To provide resources to church leaders and travel agents for this expanding sector, leading travel show producer, Unicomm LLC, will present the Faith Travel Conference&Expo from October 22-23 at Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria.

Speakers are available for media interviews in advance of the event, as well as during the conference and expo. Among prominent names featured at the event is:

• Gigi Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham and author of books including “For Women Only: Keeping Your Balance in a Changing World.”
• Vocal recording artist and songwriter Deborah Hightower, whose debut 12-song release garnered 4 Top 10 hits on inspirational radio and earned her nominations for 2007 ICM (International Creative Management) New Artist of the Year and 2007 and 2008 ICM Female Vocalist of the Year.
• Bishop Rodney Sampson, an author and entrepreneur who focuses on economic and innovative policy for the bishops and pastors he serves throughout North America, Europe, and Africa via The International Bishops Conference.
• Rev. Edward Maurice Bailey, Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest continuous African Congregation in Lancaster County – a 600 seat, Underground Railroad Freedom Quest Theater and Interactive Wax Museum with a 400-seat restaurant and cultural center.
• Diana von Glahn, TV Host, The Faithful Traveler, is the co-creator and host of The Faithful Traveler, a travel television and video series that explores Catholic shrines, places of pilgrimage, and historic and artistic sites throughout the United States.
• Mac McConnell, actor and author&Founder, One Way Productions – a full-time drama ministry dedicated to spreading “Good News” dramatically with one-man Biblical dramas in churches, prisons, schools, youth camps, and “on location” in Israel, Greece, and Turkey, with over 1,000 presentations to over 1,000,000 people.

A full slate of conference speakers and their bios is posted at www.faithtravelexpo.com.

As Georgia is a growing hub for faith-based nonprofits, including megachurches and parachurch ministries, Atlanta is considered a perfect venue for this event. The focus of the Faith Travel Conference&Expo will be the importance of traveling as a faith community, whether for fellowship, spiritual growth, mission work, or retreat events. The conference and expo will bring together pastors, church leaders, Christian consumers, faith-based travel agents, and travel suppliers.

“No other event focusing on faith travel combines a comprehensive conference with a diverse marketplace of tour operators and domestic and international tourist offices to help church leaders plan their next trip,” said Cindi Brodhecker, Conference Chair. “Travel is a great gift, whether a one-day excursion or a longer tour to places of interest to a church community,” she said.

Event sponsors include American Airlines, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Italian Government Tourist Board, Puerto Rico Tourism Board, Tourism Ireland, Switzerland Tourism, LifeWay Conference Centers, Ridgecrest and Glorieta, and Turkish Culture and Tourism Office. Charisma Media’s Ministry Today and Charisma are the event’s Official Media Sponsors. Fish 104.7, Atlanta Christian talk station WNIV, and Atlanta gospel station Praise 102.5 are radio sponsors. Leisure Group Travel is the event’s official group travel publication. Infinity Concepts serves as the event’s marketing partner.

The itinerary includes eight days of touring seamlessly followed by the 4 day CFI Jerusalem conference.

This May 27th – June 7^th integrates New and Old Testament heritage sites, Zionist sites and contemporary tourist attractions with diverse keynote speakers and politically-charged workshops.  The highpoint of this experience will be in Jerusalem where participants will join the Christian Friends of Israel Annual Conference.

Eran Kolran, Director and Co-Founder at Identity Travel, says: “Identity Travel Israel is delighted to be able to join forces with Christian Friends of Israel to promote understanding through travel. We have no doubt that our customers will see the conference as one of the highlights of the tour.”

“CFI is welcoming Identity Travel to join our Annual CFI Conference in Jerusalem for 2012,” says Sharon Sanders, Executive Director of Christian Friends of Israel. “It has always been a highlight and unforgettable experience for Christians who loveIsrael to attend.”

CFI’s conference has brought thousands of Christian supporters to Jerusalem over the past 26 years for in-depth teaching of God’s Word on Israel.  The conference will include some of the world’s most distinguished speakers on Israel and the Church as well as Christian praise and worship.

With a centuries-old legacy, faith-based travel remains one of the most enduring activities in tourism today, according to Lisa Simon, NTA president. “Among our 700 tour operator members, 40 percent report some level of involvement in faith-based tourism,” Simon said. “Because this market is important to so many members, we decided to tap the expertise of the leading authority in faith-based tourism, Kevin Wright.” Wright began working as a consultant to NTA earlier this year. 

