Travel agents look to space

Sarasota-based travel agents Ryan and Malaka Hilton have been making a name for themselves in international circles by putting together eclectic trips with starry guest hosts. The list includes professional football players and sons and granddaughters of dignitaries and celebrated designers.

But if business at their firm, Admiral Travel International, ever slows down, the Hiltons are now one step closer to another revenue stream: Outer space. The couple recently flew to California, to the Mojave Air and Spaceport, for the public debut of Virgin Galactic's Spaceship Two — the world's first commercial-manned spaceship.

The event was as star-studded as one of Admiral's trips. The Hiltons shared a stage with such guests as New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Malaka Hilton had her picture taken with Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson.