Destinations
Adventure Seekers Set Sights on Wild West Iceland
The formerly off-the-tourist-radar Husafell has begun to attract more foreigners, a perhaps inevitable consequence of the overall boom in tourism Iceland has seen in recent years…
— New York Times
In Ukraine, a Radioactive Nuclear Ghost Town near Chernobyl is a Hot Destination
While Ukraine has its own plethora of domed cathedrals, including monasteries with underground caves, thousands of tourists are trekking to this country for a uniquely Soviet experience…
— The Washington Post
A Hidden Gem in Vermont, Grand Isle State Park
As dusk falls over Lake Champlain, the sky on a summer night turns blush pink. The sun sets above the trees that cover the lake’s many shores, reflecting oranges and yellows off lakeside homes. This picturesque view is less than a four-hour drive from Boston, making a majestic camping getaway to Vermont perfectly attainable…
— The Boston Globe
Tours and Activities
10 Underground Attractions In London You Might Not Have Known About
As London's underground Mail Rail is opened to the public for the first time, we unearth 10 more little-known subterranean attractions in the capital…
— Telegraph (London)
Tired of Being a Grown-Up? Need a Break? Try Adult Summer Camp
Camp Rahh has most of the things you might remember from your youth: bunk beds, campfires, kayaking, paintballing, arts and crafts, archery, yoga, horseback riding, dancing, rock-wall climbing and even sneaking out at night to look at the stars…
— Seattle Times
Bank on Summer Fun at Paris' Rives de Seine park
Opened in April, a stretch of riverbank between Pont Neuf and Pont de Sully has been transformed into a pedestrianised, nature-focused eco zone. It follows on the success of the Left Bank’s riverside revival in 2013 creating a vast, 10-hectare playground, criss-crossed by several bridges…
— The Guardian
Cruise
This River is the Hottest Spot to be Right Now
When you’ve done the Danube and meandered down the Mekong, it could be time to set your sights on the Mississippi River. Snaking its way through 10 US states, the world’s fourth-largest river transports cruisers to a bygone era on romantic paddle-wheelers…
— Escape
New Thrill Rides for Independence of the Seas Include a Trampoline Park
Thrill seekers take note: Royal Caribbean International is planning to add a trampoline park, escape rooms and laser tag to its ship Independence of the Seas, which is scheduled to be refurbished…
— Sun Sentinel
Transportation
Family Furious after Child with Lice gets them Kicked off Delta Flight
Clay Travis, a lawyer and FOX Sports analyst from Tennessee, took to his blog on July 17 to lament how his entire family was removed from a Delta flight from Paris to Nashville during a layover in Minneapolis after a flight attendant discovered his six-year-old son had lice…
— AOL
Blockbuster Deal: Delta, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic eye Alliance
Delta Air Lines and partners Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic announced a bold business deal Thursday that the carriers hope will strengthen their position in the lucrative trans-Atlantic market…
— USA Today
Southwest Offering Unique Views of Total Solar Eclipse on Select Flights from Denver
Looking to get a closer view of the total solar eclipse coming up in August? On August 21, Southwest Airlines is offering three flights from Denver International Airport to watch the phenomenon…
— Fox Travel News
Lodging
Boutique Hotels get Smaller and Smaller
These tiny boutique hotels are providing the intimacy and charm of a bed and breakfast without sacrificing the design aesthetic and food and beverage options that draw travelers…
— USA Today
Mandatory Resort Fees Are On The Rise - Again
Mandatory resort fees, tacked onto a hotel bill after an initial price quote - and sometimes even later, - are on the rise again. A total of 1,026 domestic hotels charged a resort fee for the first half of 2017, a 14 percent increase from just six months ago…
— Chicago Tribune
Big Sur's Ventana Resort to Reopen with New Name
Ventana Inn & Spa has been closed since storms weakened the bridge in February. It will reopen this fall as Ventana Big Sur, following a multimillion-dollar “reimagination” of the inn’s 59 guest rooms and its renamed Sur House restaurant...
