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"Live from New York, it’s theater night"

By: Mark Hoffmann | May 28 2010 — No comments

In New York city for a brief scouting trip, checking out our Flushing hotel for our upcoming baseball tour, and taking in a performance of Promises, Promises, our Broadway theater selection for our Thanksgiving in New York tour. One of the reasons I made the trip is because the reviewers didn’t really care for the show and I needed to see it for myself. Nothing like avoiding a bomb with a little homework.

You know, it’s been my experience that the critics don’t always get it right. This is one of those times. Promises, Promises is based on a 1960’s movie called “The Apartment.” It stars Tony-nominated Sean Hayes (of Will and Grace) and Kristin Chenoweth, and features music by 1960’s and 70’s iconic composers Hal David and Burt Bacharach. It is a “period piece,” in that it is set in the 60’s. It fits the music. Sean Hayes, in his first Broadway leading-role, is terrific. He’s funny, he can sing (although his voice is a bit thin in spots) remarkably well and he can act. Did I mention he’s funny?

The musical comedy is a bit slow in spots, but those moments are short and infrequent. Tuesday night’s audience at Promises, Promises, apparently didn’t read the reviews. The theater was packed and the audience roared their approval. The show has star power with Hayes and Chenoweth and it highlights them well. It is a Broadway night well spent. The Tony Awards often determine a show’s fate, and they are three weeks hence. But with a break or two, this show will enjoy a long run. And why not? It’s fun, musical and leaves you humming the tunes as you walk out of the theater. Promises, Promises delivers on them. Promises that is. Big time. Enjoy the show.

“Live from New York, it’s…Sports Leisure Vacations on the radio!”

By: Mark Hoffmann | Mar 08 2010 — No comments

Indeed, on Sunday, February 28^th, The Travel Guys, our brand new radio show, hosted by yours truly and Sacramento’s number one radio man Tom Romano, was on the air, live from snowy New York City. (If you’d like to listen to the show, simply point to the blue “Cool KFBK stuff” button on the home page of our web site, and click. Then scroll to the bottom right and you can listen to the show, just as it was broadcast, but without news and commercials.)

So how does something like that happen, you ask? (Please ask, because otherwise, I don’t have anything to write about.) Well, first one of the radio hosts carries a briefcase full of wires and equipment to Columbus and Hartford, then through the snow-covered streets of New York. Well no, I guess the first thing is to actually have a radio show. But we have already climbed that mountain (see the previous post)…

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“The Travel Guys” debuts on KFBK, Sports Leisure comes to your radio

By: Mark Hoffmann | Feb 26 2010 — 2 comments

Indeed, at 12:06pm on Sunday, February 14^th, a brand new radio program was born in Sacramento. At that moment, Tom Romano cued the board operator and the theme track for “The Travel Guys” was heard on the air for the first time. Tom and I will be co-hosting the show.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to be back on the radio. (My first stint was as a sports talk host and commentator on KSAC, 1240AM, in the early 1990’s. I loved being on the air talking sports then, and I’m really looking forward to working with my long time friend Tom on our new program.) “The Travel Guys” will be heard every other Sunday to start, from 12-1pm. The next broadcast is this Sunday.

You can listen driving home from church or while you’re out and about or working around the house on a Sunday afternoon. The program will be light and fun and informational. “Info-tainment” is what describes our format best. We want to offer you information the traveler can use, whether you travel for business, pleasure or some of both. Things that are interesting, whether you are traveling there or not.

We want to update you when someone in the travel industry does something screwy (which means we’ll be talking about the airlines every program), or help suggest ways to make your travels more enjoyable. It won’t be a Sports Leisure infomercial, but we will liberally sprinkle the show with spots that highlight some of our favorite people and destinations. We have 30 years of experience on the road to share with you, and the radio is one of the best places to do just that.

Our first guest last week will be a regular. John Holloway, of Holloway Travel Outfitters, will be our travel gadget guy. Already he’s saved us from bed bugs, jet lag and poor circulation while sitting on a plane. This coming Sunday, we will broadcast live from the New York Times Travel Show in New York. Hope you’ll give it a listen.

The show will be funny and light and packed with news tidbits. When the situation calls for it, we’ll bring you real hard travel news. We’ll also ask your opinions and invite you to call in from time to time. You never know, there might even be a laugh or two.

Being on the radio has always been a passion of mine. It’s a joy to know I get to share that passion once again. I hope you’ll consider tuning in this Sunday, February 28^th, from 12-1, on KFBK, 1530 on the AM dial. “The Travel Guys” can also be heard March 14^th and 28^th at the same time.

