Celebrating Trafalgar's Be My Guest hostesses this International Women's Day   

Good travel connects the individual to the heart and soul of a destination and its people. This International Women's Day (8 March), as Trafalgar celebrates a decade of Be My Guest experiences, we take time to shine a spotlight on some of the most interesting women hosts who have welcomed Trafalgar's guests into their homes where they share their unique stories about their culture, traditions and heritage over a homecooked meal.  

Today “Be My Guest”  offers more than 100  experiences around the world but according to CEO Gavin Tollman, it began inadvertently on a lemon farm in Sorrento, Italy, in 2009. 

“Two Italian sisters, relatives of a travel director, hosted our guests for a locally home-cooked meal and great conversation that was finished off with the sisters' own delicious limoncello. Guests immediately loved it and we knew we were onto something special,” said Tollman. 
 

Trafalgar looks at some of their most loved female hosts and their inspirational stories:  

Provence, France 

An engaging experience with Poppy Salinger on Trafalgar's Wonderful France itinerary sees guests visit her home, La Bastide Rose, a historic mill on the banks of the Sorgue River. Poppy has created a small and successful museum, dedicated to sharing the life of her late husband, Pierre Salinger, JFK's former press secretary. This experience is ideal for art lovers as Poppy also hosts regular exhibitions featuring local art, which guests can enjoy along with the flavours of Provence delivered effortlessly by her son, a talented chef. 

Demircidere Village, Turkey 

The women of Demircidere are arguably the most liberated in all of Turkey and through Trafalgar's Be My Guest experience on the Highlights of Turkey trip, guests can experience this first hand. Trafalgar guests are invited to work alongside this community as men and women share equal responsibilities to tend the vineyards and olive groves. Learn how to make bread and share a traditional Turkish meal with the community, whose livelihoods are supported through the women's entrepreneurial business enterprises. 

The Elms, USA 

True Southern hospitality is delivered in abundance when guests join Esther Carpenter, one of America's former top 10 female chefs, in her centuries-old Natchez home.  Exclusive to Trafalgar's Spirit of the South and Tastes and Sounds of the South itineraries, Esther welcomes guests with an exclusive four-course Be My Guest meal, the perfect accompaniment to a private piano concert performance by her longtime neighbour, Joe Stone.  

Tuscany, Italy  

In Tuscany, former chef Diana Lenzi brings her passion for science to the family's Fattoria Petroio wine estate. On Trafalgar's Wonders of Italy itinerary, Lenzi offers guests a deep dive into what life is like as a Florentine and her vision for the family estate, while they sample her exquisite collection of wines.    

Trafalglar offers guests a multi-dimensional travel experience, delivering travel moments that open up a destination like no other brand can offer. Guests will discover at a grassroots level how choosing Trafalgar is making a genuine and visible impact to people and the places they visit. Through JoinTrafalgar experiences, travellers support World Heritage Listed Sites on 63% of trips, such as supporting the UKs National Trust to protect places like the White Cliffs of Dover in Britain and Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. On selected Trafalgar trips, guests also visit female artisans at social enterprises and itineraries are planned to encourage visits to lesser known communities, encouraging tourism dispersal to ensure more people go beyond the iconic attractions.

Cultural experiences like cooking lessons, after-hours dining at the Vatican are other experiences Trafalgar's guests can look forward to, as well as travelling with real ease thanks to all the logistics being taken care of.

For customers who are genuinely invested in community upliftment,  itineraries like the Jordan Experience, which includes a visit to the Iraq Al Amir Women's Cooperative where local women are taught to create a range of cultural handicrafts, or the Italy Bellissimo, providing guests with a rare opportunity to interact with skilled artisans and local crafts champion, Marta Cucchia. She is working to keep the ancient art of Perugian hand-weaving alive with the support of JoinTrafalgar. 

For 2019 Europe & Britain summer departures, Trafalgar has confirmed 100% definite departures. For trips booked before 31 March 2019, enjoy US$200 savings off per couple. Visit www.trafalgar.com for more information.

Images.

US -  Elms: Esther Carpenter https://www.trafalgarassets.com/?r=17850&k=1d182e5d05

Italy . Tuscany - Lenzi - https://www.trafalgarassets.com/?r=10783&k=2461f87002

About Trafalgar 

Trafalgar is the world's leading and most awarded travel brand, spanning all seven continents of the globe. From the iconic to the unexpected, we craft unique Trafalgar Highlights that connect guests to the real depth of the places we go, without them needing to worry about a thing. It's 72 years of destination expertise and feedback from over five million happy guests that fuels our innovation to continually deliver Simply the Best holidays.