The more I spend time on the West Coast, the more I understand why my West Coast friends put labels on us from the East - there are definite differences. However, what I’m talking about this time is not personality differences, but physical coastal differences!

At the NBTA conference in LA last week, I experienced my second earthquake and I will admit - I was scared! It registered as a 5.4 and was followed by over 50 aftershocks. At the time of the earthquake I was with fellow GTers Kim Krol and Courtney Centeno at the OpenSkies press conference on the third floor of the convention center. Managing Director of OpenSkies, Dale Moss, was announcing their new route to Amsterdam as it felt like someone began to kick my chair. This feeling quickly led to the whole building shaking from side to side. I thought the roof was coming in.

I would say half the room was filled with New Yorkers who looked at each other like deer in headlights! Finally, someone shouted to get under a doorway and the rumbling finally subsided. The experience was a great icebreaker for networking conversations at the trade show, but when I talked to friends who are from California, I found it did not faze them one bit. Everyone attending the conference from NY was certainly more shaken up from the quake. One West Coast person even remarked, “Come on, an earthquake in LA is like rain in Seattle!” To that, I made a retort about hurricanes and I saw the fear in their eyes! I guess, like everything else, it comes down to what you’re used to. And as for which coast is better, I believe the best way to say it is that neither is better, or worse, just different (but you won’t find me living in LA)!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Hello all,

Your team at Global Traveler is attending the NBTA conference in Los Angeles. At the conference, the newest and best business and first class seats will be on display - this will greatly aid me as I write our annual Business and First Class Survey, which is to appear in the September issue.

The opening kickoff party was held at the still-to-be-completed LA Live, and ended with a concert by Cyndi Lauper in the Nokia Theater. It was a great introduction to LA, the opening to the conference and it kept your Global Traveler bloggers - Kim Krol, Alex Young and Courtney Centeno - dancing in the aisles!

More to report next week!

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

Trying to write a report on an event like Wizard World, with unique characters at every turn, is a daunting task. More than just a Comic Con, it is a world in itself. As one attendee, Jason Fleigel, stated, “Wizard World is the place to go when you just want to be yourself…to not worry about stigmas and perceptions, but instead to immerse yourself in whatever your hobby is.”

The Chairman of Wizard Entertainment, Gareb Shamus, explained that Wizard World took over ownership of the Chicago Comic Con in 1997 and it quickly became the biggest comic convention in the Midwest (later expanding to Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Texas). Wizard has roughly 75 talented individuals who produce three monthly magazines, two websites, four conventions and numerous special publications including Toy Wishes.

One of the 250 exhibitors was Robert A. Kraus, founder of RAK Graphics, who displayed his popular superfreek superhero spoof series. Kraus, one of the first independent comic book publishers, has done conventions since the 80s, doing about 30 shows a year. Eager fans looked for their favorite superfreek or for new ones, of which Kraus said, “I get tons of requests….wrestlers and sports will be next (to be spoofed)”. The constant traffic at the booth indicates new ones cannot come soon enough. I am waiting for the Distribution Specialist series, featuring Lou, me and the rest of the Arch News Agency.

The most unique celebrity guest might have been wrestler, actor and instructor Al Snow, who enjoys the shows because they are part of the whole picture for him. He said, “Without wrestling, I couldn’t do these shows or instruct, but without these shows I couldn’t wrestle (and so on).” Snow is currently planning to open a new wrestling school and take over the world with his own evil army. It’s this type of humor that has earned Snow his tremendous following.

Terri Runnels is making her return to the convention circuit after a several-year absence. Runnels has worked for CNN, Ted Turner and the WWF/E, as well as owning SoccerTots-Gainesville, which she is selling. Runnels stated, “It’s a wonderful program, but I just don’t find joy in running a company day-to-day.” Runnels does have fun at the conventions, enthusiastically greeting her fans and promoting her latest project, Make the World Write. “This show (Wizard World) is not quite my specific audience, but so many great people have stopped by…it’s so much fun,” Runnels exclaimed. Runnels also planned on picking up some items at the show for her 14-year-old daughter, Dakota.

