Destinations
Off-season in Andalucía: escape the crowds and save money
The roads were calm and uncluttered, minutes passed before another vehicle appeared. On the horizon the Sierra Nevada rolled along in the sunlight, still snow-capped and blue-hued in places. Outside the car was the countryside of rural Andalucía, with its olive and almond groves, and spaghetti western-like terrain…
— The Guardian
The Best New Reason to Visit Guatemala
At this very moment, Guatemala's past and present are on a collision course. And it's about time…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
The world's best theme park dark ride just got better
Theme park fans are in for a treat when Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey officially opens on Thursday inside Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios Hollywood. For those who have never been on the world's best dark ride, Forbidden Journey literally turns the traditional dark ride experience…
— LA Times
Living in the world's sunniest cities
In these five lucky locales, the sun can shine more than 90% of the time. We asked residents how they live their life when the skies are cloudless and blue…
— BBC Travel
Cruise
First look: Inside Viking's new ocean ship, Viking Sea
Eager for a glimpse of Viking Sea -- the second ocean ship from river giant Viking? USA TODAY this week is getting early access to the 930-passenger vessel ahead its christening next month in Greenwich, England…
— USA Today
Hurtigruten Considering Adding U.K. Cruise Itineraries
Hurtigruten is exploring the possibility of adding the UK to its itineraries in a bid to attract more British customers to the line, Cruise Critic has learned. The news comes as Hurtigruten revealed it was looking to expand its itinerary offering, including a new focus on "warmer water" sailings…
— CruiseCritic.com
Princess Cruises adding two new ships in 2019, 2020
California-based Princess Cruises is added two new Royal class cruise ships in 2019 and 2020…
— Miami Herald
Transportation
Atlanta defends title as world's busiest airport
Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International has defended its long-standing title as the world’s busiest airport according to preliminary traffic data released by Airports Council International (ACI) on Monday. The Delta hub saw more than 100 million passengers pass through its terminals last year, an increase of 5.5 percent from 2014 figures…
— Fox Travel News
First flight leaves Brussels Airport since attacks
The first passenger jet departs Brussels Airport since the terror attacks that struck 12 days ago — a symbolic step toward normalcy in the Belgian capital…
— CNN
Lodging
What Do Millennials Want? Hotels Have Some Ideas
Hotels are concluding that millennial travelers want three things: customized experiences, digital convenience and relevant information on social media…
— New York Times
Hotel Vagabond offers the Chelsea experience amidst Singapore's sterility
If ever there was an antidote to the hyper sterility of modern Singapore, it is the brand new Hotel Vagabond. Its artist-in-residence program, with its nightly salons, is a fresh and distinctly Asian take on New York’s legendary Chelsea arts hotel. (Some of the hotel’s more than 1,000 paintings, video installations and photographs are even, by local standards, a bit naughty.)…
— Globe and Mail
7 hotels owned by tech entrepreneurs
One of Palm Springs’ most hotly anticipated new hotels has opened just in time to host some of crowds arriving for Coachella festival, held in this Californian desert resort each April. Owned by former Facebook employee Ezra Callahan, the hotel is firmly pitched at a fun-loving, tech-savvy, socially connected crowd. With a Mid-century Modern look, the hotel’s 32-rooms face onto a central swimming pool edged by the Reservoir restaurant…
— The Independent
Other and Odd
3 Amazing Travel Tools for the Food Allergy Population
For parents in a family with food allergies, the thought of traveling away from home to a different country can be both exciting and scary at the same time! While those with food sensitivities are aware of standard precautions ranging from epipens to “safe snacks,” there are always uncertainties about eating safety. Travel comes in many forms, ranging from pleasure to business…
— The Huffington Post
Money-Saving Travel Tips for the US and Abroad
If you’re planning your first trip overseas, millennial money expert Stefanie O’Connell has some money-saving tips…
— Travel+Leisure
Why are Americans so afraid of vacation?
Over the past five years Briana Volk and her husband Andrew opened a popular cocktail bar in Portland, Maine, had a baby, and Briana launched her own marketing business. Despite all they achieved, there was one task the couple never found time to complete — take a vacation. “We’re good at getting into the trap of working all the time. So stepping away from that felt a little selfish. We both felt we always needed to be working,” Volk said…
— Boston Globe
Today in History
The First Presidential Veto
The word "veto" is Latin for "I forbid". The US Constitution provides that the President, as the head of the executive branch of government may veto a bill passed by the Congress…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
STI Travel by Central Holidays Launches New Jordan Tourism Promotion Campaign; 2016-17 Travel Programs Tailor-created throughout Jordan and Destination Expertise to support Travel Agents
STI Travel, part of the Central Holidays family of travel brands, continues on its expansion path with the launch of a new partnership with the Jordan Tourist Board to boost tourism to the destination. From Petra and The Dead Sea to Wadi Rum, Amman and beyond, the company is working to create awareness about this welcoming and amazing destination and increase bookings with the release of its 2016-17 travel programs throughout Jordan. The collection includes three dedicated, insightful journeys in Jordan that feature a vast array of one-of-a-kind experiences as well as three multi-country programs and flexible extension packages and optional tours for customizing the ideal vacation for each traveler or group…
— Travel Research Online
Gifted Travel Network Proud To Support New Social Impact Travel Brand
Host agency Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is thrilled to throw its resources and support behind the brand new social impact travel brand Fathom, a part of the Carnival Corporation family. Fathom is innovating traditional travel by combining the fun and relaxation of cruising with the opportunity to give back to communities in need through social impact activities in the Caribbean. A select number of GTN travel advisors are among the first in the nation to experience Fathom’s radical new approach to travel through invitations to join Fathom on its inaugural cruise and to “test-run” some of its social impact activities in the Dominican Republic…
— Travel Research Online
Travel Agent Diaries
Tier One Travel -- website woes
 Tier One Travel is getting a new web site. The good news is that I don't have to do any of the work to make it happen! It's one of the benefits of being an independent consultant. All I have to do is write my bio and upload a headshot. Simple right? That’s where the bad news comes in. Well, maybe not bad, but definitely not as simple as I thought.
Writing my bio turned out to be much tougher than I thought. With so many articles online to help, I jumped into the internet and ended up spending way too much time reading instead of writing.
The first issue I faced was grappling with what I am. Should be simple enough, right? I've been in the…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Purple Cow: Pay Your Mortgage
 “Differentiate your customers. Find a group that’s most profitable. Ignore the rest.”
Purple Cow- by Seth Godin, page 41
At the expense of you clicking off of this column, I will say exactly what you have heard 100 times before and for some reason, you still are having a hard time connecting with this…
— Travel Research Online
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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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