, particularly when visiting new destinations. But it’s important to note that if they use it for these purposes, they will still verify the information, which is critical. Operators also say they’re turning to AI to jazz up existing content, spruce up schedules and generate copy for catalogs and newsletters.

How did a document created out of a colonial rebellion on the margins of the British empire become one of the most renowned statements of political rights in world history?

DALE: I believe that consumers, travel advisors and even my tour operators can start with AI in building an itinerary — just the basics. It’s still our belief that it requires the human touch to find those unique moments. But it can give you a basis to start from, which saves a lot of research, time and energy. I saw an AI expert a couple weeks ago saying you should encourage your team to spend five minutes a day just playing with AI — getting comfortable with it and exploring how you might use it at work and at home to make your life easier.

Artificial intelligence and other technologies are changing the ways travelers research and purchase their trips.

“I have heard also that many of our supplier members are developing AI content. They’re drawing from their own content as opposed to using outside tools like ChatGPT.”

There seems to be a new spirit of cooperation among tourism organizations in recent months. What are the biggest opportunities for our industry to make progress through collaboration and cooperation?

FERGUSON: It started for me at Marketplace. I took the stage for the very first time the same day that the Canadian tariffs were announced. At that moment, I brought the head of the Motorcoach Canada Association and the head of the United Motorcoach Association up on stage with me to say, “These tariffs are going to be no joke. Twothirds of motorcoach capacity is based in Canada. This is going to be bad.” Since that meeting, we have done a weekly conference call with those associations and our manufacturers to make sure we’re all rowing in the same direction when it comes to tariffs. So far, motorcoaches have been kept off the Canadian tariff list, so that has been successful.

MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF TRAVEL EXPERIENCES WILL LIMIT THE INCURSION OF AI INTO THE INDUSTRY.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

CARYLANN AS SANTE

“This is a critical time for all of us. The more we can collaborate, the stronger we’ll be. ”

PRATHER: We know within our own association that when travel professionals work together, share info and troubleshoot challenges, everyone benefits. It’s the same when tourism organizations work together. Nowhere has cooperation proven more effective than in our advocacy work. The Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition has about 15 U.S. and Canadian tourism organizations working together to be that unified voice for common sense policy. Is this coalition a short-term or long-term thing? We feel it’s a long-term thing because there are always going to be challenges. We’re trying to raise the awareness of the vast importance of travel and tourism.

DALE: This is a critical time for all of us. The more we can collaborate, the stronger we’ll be. We’re not going to change the current administration, no matter what we do. But it comes down to awareness; this is about jobs. When you have Canada, your number one market, suffer that kind of loss, at the end of the day it means jobs. I hope this collaboration is one of the lessons from this experience. Let’s say six years down the road, Canadians are willing to come back. I don’t think initiatives like Beyond Borders should cease because there’s always going to be something we need to pay attention to somewhere in the world.

ASSANTE: I’m working with a new coalition of associations across all sectors of the travel industry looking at cross-border travel. We have another coalition around the national parks. How can we use our voice to impact what’s happening? I definitely see it, and it’s exciting. I also think you have a lot of association leaders who are interested and involved in connecting with each other. There are some new leaders and a lot more conversation about how we can better work together.

TOURISM LEADERS ARE TURNING TO COLLABORATION AND RELATIONSHIPBUILDING TO SHORE UP THE INDUSTRY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES.

TERRY DALE

INTELLIGENT STEPS INTELLIGENT STEPS

ACQUAINT YOURSELF NOW WITH AI

WBy Rachel Crick

hether they’re fearful of artificial intelligence’s rapid rise or turned off by tech in general, many travel industry professionals have yet to explore its potential. But this buzzworthy tech also opens a lot of doors for those in the travel industry.

For small tour operators with a lot on their plates, AI can help outsource their least favorite parts of the job and increase productivity. Larger tour companies may see even more benefit, as AI can help them analyze the large amounts of data they collect. But how should tour operators, travel agents and other trip planners begin using this powerful tool?