Simon added that faith-based tourismstarted as pilgrimages but now includes cruises, conferences, volunteer vacations and adventure trips. “Many people think of religious travelas a trip to the Holy Land, but it involves many aspects of the tourism industry right here in North America.”

In the United States alone, there are some 335,000 religious congregations, and 80 percent of Americans identify themselves with a particular faith, according to the American Religious Identification Survey. Likewise, 76 percent of the global population shares at least a minimal level of adherence to a religion or form of spirituality.

NTA’s focus on faith-based tourism is encouraging news to tour operators who have long served the market, including Paul Larsen, president of Ed-Ventures Inc. of Rochester, Minn. “We are very pleased to learn of NTA’s exploration of this marketplace,” said Larsen. “The timing is ideal, as the industry is poised to welcome expanded leadership, education and voice within this growing sector of tourism.”

To help guide its entry into this familiar, yet not fully developed market, NTA has formed a Faith-based Tourism Advisory Council to develop strategies that will be meaningful to the market and expand business opportunities for NTA members. The council is composed of the following members:

• Paul Larsen (council chairman); president, Ed-Ventures, Inc.
• · Torre Ossmo; vice president & general manager, Faithful Holidays
• MaliaAsfour; director, Jordan Tourism Board North America
• Paula Bohaty; group travel manager, Nebraska Travel & Tourism
• Linville J. Johnson; deputy director, religious market, The Bahamas Tourist Office
• MirkoCapodanno; manager,Central USA & Canada, Switzerland Tourism
• Tim Moulder; director of sales, Sweet Magnolia Tours
  • Roger McCurry, former pastor and current group travel leader
  • NTA board liaison: Jim Reddekopp Jr., NTA vice chairman

Some of the council’s first action items will be to incorporate faith-based organizations and destinations into the association’s 2011 Convention in Las Vegas, Dec. 5­–9.

Tapping into this emerging market, Unicomm, the leading travel industry show producer, has announced the inaugural Faith Travel Conference & Exposition™ (FTCE) will be co-located with the Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show® on October 22-23 at Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria.

Georgia is home to an astounding 80 mega-churches representing more than 350,000 church members, making Atlanta an ideal location for the FTCE. The event is expected to draw hundreds of church group travel planners, faith travelers and an estimated 100 destinations and suppliers. Early FTCE sponsors include Tourism Ireland, Israel Ministry of Tourism and American Airlines.

“We are excited to bring this event to the Southeast region, and specifically open it up to the faith traveler,” states John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm. “While the conference will be geared towards the church leaders in the region who plan mission, fellowship, youth and other church travel, the Expo will allow faith travelers a chance to find vacations that will offer unique spiritual and emotional experiences.”

Unicomm is pleased to announce Cindi Brodhecker, president of Faith Travel Development & Consulting and Priscilla Woman’s Tours will join the event team as Conference Chair. “We are thrilled to have someone with Cindi’s depth of knowledge of the faith travel market lead the conference program which will arm these church travel planners with the tools necessary to carry out its group travel initiatives,” said John Golicz.

Additionally, Infinity Concepts, a leading Brand Communications agency with considerable success in the Christian market, has been retained to provide strategic direction, marketing support and outreach. “Infinity Concepts’ knowledge of the Christian Market will be vital to reaching and communicating our value proposition to church leaders in the Southeast region,” said Mike Boyce, Director of New Business Development for Unicomm.

“Faith-based travel has been a solid part of the travel industry for many years with impressive statistics to prove the value in today’s market place,” said Brodhecker. “The Faith Travel Conference and Expo is a unique event because it will bring together the industry suppliers and agents with the church travel planner and consumer. As an industry it will allow us to sell group packages, custom programs and individual products.”

The FTCE will include a blend of informative sessions offering tools and best practices to develop effective mission, outreach and retreat group travel programs, with topics ranging from negotiation strategies to fundraising development. Participants will also hear from influential Christian pastors and leaders who have embraced the positive effect of travel on church ministries. For additional information about the Faith Travel Conference & Exposition, please visit www.faithtravelexpo.com.

Buddhist tours are the perfect sojourn in this earth to unfold the mystery of blissful life. The followers of Lord Gautam Buddha preached Buddhism in all directions and by 13th century the most organized sets of religious belief was practiced on by varied cultures and sects.

Go Heritage India Journeys respects the divine grace of Buddhism and is providing all Buddhist enthusiasts a special discount of up to 20% on Buddhist tour packages. The tour is a true makeover of ones inner self amidst the holy shrines, Buddhist arts & sculptures, monasteries etc.

