Hello and welcome to this Friday's InSite, and the release of our August edition of Leisure Group Travel! We have something very special for you!

We have traditionally covered niche markets in smaller sidebars of our Regional Travel Tips. But, as the group travel industry trends more and more towards niche and special interest travel, so have we in our writing. Those small sidebars have become larger focuses, and this issue of InSite is a good example of that.

Our focus in the August issue is Health & Wellness travel. We have three regional features concentrating on that subject, and Cindy's Bertram's cruise column takes a look at spas onboard the industry's leading cruise lines.

One of our responsibilities as publishers is to guide our readers towards those trends that are shaping the market. You'll find this new focus shapes nicely with market trends of what consumers are seeking in a vacation.

We hope you enjoy our new focus and, as always, please let me know what you think!

All the best,

Great Canadian Travel offers Polar Bear Tours

Group Dinners & Cooking Demos with Edible British Columbia

Meetings TV is "On the Air"

For nearly 90 years, Collette Vacations has taken travelers to their worldwide dream destinations. And now, the company is giving back to the world they visit. In honor of their 90th anniversary in 2008 they are launching the Collette Foundation, a five-year, $2 million, employee-run initiative focused on improving the lives of children worldwide.

Countless niches are prevalent in the travel industry today and one of the more popular ones involves wellness. Contained in the wellness niche are many further subgroups. For today's consumer, it's all about choices.

Whether you prefer hot springs, spas, culture, country retreats or urban delights, you will find many wellness options in the Southwest, including rejuvenation experiences, fitness activities, special events, voluntourism, and healthy culinary delights.

The Frontier West offers health-conscious travelers a plethora of exciting options that not only help travelers keep on track but may introduce them to fabulous sights, places, activities and cuisines they had not expected.

Each state in this region offers a wide selection of options that health-conscious travelers will want to participate in. We focus on one wellness aspect that is found in each state and you will find similar activities are readily available in all.

For many small businesses, the traditional ways of attracting customers are no longer enough. Today, technology abounds, and the smart business owners are using it as a vital part of their business growth strategy. In fact, since many people now spend more time online than they do listening to radio or watching television, web-based advertising is a must for any small business to survive.

Always at the forefront of trends in tourism and travel, Mid-Atlantic destinations offer visitors a range of experiences focusing on their health and well-being. Visitors interested in wellness retreats opt for restorative natural springs or the newest treatments at contemporary spas.

The wellness concept encompasses a range of areas, including mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health, and the Mid-Atlantic region has destinations specializing in each of these areas.

As the cruise industry emerges into the 21st century, a new era of the spa concept has evolved. Having a spa with specialized services is no longer enough - cruise lines are now partnering with renowned spa companies, and expanding their own specialized offerings. It reflects their efforts not just to "raise the bar" to keep guests returning, but also creating a new specialized lifestyle at sea.

The first cruise line to select a well known spa corporation to design and operate their spa, beauty salon, and fitness facilities onboard was Cunard Line...

What do you do when you find time on your hands?

• Clean the files
• Drink Coffee
• Chat with a fellow worker
• Complain
• Take a smoke-break

Marchev discusses ways that you may make better use of your downtime with a little more effort.

This week, InSite E-Zine interviews Barbara Jones.

Barbara Jones is the Director of Sales & Marketing for The Empire State Building.

Barbara started her travel and tourism career with National Airlines, as a reservations agent. She joined Pan American World Airways as a ticket agent and eventually became an Account Manager in the Sales Department. After years with Pan Am she moved to Delta Air Lines as an Account Manager and moved onward to become the Manager of Product Development for the Delta Shuttle.

After a full and rewarding career with the airlines, travel and tourism had become part of her DNA. Being a New Yorker, loving the city and loving travel and tourism, the Empire State Building Observatory seemed a perfect fit for Barbara's hospitality background.

Email me at Kelley@ptmgro ups.com for more information. For an example of a previous profile, click here.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kelley