Zika fears fading
For hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico, the news came in time for their peak season: On Nov. 18, the World Health Organization declared that Zika was no longer a global health emergency and should be considered a dangerous mosquito-borne virus. After more than six months of weak traveler demand, the interest in visiting these Zika-affected destinations, in some cases, was immediate and strong. But while confidence about vacationing in Zika-affected regions may be up, health experts caution that the virus remains a concern. Dr. Stephen Morse of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health advised that pregnant women or those considering becoming so continue to avoid travel to the Caribbean and Mexico, and said that all travelers to these destinations should protect themselves by using and frequently reapplying mosquito repellent.
New York Times
Singling out solo travelers
More tour companies are singling out solo travelers for attention. Why? They're a growing market. The big tour company Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) has announced that three of its new trips in 2017 will be for solo travelers only. The trips are: Classic Rajasthan (March 19-April 2; $1,113 per person; $350 extra for own room), South Morocco Discovery (March 18-27, $765 per person; $195 extra for own room) and Cafe Colombia (March 11-19, $1,606 per person; no single supplement). Trip costs do not include airfare from the U.S.
Detroit Free Press
Frank Lloyd Wright tour
The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, a self-guided tour of nine Wright-designed buildings in southern Wisconsin, was officially dedicated at a ceremony in Madison on Dec. 5. The approximately 200-mile trail is marked by brown signs on highways and roads in nine counties. The signs direct visitors to Wright sites including Burnham American System-Built Homes in Milwaukee; the Monona Terrace and the First Unitarian Society meeting house in Madison; the S.C. Johnson administration building, S.C. Johnson administration research tower and Wingspread home in Racine, and Taliesin, Wright's summer home in Spring Green. The trail begins on Interstate 94 at the Wisconsin-Illinois state line and ends at a Wright-designed warehouse in Richland Center. It will include 115 route marker signs.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Will voice calls be allowed on flights?
If airlines allow passengers to make in-flight phone calls, the carrier must notify passengers in advance, under a new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The rule may be a moot question because the department is still considering a complete ban on airborne voice calls. Still, the agency said that if calls are allowed, airlines could prohibit them on all or some individual flights, and should notify passengers of the policy for their flight in advance. "Consumers deserve to have clear and accurate information about whether any airline permits voice calls before they purchase a ticket and board the aircraft," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits phone calls on commercial flights but has opened the door for calls using the airplane's Wi-Fi connection. Several airlines, including Delta, have said they oppose voice calls on their planes — even those using Wi-Fi.
Los Angeles Times