Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Feb. 27 - 28

Above, the Japan display at the 2013 show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An email was received from Virtual Strategy magazine announcing next year's Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show in Long Beach.

The notice included a link to their website, which stated:

The 11th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will take place February 27 and 28 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Ranked as one of Southern California’s “Top Ten” consumer events – the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show is where travel enthusiasts come for travel inspiration, expert information and to experience the tastes and sounds of cultures from around the world.

I attended the 2013 show and had a great time. I hope to attend next year's show.

For more, go here.

Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show February 21 and 22

Above, the 2013 L.A. Travel & Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are looking for ideas on where to go this year on vacation, be it Japan or anywhere else, the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show is coming up.

According to Examiner.com:

The 2015 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will take place February 21 and 22 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. Tickets are available now online for $11 for one day or $17 for two days (use promo code: LAPR). Children 16 and under are free. At the door, tickets will be available, cash only, for $16 for one day and $25 for two days. For tickets and information please visit www.LATravelShow.com

I attended the 2013 show and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was there that All Nippon Airways (ANA) had quite an elaborate display of their Economy and Business Class seats. Attendees were encouraged to try them out. I couldn't resist, so I did.

There were several Japan-oriented booths at the show.

Above, the Taste of Travel Stage for culinary demonstrations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Show features:

At the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show, attendees will find thousands of destination experts to help plan and customize vacations and give inside knowledge to help attendees travel like pros. Exhibitors will be available to give attendees details about travel and tours to destinations from around the world including Costa Rica, Europe, India, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Japan, Hawaii, Africa, Turkey, Thailand, and Alaska – all offering exclusive specials and trip giveaways. 

Guests of all ages can enjoy a variety of interactive, family-friendly activities including a rock climbing wall, a scuba pool, the Taste of Travel Stage – a culinary demonstration stage – and the Global Beats Stage, featuring cultural performances from around the world.

To read more, go here. 

All Nippon Airways Tops Japan Airlines In International Passenger Demand

Above, ANA's display of their Business Class seating at the L.A. Travel and Adventure Show in 2013. 

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has topped Japan Airlines (JAL) in international passenger demand for the first time.

The Wall Street Journal reported:

TOKYO—  All Nippon Airways Co. became Japan's largest international air carrier in terms of revenue passenger kilometers in May, beating  Japan Airlines Co. for the first time ever.  

Of Japan's two major airlines, the initially state-owned JAL has long been positioned as a step ahead of rival ANA in terms of international flights thanks to its status as the country's flag carrier. But ANA has been working to reorganize its international flight business to generate more profits and has gained a tailwind in recent years.  

ANA's revenue passenger kilometers—a measure of traffic calculated by multiplying the number of passengers aboard by the distance traveled—rose 25.4% on year in May to 2.953 billion kilometers, data released Tuesday by the airline showed. 

That was higher than Japan Airlines' 2.912 billion kilometers for the same period, marking the first time that ANA has taken the top spot since it began providing international flights in 1986. 

One of the reason that I am not surprised at ANA's showing is that they have been promoting their airline with elaborate displays at various travel shows. One such show was the 2013 Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show in Long Beach. JAL had no displays anywhere near in comparison.

To read the full story, go here.

The Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show 2014

Above, the Long Beach Convention Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speaking of the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show (see my last blog post on The Telegraph's review of All Nippon Airways's business class seats), the next show will be held February 8 and 9 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Whether you are planning a trip to Japan or anywhere else in the world, the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show will give you a lot of great ideas on where you will want to take your next vacation trip. There's something for everybody with plenty of booths and displays to check out.

Here's some highlights for this year's show:

Now in its 9th year - the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show is the award-winning event where you'll discover authentic travel experiences, find exclusive travel deals, win trips and giveaways, and be emersed in an amazing travel extravaganza.  

You'll hear from an impressive speaker line-up ONLY in Long Beach. Including travel legends Rick Steves, Samantha Brown, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, Peter Greenberg, and Travel Channel's Don Wildman and Todd Carmichael and more. Experience zip-lining, climb a rock wall, and see cultural performances.

To access the official website for the show, go here.

The Telegraph Reviews ANA's Business Class Seats

Above, ANA's business class seating display at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show.

Early last year, I attended the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center.

At the show, All Nippon Airways (ANA) had an elaborate display of their new seats. I stopped by and tried out their new business class and premium economy seats. They were quite comfortable. The business class seats were more like cubicles (Dilbert would feel right at home) than seats.

According to an article in the United Kingdom's The Telegraph, ANA introduced new bedding to their business class seats in September and The Telegraph posted a detailed review. The business class seats can unfold (if that's the correct word) out into a bed configuration. This wasn't available at the travel show.

To see the ANA business class seats (and beds) and read their review, go here.

From the fine folks of Comikaze Expo...

You like motorcycles?
Check out some bikes that would make
Ghostrider blush!

