Destinations
Uluru's Waterfalls: The Side only 1% of Visitors See
it’s estimated that only 1 per cent of visitors see Uluru in the rain. This region is one of the driest in Australia, experiencing extremities ranging from as high as 47 degrees in the daytime to below zero at night. When it does rain – a grand total of, on average, 300mm per year – water pours off the rock, creating spectacular waterfalls that most tourists seldom see…
— The Independent
The Bubbly Made in Zncient Italian Undergrounds
Franciacorta is Italy’s most unspoiled, elite wine paradise. Forget overrated, mass-produced Prosecco – and even Champagne. This heavenly patch of fertile land, 30km northwest of Brescia, makes a bubbly that’s perhaps even more prestigious than the iconic French drop…
— BBC
The Quiet Artistry of Tiverton, R.I.
Smack in the middle of the Farmcoast, the town’s idyllic winding Main Road and historic Four Corners district hides some terrific little galleries, boutiques, studios, and coffeehouses — not to mention farm cheese and ice cream to buckle your knees. About an hour south of Boston, it makes for a quaint off-the-beaten-path day trip…
— Boston Globe
Tours and Activities
America's Best Small Town Theme Parks to Visit This Summer
If you’re looking for a theme park experience this summer without the commercial feel, check out these standalone parks across the U.S. that are truly one-of-a-kind-- and also easy on the wallet…
— Fox Travel News
The Grove Resort and Spa Breaks Ground on New Surfari Water Park
The resort, located only minutes from the gates of Walt Disney World has just broke ground on Surfari Water Park. The park will feature dual Flow Rider surf machines, two-story water slides, a kids area and an interactive water structure…
— Inside The Magic
5 Things to Do in Chicago this Weekend
From getting crafty with your brews for Chicago Craft Beer Week to getting your groove on at the zoo, here's what we're up to this weekend…
— Chicago Tribune
Cruise
Cool Cruises Around Iceland
A summer cruise around Iceland is an ideal way to appreciate the country’s landscape, which includes geysers, waterfalls and glaciers. Diane Eide, an Iceland specialist at Travel Experts, said such a trip was “a convenient way to see much of the country because driving from place to place takes a lot of time.” An Iceland cruise is also relatively affordable, with good values to be had between June and September…
— New York Times
Cruising the Antarctic Peninsula Amid Frazils, Growlers, and Bergs
The sea ice has several lively names, depending on size and consistency: frazil, pancake, growler, berg. Right now, we’re concerned with the bergs, which hide their dangerous mass beneath the water’s surface. They decide where we will go…
— Boston Globe
Transportation
Southwest Airlines says Hawaii Flights Are a 'Priority'
Southwest Airlines is getting closer to adding Hawaii flights, a vacation destination travelers have been begging the nation's largest domestic airline to add for years. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, in Phoenix on Wednesday for Southwest's annual shareholders meeting, said flights to Hawaii are a high priority for the airline…
— USA Today
Chinese Fighters Buzz U.S. Surveillance Plane, Underlining Strategic Mistrust
Two Chinese fighter jets have buzzed a U.S. spy plane that sniffs out nuclear radiation while flying over the East China Sea, underlining Beijing’s discomfort with American surveillance in its neighborhood. The incident, reported Friday, also comes amid disagreement between the two countries on how to confront the nuclear and missile programs of North Korea, which depends on China as its main economic lifeline…
— The Washington Post
Air-traffic Controllers to Work 80 miles Away from the Airport
London City is to become the first airport in Britain without a staffed air-traffic control tower. From 2019, pilots using the Docklands airport will be directed by staff based 80 miles away in rural Hampshire. And the airport says moving the eyes on the skies to a remote location will make flying safer and more efficient…
— The Independent
Lodging
Dubai Unveils Plans For Marsa Al Arab, A $1.7 Billion Island Resort
Dubai plans to develop a $1.7 billion tourist resort on two man-made islands it will build either side of the Burj Al Arab, its luxury sail-shaped hotel. It is the latest development planned by the emirate as it aims to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2020, when Dubai will host the World Expo 2020 exhibition…
— The Huffington Post
Trump's Doral Resort loses Property Tax Appeal
President Donald Trump won’t get a property tax break on his Doral golf resort, according to a ruling from Miami-Dade County released Thursday. Trump National Doral for the fifth year in a row appealed its property tax assessment to try to trim a nearly $1.8 million, 2016 tax bill for the 643-room resort and spa that features the famed Blue Monster golf course…
— Sun Sentinel
12 Incredible Tree Houses You Can Spend the Night In
High-end treehouse accommodations, like those seen in the popular television series Treehouse Masters, have taken the luxury camping industry to new heights — literally. And these sky-high, amenity-filled oases aren’t merely accessible through cable television…
— The Huffington Post
Other and Odd
What White House Correspondents Pack
Packing to cover a nine-day presidential trip with stops in four countries — Saudi Arabia, Israel, Belgium and Italy — is a bit more complicated than packing for your typical family vacation. So what are White House correspondents Peter Baker, Mark Landler and I taking with us when we accompany President Trump on his first official foreign trip?…
— New York Times
A Step by Step Guide To Travelling Under the Laptop Ban
What should you expect if your travel plans are caught up in the ban? In a nutshell: professional handling of electronics by the airline, though it doesn’t fully temper the paranoia and boredom of being separated from expensive, integral gear…
— The Independent
Today in History
Lawrence of Arabia Dies
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as "Lawrence of Arabia" died on this day in 1935 at the age of 46 from a motorcycle accident near Dorset, England…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Know Your Value
by Stacey Ray
Friday May 19, 2017
What value do you, as a travel agent, bring to your client? Is the value you offer, the value the client wants? What we mean by this is that some clients want you to provide them with the absolute best pricing available - that's their definition of value. Others want true value - the best experience that their budget will allow.
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Building Unstoppable Confidence
Confidence -- many of us long to be more outgoing, more secure within ourselves, and simply more confident all around. If you currently don’t perceive yourself as a confident person or wish to develop more confidence, you’ll be pleased to learn that confidence is something which can be built.
Here are a few tips for building unstoppable…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Soundings
Holland America Going More In-depth with Exploration Central
by Susan Schaefer Friday May 19, 2017
“Those who see the world better understand the world; and when we better understand the world we can gain insights into ourselves and personally experience the transformative effects of travel. EXC is going to show our guests the world in a whole new way and enable them to engage in truly meaningful experiences.” Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line
Initially announced in December 2016, Holland America has released more information about their new Exploration Central concept as it premiers on the ms Westerdam in a few days. Exploration Central, or EXC for short, will be rolled out fleet wide by the end of…
— 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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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Find the Ungoogleable!
Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Find the Ungoogleable!
Register Now ➠
Goway's Germany
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Join Goway Travel as they take you on a journey of Germany. Discover more about this popular destination and learn how Goway can assist you in getting your clients getting beyond the gateway cities.
Register Now ➠
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