This new GLOBETROTTERS column is designed to keep the international community connected. Not only will it spotlight who is where in the world now, it will also describe the adventures we all experience by living a life of constant worldwide travel. If you’ve ever been hijacked, stuck in a revolution or committed an unforgettable cultural faux pas, everyone in our community will be curious to hear about it. Please do tell us, and don’t forget the photos! TO SUBMIT TO GLOBETROTTERS, email: deborah.malone@internationalistmagazine.com

Bathroom Ads Work!

Ian McClusky, Publisher of World City magazine in Miami sent this in about Eliane Nobile who had been the ad sales director of American Airlines’ Nexos magazine for 10 years. (Eliane now sells in-flight media for a group out of Canada and handles the Latin American region.) Ian felt that Eliane’s story “just goes to show that there is no limit to the creativity in advertising and there’s a surprise around every bathroom stall.“  

Elaine and her boyfriend recently purchased 130 acres of land in the mountains of North Carolina, which they are re-selling in lots. When Ian­ asked her how the found the land, she said they were driving through Brevard County, when they stopped at a truck-stop. Her boyfriend went to the bathroom and when he returned, declared. “I just found a great real estate agent.” The agent in question (a couple actually), had written on the bathroom stall wall “For a great real estate agent, call XXX and XXX at 222-2222.” Eliane's boyfriend figured that, if the guy was clever enough to leave an ad on the bathroom wall, then he must be good. Sure, enough, they called and, according to Eliane, this real estate is awesome. For one of those lots, Contact: eliane.nobile@yahoo.com. For other great industry stories, Contact: imccluskey@worldcityweb.com.

Make Mine a Ponk! (Pronounced “Punk”)

Tim Love, Vice Chairman of the Omnicom Group, was recently in India for business. Meetings extended to a late-evening dinner, and when drink orders were taken, a new member of the creative team ordered a Rum and Coke. The Mumbai agency veterans at the table were aghast. Not because many Indian Hindus abstain from alcohol, but because Omnicom’s BBDO is Pepsi’s agency, and there is a keen loyalty to the brand among staffers, especially in public and in front of the New York brass.

 Tim got to thinking that Rum drinks are probably among the most popular in the world given the growing conditions for sugar cane, and he also wanted to make the new executive feel welcome. He asked the group if India had its own rum brand, and learned that locally-produced Old Monk is the country’s best-selling rum. (Apparently, it has a hint of vanilla and an alcohol content of 42.8%. And according to wineglobe.com, “With the first drop of Old Monk Rum, the sheer aroma of distilled cane sugar grown in lush green fields of India, stirs up the age old legend. Old Monk Rum is a form of the legendary ‘Som-ras’ of India’s centuries-old scriptures — The Drink of Gods and Lords of India.)

 When drink orders were placed at the group’s next meal, Tim loudly ordered, “Make mine a Ponk!” Not only did the waiter look confused, the group stared blankly at Tim. With a wink in his eye, he said, “Of course, that’s Pepsi and Old Monk!” Tim tells me that it’s catching on… For other quality beverage suggestions, Contact: tim.love@omnicomgroup.com

Washington Nightlife

While attending the IAA’s Washington D.C. World Congress, Neil Sartori of American Express’ Luxury Travel magazine, Departures, along with a number of other delegates from the U.K. and Europe, thought they would discover some of city’s sophisticated nightlife. After only finding some tired politicos and policy wonks crying in their beers around the Capitol, a savvy bartender suggested a nearby club for live entertainment. Neil and friends arrived only to find that they interrupted a belly dancing class that used the space for lessons on a slow mid-week night. Although Neil didn’t elaborate further on the evening, he is pictured here waiting for a shoe shine the next morning. Perhaps one of the students had two left feet! However, he continues to assert that the city may not have any nightlife after the mall in Georgetown closes at 9 PM.

For belly dancing tips or other early-evening attractions in D.C., Contact: sartori@journal-international.de

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