I recently returned from my second annual golf trip to Kiawah Island, where we enjoyed fantastic weather. Upon arrival, the group met for lunch at The Ryder Cup Bar, located at The Ocean Course, one of the top-ranked courses in the country. Luckily, we were not playing that day, as the wind whipped up and brought unscheduled douses of rain. As one of the caddies told me, wind gusts of 35 mph made the course unplayable. But some players braved the conditions as we sat comfortably inside enjoying our first lunch of the trip while chairs cascaded outside and players tried to keep their shots on track.

© Francis X. Gallagher
We took a lesson from last year and upgraded from shabby condos to individual homes, two on Oyster Rake Drive between The Sanctuary hotel and Cougar Point Golf Course — a welcome change. Dining was enjoyable, with this year’s top cuisine winner The Atlantic Room at The Ocean Course. With a wealth of culinary experience, executive chef John Ondo brings a fresh approach; not only was our meal outstanding, but Chef Ondo walked the rooms and offered suggestions, which I took.
Returning to reality, I was honored to attend the grand reopening of the ballroom at The Pierre in New York. The lavishly restored ballroom includes a state-of-the-art audiovisual system with a 500-square-foot control center hidden behind the stage. The Pierre’s general manager, Francois-Olivier Luiggi, introduced the entertainment for the evening, Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, for a wonderful New York and Broadway experience.
I hope you cleared your schedule to join us on June 27 at The Union League of Philadelphia for the 11th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. You voted for your favorite cruise lines, hotels, destinations and airlines catering your many annual “trips of a lifetime.” Come celebrate with the best of the industry in the Meade Room!
Lastly, I join many fellow industry professionals fed up with “resort fees” at hotels. I encountered the most egregious at Margaritaville Resort Times Square in New York. Upon check-in, and not before, I was presented with a resort fee of $57 per day. I was not using the pool or any other facilities and was there for just one night, in and out. Something must be done about these undis- closed and, some might say, fraudulent fees.
Enjoy your summer vacations and be patient with your flights and pending changes predicted for this year.
Francis X. Gallagher
Publisher and CEO
Read This Next
Review: Hotel Oderberger Berlin
Leisure Lifestyle 2023
Jun 23, 2023
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedFebruary 2025
Feb 8, 2025“m/s Paul Gauguin” Multimillion-Dollar Refurbishment
The 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin ship will undergo an extensive refurbishment over a seven-week period in Singapore between February and March 2025, introducing sustainable technology upgrades, a contemporary new look for Le Grill restaurant and eight new connecting staterooms.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: The Charm of an Authentic City
They say Madrid is in vogue for many reasons: its lifestyle, its heritage, its cuisine and all of its new attractions. And it’s true, because Madrid is on the radar of travelers looking for a cutting-edge destination that still holds onto its essence. Join us as we explore its charms.
February 2025
Feb 8, 2025Fort Lauderdale’s New Pier Sixty-Six Wows Waterside
Since the 1960s, a multi-spired tower and erstwhile hotel, part of a fuel dock owned by the Phillips 66 petroleum company, dominated a stretch of Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal waterfront as the skyline’s most iconic — if quirky — landmark. But in January 2025, with the unveiling of a new resort at the heart of a $1 billion redevelopment project here, Pier Sixty-Six and its mid-century masterpiece tower were reborn as a waterfront destination, remaking the beloved neighborhood just blocks from the beach. The 32-acre project features a luxury resort and residences; multiple waterfront culinary venues (with more rolling out throughout 2025); and a world-class mega-yacht marina befitting of the title “Yachting Capital of the World,” complete with 164 deepwater slips for yachts up to 400 feet long.
Daily
Feb 7, 2025Shanghai’s New Bund Area Emerges as Global Destination
The New Bund area, in Shanghai’s Qiantan International Business District, is emerging as the city’s fastest growing cultural and business destination. Located within a cluster of shiny new corporate and residential skyscrapers, museums, galleries, cultural centers, and hotels located on the bank of the Huangpu River, The New Bund attracts art and design enthusiasts, financiers and entrepreneurs from across Shanghai, China and the world.
Sponsored Content
A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways
This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.
Press Releases
Feb 7, 2025Join Us to Celebrate the 13th Annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards
Sun, sea and sand beckon! Join us at this year’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards in Miami, Florida. Global Traveler invites you to celebrate the best in travel for the 13th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards in this vibrant beach city. What better way to sit back and relax than at an event honoring those who have mastered the art of leisure?
5 Romantic Hotels for Valentine’s Day in Europe
Daily
Feb 6, 2025Daily
Feb 5, 2025British Pullman, A Belmond Train Launches Michelin-Starred Chef Dinner Series
The British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England recently announced its latest culinary offering, the Celebrity Chef Dinner Series. The initiative launches with four journeys from April 18, each with a new menu designed by some of the United Kingdom’s most renowned Michelin-starred chefs, including Andrew Wong, Atul Kochhar, Phil Howard and Theo Randall.
Sponsored Content
A Word with Nat Pieper, oneworld CEO
Name: Nat Pieper Title: CEO at oneworld City: Dallas, Texas First job: Stadium vendor
February 2025
Feb 5, 2025Cruise Between Two Oceans on the Incredible Panama Canal
As we cruised through Lake Gatún, gliding by islands covered with thick vegetation while tropical birds flew overhead, it was hard to believe we were in the midst of a manmade feat of engineering. As we hit the locks to bring us into the Caribbean, however, we could have leaned out and touched the concrete walls as our small ship slowly stepped down to sea level.
ShareThis