Back in 1986, someone had the bright idea of opening a McDonald's in the center of Rome. In protest, a journalist and activist named Carlo Petrini started the “Slow Food” movement as a critique on fast food life. Members are dedicated to “eco-gastronomy” by supporting the small farmer, local artisans and preserving cultural food traditions. Championed in the United State by Alice Waters, the legendary founder of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse restaurant, the Slow Food movement has grown to more than 90,000 members internationally.
As a the child of an airline executive, I have enjoyed flying in all manners of aircraft. I even spent 8 years as a flight attendant, working my way up from 36 passenger turbo-prop planes that ran from San Diego to Los Angeles, to 12+ hour flights on jumbo 747s to the far reaches of the world.To this day, I am still in awe of the feeling of soaring above the earth whenever I travel by air.
Last week, I was able to take the experience of flight to a whole new level - via "Flightline", a 2/3 mile long zip line high above the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in Escondido, CA. The ride has a 450 ft. drop at the top, and takes you over the several park exhibits below. The cost is $70 in addition to park admission (1/3 of that fee goes to Zoo Conservation programs) and is already mostly full on the weekends so plan ahead or try going for a weekday flight.
Upon arrival to the zip line area, you weighed in (privately!) and then given a waiver to complete. After viewing a brief training video and being fitted with a harness, riders get their wings wet by taking a short "fledgling flight" at the bottom of the hill. After that, we boarded a caravan truck for a 20 minute behind-the-scenes tour that includes an up close and personal view of the California Condor breeding facility, which is normally not open to visitors. Plan on about an 1 1/2 for the full experience, including the preflight training and very informative tour.
The ride is designed to give the feeling of soaring like a condor over the San Pasqual valley below. Seated safely in a double-wired harness, you have a weightless feeling that when combined with sound and feel of the wind breezing all around you - it actually feels as if you are flying! Soaring over still curious animals like the rhinos and Przewalski's wild horses is truly an amazing experience.
I was lucky enough to be there on a day when Josh Stern, a videographer with the LA Times was filming for their online edition, so I was asked to make the zipline trip twice! No hesitation.
For more information on booking your own flightline experience, click here.
I noticed an increase in non-qualified applicants coming in to our HR mailbox recently. Curious to learn if this was an effect of the economy or some other unknown factor, I took a close look at how these applicants were linking to our website. The results were a somewhat of surprise.
In the past seven days, the Concierge At Large, Inc. website had more than 130 site referrals from work-from-home websites. None of which were initiated or authorized by our company. Most of the sites provided a free listing of companies that hire home-based workers, however some actually charged a fee! Without any screening, it raised a flag as to the accuracy of their information.
In that light, here are a couple of links with current information for work-from-home seekers. We recommend reviewing an ABC News/Good Morning America segment which ran in the summer of 2008, here is the LINK. We also recommend that you read a March 2009 cautionary article from the Houston Chronicle HERE.
David Clemmons of VolunTourism.org is the world's leading authority on Voluntourism. I will be a guest on his WebCast this week, "The Concierge & VolunTourism".
We'll be discussing facilitation of the guest voluntourism experience in hotels and other venues. 1) What is the role of a concierge? 2) How can a concierge assist a guest, or guests, in identifying voluntourism experiences within a destination or in connecting with an existing program at a specific property? 3) How can such a service benefit all voluntourism stakeholders?
Join us on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 10AM EST/7 AM PST (15:00 GMT). WEBCAST LINK
I'm posting this email that I just received from the TravelZoo Newsdesk:
Fares from L.A. at the Lowest Rates in years, $49 & up On top of that, airlines including American, Virgin America and United have recently announced sales that reduce prices even further. We anticipate fares to climb back up as spring approaches, so now is the time to book tickets.
Some of the best deals we have found (each way): - Los Angeles-Seattle ... $49 - Los Angeles-Las Vegas ... $49 - Los Angeles-Denver ... $59 - Los Angeles-Dallas ... $67 - Los Angeles-Pittsburgh ... $76 - Los Angeles-Mexico City ... $81 (!) - Los Angeles-Washington, D.C. ... $91 - Los Angeles-Raleigh-Durham ... $98
When test-booking these fares the most availability was found for travel on Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday flights.
As fuel prices hit a five-year low, transportation costs are down almost half from last year's highs. As a result, the classic road trip is making a glorious comeback, highlighting vintage Americana routes and shunning airport headaches. Concierge At Large, Inc. an affiliate member of leading travel network, Virtuoso (www.virtuoso.com), shares their insider knowledge on the best places to improve one's 'Return on Life™;' a way for families, couples, friends and even independent travelers to disconnect from day-to-day stresses of life and reconnect with each other or their inner peace.