From time to time, Sports Leisure experts like Clayton Whitehead, Ramona Goodge and Scott Angeletti will appear as guests and tell us about their travels. Clayton will offer our frist “Road Report” on the March 14^th show, sharing his upcoming trip to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

If you’re near a computer, the show streams live at www.KFBK.com. Just click on “listen.” On www.sportsleisure.com, you’ll find links to everything mentioned on the show, plus cool travel-related items that come across my desk from time to time. Go to our web site, and click on “Cool KBFK Radio Stuff.” As always, I invite your comments and suggestions. Sports Leisure Vacations has become a leader in the travel industry because of your input. I would like “The Travel Guys” to follow in those footsteps. “See” ya on the radio Sunday. Feel free to tell a friend.…

The “Keys” to Island Life

By: Mark Hoffmann | Jan 25 2010 — 2 comments

This travel gig isn’t so bad, as it turns out. After 30 years on the road (31 in June), I hit the jackpot this month. On New Year’s Eve, I headed for a true vacation in Hawaii with my best friend.

People often ask me, do you ever take vacations of your own? Real vacations, like kicking back and relaxing and all? No, not usually. A man who takes people on vacation for a living, at least this writer, is never quite at ease on vacation. More like “parade rest.” I confess I’m always on the lookout for that special culinary experience, the off-the-beaten-track attraction or the special person who can bring a destination to life. Indeed, while I was in Hawaii, I met with several hotels on Oahu and Kauai, along with a couple of new restaurants we will be including in this fall’s Hawaii tour (more about that in a future post).

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Regarding the Earthquake in Haiti

By: Mark Hoffmann | Jan 14 2010 — No comments

An incredible human tragedy is unfolding in Haiti. Like many, we are horrified by the pictures we see, and wondering how we can help. Our staff is exploring how we could best direct our personal and business resources.

In the meantime, there are several ways you can help the situation in Haiti, one such option is by donating to the American Red Cross efforts in Haiti. You can do so by visiting them online at www.redcross.org and clicking “Donate Now” or by calling them at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Alternatively, you can donate $10.00 automatically by texting “Haiti” to 90999. Doing so should add your donation to your phone bill this month. More information can be found here.

Our prayers are with the people of Haiti, their friends and family.

Mark Hoffmann, Owner/Founder

Sports Leisure Vacations

A 12 Week Travel Odyssey Comes to a Glorious Conclusion; or, scratch one from “The Bucket List”

By: Mark Hoffmann | Dec 19 2009 — 1 comment

Back on September the 12^th, I embarked on a tour to the Oregon Coast, highlighting the picturesque lighthouses and the wonderful seaside village of Newport. I knew at the time, just from looking at the calendar, that the next 12 weeks were going to be busy. They were. Now that a pause in traveling has allowed time to reflect on the last three months, all I can say is, “wow.” Here’s a recap…

From Oregon I made a quick trip to Kansas City to see my father, who is battling cancer. Then back to Sacramento and off on a scouting trip to make final arrangements for our Paths of the Presidents tour and to explore some possible additions to The Lincoln Highway – Part II, slated for next summer. Next was another scouting trip, this time for our Route 66 adventure next fall, finishing with a day of business meetings in Chicago. After a day in the office, it was back on a plane, this time escorting the trip to visit the presidential libraries. What a wonderful group we had and we learned much about our great country and our past leaders.

Back to KC to watch the first game of the World Series with dad on TV before taking off with our Real Hawaii group the first ten days of November. It was an incredible trip and I hope you’ll consider joining us on this remarkable adventure when it is offered again in November of 2010 and 2011. The night after I returned from Hawaii, I was back at the airport, flying to Klamath Falls to join a busload of Oregon tourism folks headed for the annual National Tour Association convention in Reno. Since we do so much business in Oregon, it was a great chance to get some new ideas for next summer…and I did! Watch for Organic Oregon, Just Newport and Mark’s Berry Special Weekend to be added to the schedule soon. We also found the perfect destination for our annual Christmas Lights Mystery Tour in December of next year. Not in Oregon though…

After six days of appointments and networking with our peers, it was back to Sacramento to pick up 34 travelers for our annual Thanksgiving in New York tour. Awesome, as always, and the weather was kind to us. We were even in the “audience” for The Early Show one morning. (Yes, outside in the cold in the early morning, waving at the camera.) From Reno, there was a speaking engagement in West Hollywood, then home again for a night in my own bed before more business meetings in Portland, Dec. 1-4. Back to Sactown and off the next morning on the Mystery Tour, which took us to the Berkshires, the mansions of Newport and finally, to a spectacular Christmas with the Boston Pops concert on Friday night.

