September 2010
eNewsletter
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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:
September 25, 2010
Summer Outing: Napa-Sonoma Wine Tour
Thursday, October 21st
Expatriates and the role of the foreigner in Japanese culture.
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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SkyRider Airline Seats Pack Passengers into 23 Inches of Space.
AvioInteriors' seats, which haven't been approved yet, are designed for shorter flights.
Think your seat in coach is cramped? Take a look at the SkyRider.
The new airplane seat, to be unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference in Long Beach, would give passengers an experience akin to riding horseback.
They'd sit at an angle with no more than 23 inches between their perch and the seat in front of them - a design that could appeal to low-cost airlines that have floated the idea of offering passengers standing-room tickets on short flights.
The SkyRider isn't headed for an airplane cabin just yet. But its designer, Aviointeriors, an aircraft seat design firm based in Latina, Italy, says several airlines, including some in the U.S., have expressed interest.
"We feel extremely confident that this concept will... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes," says Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group.
The SkyRider could be its own class of seating, like business or coach, Menoud says. Passengers would likely pay lower fares. But airlines could boost their profits because the narrowly spaced seats would allow them to squeeze more fliers on board.
READ MORE: Ryanair, China's Spring Air plan 'vertical seating' sections
"For flights anywhere from one to possibly even up to three hours ... this would be comfortable seating," he says. "The seat ... is like a saddle. Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle." The novel design may draw interest - especially from two overseas carriers that have entertained the idea of providing no seats at all. Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier that has set trends such as charging for in-flight meals, has said it would let passengers stand during flights if the Irish Aviation Authority would allow it.
For the full story, visit the source: USAToday Travel. |
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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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If you're bumped from a flight, you may be stuck
Lots of luck catching another flight if you've been bumped or miss a connection. Commercial airlines in the USA have never been so full. Seven of them - Delta, American, United, Continental, US Airways, AirTran and Alaska - reported filling at least 87% of their seats in July. Even Southwest, always the industry's laggard in load factor, beat the industry's average over the previous six Julys of 84.6% by filling 84.9% of its seats.
That leaves precious few spots available if you've been bumped off a full flight or miss a connecting flight. And because airlines are scheduling fewer flights than five years ago, travelers could face long waits for a direct flight to their destinations or have to settle for circuitous reroutings to get there.
For those who've been bumped off flights against their wishes, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has proposed increasing the maximum compensation from $800 to $1,300. The proposal is included in a package of "fliers' rights" rules that LaHood wants to impose this fall. The Air Transport Association, the trade group that represents the nation's biggest airlines, says it won't object to raising the compensation. Missing a connecting flight as Beilstein did is far more common than being bumped as a result of an airline selling more tickets for a flight than the plane has seats.
However, most delays leading to missed connections are caused by weather. And unlike overbooking, the weather is outside airlines' control. Most passengers who miss a connecting flight aren't owed anything, although airlines sometimes provide vouchers for meals and hotel rooms. LaHood isn't proposing to change that.
Most airlines automatically reschedule passengers with computer software that often predicts missed connections before a plane has landed. The airlines say this lets them speed people who've missed flights to destinations as quickly as possible.
Airlines consider the price paid by each disrupted passenger for their ticket; whether any have health issues that require special attention or are unaccompanied minors; whether passengers are part of a group; and most important, which passengers will be the most inconvenienced, or delayed the longest, if they don't get the next available seat.
It also helps to check in early. Check-in times can be the tie-breaker
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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:
Middle East Adventures and End of
Summer Wine Tasting
At our August Luncheon we were very fortunate to have members Diane Le/Bow and John Montgomery and guest Alena Bartoli. Diane is the President of the Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW) and enjoys off-the-beaten track travel, often focusing on cultural and human rights issues. John is a published, professional travel and commercial photographer. Alena has lived in Jordan for a number of years and runs outstanding educational travel programs.
The most important message that we learned from their presentation is that contrary to what the US State Department may wish the world to think, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are not populated by terrorists, zealots and other bogeymen. These countries were extremely safe, the people extremely hospitable and Americans welcomed.
The Treasury in Petra, Jordan. (Photo by John Montgomery.)
