This week, Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Statler Dallas in Dallas, Texas. Joining the program is Mark Weinberg. He is a former speechwriter and advisor to President Ronald Reagan and author of Movie Nights with the Reagans: A Memoir. Weinberg shares his experience watching movies with the Reagans. In addition, curator for the Dallas Historical Society, Alan Olsen, highlights its “Dallas in the Time of MLK” exhibit, which focuses on the time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent in Dallas. Then, Vice President of Community & School Engagement of the Perot Museum, Teresa Lenling, discusses the stand-out exhibits at the museum and how they cover a multitude of interests, from paleontology to space. There’s all of this and more as Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Statler Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

Click here to listen to the show streaming from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

Have a travel question? Ask Peter. Call 888-88-PETER (888-88-383), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @PeterSGreenberg (include #AskPeter).

 

Zane Kerby, President & CEO of American Society of Travel Agents, discusses how the State Department is changing gears and using a different advisory system. He talks about how the new advisory system is going to work and how travel agents have to deal with misinformation when getting travelers to visit certain countries. He explains how much the advisories really affect locations and why places like Mazatlan and Syria have the same travel warnings. He also shares his tips on how to have a conversation with someone who has local knowledge.

 

Mark Weinberg, Former Reagan Speechwriter and Advisor & Author of Movie Nights with the Reagans: A Memoir, talks about his time with the Reagans and his experience watching movies with the family. He shares just how many movies he really watched with them and discusses what Reagan watched.

 

Larry Horwitz, Executive Director of Historic Hotels of America, talks about how during the acquisition of the Statler, Hilton renamed it the Statler Hilton to elevate it into the luxury section. He discusses how it was once the largest hotel in the southwest and now offers a residential component. He explains the significance of a hotel’s age, as it impacts its architectural importance. In addition, he shares how the hotel brings vibrancy and modernity to the community. He also speaks about the Statler’s visiting llama!

 

Alan Olsen, Curator for the Dallas Historical Society, shares that when he first got to Dallas there was a lot less traffic. He talks about how many of the neighborhoods have changed, including the revitalized St. Thomas area. He discusses the exhibits that are currently being featured, like “Dallas in the Time of MLK” which focuses on two important visits and speeches made in Dallas by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also explains what makes its building a national historic landmark.

 

Scott McCartney, Travel Editor for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the dog that died on a United Airlines flight, as well as the costs of flying with pets. He explains airline culture and why airlines define animals as cargo. He also explores the risk of faking the need for a support animal.

 

Robert Wilonsky, City Columnist of The Dallas Morning News, discusses the location and history of the newspaper’s building, which is attached to the newly renovated Statler Dallas. He explains that at one point people lost hope in the Statler Dallas building and it was set to be torn down. However, he was able to witness its revitalization firsthand and can now take advantage of the luxury services it provides, like a bowling alley and pool.

 

Teresa Lenling, Vice President of Community & School Engagement of the Perot Museum, discusses the exhibits at the museum and how they cover a multitude of interests, from paleontology to space. She talks about the stand-out exhibits, like one of its most popular installments where you can race a T-Rex! She also explains how the interactive nature of the museum allows for visitors to learn through hands-on experiences.

 

Kerry Adams, Collections and Exhibits Director of the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture, talks about making the museum interactive for children through the use of touch screen monitors. She explores the history of Bonnie and Clyde and shares unique artifacts that are featured in the museum, like a jewelry box that Clyde built while in prison (a gift for his sister-in-law). She also highlights the 50 objects and 50 stories exhibit and how the first gallery begins with a look at a Native American settlement.

 

Michael VanHuss, Director of Development & Operations at The Statler Dallas, talks about what factors made the hotel’s restoration possible and how large the transformation itself was. He explains how hotel officials preserved the original windows, which are protected by the Texas Historic Trust. He describes the support received on a local and national scale to save the building. He also highlights the fact that it is now the 300th inductee into the Historic Hotels of America.

 

By Kyla Perlman for PeterGreenberg.com