November might bring with it some rain and worse weather, but it also brings the winds of change for 2008 - in the form of our annual Industry Forecast edition of Leisure Group Travel.

This year's issue has some exciting information from the true experts of our industry on everything from the state of cruising to the $18-billion "niche" we call religious travel.

For this edition of InSite, we've put this information at your fingertips, and sprinkled in some "light reading" - a Hub & Spoke feature on Valley Forge and some more of our popular news briefs for when you want your reading short and sweet.

The next time we talk, it'll be December, so I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a frugal Black Friday!

Step Back in Time with National Wild Life Refuge

High Time to Travel for Tea in the Mid-Atlantic Region

National Tour Association Announces 2008 Board of Directors

Quebec City Kicks off '400' Celebration this New Year's

Whether your group wants shopping, educational experiences,entertainment, culture, museums, dining, or outdoor adventures, Mesa is the place.

Considered larger than Miami, Atlanta and Oakland, Arizona's third largest city is home to many excellent attractions and experiences that are close, convenient, and smart - ranging from the great outdoors, culinary and educational experiences to world-class shopping and dining.

The Valley Forge area is overflowing with American history, natural beauty, exciting attractions and tons of shopping. History buffs come to the area to see what is considered the birthplace of the American Army and turning point of the Revolutionary War. Nature lovers flock here to view the largest concentration of public gardens and arboreta in North America.

And who doesn't love shopping? The nation's largest retail shopping center is located just miles away, as well as several quaint villages that offer plenty of shops and boutiques that beg to be browsed. Located just down the road from Philadelphia, Hershey, Harrisburg, and Atlantic City, Valley Forge is the perfect place for your group to hub-and-spoke.

This issue's Gate 38 has a lot in store for you from information on a new exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential library, the new downtown development plan in downtown Scottsdale, to the reopening of the Chateau de Versailles, as well as a review of a new GPS system.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "religious travel?" If you're like most of us, four thoughts probably come to the forefront: niche market, budget travel, pilgrimages, and seniors. If you hold the above four perceptions of religious tourism, you would be considered "cutting edge" of this industry - in 1975.

Yes - that's right. Today, the religious market is an $18-billion global industry with 300 million travelers. TIA reported last November that one in four travelers are currently interested in "spiritual vacations." The appeal spans the ages with approximately one-third of each age group (18-34, 35-54, and 55+) expressing interest in taking such a vacation. And according to some reports, more than 50,000 churches and religious organizations host travel programs. Few other travel industry segments can boast such impressive numbers.

Leisure Group Travel interviewed a diverse and representative group of operators to get their assessment of where the market has been this year and where they see it going in 2008. Our interviewees included larger operators that plan trips around the world, such as Collette Vacations, the Globus family of brands and Mayflower Tours. We also talked to regional operators and, since the companies covered here are engaged in diverse markets, their take on the state of the industry varies somewhat. However, we were struck by some strong common themes that run through nearly all of their comments.

This week, InSite E-Zine interviews Mike Shields.

A 20-year veteran in the travel industry, Mike Schields has held a multitude of travel positions throughout his career. These positions have given Mike a very broad and unique understanding of most aspects in the leisure travel industry.

In November of 2003, Schields joined Globus as Managing Director of Avalon Waterways, Globus' River Cruise operation, and as Director of their Group Sales efforts. Schields now has the position of Director, Group Sales and Emerging Markets. In this area, he manages the company's international sales markets, its entries into new niche markets and channels, religious travel strategies, and the overall group sales and group marketing strategies of The Globus family of brands.