We talked to three AI experts in the travel space. Here’s what they had to say about using artificial intelligence to plan group travel.

HOW AI CAN HELP

AI can make life easier for tour operators, travel agents and other travel business owners in a variety of ways. Here are just a few of the many ways travel professionals can make smart use of AI to reduce tedium and boost creativity.

MARKETING

Marketing is one of the most common use cases for AI. Many people start with social media because a lot of platforms already come equipped with AI assistance for generating posts. International tour director and tech enthusiast Micky Kandola said travel planners can use AI to easily generate social media copy. Or they can use the AI features on sites like Canva or Adobe Express to create branded infographics and images.

But its utility doesn’t stop with content creation. It can also help tour operators on the strategic side by performing tasks like creating a social media strategy, performing audits on current social media pages or even analyzing posts for audience engagement. It can create pro forma documents like press releases or customize marketing emails to apply to a different segment of a tour operator’s audience.

POPULAR PLATFORMS: ChatGPT, Jasper, Copy.ai

TRY THIS: Ask AI to create an engaging social media post advertising your upcoming trips for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn using relevant hashtags.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Some artificial intelligence tools can help travel professionals forge strong relationships with customers. According to Dan Christian, founder and host of Travel Trends Podcast, one popular application is using an AI chatbot to answer frequently asked questions on a travel company’s website. These bots can comb through website content to answer simple questions while directing more complex questions to the tour operator. There are countless platforms that offer AI chatbots, many of which can be plugged into existing websites with easy-to-use integrations.

TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS CAN USE AI TO ASSIST THEM WITH PLANNING TRIPS AND RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES.

DAN CHRISTIAN

TRAVEL TRENDS PODCAST

“Tour operators are in a special place because we’re all about the in-person, human-to-human connection and the gift of travel. AI makes it possible to focus more on that part of the job.”

AI can also make improvements to a business based on customer feedback, thanks to its ability to sort and analyze data. If customers answer post-trip surveys, trip leaders can input this data and ask AI to generalize the survey results, create charts or other graphics, and even make suggestions for improving their business model.

POPULAR PLATFORMS: Intercom, Zapier Chatbots, ChatGPT, HubSpot

TRY THIS: Ask AI to analyze the post-trip survey data from your most recent trip to compile a list of what customers liked and didn’t like.

RESEARCH/PRODUCT CREATION

In many ways, AI is just a fancy search engine, capable of answering multiple complex questions at the same time. That’s what makes it such an excellent tool for research and generating ideas for travel products. Travel planners can ask for everything from a destination’s best-rated restaurants to a two-day itinerary for that destination. Kandola advised that AI is also great at summarizing. Travel planners can upload everything from industry reports on tourism to destination guides and have AI give them a comprehensive list of the highlights.

Tour operators can also use AI to adapt their current products to better suit a different segment of their audience. If they have an adult-friendly trip but want to make it appeal to student groups, they could upload the itinerary and ask AI to make changes that will make it suitable for teenagers.

POPULAR PLATFORMS: ChatGPT, Perplexity

TRY THIS: Upload a PDF of a destination’s visitors guide and ask AI to generate talking points for the motorcoach ride to that destination.

BACK-OFFICE TASKS

Managing the administrative tasks of a business can be time-consuming and tedious, but Janette Roush, senior vice president of innovation and chief AI officer at Brand USA, said AI can assist with everything from accounting and finances to bookkeeping. AI in bookkeeping software can record and sort transactions, track expenses and predict cash flow based on a business’s past performance. It can also automatically record and analyze financial data and generate reports or internal memos.

“Start with something very small, like emails. Just open it, make a free account and see what you can improve. You’ll see the benefits right away.”

If they’re looking to expand their business, travel business owners can use AI to help create job descriptions and vet resumes against these descriptions. It can also help them create training or onboarding materials, from contracts to employee handbooks.

POPULAR PLATFORMS: QuickBooks, Xero, Workable, Breezy HR, ChatGPT

TRY THIS: Ask AI to generate a job description to post on a job-seeking site for tour guides to lead your trips.

