Destinations
Exploring the Blue City, Jodhpur India
Our driver picked us up at Hotel Pleasant Haveli around 10am. As we were leaving, Bhawani (aka Al Pacino) was coming back from his latest overnight camel safari and stopped us. Ironically, our driver was his uncle. What a small town. The best part was when Al Pacino went in for a bro-hug, Vinny patted him on the back only to have loads of dirt fly off of his shirt…
— The Huffington Post
Why Vis, Croatia Is the Perfect Mediterranean Getaway
A ferry ride away from the popular Croatia coastal town of Split, the island of Vis is one of the last unspoiled places in the Adriatic. Filled with vineyards, picturesque fishing towns, and cozy restaurants, Condé Nast Traveler contributor Alexander Maksik found that it offers all of the charm of the Mediterranean, without the overwhelming crowds…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Top Destinations for LGBT Travel in 2016 Revealed
As LGBT tourism continues to grow, travel-planning app and website Gogobot just announced its 2016 top destinations where the specialized sector is expanding. Atlanta topped the list this year beating out Minneapolis and Boston—Dubai even cracked the top 10 briefly before being removed considering homosexuality is illegal in the region…
— Travel Leisure
Tours and Activities
Enjoying Osaka’s Famous Food, Without Breaking the Bank
I sat in the passenger seat of a station wagon with my friend Brian, an American who is living and raising a family in Osaka — his cute toddler was snoozing in the back — as he explained local rivalries. We were driving down Midosuji Boulevard, the main thoroughfare in central Osaka. Conflicts between the Kansai region, where Osaka sits, and the Kanto region, which Tokyo calls home, can get intense, he said…
— New York Times
In this New Mexico town, you can see where Pancho Villa turned history on its head
As you drive into this dusty little village just three miles north of the Mexican border, you wouldn’t guess that a bloody event here would have affected a world war and kept the town’s name in the history books for more than a hundred years. Just before dawn on March 9, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa ordered his troops to attack the sleeping town. It was a mistake; Villa was defeated in less than two hours…
— LA Times
Cruise
Holland America Line Confirms New Features for Next Pinnacle Class Ship
Holland America Line will be adding a number of new features on its next Pinnacle Class ship, including a new restaurant. The changes that will come are based on passenger feedback and observations by crew onboard its newest ship, Koningsdam -- the line's first Pinnacle Class ship – which launched April 8 in Europe…
— CruiseCritic.com
First U.S. cruise sets sail for Cuba
The first U.S. cruise ship bound for Cuba in decades set sail Sunday as salsa music played and protesters picketed nearby…
— CNN
Transportation
Newest amenity at airports is one for the dogs
Pre-security pet relief areas outside airport terminals are a welcome amenity for air passengers traveling with service dogs, emotional support animals or pets. But in a move that pooches and people with connecting flights applaud, pet potties are now popping up inside airport terminals, on the secure side. Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport — host to 32 domestic and international airlines and more than 60,000 passengers a day — is the latest to add this pet-centric perk…
— USA Today
The 25 greatest train journeys in the world
'I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it,” said the travel writer Paul Theroux famously, and it seems that more of us than ever concur with him. Trains are the most agreeable, comfortable and relaxing of any form of long distance travel. Whether you are seeking spectacular scenery, luxurious carriages, heritage steam trains or epic long-distance journeys, perhaps aboard a sleeper, there is no better perspective on the world than from a railway carriage…
— Telegraph (London)
The end of lost luggage? Delta rolls out new bag tracking technology
Delta Air Lines will soon become the first U.S. airline to use the baggage tracking technology called Radio Frequency Identification on all baggage - 120 million bags a year - the airline announced Friday, according to Mashable. Delta anticipates the airline will be using the technology, also known as RFID, by the end of 2016, the airline told Mashable…
— Fox Travel News
Lodging
Family-friendly hotels for a summer holiday
Getting the location right makes a holiday, and you can’t go wrong here: this New England-styled spa hotel has a commanding position on a headland, with nine adjacent sandy beaches, rock pools and coves to explore. There's a sailing, surf and paddleboard school nearby (with free two-hour lesson per child during the holidays) plus riding and fishing to try…
