Destinations
Like Paris, without the tourists
Lyon is France’s best-kept secret. Its urban scene is enjoyably elegant without a hint of crass tourism. For the people who live in the city — sandwiched between the Burgundy and Provence regions — dining out is a passion…
— Vancouver Sun
Going to Kangra Valley, India, for a spot of tea and spirituality
Kangra Valley, India, once part of the British Raj, is home to Chandpur Tea Estate and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Buddhist nunnery…
— LA Times
Tours and Activities
Tasting Umbria: Following the food in a less-traveled Italian region
Earthy Umbrian cuisine leads you to wine, charcuterie, regional pasta and an appetite for more…
— Chicago Tribune
Black History Month travel destinations
With an entire country of rich history to explore, and nonstop flights from BWI readily available, consider discovering the African-American legacy of cities throughout the country. We've done the legwork, identifying some of the most interesting spots to sightsee for a weekend, or longer…
— The Baltimore Sun
I love the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk across it and you will, too.
There's a sublime moment that occurs when I reach the top of the Brooklyn Bridge — a marine breeze whiffing up from the East River, traffic rattling along on the roadway below, hundreds of people shuffling, loping, toddling, jogging, moseying, and biking past me, smartphones and selfie sticks raised in all directions, the American flag hoisted high overhead, the Manhattan skyline working its magic in the background — when I pause to hope this scene never will cease to stir my heart…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
Holland America's Florida-bound cruise ship Koningsdam finishes sea trials
Holland America's Koningsdam has completed sea trials and now will get the finishing touches before its planned April debut…
— Sun Sentinel
Why cruises are becoming good for the whole family
Connie Abodeely isn't a fan of mega ships or Caribbean itineraries. But she's really looking forward to her family's upcoming trip on Norwegian's newest ship, the Escape, which carries more than 4,200 passengers…
— Fox Travel News
Transportation
Australians the tightest air travellers in the world
Australian travellers are the most reluctant of all nationalities to shell out more for “extras” on a flight, new research has shown. The Expedia.com.au study involving more than 11,000 travellers found 43 per cent of Australians would not fork out for anything on a flight of less than three hours, and the figure did not improve much for longer haul flights…
— Herald Sun
Thanks to the TSA, it's a Confusing Time to Fly
These are confusing times for airline passengers. In recent weeks, the government has made two surprising policy changes: First, the Transportation Security Administration announced that screening with a full-body scanner would no longer be optional for some passengers, and then the Department of Homeland Security said that soon your state-issued driver’s license might not be sufficient ID for you to pass through the airport screening area…
— The Huffington Post
Lodging
Airbnbs Still Available for Super Bowl 50 Weekend
With the Super Bowl putting Airbnb homes in high demand, we've rounded up some available rentals across the Bay Area…
— Yahoo! Travel
See inside a notorious Siberian prison
The Prison Castle, a strict-regime penitentiary in Tobolsk, Russia, recently opened its doors to inmates of a different kind. Travellers can now check into one of the cramped “sweat-box” punishment cells – spending the night in the prison where Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Tsar Nicholas II and Stalin’s victims did time…
— BBC Travel
Hospitality sweet: meet the Brits who escaped to run hotels abroad
"We feel lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world..." From the Dordogne to the Philippines, Brits tell how they left homes and jobs in the UK to start new lives abroad - as hoteliers…
— The Guardian
Other and Odd
Huge: The world's six biggest travel experiences
Who says size doesn't matter? Here's where to find the world's largest places…
— Sydney Morning Herald
Worried About Zika? Here's Some Other Bugs You're More Likely to Catch
Zika virus is "spreading explosively" across Latin America and the Caribbean. But if you want to know about some home-grown viruses, read on…
— NBC
Today in History
New York's Grand Central Station Opens
Grand Central Terminal ("Station" is not a part of its official name) at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan was built by the New York Central Railroad. The terminal represents the largest train station in the world gauged by the number of tracks. Grand Central contains restaurants, delis, bakeries, news stands, a gourmet and fresh food market, and more than thirty retail stores…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Zika Virus: A new threat to travel agencies
by John Frenaye
Monday February 01, 2016
Here we go agai n. It seems like every time we turn around, there is some calamity beyond our control tossing a wrench into our business plans. Commission cuts, Avian Flu, Mad Cow Disease, Noro Virus, Ebola… the list goes on. The latest is the Zika Virus, and this is one that I think we might want to watch as an industry as it is quite different than anything we have seen.
What is the Zika Virus?
The Zika Virus has been around for a long time, and for the most part was a benign mosquito-borne disease. Recently, it has spread from equatorial Africa into South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Just recently in the last month, the virus was linked to microcephaly in infants.…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Publishers Corner
Polymathematics
by Richard Earls
Monday February 01, 2016
 "Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential." ~ Winston Churchill
What is the calculus of success? Is there a formula to being really good at whatever you most want to do?
One of the really great characteristics about children is their unfailing knowledge they can do anything. Draw a picture? Hand them the crayons. Play the drums? Give them those sticks. Converse about the universe? Have a seat and lend an ear…
— Travel Research Online
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One-to-One Interviews
Todd Neuman, Vice President Commercial for North America for South African Airways
Todd Neuman began his career in the airline industry in 1979 in Chicago, working for Delta Air Lines while also attending college and earning certification as a private pilot. He is a graduate of the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa, with a degree in Business and Aviation Administration.
An airline industry veteran with more than 30 years experience, Todd has held senior management positions with World Travel Holdings, a leisure travel company based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Prior to his engagement with World Travel Holdings, he also served 22 years with US Airways in several management positions in the sales and marketing departments. During his tenure there, Todd was instrumental in business development to support the airline’s…
— Travel Research Online
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"Sales people make the mistake of vomiting information all over their customers.”
