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Executive Board
Terry F. Koenig
President of Koenig & Associates, a marketing and public relations company. Past President of the Skål Club of San Francisco. He has spent 38 years in the Travel Industry with 20 years directing the marketing for passenger ferry operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Served as Chairman of the California Travel Industry Association and on the boards of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and the Tiburon Chamber of Commerce.
Vice President:
Robin Morales Business Development - Sales Manager at SoPac/SF Connection -- a tourism and travel represenation company Robin has served as a successful professional in Business Development/ Sales for an airline, a tour wholesaler, a worldwide chauffeur company, a non-profit organization and a travel agency.
Secretary-Treasurer: Christian Spirandelli
Bryan International Travel, President, CEO and Owner since 1995. He merged into FROSCH International Travel in 2007. As usual with the travel industry, he has traveled extensively worldwide and has held advisory positions with several companies.
Chairman:
Lakshman Ratnapala
Chairman of Enelar International, a global management consultancy. Emeritus President & CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). A regular writer to business magazines and speaker on travel topics at conferences and workshops.
Co-Chairman:
Logan Happel
Director of Sales and Client Relations, Travel Industry at USI Travel Insurance Services.
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OUR STORY --
75 YEARS
Founded in 1934, the Foreign Travel Club (FTC) of San Francisco, the oldest of its kind in California, celebrates its 75th birthday this year.
The Club was launched by a band of enterprising men who challenged the monopoly of the local travel scene by employees of the Southern Pacific Railway.
The Club is non-sectarian and apolitical. Led over the years by respected executives of the travel industry, the Club membership has comprised individuals who have contributed to the growth of the single most important industry that enhances the quality of life and the vitality of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The FTC's monthly luncheon meetings, featuring speakers on travel topics are occasions where past and present travel industry executives, travel writers and frequent travelers meet to share experiences and promote the business of travel in a spirit of camaraderie.
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The Foreign Travel Club cordially invites travel presentations at our monthly luncheon meetings from Government, State, and City Tourism Offices, Airlines, Cruiselines, Hotels, Tour Operators, Travel Writers, and others.
Please contact:
President, Terry Koenig at
There is no cost to the presenter.
|  CLUB EVENTS
Please mark your calendar for luncheon meetings of the Club scheduled for the fourth Thursday of every month, except September (summer outing), November (third Thursday), and December (Holiday Party).
We usually meet at the Marines Memorial Club, 609 Sutter Street, 12th Floor, in San Francisco. The keynote topic, speaker and venue are announced by a special notice, a week prior to the meeting.
COMING UP:
July 22, 2010
Topic: Small Group Art Tours to Italy and France
August 26, 2010
Topic: Exploring Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan
September 25, 2010
Summer Outing: Napa-Sonoma Wine Tour
January 27, 2011
Brendan Vacations
Registration begins at 11:30 am. Guests are welcome at these luncheons.
For details and to RSVP, contact: Terry Koenig
ftcosf@gmail.com or call (415) 726-3712. |
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FTC CLUB ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Couples - $50
Individuals - $40
For details, please contact Terry Koenig at ftcosf@gmail.com or call (415) 726-3712. | |
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Membership of the FTC is open to travel industry personnel, travel writers and frequent foreign travelers whose credentials must be endorsed by a current member. Spouses are welcome to join. FTC luncheon meetings serve the dual purpose of social interaction and business opportunity.
Professional presentations on travel trends, destinations and services are followed by Q&A session with Club members.
Although the internet and guidebooks do a great job of preparing the traveler, nothing can replace the experience of someone who has been there, done that and can speak from personal exerience. Research shows 20% of American travelers value others' personal comments over information from books, newspapers and the internet.
The FTC is a forum to meet world travelers, many of whom are travel writers and executives who have worked for tour companies, airlines/cruiselines and hotels. Whereas the internet gives impersonal information, the FTC offers insights to real life experiences.
Being a member of the FTC enhances every trip you take, it ensures you unforgettable travel experiences and opportunities to share them with other members in a spirit of camaraderie.
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The World's Most Affordable Retirement Haven
Cuenca, Ecuador Living in another country can cost considerably less. Just how affordable could your new local life overseas be? As little as $850 a month or less.
Cuenca, Ecuador is one of the world's most affordable places to live well. This beautiful colonial city with a thriving theater and arts community is not the cheapest place to live in Ecuador. You could live on less in other parts of the country. But Cuenca is the cheapest place to live well, not only in Ecuador, but anywhere in the world.
