February 2010 marks the beginning of Global Traveler’s seventh year. It’s been an exciting roller-coaster of a ride since we published our first issue just six years ago. In what sometimes seems like the blink of an eye, we’ve grown from a core group of three enthusiastic entrepreneurs intent on launching a new magazine despite long odds to a well-rounded organization of professionals who love what we do — and who love hearing from you.

The world has changed in many ways since February 2004. Travel has become even more complicated than it was back in the first few years following 9/11. Yet we’ve all made adjustments, and even in the face of challenging economic times, we continue to thrive; we keep doing what we do because it’s what we love to do.

Recently, I reached out to some of our industry friends, asking them to reflect on the first decade of the 21st century. They’ve provided some interesting insights. Read on:

Francis X. Gallagher
Publisher/CEO

Congratulations on behalf of Asiana Airlines. I am greatly pleased to hear you are celebrating Global Traveler’s sixth anniversary. To be honest, it seems a bit like we share in your celebration as part of GT’s extended family. We celebrate the history of our achievements over the past 10 years and ways in which Global Traveler may have contributed to our efforts.

Asiana Airlines believes that excellent customer service is not just in the hands of our flight attendants but alsoa product of the aircraft in which the service is delivered. From May 2006 to February 2008, Asiana Airlines invested close to $100 million in upgrading our fleet, ensuring that passengers are served with state-of-the-art seating and wider personal AVOD systems offering more than 170 channels.

In addition to our upgraded fleet, Asiana Airlines introduced renovated lounges at Incheon International Airport in July 2008. With high-end art and library themes, our new lounges complement the pride we take in improving the customer experience. In-flight dining is another venue where Asiana excels, having won the Mercury Award for our twist on the traditional Korean dish, ssambab. In October 2007, we brought together renowned Chinese restaurant Do Rim, Italian restaurant La Cucina and dim sum franchise Din Tai Fung to enhance our in-flight meal experience.

Asiana Airlines also offers unique in-flight entertainment to enhance our award-winning flight experience. Programs developed by our flight attendants include Flying Magic Service (in-flight magic show), Delighters Service (in-flight fashion show), Charming Service (in-flight beauty treatment) and Onboard Chef and Sommelier Service. These are one-of-a-kind in-flight services that only Asiana Airlines brings to the world of airline travel.

Asiana’s uncompromised dedication to passenger service has garnered accolades throughout the years, including recognition by Global Traveler for six years in a row, which inspires us to maintain our top-quality service while always reaching higher to better the flight experience.

We appreciate and hope to continue the great partnership we share with Global Traveler.

Tae-Keun Han
Senior Vice President, Cabin Service Planning
Asiana Airlines

Over the past decade, India has developed into a popular business and leisure destination. Global Traveler has been right there with us, bringing readers and business travelersuseful, important information about Indian destinations and offerings.

We truly value our relationship with the magazine and look forward to another 10 years of working together to deliver India’s message. India really does have something for everyone: Tourists flock to iconic destinations such as the Taj Mahal and the Gateway to India, while beachgoers relax on the pristine shores of Goa and Kerala and business travelers experience the burgeoning technology industry in Delhi and other places. The list goes on.

And, of course, we know tragedy in the same way many Americans do after Mumbai was besieged by terrorists in 2008. Even then, Global Traveler continued to advocate for India and for travel in general. The magazine immediately dispatched a writer to report on the situation and to encourage travelers to experience India. A comprehensive report was published, and an even deeper relationship between the tourist board and the magazine has developed.

Congratulations on six great years, GT.

Kalyan Sengupta
Assistant Director
India Tourism Office of New York

The last decade has been the most exciting and most rewarding period of my personal life and professional career. In particular, the last six years have been the most compensative as, under my jurisdiction, Mexicana Airlines once again became the leading international carrier between the United States and Mexico.

