Destinations
36 Hours in Galway, Ireland
Welcoming and walkable and filled to the brim with old-fashioned pubs and excellent seafood restaurants, scenic Galway may be Ireland’s most charming city…
— New York Times
Ljubljana: eat, drink and explore in the European Green Capital
The pace of life in Ljubljana's compact Old Town feels several notches lower than in London. The cobbled streets are pedestrianised, meaning the gentle sound of footfall and conversation, rather than the grind of traffic, reverberates against facades. Occasionally an electric whir can be heard…
— The Independent
Chiang Mai, Thailand, guide: what to do, plus the best hotels and restaurants
Northern Thailand's largest city has struck a fine balance between traditional life and a vibrant contemporary scene, and boasts unique cuisine, affordable stays and must-do treks…
— The Guardian
Tours and Activities
Take the slow train down the West Coast
With time on his side, Tom Fort takes a leisurely and memorable month-long rail journey from Seattle to Los Angeles - and he can't wait to do it again…
— Telegraph (London)
You know about Florida's alligators, but there's so much more to see at Everglades National Park
Spotting an alligator in Florida is a lot like spotting cattle in Texas. You don't need to look very hard because they're everywhere. There's even a toll road nicknamed Alligator Alley where the 150-million-year-old reptiles can be seen lolling alongside the highway…
— Sun Sentinel
Cruise
New 'mini' cruise ship will explore Scotland's most inaccessible islands
While cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger, Scotland's Majestic Line keeps it small. The company is launching a 12-passenger ship built to explore some of the most inaccessible areas of the country's west coast…
— LA Times
Regent Seven Seas to Order New Luxury Ship for 2020
With expectations high for this summer's Seven Seas Explorer, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced it will build a sister Regent Seven Seas luxury ship for 2020…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
JetBlue to add 'Mint' flat-bed seats to more routes
JetBlue is expanding its recently launched “Mint” service to more routes. JetBlue’s Mint seats debuted in 2014 on its new Airbus A321 aircraft, giving the carrier premium seating for the first time. Mint passengers get seats that recline into lie-flat beds, upgraded food options and amenity kits…
— USA Today
10 Things To Bring On Every International Flight (And 3 Things Not To)
I fly a lot, mostly long-haul international flights. I've got a short list of items I have with me on every one. I also keep an eye on what other, seemingly seasoned, travellers bring with them, so I have a few of those on this list too. And perhaps just as important, I've got 3 things here that…
— Forbes
Legendary journeys: On board the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express
On board the Eastern & Oriental Express, travellers watch the jungles and rice paddies of Malaysia and Thailand swish past from plush, teak-lined rail cars kitted out like a five-star hotel. Drew Gough discovers it's a taste of the way travel used to be…
— Globe and Mail
Lodging
A London Hotel Where James Bond Goes Incognito
If you were James Bond and needed a London hotel where you could operate clandestinely, where would you stay? Probably a small town house hotel, such as the Draycott. There must be 50 similar townhouse hotels scattered across London, but this is probably one of the least well known. Perfect for a spy on the lam…
— The Huffington Post
Starwood Bidding War Ends Abruptly, Yielding a Merger and a Puzzle
Ever since a group led by the acquisitive — and secretive — Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group raised its bid for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, advisers to the American hotel company were a little wary that its new suitor might not be able to follow through…
— New York Times
Other and Odd
Why Your Next Vacation Should Include a Doctor's Visit
Destination spas are offering head-to-toe checkups alongside shiatsu massages, giving special treatment a whole new meaning…
— Condé Nast Traveler
State Department gets Internet thrashing for tweet aimed at 'ugly' Americans
In yet another case of “Twitter Campaign Gone Badly,” the State Department got a sound scolding from the Internet for its #springbreakingbadly hashtag. The account, which normally tweets advice and travel tips for Americans abroad, started out innocently enough. Since the beginning of March, the account has offered warnings against taking packages from strangers while overseas and telling people to make sure their passport information is up-to-date…
— Chicago Tribune
Today in History
Apple Computer is Founded
No fooling! After much experimentation with prototypes, Apple Computer was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on this day in 1976 to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. The first Apples were hand-built by Steve Wozniak in his parent's home. The computer did not come with a keyboard or monitor, but was only a "motherboard."…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Are you abusing your travel agent?
by Judith White
Friday April 01, 2016
 Before 9/11, we looked to travel agents for knowledge and expertise, and booked our travel experience with a lot more confidence than we do today. Now, everyone is a travel agent because everyone knows how to book travel on OTAs. But, is that the qualification of a travel agent? Does your qualification mean the ability to put together an itinerary online? I submit that many travel consumers have very little insight into the day-in-the-life of a travel agent; and if they did, our value would become more apparent…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Reading Between the Lines
Selling To Big Companies: Know Why You Call
“Before you call, remind yourself that you have a valid business reason for contacting the prospect.”
Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath, page 171
Chapter 16: Become Irresistible to Decision Makers
People are busy today. They have little time to spend trying to guess what it is you want and what it is you can do for them…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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TRO and The Travel Institute Scholarship Program
TRO believes ongoing training is important to the health of the travel professional. Therefore, we have partnered with The Travel Institute to assist travel agents to earn their Certified Travel Associate designation. TRO will be awarding a $100 scholarship to at least one attendee of TRO webinars each webinar. If you want to be considered for the scholarship you need only to register here:
http://www.thetravelinstitute.com/troscholarship/
…and then attend TRO’s webinars. Winners will be selected and notified immediately after each webinar!
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