Other celebrities appeared as promotion for their employers, like Beth “Venom” Horn of NBC’s American Gladiators. While waiting for filming of AG to begin in November, Horn “has been traveling all over the place, having a blast promoting the show.” The success of Gladiators has Horn very excited: “They are doing a comic book, a tour and I’ll have my own action figure.” Despite her hectic schedule, Horn filmed a movie, Fancy Pants, to be released in 2009.

The enormity of this convention is really mind-boggling. I spent 3 days at Wizard World, but I feel like I have only scratched the surface of many stories from the dealers, celebrities and fans. I suppose that means I must return next year.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

The village of Rosemont, IL was founded in 1956. Rosemont sits between northwest Chicago and O’Hare Airport. It is roughly 1.7 square miles and houses about 4,000 people. Because of its location, almost every major US hotel chain has a property in Rosemont, including the InterContinental which is due to open in September 2008.

If you are in Rosemont on business, chances are that you will be at a convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Built in 1975, it boast 840,000 square feet of exhibition area. Its proximity to O’Hare, many fine restaurants, hotels, parking, public transportation and nightlife make this an attractive convention alternative to Chicago.

According to Susan Prather, spokesperson for the Stephens Convention Center, the Convention Center ranks #1 in Illinois in terms of volume (about 100 conventions per year) and #2 to McCormick Place in overall revenue. Prather stated, “Conventions (and residual business) bring in over $100 million to Rosemont annually.”

Besides the raw numbers and rankings, one important fact must be noted. “The unique thing is that it is one of, if not the only, municipally-owned center which returns revenues without any subsidies and that is truly remarkable,” explained Prather. That is a great testament to the success of the convention center.

Another part of the success is that is has not become outdated. It is still an attractive, accessible, comfortable place to attend a business event. It has adapted nicely and fits right in with the ever-growing surrounding area.

Within a quick drive of the convention center are many dining choices from the usual fast food franchises to top-notch restaurants. Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, Rosewood, Harry Caray’s, Morton’s and Maria’s are a few of the excellent dining options. Shoeless Joe’s or many of the fine hotel bars are great for relaxing after dinner.

For other amusement, the Allstate Arena (formerly Rosemont Horizon) is home to the 2008 champion Chicago Wolves (AHL hockey), the defending champion Chicago Rush (arena football) and the DePaul Blue Demons (NCAA basketball). The Rosemont Theatre is a plush, intimate venue for concerts, musicals and more.

Business conventions don’t have to be 12 hour days followed by room service in a small hotel room. The best ones limit the hassle and maximize the enjoyment while you are on duty and offer a wide array of activities when you are off the clock. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL is one of the best.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

Last week I used this space to ask you what you wanted to read here. The response was great. Many people left comments on the blog and even more emailed me directly. I appreciate the feedback and have tabulated the results.

Celebrity travel stories & meet and greets - 20%

Reader contests (perhaps for GT stuff) - 15%

Conventions coverage - 15%

Business info for smaller cities - 12.5%

Info on GT staff and behind the scenes - 12.5%

Expanding on GT articles - 10%

Travel deals - 5%

Diet and fitness on the road - 5%

Travel bloopers - 2.5%

Very specific topic ideas (aka the rest) - 2.5%

All are interesting ideas. I can start delivering some of the requests immediately. Others will show up gradually. Unfortunately, some are out of my control, but not out of the question. Each suggestion has been noted and is appreciated.

I will continue to write celeb stuff, because I like it and my work brings me in contact with a lot of celebs. I will start getting travel stories from them. As a matter of fact, on a recent trip to Los Angeles, I started working on this. Those stories will be told in the near future.

I meet most of the celebs at conventions. Since I work with the people who run the conventions, I will give more in-depth coverage of the specifics of the convention’s inner workings.

I would be happy to share my travel bloopers. I usually don’t make it through any trip without at least one mishap. Since I do a lot of work in smaller cities like Kokomo (IN), Novi (MI), Rosemont (IL) and Madison (WI), I can bring some attention to them as well.

I will do the best I can with all of the ideas. This is your blog, as much as it is mine. I hope you continue reading, responding and suggesting.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist