Around the World Travel Radio, Winner of an IRHA

Doing radio is one of my favorite media outlets, quick and to the point. I did a segment about my trip to San Juan and the Marriott for Around the World Travel Radio today. I cannot believe I have been doing so for around seven years now, time flies by. Around the World Travel Radio has been going since 1998 and we recently won the IRHA, International Restaurant and Hotel Awards beating some big names and tough competition worldwide. The show can be heard online and runs live on KZSB AM 1290, give it a listen.

"The little show that could," Arthur von Wiesenberger's "Around the World" travel radio was named 2008 Best in Dining and Radio Award winner at the International Restaurant & Hotel Awards gala, Nov. 16 in Beverly Hills.

Also in the running: "The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer," WOR 710 HD in New York; "The Food Programme," BBC 4; and "Chef's Challenge," ABC in Sydney, Australia.

Presenter was Anthony Dias Blue, one of the most influential wine, food and lifestyle personalities in the United States. News-Press Co-publisher Mr. von Wiesenberger, host and creator of "Around the World" — heard live 10 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB AM 1290 — accepted the award and acknowledged the global network of correspondents that regularly report on the program as well as his co-host Richard Mineards, producer Graham Brown and the rest of the "Around the World" radio team.

Host for the star-studded affair at the Beverly Hilton was Mark DeCarlo from "Taste of America," on the Travel Channel.

Other honorees include former Monty Python comedian-turned-global traveler Michael Palin (Achievement in Travel), the late Robert Mondavi (Achievement in Wine) and Carlo Petrini of Italy, Founder of the Slow Food Movement (Achievement in Food and Dining

Radio Report about the Best Job in the World, Queensland on Around the World Travel Radio

I caught up with the archives of Around the World Travel Radio and listened to Sue Frause’s report about the Best Job in the World campaign. It was cool to hear it because I happened to be invited there to Hamilton Island for the Queensland launch. This Thursday before heading to NYC for the NY Times Travel Show, I will be phoning in my report about my trip to Hamilton Island, Lizard Island and Fitzroy Island. In fact it will give a little insight to what I actually saw on the Great Barrier Reef and maybe some tips to what they are looking for in a candidate.

The radio report can be heard live Eastern Time 1:50 PM on this Thursday if you click the blue here. It will later be on the archives here. This PR campaign from Queensland has me amazed so I am keeping track of it and the newest news I can find is that over 10,000 videos have been sent in. However more than half didn’t fit the guidelines so if applying follow directions.

Around the World Travel Radio, Win the Gold for Travel Radio

I got some great news today as I did my segment on Walloon, Belgium for Around the World Travel Radio, we won! We copped the Best of Travel& Dining in Radio gold from the Irhas International Restaurant & Hotel Awards, the Oscars of the travel world. It is an honor to be a part of the team. The competition was tough and included The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer, Chef’s Challenge, The Food Programme, from cities and stations such as NYC, Sydney and the BBC. I got to hand it to Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards they are exceptionally great hosts and make it a pleasure to phone in. Producer Graham M. Brown and Assistant Producer Linda Jorgensen add the power needed to win! The show can be heard online. I plan on heading out to Santa Barbara for some studio time very soon, Max and I are so very proud of GoNOMAD’s contributions to the show and our segments can be heard here.

Ghost Hunting in Montana, a Spell in Prison

Awhile back I did a ghost hunting trip through Montana in the midst of October. I got a chance to relive the experience yesterday on my Around the World Travel Radio Show segment. In fact all the segments were on the ghost theme, pretty scary stuff. On my trip we got to spend a night in the old Territorial Prison of Montana, near Deer Lodge. Riots, murder and mayhem played a big part of life behind the stone walls of the prison. Names like Turkey Pete and George Rock will long be remembered on Halloween nights. The GoNomad story and radio segment might make a nice touch to your celebration tonight, sleep tight!

Around the World Travel Radio, Nominated for International Restaurant and Hotel Award

It is time to campaign and not for Obama or McCain but for Around the World Travel Radio. ATWR has been nominated in the Best of Travel & Dining in Radio category for the 2008 Traveler’s Vote Awards done by Irhas International Restaurant & Hotel Awards. The other co-nominees are The Food Programme (BBC); The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer (WOR 710 NY) and Chefs Challenge (702 ABC Sydney).

