Last month we celebrated the seventh WhereverFamily Wherever Awards at The Lotos Club in New York City. What a fantastic evening in a special place where award winners, subscribers and industry professionals enjoyed fine cuisine while honoring the best in family travel. The launch of whereverfamily.com was inspired in part by Rainer Jenss, founder, Family Travel Association.
In 2019 Rainer spoke at the Wherever Awards at City Vineyard in New York City and encouraged us to travel with our children. Sadly, Rainer lost his battle with brain cancer this August, and we will miss his inspiration and friendship. Please see our tribute to him at whereverfamily.com.
Just before our Wherever Awards, I attended the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup qualifying event at beautiful Inwood Country Club near New York’s JFK airport. Finalists from qualifying tournaments around the world will play in the Grand Finals at Antalya, all expenses paid by Turkish Airlines, including flying business class. Alas, we are not among the finalists, but we have high hopes for next year!
This month I’ll celebrate my birthday in Québec, staying at Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, where we’ll visit Huron-Wendat Museum and The Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse. I look forward to catching up with my good friend Carl Etcheverry, the hotel’s sommelier, at its restaurant specializing in regional cuisine inspired by the First Nations terroir. Carl took part in the professional judging of our 2024 Wines on the Wing (see the August issue). I also plan to explore historical sites and the gastronomic scene in Québec City.
We also head to Charlotte this month to attend the wedding of Michael Donahue, son of our Advisory Board chairman, Mike Donahue, who has early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Mike attended our event a few years ago at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC, where we honored his dedication to Global Traveler. Mike will not attend the ceremony, but we plan to stand in for him with his wife, Janis, as we celebrate his son’s nuptials.
We still have a cabin or two left for the Global Traveler-hosted cruise on Windstar Breeze, sailing Nov. 18 from Papeete to explore the Tahitian Islands. If I can help with booking, please reach out to me directly; we welcome you to join our fun group on board.
I cannot close without reminding everyone to have an enjoyable Halloween. I hand out full-sized candy bars, not minis … it is like an upgrade to business class when you trick-or-treat at my house.
Enjoy the Aviation Issue!
Francis X. Gallagher, CEO and Publisher
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