Hello and happy New Year! And I promise this will be the last time I'll wish you a happy holiday for a long time. If you’re anything like me, I'm sure you enjoyed seeing the family and eating tons of food, etc., etc. But isn't it time we got back to real life, and out of the department stores?!

In the last edition of InSite, I asked for your best travel stories for GroupTravelBlog.com. Since then, I've been reading a lot of your stories, some of them hilarious, some heartfelt some that are even sad. But they're all terrific additions to the blog and I want to thank you.

I'd like to read as many as I can and, if you didn't catch last issue, I'm offering a prize for the best one. I'd like to get all stories in by January 30, and the best story will win a gift certificate to the Cortina Inn in Killington, Vermont!

Any questions, just shoot them over to me. Happy to help, as always!

Adieu for now,

Some may call Seattle Jet City but Snohomish County, just north of Seattle, is more deserving of that distinction. The county is home to the new Future of Flight – Aviation Center and Boeing Tour, where groups can see the assembly of the Boeing 777 and 787, and complete their aviation experience at the Flying Heritage Collection to view rare treasures of twentieth century military aviation.

Nature based tours also abound, with bald eagle viewing, river rafting, kayaking, hiking trails and estuary tours giving your group a glimpse of local wildlife and habitat.

Don't forget the savings, though! Find hotel rates 40% lower than downtown, all while enjoying both Seattle's popular attractions and the local charm from your Snohomish County hub.

In this installment of our popular group travel guides, get the skinny on all things travel in this beautiful county just north of the Emerald City.

This is the year to practice Emotional Intelligence. Rejection Will Mean Nothing To You!

You simply cannot take rejection personally. People are very busy today with plenty to do and more to think about. I'm busy. You're busy. They're busy.

Do not ever interpret a lack of immediate response as a sign of disinterest. Emails get buried and voice mails are easily forgotten as new input replaces them.

If you want to make a connection with a client, prospect, vendor or even with a fellow associate in the year 2007, you have to understand and internalize this single point: PEOPLE ARE BUSY TODAY.

It is your job to follow up until one of two things happen:

(1) They respond ... one way or the other, or (2) They threaten to call the police

Persistence is key to your success as you enter 2007.

Leisure Group Travel sat down with Gary Sain, a partner with Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell. YPB&R is America's leading marketing services firm specializing in serving travel, leisure and lifestyle clients.

Learn about his opinions on technology trends and changes underway in the group travel market and in branding strategies.

Wyoming blends historic roots and contemporary living in LGT's latest State Feature.

Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country in the Northwest region of Wyoming offers visitors a reflection of life in the Old West, while Casper conjures up its "Painted Past" throughout the week to bring groups a taste of the area's frontier spirit.

Read on as Andersen brings you the best of group-friendly Wyoming.

Beating out Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka, Beijing will host the next Summer Olympics, August 8- 24, 2008, making it one of the most anticipated events of the year.

The city, which maintains a population of 11 million people, has already begun to prepare for the influx of tourists. Take a peek at what is proving to be a tightly monitored and secured project and learn about the buildings, the tours, the sports and the green that is allowing it to happen.

Most travel businesses are so focused on increased website traffic or travel advertising, they overlook the other half of the tourism marketing success equation.

If you don't convert your travel marketing investments into increased qualified prospects, arrivals and sales - you lose. Read on to learn how to "supercharge" your travel website, brochures and advertising into "sales conversion cash machines."