EVERYDAY WORKFLOW

AI can act as a virtual assistant to help users manage their time and off-load menial tasks like answering emails, taking notes during meetings and scheduling appointments. Many AI platforms integrate directly with email accounts to automatically create calendar items or tasks from the body text of incoming emails. Some AI assistants can sit in during meetings and generate transcriptions and summaries of what was discussed, as well as send action items to the other parties involved. Some smart scheduling tools can even help business owners prioritize their list of tasks for the day.

POPULAR PLATFORMS: Notion, Microsoft Copilot, Clockwise, Otter.ai

TRY THIS: Use an AI assistant to transcribe and summarize your meetings.

Creatively Fun Learning? IT’S A SHORE THING

Shores & Islands Ohio offers educational travel for everyone. From historical tours on Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island), to learning encounters at Cedar Point Amusement Park, we have something for students of all ages. For more information visit Groups.SHORESandISLANDS.com

Start planning your experience today, contact Joe Sugalski at joe@shoresandislands.com.

MICKY KANDOLA

INTERNATIONAL TOUR DIRECTOR

HOW AI CAN’T HELP

Just because AI can do something doesn’t mean it should. Here are some use cases that travel technology experts recommend avoiding — at least for now.

WRITING LONG-FORM CONTENT

Many people have turned to AI for help with writing projects, and it’s easy to understand why. It generates large blocks of content almost instantly, but that doesn’t mean travel planners should use it for every type of writing. AI writing tends be repetitive, generic and predictable, and it frequently contains factual inaccuracies or exaggerations.

While it can be helpful for developing ideas, creating social media copy or outlining writing, nobody wants their audience to know them for unoriginal, uninspired content. Roush recommended relying on human professionals for anything long-form and public-facing to ensure its quality, whether that’s large chunks of website copy, blog posts or articles about destinations. If writing isn’t their strong suit, planners can still use AI tools to help catch errors and enhance their copy.

GENERATING DESTINATION IMAGES

These days, it’s a common experience to look at a photo and realize something is off, like extra fingers or missing limbs. We used to assume these mistakes were by-products of bad photoshop (and to be fair, they might still be). But strange photo errors can increasingly be attributed to AI, which sometimes struggles to keep images accurate to life.

On the flip side of things, some AI photography is too good to be true. Photography and videography with enhanced colors and even fictional places can tantalize potential customers, but it raises a few ethical concerns, too. Relying on AI imagery in travel marketing materials

AI can help planners streamline many systems within their businesses

or other content can add up to misrepresenting a product. Travel planners should want their customers to be drawn in by a real image, not a fictional utopia — or worse, a picture with an embarrassing mistake in it. Using real photography to market trips is a safer bet to make sure no customers feel deceived once they decide to book.

COMPLEX CUSTOMER SERVICE

Chatbots can be a great first line of defense against frequently asked questions on a travel website. But everyone who has ever had an uncommon question or a complex problem knows how frustrating it is to explain their situation to a chatbot. While small customer service needs can be fielded by AI, complicated complaints are best left to humans. Christian argued tour operators should never let AI completely replace their business’s customer service. Having an easy option for customers to take their questions to the next level ensures they always feel valued.

FOOLPROOF CONTENT

What can you say about a place like Georgetown, Kentucky? A lot, actually. From our world-famous equine attractions to world-class dining, bourbon, and outdoor recreation, Georgetown is the home of Bluegrass adventure. It’s your kind of place, you just don’t know it yet.

That’s Georgetown, Kentucky for ya!

Learn more at georgetownky.com 844-863-8600 Go where the grass is bluegrassier

AI can be a wonderful tool for research because it’s great at aggregating large amounts of data and answering multiple questions at a time. But it shouldn’t be regarded as foolproof. While it may be a great place to start, AI doesn’t always have the best eye for detail, and nothing that it generates should be regarded as ready to publish. If a travel planner decides to use AI to create an itinerary for their next trip, they should expect to fact-check every aspect of it, from the hours of the attractions to drive times between locations.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Once they get a few ideas on how AI can benefit their business — and how it can’t — tour operators can use these simple tips to begin reaping its rewards.

