And we’re all American winners with the US borders reopening in November for UK and EU visitors.
But indulge me a minute to give a shout-out to my old pal Fionn Davenport, Editor in Chief of the Ireland’s Travel Trade Network.
Prize guy
Fionn has only gone and won the major international Travel award at IPW, the American Travel Fair.
The only downside is that I wasn’t there in Las Vegas to see him receive it and share the celebrations.
With the British and Irish contingent who did make it out to the US on the International Exemption Order.
An exemption I was granted but which non-Travel writers or special sectors aren’t given.
Go Joe
Only from November there will be no need after Joe Biden at last gave us all the news we’ve been waiting so long to hear.
The word on the street is that we could all be over there by Thanksgiving (November 25) which is around the time of someone’s birthday (hint)!.
While we, the travellers, are licking our lips my thoughts never veer far from our dream-makers, our Travel providers.
So imagine the excitement at Universal (Orlando and Hollywood), Disney (World and Anaheim), American Holidays, Tour America, Attraction Tickets, TUI, Hays.
And here in Scotland Barrhead Travel.
Digging out my new ESTA I already have my five-year visa, but belts and braces, I’m imagining those pancakes at a US diner.
Next stop Orlando
The 2022 renewal of the American Travel Fair is slated for Orlando in May.
But I’m free between now and then (hint!)
A postscript here and a return to Fionn’s award, for his article on California from the Travel Fair in Anaheim which I also attended.
Fionn is a popular name in Ireland but unheard of on the other side of the Irish Sea.
Pronounced Fee-on, it means ‘fair-haired’.
None of which, of course, the editor who drew the pages for an article from Fionn.
And he immediately assumed that it was a mistake and changed his byline to Fiona.
Now we all make mistakes and I’ve made most of them and being that soldier myself I felt for the editor.
Only one Fionn Davenport
They must have trawled back through the article to see if ladyfying Fionn might have inadvertently changed his orientations.
Thankfully though nothing to alarm the lovely Laura here.
And Lauren too
And in further breaking news, big hurrah to too another fave of our Travel Pack, international woman of mystery, Lauren Jarvis.
All of which brings me back to American winners, Fionn Davenport, Lauren Jarvis, us Travel writers and editors and our Travel providers.
MEET YOU ON THE ROAD
