Destinations
With the Olympics Over, Six Former Host Cities Worth Visiting
Now that the Rio Olympics are over, inevitable questions about the city’s post-Games legacy have surfaced. Rio de Janeiro, like every host city, hopes to continue reaping Olympics-related benefits long past the closing ceremony, such as increased tourism and a bolstered world reputation. But things don’t always go as planned…
— New York Times
Utah adventure: the Louvre of natural landscapes
Our Hummer juddered to a halt, teetering at the edge of a precipice that, while on the one hand a little alarming, also overlooked a breath-taking, orange-hued view of both Utah’s Canyonlands and Arches National Parks…
— The Independent
Tours and Activities
Urban Escape: Ride a subway to this national park
National Park Ranger Erin Schoppmeyer wants people to know there's nature in New York City. "There is solitude," she said. "You just have to know where to look for it." When people think of national parks, they're likely to think of rugged locales like Yosemite and Yellowstone, but Schoppmeyer is a ranger at the Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, part of New York City's Gateway National Recreation Area, the country's first urban national park…
— NBC
Six of the best: British spas
Situated on more than 15 hectares of landscaped gardens in a striking clifftop location with views out over Durham's coast line; Seaham Hall has attracted the famous and fashionable since the 18th century. Case in point, Lord Byron, who chose the hall as the venue for his wedding back in 1815…
— Sydney Morning Herald
Cruise
Cruising through the melting icebergs that could flood the world
I didn’t think the scene could get any more captivating. As I wandered along the Arctic shore of Svalbard, a remote archipelago stranded between Norway and the North Pole, a majestic blue iceberg was making a terrific racket – the air bubbles trapped within popping furiously, the sound of immense pressure escaping in a noisy rush as the ice melted. But then the call came: “Polar bear”…
— The Independent
Carnival Cruise Line to Make First Visits to Thailand and Vietnam
Carnival Cruise Line is planning a voyage from Sydney to Singapore, which will include the company's first calls to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Ko Samui in Thailand, as well as several cruises from China. On sale now, the 19-night cruise aboard Carnival Spirit departs 3 May 2018 and also calls at Bali in Indonesia and Airlie Beach and Darwin in Australia…
— CruiseCritic.com
Queen Mary is getting a bow to stern makeover and a club in the boiler room
When Joshua Schwandt stayed at the Queen Mary several years ago, he loved the Art Deco woodwork and the way the Observation Bar oozed an old-timey feel…
— Miami Herald
Transportation
Southwest adds Mexico routes from L.A.
Starting Dec. 4, Southwest Airlines will be adding new international service between Los Angeles International Airport and three airports in Mexico’s coastal resort regions: Cancun (CUN), San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos (SJD) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR)…
— USA Today
10 things I've learned working as a VIP air stewardess
During her time as a VIP air stewardess for the rich and famous, Emilia George has learned to expect the unexpected. Here she shares her most memorable stories and what they taught her…
— Telegraph (London)
Lodging
Are travelers losing the hotel booking wars?
In an ongoing war between big hotel chains and online travel agencies, value-minded consumers are emerging as the winners. Three out of four travelers believe they’ll get a better deal by booking rooms through an online travel site such as Expedia or Priceline, according to a study commissioned by Triptease, a start-up company that helps hotels increase revenue through direct booking…
— Fox Travel News
Three of the best places to stay in Mumbai
Mumbai is India’s largest and wealthiest city. As the centre of the country’s finance, business and entertainment activity, it is also one of India’s most-visited cities. But for first-time visitors, the huge city can be a minefield when looking for the best place to stay…
— Escape
Other and Odd
This Company Literally Forces Its Employees To Go On Vacation
Americans wasted a record-setting 658 million vacation days last year. Notorious for letting precious vacation days go unused, many folks stay plugged-in even when they manage manage to make it out of town. But this brilliant company is putting an end to the vacation problem, in the most amazing way possible…
— The Huffington Post
European city tours with locals: five of the best websites and apps
Who better to explore a city with than an enthusiastic, knowledgeable local? Smartphone-based digital wizardry means finding the right guide or tour is now only a tap away…
— The Guardian
Make Your Plans Now for 2017's Total Solar Eclipse
Sunday marks exactly one year before what will be the easiest total solar eclipse ever to travel to and witness. And if you’ve never seen one before, you don’t know what you’re missing. Legions of eclipse-chasers from across the country and the world will be in the United States for the Aug. 21, 2017 event…
— Travel+Leisure
Today in History
The founding of the Red Cross
In 1864, the Swiss government invited the governments of Europe and the United States to a diplomatic conference in Geneva. On August 22, 1864, that group of nations adopted the first Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field"…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Invest in your community, you'll feel good
by John Frenaye
Monday August 22, 2016
The end of the  baseball season is upon us. I have been an advertiser with a local AA team for more than a decade and part of the deal is that I get a bunch of tickets to give to clients for a night out at the ballpark. Of course, the team gets my check and I get some signage at the park as well. With ten games left in their season, I found I had a lot of leftover tickets—I am guessing many did not attend this year due to the rain in May and the heat in July and August. One of my pet peeves is when tickets to an event go unused. What to do?
I called a friend of mine who drives…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Black Book of Connections: Rejection Sucks; Deal with It
 “Rejection is a part of life. The crappy part.”
The Little Black Book of Connections by Jeffrey Gitomer, page 43
In my book titled Become The Exception, I devote an entire chapter to the notion of “rejection.” Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, I will cut to the chase in an attempt to have you thinking straight sooner rather than later.
Many sales courses will tell you to keep a stiff upper lip when you are rejected and don’t let it get you down. But once you accept the proposition that you have been rejected, you have given up the psychological high ground and put your self-esteem into retreat. Simply put, you need to reject the notion of rejection…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Easy Does It
by Richard Earls
Sunday August 21, 2016
How easy is it  to do business with you? We sometimes miss how baffled a client may feel when first launching out on their vacation planning. First, they have to know you exist, a result of how well you have executed your marketing plan. But let's start somewhat further down the road. Let's say the client knows you exist - they must now be motivated to use you as opposed to using another agency or booking themselves online.
Most of us gravitate to the path of least resistance; this includes your clients. After all, their computer is right there on the desk. They don't have to speak with anyone when they use their computer or pay a research fee. They don't have to feel any pressure…
— 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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