So now, high over the Sierra Nevada mountains, as we descend into Sacramento, there is a moment to look back on what might have been the busiest three months I can ever remember. Two scouting trips, two business conventions, two visits to dad, Tour Director for four trips and a couple of speeches to tourism groups. Not one cold, no H1N1 flu, no serious airline delays. (I think I probably washed my hands at least 10 times a day.) I estimate about 55,000 miles in total. As Yakov Smirnoff likes to say, “What a country.” From Honolulu to New York City, it was a grand adventure.

Five days home, then off to scout next year’s Christmas Lights Mystery tour. Christmas with dad and then (don’t tell anyone), a ten day vacation. Not complaining, just sharing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s an incredible way to enjoy life’s journey.

So what does a man who takes people on vacation for a living do when he gets some down time? He’s on the lookout for more great places to take you to, of course.

My special thanks to Ryan Quinn, who created this wonderful new web site, and served as a traveling companion for much of the last 12 weeks, as he learned about what makes this unique company tick, so he can take us gently down the technology road. Thanks to my staff, who did all the work I wasn’t around to do. And thanks to you, for reading this missive, for supporting Sports Leisure through the years, and for your friendship. It’s been a great ride. But maybe we could spread it out a little next time. And so it goes…

The best Hawaii visit ever

By: Mark Hoffmann | Nov 30 2009 — 2 comments

For years, we have searched for the right formula for a trip to Hawaii. Hawaii is a tough destination to sell to folks living on the west coast. By the time they reach retirement, generally they have visited the islands once or twice or 27 times. Which means standard attractions like Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Fern Grotto and Volcanoes Nat’l Park aren’t quite as attractive to them. Been there, done that, is the vibe I got from our travelers. But now we have something better in Hawaii, and will for future years.

So when we planned our tour to Hawaii this season, I set out to find something truly unusual and different to share. I wanted to make the islands, their people and their culture, come to life. I wanted the people who traveled to our 50^th state with Sports Leisure to feel like they had seen and done things others had not.

Our itinerary featured three islands (in order) – Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii. On Kauai, we stayed at the Marriott, a beautiful hotel on the beach next to the airport, just completing a multi-million dollar renovation. There are still a few construction barriers scattered about, as the finishing touches are applied. It served our needs well and will be a magnificent retreat when it’s finished (in time for next year’s visit). We let “the garden isle” live up to its name, by visiting a botanical garden where we were allowed to touch, taste and smell the plants and foliage. Lunch at the beautiful new St. Regis (formerly the Sheraton) at Princeville was featured, along with a tour of a new island agricultural attraction, a chocolate farm. We tasted ten gourmet chocolates (like you’d taste and rate fine wine) and decided which best fit our palates.

On Oahu, we made the Hilton Hawaiian Village our home. While the resort offers just about everything you could possibly desire, their attention to service and detail has been lacking the last couple of visits. We will likely choose a different home in Waikiki in the future. A highlight of our stay on the island was a visit to the newly reopened Hawaiian Hall at the Bishop Museum. This is truly one of the most beautiful buildings in the United States, with a magnificent interior. A private docent-led led took us on a path of Hawaiian kings and their history for an hour. Fascinating.

A bus ride to the west side of Oahu brought is to the Star Cruises dock, where we embarked on an amazing dolphin cruise. No, not in the water with the animals, but having them swim within 10-15 feet of the boat, spinning and dancing in the water. What an amazing sight. A tour of historic Iolani Palace was also on the agenda and well worth the $20 admission price. This is a sacred yet controversial place to the Hawaiian people and the story of how it fits into island history is worth hearing.

Our final destination was the Big Island, beginning with a stop for a burger at Drysdale’s Restaurant near Kailua. Named after the former Dodger baseball star, the establishment serves hamburgers that are unbelievable, with onion rings to match. The Marriott Waikoloa was our home for two nights, a beautiful resort on the edge of the ocean.

Our days were filled with two cultural and historical lifeseeing trips. We learned of sacred religious spots dating to the days of King Kamehameha and stopped in the tiny town of Hawi, waaaayyyy off the beaten track.