START SMALL

If they’ve never used AI before, tour operators shouldn’t pressure themselves to become experts overnight. They can start small by simply picking an AI platform to try out for just 15 minutes a day. ChatGPT or Jasper are great places to begin because they’re user-friendly. Begin by creating an account and asking AI to complete simple tasks for practice.

IDENTIFY THE PAIN POINTS

If there are parts of their business they love working on, Roush urges travel planners not to give those up. Instead, they should think about the pain points in their workflow and how AI can help. If they always feel buried in emails from potential customers, they can create a website chatbot or an AI assistant that can vet questions and answer emails. If they feel overwhelmed by keeping up with their company’s social media, using AI can make creating and optimizing social media posts less time-consuming.

“Every day, test something new with AI. But make it the thing you hate the most about your job. Let AI steal the work you don’t like, not your favorite things to do.”

LET’S EXPLORE IN LINCOLN, NEBRASK A

There is nothing more exciting than finding new places to enjoy a breezy summer night. Come experience it for yourself!

JANETTE ROUSH

“I strongly recommend creating your own custom GPT, whether you use that for customer service or replying to emails. The point is, content can be largely automated, and it’s a tool that will help produce this on your behalf.”

DON’T BE AFRAID

There is a lot of fear surrounding AI and the possibility of it eliminating jobs. But even the most advanced AI can’t replace many travel workers because the industry centers around how it makes people feel, and human connection is at the pinnacle of that experience. AI won’t be leading trips around the world any time soon, so travel planners shouldn’t be afraid it’s going to take their spots as group leaders. Even for travel agents — who may worry their role will be eclipsed by the convenience of AI — excellent customer service and strong client relationships can’t be replaced. Travel industry professionals should give themselves and their businesses the competitive edge and streamline their operations by being bold and implementing AI.

No trip to Kentucky is complete without indulging in our legendary bourbon! The Capital City is home to the Bourbon Boat and five unique distilleries just a stone’s throw away from one another, each promising an unforgettable bourbon adventure!

Please drink responsibly.

The Spirits of Frankfort

AI can be implemented across a wide range of platforms and devices devices. visitfrankfort.com

CREATE A CUSTOM GPT

While it may seem a bit advanced at first, Christian said creating a custom GPT is much simpler than it seems with a premium subscription to an AI platform. He recommends doing so as a way to level up one’s use of AI. A custom GPT is essentially AI that has been trained to adopt a particular persona. A tour operator can build a custom GPT for creating social media copy using their curated brand voice. They can also create custom GPTs for different segments of an audience, such as types of groups they work with when creating content or tour products.

— DAN CHRISTIAN, TRAVEL TRENDS PODCAST

upgrade your

NEW WATERS NEW WATERS

WHAT RIVER CRUISING IN NORTHERN

ITALY TAUGHT ME ABOUT GROUP TRAVEL

By Rachel Crick

It isn’t often a trip to Europe falls into your lap, much less a river cruise in idyllic Northern Italy with a two-day extension to Rome tacked on. But in April of this year, I was invited to join a student performance trip to Northern Italy as a guest of Sandra Weinacht, owner of Inside Europe Travel Experiences. The group comprised the choir from San Marino High School in Los Angeles and their chaperones, friends and family.

This trip marked a lot of firsts for me — first time in Europe, first time on a river cruise, first time on a student performance trip. Thanks to a collection of phenomenal guides, an incredible itinerary and all the Old-World charms of Italy, this trip proved to be a Russian nesting doll of enchanting and educational experiences.

Here are seven lessons I learned along the way.

1. TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT: TRAVEL TO EUROPE IS LESS COMPLICATED IF YOU’RE PREPARED

As someone who seldom manages to sleep on planes, I wasn’t overly excited for the roughly 10-hour flight to Venice. But when I stepped off the plane at 10 a.m. local time, my first thought was, “that wasn’t so bad.”

