We set off on our travels with dreams, and return with memories that last a lifetime.

Now, as we near the end of what would have been the 2020 travel season, we have all been through a year like no other. While the global pandemic has resulted in so many delayed travel plans and trips, it has not stopped us from recalling the magic of our past travels – nor dreaming about where we will go in the future.

Over these past months we have heard from many guests who have been flipping through their scrapbooks and photos, reliving those memories, recalling places they’ve visited and people they’ve met through their travels with TTCs brands. That inspired us, in turn, to look through letters, emails, shared comments and postings that have come through on social media, from our guests sharing the stories of their journeys.

This month, in honor of World Tourism Day on September 27 and TTC’s 100th anniversary, we thought it fitting to share a few of those stories from several of the brands (those not included in our September video – please have a look directly below this post if you’ve not seen it yet) – tales and pictures that remind us why we do what we do.

Much as we have missed you this year, we very much look forward to serving you in the coming year – and for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Brett Tollman

Chief Executive – TTC

Our time in Tanzania in the bush and on game drives was spectacular! We saw all five of the big game animals: African elephant, leopard, lion, Cape buffalo, and Black rhinoceros. Witnessed the wildebeest migration along with herds of zebra, elephants and impalas. Our driver Salim was amazing as he traversed nearly impossible roads because of the rain. He was knowledgeable about flora and fauna as well as spotting animals in the wild. He could identify any creature be it winged or footed.

Because of COVID-19 our visit to Victoria Falls was cancelled due to closed boarders and cancelled return flights. We are most grateful to Meggan and her team at African Travel, Inc., John and Erick, Salim, Mohamed, and Leopard Tours for securing our flights and transfers and getting us to the airport in time!

Erick went above and beyond, staying at the hotel and sleeping in his car to be sure he learned of any flight changes in a timely manner. We couldn’t possibly say enough to thank all who made sure we arrived home safely – thank you all!

– Cathy and Fred

From Brendan Vacations – #MyBrendanStory

Adventurous hikes and perfect views. You’ve got to go the Great Glen Way.

– Stephen 

One of my happiest days yet… Ireland is a country I’ve always dreamt of visiting and I’ve completely fallen for.
– Biankka 

The Celtic Isles of Ireland and Scotland are home to centuries of myths and legends, and all who visit here write a chapter in our story. What will yours be?

– Brendan Vacations

I have always longed to travel to India but travel on my own terms and see the real India, exploring the paths less traveled. Being a solo traveler, I was a bit apprehensive, but I was so delighted to find Adventure World Travel. Your team listened and gave so much expert advice to create a trip just for me. The boutique hotels I stayed at were so unique and beautiful; and my private guide Ananya was beyond amazing. I will cherish this trip…

– Thelma

Our trip was fantastic! Hands down, the best part was our guide Sheila, she was hilarious, extremely knowledgeable, and really made this trip special for us. It was also very well organized, safe, and hygienic during the Covid-19 pandemic. Highly recommend Evan Evans day tours from London…. 10/10!

– Tim

Mel was a wonderful tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, witty and just an overall gem! We have booked plenty of tours in other countries and cities we’ve visited but this one was by far the best! Everything ran smoothly, we learned so much about the history of London and beyond and we are super thankful to Evan Evans for providing us with such a lovely time on our first trip to London! We will definitely be recommending to our friends back home!

– Jessica

Our trip was amazing! We had the best time – all of our accommodations were fantastic and we cannot wait to go back to Africa – I am already planning a tentative time to go back :). Cape Town was great – we visited Table Mountain and the Botanical Gardens. The suggestion to stay in Franschhoek was really appreciated – we loved it so much. It was so beautiful there and all of the wineries were incredible.

Kapama was an amazing safari experience – we saw the Big 5 (multiple times) and lots of other animals and our guide/tracker went above and beyond for our group. Mozambique was beautiful and Dugong was a perfect relaxing quiet way to end our trip. Thank you for everything! We will definitely contact Lion World when we plan our return trip to Africa!

– Margret

The trip to Egypt was fantastic! Every aspect was incredible and we really appreciate the time you took to help us put it all together. The accommodations were all first class, the transfers and personal attention from your team was friendly and efficient. Mohammed in Cairo was fantastic and incredibly helpful as was everyone we met from the team. A very well-run organization.