— San Francisco Chronicle
Other and Odd
Always Keep This In Your Shoe When Travelling
Footwear fails cop the blame for many of our travel troubles. So it’s no wonder so many of the reader tips we receive at Escape relate to smart ways to overcome shoe crises…
— Escape
Can Travel Make You More Creative?
New research suggests travel can increase your levels of creativity and cause an uptick in your mind’s ability to produce positive thoughts, leading you to a happier, more inspired version of you…
— Vogue
Today in History
Miami Incorporated
The City of Miami was incorporated on July 28, 1896. Julia Tuttle, a wealthy widow from Ohio, moved to the southern tip of Florida in 1891 and purchased 640 acres on which to farm…
— Travel Research Online
Point-to-Point
How America Travels
by Kevin Wang
Friday July 28, 2017
The American Society  of Travel Agents (ASTA), the leading organization representing travel agents in the U.S., today released a groundbreaking study that tracks perceptions of American travelers. This year’s wide-ranging study includes reaction to prominent issues like airline regulation and travel bans, collected to help ASTA better advocate for travelers as well as support travel agents as they advise their clients…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Series Part Five: Servicing
 It is now time to put your money where your mouth is. If you have been honest up to this point, you have nothing to fear. You simply deliver the service that was promised, and you do so in a timely fashion.
In addition to answering the phone like you mean it, you must focus on every itinerary like it belongs to a VIP. You must act in haste, as if time was of the essence. You must stay after hours if conditions demand this from the relationship. You must stay in touch with all of your valued clients, and continuously strive for perfection. You must contact your clients regularly to see how you are doing and to see if there is something else you can…
— Travel Research Online
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Soundings
The New Royal Caribbean University
by Susan Schaefer
Friday July 28, 2017
On July 21st, R oyal Caribbean International rolled out their new travel agent training program, Royal Caribbean University. The new program replaced the old University of WOW, which has now been closed. The University of WOW has been around for approximately seven years. Rewards for achieving Expert or Expert Plus include the earned designation on the Find a Travel Agent Locator on the Royal Caribbean website, framable certificates, invitations to Seminars at Sea, and “more.”
Royal Caribbean University (RCU) has two levels of achievement: Bachelors of Adventure, and Masters of Adventure. For each level completed you, can receive 5 CLIA Credits, a certificate of completion, display of your achievement on the Find a Travel Agent Locator, and a digital accolade you can use in your email signature…
— 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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Cartoons
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Multi Channel Marketing
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Using many different channels of marketing to reach your ideal customer. Learn how to use these channels to their fullest and spend your marketing dollars where they will have the greatest impact. Discover how to integrate a Multi Channel approach so that you reach as many prospects & customers as possible. Customization of your marketing message is essential to success.
Register Now ➠
Unique Aussie Rail travel ideas with Goway
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Join Goway and Great Southern Railways to learn all about some unique Aussie Rail travel ideas. Experience the iconic Ghan and Indian Pacific train journeys through the eyes of Libby Cooke, a Great Southern Rail Expert - just back from experiencing these great products and learn about the specific Goway Travel ideas featuring these iconic rail journeys, plus some other great rail themed travel ideas.
Register Now ➠
Small Group Touring through Europe
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Please join us for an informative webinar with Back-Roads Touring Co, a London based Tour Operator specializing in leisurely paced small group escorted tours. Jim Tedesco, VP of Sales-North America at Back-Roads Touring, will explore with you the key selling points of the Back-Roads Touring experience and showcase their newly launched 2018 touring portfolio. With brand new tours across Dubai, Malta, Iceland, Naples, Madeira, and more across the UK being introduced and now on sale, the complete 2018 touring portfolio is one not to be missed. Come learn more and find out why more and more clients are choosing the roads less travelled for their next European touring experience.
Register Now ➠
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