Destinations
Sicily’s Mount Etna, an Island Within an Island
In the summer, Sicily is the color of flax. The valleys, the hillsides, the horizon all bear the same overexposed quality, the burned-out yellow of haystacks. But if you fly into Palermo and head east by car, the hues slowly start to change, getting deeper and greener with altitude…
— New York Times
Leaving Ainswick behind for Sarasota
Not long ago, I was at Medford High School to see my friend’s teenage daughter perform in a school production of Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow.” She and the young actors, who delivered their lines in their best English accents, kept talking about a fictional estate named Ainswick, a family property that seemed to house all of the characters’ emotional baggage…
— The Boston Globe
Tours and Activities
Elevator problem shuts Washington Monument, but National Park Service birthday event will go on
The Washington Monument is closed and will remain shut at least until Aug. 30 while the landmark’s elevator is repaired. The closure won’t, however, stop a Thursday event planned on the grounds to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The Park Service is set to gather more…
— LA Times
30 under-the-radar places everyone should visit in the UK
Everyone knows the big-name landmarks in the UK, but there's so much more to the country than Big Ben and Stonehenge. Did you know that the UK is home to the world's longest hedge maze and a picturesque island where there's a ban on cars? Probably not…
— The Independent
Cruise
Tropical Storms Forming in Caribbean Spur Cruise Itinerary Changes
Late August through early September is prime time for hurricanes and tropical storms in the Caribbean. Even as it dies down, Tropical Depression Fiona spurred Royal Caribbean to make adjustments to itineraries, and Tropical Storm Gaston is on the horizon…
— CruiseCritic.com
This Obscenely Fancy Mega-Yacht Comes With Its Own Private 'Beach'
We’re always looking for affordable ways to take a break, even on the high seas. But hey, it never hurts to dream about life on a 590-foot mega-yacht, too. Behold the 108M mega-yacht concept from Hareide Design Norway. This massive ship is designed with its own elevated dining and viewing platforms, tranquil gardens and even a private beach of sorts…
— The Huffington Post
Transportation
Some Airlines Will Soon Charge You to Complain
Over the years, passengers have been complaining more and more as airlines add on baggage fees and take away complimentary meals. Guess what? That complaint might soon cost you, too. On August 21, it was revealed that several U.K. airlines would start charging passengers £25 ($33) to file a grievance…
— Condé Nast Traveler
A day in an ‘aging suit’ shows airport accessibility challenges
I’m old enough to occasionally be addressed as “ma’am,” but young and healthy enough to have no trouble running, if need be, to a far-off gate at an airport and lifting my own carry-on into an overhead bin…
— USA Today
Chip Technology Keeps Checked Luggage in Check
On a recent Southwest Airlines flight from Baltimore, Shvilla Rasheem arrived in Indianapolis, but her luggage did not. Ms. Rasheem, a 34-year-old consultant, said she always checks her bag when flying on Southwest because there is no fee. “I never thought of the possibility that I would not get my luggage,” she said…
— New York Times
Lodging
Five recently revamped European luxury hotels
Looking for some refreshed luxury? These sumptuous European hotels have just undergone renovations to bring their luxe rating up a notch or two. On your next trip across the pond, why not book a stay at…
— USA Today
Cool place of the day: The Cricket Inn, Devon
Tucked away in the pretty little coastal village of Beesands, just seven miles from Kingsbridge and 12 miles from Dartmouth, the Cricket Inn is a beautiful seaside spot by any standards, and the sort of place we really like – a quaint old fishing inn that has been reinvented as a light and spacious gastropub with a handful of comfortable rooms upstairs to collapse into after a pleasant evening…
— The Independent
Other and Odd
Powerful Earthquakes in Italy Kill Dozens and Shatter Towns
Strong earthquakes struck a mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 38 people, trapping scores under debris and setting off tremors that awakened residents in Rome, nearly 100 miles to the southwest…
— New York Times
Get paid to travel: the best jobs for globetrotters
Can you spot the difference between a cloud and the Northern Lights? Then we might have found the job for you: the Arctic Snow Hotel in Finland is looking to recruit an Aurora Borealis spotter, which some commentators are describing as “the best job in travel”…
— Telegraph (London)
You Can Eat a Burger That Looks Like a Pokémon
If you're into Pokémon, there's a good chance you're going to love these Pokéburgers. Hashtag Burgers—a restaurant group in Australia—has introduced a new menu item at their spot, Down-N-Out (a regional play off of the ever-popular In-N-Out, we're sure). The burgers are themed after three Pokémon characters: Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Charmander…
— Travel Leisure
Today in History
The Destruction of Pompeii
It was the day after Vulcanalia, the festival of the Roman god of fire. On August 24th, death rained down on the Roman village of Pompeii from Mount Vesuvius. For several weeks, the wells around the town had begun to go dry. A series of small earth tremors began…
— Travel Research Online
Point-to-Point
10 tips + 10 weeks = 100 New Methods to Grow Groups–Week 10, Why Groups Are Best
by Stuart Cohen
Wednesday August 24, 2016
 If you know where you are headed, you will know when you get there. In business, that means setting a goal and having a plan to get you there. I hope you are convinced that mastering group sales is the smartest destination for your business.
In my final week of sharing top group tips, I will remind you of the tremendous benefits you may be missing:
In group boot camp I share all one hundred tips for scoring a great sponsorship. But for now, these ten will get you started on the right…
— Travel Research Online
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Supplier Profile
Reading Between the Lines
Black Book of Connections: Incoming is Better than Outgoing
 “Good things come to those who have patience and take consistent, persistent actions toward what they want.”
The Little Black Book of Connections by Jeffrey Gitomer, page 89
Taken from a Google search: Patience: The ability to wait for something without getting angry or upset is a valuable quality in a person.
Note: patience (noun) = the ability to wait calmly; the capacity to accept delay without getting angry | virtue (noun) = a quality or trait that most people consider to be morally good or desirable in a person…
— 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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