With just over 400,000 people, Cuenca is small enough so that you always see someone you know when walking around town. Yet it's not so remote that you can't find the services you need. The colonial architecture, Andean markets, and heritage of the city make you really feel like you're really experiencing another country with a rich culture that provides loads of different ways to spend your time. Public transportation is great, both within the city and between cities. Retirees won't need to invest in a car if they don't want to.
And, the expatriate community is large enough so that you can find English-speaking company when you want it.
Cuenca is perhaps the top choice in the world right now for living well in retirement on a super-modest budget. Other affordable places to retire abroad include Leon, Nicaragua, Las Tablas, Panama, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
For the full story, go to: Yahoo! Finance & USNews.. |
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Cruising?
Join your fellow FTC members & friends on fun cruises at
group rates with
group amenities.
CONTACT:
Claudette Main, CTC, ACC
Phone/Fax:
(650) 345-9455
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Is Airline Food Making You Sick?
Watch ABC News Video
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World's Weirdest Hotels
On your next trip, you could check into a wine cask, a salvaged 727 airplane, or a room 20,000 leagues under the sea.
 Hotel Costa Verde
Crash in a jet plane
Near a beach that's within Manuel Antonio National Park, the Hotel Costa Verde doesn't lack for great sights. But few are as amazing as its own 727 Fuselage Suite, a salvaged 1965 Boeing 727-100 that looks as if it's crashed into the Costa Rican jungle (it's actually mounted atop a 50-foot pillar and reached via a spiral staircase). The jet's interior was once able to hold up to 125 passengers, but there are few reminders left of its days in the service of South African Airways and Colombia's Avianca Airlines. The suite's two bedrooms, dining area, and sitting room are now covered over entirely in teak to match the surroundings. Guests can play "spot the toucan" on the small wood deck that sits on top of the right wing.
In a league of its own
Hydrophobics should stay far from Jules' Undersea Lodge, named for novelist Jules Verne of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea fame. The 600-square-foot lodge, a former marine lab, is 21 feet underwater, close to the bottom of the mangrove-filled Emerald Lagoon, in Key Largo. You'll have to know how to scuba dive to reach your room, and guests without the mandatory certification must take a course at the hotel. Once you've reached the lodge, which sleeps up to six, you'll be close to angelfish, anemones, barracuda, oysters, and other creatures-each room is equipped with a 42-inch window, so you don't need to be suited up to keep an eye on the neighborhood.
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destinations, tour packages, cruises, airfares, hotels or other services? The FTC delivers you a sophisticated travel audience.
COSTS: Graphic banner ads cost $15 per issue. For live links to websites, add $15 per URL.
AD DIMENSIONS: Files must be submitted in .JPG file format with a 100 dpi resolution with dimensions as follows:
Rectangle Ad: 180 pixels wide x 240 pixels high.
Vertical Banner Ad : 60 pixels wide x 100 pixels high.
FTC members receive a 10% discount. For ad quotes or to place an ad, contact:
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
After a rainy spring it was sure great to see summer arrive. And with summer comes the most delightful activity, going to the beach. I don't think there is a word that brings back as many pleasant experiences as the word "beach."
Bolinas Beach, Bolinas, California.
One of my earliest childhood memories involves our family jumping into our 1941 Pontiac-Silver Streak and driving out to our favorite West Marin beach, Bolinas. Like most Bay Area beaches, Bolinas could be a warm, friendly and inviting place or if the fog was in, very cold and desolate. But no matter what the weather was it was always fun
 Upon arrival at Bolinas, us kids couldn't wait to get out of the car and run as fast as possible to the water's edge. Before we could go for a swim though my father had certain chores that had to be performed, the first of which was to dig a make-shift cooler at the water line and put six packs of my dad's favorite beer (Falstaff) into the hole to cool it off. I'm sure they had coolers in the 50's but our family didn't own one, with the water at Bolinas being about 49 degrees who needed a cooler. Then we would scour the beach for driftwood and haul all the dry pieces back to build a bon-fire (always needed on those foggy days). After fire building we would be dispatched to dig clams (look for the air bubbles coming out of the sand). At last we could dive in.....yikes, was it cold, but plenty of fun.
By the end of the day we had used up all of our energy building sand castles, kite flying, racing, throwing sea weed and other slimy things at each other, and we dragged our sandy bodies back to the Pontiac for the sleepy ride back to San Rafael.
Terry Koenig
President
Foreign Travel Club of San Francisco |
FOCUS THIS MONTH: Small Group Art Tours to Italy and France - Thursday, July 22nd
SPEAKER'S PROFILE:
Michael P. Stehr Fine Art Oil Paintings
Michael has been painting landscapes and architectural portraits for several years. He has received much recognition for his accomplishments as an artist. Michael's art is heavily influenced by his love for the history of art. While earning a degree in Art History from Stanford in 1991, Michael developed an appreciation for a wide range of artistic styles and periods. He now draws on the work of many of these heroes of the arts while embarking on his own creative process. Predominantly self taught, Michael considers these artists of the past as his greatest teachers.
