WHEN WE START OFF THE NEW YEAR, we always try to better ourselves and project how we will achieve these goals. At Global Traveler, we are bettering ourselves by expanding our brands digitally into the under-served family travel market. Most of those currently writing about family travel do so as a side thought or to document their occasional family travel experiences in a blog or through social media. Now that WhereverFamily has gotten its feet wet, you can clearly see we dedicate this publication to the true needs of traveling families. What sets us apart is our firm belief the publication should be independent, with no associations, written and run by and for the American family traveling domestically and internationally. Please welcome whereverfamily.com to the FXExpress Publications, Inc. family!

This issue marks the end of voting for the Leisure Lifestyle Awards and the beginning of the 2018 GT Tested Awards. You’ll find both ballots in these pages — I know you value the opportunity to offer your opinions and rate the best in business and luxury travel. This issue closed as we awarded the best of 2017 last month at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. This year will mark the 15th anniversary of the GT Tested Awards, a true milestone. I wonder if any travel categories will secure the unprecedented 15-time win — we shall see in December!

The new year also marks the end of the holiday season and the beginning of our intensive travel from coast to coast and from country to country to secure marketing plans and for our journalists to travel and report on global travel conditions. I plan to jump coast to coast and north to south to meet with our clients and discuss exciting ways to reach our multiple target platforms for travelers. Between Global Traveler magazine, www.globaltravelerusa.com, trazeetravel.com and whereverfamily.com, we hit every core facet of the market, from business travelers to millennials.

I hope to see you on board soon — and find a way to make business a pleasure while traveling in 2018!