Destinations
The Eastern Algarve is Portugal's best-kept secret
Portugal’s Algarve is almost too popular, so why not head to its little-visited eastern end? Here the long white beaches are secluded and the port towns are sleepier, but there’s no shortage of gelato and pastry shops. On a road trip, Doug Wallace learns to slow down and live the good life…
— Globe and Mail
'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations See Crazy Spike in Interest This Year
It's no surprise that Croatia has seen a huge jump in tourism thanks its key role in the wildly popular Game of Thrones. Now, as the HBO drama's sixth season comes to a close, TripAdvisor has revealed that traveler interest has increased an average of 120 percent as people binge-search information about 10 real-life filming locations…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
6 L.G.B.T.-Friendly Places to Visit
If we’re going to get out there and travel no matter what, as our earlier look at gay travel post-Orlando suggested, where should we go? Matthieu Jost, the chief executive and a founder of…
— New York Times
Road trips: Where to go and what to know
Road trips: Where to go and what to know June 24, 2016, 1:52 p.m. Sure, road trips are not for everyone. If you're into interminable airport security lines lines, road trips are not for you. If you enjoy being treated like cattle, go ahead and board that stuffy airplane. But if you appreciate brassy…
— LA Times
Cruise
Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship Christened in China
Ovation of the Seas was christened over the weekend, three months after launching in the U.K and six months before it arrives in Australia…
— CruiseCritic.com
This is Thailand, James Bond style
With 16 sails and masts up to 69m high, two pools, restaurant and library, the sailing ship offers a relaxed fusion of romantic heritage and modern comfort. The package begins with a flight from Australia to Phuket on April 27, 2017, with two nights’ accommodation. Guests then board Star Clipper for a seven-night cruise to Singapore via the Similan Islands, renowned for their turquoise waters and white beaches…
— Escape
Baroque and roll on a Venice cruise
River Countess has an apt name. Uniworld's river ship is sleek as an otter, all white but for bluish tinted windows, sedately afloat at its pier in Venice. The captain is standing by the gangplank in braided sleeves and gold buttons, and looks as if he's about to pipe me aboard like a news-reel Windsor arriving at the royal yacht Britannia. Inside, I'm wafted into a lobby that has a chandelier, gilt mirrors and leopard-skin seats. A continental European countess, clearly: impeccable pedigree, but with a taste for flamboyance and startling clothes…
— Sydney Morning Herald
Transportation
The world’s 10 best train journeys – by the woman who’s done them all
After covering three continents and 45,000 miles by train for our Around the World in 80 Trains series, Monisha Rajesh shares her unmissable rail journeys…
— Telegraph (London)
TSA PreCheck Applications Soar Amid Long Lines At Airports
They don't take off their shoes, they don't take out their laptops and their numbers are growing every day. Some 16,000 people per day are applying for the government's airport pre-screening program…
— NPR
Lodging
The hostel grows up: 'Poshtels' make their way to USA
For many people, the word hostel evokes images of grungy backpackers, uncomfortable beds, shared bathrooms and snack machines. But that’s a hostel for another era. These days, hostels are more like boutique hotels at a bargain price. The upscale hostel trend was born in Europe. To attract younger travelers, hoteliers started outfitting hostels with bars, coffee counters, game rooms and full-service restaurants…
— USA Today
Floating hotel to open in London as part of social enterprise project
From September, Newham's Royal Docks will be the base for The Good Hotel, a 144-room property offering training to unemployed people, and a chance to find long-term work…
— The Guardian
Other and Odd
Should I buy euros now before the rate gets even worse?
As we all know, as the results came in, sterling slumped. It dipped as low as €1.20 before recovering at the close in London to €1.24. Which, considering the Treasury prediction of a 12 per cent-plus decline in the pound after a Brexit vote, isn’t too bad. As the foreign-exchange market reacted to the vote, it punished the euro almost as much as the pound…
— The Independent
How To Ask Your Boss For Time Off, According To Bosses
Everyone deserves a break. Contrary to what you may think, using those vacation days will make you a healthier, more productive and more creative employee once you return. The hardest part, however, is often asking your boss for time off. We asked a handful of HuffPost editors (aka bosses) how they prefer their direct reports ask for vacation time. As it turns out, bosses do NOT dread receiving your request…
— The Huffington Post
British expats worry Brexit will cloud their sunny lifestyle
Hundreds of thousands of British expatriates living in Spain awoke to the news of a Brexit victory with a mixture of shock and joy. About a million Britons live all, or part of the time, in Spain and most were expected to support the Leave campaign, though Brexit has proved a divisive issue; many who live and work there were dismayed today…
— Fox Travel News
Today in History
First solo circumnavigation
On June 27, 1898, a 37 feet sloop-rigged fishing boat named Spray sailed into Newport, Rhode Island. It was by all accounts an unremarkable boat except for one thing: its captain, Joshua Slocum, had just circumnavigated the world, a distance of more than 46,000 miles, by himself…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Let’s talk about Brexit and what it means for the travel industry
by John Frenaye
Monday June 27, 2016
 OK, so Thursday’s vote in the United Kingdom was a bit of a surprise. Who would have thought they would have voted to leave the European Union? The markets reacted (as they should) and collectively people seemed to panic with a “what now” attitude. David Cameron, the Prime Minister resigned (as expected) and if you listened to most media, the world was in a financial free-fall because of Brexit. But, maybe not so much!
Certainly, there are financial ramifications and we all will likely see some impact on our 401k’s and our retirement accounts—just as others across the globe do when the US markets slide… or the Asian markets slide… or the European markets slide. They will recover. The world financial markets have always had their…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Reading Between the Lines
Become the Exception: Making The Telephone Your Weapon of Choice, Part 1
 One of the most important weapons you have to implement The System is your telephone. Yes, I said the telephone. But as with all your weapons, you need to be trained in its proper use. Most people do not enjoy “putting themselves on the firing line” so they avoid (without realizing it) using the telephone. They fuss with prospect lists, enter endless information on their computer database, analyze and study their product or service, draft emails — all the while subtly avoiding the thing they have to do to succeed: make the call!
This next statement you can take to the bank: The more you pick up the telephone, the more money you are going to make. As counter-intuitive as this may sound, it is true…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Publishers Corner
The fallacy of cheap
by Richard Earls
Sunday June 26, 2016
 We have an obsession in this country with cheap. Every travel professional knows that client who will spend relentless hours on the internet trying to beat the great cruise or tour package rate. Chances are pretty good with enough time on their hands your client can beat your "price." After all, they now know exactly what to look for, and there is always someone willing to sell cheaper. It's easy for the client, armed with your information, to beat your price and then to invite you to participate, actually demand that you participate, in the race to the bottom.
Will the situation ever change? Possibly, but not until travel planners of all stripes start training their clients on…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
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!
|
 |
|
