Destinations
Haiti Tourism: How This Beautiful Caribbean Country Aims to Attract More Travellers
It’s been seven years since an earthquake brought this culturally rich but economically impoverished Caribbean nation to its knees. Still wearing the scars from that disaster, the country is now picking itself up from another. But after a year of political paralysis as elections stalled and an interim government was drafted, new President Jovenel Moïse, is finally in place. Amongst the government’s top priorities? Developing a thriving tourism industry…
— The Independent
Back to the future on the Cook Islands
It was a quiet afternoon on Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, when Lydia Nga got the news. Overnight her homeland, 15 Polynesian islands west of Tahiti, a paradise smaller than Detroit, had grown exponentially, reborn as a 690,000 square-mile nation. But it wasn't the islands that grew. In 1982, the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruled that coastal nations had jurisdiction over an "exclusive economic zone," defined as a 200-mile stretch of ocean measured from the shoreline. Most countries welcomed the idea. But for a tiny nation like the Cooks, population 15,000, it was a Cinderella promise…
— Miami Herald
The islands of Haida Gwaii are Canada’s answer to the Galapagos
It's been heralded as the Canadian Galapagos and, after Prince William and Kate Middleton visited last September, Haida Gwaii has been popping up in more and more news feeds of intrepid travellers attracted by its almost mythical appeal. A little-known utopia 700km northwest of Vancouver in British Columbia, Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) is made up of more than 150 islands but only two are developed…
— Escape
Tours and Activities
At South Carolina’s only national park, paddle through some of the country’s oldest trees
These 11,000 acres have evaded the ax and plow since large-scale logging started in the 1880s, obliterating up to 50 million acres of American forest within five decades. Ancient trees fell along coasts and major rivers. Here in the vast, tangled wetlands of Central South Carolina, logging was more trouble than it was worth. So these giants stood, mostly forgotten, until the 1950s, when journalist and conservationist Harry Hampton recognized the value of the remaining old growth and worked to preserve it. In the 1970s, when the threat of logging loomed anew, a public campaign led to the establishment of Congaree Swamp National Monument, named after the Congaree River that winds through the park…
— The Washington Post
Albania: Tales of Heroism on the Second World War's Forgotten Battleground
At the top of a steep meadow stood the crumbling remains of an old sheep pen. In the valley below, cooking smoke rose above the slate-tiled roofs of a village, and a light breeze carried the sound of wheat being hand-scythed. Rushing headwaters glinted in the sun where the Shkumbin river wound through the valley and disappeared around a bend. It was hard to imagine these mountains in eastern Albania being anything other than serene. But this, I discovered, was the very spot where Brigadier Edmund “Trotsky” Davies, who was leading Special Operations in Albania against the occupying Germans, was captured in 1944…
— Telegraph (London)
New Times Square attraction Gulliver's Gate Depicts the World in Miniature
One of the Big Apple's newest attractions is on the small side. Gulliver's Gate is a miniature world depicting hundreds of landmarks, settings and events – from the mundane to the monumental – in 49,000 square feet of indoor space near Times Square…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
Azamara Announces Additional Cruises to Cuba
Azamara Club Cruises has added an additional four sailings to Cuba. Departing from Miami, the sailings feature overnights in Havana, as well as visits to two maiden ports of call – Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Azamara has created a variety of unique people-to-people shore excursions in Cuba. Travelers can enjoy the destination from sunup to sundown – exploring historic sites by day, followed by mojitos and sultry Cuban music in the evening…
— Cruisefever.net
Weight Watchers takes to the deep seas: Caribbean Cruise takes Balanced Approach, ‘not slim-down camp’
In early May, Weight Watchers International is hosting a seven-night, wellness-themed Caribbean cruise aboard the 4,300-passenger MSC Divina, sailing from Miami. Yes, a company dedicated to weight loss is joining forces with a purveyor of expansive buffets to offer cruising as a viable vacation for those aiming to shed pounds. As Weight Watchers transforms from a pure weight-loss enterprise into a health-and-wellness company, the idea of embarking on its first cruise was a logical thing to do, said Ryan Nathan, the company’s vice president of products, licensing, and…
— Vancouver Sun
Transportation
American Airlines adds regional flights in Charlotte
American is bolstering its American Eagle regional network in Charlotte with new routes to small and midsize markets that will begin this summer. The carrier will launch year-round service to Toledo, Ohio, and Shreveport, La., starting Aug. 22…
— USA Today
7 Best Airlines for Customer Service
In the wake of a terrible month for airlines and their reputations, we remember brighter moments of great customer service in the air. Want your next flight to go as smoothly as possible? You may want to be flying one of these…
— The Independent
Kenya: Train's Last Trip to Mombasa Marks the End of an Era
We are travelling to Mombasa on what is the last Mombasa-Nairobi passenger train before the much-publicised Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) starts operating and reduces the 13-hour journey from Nairobi to Mombasa by more than half. For Ms Kalume, the end of this chapter in Kenya's history is akin to losing a close friend. After that first train ride in 1952, she was sold. Year after year -- even as the railways changed management and the coaches fell into disrepair and water disappeared from the night table -- she looked the other way and remembered her maiden ride…
— All Africa
Lodging
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort gets B-T OK for work
