Guess what time it is, folks? Drumroll, please! It's that magical time of the year when I officially declare a ceasefire against my overflowing inbox and chaotic calendar. After a year of sprinting ahead like a caffeinated squirrel, it's finally time to hit the brakes. Some say there's no such thing as a vacation in our industry, but I call their bluff! I’m outta here!

But not forever. December is when my daily routine shifts from "full throttle" to "coast mode." Single parents aren't clamoring for travel deals while jingling bells and sipping cocoa. Business travel takes a nap, and we all unite with our families.

So, why not follow my lead and press the snooze button on life? It's time to recharge those batteries and face…

As a nation, we are a jaded lot. From Willy Loman to the used-auto hucksters in countless movies, the public in general, holds sales people rather low on the scale of esteem. Indeed, most of the people you encounter are so afraid of being "sold" something that they refuse to speak with salespeople when they enter a store or walk onto a car lot. "I'm just looking" is used as the warding spell against the salesperson, and woe to the one who persists beyond that point.

Most travel consultants share this cultural bias against "sales." Ironic, isn't…

Looking back over the past few months, I find myself smiling at the many household accomplishments I have made. I will be quick to admit that many of these have spent a long time in the “incubation” stage much to the chagrin of my wife.

It seems I can overlook things needing attention far faster than my wife. I trust I am not the only husband who can identify with this apparent “flaw.” In any event, the summer of 2023 was the year I scratched off a slew of items from my “To-Do List.”

I suppose the most important aspect of this accomplishment was the fact that I knew exactly what needed to be done. (1) The driveway needed repaving; (2) The house shudders required a fresh…