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Tuesday May 30, 2017

Destinations

The Last Troglodytes of Iran
Iran's ancient village of Maymand, located around 900km south of the capital Tehran, is littered with troglodytic dwellings ‒ cavernous, underground homes carved out of soft rock. Stone engravings found at the site are estimated to be more than 10,000 years old. A Unesco World Heritage Site, Maymand is said to have been inhabited continuously for more than 2,000 years…

The 10 Best Places to Picnic in the West
There's just one rule for picnics: They must be outdoors, and eating inside your car doesn't count. One can quibble over the menu — melon gazpacho or PB and J sandwiches? — but it's the setting that sets the mood and creates memories that can last a lifetime…

Eigg, Britain’s Most Eco-Friendly Island
There’s something particularly satisfying about observing an island from the summit of its very own mountain. As we stood at the top of An Sgùrr, the only peak on Eigg worthy of the name (and, for gatherers of arcane facts, the largest pitchstone ridge in Europe), we gazed over the sheer cliffs at a land turned a warm russet by seas of dormant bracken and heather…

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Tours and Activities

Mount Toubkal: How to Climb North Africa's Highest Mountain in a Weekend
The tour I’ve joined, Climb Mount Toubkal and Explore Marrakech, requires two days away from your desk. There’s the chance to snoop around the souks and mosques of Morocco’s most famous city on the Friday, before staying at a traditional riad and striking out for the mountain on Saturday morning…

Orlando’s Not the Only Hot Spot — Theme Park Fun Around U.S.
Orlando, Florida, often gets the spotlight when it comes to theme parks. This year is no exception with the openings of Disney World’s Pandora-World of Avatar and Universal’s Volcano Bay water park. But plenty of new attractions are opening elsewhere, from interactive rides that offer different experiences each time you go, to new parks in Alabama and North Carolina…

This is What a $90 Million Water Fountain Looks Like
Dancing fountains have been the subject of garden theater for hundreds of years, but the arrival of Longwood's Main Fountain Garden and its first illuminated public show promises a display that Europe's old ruling grandees could not have imagined but no doubt would have loved…

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Cruise

Cruise advice: What To Do on Days at Sea on a Repositioning Cruise
With a five-day ocean crossing scheduled for the second week of ours, we learned after coming aboard that rerouting to avoid Cyclone Cook would give us even more time at sea – three consecutive days before we reached the first port. Are long stretches at sea a problem? I was going to find…

Ponant's 'Blue Eye' Underwater Lounge to Feature Vibrating Sofas and Hydrophone Sound System on Four New Cruise Ships
Is this the most exciting new feature for a cruise ship? While other cruise lines launch onboard versions of amenities and attractions found on land, Ponant has designed a venue that heightens the experience of the ocean -- an underwater lounge that allows passengers to see, hear and virtually feel the passing marine life of the deep sea…

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Transportation

United Airlines President Says If You're Uncomfortable In Coach, It's Your Own Fault
Skift managed to get wind of this thoughts from a recent town hall meeting with employees. I fear you may find some of his sentiments a bit of a drag. Kirby mused this on the subject of coach seats having little to no legroom -- sometimes, the closest measure of this is called seat pitch…

Direct Flights from London to Sydney Could Be a Thing in Five Years
As the fare for its first non-stop flight between the UK and Australia rises towards £2,000 return, Qantas is contemplating pushing the boundaries even further – and seriously considering connections from London to Melbourne and Sydney…

Worst Airports for Summer
Even without the snow and inclimate weather, summertime is no picnic for busy travelers. Some delays are inevitable but it turns out several airports perform a lot worse than others during this busy travel season…

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Lodging

Hot Hotels Across Canada: New and Renovated Properties from Victoria to Halifax
Hotel options across Canada are growing almost daily — great news for Canadians who want to vacation at home this year. Plus, new and renovated properties from Victoria to Halifax…

10 Of The World's Best Desert Hotels
When you think of beautiful and luxurious getaways, islands and beaches are often the first places that spring to mind. But desert landscapes offer equally dazzling views, a heightened sense of adventure -- and a decidedly less clichéd experience…

Hotels, Feeling the Pinch of Airbnb, Promote Local Experiences
Travelers can now sign up through hotels and tour operators for experiences arranged by locals. The latest to join the trend are Marriott International, which recently took a stake in PlacePass, the tour- and activity-booking start-up, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, which just introduced GoBe, a seller of land-based tours and activities…

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Other and Odd

Best Way to Sleep on a Red-Eye Flight in Economy
Ah the dreaded red-eye. No matter how often you fly or how much of an experienced traveller you are, a long haul red eye-flight in economy is never going to be high on anyone’s wish list…

Travel Bloggers: Money-saving Tips all Travelers Should Try
We've assembled an expert panel of travel bloggers to share their best advice to help you travel smarter, safer and more economically. This month’s query: Name one important money-saving tip you’d tell all travelers to try…

Today in History

The Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on this date in 1922. In 1867, only two years after his assassination, the US Congress authorized the Lincoln Monument Association to build a memorial to Lincoln…

Press Releases of Interest

Celestyal Cruises Launches New Website
Celestyal Cruises, announces the launch of its new website. Created to provide the best-possible user experience, the redesigned site, now compatible with all browsers and mobile devices, offers visitors a faster, simpler booking process and a comprehensive introduction to the company’s cruises, services and unique selling points…

Mike's Morning Missives

When Was The Last Time You Got Jammed Up?

This phrase hit me like a ton of bricks as I was watching the TV show Blue Bloods.

The detective (the commissioner’s son) made a decision that he knew was a step or two “out of bounds.” When he was called into explain himself, life became very uncomfortable for the detective. He knew what was coming. He braced himself for an unpleasant tongue-lashing. The “s*(&” was about to hit the…

  — Travel Research Online
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60-Second Geography

See The Sights In Suzhou With Stunning China
by Simone Hasskew
Tuesday May 30, 2017

Suzhou, the second largest city in the Jiangsu Province of East China, contains over 2,500 years worth of history in several forms. Known primarily for the extensive gardens and beautiful scenery, Suzhou is located Northwest of Shanghai. Often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China" due to its canals, it has grown to be one of the most popular destinations in China.

Thanks to Stunning China, the supplier sponsor of this column, you can use this 60-Second Geography article in your own travel agency’s newsletters and…

  — Travel Research Online
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Outposts

Explore New Caledonia's Natural Beauty with Aircalin
by Simone Hasskew
Tuesday May 30, 2017

New Caledonia, a South Pacific archipelago with a total land area of more than 6,900 miles, is known mainly for its vast and varied environment, not to mention its beautiful lagoon and mixed culture. Acting as a refugium due to its isolated location, New Caledonia is home to an array of species of plants and animals unique to the world. Part of the Melanesian subregion and including multiple islands within its collective, New Caledonia has much to offer the traveler with an interest in the outdoors. With headquarters settled in New Caledonia's capitol of Nouméa, Aircalin won't let you miss out on a chance to see the alluring terrain of New Caledonia.

  — 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!


Upcoming Training Opportunities


TRUEYou – What’s in it for You?

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Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT

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Scenic – What’s New for 2018

Scenic – What’s New for 2018

Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT

At Scenic, when we say all-inclusive, that’s what we mean. Learn more about Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ 2018 all-inclusive river cruise offerings. From transfers and gratuities, exclusive Enrich, Freechoice and Tailormade excursions and even the mini-bar in our cabins, your clients won’t have to worry about money at all.

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