It started with an ad on Craigslist: Free holiday on an organic farm on Long Island; work for your keep and enjoy wineries and great beaches nearby.
The farm would even supply transportation from New York City and bicycles to get around once you arrive. All a friend and I had to do was take the subway to a farmers market in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and a van would pick us up. I suspected it was all too good to be true. But when we got to Williamsburg, it was clear that these farmers were genuine and making a lively trade at the produce market. We helped load boxes after the market ended and took the two-hour ride to Garden of Eve, an 80-acre organic farm on the north fork of Long Island.
Owner Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht met us in the farm store and showed us the accommodations.
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Airlines and hotels are taking part in this weekend’s Royal Wedding festivities by offering extras including in-flight street parties, commemorative coffee cups and William and Kate bedpsreads.
Virgin Atlantic will be hosting onboard street parties on its flights departing the UK for the US or the Caribbean on April 29. Passengers will receive an afternoon tea of wedding cake and traditional English breakfast tea served in a souvenir union jack lunch box, with wedding favours also available at the bars in Upper Class. Cabins will be decorated in union jack bunting and staff will have the option of dressing up in royal themed fancy dress.
Bmi is giving away 100 “Royal rewards” for passengers flying on selected routes before May 2. The p
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JERUSALEM — On a mild October afternoon, I am sitting in the stone amphitheater in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Through the wildly twisted trunks and green canopies of ancient olive trees, I can see what is surely one of the great views of the world. It is the old city of Jerusalem and the late afternoon sun gives an extra glow to the golden dome of Temple Mount. Beyond the tall stone walls, I can see slender spires topped by crosses that reflect Christendom’s place here.
Jerusalem. At the age of 66, I finally got here. I have sailed on the Sea of Galilee in a boat like one used by the fishermen of Jesus’ day.
I have stood on the Mount of Beatitudes and listened to a friend read verses from Matthew 5.
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The Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ president Chris Crowley is among the speakers at the Guild of Travel Management Companies’ conference in Abu Dhabi in May.
With “Future Insights” as its theme, the conference diary will also feature Yves Galimidi, global travel purchaser for Ikea, and David Trunkfield, the senior travel sector analyst at Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ CEO and Bryan Conway, Travelport’s global head of operations and supplier relations will present the keynote addresses.
Topics up for debate include the future role and business models of travel management companies (TMCs), as well as the impact of technology on the world of corporate travel.
The GTMC’s role as a lobbyist will also be discussed, in light of the new political landscape, future regulatory and taxation trends.
Anne Godfrey, GTMC’s CEO, said this year’s line-up has been created to reflect the new direction that the organisation is taking.
“The diverse line-up indicates how far along its journey the GTMC has come, with representation from buyers, TMCs and suppliers,” she said.
“This year’s GTMC Overseas conference promises to be one of the most interesting and insightful conferences for many years.”
The GTMC has worked over the past two years to become a more inclusive organisation, with a more transparent membership model, and to become a key voice for business travel at government level.