Wa’el, our guide, could not have been better. His knowledge of Egypt, both historical and current, was beyond compare – not to mention he’s also a pretty good iPhone photographer! We trusted him right away once he told us that we had to leave at 6:30am to get to Giza and the Pyramids. We were the first people there and had the incredible experience of being the ONLY PEOPLE inside the Great Pyramid burial chamber. We even beat the guard who was supposed to be in there! Overall, I’d rate our trip with 5 stars out of 5. This is our second Lion World Travel excursion, we certainly consider ourselves “repeat customers” and will book with you again.

– Ryan & Jess

Just came back from Beaches and Reefs trip in Australia and would fly back tomorrow if I could! It’s the best time I’ve ever had on a holiday and could not believe how much we did. Our trip manager Jayne was just brilliant, she was so friendly, helpful, and just such a great person to be around! Jayne’s knowledge and history of Oz was just fantastic and just showed how passionate she was about her job. If you want to see as much as you can in Oz in a small amount of time, I would 100% recommend this trip! Thanks, Contiki, for the best holiday of a lifetime – and can’t wait to book again!

– Carla

Contiki Asia was The Best Holiday I have ever had! Amazing places, people, and trip manager! Ole was absolutely fantastic. She was so helpful and lovely and honestly could not do enough for you. She was really informative and clearly knew a lot about the different areas we visited… I also liked that we had a choice of activities such as the elephant sanctuary or the temples. The nightlife in all locations was great and the weather was exceptional every day. It was so amazing to meet like-minded people from all over the world – people I will stay in touch with forever!

– Shea

Dear Traveler, 

It has been said that while appreciation happens in the moment, gratitude comes only over time. These days, those of us at TTC – like travelers all around the world – are spending our time very differently than we had expected nor want to be doing right now. 

With our travels put on hold, we would like to use this time to step back and reflect on the gift of travel, recalling some of the amazing places we have been, the wonder we have experienced and the people we have met.

This coming in the midst of the celebration of TTC’s first 100 years, is unfortunate, but there will be another time for that in the future. We know that the gates of travel will open again, hopefully soon, and we very much look forward to that day, and to traveling again with you. For now, we would like share some of our stories and memories of ways travel has enriched our lives. We invite you to join us, recalling travels of your own, letting collective appreciation blossom into gratitude.
 

Brett Tollman

Chief Executive – TTC

A few years ago, I was planning a trip to South America, which was to be my partner’s first time to the continent. Having been there several times, I had made a list of iconic destinations: Peru, Argentina and Brazil. Seeing the list, my partner asked if we could also visit Easter Island.

I was perplexed, for beautiful and historical as it is, Easter Island rarely features on the itinerary of a first-time traveler to South America. 

He explained that his father, who had passed away tragically in his early 40’s, had been an ‘armchair traveler,’ living out his travel dreams perusing copies of National Geographic. He had been fascinated by the stories of Easter Island – or Rapa Nui, as it was originally known – and had theorized over how they moved the gigantic ancient Moa statues. A miniature Moa had always adorned their fireplace mantle, and after his father’s passing, my partner kept as a memento.

This opportunity to travel to Easter Island became a pilgrimage for my partner in honor of his late father. I am so grateful to have joined him as he explored Rapa Nui. We will both remember that journey for the rest of our lives. 

Neil Rodgers – Managing Director
Adventure World Travel

Greece, September 1988.

The plane doors opened. Walking down the steps engulfed in warm air, I squeeze my mother’s hand in excitement! Our first journey abroad for what seems like an eternity. 

Our destination? Lindos, Rhodes! Why? The simple turn of a glossy travel brochure page and the sight of an unforgettable single image. 

Finally, on our way to the village of Lindos, eagerly scanning every detail of the landscape speeding by, I spot the outline of a fortress standing on a hill in the distance.  It catches my breath. My heart races. I hug my mum so tightly. As we approach a large curve in the road high above the sparkling sea and there it is… No words can describe that first glimpse, the first journey, the first love. 

Who was to know I would be sitting here in my kitchen 32 years later reliving that very moment, overflowing with sentiment and gratitude? 

Forever will I be grateful for my first trip to Greece. Grateful to the Greek people and my beloved Greek husband, family, colleagues and friends for embracing me – a Scot from the isle of Mull – as one of their own. Grateful to the Greek nation for its solidarity in the fight against Covid-19 and its ongoing efforts to ensure our esteemed international travelers can once again realize their dreams, and travel to Greece, just like I did 32 years ago.