Re-established and re-energized, our company continued to maintain our leadership position in strategic gateways of great national importance such as Los Angeles, Chicago and the Bay area, with 30-plus percent growth, converting Mexicana into the largest foreign flag carrier from these gateway origins. Another noteworthy accomplishment was becoming Mexico’s largest carrier out of New York and Miami, stations from which we were previously categorized as the No. 2 airline. Adding to our expansive coverage philosophy, we extended our U.S. and Canadian network by launching eight new gateways, including Washington, Dallas, Fresno, Orlando, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Calgary. Our principal business imperative has been one of sustainable growth and customer satisfaction, and our service development has continually enabled us to meet these primary objectives.

Global Traveler has been a great partner for us. A mature, progressive and professional publication, it has allowed us to cultivate multiple, mutual, profitable engagements with our clients and with strategic business partners such as Global Traveler, a fundamental catalyst of our brand and service promotion. A target-focused and high-quality industry publication, with highly valued editorials aimed at educated audiences — something companies around the world yearn for — makes your medium one of the top media channels. I congratulate Global Traveler, Francis X. Gallagher and his entire staff on their anniversary, for their past success and their assured success to come.

Jorge Goytortua
Vice President Sales
United States and Canada
Mexicana Airlines

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations for the sixth anniversary of Global Traveler magazine. Global Traveler has no doubt contributed to the world travel industry by offering timely and valuable travel information for the last six years.

This year, we are honored as Best Airport in the World for the fourth consecutive year by Global Traveler readers. Since opening in 2001, we have made continuous efforts to transform Incheon Airport into the most convenient and pleasant airport for customers. We truly thank the readers of GT for their recognition and will continue to provide great airport service.

C. W. Lee
President and CEO
Incheon International Airport Corporation

The Dubai-based Jumeirah Group was founded in 1997 with the aim of becoming a hospitality industry leader through establishing an international portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. Through the years and since becoming part of Dubai Holding in 2004, Jumeirah has enjoyed strong synergistic relationships with other member entities which have helped to achieve the expansion strategy of the group. To date, we operate properties in Dubai, London and New York and are excited about our ambitious expansion plans which will see the group’s portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts grow to 60 worldwide by 2012. Just recently, our iconic Burj Al Arab property, recognized as the most luxurious in the world and the symbol of Dubai, celebrated its 10th anniversary.

While we acknowledge the challenging environment the entire tourism industry has faced over the last year, we do feel fortunate that all of our properties continue to enjoy high occupancy rates. We attribute our success through these past years to our Stay Different philosophy which accentuates the individuality of the Jumeirah portfolio and recognizes the distinctiveness of luxury travelers and the importance of personal experiences in their lives. We respect each guest’s desire to be seen as an individual, and we strive to engage them in real-life personal experiences. True luxury is emotional, memorable and above all personal — this is what we believe today’s sophisticated luxury traveler expects.

Throughout the years, we have enjoyed working with Global Traveler, a leading magazine that we admire and look to for the latest in travel executive news; we appreciate the magazine’s comprehensive coverage of a variety of destinations. In 2010 we hope to grow our rapport with you and look forward to your continued success.

Piers Schreiber
Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Jumeirah Group

The ability to communicate when traveling abroad has evolved tremendously over the past decade. Remember the days of using a hotel phone with an 800-number calling card? Or perhaps you can recall purchasing a local phone card and then trying to figure out how to use a pay phone abroad. Today, we almost take it for granted that our mobile device will work abroad, just as it does at home, but it wasn’t that long ago that only a handful of GSM carriers in the United States offered roaming to a handful of countries.

After converting to GSM technology, AT&T steadily grew the footprint in which our customers could make and receive calls while abroad — from a mere 15 countries in late 2003 to 220 countries today, more than any other U.S. wireless provider. The ability to use data while traveling outside the United States also began in late 2003, and that footprint has grown to more than 190 countries today (115 with 3G). Indeed, it’s phenomenal to think that travelers today can be reached almost anywhere in the world on their mobile devices. Over the years, Global Traveler has helped drive awareness of these capabilities, which in turn has made traveling easier and enhanced its readers’ peace of mind when away from home.

