WEBSITE OF THE DAY: BeHospitableTraveler.com

BeHospitableTraveler.com

Hilton Hotels is an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. In preparation for the upcoming Beijing Games, they’ve asked a select group of outside experts (including yours truly) with backgrounds in travel, cultural awareness and character development, to provide unique perspectives on hospitality and the dos and don'ts of international travel. What an honor it is to be included in their Be Hospitable® traveler program. I hope Team USA, along with any other business and leisure travelers, will learn some important tips on Chinese customs, culture and etiquette.

China earthquake-relief efforts

I returned from China the day before the earthquake and my heart and prayers go out to all those involved. The Chinese could not have been any nicer or welcoming and watching the horrible images on TV makes me feel so sad and helpless. Below is a list of organizations and groups working on China earthquake-relief efforts.

Red Cross: Providing emergency relief. Donate to Red Cross International Relief Fund via http://www.redcross.org/ or American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Church World Service: Supporting China-based Amity Foundation in providing emergency relief and rebuilding assistance. Donate via http://www.churchworldservice.org/ or 800-297-1516 or P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: Appeal # 699-B, 2008 China Earthquake Response.

Mercy Corps: Providing emergency relief. Donate via http://www.mercycorps.org/, 800-852-2100 or China Earthquake Fund, Dept. NR, P.O. Box 2669, Portland, OR 97208.

Operation USA: Planning to assist in reconstruction of schools and clinics. Donate via http://www.opusa.org/, 800-678-7255 or 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Global Entry

cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/global_entry
If you’re an American who frequently travels internationally (at least four trips a year), you’ll appreciate this new Global Entry program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It’s similar to the Registered Traveler program (http://www.flyclear.com/), which is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and creates a separate line at airport checkpoints for fee-paying passengers. Global Entry does the same but for clearance upon arrival into the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. It kicks off on June 10 at three U.S. airports: New York’s JFK Terminal 4, Washington-Dulles International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Applicants can apply online for a non-refundable, $100 per person processing fee and it’s only for U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents aged 14 years and older.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Beatbox.tele2.se

Beatbox.tele2.se

This site is for all you travelers out there who also aspire to be music producers ... and are bored as can be in your hotel room. This Swedish website lets users create and record their own loops so they can be played back and sent to friends. It takes about a minute to load but it’s hilarious so be patient.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: DelayCast.com

DelayCast.com

Ever wonder if your flight is going to depart on time or not? Well, you might have better luck playing roulette! But for better odds, log on to DelayCast.com to find out what these experts predict. The estimates are based on historical data and it depends on which airport you are flying to/from and the time of your flight. They project four to five months in the future but they do not take into consideration "in the moment" delays such as weather or technical difficulties. I’m not too sure how accurate this information is, even though they claim that analytical professionals with a strong base in statistics run it.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: PhoneCardSavers.com

PhoneCardSavers.com

Are you one of the few people who travel without a cell phone? If you are, then listen up. This website provides long-distance calling and prepaid phone cards for customers who are looking for a clear connection and cheap long distance rates. Supposedly, the prepaid phone cards offer the lowest rates with no or low connection fees. You can purchase a card on their website to receive a PIN instantly.