On the Sunday, May 24th, 2020 edition of The Travel Guys… In the Travel News, restaurants and tourism attractions are opening all over the country, and some of us hold our collective breaths. Las Vegas casinos are rolling the dice, and we get an update on when the lights might be back on Broadway. The TSA has made some changes to how you'll pass through security at the airport. No more handing your boarding pass to the TSA staff, among other changes. But missing from the new security list is temperature monitoring, which many people expected to be part of the new procedures. (We will have Sid Thrift and Dale Hanna, our local TSA guys, on with us next Sunday to discuss the changes.) Theater companies all over the country are out of business for the summer. Some are getting very creative on giving you virtual performances. We highlight two today: The Transcendence Theater Company in Sonoma is offering concerts from ten years of Broadway shows under the stars (donations); and Broadway itself is offering you the chance to see the premiere of a new show, "Allegiance,"starring George Takei, premieres Friday night and you can watch it ($15 charge). Just One Man's Opinion highlights Memorial Day and why it's important right now to acknowledge its meaning.
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.