Up Front With Martin B. Deutsch for 1993

December 1: Sicily Is Not What Travelers Expect
Sicily isn't what people expect. It is an under-promoted, underappreciated destination that reflects a variety of diversions and cultures. It has a great climate, wonderful food and a friendly populace. And the Mafia's presence doesn't lessen a visitor's feelings of security and comfort.

November 1: The Glory That Is Rome…and Florence
Italy has been regarded as a most-favored nation by U.S. travelers for its spirit, historical treasures, natural beauty, vivacious citizens and more. But lately, travelers have been asking themselves whether it's safe to go to Italy. After 15 days in Italy I can report that I felt secure and comfortable… and that Italy is far more affordable these days.

October 1: Winds of Change at Frequent Flyer
We are here to talk about change. Joe Brancatelli, executive editor for the past three years, is hanging up his spikes. He will be succeeded by Henri Weil, whose credits embrace editing and writing in both the business and travel forums. Never a dull moment.

September 1: First Class, The Way It Was
Is the first-class cabin a candidate for the endangered-species list? Is it on its way to extinction? Rather than launch into an endless analysis about this dire phenomenon, I'd rather recall some of the more glorious flights that I've enjoyed up front. Many of you, as children of deregulation, may never have experienced the kind of luxury and pampering that routinely used to be.

August 1: Northwest's Passage
There are some mighty big question marks hanging over the U.S. airline industry. Maybe the biggest and most perplexing conundrum in today's U.S. aviation community is Northwest Airlines. It's rich in routes and fortress hubs but laden with debt and other question marks. Will it make it? John Dasburg, Northwest's president, thinks so. He's got to.

July 1: A $93 Million Rebirth in Florida
When it opened on New Year's Eve 1925, the Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, was said to be the grandest of all the "Boom Era" hotels. It attracted guests such as Babe Ruth, Herbert Hoover and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Renovated and reopened last July, after being unoccupied for 18 years, the Stouffer Vinoy is getting phone calls, lots of them, and the guests seem to love it.

June 1: From the Sunbelt to the Snowbelt
I flew to Montreal recently to meet with Hollis Harris, Air Canada's chief executive. Harris had a brief, turbulent stint at the helm of Continental, but spent most of his career in Atlanta with Delta Air Lines, including several years as its president. Sitting in his office near Montreal's airport, I asked Harris the obvious question: What's different up here?

May 1: Is Kiwi International a Carrier of Things To Come?
Kiwi International Air Lines is one of the new generation of modest and cautious carriers that are rising from the literal and figurative ashes of deregulation. Is Kiwi a hopeful manifestation of the unquenchable spirit that sustains our entrepreneurial legacy?

April 1: We Fly in Interesting Times
The ever-changing scene in travel and transportation is often fascinating, never dull and not always rewarding. To keep you up-to-date on the interesting times in which we live and travel, we've summarized several key issues that bear watching very carefully in the next few months.

March 1: A Little Levity Never Hurt
These have been a couple of difficult years. But a little levity never hurt anyone. So here are some "predictions" for the rest of 1993, courtesy of the editors of travel management daily, one of Frequent Flyer magazine's sister publications.

February 1: Martin's 1993 Wish List Is Cautiously Optimistic
Wish lists are often repetitive and predictable. They are almost always an ego trip of no particular value. But I enjoy this annual indulgence, as do our editors, who join me in the seasonal sojourn into the realm of wishful thinking.

January 1: During a Long Weekend, Martin Goes Dutch
The Netherlands is a gem of a country, an oasis of calm in the European storm. No bigger than Connecticut, Holland holds 14.5 million citizens and a large sense of humor. As I told my Dutch hosts, this was one of the longest three-day weekends I've ever spent and also one of the shortest; either way, it's one of the nicest. You know what I mean.

Copyright © 1992-2006 by Martin B. Deutsch. All rights reserved.