By Philip Sheldon, CEO Key West: Florida gay marriage pioneers! Based on a clear statement by a Federal Judge on New Year’s Day, my home state of Florida can no longer prevent gay marriages, so it was with great honor and privilege that I was present at the first official wedding of a gay couple in Florida […]
Philip Sheldon
Gratitude
By Phil Sheldon – Thanksgiving 2014 As Americans approach our most important secular holiday of the year, Thanksgiving, I would like to give my thanks for the blessings of the past year. I would like to thank everyone who has entrusted us with their travel plans in 2014. This includes participants on over 40 group […]
Local Key Wester Cristian Martinez Gets His Citizenship
By Philip Sheldon, CEO We at HE Travel are proud of our 40-year tradition of helping travelers from one corner of the world to explore the rich heritage and beauty of other regions, then return home again. But sometimes for a wide variety of personal reasons, individuals choose to visit another country and then stay […]
Blessings
By Philip Sheldon, CEO Blessings make our lives richer. They can be broad and formal, like those offered by a priest, rabbi or imam to the faithful. Or as intimate and informal as the random “bless you’s” that follow sneezes on a crowded flight. As a world traveler I tend to experience blessings in […]
The Touching Story of the Ensley Key West Wedding
By Philip Sheldon, CEO Our home town of Key West has a long tradition of being a military town, and a more recent but equally important reputation as a very welcoming town for gay men and women. Even during the “Don’t ask don’t tell” era, the two communities co-existed without too much friction. However, now […]
At Home in a Distant Land: Puglia, May 2014
By Philip Sheldon, CEO Last winter, my staff challenged me to name the last time I went on a real vacation, rather than travel for a conference, a family visit or to research or lead an HE Travel gay tour. I couldn’t remember. So I checked our calendar of great spring and summer tours, and […]