Destinations
36 Hours in the Golden Triangle, Thailand
The once-remote Golden Triangle at the northern tip of Thailand is now a haven for peaceful contemplation in dozens of temples and shrines, from gilded palaces to secret grottoes, where you can meditate to the sound of water dripping on limestone or the chattering of monkeys. One mountain outcropping has become a favorite for passing elephants, who gaze over the mists to Myanmar and Laos beyond…
— New York Times
After the Azure Window: Malta's Many Marvels
The Azure Window, Malta's massive flat-topped sea arch, was the pride of the tiny archipelago nation. Now it only exists in pictures. Paul Bugeja, chief executive of the Malta Tourism Authority, says there are lessons learned from the Window's demise but no shortage of other riches to promote, especially as Malta's capital Valletta prepares to take on the title of European Union Capital of Culture in 2018…
— CNN
Why Sweden’s Second City—Gothenburg—Is a Must-Visit
Sweden’s second-largest city is often overshadowed by the capital, Stockholm. But the popularity of Gothenburg—birthplace of Volvo (and Alicia Vikander), home to Michelin-star restaurants, picturesque architecture, sophisticated bar culture, renowned galleries and art museums, and designer shops—has exploded in the last few years. Being the the second city allows Gothenburg the freedom to be more relaxed than her older sibling, a feeling that’s aided by the refreshing sea air…
— Vogue
Tours and Activities
Best Museum Exhibits in Europe this Spring
If you love to travel, you probably don’t need a reason to book a trip to Europe. The continent’s museums are still coming up with good reasons to get you on a plane. This spring, European venues have an enticing list of temporary exhibits designed to educate and entertain visitors…
— USA Today
Venice mulls ticketing system for St Mark's Square to combat overcrowding
One of the world’s most popular cities for tourists, Venice, is considering charging visitors a fee to enter its most famous attraction. Plans are afoot to introduce a ticketing system to regulate the size of the crowds in St Mark's Square, according to the local press…
— Telegraph (London)
The Best Things to do in New York City Beyond Manhatten
Many of the millions of tourists who come to New York City every year only leave Manhattan to go to or from the airport. But for travelers who want to get a sense of the city the locals live in, exploring New York's other four boroughs is a way to see more of the metropolis -- with the added benefit of much smaller crowds…
— CNN
Cruise
Survey Shows Americans Are Losing Interest in Traveling to Cuba
It’s been a year since the U.S. government eased travel restrictions to Cuba. An annual survey by leading travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance is reporting that Americans are less interested in taking a trip to the country in 2017 than they were in 2016. The 2017 survey showed that 40 percent of Americans would be interested in taking a trip to Cuba (two percent fewer than in 2016) while the easing of travel restrictions made just 26 percent of Americans more interested in visiting the country (nine percent fewer than 2016)…
— CruiseFever.net
New Cruise Port For Earthquake-Damaged Christchurch Draws Mixed Response From Akaroa
A mixed reaction has greeted this week’s announcement of a new port for Christchurch, New Zealand. The Lyttelton Port of Christchurch’s $56 million cruise ship berth, scheduled to be built in time for the 2019-2020 summer season, will replace the wharf that was damaged in the city’s 2011 earthquake…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
On New Planes, American Airlines Will Add Seats and Reduce Space
American Airlines plans to pack more seats on its new planes, reducing the space between rows from 31 to 29 inches in three rows and 30 inches elsewhere in the economy section. The plan, to be introduced on the airline’s new Boeing 737 Max models, would make American the first legacy carrier to creep closest to low-cost competitors like Spirit Airlines, which offers 28 inches of space between seats…
— New York Times
Hydrogen-powered Train could Revolutionize Rail Travel
Plans for the Coradia iLint, a hydrogen-powered, zero-emission train in Germany could revolutionize rail travel. Alstom, the company behind the new trains, says the iLint is the world’s first low-floor passenger train that uses a hydrogen fuel cell to create its electricity. The trains – which are described as 60 percent less noisy than diesel trains and can travel up to 500 miles per day – successfully completed test runs back in March…
— Fox Travel News
Where's my gate? Where's my flight? Here’s how to handle the major airline swap at LAX
And you thought LAX couldn’t get more confusing. The airport’s massive airline relocation that starts May 12 involves almost a third of the LAX carriers, in a swap of gates and terminals that may confound even seasoned travelers. In some situations, flights will check in at one terminal and depart at…
— LA Times
Lodging
Best New Hotels in the US South
Historically, a visit to the American South has evoked a specific romantic image: Guests in wide-brimmed hats sip mint juleps and sweet tea in white rocking chairs beneath weeping willows or among the colonnades of Antebellum and Georgian Revival mansions. Now, that picture is changing as a slew of new chic hotels from Louisiana to the Carolinas are throwing tradition to the wind by embracing a contemporary aesthetic, more urban Bauhaus and mid-century modern than neoclassical…
— CNN
Some of the Best Vacation Lodging is Inside Florida's State Parks
When you're searching for a Florida getaway, you may look in AirBnb, HomeAway, hotels.com or just do a Google search. And it's very likely that none of those places will lead you to one of the best sources of vacation lodging – cabins in Florida state parks. Florida state parks are exceptional – they've been named the best in the nation three times, something no other state park system can claim…
— Sun Sentinel
America’s most luxurious hotel bathrooms
Is there anything quite as relaxing as getting back to your hotel room after a long day of sightseeing and taking a soothing bath? If you’re looking to pamper yourself on your next trip, consider staying at one of these 10 properties across the U.S. that have extraordinarily luxurious bathrooms. You might find it hard to leave the tub…
— USA Today
Other and Odd
For convenience on the road, Airstream's Basecamp offers mystique in a small package
A decade ago, Airstream introduced a small, utilitarian trailer called the Basecamp. The beautiful, streamlined pod turned heads on the highway. Inside, it had no bathroom but the easy-to-clean, minimalist interior was perfect for muddy and sandy gear. Airstream announced that the Basecamp was coming back new. The company introduced an updated version, hoping for a more receptive market.