Jim Reddecopp and his lovely wife Tracy, the owners of Hawaiian Vanilla Company, were our hosts on the last full day of our stay. Lunch at the farm and a tour of the growing greenhouses (Did you know every single vanilla blossom has to be pollinated by hand?) was tasty and educational. Jim’s kids are home-schooled and assist with the lunch service. It’s a nice touch and a wonderful meal. Visits to a mushroom and a tea farm rounded out the last day. After an overnight in Hilo, we were on our way home.

I left Hawaii knowing that after 28 years of taking people to the islands, we had finally found an itinerary that took people away from the main tourist attractions and helped them understand the islands better. This itinerary will return in November of both 2010 and 2011, because it truly is the best way to experience paradise. And so it goes…

P.S. – Some will wonder why Maui wasn’t on our list. No special reason, except for our feelings that there are more “undiscovered” things to see and do on the other three islands. In addition, Maui tends to be more expensive for accommodations and suffer from more traffic issues, which weighed in our decision.

Vermont won’t be the same without Ted

By: Mark Hoffmann | Nov 29 2009 — No comments

I first met Ted Bridges at a tourism symposium in 1999. I was the speaker, talking to a gathering of small, tourism-based businesses in Vermont and New Hampshire about attracting more tour groups to their shops, restaurants and hotels. At one point in my presentation, I spoke of the importance of helping a tour operator create a unique experience for his or her travelers and how if you could assist in the creation of that experience, by providing names and contacts and even facilitating the added events yourself, you would win our hearts and our business. Ted worked for the Cortina Inn at the time, and when the opportunity came to share your own creations with the audience, it was obvious to me that Ted “got it.” He had worked with enough tour groups to know what made them tick. He knew a cooking demonstration for the ladies and a cigar symposium for the men was a great way to occupy a lazy New England fall afternoon. He knew the value of a tour operator’s business and how to make a lasting positive impression.

Ted was recovering from double bypass surgery when a staph infection popped up out of nowhere and within a week’s time, took his life. And now the tourism industry has been robbed of one of its most cheerful faces, one of its biggest supporters.

Ted was like many people who make a living in the tourism industry. He had a tremendous passion for his work. You wanted your group to stay with Ted, because whether it was the Cortina Inn, or the Holiday Inn in Rutland, Vermont, where he had hung his hat in recent years; you knew Ted would take care of your people. Every time you saw him, you knew you could pick his brain for ideas, little tidbits of information that might lead to a great experience for your travelers.

Farewell Ted Bridges. You have left us far too soon. There were itineraries still to build and wine yet to be tasted. Cigars will go unsmoked and culinary creations unexplained in your absence. For when God created you Ted, he broke the mold. I was privileged to know you, to share a few laughs and a few short moments with you through the years. They are memories I will cherish. Farewell, my friend. And so it goes…

New York’s Nooks and Crannies

By: Mark Hoffmann | Nov 27 2009 — No comments

After dozens of visits to New York, you would think the city would lose some of its excitement, it’s luster. Not for me. Every trip yields something I hadn’t discovered on a previous trip. This week’s Thanksgiving in New York trip is no exception. Sitting outside of Radio City Music Hall on Thanksgiving afternoon, while my charges are inside hearing Christmas melodies in one of the world’s finest auditoriums, is a good time to share my latest discoveries.

I’ve long been a lover of comfort food. Iceberg lettuce is way more appealing than “field greens,” biscuits and gravy beat eggs benedict for breakfast any day of the week. Foo-foo offerings are just not my style.

One of the beauties of the Big Apple is its incredible variety of eateries. Nearly 14,000 in Manhattan alone at last count. But one of the best has just opened near our favorite hotel, the Hilton Times Square. “Schnipper’s” is on the 41^st St. at 8^th Ave., just across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. They proudly boast it is their only location, and they’ve served way under a billion (according to the sign on the wall). But where else in New York City could you get a sloppy joe, served on a warm and lightly toasted homemade bun, leaking properly out of both sides? The onion rings were thick sliced and deep fried and Chris’ burger elicited nothing but moans of delight from his overstuffed mouth for a full five minutes.

There are plenty of upscale places in NYC to dine. Sardi’s in the theater district is a favorite of mine, with great crab cakes, even out of season. Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington once ate before anyone ever thought of Wall Street, has the best pot roast you’ll ever cut with a fork. And the homemade ice cream at the Delegate’s Dining Room at the United Nations is a true culinary delight.

But next time I want a burger, or a sloppy joe that reminds me of the ones mom made when I was a kid, I’ll think of Schnipper’s on 41^st St. Inexpensive, great service and clean as a whistle. But don’t tell everyone, because they only have the one location. Under a billion served. And so it goes…