MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 3
INSIGHT
AND AWE
I’M ALWAYS INSPIRED and in-
trigued each month as I read our various
articles, but I was particularly taken
by this month’s feature on UNESCO
World Heritage sites. Admittedly, I’ve
seen several in my travels and always
knew to appreciate the experience
and what the UNESCO designation
meant. Beyond that, though, I never
knew what it took for a site to receive the
acknowledgment, how the landmarks
were selected, how many there are,
what the criteria are and so on. I read
with voracity Karin Leperi’s report, on
page 48, and I think you will, too.
It started me on a trip down memory lane, recalling my favorites of the UNESCO World Heritage
sites I’ve been fortunate enough to see. I spent New Year’s Day sailing through Austria’s Wachau Cultural
Landscape before arriving in Budapest and strolling the banks of the Danube. I’ve marveled at the
wonders of the Acropolis in Athens and the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece. In Israel I was
captivated by the Bahá’i Holy Places in Haifa and explored my heritage with my father in the historic
center of Warsaw. Sukhothai, Thailand, fascinated, and who wouldn’t stand in awe at the rock sites
of Cappadocia, Turkey? Here at home there’s the Statue of Liberty and Yellowstone National Park.
That is only a handful; my list of sites yet to see still remains long. What’s left on your bucket list? Tell
me at [email protected], or share with me on Instagram @kimk928.
Just a couple of weeks ago I overnighted at a hotel steps from another: the Tower of London. One
of my favorite cities, I crossed several UNESCO sites off my list as a college student studying abroad
in the U.K. capital. While my recent visit was short and didn’t include any of the city’s more famous
institutions, it was a worthwhile visit to help the oneworld alliance celebrate its 20th anniversary! There
are exciting times ahead for the alliance, and you can catch a glimpse of its fun, uplifting new branding
in this month’s picture. For more on the alliance’s future, turn to page 20 for an exclusive interview
with CEO Rob Gurney.
What else awaits? Join the party on page 34 as we recap our 15th annual GT Tested Reader Survey
awards, then jet off to Auckland; Muscat; Hartford, Connecticut; Paris; Montevideo; Belfast; Lisbon;
the Moab desert; and Tahiti. Next month we unveil our third annual Green Issue and take a look at
animal conservation efforts around the globe. Bon voyage!KIMBERLY KROL, EDITOR IN CHIEFCONNECT WITH GT
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®
COLUMNISTS WRITERSEDITORIAL
Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL
[email protected]
Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK
[email protected]
Senior Editor JANICE HECHT
[email protected]
Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS
[email protected]
Associate Editor ANGELIQUE PLATAS
[email protected]
Assistant Editor ERICH J. MARTIN
[email protected]
News Editor ALLIE MOORE
[email protected]
Editor at Large HOLLY RIDDLE
[email protected]ART
Art Director TRACEY CULLEN
[email protected]
Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK
[email protected]
Special Events Video Editor VANCE PICCINFor complete bios,
visit globaltravelerusa.comKRISTY ALPERT
MARGARET BACKENHEIMER
J.D. BROWN
MARK CHESNUT
EUNICE FRIED
MARY B. GALLAGHER
JACK GUY
ALLIE MOOREKRISTY ALPERT
TERRI COLBY
DEBRA BOKUR
MARLENE GOLDMAN
JACK GUY
SHARON KING HOGE
KARIN LEPERI
KATIE MCELVEEN
Oman’s com-
bination of
mountain and
beach locales
is unique in the
Middle East.
Learn more about
Muscat on page 56.CIRCULATION
Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES
Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD,
TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA
Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON
Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI
Research Consultant SHARON STERNE
ADVISORY BOARD
Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE, COO MICHAEL KIELY, President CARLOS
CAPPUCCIO, Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD, Deputy Vice President
Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON, Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN
DOHERTY, Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN, Vice President Special
Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK, Secretary MARK LANE, Research
Director FRANK LOVERME, Treasurer KEVIN RYAN, Director of Technology BOB
HANCOCK, Director of Digital Advancement JARED TORGAN
GENERAL COUNSEL
THOMAS F. GOLDMAN
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Kimberly Krol at the oneworld event
PHOTO: © KIMBERLY KROL