A big part of the ease I felt was due to being so prepared. I already knew to prepare for the obvious things, like making sure my passport was up to date. But I’d also been advised to exchange currency at my local bank rather than scrambling to do it upon arrival, and I had borrowed a power adapter and downloaded the Customs and Border Patrol Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app to make re-entry to the country easier.

Tour operators can expect many of their travelers to feel a bit of anxiety, particularly if they’re young or inexperienced with international travel. Nothing makes you nervous like waiting in line with your passport to meet the stern face of a customs officer for the first time. But all the preparations I made significantly eased my nerves and let me sit back and enjoy my first overnight flight to Europe, including the stunning view as we flew over the Alps on the way to the Venice Marco Polo Airport.

2. MANTUA: LESSER-KNOWN DESTINATIONS ARE WORTH EXPLORING

I met Weinacht and her team at the airport, and we began our drive to Mantua, the starting point of the six-day river cruise. I had never heard of Mantua before, but what I found there couldn’t have given me a more favorable first impression of Italy.

This ancient city in Lombardy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour took us to see some of its significant cultural hot spots, including the Palazzo Ducale, the palace built and occupied by the powerful Gonzaga family, who ruled from 1328 to 1707 and transformed the city into a hub of culture and art.

THE VENETIAN ISLAND BURANO IS KNOWN FOR ITS COLORFUL HOMES AND LACE-MAKING TRADITIONS.

We learned about the Torre dell’Orologio, a 15th-century Renaissance clock tower that also observed moon phases and zodiac signs. We also visited the Basilica di Sant’ Andrea, commissioned by the Gonzagas in 1472. In addition to its high arched ceilings, Roman façade and frescoed interior, the basilica is notable for housing a holy relic — sand said to contain drops of Christ’s blood collected during the crucifixion.

Explorations on our own yielded just as many wonders as our tour. The town’s cobblestone piazzas were bustling, but not overcrowded, and lined with shops that beckoned us inside with displays of colorful candies, fresh-baked breads and handmade pastas. Gelaterias were authentic and easy to find.

The choir’s first performance was held in the Romanesque Rotonda di San Lorenzo, an 11th-century church modeled after Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was awe-inspiring to stand in a structure built over a millennium ago, and the music sounded gorgeous in the intimate setting.

Mantua is a gem travelers could easily pass over for more prominent Italian cities, but to do so would be a huge mistake. In Mantua, travelers can appreciate authentic regional flavors, rich history and jaw-dropping architecture while dispensing with overwhelming crowds and inflated prices.

3. VERONA: VISIT THE HOT SPOTS, BUT LOOK FOR HIDDEN GEMS

If anyone can remember their high school English classes, they may recall the opening monologue from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which sets its scene in “fair Verona.” Sadly, that was the extent of my familiarity with the city.

When in Verona, most tourists want to visit Juliet’s House, which features a small stone courtyard with a statue of Juliet beneath a stone balcony. Visitors can go out onto the balcony and recite Juliet’s lines, but they may not know it’s actually a 20th-century addition to a local building with

no meaningful connection to the Shakespeare play.

Though the balcony itself was a tourist trap, I was charmed by the thousands of love locks chained to the fence leading into the little courtyard, relics of a thousand couples pledging their devotion.

Book your tour between October 18, 2025 and April 19, 2026 and your group will also get to tour our special exhibition, Cowboys: History and Hollywood.

However, there were a dozen other surprises in Verona that made the visit worthwhile, including the Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater dating back to 30 A.D., and even a 14th-century castle, Castelvecchio, overlooking the Adige River.

Another one of these surprises came before we even arrived in Verona, when Weinacht took a small group of us to find an authentic Italian bite to eat. We found a charming restaurant in the countryside, Trattoria Le Donne Di Alfeo. The owners served us their homemade pasta stuffed with squash and cheese, along with immensely flavorful grilled vegetables. They even treated us to their homemade hazelnut liqueur.

