Destinations
The Ghosts of Turin
Turin at a glance is a grid. The fourth largest city in Italy, it’s distinguished from the others (baroque Rome, wild Naples) by the rigidity of its plan, an inheritance from its origins as a Roman military camp. It’s difficult to get lost here, but also hard to appreciate the particularity of any one area, given its impressively refined sameness. Once the seat of the country’s aristocracy, the Savoys, the city still bears the impress of the family’s stiff, uncompromising dignity. An almost suffocating elegance suffuses it, every orthogonal street a sheer face of mute, balconied 18th-century facades, each wonderfully preserved in a kind of aristocratic amber…
— New York Times
The Japanese City being Hailed as a Hidden Vegan Gem to Rival California
A city roughly the size of Cambridge, Kamakura attracts backpackers with its laid-back vibe and surf scene, and daytrippers with sights like the Daibutsu (a giant bronze Buddha) and the so-called Five Great Zen Temples. At peak times – weekends and Japanese holidays – you'll find yourself jostling with coach-loads of temple-hopping tourists, in which case the best option is to pop into Kencho-Ji (the city's most important temple, with beautifully preserved shrines and wooden gates) before retreating to the beach…
— The Independent
Why Bangkok is Emerging as a Serious Culinary Capital
Think of Bangkok’s gastronomic scene and it’s usually the city’s array of slapdash food stalls that springs to mind. Huge pots ladling out steaming chicken broth, skewers of barbecued meat sold from a portable grill—Thailand's capital is deservedly famous for the devilishly cheap prices and authentic tastes found at such spots. Yet there’s a foodie’s paradise to be discovered that stretches far beyond the rickety plastic stools and exhaust fume–soaked ambience that most tourists associate with snacking on the city's sidewalks. In recent years, Bangkok has emerged as a hub for fine dining establishments, boasting world-class Thai restaurants alongside innovative new additions that serve up anything from molecular Indian dishes to haute German cuisine…
— Vogue
Tours and Activities
This 'Brexit Britain' Tour Costs More than £4,600 and Never Leaves London
Tea, scones, and a trip to the Houses of Parliament for a cool £4,600: that’s the schedule for a new tour of Brexit Britain that doesn’t set foot outside London. The “Brexit Means Brexit!” tour – organised by New York Times Journeys, the US newspaper’s travel arm – promises visitors a six-day trip to the capital with tours and talks to help them understand the UK political situation. It promises to “examine the historic implications of a historic vote.” But the idea has been mocked on social media since the itinerary – which costs a cool $5,995, or £4,642, per head – consists of little more than tours of Westminster and expert lectures in the capital…
— The Independent
Climbing Mount Tai: 6,000 Steps up China's Sacred Mountain
Taishan, or Mount Tai, is China’s most sacred mountain. For centuries, emperors climbed it to pay homage to heaven and earth. Philosopher Confucius is said to have stood at the towering top, looked down and pronounced the world a small place indeed. While it isn’t one of China’s tallest mountains, the way to the top is still a challenge consisting of more than 6,000 stone steps, with the option of taking a cable car halfway. Walking the whole way can take anywhere from three to seven hours…
— The Washington Post
Why Cycling is the Greatest Way to See Britain – and 10 Routes You Must Tackle
As I dragged my tired body up the last climb, each limb straining and aching with every turn of the pedals, the distant rattle of cowbells drew slowly closer. I (slowly) rounded the corner at the crest of the hill, and the source of the rattling appeared. Crowds cheered my arrival, rang their bells, and plastered a smile across my otherwise drained face, while raising my mood - and speed - for the final descent to the finish. I had just tackled 100km (62 miles) of Yorkshire’s finest roads, totting up 6,500 feet of elevation in the process, and I was a broken man. But for the 30 seconds of that final straight, the whistles, shouts and whoops as deafening as they were uplifting, I…
— Telegraph (London)
Cruise
Viking River Cruises Unveils Plans for New Nile Ship
Viking River Cruises on Tuesday revealed details of an intimate new ship it's developing for the Nile River in Egypt. Scheduled to debut in March, the Viking Ra will feature spacious public areas and just 24 cabins — all suites with premium amenities. The new vessel will have an elegant outdoor deck with a pool, two hot tubs and a sanctuary from the sun provided by sculptural, sail-like shades inspired by local dhow ships. Its interior will offer a restaurant, bar, lounge and spa…
— USA Today
What it's Really Like to Go on a Cargo Cruise Around the Med
It wasn’t your average cruise. The ship’s first officer, walking very briskly, showed us to the small, dorm-like room we had been assigned. It had one single bed and a couch that had been made up into a second bed. There was also a desk, a small armoire and a very tight bathroom – all very clean but very modest. We had just boarded a Grimaldi cargo ship to spend five days sailing from Ashdod in Israel to Salerno. Jamie, my boyfriend, looked at me and smiled. We both knew this had been his idea. The trip was a fulfillment of Jamie’s dream and his love of massive industrial things. I was promised that I would have fun, too, but we both knew that my…
— The Independent
Transportation
US Devices Ban 'Likely to be Extended to UK Flights'
"As threats change,” says the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), “so too will TSA’s security requirements”. Reports suggest that those requirements are about to get much tougher for European airline passengers wanting to fly to the US. In March, the Department of Homeland Security rushed out a ban on electronic devices in hand luggage on flights from eight countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Anything bigger than a mobile phone cannot be carried into the cabin of an aircraft flying from Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar and the UAE…
— The Independent
United Passenger Claims Trip was Canceled after Filming Fight over Luggage