— The Independent
10 of the best B&Bs in Lima, Peru
Once just a stop on the way to Machu Picchu, Peru's capital is now a hot destination in its own right - and the first direct flights from the UK, with BA from 4 May, will make it even easier to reach…
— The Guardian
Other and Odd
Guilt tip: Travelers face pressure for gratuities
Feel a little guilty when you travel? You should. You probably aren't tipping enough. Don't take my word for it. Travelers are experiencing a new kind of harassment, courtesy of the exploding gig economy. Call it guilt tipping…
— USA Today
Zika Virus Birth Defects May Be 'Tip of the Iceberg', Experts Say
The explosion of birth defects linked to the Zika virus may be just the…
— NBC
Today in History
The King James Bible
On this date in the year 1611, the King James Version of the Bible was first published. The year 2016 thus represents 405 years of the KJV's influence on the English language…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
The Travel Institute Launches Leadership Series for Emerging and Experienced Managers
The Travel Institute today announced details of its first-ever Leadership Learning Series, a five-part webinar program that kicks off May 18 and focuses on the emerging as well as the experienced manager. The topics covered – igniting performance, developing personal stamina and integrity, managing people, database management, and supplier negotiations – are areas that are key to an executive’s success, with particular emphasis on one’s ability to lead, learn, and innovate…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Let's forget about social networking for a bit
by John Frenaye
Monday May 02, 2016
 Bear with me for a few paragraphs as we talk about social networking. But, I want you to erase the thoughts about Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, all of it! Huh? Give me a few minutes to talk about human social networking—yes, good old-fashioned, face-to-face social networking.
Are you members of any networking, leads, or referral groups? Let’s be honest with ourselves—are they bringing in new business to you? Or are they merely an escape from the office for a lunch with other humans? Here’s a thought—start your own group!
As a business owner, you know (and patronize) several other small businesses. Have you ever spoken to the owners about the possibility of referring business to one another? If these are people you buy from, why wouldn’t you try…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Recognize Opportunity
 “All I know for sure is that I pursued a conscious strategy of managing my opportunities in a way that would make it easier for luck to find me.”
How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big: Scott Adams, page 1
You may recognize Scott Adams as the cartoonist responsible for the Dilbert strip. I found his sense of humor to be refreshing and before long I was connecting with many of his messages.
The one highlighted on page 1 reminded me of the importance to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
It's not my job
by Richard Earls
Sunday May 01, 2016
 Put on your consumer hat for a moment. If you are like me, you have a short list of customer service complaints, small irritant practices that really gripe you. For example, I don't like phone trees when I call a company. Inevitably my choice is the last in the long, long option list. I don't like it when a provider repeatedly misses deadlines and appointments. One of my current vendors is chronically late, never hitting any promises on time. If he says he will be at my office at 11:00 a.m., I schedule him for 1:00 p.m. In general, I let these small issues slide for those suppliers who otherwise do great work. I overlook the small things because they don't severely tarnish the otherwise…
— Travel Research Online
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Support Desk
Michael Dunne, Business Development Manager of Sky Bird Travel & Tours
 Must love travel agents
Unlike the John Cusack movie with a similar title, you must really love travel agents to work at Sky Bird Travel & Tours. I don’t necessarily have a specific love for travel – preferring to spend my vacation reading on my deck – but I’m passionate about helping agents grow their business.
When I started working for United Airlines in 1986, airlines and agents were truly partners. The airlines owned the CRS systems, and you learned a lot about an agency’s business plans when you were negotiating contracts. Talking with agents was the best part of the job, and relationships developed beyond our vendor/seller roles…
— 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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