Now that the Comikaze 2013 is over, if you’re looking for something fun to do you should check out one of our sister shows – the Southern California Motorcycle Show in Long Beach.

This year's show features hundreds of motorcycles; from the newest models, to classics and antiques, to some of the most insane custom bikes on the west coast! There’s gonna be live-action stunt shows with Aaron Twite and Tony Carbajal throughout the weekend, as well as chances to demo some of the hottest bikes on the market. Even Johnny Blaze would be impressed!

For motorcycle fans, there’s no place better to be the weekend of December 6-8 than the Long Beach Convention Center, and Comikaze peeps can save $3 off the price of a 1-Day pass by using promo code COMIKAZE when purchasing an adult ticket!

Check out details at www.motorcycleshows.com/long-beach and we’ll see you at the show!

Experiencing ANA's New Economy Class and Business Class Seating

Being comfortable during an eleven-hour flight from Los Angeles to Narita Airport in Japan can be a daunting task, especially if one is flying in Economy Class.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) has introduced new seats that will help alleviate this problem.

I have to confess, I've never flown to Japan on ANA.  But, since the introduction of these seats, I may just give them a try.

ANA had an elaborate display at this year's Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show in Long Beach (Japan Airlines and Delta were also there, but had nothing elaborate as ANA).  While there, I talked to the representatives from ANA and tried out the new Economy Class seats and the new Business Class seats.

New Economy Class

The Economy Class seats feature a fixed-back shell seat that can slide forward within the shell.  The design of the seats provide more leg/foot room under the seat immediately in front so you're not squished in like a sardine.  Besides this, the seat will allow the passenger to elevate his/her legs with the three-level footrest.

Each seat will also have a touch panel 10.6" monitor with a wide selection of 160 programs.  And, every seat is equipped with universal laptop power port, iPod connector and USB port.

When I tried out the seat, I was impressed that it was unlike anything I've experienced when flying Economy Class.

New Business Class

After trying out the Economy Class seats, I went over to ANA's new Business Class display.  Here, ANA had several rows of their new Business Class seats that were more like individual cubicles.

Naturally, the seats are wider than the Economy Class seats.  The way the seats are configured on the plane will allow aisle access for each seat, which will allow getting in and out of your seat much easier.  Each full flat seat reclines 180 degrees and are capable of "fine adjustments to ensure sweet dreams."  I was quite comfortable in the seat when I tried it out (right).


Each seat is provided with a large side table, storage for shoes and hand baggage.  The front sliding table is 150% larger than previous versions.  A 17" touch panel screen comes with each seat and also has 160 channels of movies, television series, music and games on demand.

Like the Economy Class seats, Business Class seats also are equipped with universal laptop power port, iPod connector and USB port.

With all this available to play with, eleven hours from Los Angeles to Tokyo would seem to go by very fast.

The L.A. Travel & Adventure Show

Above, the entrance to the convention center.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The eighth annual Los Angeles Travel and Adventure show was a fun event.

It was held at the Long Beach Convention Center (it ends tomorrow) and there were exhibitors from a multitude of countries, resorts, airlines, hotels, activities and tour operators.

The first booth as one walks into the hall was...Japan!  It made it very convenient.  The Japan section was anchored by the Japan National Tourism Organization, but it also had exhibitors representing hotels, tour operators, Okinawa and others.

I managed to discuss The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and left a few copies and business cards with a number of tour companies.

Here's a look at the show in pictures:

Above, the Japan booth with its cluster of travel exhibitors.

Above, All Nippon Airways (ANA) had an elaborate display featuring their premium
economy seating.  People were able to try out the seats.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a cooking demonstration at the "Taste of Travel" stage.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly trying out ANA's business class seats (they're more like cubicles).  They were comfy and
would make the eleven-hour flight from Los Angeles to Narita a more pleasant experience.

Above, the Thailand booth.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the St. George, Utah and Zion National Park booth.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, travel talks were held at the "Destination Theater."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the British Columbia booth.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a good travel show.  I'll plan on going back next year!

Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show This Weekend

This weekend in Long Beach is the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The show runs Saturday and Sunday.  I blogged about it last November (go here) and indicated that I will try to attend.  Looks like I have a clear schedule Saturday and will head down to Long Beach and possibly do some networking.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will be there along with other exhibitors.  Whether it is Japan, cruises or car trips to national parks, this show has it all.

For more information on the show, go here.

Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Jan. 12-13, 2013

Travel show season is here.  The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show is coming up in January at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The organizers say it is "California's Largest Travel Show" and it is in its 8th year.

According to their press release:

The 2013 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show(TM) will take place January 12-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. Tickets are available online for $9 with Promo Code "LAPR" or at the door for $12. Children under 16 years old are free. For tickets and event information, visit www.LAtravelshow.com , email info @LAtravelshow.com, or call 203-878-2577. 

I am going to make an effort to attend the show next year (maybe do some networking while I'm there).