Our visit to Verona taught me to visit the tourist hot spots but also never to stop looking for hidden gems; these might be where you make some of the most worthwhile memories.

The San Marino High School Choir outside of Mantua’s Rotonda di San Lorenzo

Mantua at sunset

4. SAN MARINO: PERSONALIZED ITINERARIES ELEVATE A TRIP

The group got an early start the next day and was bussed to San Marino, a landlocked microstate in central Italy. It’s the third smallest state in Europe and fifth smallest in the world. And, because they were so close, the San Marino High School choir wanted to visit their school’s namesake.

The bus ride to the city’s historic district boasted dramatic mountain vistas. At the top, the city’s steeply sloping streets gave way to large piazzas with historic bell towers and amazing views of the verdant slopes and red rooftops below. Eclectic museums, shops and restaurants lined the streets. Looming over it all, magnificent stone castles with even more incredible views were available for tours. A local guide gave us an extensive tour of the city’s rich history, including the history of Saint Marinus and the republic’s complicated relationship with the Catholic church.

The students performed in the Basilica San Marinus, with another added surprise: Students from a local high school were in the audience. Following the performance, the students from both schools got a chance to meet each other and spend time together.

The day trip to San Marino was not part of Weinacht’s standard Northern Italy itinerary, but it was a bonus stop that added a level of richness to the students’ experience on both sides. Flexibility and personalization within an itinerary can add layers to the trip, perhaps not only for travelers, but also for the places they travel to.

A bell tower in San Marino

The Verona Arena Gnocchi at a San Marino restaurant

5. BURANO: STRAY FROM THE BEATEN PATH

Renowned for its colorful buildings and lace-making traditions, Burano was a gorgeous sight to take in from my cabin as we docked the following morning.

We set out to explore while it was still early. I was amazed by the vivacity of the colors on the island, from the facades of its homes to the boats that lined its canals.

In Burano, I learned the importance of straying from the beaten path when exploring a new place. There were main avenues designed for tourists with shops on either side, but some of the most breathtaking sights were found in alleyways and hidden courtyards. That’s where we saw buildings painted purple to match the blooming wisteria that coated their facades and tables being set for restaurants with glassware that sparkled like gemstones. We saw ordinary people beginning the day in their boats, hanging laundry out to dry on clotheslines, paving the streets and preparing food for their restaurants.

That’s not to say we shunned the traditional tourist experience — we still shopped for spices, glassware and clothing before heading back to the ship. But the magic of Burano’s colorful streets felt far greater the farther we strayed from the beaten path.

6. VENICE: RIVER CRUISING UNLOCKS A LOT OF POTENTIAL

After our morning outing in Burano, we enjoyed lunch while en route to the heart of Venice, where we would dock for the remainder of the trip.

There was a lot about river cruising that was pleasantly surprising. The chartered ship, MS Michelangelo, was specifically designed to be smaller and more compact to navigate the waterways of Italy. The ship’s 78 cabins were small but sensible, and the crew provided excellent service. Chartering the boat also meant the students enjoyed the run of the ship, including late-night karaoke parties that wouldn’t have been possible in a hotel.

We’d already gone through locks outside of Mantua, something fascinating to see up close, but I’ll never forget sailing into Venice. We glided along the teal waters of the Venetian Lagoon, passing centuries-old buildings with intricacies that demonstrated the convergence of the city’s Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Gondolas drifted lazily down canals, and shops, cafes and markets lined the streets. Each alley led to a surprise, such as the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, known for a 15th-century, multi-arch spiral staircase straight out of a fairytale, where the students performed.

Lace fans and wisteria in Burano

A gondola in Venice

A choir performance at Venice’s Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Views of Venice from the water

CroisiEurope’s MS Michelangelo

Gelato for dessert

St. Peter’s Chair in the Vatican

This trip taught me that river cruising is an ideal way to explore Italy, and that became especially apparent in Venice. The group didn’t have to stay at a hotel near the airport because we were docked just a 10-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square. The group especially enjoyed being set loose in the heart of one of the world’s most magnificent cities, all without ever having to change hotel rooms.