Congratulations on six great years!

Bill Hague
Executive Vice President of International
AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets

As we look back and close out a decade, we can reflect on the many milestones United reached to make travel more enjoyable and rewarding for frequent, global travelers.

One particular case was in 2007, with the announcement of our fully lie-flat international business-class seat which brought unrivaled comfort to many travelers crossing the Atlantic and Pacific. Heading into a new decade, Global Traveler readers will notice more changes at United, notably with Mileage Plus. Two new programs we are proud to introduce in 2010 include Miles & Money Awards and One-Way Awards. Offering these new programs is a part of Mileage Plus’ ultimate goal to be the most rewarding loyalty program.

It is an exciting time, and we look forward to many more years of providing our service to Global Traveler readers. Happy anniversary, GT!

Robert Sahadevan
Vice President Mileage Plus
United Airlines

With so many “firsts” and the strongest brands in the hotel industry, it’s no wonder Priority Club Rewards continues to earn recognition from leading organizations, associations and publications worldwide. In fact, in 2009, the readers of Global Traveler named Priority Club Rewards the “Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World” in the annual GT Tested Awards for the fifth year in a row. We are honored to receive this distinction; we have worked hard over the past decade to bring industry-leading initiatives to our members.

Early in the decade, in 2000, PCR launched the industry’s first online awards catalogue at www.priorityclub.com. In 2004, as PCR became the world’s largest hotel loyalty program, we launched the first global online reservations capability in eight languages.

In 2006, PCR introduced the “Any Hotel, Anywhere” program in the Americas, giving members the opportunity to redeem points for hotel stays anywhere in the world — even our rivals’ properties. By the following year, we had expanded the program to members in Mexico and launched Priority Club Meeting Rewards across all seven brands in the Americas.

As we celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2008, we also welcomed our 1 millionth member in Greater China. That same year, PCR was named Best Hotel Loyalty Programme at the China Hotel Starlight Awards.

Last year, PCR launched two new programs: Points & Cash allows members to combine fewer points with cash for reward nights at all 4,400 IHG hotels and resorts globally; and Flights Anywhere allows members to redeem points or points and cash for flights on more than 400 carriers globally without restrictions on seat availability.

Congratulations, GT, on your sixth anniversary! We look forward to many more years of affiliation with a readership that has recognized PCR for its out-of-the-box approach to loyalty, offering the widest variety of redemption options, the fastest way to Elite Status and the ability to redeem points at any hotel in the world.

Don Berg
Vice President Loyalty Programs
Priority Club Rewards

Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. trans-border market and in the international market to and from Canada. In 2009, Air Canada, together with its regional partner Jazz, carried approximately 32 million passengers, providing direct passenger service to more than 170 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the 13th-largest commercial airline in the world, with approximately 24,700 full-time equivalent employees.

In July 2009, Air Canada took delivery of its 18th and final Boeing 777 aircraft, sporting a specially designed livery from nose to tail in recognition of the carrier’s role as Official Airline of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. With the delivery of this 777-300ER, Air Canada completed its fleet-wide renewal program. It features all new seats; industry-leading seat-back personal entertainment systems with hundreds of hours of movies, TV programs and music available on demand; as well as standard 110V electrical outlets at arm’s reach for all customers.

Concurrently, Air Canada introduced the first lie-flat beds on any North American network carrier in business class across its international fleet. In 2008, Air Canada received its 60th and final new Embraer aircraft, offering a consistent onboard product fleetwide. Air Canada operates the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleet of any North American network carrier, with 202 aircraft whose average age is nine years.

Air Canada continues to build its international network. This summer it is launching new flights between Canada and Brussels, Copenhagen, Athens, Barcelona and London. In growing its international network, Air Canada is leveraging its well-situated Toronto hub, whose operations were recently consolidated under one roof in a new terminal building. The hub serves as a convenient transfer point for international travelers connecting through North America to Europe, Asia and South America.

Here’s to more good years, GT!

Denis Vandal
Senior Director Marketing
Air Canada