Mahmood Poonja, Chief Explorer, Bestway Tours & Safari, with Emmy Award winning Producer-Director, Paul Saltzman
Intrepid traveller & Bestway client,
Stu Sheppard, Mahmood Poonja &
Travel Photographer, Peter Langer
Lucky winners of trips to India; Randi Winter, Passionate Travel & Maria Colasurdo,
Travel By Design
The invitation from Bestway Tours & Safaris indicated it would be an evening to schmooze with 2 time Emmy Award winner, Paul Saltzman.
Cultural tour specialist, Bestway, was promoting its “India with Paul Saltzman – A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul” at a special event in YVR. YTO-based Saltzman is an award winning producer-director with over 300 films to his credit including Prom Night in Mississippi (starring Morgan Freeman). He is also known for his book, The Beatles In India. Saltzman was in town for the Vancouver International Film Festival to promote his new documentary, The Last White Knight.
Big time Emmy Award winner and a friend to the Beatles, I was expecting a chap that was full of himself. Instead, I found a down-to-earth, personable and casually clad gentleman mingling with the crowd of travel agents, Bestway clients and potential travellers.
Held at the lecture-styled auditorium in UBC’s Robson Square Theatre, Bestway's Chief Explorer, Mahmood Poonja, set the audience up for an entertaining evening, announcing the launch of Bestway's “World Heritage Tours.” These tours feature trips to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in over 50 countries.
Travel photographer, Peter Langer, provided colourful commentary for the multi-media presentation which showcased his fabulous shots. Then, it was the VIP's turn to introduce the 17 day tour which he will be escorting from 15FEB13. Saltzman regaled the audience with anecdotes of time spent with the Beatles in Rishikesh at the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in 1968. Remember the famous photograph of the Beatles taken with the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi? It was shot by Saltzman.
Having been to India over 50 times, Saltzman will introduce clients to his favourite haunts and experiences. Highlights of the tour include a celebration of what would have been George Harrison's 70th birthday at the Ravi Shankar Institute and a visit to the site of the original and currently abandoned Maharashi Mahesh Yogi's ashram. In addition, clients on this tour may get a private visit with the aged sitar master if all goes as planned.
Needless to say, Saltzman was inundated with lots of questions after the presentation. Out of the 20 spaces available on this tour, only 7 were left after Bestway brought this presentation to YTO and the public got wind of it. At the end of the evening, a travel agent from Tripzter booked 4 clients.