The new Christian tours as well as the Christian Travel website were developed for the benefit of Identity Travel’s growing Christian customer base as part of its mission to promote understanding through educational travel.

The Israeli tourism ministry estimates that close on 2.4 million Christian tourists visited Israel in 2010. One-third of them were pilgrims who visited holy sites in Israel and the West Bank including: Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Via Dolorosa, and the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.

Identity Travel is known for emphasizing the educational aspect of travel by integrating discussion groups, panels and lectures as well as other educational activities into the tour and in context with the sightseeing itinerary.

“Israel is the backdrop to the entire New Testament, so the influx in Christian-based travel in Israel is natural,” says Eran Kolran, Director and Co-Founder at Identity Travel Israel; “What is revolutionary about the new Christian Travel website is its innovative Christian tours that go way beyond sightseeing and provide a true learn-as-you-travel experience.”

The Christian Travel website includes off-the-shelf itineraries such as: “Walk in His Footsteps” classic pilgrimage tour, “This is Jesus: A biographical tour of the holy land”, “Support Israel Tour”, an Academic Christian Tour and “Jerusalem: a City in the Sky” 4 day excursion.

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) announced its “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go for Free” campaign for its upcoming Expo. Travel agents seeking new sources of revenues and clientele, while being mindful of their budgets, can bring a fellow travel agent professional or group planner, such as a religious leader or travel ministry organizer, to the November 13-16 World Religious Travel Expo in Montreal. Both will receive complimentary registration; regular admission for a travel agent or planner is $35.

“We are very excited to roll out this new special offer for Expo buyers and attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The promotional campaign is in response to hearing from many travel agents and planners that finances are their top concern. If we can somehow help alleviate this challenge for them, they’ll then be able to successfully attend the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo.”

Wright views the program as a win-win arrangement. “If a travel agent brings another travel agent or planner, not only do they both go for free, but it also helps WRTA and our Expo by increasing the overall number of qualified attendees for sellers,” Wright said. “Everybody wins in this scenario.”

To take advantage of the special offer by WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo, the following criteria must be met:

• A sponsoring travel agent must contact WRTA staff and provide registration information for the travel agent(s) or planner(s) he or she wishes to bring to the Expo.
• The travel agents and planners who are accompanying the sponsoring travel agent will be contacted by WRTA to verify their contact information and affiliation with the sponsoring travel agent.
• Once the sponsoring and contact information of all parties is verified by WRTA staff, the registrations will be processed (and Expo registration fees waived).
• The “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go For Free” offer is valid ONLY through the pre-registration period, ending on Friday, November 5, 2010. The offer is not valid after November 5, 2010, or on-site in Montreal.

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering, with hundreds of professionals and tourism organizations from more than 30 countries in attendance. November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second consecutive year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion and networking, along with access to new markets.

For more information about the special offer, contact the World Religious Travel Association by phone at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit www.WRTAexpo.com . You can also find WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo on Facebook.

The World Religious Travel Association is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA’s primary purpose is to guide, enrich and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe. WRTA membership includes travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, attractions, accommodations, suppliers, media and other organizations involved in tourism. For more information visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com or www.WRTAexpo.com.

The declaration letter was read out in public on the occasion of the church’s Centenary and Platinum Jubilee celebration in presence of the Beirut Archbishop HG Mor Clemis Daniel Kurieh from Beirut, later the higher clergy read the Apostolic Bull of His Holiness on October 16th at Kochi.

Devotees and dignitaries from various socio political sectors participated in the historic function held at the church.

Karingachira Cathedral as the Georgian Pilgrim Centre of India attracts thousands of pilgrims from across Kerala state and after declaration it will attract from across globe.

The cathedral was believed to be built in 722 AD and the inscribtions done inside the alter has ten commandments and many intricate works on bible related verses.

Following several renovations and modifications, the qdush-qudshin of the church was constructed over the side altars in 1949, dedicated to Holy Virgin Mary and John the Baptist and was consecrated.

Irrespective of the religious and communal distinctions, many people offer prayers at this church.

As part of the Syriac Orthodox communion the church uses the West Syrian liturgy and is part of the Oriental Orthodox group of churches. It has dioceses in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf nations.

Jeffrey Hopkins, presenting a programme based on the Dalai Lama's book, How to Expand Love: Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships.

Taking place over the weekend of December 3-5, 2010 the programme is based on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s enlightening book, How to Expand Love: Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships, which provides everyday guidelines for transforming self-centered energy into outwardly directed compassion. These teachings do not require a Buddhist belief system and this event is a meaningful opportunity to cultivate qualities of the heart.

