Take Our Survey and Win An iPod....

We are doing a survey right now for how our members are using their mobile devices when traveling...either for business or leisure.

To sweeten the deal, for your participation you will be entered into a drawing for a 2 Gig iPod shuffle (all appropriate questions need to be answered). This survey will be open through August. So that's when we'll give away the shuffle.

To make it easy we have a 10 question offline survey (professionally administered) that will take less than 1 minute to answer. Go to http://surveys.verticalresponse.com/a/show/680244/3b3663d59e/0 You need not be a member to take the survey.

Thanks and see you there.

The 50 Best Restaurants In The World 2010

The business of the best in culinary arts is a competitive one. Foodies and celebrity chefs closely follow the leading guides of gastronomy: The coveted Michelin 3 Stars, are handed out rarely, France prefers its Gault Millau, Asia follows the newcomer Miele Guide, Italy has its Touring Club suggestions and America prefers the Iron Chef spectacle.


But all of these are topped by the annual presentation of "San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants."


The list is created from The World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy (organized by Restaurant magazine and funded by S.Pellegrino), an influential group of over 800 international leaders in the restaurant industry. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world, and each region has its own panel of 31 members including a chairperson to head it up. The panel is made up of food critics, writers, chefs and 'gastronomes' each of whom have five votes. Members vote for five restaurants, at least two of which must be used to recognise restaurants outside of their region.


"And The Envelope Please!"


For 2010....the winner of the "Best Restaurant In The World"....is....
Noma, Copenhagen Denmark! El Bulli, a Spanish coast restaurants with a waiting list as long as its balance sheet, took the big fall to a number two position after a few years of being at the top. Blame it on thier current renovation. The third best in the world goes to The Fat Duck, located just West of London. Number Fifty (which is arguably is a great place to be too): Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA.

The Euro Falls To Its Lowest Level In 4 Years

Once thought to be unstoppable in expanding value, the euro is on an unstoppable slide against the dollar and other world currencies. Although entirely unrelated to the strength of the US economy and real value of the US Dollar, the euro has slipped to .812 or nearly 1 USD = 1.23 Euro. A 4 year low.

This is great news for the many Americans that have sat on the sidelines waiting for that more "affordable" European vacation through nearly a decade of global uncertainty, recessions, bubble busts and a devalued dollar. Suddenly that trip to Europe doesn't seem so unthinkable, and may even be cheaper than staying at home...what? For the luxury market that held off on those many luxury European made goods whose cost soared along with the euro since 2002, good times are here again. And the poor folks in Europe who depend on the hospitality economy, suddenly their lives look rosy. Across the board everyone is happier, unless you export to Europe.

And the cause has nothing to do with "America is back", or "the strength of the dollar". It's the Iceland ash cloud that continues to cast a pall over the continent and parts of its economy, Greece's recent near bankruptcy and spotty EU deficits that plague respectable partners (Italy, Spain, Portugal etc). It's a mess over there.

And what about the Euro's future? "There is little reason to expect an end to the free fall of the euro," a team of Commerzbank analysts led by Ulrich Leuchtmann wrote in a note to clients today. "It is becoming increasingly clear that fiscal consolidation will only be obtainable at the cost of a massive recession."

Actually the euro continues its slide through May.

Good times are here again for those that like to travel to the old world.