Michael's greatest love is the work of Camille Corot-French painter of the early to mid 1800's - said to be the forefather of Impressionism. When working on his landscapes, Michael is also inspired by several early California painters such as Thomas Hill and Edgar Payne. While these artists provide inspiration, Michael always finishes his pictures in a manner that is distinctly his own style. |
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WHEN
Thursday, July 22nd
11:30 am Bar Opens
WHERE
Marines' Memorial Club
609 Sutter St., 12th Floor
(Corner of Mason St.)
San Francisco, CA
COST $26 Luncheon and Program
RSVP Deadline Monday, July 19th
MENU Selections
1. ASIAN CHICKEN SALAD - Served with a ginger vinaigrette & fried wontons
2. COBB SALAD - With grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, chopped egg, crumbled blue cheese and a poppy seed dressing
3. PETRALE SOLE - Flour dusted & sauteed, topped with brown butter, capers, lemon juice & parsley, served with French green beans and rice Pilaf
4. LEATHERNECK ANGUS CHEESEBURGER - Served with Club French Fries and Cole Slaw
5. PASTA PRIMAVERA - Sauteed fresh seasonal vegetables served over fettuccini with a light wine, herb and garlic sauce
LUNCH ALSO INCLUDES - Rolls & Butter, Ice Tea, Starbucks Coffee & Tea Service and Dessert.
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OF THE ABOVE ENTRÉES AND INDICATE YOUR CHOICE WHEN YOU RSVP.
To RSVP Click on either the YES or NO links below. When the email opens on your screen, fill in your name, names of any guests, your choice of entree from the selection above and click SEND.
NO, I WILL NOT ATTEND
You can also call Terry Koenig at (415) 726-3712. |
June ROUND-UP: Rene de los Santos WOWs
The June 24th luncheon speaker, Rene de los Santos, Director of the Northwestern U.S. and Western Canada for the Philippine Tourism Office, was our tour guide as he expertly portrayed the new World Of Wonders - "WOW" - tourism promotion campaign. The current focus of Rene's efforts is to promote the food of the Philippines in addition to the vibrant city of Manila and the many Philippine resort areas.
Filipino food reflects the country's varied history. Over the centuries, Chinese traders brought their culinary culture, Spanish colonizers added healthy touches of Castillan cooking, and U.S. colonization contributed convenience and fast food. Eating in the Philippines can therefore be an outstanding experience regardless of the traveler's budget. In recent years, a profusion of restaurants has emerged, many catering to continental European or exotic Asian tastes. There are some good Japanese restaurants, plus a smattering of Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and other establishments. The Philippines attained its independence on July 4, 1946 and is now the 48th largest economy in the world. It's a prime Asian tourism destination as well as great stopover. With 7,017 islands each with their own unique culture there is something for everyone when visiting the Philippines.
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June 24th Meeting Prize Winners:
 (From Left) Prize Winners - Chris Spirandelli, Jan Warmerdam, Nahid Olfati, Speaker - Rene De Los Santos, Debbie Gallano, John Montgomery, President - Terry Koenig. (Photo by Gabriel Agcaoili.)The Winners Are: - 50/50 Drawing - $33 Jan Warmerdam
- Bottle of Murphy Goode 2007 Chardonnay - Rene De Los Santos
- Bottle of Hess Select 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - John Montgomery
- National Geographic Atlas of the World - Nahid Olfati
- 2 Nights Manila Hotel - Chris Spirandelli
- Mango Rum Liquor - Chris Spirandelli
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COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Thursday, July 22nd
Michael P. Stehr
Topic: Small Group Art Tours to Rome
Thursday, August 26th
Diane LeBow, President, Bay Area Travel Writers & John Montgomery, Photojournalist
Topic: Exploring Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan
Saturday, September 25thSummer Outing: Napa-Sonoma Wine Tour
(Including Lunch)
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Jeannie Bean, Brendan Vacations
LUCKY YOU! Every meeting features a 50-50 raffle and one or more lucky draws that you must be present to win. |
| A SENSE OF TRAVEL...
with Georgia Hesse
In June, this column was devoted to the world's best airports and airlines, according to a Skytrax Research survey of 9.8 million fliers representing more than 100 nationalities. Singapore came in first with 2010's best airport (Changi); Asiana ranked as best airline (based in Seoul, South Korea).
Now it's North America's turn.
The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel is on the airport grounds.