The awards are prestigious and other nominees are Anthony Bourdain in the Best of Travel & Dining in TV, Phil Keoghan of the Amazing Race is also nominated in the same category. In films are Into the Wild and The Darjeeling Express. Nancy Norvogrod of Travel & Leisure and Sara Henrichs of Wallpaper are two of the nominees for Travel Editor. New York Magazine editors Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld are also nominees for Food and Dining Editor. For a complete list of the other nominees including restaurants and hotels click this.

Max and I have been on the ATWR Team for years and we both have had great times with the hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards. The show is archived on their website and our segments can also be heard on GoNOMAD. Click here to vote. The Awards will be given Nov. 16th 2008 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, home of the Golden Globe Awards.

Drappier Champagne and General Charles de Gaulles

I did a radio segment today on Around the World Travel Radio about my trip to Champagne. I was asked about special Champagne Houses I visited and one came right to mind, Drappier. It is family owned and goes back to 1808, the vines are south facing in the chalky area near Urville. It is one of the finest Aubois Champagnes. We tasted so many fine vintages there all so very satisfying. The French president and WWII General Charles de Gaulles loved it, it is easy to see and taste why! Check out a new travel blog by the Devil Dog for some great prose about the grapes.

Hudson Valley Connoisseur, a Great Read

There is a new (for me) magazine about the Hudson River Valley called Hudson Valley Connoisseur that I picked up today. Love it, it is packed with great stuff about my area and has some fantastic pictures and writing. Once again I wonder why I have never written about the area as I was born here and after some years away returned. I love my secret places discovered over the years and perhaps hold them as such, still it is time.

In the new issue is a great piece about the city of Kingston where I was born, went to school and owned a restaurant for a bit. The article by Kathleen Wereszynski Murray does a great job of covering NY State's first capital and third settlement . I opted on my return back a few years ago to live in the country, I bought an old house from 1845 in Cottekill. I never for a minute have regretted my decision to move back to the Valley. With assignments in foreign countries, I love my down time on my return. Even job wise as a senior travel editor for GoNOMAD.com and correspondent for Around the World Travel Radio in California and Australia I never have reported about the Hudson Valley, I think Hudson Valley Connoisseur however does the job perfectly. Still I may just have a few secrets.

French Alps, Cool Picts on a Hot Day

The last thing I like to do before sending a piece on to GoNOMAD is check out photos taken while at the destination. With the heat and humidity having been on high the last few days pictures of the French Alps were soothing, in the reach of AC anyway. Often pictures also help me to remember details that I might have missed. The radio spot on Around the World Travel Radio is on the archives and the printed story will be soon.

Portland, a Bang Up July 4th in 1866

First stop on the coast was the city of Portland, Maine. I wanted to see how it changed since I wrote a piece for GN. I had to call in to Around the World Travel Radio anyway. While structurally the same, a bit of umph seems missing. Could be the economy or perhaps it is just me. I did learn a little something new that pertains to July 4th also. Love the little facts. On July 4 1866, Portland had a great fire that burned 1500 buildings down. The fire was started when a little boy threw a firecracker on a pile of wood shavings. At the time poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said the remains of the city reminded him of the ruins of Pompeii. Hope a better fourth for everyone.

Australia and ZFM, Thanks Ren Zwiers

Big thanks to Ren Zwiers and the ATW radio team; I’m listed on ZFM – Australia’s Dance and Talk Radio Network. Even though I shuffle like Elaine on Seinfeld it was nice to be included. ZFM is a syndication network as well. They actually stretch around the world. The shows can be listened to online and feature some Oz biggies like Big Red, Gundy, John (Crookie) Crook, Graham Ross, Frances Beasley as well as Ren himself. Also featured is the stellar duo of Arthur Von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards from the US, Around the World Travel Radio Show.

For dance tunes Matt Darey, Louie Lavella and Max Heat head the list. Radio is bigger down under and spreads city to city and town to town. Australia has been magical every visit I made there, it is nice to know that thanks to Ren, Arthur and Richard my voice is there even if I am not.