“HEAD OUT ON the highway …” This could be the theme of both this issue and my recent experiences. It was an interesting parallel to edit Lois Friedland’s feature on luxury automotive experiences (page 38) on the heels of participating in my first luxury drive experience.

In mid-December Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director, and I escaped chilly Philly for Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., to participate in the Lexus Drive Experience. While we plan to cover our escapades in an upcoming issue, fans of unique driving experiences should look for similar Lexus Drives at hotels around the country. The newest property to join the group is The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, in New York City.

Before jetting off to Los Angeles, I visited Chicago with senior vice president Richard Evans for the unveiling of United’s first Polaris-brand lounge at O’Hare International Airport. The new business class is a game changer for the the airline; the new seats are scheduled to enter service this month on United’s new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The Polaris service standards have been in practice since Dec. 1, 2016. This month’s picture, from our lounge visit, features one of the lounge’s signature cocktails, a twist on a Pimm’s Cup, made with blood orange instead of lemonade.

This issue brings us on a full world tour, from Orlando, Taipei, Charleston and Belgrade to London, Bergen, Lima, Vietnam, Antigua & Barbuda and Paris.

Next month, we kick off our annual charity auction to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.