And the airport winner is (ta-TUM): Vancouver International, which took 11th place on the worldwide list. Somewhat to my surprise but also to my delight, San Francisco International won second place and Denver International took third. (Since we are here concerned mainly with foreign travel, no purely domestic gems were considered.)
Vancouver's airport sits on SeaIsland in Richmond, British Columbia, about 7.5 miles from downtown, and is the second busiest in Canada after Toronto Pearson International. It offers three terminals: the domestic one; an international terminal that includes the U.S. Preclearance Annexe, newly built in the mid- to late-1990s to simplify the paper trail of U.S.-bound traffic, and South, a portion of the original that serves regional airlines.
 Local art displayed at YVR in Vancouver (photo by Susan Point).
YVR (Vancouver's code) likes to claim it has eYVRthing, and that's almost true. In addition to 160 shops and services, it presents a stunning collection of Pacific Northwest Coast aboriginal art that fits handsomely into the theme of "land, sea, and sky." A huge tank maintained by the Vancouver Aquarium swims with 850 species of B.C. marine life, and a waterfall plunges into a flower-bordered creek that wiggles its way through the main lounge.
Spacious terminals at Vancouver's YVR airport invite the outdoors inside.
A Public Observation Area in the pre-security area of the domestic area is a kick despite its institutional name. Aim a telescope at the field and watch as aircraft take off, land, and roll along the runways. Check the panels that supply facts, photos, diagrams; play with an interactive model of SeaIsland. Children gape as the B.C. Explorer virtual flyover soars over the landscape of the province, "touching down" in more than 100 communities.
The lobby of the luxurious Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel runs right into the U.S. terminal's concourse, providing a health club, sauna, a lap pool, whirlpool, and the Absolute Spa & Salon that soothes body (and soul) with more than 130 beauty treatments. Passengers with any class of ticket are welcomed at two Plaza Premium Lounges, one in the domestic terminal and the other in international, where they can enjoy a nap or shower, try the food and beverage buffet, watch TV or have access to the Internet.
You're flying high, Vancouver!
 San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Before the daze of severe security at SFO, you could roam freely about the three terminals whether a passenger or not, dining, drinking or admiring museum-quality artworks. Today, wandering is restricted, but seductions abound both land- and airside. It's fitting that San Francisco (aka Cuisine City) caters to our compulsions with no fewer than 58 restaurants, cafés, delis, food stands, coffee shops, bistros and other estaminets.
Several of these are outposts of in-city favorites: from B (for Buena Vista Café, in S.F. since 1916, pouring Irish coffee since 1952) to Y (Yankee Pier; in Larkspur, Lafayette, San José's Santana Row). Ebisu caters to sushi and sashimi fans at landside in the International terminal (you know it in the city at Kearney@Bush and near Golden Gate Park, 1283 9th Avenue). City café families with SFO offshoots also include Emporio Rulli, Il Fornaio, Just Desserts, Lori's Diner, Peat's and Perry's, Starbucks and Subway. At Gordon Biersch (motto: "Never trust a skinny brewer") in Terminal 3, airside, it's a permanent party from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
 This aerial map of the Bay Area's daily flight routes from SFO, Oakland and San Jose airports could pass for abstract art.
Emphasis at SFO has always been placed on public art; it was the first airport in the country to have a permanent art curator. Right now exhibits are showing off in 19 locations, for instance: "Shanghai: High-Rise Architecture and the Remaking of China's Gateway to the World," an echo of the great show now at our Museum of Modern Art; "Evolution of a Royal Vision: The Birth of Meissen Porcelain"; "Liberian Helmet Masks of the Sande and Poro Societies" from the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
 Art exhibitions are on display throughout SFO terminals.
SFO maintains educational programs for children in cooperation with the state's Department of Education Content Standards. Parents, take them now to see "Live From the Tropics: Animals of the Rainforest and Coral Reef."
There's more: the Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum contains more than 6,000 boos and periodicals, 3,000 photographs, and more than 5,400 artifacts. Just Google San Francisco International Airport.
 View of SFO Airport surrounded by the San Francisco Bay.
SFO is rimmed by excellent hotels in all price ranges. In these harried days, I usually choose to spend the night before flying out very near the airport. My inn of choice has been the Inn at Oyster Point, and will be again. Under new ownership of Waterford Hotels, it's been spiffed and polished. Its park-and-fly program offers two weeks of free parking and only $1 a day is charged after that!!! With only 30 rooms and a fine, quiet restaurant, this seems more like a hideaway than an airport entity.
Now there's no room to detail Denver International: Call it spacious and spectacular; also vast. Be prepared to spend time on the train. |
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