Destinations
The Sinking City
Venice waits for her demise like a ship whose hull has been breached and has only a few hours before it is submerged completely under water. I didn’t really think much of this as Joy and I boarded a city bus to take us to the water taxis that awaited the arrival of a mix of tourists and locals as they prepared to join the doomed on this sinking city…
— The Huffington Post
Greece is the best place to visit in Europe this year
Travel publisher Lonely Planet has revealed its top 10 European countries to visit this year. This list is topped by the Greek Peloponnese peninsula, the southernmost region of mainland Greece characterised by a mountainous interior and indented coastline, as well as historic sites such as Olympia and Mycenae and the Nemean wine region, which is gaining international recognition…
— The Independent
A Plush Hideaway in the Florida Keys
On Little Palm Island in Florida, guests can swim, kayak and lounge with a well-made cocktail (though the key deer can be frisky)…
— New York Times
Tours and Activities
North Carolina's Land of Oz opening its enchanted gates for four days
Beech Mountain's historic Land of Oz park will reopen for four Fridays in June with guided tours down its famed Yellow Brick Road by Dorothy Gale of rural Kansas. Land of Oz was an amusement park in the 1970s and is still rented out for weddings, parties and group picnics. For four Fridays in June…
— Chicago Tribune
Opening date for new 'Frozen' ride at Epcot is June 21
The new Frozen After Ride will open June 21 in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, along with the Royal Sommerhus, a meet-and-greet site for Anna and Elsa, Walt Disney World Resort announced Friday…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
New Zealand Cruise Passenger Numbers Reach a Record High
A record 66,152 New Zealanders took an ocean cruise in 2015, representing a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers, according to a new report released today…
— CruiseCritic.com
Royal Caribbean could launch Cuba cruises by July
Royal Caribbean could be sailing to Cuba as early as July, the line's top executive said this weekend. Speaking at a press conference on board Royal Caribbean's new Harmony of the Seas, CEO Michael Bayley said the company is just waiting on approvals from Cuban authorities to start up regular sailings to the country from Miami…
— USA Today
Transportation
Boston's public transportation chaos, like you've never heard it before
A Boston startup has released a melodic mashup of the MBTA's various sounds that might very well change the way you view — or at least hear — your commute…
— The Boston Globe
What to Wear on a Plane: The Comfy-Chic Option
ADAY's collection of minimalist clothes in technical fabrics will keep you looking and feeling cool (literally) on your next long-haul flight…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Super-sized Ghan is the longest passenger train in 10 years
Measuring six and a half times the length of Adelaide Oval, Australia’s longest passenger train in more than a decade has embarked on its record-breaking journey. The Ghan departed Adelaide bound for Darwin on Sunday with 44 carriages and two locomotives at a total length of 1096m — more than 200m longer than a standard Ghan service…
— Herald Sun
Lodging
Hotel Historico Central review, Mexico City
A gracious old 1700s building close to the historic centre of the city has been beautifully restored to house a new five-level, 81-room boutique hotel, which opened in September last year. It has retained most of the lovely stone facade with the addition of iron lace balconies…
— Sydney Morning Herald
Europe's 28 best hidden seaside resorts
Our 29 favourite European seaside resorts largely undiscovered by British holidaymakers…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
18 Ways to Meet People When Traveling Solo
Solo travel may sound like a solitary experience, but the logistics of navigating foreign situations on your own naturally leads to meeting new people. From accommodations and transportation to meals and entertainment, the opportunities to bond with other travelers or locals is built in, as long as you keep your ears piqued and your mind open. And that shared sense of searching for experiences often leads you to like-minded explorers on the same path…
— Travel Leisure
2 Mount Everest climbers die of altitude sickness, 2 others missing
Two Indian climbers have gone missing on Mount Everest, an expedition organizer said Sunday, a day after two deaths from apparent altitude sickness were reported, underscoring the risks on the world's highest mountain. Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh have been missing since Saturday, said Wangchu Sherpa of the Trekking Camp Nepal agency in Kathmandu. They were last seen near the Everest summit…
— The Times-Picayune
Today in History
Peter Minuit Buys Manhattan
Peter Minuit was the Director-General of the Dutch New World colony of New Netherland. Seeking to claim a legitimate title to the land the colony desired to rule, Minuit entered into negotiations with the local Native Americans…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways Launches “Sizzling Summer Sale” With Fares To South Africa From $1,199* (restrictions apply)
Just in time for the summer travel season, South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, announces the “Sizzling Summer Sale” with our lowest fares of the season for travel from New York and Washington, DC to Johannesburg. Sale fares start at $1,199.00 * (restrictions apply) round-trip from Washington, DC-Dulles to Johannesburg and $1,299.00* (restrictions apply) from New York-JFK to Johannesburg. These fares are available for purchase by June 1, 2016, for travel from June 1 – 30, 2016…
— Travel Research Online
Travel Agent Diaries
White Sand Travel - getting known and respected
 I’m happy to say that the last few weeks, I have been getting more and more leads. Despite what I stated last month, about my fear of losing consumers to the internet, there are still clients out there that really do want that personal touch that travel agents can provide.
I’m finding that the reason that most people book vacations on their own is because of the trust factor. Most often, we are doing business with people we don’t know. USA Today once published warning signs for consumers to be aware of less-than-reputable travel agents. Two of the suggestions resonated with me and re-affirmed the way I do business…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Spin Selling: Do Your Research
 “Top performers ask more than 10 times as many need-payoff questions per call as do average performers.”
Spin Selling — Neil Rackham, page 17
I am not necessarily buying into the number 10, but I do believe that top performers ask more questions. In fact, this is perhaps your fastest way to sales stardom. Start asking more…
— Travel Research Online
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Outposts
Explore the Past and Look to the Future in Xiàmén City with Xiàmén Air
by Elizabeth Cody
Tuesday May 24, 2016
 Xiàmén City is one of China's best kept secrets: less crowded than Hong Kong or Beijing, but still oozing with charisma and sophistication. Xiàmén is an intriguing blend of traditional Chinese culture with the remnants of European colonialism mingling within to create a one-of-a-kind Southeast Asian escape. Whether you're looking for a taste of the ancient ways or a breath of the contemporary, Xiàmén has everything you're looking for, and so much more…
— 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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