Fiona Thomson Spanoudaki – Operations Senior Manager

Siva Travel Services 

Over many years of traveling, I’ve developed a deep sense of respect for authentic cultural and nature-based experiences. With that respect comes gratitude for the rich and diverse cultures that we are so fortunate to visit. 

A perfect example occurred recently when I was in Finland researching new adventures to add to Adventure World’s Scandinavia program.  There I learned for the first time about the unique Sami culture – Europe’s only Indigenous Peoples – from the Lapland region of Scandinavia. While visiting the Siida Sami Museum in the village of Inari, I learned how the Sami culture had been maligned over generations through inauthentic and exploitive tourist practices.

As I came to understand this, I found an opportunity to provide genuine, immersive tourism experiences that help travelers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Sami culture, while providing the Sami with a sustainable source of income. 

I am deeply grateful to the Sami people, as well as other indigenous communities, for allowing us to respectfully share their rich and unique cultures.

Andrew Hutchinson – Head of Product & Operations

Adventure World Travel

Having spent 18 years as a Travel Director with The Travel Corporation, it’s hard to identify a single favorite place. If I had to choose, though, I would say Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park.  Through my visits there I have become friends with the Anangu ladies, and recently I was invited to join them for a night camping in the bush to learn about Aboriginal Australian culture. It was truly an honor to sit with them around the fire, listening to stories that have been passed down for thousands of years.  

Sleeping out under the stars in a swag on a freezing cold night in May definitely gave me a greater appreciation of existence.  Seeing how the Anagu ladies connected with the land,  I came away from that experience with a much deeper appreciation of the need to stop and listen to the country.  I will be eternally grateful for that experience.

Nellie Sullivan – Travel Director

AAT Kings

Those of us at Red Carnation Hotels are fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know and serve our wonderful guests. In 2012, The Chesterfield Mayfair had the honor of welcoming His Holiness The Dalai Lama for a three night stay.  He was traveling in the United Kingdom with a group of eight monks who also stayed with us.  An early riser, he required a 4:00am breakfast in his room, which consisted of blueberry muffins and sliced papaya.  Prior to his departure he presented the staff who delivered his breakfast with a white scarf he had blessed as a token of his appreciation. 

He also presented the hotel’s team with another white scarf he had blessed before leaving, to thank them for looking after him as well as wishing them every blessing for the future.  The visit by His Holiness made a strong impression on the team. We were all deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet such an inspiring and iconic leader. 

Jonathan Raggett – Managing Director

Red Carnation Hotels

Having recently married and into life on the island of Mykonos, Greece, my husband took me to meet his extended family in the village of Agiasos on the island of Lesvos. I quickly learned that Mykonos and Lesvos are two very different islands; while Mykonos is quite cosmopolitan, Lesvos is very rugged. Arriving in this rural mountain village, I met his aunties, uncles and cousins. The local dialect they spoke was so different to the Greek I had been struggling to learn. Unable to comprehend their language, I wondered how I would manage, even for the length of our stay. 

And yet, somehow, as we sat at tables piled high with delicious foods, the sea surrounding us and ouzo flowing, their warmth and generosity came through with no need for words. Out came the instruments and we began to sing. Music and laughter are universal languages, and both were plentiful.  

Travel has given me so much, from the new family I acquired to the lifelong friends I have made to the experiences I will never forget. Discovering a new culture has opened my mind to a way of life so different from what I knew. It has shaped me into the person I am today, and for this I am deeply grateful.

Moraig Macgreggor – Travel Director

Siva Travel Services 

After a private viewing of The Doge’s Palace, our local expert Ana took us through the lesser known streets of Venice, giving us an insider’s view of the back alleys, canals, and hidden local traditions I had not yet experienced.  Suffice to say, had I tried to walk these streets without Ana’s expertise I would have been completely lost! Halfway through the tour, Daniele, our Luxury Gold Traveling Concierge, excused himself, leaving us in Ana’s capable hands.  At the tour’s end, Ana led the group into a tiny, locally frequented café, featuring locals reading local papers under a backdrop of local photos. I felt as if I was being treated to a little secret.   

Danielle had taken over the bar, lining up Venetian style aperitif sandwiches and Aperol Spritzes for the entire group. The spritzes, in true local tradition, featured an olive (not the usual orange slice), just the way Venetians like it! I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel to these amazing places in the role I am in.

