Muhammad Ali’s Training Site Now an Attraction: The late heavyweight Muhammad Ali’s out-of-the-way training camp in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania—near Deer Lake, which is about 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia—has been restored, and it opened to visitors a little more than a month ago. Ali once owned the seven-acre site, which has more than 15 log-cabin buildings, 
including a full-size boxing ring and training facilities, living quarters for Ali and his training team; a large, eat-in kitchen and a small mosque where Ali prayed. He used the site to train for some of his most memorable matches, including the second and third matches vs. Joe Frazier and a memorable 1974 title match against George Foreman. The camp was not kept up over the years and, hearing about the site and its state of neglect, Mike Madden, son of football coach and tv announcer John Madden, purchased the site and carefully restored all of the buildings to their original condition. INBOUND, whose managing editor is a lifelong boxing fan, visited the site several weeks ago and found it to be an inspiring experience. However, the facility needs to implement some standard attractions management practices. For now, the camp is open only on weekends and its principal revenue source is what it gets from donations. There is also limited parking. For those interested in more, visit www.fightersheaven.com, or call 570.968.2961.
The Empire State Building has a new premium ticket offering, the “All Access Tour”—an exclusive, guided tour for visitors which features elements of the building that are otherwise off-limits to general ticket holders. Available only through reservation at www.esbnyc.com for up to six people, visitors start their journey in a Celebrity Entrance corridor with private access to its green room. Featuring its own bathroom and make-up room, this is the same green room where stars like Kristen Bell, John Cena, Adriana Lima, Eminem, Millie Bobby Brown, and the Radio City Rockettes get ready for special appearances. There are complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and an opportunity memorialize a visit with a selfie at the Halo Photo Booth. Following the green room stop, guests will embark on a private tour that includes a visit to the brand new guest-only entrance on 34th Street where they will receive a complimentary photo in front of a 25-foot model of the Empire State Building. This is followed by a behind the-scenes look at archival construction photos on the Concourse level, a visit to the world-famous 86th floor open-air Observatory, and the grand finale, the beautifully restored Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby. The “All Access Tour” is available five times a day, Monday through Sunday and priced at $500 per person. Reservations are only available at www.esbnyc.com.
Kissimmee, “Vacation Rental Capital of the World,” Increases Inventory: Over the last four years, reports Experience Kissimmee, the destination’s number of vacation homes as increased 470 percent, DT Minich, president and CEO of Experience Kissimmee, told delegates attending the closing luncheon at IPW last month in Anaheim, adding, “As I travel the world and talk to international travelers, I hear that people like to live like an American and love that these vacation homes provide that opportunity.” Tour operators who are selling Kissimmee can choose from an inventory that includes more than 45,000 accommodations overall, including 22,000 vacation homes. For more information, contact: https://www.experiencekissimmee.com/travel-trade.
The All-Monorail Las Vegas Itinerary: The sales and marketing mavens at the Las Vegas Monorail, which stops at key attractions along its 3.9-mile (6.4-kilometer) which serves the Las Vegas Strip, are promoting a one-day, unlimited-ride pass costing just $12. The day-long itinerary is as follows: (1) Start the day at the Monorail’s northernmost station at the SLS Las Vegas, formerly the historic Sahara Hotel & Casino where the Rat Pack themselves performed. Start your adventure with quick cappuccino and croissant at the The Perq coffee shop or more substantial fare at the Northside Café. (2) Visit the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, where Elvis Presley famously performed when the hotel was known as the International Hotel. Today, it is home to the famous Super Book sports book, which has 25,000 square feet of sports betting action. (3) Convention and tradeshow visitors will appreciate the ease of traveling to the Monorail’s next destination—the Las Vegas Convention Center. Savvy show planners build Monorail fares directly into the cost of convention registration, meaning their attendees need just show their badge to have the run of the entire 3.9-mile Monorail route. (4) The final stop on the journey provides optimal access to The LINQ Promenade and the High Roller, the world’s largest observation wheel at 550 feet tall. From noon to 2 a.m., purchase a Happy Half Hour ticket for the High Roller and enjoy an open bar along with dazzling views for the duration of the 30-minute revolution. For more information, visit www.lvmonorail.com, or call 702-699-8200.
