Our Regent Seven Seas Mariner group had a glorious time — look for my GT Tested review in the February Wave Issue. What a spectacular ship! There is nothing like the Regent Seven Seas experience, from the ship to the crew. During this journey we expanded our group beyond the Globility Board membership to include Advisory Board members and other subscribers, making an even 20. Remember, the definition of “Globility” says it all:

Globility \glo ‘bility\ n:
1. The quality of being open to a world of cultures and experiences

I am excited to announce we will host the Leisure Lifestyle Awards event for the second consecutive year at InterContinental Miami, slated for April 20, 2026. We have also confirmed The Peninsula Chicago for The Trazees and Wherever Awards on Aug. 3, 2026. Things are moving ahead swiftly, and it is wonderful to get a jump on our event locations for the coming year.

Before we move on to 2026, however, we will host the final event of 2025 (the GT Tested Reader Survey awards) on Dec. 17 at Loews Coral Gables. I was lucky to run into Nadim Barrage, general manager, while on a walk through the Loews event space. Nadim took me and Carrie Cox, our senior account executive, for a tour of an area outside the hotel property, known as The Plaza Coral Gables, to see all the new restaurants which will complement the hotel — Mika, by Chef Michael White; Mottai, Japanese cuisine; and CVI.CHE 105, just to name a few. (Check out Nadim’s One- on-One interview in our August 2025 issue.)

The Loews meeting space and ballroom are spectacular, and an outstanding outside area opposite the ballroom can be used for pre-function events. It’s large enough to host a significant gathering overlooking the front of the property.

On my quick trip to Southern Florida, I flew into Fort Lauderdale and departed from Miami. I was disappointed in the FLL Uber and rideshare location, where I had two cancellations and ended up bailing for a taxi, which also had a long line. I found MIA more efficient, but to be fair, drop-off is always easier than pickup.I enjoyed the American Airlines Admirals Club at MIA, where I could check emails and relax before the flight. I tried to check out the American Express Centurion Lounge on the way to my gate, but they were turning away customers and there was a 20-minute wait to enter. I was a long-term American Express Gold Card member and upgraded to Platinum this year specifically for the club access, which has proved a real disappointment. This past May when I flew out of Philadelphia to Dublin, I had trouble getting lounge access and found the lounge cramped, hot and not conducive to work … although the staff did their best to make things work.

Recently I stopped in the British Airways lounge in Newark on my flight to İstanbul via Heathrow. I have to say the lounge is an interesting place. The bar, previously self-service, is now roped off with velvet theater ropes so BA passengers do not over consume. I heard this firsthand from the staff ! Oh, the South Lounge in Heathrow has no “bar police.”

Enjoy your travels, and I hope to see you in Coral Gables Dec. 17!

Francis X. Gallagher, CEO and publisher