Advertiser

Monday November 14, 2016

 

Destinations

With giant cactuses and sleek jaguars, Arizona's Sonoran Desert has an edgy beauty tinged with danger
Botanical wonders abound in the wild Sonoran Desert of Organ Pipe National Monument and Saguaro National Park. Just mind the heat…

Long Avoided by Tourists, Iran Is Suddenly a Hot Destination
For all of Iran’s attractions — breathtaking scenery and numerous World Heritage sites, among other things — there are plenty of downsides to vacationing in the Islamic republic…


Please support TRO and our Suppliers! The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship.

Tours and Activities

London Bridges Are Lighting Up
London’s bridges will slowly fill with light as the tide rises. Luminous colors will wash across their surfaces…

The 10 best safaris to do in Africa
Spotting wildlife in Africa is a thrill whether it be on four wheels or two legs…

The 7 Best Ski Resorts in North America for an Affordable Getaway
Winter is right around the corner, which means it’ll soon be time to hit the slopes. Ski.com, which offers mountain vacation packages with from more than 120 of the world's most popular ski resorts, has identified the cheapest ski resorts in North America this winter…


Please support TRO and our Suppliers! The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship.

Cruise

Thomson Cruises Puts Emphasis on Long Haul with Three Ships Caribbean-Based in 2017
Thomson Cruises has announced it will be basing three ships in the Caribbean next year -- including its newest vessels, TUI Discovery and TUI Discovery 2…

Inside the world's most expensive cruise ship suite
Love to cruise but can't stand the crowded buffets and over-booked shore excursions? Onboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new ship Seven Seas Explorer—which begins sailing to the Caribbean from Florida this December…

Sweet home, Carnival: Mobile, Ala. is back as a cruise port
Mobile, Ala. finally is back on the map for cruisers. Industry giant Carnival on Wednesday will resume year-round sailings from the city after a five-year absence, becoming the only line offering voyages from the port…


Please support TRO and our Suppliers! The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship.

Transportation

First look: JetBlue unveils special 'RetroJet' paint scheme
JetBlue is rolling out a special “RetroJet” livery on one of its Airbus jets Friday. Dubbed “What’s Old Is Blue Again,” JetBlue says the A320 features “a one-of-a-kind paint scheme designed to celebrate the iconic jet age of air travel and to highlight JetBlue’s innovative style.”…

Are Cheap Long-Haul Flights Really Worth the Savings?
Norwegian Air offers a budget-friendly transatlantic flight—if you're willing to play by the rules. Not all of us are…


Please support TRO and our Suppliers! The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship.

Lodging

The Best Scottish Castles You Can Stay In
When you visit Scotland, you won’t go far without seeing its medieval heritage — there are centuries-old castles from the northernmost reaches of the Orkney Islands down to Edinburgh and Glasgow, with more than a few choices across the Highlands…

Hostels to high-end: the Australian hotels embracing renewable energy
Hospitality operators are realising sun, wind and water can do more than just attract tourists – they can power the resorts themselves…


Please support TRO and our Suppliers! The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship.

Other and Odd

Turkey issues US travel warning following anti-Trump protests
Turkish government warns citizens living in and visiting the US to remain vigilant in the aftermath of the election…

New Zealand earthquake tourist advice: is it safe to travel?
New Zealand’s South Island was struck by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday (11.02 GMT, Sunday), which has left two dead and some communities without power…

Today in History

Claude Monet
The French Impressionist painter Claude Monet was born on this day in 1840. Monet's painting Impression, Sunrise, gave the Impressionist movement its name…

Editorial Musings

Let me introduce you to your best friend!

No, it is not a throwback to Scarface with Al Pacino. It is right here, right now, and may be gathering dust in your rolodex. What am I talking about? Your BDM. Call the position whatever you like—BDM, Sales Manager, Sales Associate... whatever. But every supplier has a sales team to take care of their agent partners. With so many new faces in the industry, many with small books of business, many do not realize the value of this resource!

So, what can a BDM (let’s use this term for simplicity) do for you? For starters—education. You cannot effectively sell a product without knowing it. Besides a FAM trip, the next best solution is to talk to your BDM. He or she is in the know…

  — Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »

Reading Between the Lines

Back to Basic Selling: The Devil You Know...

“Help your prospect realize some problems they are having with their current supplier.”

Back to Basic Selling by Robert F. Taylor, page 72

Have you ever heard yourself tell a store clerk, “I’m just looking” when asked if they could be of assistance? I am sure you have, since this seems to be a knee-jerk response to their question, even if you indeed could use a little…

  — Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »

Publishers Corner

Wanted: Grounding your 2017 Business Plan

The year is all but over.  You have a few short weeks now to develop a very special list of wants. I'm not talking about the holidays, however.

What do you want for your travel practice next year? The question "What do you want" can sometimes be one of the most difficult to answer. It's an odd psychological quirk we often find it far easier to say what we don't want. We have a natural resistance to saying what we want, as though we may sound overly anxious, needy, or capable of jinxing our luck.

Our wants are what pull us forward in life. Our wants motivate us. Instead of being uncomfortable with wanting,…

  — 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!


TRO Webinars: Short video based learning and training webinars from industry experts and suppliers.





Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.

TRO Travel Specials

Travel Merchant Account Experts

Japan's Cherry Blossoms Tour

Qatar Airways 2017 Commissions For All Asia Destinations

Enter Perillo Tours Hawaii Giveaway!

What’s New This Winter

Satisfy any travel taste

The New and Expanded Mississippi River

Shop till you drop deal extended.

Unexpected Maui Nui

Galapagos & Peru – Great Destinations - Amazing rates

Vote For You!

After Touring 80 Countries, Which is Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite?

Is Facebook even worth the time suck?

Make the Choice

We want to present you: Ventus Australis

Discover New Tour Experiences with G Adventures

Holiday Sales and Unpublished Fares

Sell More Europe Tours with this Tool

Book Goway for...

Earn cash rewards with Cash-In Club

Costa Rica Adventure. Earn 10%

Fall in love with our fares + sweet commissions

Your 2017 website can compete with Expedia and here’s how

Fam Opportunity One Time Only Journey To Spiritual Northern India Including The Kalachakra Festival Presided Over By HH The Dalai Lama. Last Chance!

The Group Boot Camp Presentation Date

Escape This Winter to Portugal

Early Bird 2017 for Greece

Yes! We Still Have Room for You

New air revenues for your agency and Travel Institute credits too!

Fabulous Winter Getaway Ideas