Best Foot Forward

As we swiftly come to the close of the year, I can reflect on what a remarkable ride it’s been. With travel back — and soaring — it is almost difficult to imagine those trying days of the recent past. We are all gearing up for our GT Tested Reader Survey awards event Dec. 6 at The Ritz-carlton, Los Angeles at LA Live. We will reveal the results of our annual reader survey, awarding the best in travel from airlines to hotels, destinations and credit cards. Please join us for the fun and festivities.

At the same time, we are well into planning events for 2023, securing locations and dates for the Leisure Lifestyle Awards (Global Traveler), Wherever Awards (whereverfamily.com), The Trazees (trazeetravel.com) and the 2023 Global Traveler GT Tested Reader Survey awards (celebrating 20 years of voting the best in travel). Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the results of our reader voting and gathering with the industry’s best leaders, clients, subscribers and media to celebrate their wins.

Our hearts go out to our readers in Southwest Florida, many hit by Hurricane Ian. As we have two employees in Sarasota, we anxiously waited to hear about their safety and well-being. Although it was a terrible storm — which they rode out — they are safe, and our Sarasota office survived relatively unscathed. This is not true for many south of us, and we want to support efforts to help them recover. There is no better charity than the American Red Cross, and it will need your support for many months. Some grassroots relief efforts are already afloat, and I encourage you to support this aid as well.

Having owned property hit by Hurricane Michael in 2018 in the Florida Panhandle, I know it’s difficult to get things operational. I’m supporting a group who plan to drive from Port St. Joe to Fort Myers with water, food, gas and manpower to help in the current cleanup. They lived through Michael and know exactly what people need. I encourage you to lend support in any way you are able.

In the meantime, please support Florida tourism. Even a week after the storm, restaurants like Ophelia’s on the Bay (Siesta Key) reopened. As Fort Myers and Naples recover, they, too, will need your support and tourism.

On a final note, the world is small! On a recent trip to Atlanta, I met up with Rob Hall, of Aircraft Commerce magazine, in town on his first trip outside of the U.K. since the start of COVID. Rob and I traveled together to Doha for a special unveiling of the Hamad International Airport expansion in November 2019. We met for a drink at the Intercontinental Buckhead’s Americano Bar to celebrate the return of travel and share some laughs and good times.

For now, be generous, be supportive and travel!