Anthony Sollecito Rich – National Accounts Sales Executive USA

Insight Vacations & Luxury Gold

I love working in a job where we get to make people’s dreams come true. Living in working here in South Africa, it is such a great pleasure to welcome the world to our shores, showing them this remarkable country land. My work here has opened the doors to my own personal travels around the world, including Israel (above, in Jerusalem), destinations throughout Africa, India, and the United States. 

I suppose I’m something of adrenaline junkie. I’ve loved going micro-lighting (above, over Victoria Falls) white-water rafting, bungee-jumping, hang-gliding, fly-boarding, abseiling, a tandem parachute jump and shark cage diving – they all make me feel great to be alive. That’s the magic of working in travel – every day is unique. And for that, I am grateful.

Jonathan Gadiah – CEO

Thompsons Africa

I was just a teenager when I set off from my home in Bucharest, Romania to backpack around Europe. Travel was my first taste of absolute freedom. It has shaped my entire life since then, and for this I am deeply grateful.

Since that first journey, and now as a Wellbeing Coach for Uniworld, I have traveled to places I had never imagined, studying Yoga in India, swimming with turtles in the Indian Ocean, and living with a family in Sri Lanka (above).

When I think back over these travels, a collage of images comes to mind. I think of meals I have shared. I will never forget eating my first “croissant avec chocolat” next to the Eiffel Tower, Dosha Massala in Trivandum, Kerala, or drinking cappuccino with new found friends while admiring the endless views from atop the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world, in Dubai.

Much as I love the food and the sites, for me travel is all about the people, my fellow travelers and the locals I have met. I am so grateful for the chance to get to know such fun and fascinating friends. And, when the time comes for us all to travel again, I cannot wait to see who I will meet.

Elena Lavinia Nejloveanu – Wellbeing Coach

Uniworld

– Chris Martin

Namaste. I am writing this month’s story during our 22 hour trip home to LA with my family, after our first trip to India – a truly remarkable and unique country. Reflecting on our two weeks there, like every other country I have visited for the first time, I am deeply touched and moved by the locals we met, what we saw, experienced and learnt about this fascinating and very different destination.

India is home to the largest number of poor people in the world – one third of the world’s poor. 30% of Indians live on 65 cents a day, and its home to 25% of the world’s hungry – 200 million Indians are undernourished. We learnt that 200 children under the age of five die every hour there!

Learning About the Local Communities and Contributing to Meaningful Change with ME to WE

Once again, we traveled with ME to WE. This incredible organization, WE Charity chose to focus its efforts in India in Rajasthan as it is one of the poorest states in India, landlocked, with poor governance, water scarcity and the lowest ground water level of any state in India. With 30% of its population being tribal, this causes other issues around education and nourishment. Whereas most NGO’s camp themselves close to the cities for convenience, WE realized that the greatest areas of need are those furthest in the remote parts of this mountainous region.

Fifty percent of the girls who live in this state do not go to school, and 60% of those who do go, drop out before completing Grade 5. 50% of women and children living here are malnourished, 42% of children under the age of five are stunted and underweight, due to food availability and access being very limited and due to women and children having a lower social status in these tribal areas. One in six women die in childbirth.

Besides learning about some of these basic facts about life in this region and these staggering statistics, traveling there also reminded us that our preconceived perceptions and expectations rarely are appropriate nor correct. The various anticipated worries before leaving for India about visiting India, especially during its “off-season” (monsoon rains, high temperatures and intense humidity, being inundated by mosquitos) were largely not experienced by us. We often heard comments from others before leaving about the overcrowded streets and children begging, and while there is certainly that in India and elsewhere, these were not the overwhelming experiences that defined this country for us.

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– Nelson Mandela

Greetings from London,

As a proud, dual citizen of South Africa & the USA, these past few days marks a special milestone in my beloved birth country, the 100th birthday anniversary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Millions of people are celebrating Mandela’s enduring legacy which continues to inspire citizens across the world to make a difference and bring about positive change. Our Red Carnation team members in South Africa, including the 12 Apostles and the Oyster Box Hotels, were doing special initiatives to honor his centenary through service and compassion including making meals for those in need in Cape Town and providing care bags for TAFTA (The Association for the Aged) in Durban.

I had the great honor of briefly meeting President Mandela in 1997, when I attended Davos with my wife Miranda. The iconic, inspirational Nobel Peace Prize winner captured and captivated the world’s attention with his forgiving, true statesman qualities – so magnanimous, compassionate and a true world leader. Admired by everyone. When he walked out of jail after 27 years in prison, he embraced peaceful transition and led South Africa away from awful apartheid to majority rule.