Packing up and heading out on the open road for the weekend is a trend that 2009 travelers are set to embrace - discovering destinations that are within a day's drive from home. And, each offers exceptional value with complimentary services or amenities.
These nearby resort towns, mountain lodges, national parks and coastal inns are in the luster of the travel spotlight - choose from a half-hour drive to an all-day escape with a selection of top-notch spots within an odometer's reach from US cities:
In the Northeast: Lenox, Massachusetts is host to Blantyre, a 1902 Tudor mansion on 110 acres in the Berkshires - activities range from croquet to swimming (or more seasonal ice skating), and nearby hikes that include part of the Appalachian Trail. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: fourth night free and a $200 spa credit (valid until May 31, 2009). From Boston: Two hours / From New York: Three hours. Ten miles North of Woodstock, Vermont, the original 1795 farmhouse and cottages of the five-star Twin Farms sit on 300 acres of wildflower meadows, ponds and streams is the antidote to the city. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: $300 spa credit, bath and body gift basket and a romantic dinner in the private wine cellar when staying three nights (valid throughout 2009). From Boston: Three Hours, Thirty minutes. From New York: Five Hours.
Outside Washington, DC: In Blowing Rock, North Carolina, the Westglow Resort & Spa is a Greek Revival mansion built as a summer home in 1917, with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: upgraded accommodations, full breakfast for two each day, a complimentary Signature Service spa treatment and a VIP gift. From Washington DC: Seven Hours / From Atlanta: Five Hours.
Wild West Retreats: Nestled in at the base of Vail Mountain, along Gore Creek, the luxury Vail Cascade Resort offers ski-in/ ski-out luxury Rocky Mountain style with a plethora of year-round activities, from rock-climbing and whitewater rafting to pristine ski and snowboard trails. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: Daily breakfast for two at the new Atwater on Gore Creek restaurant, Aria Spa Welcome basket, $50 Aria credit and an upgrade at the time of booking. From Albuquerque, NM: Seven Hours / From Denver, CO: Three Hours. The 25,000 sq ft spa at the Lake Austin Spa Resort provides a private escape in Texas Hill Country - with over 100+ treatments to choose from, and a view of the soothing lake. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: daily breakfast and either a gift credit or spa treatment when staying two or more nights. From Austin, TX: 30 minutes. From Dallas, TX: 4 Hours.
Northwest Wilderness: Along 7 miles of the Blackfoot River of "A River Runs Through It" fame, The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana mixes luxury accommodations with endless activities in the rugged surroundings. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: daily breakfast for two, a $150 adventure and activities credit and a bottle of wine. From Salt Lake City, Eight Hours / From Boise, ID: Eight Hours.
To the South: In Natchez, Mississippi, Monmouth Plantation is a historical Federal-style Antebellum mansion on 26 acres, dating back to 1818. With just 30 rooms, and extensive gardens to wander through, touring the nearby working cotton plantation is a step back through time. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: full Southern breakfast each morning and a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Natchez. From New Orleans: Three Hours / From Houston, TX: Five Hours, 30 minutes. In South Carolina's lowcountry, along the banks of the May River, Auberge Resort's The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is a classic Southern getaway: charming, graceful and romantic, with pine floors, fireplaces and screened verandas. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: a three-night package includes two rounds of golf per person, a 60-minute spa treatment per person, breakfast daily and an hour-long cruise aboard the resort's 1913 historic yacht.
Research into the correlation between customer satisfaction and their behavior (as measured by loyalty or customer retention. * ‘Very Satisfied’ customers were six times more likely to repurchase equipment than ’satisfied’ customers. * A 5% increase in customer loyalty can produce profit increases from 25% to 85%.
As recently announced, Concierge At Large, Inc. has added Virtual Office support to our portfolio of services. ABetterOffice.com, a well respected and unbiased source for serviced office space advice took note and reviewed both our new service and the concept. Read the full article here.
Back in 1986, someone had the bright idea of opening a McDonald's in the center of Rome. In protest, a journalist and activist named Carlo Petrini started the “Slow Food” movement as a critique on fast food life. Members are dedicated to “eco-gastronomy” by supporting the small farmer, local artisans and preserving cultural food traditions. Championed in the United State by Alice Waters, the legendary founder of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse restaurant, the Slow Food movement has grown to more than 90,000 members internationally.
