Destinations
36 Hours in Austin, Texas
Beyond the SXSW festival, there’s classic barbecue, contemporary art and even a beer garden on a working ranch…
— New York Times
Knai Bang Chatt review, Kep, Cambodia
Pack your floaty kaftan: the heyday of the 1960s is over, but this is the one place in Kep to relive it…
— Sydney Morning Herald

Tours and Activities
The sea caves and shimmery waters of Thailand's Phang Nga Bay mix wonder and serenity
Exploring the islands and islets of Thailand's Phang Nga Bay by speedboat and kayak…
— LA Times
10 ways to see Iceland
The land of fire and ice is awash with glaciers, towering volcanoes and geothermal pools. Add to that Reykjavik, its hip capital, and you have a destination that provides not just otherworldly sights but also plenty of culture…
— Telegraph (London)
A desert's once-in-a-decade super bloom
Thanks to strong El Niño activity and heavy autumn rains, Death Valley - one of the least hospitable places on Earth - is experiencing its biggest explosion of flowers since 2005…
— BBC Travel

Cruise
Celebrity Solstice Skips Bali Due to Increased Risk of Terrorist Attack
Celebrity Cruises' Solstice has decided to cancel today's call at Bali due to an increased potential for a terrorist attack…
— CruiseCritic.com
Disney plans to build 2 new cruise ships
Disney Cruise Line announced Thursday that it is building two new ships…
— Chicago Tribune

Transportation
Airlines appear headed for dogfight on Havana flights
Airlines are bidding on 110 daily flights to begin soon to Cuba under new aviation deal…
— USA Today
Plane passengers are 'like sardines': Why it's time for airline seat-size standards
Gabor Lukacs says an attempt by American Sen. Charles Schumer to require the U.S. government to establish seat-size standards is something that should be done in Canada…
— Globe and Mail

Lodging
Alpine Apartments, Betws-y-Coed, Wales
With its cosy pubs and outdoor gear shops, Betws-y-Coed, on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, may seem more suited to a walking weekend than a chic escape, but it is possible to combine the two - thanks to a quirky conversion in the heart of this pretty stone village…
— The Independent
The Shankly Hotel, Liverpool: review
This posh new Liverpool hotel is aimed squarely at fans of the Reds and their legendary former manager, but even a Blue concedes it's a welcome addition to the city's accommodation options…
— The Guardian

Other and Odd
Coast Guard searching for man who fell off ship near Florida
The Coast Guard is searching for a Texas man who fell from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship off the coast of Key Largo, Florida…
— Fox Travel News
7 new travel start-ups making business trips easier
Being on the road for work can be stressful, tedious and frustrating. Here's how tech is trying to help…
— CNN
Chamber of Commerce Sues Seattle Over Uber, Lyft Ordinance
The Chamber of Commerce sued Seattle on Thursday over an ordinance that allows drivers of ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft to unionize…
— NBC
Today in History
Golda Meir Becomes Israel's Prime Minister
At a time in our history when women are closer to the United States presidency than ever before, it is worthwhile noting great female heads of state from the past. On March 7, 1969, Golda Meir became the Prime Minister of Israel. She was the country's first woman prime minister. David Ben-Gurion called her "the only man in the Cabinet"…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
American Queen Steamboat Company – Reservations Sales Agent Opening Position is crucial to the success of the business and is responsible for creating an outstanding first impression of the American Queen Steamboat Company. It is important to provide a positive image of the company from the start by greeting the guest over the phone and provide them with an overview of the company as well as a comprehensive description of room types/services that will fit their need in order to increase our revenue…
— Travel Research Online
South African Airways Welcomes The 2016 IGLTA Annual Global Convention To Cape Town South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline has been named, “Presenting Airline Partner” for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s (IGLTA) 2016 annual global convention, which is being hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. IGLTA’s Annual Global Convention will be at the iconic Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel April 14-16, 2016 and it will be the first time the organization, in its 30-year history, is holding its premier educational and networking conference for the LGBT tourism industry on the African continent…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Do the unexpected
by John Frenaye Monday March 07, 2016
Yesterday after noon around 1pm, there were thousands of people lining the streets of my hometown all dressed in green, wearing shamrocks, and discretely sipping a Guinness or some Jameson from a flask. Huh? What? St. Patrick’s Day is not for another ten days. What is up with these shenanigans?
Annapolis puts on the parade in advance of the “holiday” for a few reasons—as a small town they can attract bigger marching units if it is NOT on St. Patrick’s Day; it helps local businesses during a traditionally tough time of the year; and finally, it is sort of a wake-up call to the residents who collectively ask “What the heck?” And then I began to think—which tends to be dangerous.
Part of what makes this event successful…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Reading Between the Lines
The Brand YOU: Mini Billboards
“Calling cards, good or bad, tell a (surprisingly) large tale. Like the best packages, the best calling cards convey trustworthiness and WOW! At once.”
The Brand YOU from the Reinventing Work series by Tom Peters, page 135
Your Business Cards
This is a delicate subject, but one I am about to address in today’s column. Most business cards in our industry (the travel industry) are less than satisfactory. As Mr. Peters reminds us above, these small mini-billboards speak volumes…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Publishers Corner
Campaign Season
by Richard Earls Sunday March 06, 2016
 How do you make your travel practice known to the public? If you are like most travel professionals, you rely on a number of tactics to raise your visibility. You may use social media, public relations, or content marketing through your website, email, and blogging efforts. You may take advantage of speaking opportunities or write for a local newspaper. You may advertise.
Inherently we know marketing works, because in our own civilian lives we ourselves respond to well-placed and produced marketing and advertising. We have less confidence in our own efforts, however.
Ideally, your efforts to be better known are coordinated tactics where your public relations endeavors work with your networking at local functions, and both reflected through your social media…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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One-to-One Interviews
Mark Fravel, Founder and President of National Transaction Corporation
Before founding National Transaction Corporation, Mark Fravel worked extensively in the data collection and financial technology fields under Harbridge Merchant Services and First Data, both serving as their Vice President. In 1999 Mark left to start his own merchant processing company, National Transaction Corporation, and has continued as its president for over 19 years. National Transaction has always exceeded excellence, often ranking in the top 10 for many prestigious data and technology…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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