Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

No, Travel & Leisure – Love for Russia is Not Strange!

by

A Travel & Leisure story this morning caught my eye. “Strange Love? U.S. Tourists Flock to Russia in Record Numbers” is a revelation that’s not surprising to some of us. What the writers at Time Inc. and Affluent Media Group don’t realize is, Americans and Russians don’t despise one another – so boosted tourism is not so “strange” after all. Here’s a photographic look at other reasons for Russia’s touristic value.

Five More European Stay Recommendations

by

Over the last decade, our team has had the exquisite opportunity to stay at some of Europe’s most hospitable and beautiful hotels. Before the vacation season for 2017 gets in full-swing, it seems a good time to reflect on destinations and places to call home for your enjoyment. Here’s a list of superb accommodations we are sure you will remember forever too.

56th Parallel: Trekking Volcanoes in Kamchatka

by

A couple of times a month our my friend Michael Schneider, Founder of  56th Parallel emails me news and special deals for unique travel across Russia. 56th Parallel is an Independent travel company that specializes not only in trips to Russia, but adventure travel experiences off the scale. Michael’s most recent mail offers a real “bucket list” must – […]

Eastern Europe Hotel Investment Shines

by

The outlook for growth in the hospitality industry in Eastern Europe is bright when looked at from the hotel investment angle. Judging from the number of projects slated for completion before the end of 2018, new hotels from Budapest to Dubrovnik will be cropping up across the region.

#SEW17 – Innovation Invades Crete

by

All this week the European conference ‘Startup Europe Week’ is being held across Crete, in Greece. Organized by the non-profit Youth Entrepreneurship Club, with the assistance of the Europe Startup/European Committee, the Region of Crete / Regional Unit of Chania, KEPPEDIH-CAM, and a host of others. After a two day stent in Chania, the conference moved up […]

Airbnb Really Is the Big Bad Wolf

by

The hotel industry is in a nightmare of dire concerns over a beleaguered hospitality market. Airbnb and the impact the so-called “sharing economy” is on every hotelier’s mind, and understandably. The industry is for all intents and purposes, lost in a forest like Little Red Riding Hood trying to figure how much business the Big Bad Wolf […]

Naroch Lake – Belarusian Resort Playground

by

In the heart of Belarus is a the Narochansky National Park, a natural wonderland of lakes, forests, and health resorts Switzerland is envious of. Virtually unknown to westerners, the area that surrounds Lake Naroch is one of the world’s most diverse biospheres. Here’s a brief look at another Belarussian travel gem. Inside Narochansky National Park there are no […]

On the Coveted Loyal Guest: Hospitality’s Holy Grail

by

For some hoteliers loyalty programs have been a secondary consideration in the trend toward mobile tech, but in reality, the game is the same as always. The loyalty program is in a metamorphosis.

Four of Europe’s Sexiest Seaside Escapes

by

Hollywood helped make the French Riviera and other European destination iconic and sexy. Moving images of starlets wading with painted toes in the Côte d’Azur tantalized or tormented us all back in the day, depending on the economic feasibility of getting crossing a sea or two. But of course these places were sensual and sensational long […]