The heat is on this summer, as the GT staff just returned from the sweltering weather in Orlando, Fla. We attended the annual Global Business Travel Association convention, so we are all up to date on the changes and improvements in the luxury and business travel market. As part of the convention, I hit the links at the Omni ChampionsGate Golf Club with our friends at EVA Air; look for my review in a future issue.

EVA Air just launched its Houston flight in the Hello Kitty theme. Global Traveler’s Katie Skrzek attended the festivities when the flight arrived in Houston, complete with the Sanrio characters dancing on the tarmac to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Talk about putting fun back into travel!

During the convention, we invited industry leaders to an event at Itta Bena restaurant and speakeasy, where we celebrated the year and presented the first Trazee Awards. These awards represent the millennial traveler (ages 18–35) and are selected through our sister website trazeetravel.com, where you can check out the winners.

Last month, I chatted with Uri Steinberg, Israel Tourism’s commissioner in New York, and learned the destination is ready for a banner year in 2016 after vast improvements in travel numbers this year. I have always wanted to tour Israel’s historic and religious sites, as well as see the impressive wineries and tee up at the Caesarea Golf Club, one of the few courses in the country. The course, opened in 1961, made improvements in 2007–2009 when the venerable Pete Dye redesigned and modernized it, adding needed irrigation and turning the flat land into a more undulating course.

Next month, the Advisory Board of FXExpress Publications, Inc. will hold its annual meeting to review the first half of 2015 and to vote on the Airline of the Year and the Hotel of the Year. Look for the results of these awards and the reader-voted GT Tested Awards in our December 2015 issue. We will present the awards at the beautiful Peninsula Beverly Hills Dec. 8 as we celebrate our 13th annual awards and the fifth year at The Peninsula.

Fall is a busy time for you as travelers and us here at Global Traveler. New faces are joining the team, and we are excited to see what they can add to our continued success. In this ever-changing travel world, we adapt and spring into action when we see changes to be made and opportunities that must be met.

Help us reach our continually increasing goals!