The headaches for United Airlines continue with yet another recorded confrontation, but this time a passenger claims the airline canceled his flight for filming a dispute. Navang Oza, 37, said he was checking in Monday for a flight home to San Francisco from New Orleans when he complained to a United Airlines agent about a $300 charge for his luggage. Oza said he paid $125 to check the same bag on the first leg of his trip…
— Fox Travel News
Brightline's Fort Lauderdale Train Station: All aboard for first tour
The new Brightline train station in downtown Fort Lauderdale has given a sneak peek to dozens of South Florida transportation officials. The tours wrapped up a daylong transportation summit at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday. The glass-enclosed second floor of the train station, near the 200 block of W. Broward Boulevard, offered a 360 degree view of the city but there is much work left to do…
— Sun Sentinel
Lodging
Cuba’s New Luxury Hotels Look to Lure Waves of U.S. Tourists
In Havana’s Parque Central, shady stone benches and graceful palm trees beckon to mojito-sipping tourists and locals gathering to shoot the breeze. The gathering spot, in the center of town, is surrounded by horse-drawn carriages and long lines of colorful finned-and-chromed 1950s cars. But more utilitarian vehicles have recently begun circling the square: construction equipment transforming old buildings into luxury hotels…
— New York Times
A Tour of the New Freepoint Hotel Outside of Boston
A college town has gotten a new hotel. The Freepoint Hotel has debuted in Cambridge, Mass. The independent hotel is located in West Cambridge in the Fresh Pond neighborhood. The hotel was erected in the space formerly occupied by the Best Western Plus Hotel Tria, after a multi-million dollar transformation. The hotel joins the Independent Collection, HHM. The 121-room hotel has an open-air atrium and art-centric facade…
— USA Today
Inside the Remote Seaside Resort Celebs Are Flocking To
One of Costalegre’s resorts in particular has been popping up more often in the dazzling, envy-inducing social feeds of models and celebs as of late. It’s called Cuixmala, and though it opened to the public a few years ago, it’s still not widely known outside certain circles. That’s likely because the grand, 13-room hotel is perched high on a cliff above a private, two-mile beach, and has its own airstrip, meaning it is not exactly the kind of place you might just happen by. And, with its own tennis courts, soccer field, horse stables, sea turtle sanctuary, and wildlife reserve (replete with jaguars, zebras, and freshwater crocodiles), it’s also the kind of place that, once checked in, you likely wouldn’t want to leave. No wonder…
— Vogue
Other and Odd
Everything You Need To Know To Get A Passport for A Child
Everyone needs a passport to leave the country, even newborn children. But the process to obtain one for someone under the age of 16 is different than the process for an adult. Here are two major differences: All children under 16 must apply for a passport in person, with a legal guardian. And their passports only last for five years, unlike adult passports, which are good for 10 years. Even if your child already has a passport, be sure to check the expiration date of both yours and theirs before you plan a trip…
— The Huffington Post
Why the Internet Hasn't Put Travel Agents Out of Work
Americans are ambivalent when it comes to getting away. In 2015, they left 658 million vacation days on the table, according to Project: Time Off, an organization dedicated to promoting the health and economic benefits of vacationing. And yet, when we do manage to get out of the house, we’re splurging more. On average, Americans say they expect to spend 10 percent more on leisure travel in 2017 compared with 2015, according to the State of the American Traveler Survey by Destination Analysts. With so little vacation time and so much money at stake, the pressure is on to make every moment count. Maybe that’s why the use of travel professionals jumped more than 50 percent between 2013 and 2016…
— The Boston Globe
Today in History
J. Edgar Hoover
On May 10, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge appointed J. Edgar Hoover as the director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI…
— Travel Research Online
Point-to-Point
The 10% Rule – Put Your Future in the Bank!
by Anita Pagliasso
Wednesday May 10, 2017
Financial couns elors always advise taking 10% off the top of your salary and putting it in a savings account for the future. I use this same theory to invest in securing my client’s future business. By providing an unexpected added value, you are showing your appreciation for their business that will develop into a stronger client relationship with all of the loyalties that follow.
Sample calculation using the 10%…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Supplier Profile
Get Into the Show with Events365
 If you’re looking for event tickets on behalf of clients, look no further: Events 365 has you covered! Powered by Ticket Evolution, Events 365 makes it ultra-convenient for travel consultants to start tapping into inventory of more than 80,000 events worldwide.
Boasting over $2 billion worth of event tickets, Events 365 gives travel consultants access to an array of activities ranging from major sporting events, concerts and festivals, theatre and family events, and more. Even the…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Effective Ways to Use Email Marketing
 Most travel professionals today use email to some extent in the daily workings of their company or business life. It has proven to be an effective and cost-efficient way to keep in touch with both prospects and clients. However, many agents have failed to realize the marketing potential they have at their fingertips when it comes to email. You can do much more with email than just send an invoice or newsletter referencing the next team trip. Let’s consider some of the other ways email can be used from a marketing standpoint.
* Launching new services. This is definitely something you want to keep your clients up to date on. By sending out an email a few weeks ahead of a launch date, you could start…
— 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 ➠
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