A highlight of the program was the very excellent photography by John. His most spectacular images were of Petra, the famous city carved out of stone, hidden by towering sandstone mountains in Jordan. Although Petra is uninhabited today, during ancient times, it was an important city, and was the main city of an ancient people called the Nabataens. Petra is regarded as one of the world's most famous archaeological sites and was named a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1985.
Since Jordan is one of the desert countries, the climate within Jordan is hot and dry. Because of its individual geographical character along with its well-preserved locations, a multitude of prehistoric places, the presence of desert palaces, and its rich culture, Jordan continues to be one of the major travel destinations in the world. Tourism is Jordan's #1 industry. When asked by one of our members what the #2 industry is, Kamel Ayoub, Honorary Consul of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said Jordan is a resource poor country with no oil or natural resources to exploit. However its greatest resource are the people who are friendly, educated and industrious.
Legend has it that on a journey from Mecca, the Prophet Mohammed cast his gaze from the mountainside onto Damascus, but refused to enter the city because he wanted to enter paradise only once - when he died. Damascus is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities. It is a city filled with bazaars, minarets, mosques and fountain courtyards, street-cart vendors and coffeehouses. Boutique hotels now serve travelers and creative chefs redefine cuisine at the many fine restaurants.
Unfortunately, when I think of Beirut, Lebanon, I always remember the television images of the 1975 Civil War, especially the rockets being fired into the Holiday Inn. Much to the credit of the Lebanese people Beirut was rebuilt after the war and life returned to something close to normal until 2006 when a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah left parts of Beirut in ruin again. Only four years later Beirut has once again restored itself and is a Mecca for tourists. Its restaurants, nightclubs and outdoor cafes are packed. There is abundant night- life with hangouts for people of all ages.
 California Wine Country.
This month there is no luncheon, but we have scheduled our annual "Summer Outing." September is California Wine Month and this year we will be going to the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country for a day of sightseeing and tasting. With stops at 3 wineries and stop at V Marketplace for lunch and shopping, it should be a fun trip. If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP as soon as possible. There is detailed information about the trip in this newsletter below.
Best,
Terry Koenig
President
Foreign Travel Club of San Francisco
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FOCUS THIS MONTH: September 25th
SUMMER OUTING TO NAPA &
SONOMA WINE COUNTRY
Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma, California.
Our Summer Outing is to Northern California Wine Country in Napa and Sonoma Counties on
Saturday, September 25th. We will depart from the Marines' Memorial Club at 8:00 AM and return around 5:00 PM (depending on the traffic). We will tour and taste at 3 wineries in Napa and Sonoma including: Nicholson Ranch Winery, Madonna Estates and Sutter Home. V Marketplace in Yountville is our stop for shopping and lunch (not included in cost) where you can choose from a variety of restaurants or bring your own picnic lunch to eat. V Market Place also has a tasting room and we will be sampling wine there as well.
Sutter Homes in Napa, California.
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WHEN: Saturday, September 25th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
WHERE: Super Sightseeing Bus departs from & returns to:
Marines' Memorial Club
609 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA
(Meet in the Lobby.)
TOUR COST: $40.00* Per Person
[NOTE*: In order to keep the tour cost down, lunch is NOT included. You will have a choice of several restaurants in which to dine, or if you choose, you may also bring your own lunch as there will be picnic areas as well.]
RSVP Deadline: Monday, September 20th
PAYMENT: You must pay in advance. Make checks payable to "FTCOSF" and mail to:
FTCOSF
c/o Terry Koenig
215 Calle De La Selva
Novato, CA 94949-6017
QUESTIONS? Call Terry Koenig at (415) 726-3712.
SPACE IS LIMITED AND TICKETS ARE ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OR CANCELLATIONS ONCE TICKETS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FOR THIS EVENT. |
ROUND-UP: August 26th Luncheon
 (From Left) John Montgomery, Cornelia Sulzer, Diane LeBow, Cynthia Smith, Georgia Hesse, Alena Bartoli, Kamel Ayoub-Honorary Consul, Jordan.
(From Left) Vern Dwelly, John Quin-Harkin, Stewart Hume, Christian Spirandelli, and Claudette Main.
(From left) Speaker, Alena Bartoli, Prize Winners Monica Conrady and Kamel Ayoub, and Speakers, Diane LeBow and John Montgomery. (Photos by Terry Koenig.)