7. ROME: STUDENT TRAVEL IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN I KNEW

I wanted to see a little more of Italy before I left, so I took an early morning train from Venice to Rome to meet up with another one of Weinacht’s student groups.

After a private rehearsal in one of the chapels in Vatican City, the students headed into St. Peter’s Basilica to sing at the evening mass. Completed in 1626, this marvelous basilica was designed by some of history’s most famous architects, from Bramante to Raphael. The 452-foot-tall dome overhead, painted with images of the apostles, was designed by Michelangelo. Opulent details like St. Peter’s Chair, a gilded throne by the altar, and the Baldacchino, which marks the grave of Saint Peter, add to its splendor.

The group’s performance was as lovely as their rehearsals foreshadowed, but what struck me most occurred when mass was over. Small groups of students embraced with tears streaming down their cheeks. Whether they were moved by their faith or simply overwhelmed by the undeniable gravity of performing in the Vatican, this display of emotion was proof of how profoundly affected they were by this travel experience.

Thinking of my own student trips invokes memories of a neon-lit Times Square and staying up all night with my friends. But I didn’t realize how my own travels as a student may have shaped me until I saw other lives being shaped in the same way. Watching them enjoy the opportunity to experience a city that’s been the lifeblood of civilization for thousands of years showed me the world of student travel has fewer limits than I thought.

The next day, the group visited iconic Roman sites like the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. As we explored the beautiful Piazza Navona, I thought about how this life-changing trip to Italy might affect this group. Perhaps they would become avid travelers, curious about the world for the remainder of their lives. Or maybe they would simply carry the memories of eating gelato in the heart of Rome, surrounded by their friends.

Either way, I felt lucky to bear witness.

travelportland.com/information-for-travel-professionals

BUYER’S GUIDE DIRECTORY

KENTUCKY ALABAMA

Sweet Home Alabama

Shawna Faniel

shawna.faniel@tourism.alabama.gov 334-353-1907

alabama.travel

Alabama offers an unforgettable journey through America’s heart and soul. Groups will find something extraordinary at every turn — from the pivotal sites of the Civil Rights Movement and space exploration to legendary music studios and breathtaking Gulf Coast beaches. Whether it’s history, culture, food or adventure, Alabama is where stories of the past come alive and heartfelt connections run deep.

Visit Mobile Patty Kieffer sales@mobile.org 334-353-1907 mobile.org/leisure-groups

Mobile, Alabama has long been a favored Gulf Coast destination for group itineraries. The unique, exceptionally walkable downtown entertainment district, historic appeal, Southern charm and eclectic cuisine scene are sure to impress and please groups of all sizes.

VisitColumbusGA

Ashley Woitena 800-999-1613

visitcolumbusga.com

Columbus, Georgia, is an ideal destination boasting group accommodations in an amenity-rich setting, centrally located for easy accessibility from major cities in the Southeast. Columbus brings its A-game with versatile meeting space, first-class hotels and dining, and activities great for team-building skills, adventures and more.

Visit Savannah Anjuli King aking@visitsavannah.com 912-644-6423 visitsavannah.com

Savannah, Georgia is a city that tops your bucket list with its magnetic blend of tours, dining and entertainment. Stroll storybook streets and soak in the lively cultural scene. Celebrated as one of the “Best Cities in the US” by Travel + Leisure, Savannah beckons unforgettable adventures and charming escapades.

Ark Encounter Eddie Lutz mail@answersingenesis.org 800-721-2298

arkencounter.com

Prepare to think bigger at the life-size Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. The world’s largest timber-frame structure features three decks of faith-affirming exhibits; a zoo with animals like lemurs, kangaroos and camels; and so much more.

Kentucky Department of Tourism Chenelle McGee chenelle.mcgee@ky.gov 502-892-3232 kentuckytourism.com/travel-tools/ group-travel

Give your group an adventure to remember in Kentucky, where one-of-a-kind attractions and natural wonders boast the trip of a lifetime! Explore Kentucky’s charming horse country, vibrant small towns, wideopen spaces and bourbon distilleries. All of this and more await in the Bluegrass State. Plan your group getaway today!