The 2016 Basecamp (MSRP $34,900) is 16 feet long and weighs in at just 2,585 pounds, the lightest in Airstream's fleet. In October, the first units rolled through the doors of dealerships, and there's been a wait list ever…
— Chicago Tribune
Why You Should Never Travel with your Partner
I see holidays as a sacred, precious time, consisting largely of doing, well, absolutely nothing. A magical world where you can sleep as long as you like, eat as much as you can stomach, be horizontal as often as you choose (preferably on a range of jaunty hammocks hanging between palm trees). Deciding to take a dip in the pool is a momentous decision. I can spend half an hour weighing up the pros and cons of leaving my lounger, because the five or so metres I’ll have to traverse to go for a swim seem like an awfully big investment of my time and energy…
— The Independent
Today in History
The Kent State Shootings
On April 30, 1970, US President Richard Nixon announced the American invasion of Cambodia. Student demonstrators across the country began both peaceful and violent protests on the nation's campuses…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Blog For Great Success
 The Internet is full of great new ways to communicate and form relationships with your customers. While businesses used to rely on email, they can now use forums, social networking sites, RSS feeds, and tons of other means of communication. One great way to talk to your customers and colleagues is through blogging.
While blogging has gained a lot of popularity for social networking and keeping tabs on celebrities, it's also a great way to keep customers up to date on news, products, opinions, and almost anything else. Instead of having to send out bulk email or contact people individually, you can make a quick blog post online and be done. They can include links, products, videos; just about anything you…
— Travel Research Online
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Spotlight
Felipe Castro, North American Sales Director of Australis
by Simone Hasskew
Thursday May 4, 2017
Felipe Castro is the North American Sales Director of Australis, an expedition cruise company specializing in exploring the “end of the world.” Returning to Chile in 2005, he served as the Sales and Customer Service Director for Turismo Cocha, the largest travel agency in Chile. Felipe regards his best achievement as a Commercial Director as being able to participate in the team that developed the Lan Airline project in Peru, consolidating its operations through its subsidiary LANPERU; within the country of Peru, he immensely expanded his strong ties with airlines, tour operators, and travel agencies. Felipe Castro has over 30 years of varied travel industry experience, and was the acting president of the Association of International Airlines of Peru (AETAI) for two consecutive terms; he is also a Commercial Engineer and boasts a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Diego Portales.
— Travel Research Online
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Departures
VISITFLANDERS - The Only Belgian Tourist Representation
by Simone Hasskew
Thursday May 4, 2017
 VISITFLANDERS is a research-driven organization, as well as the only official tourist office for the state of Flanders-Belgium in North America. The office believes that supporting travel agents and tour operation partners is an important part of its success. VISITFLANDERS is also one of the first offices to develop an innovative tablet app just for the travel trade: the FlandersInsider (available in the iOS and Google Play stores and at www.flandersinsider.com)
In 2007 the field of tourism was delegated from the federal to state governments, and at this time the Belgian National Tourist Office was separated into two tourist offices: Flanders and Wallonia, with Wallonia eventually closing their US office in 2016. This is how VISITFLANDERS became the only Belgian tourist representation in North America.
— 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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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Getting Ready for Alaska!
Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
With 30 years of global travel experience, ShoreTrips co-owners Barry and Julie Karp have an intuitive sense of the desires of today's travel savvy audience. They have focused on creating smaller, more personal tours and experiences. ShoreTrips currently offers more than 2,400 excursions and activities in more than 420 cruise ship ports of call and 180 cities throughout the world.
Register Now ➠
All-Inclusive Mexico and Caribbean with Sirenis Hotels & Resorts
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Sirenis Hotels & Resorts boasts three breathtaking all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean and Mexico. Grand Sirenis Matlali Hills Resort & Spa is a boutique luxury hotel with 117 adult only suites located in the hills of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, just 10 minutes from Banderas Bay. Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa is known for its award winning Spa Grand Sirenis, onsite Dolphin Discovery, EcoSirenis nature trails, and exceptional coral reef snorkeling right by the beach. At Sirenis Punta Cana Resort Casino & Aquagames, guests enjoy a variety of fine dining options, a long stretching beach with crystal clear Caribbean Sea water, and free access to the onsite water park, Sirenis Aquagames.
Register Now ➠
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