On the Sunday, May 17th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the Department of Transportation reports complaints against airlines have skyrocketed (maybe something to do with offering people vouchers instead of refunds); restaurants are getting very creative in a post-stay-at-home world and the Grand Canyon reopens on a limited basis... Mark renews a segment from his first radio life (sports talk in the 90's) called Just One Man's Opinion, and weighs in on cruise ships who flag themselves in other countries to avoid taxes and regulation, then come crying home of our government when something like COVID happens. Plus, we make you a Smarter Traveler by talking about the importance of checking on what's open and what's not before setting out on your next trip. Richard Lewis, President and CEO of Broadway Sacramento, is our guest. Richard's father was one of two partners in the original Music Circus, way back in 1951. As performances are canceled and we see a summer without Music Circus, we talk to Richard about what comes next. It is a true Sacramento story, and we give Richard plenty of time to share it with you.
On the Sunday, May 10, 2020, Mothers Day edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, Delta drops 10 cities from its route map, Norwegian Cruise Line raises $2 billion to help avoid bankruptcy and Frontier Airlines gives the Sleazy Airline Award of the Year for offering to "sell" you the middle seat for $39. That's the same middle seat that likely would have been empty. Oh, and did they mention they were going to sell that same empty seat to both the window and aisle passengers? Makes you want to run right out and buy a ticket on Frontier. What nice people they are... Travelers United is an organization which advocates for travelers, mostly in the Washington, DC, arena. We invited Charlie Leocha, President and Co-founder, to talk with us about airline refund policies and other virus-related traveler questions. Since it's Mother's Day, we invite you to call in and share your favorite story of travel with mom. Your mom, someone else's mom, the lady who cared for you like a mother, your in-law. Whomever you see as mom, share that once in a lifetime trip you took. A small plaque remembering Travel Guys co-host Mark Hoffmann’s mom can be seen in Capital Park’s Rose Garden.
On the Sunday, May 3rd, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, we have the winners of the annual Freddie Awards, voted on by travelers, the show honors the best in customers service, award/reward programs and promotions, all voted on by travelers themselves. For a complete list of winners, go here. As economies begin to open up state by state, people may consider traveling again. In our Smarter Traveler segment we ask the question, besides cabin fever, what will get people back on the road, on airplanes, in hotel rooms, into theme parks, movie theaters and ballparks? Last week, we talked with our favorite Travel Advisor, Gwen Duncan, about how COVID-19 is impacting her business and how she is adjusting. After the interview was over, Tom left the tape running and he thought our audience would enjoy some of our "off the record" thoughts. Co-host Mark Hoffmann, is the owner of Sports Leisure Vacations, the underwriter of The Travel Guys. Tom talks with Mark about being a tour operator in the middle of the greatest global health crisis in a century.
On the Sunday, April 26th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, the last cruise ship left on the oceans has finally finished its travels; and perhaps you heard the ranting by the mayor of Las Vegas last week. She may have "crapped out" with her comments... Bob Simms, the outdoor expert at KFBK, joins us to talk about where you can fish or take out your boat right now. Options are limited as trout season gets underway in some California counties. Chris Elliott continues to be quarantined in Nice, France. He joins us live to talk about the strict lock down in France and how it's working. Gwen Duncan of Cordially Yours Travel stops in to tell us how the virus is impacting retail travel and we get Gwen's thoughts on what normal might look like when travel resumes.