Oldham County KY Tourism

Kim Hydes director@touroldham.com 502-222-0056 oldhamkygroups.com

Oldham County, just 20 minutes from downtown Louisville, is known as the Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky. It’s a perfect hub for exploring Bourbon, Horses, Trains and Underground Railroad history. Stay just outside the city and SAVE while experiencing ALL things Kentucky in ONE place…. ONLY in Oldham!

Destrehan Plantation

Leslie Brewer leslie@destrehanplantation.org 985-764-9315 destrehanplantation.org

Established in 1787, Destrehan Plantation is the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley and the closest plantation to New Orleans. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Tours leave every half hour.

LOUISIANA

Houmas House Historic Estate and Gardens

Leslie Brewer leslie@houmashouse.com 225-473-9380

houmashouse.com

Houmas House is a majestic Louisiana estate offering a captivating blend of history and luxury. Explore the grandeur of a restored antebellum mansion, wander through exquisite gardens, indulge in fine dining and relax in elegant accommodations. Whether a romantic escape or a memorable event, Houmas House creates lasting impressions.

Louisiana — Feed Your Soul

Matthew Cope mcope@crt.la.gov 225-342-8100

explorelouisiana.com

Visiting Louisiana is different for everyone. No matter what you love, you’ll find what you need to Feed Your Soul. With a variety of live music, natural beauty, a rich culture and delicious food, Louisiana has something for everyone. What will your Louisiana be? Visit FindYourLouisiana.com to start planning.

NEBRASKA

Visit Lincoln

Lindsey Bolander lbolander@lincoln.org 402-436-2310 lincoln.org/groups

Let Visit Lincoln help plan your next stay in Lincoln. We offer a full complement of planning and logistics services to help you make the most of your time and budget. With unique spaces and possibilities, your group will love your stay and what you can experience here in Lincoln!

NEW JERSEY

Visit Atlantic City

Heather Colache heatherc@visitatlanticcity.com 609-318-6097

visitatlanticcity.com/group-travel

Live to Explore Atlantic City. A world of entertainment and unique experiences awaits your arrival. Enjoy tax-free shopping, the world-famous Boardwalk, award-winning dining for every taste, exhilarating gaming action and live entertainment. Visit Atlantic City is delighted to assist you with planning your next group visit to our seaside destination!

OHIO

Shores & Islands Ohio

Joey Sugalski joe@shoresandislands.com 419-625-2984

shoresandislands.com

Bring your group to picturesque Shores & Islands Ohio for an unforgettable adventure. Experience the beauty of Lake Erie, from tranquil island getaways to bustling waterfronts. Enjoy boating, hiking and exploring local attractions. Perfect for group bonding, relaxation and creating lasting memories amidst stunning landscapes.

OREGON

Travel Portland

Josie Ratnayake

josie@travelportland.com 419-625-2984

travelportland.com/informationfor-travel-professionals

Portland offers an experience like no other for your group. Spend time in beautiful gardens and parks then enjoy the renowned food scene. With tax-free shopping options and easy access to nature getaways, Portland is the perfect spot to get out and explore.

RHODE ISLAND

Collette

888-617-0769

collette.com/groups

Collette Makes Group Travel Easy Trust your group to Collette, the group experts for more than 100 years. Our team of experts will guide you in delivering the perfect trip for your travelers. Collette offers over 170 tours to all seven continents and styles from small group to cruising.

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum

Amy Raines media.bush@nara.gov 979-691-4000 bush41.org

Visit the new 29,000-square-foot James A. Baker, III Pavilion at the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum. The new building features a retired Marine One helicopter, the Union Pacific 4141 Locomotive and a cafe, Daisy’s Table. Also on exhibit through January 2026 is Music America: Iconic Objects From America’s Music History.

GEORGIA

LOUISIANA