Destinations
Marbella offers paradise under a coastal Spanish sky
It may be a playground for the pampered rich, but even babies are welcome in this timeless landscape of sparkling, sunlit sea, fragrant gardens and fabulous food…
— Globe and Mail
The 10 hottest places in Asia you need to make a beeline for now
You might think you’ve “done” Asia, but once you take a look at this new Lonely Planet list, you’ll be ready to plan another adventure. While you might have skied Hokkaido (No. 1) or seen Shanghai (No. 1), there’s some destinations on the list you’ve likely never even heard of…
— Escape
Tours and Activities
In often-pricey Vegas, magicians Penn & Teller continue a free tradition
Getting up close and personal with Las Vegas headliners can get pricey, with one big exception: Penn & Teller. Greeting their fans, for free, after their shows is something they’ve been doing for more than four decades…
— LA Times
Shenandoah: The hemlock's last stand
With the iconic hemlock tree approaching extinction in many Eastern forests, Shenandoah National Park is trying to save the last of its Redwoods of the East…
— CNN
Cruise
The 'world's most luxurious ship', Seven Seas Explorer, in pictures
Luxury cruise firm Regent Seven Seas are all set to launch their biggest and best ship to date: the sumptuous Seven Seas Explorer. Here's a glimpse at what to expect from the latest big thing in cruising…
— Telegraph (London)
Low Water Levels Affecting Elbe River Cruises
Limited rainfall in central Europe has caused low water levels on the Elbe River, affecting some river cruises sailing those itineraries. When river boats can't sail, the cruise lines deal with the issue in a variety of ways. Some companies use the ships as floating hotels and bus passengers for some of the trip. Others put passengers up in hotels on land, or arrange "ship swaps," where passengers do part of the itinerary on one vessel and switch to another further upstream of downstream…
— CruiseCritic.com
6 cool cruises for comic book nerds and Comic-Con fans
Whether you love superheros, villians, outer space or post-apocalyptic Earth-- these comic-themed cruises have got you covered…
— Fox Travel News
Transportation
And the world's new No.1 airline for 2016 is...
Emirates airline was tabbed as the world's best airline in 2016, according to the annual World Airline Awards published by Skytrax. Emirates’ title came as last year's winner – Qatar Airways – dropped to second place in the ratings, awarded at a Tuesday ceremony on the grounds of the Farnborough Airshow. Virgin America was the top ranked U.S. carrier, placing 25th overall in the global rankings…
— USA Today
Olympic Athlete Learns the Hard Way That Checked Bags Are Not for Priceless Valuables
Olympic steeplechase competitor Emma Coburn was stunned to find her broken medal after she placed it in her checked baggage…
— Travel Leisure
Lodging
B&B review: Eben House, Provincetown, Cape Cod
Captain Eben Snow stares out, the slightest flicker of a smirk in the corners of his mouth. Perhaps it’s amusement at the frilly parasol he’s holding, which seems a little at odds with his 18th-century seaman’s get-up. But then, I’ve also spotted him wearing bejewelled earrings and a full face of makeup, so maybe he’s not quite as straight-laced as one might expect…
— The Independent
10 Incredible Mansions You Can Rent For Less Than $100 A Night
You don’t have to own a beachfront palace to vacation in one. The trick is to round up a bunch of friends/family/in-laws that are willing (and able) to divvy up the tab. Here, ten gorgeous options to add to your getaway short list. Let the group emailing begin…
— The Huffington Post
Robot staff and emoji menus: how hospitality went hi-tech
Technology is shaking up the industry, with artificial intelligence increasingly being used to enhance the customer experience and make businesses smarter…
— The Guardian
Other and Odd
Where Pokémon Should Not Go
Are there places where Pokémon should not be allowed to tread? The digital creatures, which appear overlaid on the real world as part of the hit smartphone game Pokémon Go, have been reported at the former concentration camp Auschwitz in Poland, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. and the National September 11 Memorial in New York, provoking frustrated responses from the representatives of some of the sites…
— New York Times
How to Save Money on a Last-Minute Summer Getaway
Looking to book a last-minute summer getaway without breaking the bank? A new study out of Hotwire HQ analyzed all their summer booking data—in cities including London, New York, Seattle, Anaheim, and Denver—and found that the most affordable time to travel this season will be the last two weeks of August. For later-summer trips, mid-September queries also showed dips in average hotel rates in major American cities—and there are still even Labor Day deals to be had, with plenty of three- to five-star rooms available for under $70 a night in cities such as Phoenix, Orlando, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, New Orleans, and Tampa…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Today in History
President for a Day
As President Ronald Reagan prepared for surgery to remove polyps from his large intestine, Vice-President George Herbert Walker Bush prepared to make history…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways Appoints Todd Neuman As Executive Vice President – The Americas
South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, announces that Todd Neuman has been named as the executive vice president for the Americas, effective immediately. In his new role, Neuman will oversee several departments within SAA’s commercial division in North & South America including, sales, marketing, e-commerce, reservations and finance. Neuman will continue to be based at South African Airways Regional Offices for The Americas in Plantation (Fort Lauderdale), Florida…
— Travel Research Online
Point-to-Point
Reading Between the Lines
Hot Button Marketing: Keep On Giving
 “Always give more than the value received.”
Hot Button Marketing by Barry Feig, page 77
When I underlined this phrase, I thought of the word “lagniappe” which I believe to be a Cajun French term that means more than expected. You may recognize this practice as “putting the cherry on top.” Regardless of what you call it, it is becoming important to exceed the value your customer has come to…
— 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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