“Having known Jeffrey for a number of years and with deep appreciation of his extensive work in the areas of Buddhist and Tibetan studies, I’m sure everyone will benefit from his teachings, offered with great erudition, insight, and humour,” Dr. B. Alan Wallace, PIAMC Chairman, said.

Dr. Hopkins’ seminar, which will be held in the tranquil environment of the PIAMC, will begin with a preliminary practice founded on a sense of equality and, once cultivated, the subsequent steps that move to create a stronger positive attitude toward others.

Born in Rhode Island, USA, Dr. Hopkins has 32 years experience of teaching Tibetan Buddhist Studies and was Professor Emeritus of the subject at the University of Virginia where he taught since 1973, following his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

Following his valuable role as the Dalai Lama’s chief English interpreter on lecture tours between 1979 and 1989, Dr. Hopkins founded programmes in Buddhist Studies and Tibetan Studies at the University of Virginia and served as Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies for 12 years.

A distinguished author, he has published 40 books, translated in 22 languages, and 23 articles. His most prominent academic books are the trilogy Emptiness in the Mind-Only School of Buddhism; Reflections on Reality: The Three Natures and Non-Natures in the Mind-Only School; and Absorption in No External World: 170 Issues in Mind-Only Buddhism. Most recently he published the first translation into any language of the foundational text of the Jo-nang sect of Tibetan Buddhism inMountain Doctrine: Tibet’s Fundamental Treatise on Other-Emptiness and the Buddha-Matrix.

The PIAMC is also offering an accommodation package at Thanyachitra Retreat, during this exclusive event. For participants wanting to stay at the centre’s retreat for two nights, single occupancy, the cost is THB5,800 per person and this includes all meals, or THB4,500 per person double occupancy. For participants not requiring accommodation, the cost is THB1,800 per day, including all meals.

Restorations of Michelangelo’s architectural projects are underway, and new sign-boards in Italian and English are being placed all over Rome where Michelangelo was involved in the art or architecture of a building or church.

Best Tours of Rome, a cooperative group of American, Canadian and English secular and art historians, also recognize the importance of this historical event, and are preparing a special series of tours to help travelers to Rome. There was already a huge emphasis on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel before, and now, with the 500th anniversary approaching, these historians see an ever more pressing need to teach and direct tourists.

“I received all of my formal education here”, one American guide stated. “I know that 95% of us are not given a decent art education in the States, and it’s important to have that – just like parks are essential for the well-being of those living in a city, so also good art is necessary for our growth and development.”

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born outside of Florence in the year 1475. His mother died when he was still young, and his father was not initially enthusiastic about his career choice.

“What we try to do also is explain to students – it’s not about justifying disobedience – it’s about doing hard work, giving 150% to a difficult project and completing it.”

Michelangelo was a tremendously important artist in four different art styles – Early and Late Renaissance, Mannerist and Baroque. He actually started the Baroque style of architecture, but Gian Lorenzo Bernini will get most of the credit, about 50 years after Michelangelo.

As another historian explains, “Raphael did in fact sneak into the Sistine Chapel before the ceiling was completed, and copied what he saw. He recognized the importance of Michelangelo’s work before it was even completed. It’s a competitive world, but then, Raphael painted Michelangelo’s image in one of his own paintings.”

Who are the “Best Tours of Rome” group?

“Some of us came to Rome to study sciences like philosophy or theology and, being surrounded by such an intense and varied collection of art, realized there was more to life than we had imagined.”

Others arrived here already with their degree in hand, and recognized Rome as the best place to practice what they had learned.
What they all realize is a tremendous need to properly educate the masses. “We have to educate, and we also have to entertain. There is a fine balance between the two. A lot of people don’t realize that, and a lot of guides, unfortunately, don’t have the full picture, either. There is a tremendously beautiful culture here waiting to be discovered. We shouldn’t allow anyone to distract us with ‘Dan Brown’ style stories – half truth and half lies – at the expense of truth.”

Any tips on preparing for a trip to Rome?

“What I’m suggesting is that people should get to Rome now, if they plan on coming, before the big splash – 2013. The cost of travel and hotels are better during the off season, and I expect prices to rise for the 2013 celebrations.”

“Also, come during the off-season (November – skip Christmas – then, from January 8th until a week before Easter). Think about when Americans would never travel – Thanksgiving, for example.”

“Michelangelo painted a ceiling in a private chapel five-hundred years ago, and people are still talking about it today. It’s important to know why, and we are one of the few native English speaking groups that can answer those questions.”