Destinations
Five Places to Go in Montreal
Visitors to the Petite-Patrie neighborhood northwest of Montreal’s city center previously had little reason to venture beyond the Marché Jean-Talon, a popular food market stocked with local bounty…
— New York Times
Surf, Sambal, and Safari: The Insider's Guide to Sri Lanka
Truly great destinations have a well-roundedness that’s rare, like the annoyingly gifted straight-A student who’s also a star athlete, visionary artist, and genuinely likable human being…
— Vogue

Tours and Activities
The 50 best art, food and culture holidays for 2017
Culture is at the heart of any destination. So whether it’s sampling prosecco and learning how to make tortellini in the foothills of the Dolomites or watching the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra…
— Telegraph (London)
Environmentalists slam Nickelodeon's proposed underwater theme park
SpongeBob Squarepants may live in a pineapple under the sea but environmentalists in the Philippines are fighting to keep the beloved cartoon out of their oceans…
— Fox Travel News
A 'Golden Girls' Cafe Is Opening in NYC
Fans of the sharp-tongued Golden Girls should start packing their bags for New York City: A cafe dedicated entirely to the long-running, much-loved TV show is set to open in Manhattan's Washington Heights…
— Condé Nast Traveler

Cruise
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Will Cruise French Polynesia
Beginning in March 2018, Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Orion will sail a variety of one- and two-week itineraries to the South Pacific and French Polynesia, with stops in Fiji, the Cook Islands, Easter Island and more…
— CruiseCritic.com
Six of the Best: European river cruises
Explore gorgeous Bavarian towns off the beaten track and culinary excursions led by chefs…
— Traveller

Transportation
United: Final Boeing 747 flight will come by end of 2017
United Airlines is accelerating the retirement of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets, saying its last flight on the “Queen of the Skies” will now come this year. Previously, United said its 747s would be phased out by the end of 2018…
— USA Today
An expert explains how airports can stop shootings like Fort Lauderdale
For the loved ones of the five people gunned down at Fort Lauderdale airport, 6 January 2017 will be the most painful of dates…
— The Independent

Lodging
The 5 Most Extravagant Hotel Experiences In The World
Talk about #travelgoals. From your own personal submarine to on-demand fireworks, we’ve rounded up the world’s most over-the-top hotel experiences…
— The Huffington Post
22 cool new hotels for your wishlist
Opening late 2017. Bricks and mortar are so last century. These days, tents are at the cutting edge of the luxury accommodation scene…
— Escape

Other and Odd
Russia Might Ban Cigarettes for Everyone Born After 2014
Russia is considering major steps to make sure its citizens do not become smokers. The Russian Health Ministry this week proposed a ban on selling cigarettes to people born after 2014…
— Travel Leisure
You Can Buy Carrie Fisher's Passport
After Carrie Fisher's death on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60, fans, peers, and family of the actress, author, mental health advocate, and humorist, mourned her, and remembered her many roles…
— Condé Nast Traveler
How to Take Great Vacation Photos
You could lose the souvenirs you buy when you go on vacation, but the pictures you take from your trips will last forever, says the travel photographer Natalie Amrossi…
— New York Times
Today in History
The First Woman Elected to the US Senate
On January 12, 1932, the state of Arkansas elected Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway in a special election to the United States Senate, making her the first woman elected to the Senate…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Niche Marketing
A business lesson that is hard to come to terms with is the fact (the truth) that you can’t be all things to all people. You can try. You can even succeed at times, but in the long run, you will be shooting yourself in the foot.
To become exceptional at what you do and thereby distance yourself from the competition, you must become very good, very knowledgeable, and very focused on your chosen subject matter.
Generalists compete on price. Specialists compete on total job…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Supplier Profile
Travel The American Rivers in Style with American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines, the largest cruise line in the U.S., leads the way with more than 35, elegant 4 to 21 night itineraries visiting the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, New England, the Southeast, and the Mississippi River. The line is committed to continuous growth through an innovative shipbuilding program that elevates the standard of cruising in America.
The companies new ship design, creates intimate atmospheres for guests looking to receive the attentive and personalized service that is…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Deck Plans
Princess Cruises: Largest Alaska Deployment Ever in 2018
Princess Cruis es is bringing its largest Alaska deployment ever in 2018, which goes on sale December 1. In summer 2018, seven Princess Cruises ships will sail Alaska’s pristine waters on 130 cruise departures, with more than 75 percent of all voyages sailing to Glacier Bay National Park, departing from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier). In addition, Princess has more than 22 cruise tour options, providing guests the opportunity to journey into the interior of Alaska and visiting five custom-built Princess Wilderness Lodges.
New for 2018, Island Princess will feature a full season of calls to Icy Strait Point, a unique and remote wilderness experience, on every seven-day northbound Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary. Also new for 2018, guests looking to cruise round-trip from Los Angeles can choose from two 12-day cruises.
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Departures
Sky Bird Travel Celebrates 40 Years in the Travel Business
by Richard Earls Tuesday November 08, 2016
It’s October 20th, and I find myself in Dearborn, Michigan. It has been a long time since I was last in Dearborn. I’m wearing a tuxedo; it has been a longer time since I last wore a tuxedo. I’m here at the amazing Henry Ford Museum to celebrate Sky Bird Travel’s 40th year in the travel industry in 2016. The company has sponsored a gala, a black tie dinner to appreciate its friends and customers, and the evening is nothing if not spectacular. Surrounded by authentic aircraft of decades ago in the museum’s “Heroes of the Sky” aviation section, an Indian ensemble plays on traditional instruments. Everyone is mixing and, while it is apparent many know each other from years of business…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Luxury Travel Tips
How were your first quarter sales?
by Dan Chappelle Thursday January 12, 2017
As we come off the holidays and kick off the new year, I want to ask you something: “How were your sales in Q1?” You are probably thinking, “What the heck is he smoking? We're just now starting our first quarter.” Let me qualify the question.
Most businesses operate using one of two calendars. The first is obviously a calendar year, January – December. The second, used primarily for accounting purposes, is a fiscal year, which will vary depending on the company. Most of us are familiar with these two, but if you have followed me for any length of time, you know there is a third year. The one I use, which has been instrumental to my success selling travel, is what I call the…
— 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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