During his remaining years, he also pursued a variety of social causes, such as bringing forth women’s rights, delivering better opportunities for impoverished rural children and promoting scientific research throughout Africa. During his last years, he was a magnificent shining symbol and example for the civil rights movements worldwide.

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Greetings from Los Angeles.

Last Saturday marked World Sea Turtle Day, a day I take note of every year for the meaningful place it holds in The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) sustainability journey and the pertinent role turtle conservation has played in helping us come to the place in our responsibility mission we find ourselves at today.

In my home state of California, the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtles migrate 6,000 miles each year across the Pacific Ocean from their main nesting areas of Indonesia to foraging off my state’s coast. Unfortunately, these turtles’ population is on a continuous decline which further highlights the importance of conservation work. Also, when I was in Mexico with my family at the end of last year near Jalisco, we had the amazing opportunity to watch some baby sea turtles from the area hatch and be released in the ocean. So, sea turtles are near and dear to my heart and an important creature in our continued biodiversity.

2018 has been an exciting year for our not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight which is celebrating its 10^thyear with a notable portfolio of 50-plus sustainability projects worldwide supported to its name to date. In the foundation’s fledgling days, one of the projects we supported was delivered in partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The organization is committed to ensuring the survival of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific through research education, training, advocacy, and protection of the natural habitats upon which sea turtles depend, and is the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group.

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Greetings from Buenos Aires (BA), my first trip to this beautiful, charming, welcoming city. I hope you have also been doing some positive activations during Earth Month.I am here attending The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 18^th Global Summit with 800 other delegates from across the globe. It has been a very impactful few days and I participated in robust dialogues with other industry leaders and notable speakers. This year’s theme is: “Our People, Our World, Our Future”. The Summit asked challenging questions facing our travel industry today and how we can work together towards a more sustainable future.

Here are some of the 2017 key statistics of our great industry:

• 1.3 billion travelers crossed international borders
• 4.0 billion air travelers
• 313 million jobs supported by Travel & Tourism
• 1 in every 5 jobs were created last year by Travel & Tourism
• 10.4% Travel & Tourism contribution to global GDP
• 4.6 % Travel & Tourism GDP growth (vs 3% total GDP growth, so our industry grew 50% more)

WTTC was started over 25 years ago to get leaders of our disparate industry to work together to speak with one voice to governments to enunciate the importance and scale of our industry, and its importance to all economies and more recently as a force for good and peace, to help ensure governments support and encourage tourism.

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After warm goodbyes, we proceeded on to the Dead Sea, where the tourism conference was to be held, with local industry leaders and government officials. We stayed at the Marriott Dead Sea, which has a beautiful setting and provided outstanding service, warmth and charisma. Their leader, Philip Papadopoulos, is a very enigmatic, personable hotelier, with a huge personality and who charmed and entertained us both days we were there. Unfortunately, like elsewhere in the world affected by climate change and other factors, the Jordan river is dying and so is the Dead Sea, as it keeps evaporating.

The Dead Sea is around 425 meters below sea level, the lowest point on earth and so has much better oxygen levels. Being water is scarce (I learnt that Jordan is the third poorest country for fresh water), farming in the area is mostly vegetables that consume less water, such as cabbage, zucchini and eggplant. There is little vegetation, though I saw many Acacia trees along the Rift Valley there, which reminded me of my birth continent, Africa. This area is also a major migration route for birds in March and September, as they travel between Africa and Europe, especially huge flocks of white flamingoes.

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March 8th, 2018

Happy International Women’s Day. On this important day, I would like to highlight the transformative power of tourism and announcing our newest TreadRight Heritage Initiative Project, which provides economic empowerment to local women and helping to build a sustainable future.

I have just returned from this extraordinary journey and I was honored to visit this special country as a participant in the “Tourism Cares with Jordan” delegation. It consisted of Tourism Cares’ members, Jordan Tourism Board team members, local and North American industry leaders, local dignitaries (including my dear friend Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and a very proud Jordanian) and members of the travel industry media. The purpose of this trip was to bring focus and attention to Jordan’s beauty, touristic appeal and diversity, and to highlight the power of travel in supporting local communities. We were participating in volunteer projects while highlighting some of the remarkable social enterprises emerging there.

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