A list of renovations at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has passed muster with the company’s Bridger-Teton National Forest landlord, setting the stage for construction to begin this summer. Headlining the list of projects included in the resort’s “phase 2” recreation plans are a nearly 2-mile zip line, a larger Corbet’s Cabin and an all-new “race arena.” But the project that ski area managers plan to first break ground on is a new Mountain Sports School facility, which will be located adjacent to the midstation of the Sweetwater Gondola…
— Jackson Hole News
Oman Spa Break: The Chedi Muscat
The Chedi Muscat is a luxury resort that offers a 21-acre tranquil haven in the centre of Oman, with Far Eastern-inspired spa treatments, sophisticated dining and a private beach. Striking architecture – the hotel still looks impressively fresh and modern despite opening in 2003 – is complemented by tasteful Middle Eastern design touches: there's no “Oriental pastiche” feel here. Relaxation – without contrived wellbeing programmes – is a focus. In the spa, the 13 large treatment suites stand out…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
Los Angeles Launches Campaign to Welcome Overseas Visitors
America’s second largest city has rolled out a massive human-powered welcome mat to aircraft landing in Los Angeles, including a Virgin Australia flight. Passengers on board VA23 were among thousands of travellers treated to the Discover LA stunt, comprising a thousand Angelenos holding up placards spelling out the word welcome in four languages…
— Escape
Five Business Travel Tips to Help You Maximise Your On-The-Go and In-The-Air Productivity
Getting your ducks in a row when travelling can be the difference between a trip to remember, and a travel nightmare I think it was my high school teacher that told me: if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. That’s stuck with me ever since, so now when I’m travelling I look for as many productivity hacks as possible. It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling for business, leisure, or both: productivity is key to the success of the trip…
— Dynamic Business
Today in History
The Destruction of Saint-Pierre, Martinique
On May 8, 1902, Mount Pelee, a volcano in Saint-Pierre, Martinique erupted. Hot, caustic volcanic gases and dust poured from the mountainside, covering the small city of approximately 30,000…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Central Holidays Announces the Appointment of Industry Specialist Margie Bell, CTC, to the Post of National Sales Manager
Central Holidays today announced the appointment of travel industry sales specialist Margie Bell to the position of national sales manager for the leading travel provider. Bell joins Central Holidays with 40 years of experience in the travel industry, including strategic sales roles as well as hands-on agency management with well-known travel companies including the IsramWorld Portfolio of Brands and the Hong Kong Tourism Board…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Are you inadvertently screwing up your business?
by John Frenaye
Monday May 08, 2017
Customer servic e will kill you. Well, let me be more specific…poor customer service will kill you. I am a patient guy for the most part. I realize that we are all busy and sometimes thing slip through. But sometimes my patience runs thin and any size screw-up can send me off vowing to never shop or patronize a place again. The tough part is knowing when I have had enough. Here are three ways you might be sabotaging your own business. Let me explain.
Miss Your Deadline
Last week I attended a fancy fundraiser for our local hospital. I also needed a new suit, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I bought the suit and arranged for alterations. When the day came to…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
The Importance of Seeing The “Big” Picture
 When you’re starting a business, seeing the “big” picture is important. Many travel entrepreneurs have stated that had they known about the small details in their business, they may not have started it in the first place. This is because many of us get bogged down by all the small details, and often these small inconveniences can put us off from starting something new.
For those of you new to the travel industry, (and you old timers too), here are a few tips to help you stay focused on the “big”…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
The Marketing Mindset
by Richard Earls
Sunday May 07, 2017
If you are a tr avel planner, marketing is by necessity your constant companion. Too often, however, travel professionals treat marketing like a hand tool that is pulled out of the box only when sales are "needed," when business seems a little slow. But effective marketing is a mindset, a constant preoccupation for the successful travel agent intent on growing their business.
As I have often said in this column, marketing drives sales. The marketing you do today may not have an effect for weeks or even months. Business a bit quiet right now? Want this time next year to look better? It's a good idea to begin marketing more thoughtfully and consistently. Now.
Marketing is…
— Travel Research Online
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One-to-One Interviews
Tammy Levent, CEO of Elite Travel and ABC's Resident Travel Expert
 CEO of Elite Travel, business strategist, and Resident Travel Expert for ABC's featured show Tampa Bay's Morning Blend are just a few of the titles that Tammy Levent claims. She is an immensely successful entrepreneur, having started her first business as a teenager. Tammy conducts seminars and events to get her message of strategic partnerships to large audiences; she also offers private consulting to help other business owners and entrepreneurs grow. Travel is Tammy's passion, so in the face of hardship she decided to jump into the industry and make good out of the bad; it was then that she built Elite Travel, a travel management company that has done millions in traveled business. Now over…
— 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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