Destinations
The end of the road in Croatia: time to Split
Kevin Rushby brings his month-long odyssey to a close in Croatia's most charismatic city, exploring its Roman vaults with a guide whose explanations are as ribald as they are revealing…
— The Guardian
South Dakota: 12 ways to explore the state
At 77,123 square miles, and with six National Parks, 56 state parks and recreation areas, plus loads of western history and folklore, South Dakota is ripe for exploration…
— USA Today
Tours and Activities
Love or Hate Burning Man? Who cares, here are 7 alternative creative escapes
Whether you think Burning Man is a transformational pilgrimage or has become an overgentrified expression of the rich, or just don’t know what all the fuss is about, these are seven creative escapes you probably haven’t heard of (yet) that are sure to get your juices flowing…
— The Huffington Post
Hawaii's unpronounceable treasure
Located 2,100km northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument is now the largest nature reserve on Earth…
— BBC Travel
A Berlin Bar That Embraces Natural Wines
Just inside the entrance of Wild Things, a new wine bar in the Neukölln neighborhood of Berlin, looms a makeshift basketball hoop, into which customers can shoot discarded corks…
— New York Times
Cruise
Cruise ship crashes into bridge in Germany, killing two crew
An investigation is underway to find out why a Viking Cruises river ship crashed into a bridge in Germany…
— Telegraph (London)
Azamara Announces First Loyalty Club Cruise
Azamara Club Cruises will offer its first loyalty club cruise, hosted by cruise line president and CEO Larry Pimentel. The cruise will take place in the Arabian Gulf and United Arab Emirates from October 24 to November 3, 2016 onboard Azamara Journey…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
How Airport Security Has Changed Since 9/11
Every September 11 anniversary prompts an examination of what has—or hasn’t—happened in the ongoing quest to make air travel safer. And while the U.S. has spent an estimated nearly $100 billion to secure airports and airplanes since the attack, one thing is certain: more needs to be done…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Delta and Korean Air rekindle a partnership grown frosty
Delta Air Lines and Korean Air are taking steps to mend a chilly relationship, announcing an expansion of their partnership Wednesday where each airline can sell tickets on some of each other's flights…
— USA Today
Lodging
The UK's 5 best lighthouses
From cool conversions to cosy cottages, there are plenty of places to channel your inner lighthouse-keeper…
— The Independent
Trump's DC hotel set to open today
The luxury hotel Donald Trump has built in an iconic downtown Washington building is set to open to the public Monday…
— Fox Travel News
10 tricks for getting a hotel upgrade
Bigger rooms, better services and views to stay in bed for. Scoring yourself a hotel upgrade can be easy if you know what to do…
— Escape
Other and Odd
Hong Kong blurs the line between food and art
If you want to find out what art tastes like, there's no shortage of masterpieces being served up in Hong Kong…
— CNN
Cat Survived for 16 Days Under the Rubble After Earthquake in Italy
In what some some are calling a miracle, firefighters pulled a cat out alive from the rubble in Amatrice, Italy, 16 days after a devastating earthquake rocked the region…
— Travel Leisure
Today in History
The Re-Discovery of the Lascaux Caves
On September 12, 1940, four teenagers and their dog were exploring the hills near their home village of Montignac, France. They discovered the entrance to a cave, and walked into its interior. On the stone walls were fantastic paintings of humans and large animals…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Memories of a day that changed the industry
by John Frenaye
Monday September 12, 2016
 Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of 9-11. Thankfully, we have not experienced that type of hatred and violence on our own soil since that crisp September morning which almost seems to be ancient history. In fact, the event is “history” to this year’s high-school freshman—most of whom were not even born. Of course, like Pearl Harbor, we will never forget. For our industry, despite all of the struggles we face, 9-11 was the day that changed everything forever. Bear with me as I reminisce…
— Travel Research Online
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Reading Between the Lines
Strategic Selling: Remind Your Clients That You Exist
 "The first thing you have to do is to make your current position with each account visible.”
Strategic Selling: The Unique Sales System Proven Successful by America's Best Companies by Robert B. Miller and Stephen E. Heiman with Tad Tuleja, page 43
This book definitely calls for some focused attention in that I classify it as a Sales 201 read. (Maybe even Sales 301 – Advanced.) Just the same we can learn a number of things that relate to the travel industry and our small…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Marketing Like You Mean It
by Richard Earls
Sunday September 11, 2016
 Many travel professionals will openly confess that marketing is not their forte. After all, a large percentage of travel agents, if not the overwhelming majority, very rightly entered the industry not because they love marketing but because they love travel. Many have a very limited background or formal training in marketing, but manage to conduct a reasonably viable business out of a capacity to communicate their enthusiasm for travel and for being of service to others. That said, however, it's time for travel agents to get serious about marketing. The stakes are high - involved is not only your own business, but I dare say the future of the entire travel agency distribution channel.
Unless travel agencies become absolutely expert marketers, they risk becoming proportionately less important to suppliers…
— Travel Research Online
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One-to-One Interviews
Mike Melhem, Chief Technical Officer for Cosmopolitan Travel Service
 Mike Melhem Jr. earned a BA from the University of Michigan before working in the Software Industry for several years. He joined CTS in 2001 and has since then supervised the technological side of the business. He spearheaded the transition of CTS from a single offline GDS to a multi-GDS operation with a major online presence, and continues to bring CTS into the technological future.
Travel Research Online (TRO): What motivated you to take your technical education and background into the travel industry?
Mike Melhem (MM): The jump from the tech to the travel industry was a very personal one. After learning about new technology and corporate practices I realized how much it could be applied to the…
— 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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