August Meeting Prize Winners:
- 50/50 Drawing - $63.00 Kamel Ayoub, Honorary Consul of Jordan
- Bottle of Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon - John Quin-Harkin
- Greek Islands Book - Monica Conrady
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COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Saturday, September 25th
Summer Outing: Napa-Sonoma Wine Tour
Thursday, October 21st
Katherine Bruce: Expatriates and the role of the foreigner in Japanese culture.
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. |
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A Sense of Travel . . . with Georgia Hesse
Once in a while, a book appears just when an audience is ready or even pleading for it. Published earlier, it might have languished alone on its shelf, unappreciated and, worse, unread. Entering the lists later, it would have been behind-the-times, old news, even passé.
Zounds! Here is the book we need now: "Destiny Disrupted; a History of the World Through Islamic Eyes" by Tamim Ansary, Public Affairs, member of the Perseus Books Group.
Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
This is not a polemic. It is a story told by a writer with eyes in the back of his head. He looked first at the world through Islamic eyes, born into an Afghani family recognized for "piety and religious learning;" the Ansary name indicates descent from the Ansars ("the Helpers"), Muslim converts of Medina who assisted the Prophet Mohammed in escaping assassination in Mecca. Through another set of eyes, Western ones, he looks out upon an American world he first experienced at Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale (grades 9-12, near the ski resorts of Snowmass and Aspen); then at Carleton College in Minnesota and Reed College in Oregon.
You can't get more Amurrican than that.
Arabic world from Damascus to Cairo.
A native citizen of what he likes to call, historically, the Middle World, Ansary lives today with his family in San Francisco, perhaps the Fourth World.
Fascinating it was to me to learn that as children, Tamim (way out there in the "tiny town" of Lashkargah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan) and I (way in here at a ranch near the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming) read some of the same books: V.M. Hillyer's "A Child's History of the World," for one, and Hendrick Willem Van Loon's "The Story of Mankind." (This classic was presented to the "history-loving little bookworm of an Afghan kid" in the late 1950s by British historian Arnold J. Toynbee, who passed through town and invited the lad to tea.)  Arrival of Mecca-born Prophet Mohammad (as Ansary spells it) in 622 C.E. or Year Zero.
The book begins with the Prophet Mohammad, born in Mecca, near the Red Sea coast of Arabia in the year 570 or thereabouts. (As Ansary says, nobody was paying much attention at the time.) By the year 622 C.E., he had become so controversial that his murder was planned for one September night, but he escaped (one of many exciting stories) to the town today called Medina, 250 miles to the north. From this trip (the Hegira in English, Hijra in Arabic), Muslims date their calendar. (It's now 2010 C.E. or 1388 A.H.)
From the Hijra, then, or Year Zero (or 622 C.E.) Ansary takes us through the collisions of centuries to and beyond the Six-Day War that ruined Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt, gave birth to the Palestine Liberation Organization (the PLO), and led to such offshoots as the Islamic Jihad, "founded by a man named al-Zawaheri, who in turn mentored the now-infamous Saudi jihadist Osama bin Laden."
Dusk at Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.
As an American born in the 20th century, I have always thought of the world in terms of nation-states: England, Kenya, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, whatever. Even though I knew that I was wrong historically, the notion has persisted. It was stunning to learn from Ansary that "the organization of the world into countries is less than a century old." Did you realize - even if you may have known - that "Between 1945 and 1975, some one hundred new countries were born, and every inch of earth finally belonged to some nation-state or other"? This book does not fulminate, it explores. From atop a historical hill, it looks upon the volumes of humankind, each one containing pages from all the others. Perhaps one day we will learn to read our common story.   Extremes of Muslim world fashion: (left) fashion show in Tehran 2006; (right) controversial model Yasmeen Ghauri, an Islami from Pakistan, and perhaps the opposite bookend to the Prophet Mohammad.
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Addendum: In Istanbul this summer, the exhibition called "1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World" has been attracting people by the thousands every day. Intended to be secular and non-political, the show is intended to show the groundwork done in the sciences before the European inventors established the West as the bastion of scientific creation. On October 5th, it is scheduled to move to the New York Hall of Science. |
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