Maria Lenhart

Arriving in Macau for the first time in over 20 years, I had no idea what to expect. In that time, the destination had been transformed from a sleepy Portuguese colony usually visited as a day trip from Hong Kong into China’s Special Administrative Region of Macau and the world’s foremost gaming mecca. Did some of the old Macanese culture survive, I wondered, or was Macau now just a Las Vegas clone set in the South China Sea?
On the way from the airport, it certainly seemed like the latter. A...

It wound from Chicago to L.A., more than 2,000 miles all the way, but Route 66 is now mostly the stuff of song and legend. Much of it was bypassed long ago by the interstate freeway system. However, there are still ways to experience the fabled Mother Road, which was first laid out in the 1920s and soon became a conduit for thousands fleeing the Dust Bowl for California. Exploring Route 66 by train is one of the best and most relaxing ways is to replicate the tour of Americana, and it can be ...

By Maria Lenhart
It may not be the most expedient train journey in the world, but Switzerland’s Glacier Express is undeniably among the most breathtaking. And, particularly for those who spring for Excellence Class, delicious. It’s often called the “slowest express train in the world.” As anyone who’s experienced the astonishing vistas from the crimson cars meandering through the heart of the Swiss Alps will tell you, that’s a superlative worth having.
The Route
The Glacier Express runs for 1...

Whether it’s savoring exquisite cuisine in a 19th century drawing room where the Irish Constitution was signed or watching for nesting swans on a river at a palatial estate, unforgettable experiences await at Ireland’s impressive array of five-star hotels, many of them converted from historic manor houses and castles. Sweetening the deal is the fact that Ireland is a mere seven-hour flight from the East Coast and also provides some of the best value for meetings and incentives to be found in ...

Easter in Greece - CSMonitor.com

By Maria Lenhart
Among mist-shrouded peaks, the first glimpse of Machu Picchu, the mysterious citadel with its stonework terraces cascading down an emerald mountainside, never fails to enchant those who make the winding journey by trek or train to get there. This enchantment holds true for much of Peru, a country where the legacy of its ancient people is found not only among the ruins, but in the living culture as well.
Machu Picchu is a star attraction in seven great tours offered by AAA’s M...

The Kennedy Library: where Camelot lingers - CSMoni...

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When Henderson Travel Service started operations in 1955, African Americans faced huge travel obstacles and genealogical tours to Africa were unheard of.
The agency, which led African “roots” tours even before Alex Haley’s book and TV mini-series sparked the trend back in the 1970s, is still going strong in the midst of today’s booming interest in ance...

Enduring over two years of an unpredictable pandemic that was especially harsh on their industry has taken a heavy toll on many meeting professionals. Now that live events are returning, how can planners ensure that they are mentally and physically prepared for re-entry?
First of all, recognize that feeling anxious or nervous during this time of transition is perfectly normal, according to Dr. Kate Steiner, a wellness coach and founder of LIFT Wellness Consulting.
“We’ve spent two years in a ...

Skift Take
The tight labor market is fuelling demand for freelance services in the event industry. For their part, planners are moving into freelance work for greater flexibility, relief from career burnout, and the chance to focus on aspects of the job they enjoy most.
As it has in many industries, the gig economy is having a big impact on event planning, with the services of skilled freelancers in high demand. EventMB spoke with the founders of three companies that provide freelance staffin...

Time-squeezed meeting planners are pleading with tech companies to stop requiring buyers to sit through lengthy online demos before getting an idea of whether or not the platform cost fits into the event budget. Tech companies say pricing is far too complex to post on a website, although some are addressing the issue.
PUT PRICING ON YOUR WEBSITE. That was the plea from Liz Caruso, CEO of techsytalk, in a recent LinkedIn post that sparked heated discussion by calling for greater pricing transp...

Skift Take
What does it really mean to plan an “accessible” meeting or event? While most commonly thought of as ensuring that facilities are accessible for wheelchairs, it’s more complex than that. It means anticipating and addressing a wide spectrum of needs among attendees and presenters, encompassing everything from dietary, hearing, vision, scent allergies, mobility, and much more.
Maria Lenhart
“Disability is not a monolith – someone who has experience with one will not necessarily have ...

Skift Take
While the pandemic dealt a hard blow to companies that arrange childcare at events, forcing some of them out of business, those who survived are now seeing a surge of demand as live events return. However, given staffing shortages and soaring costs, those seeking childcare at events must be prepared to plan in advance and stretch the budget.
While the pandemic wreaked havoc on the event industry, companies that provide childcare at meetings are among those who suffered the most fro...

Meeting planning has always been a pressure-cooker of a job, but the challenges of the pandemic may be creating a mental health crisis for many event professionals. Getting mental health support is crucial, but where and how can event professionals get it?

Even before the pandemic, event planning was considered one of the world’s most stressful careers. Now with Covid having dealt an especially deep and long-lasting blow to the meetings industry, wellness experts are concerned that the mental...

Predatory conferences are bogus events that exist to sell tickets using everything from shoddy registration pages to unconfirmed speakers. With the flush of virtual events during the pandemic, the situation may be getting worse.
While predatory conferences — sham events that actually don’t exist but entice the unwary to sign on — are nothing new, the pandemic and resulting surge of virtual events is likely making them more prevalent and harder to detect.
Among those concerned are Anthony Cass...