Destinations
Forget Narcos, Medellin has had a Cultural Makeover
An audacious regeneration plan has transformed Medellin into a city that seems at ease with itself – open and…
— The Independent
Thinking of Visiting Tibet? Amdo is One of the Best Places for First-Timers.
One of the best places to do that for first-time visitors to Tibetan areas is in Amdo, one of Tibet’s three main kingdoms. Today, Amdo includes parts of the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, and slivers of Sichuan, similar to the way New England comprises a region of six states in America…
— The Washington Post
The German City that Looks Like it Belongs in Italy
Germany’s third biggest conurbation and a blur of 1.5 million people it may be – but Munich is also an antithesis of the country’s stereotypical image as a slab of bratwurst, bracing winters, and a festival – running this year between September 16 and October 3 – dedicated to the drinking of beer…
— Telegraph (London)
Tours and Activities
Inside China's New UNESCO Heritage Site
Off the coast of Xiamen, in southeast China's Fujian province, Kulangsu (also known as Gulangyu) is not exactly your average Chinese village. As of July, China's "Piano Island" -- so named for its piano music and musical prodigies -- is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, chosen in the committee's 41st session…
— CNN
Where's the Party? Depends on Whether you Want your Halloween Sweet or Scary
From cute pumpkin figures and trick-or-treating to chainsaws and Brain Eaters, Halloween events at Florida’s theme parks cover the full sweetness-to-horror spectrum…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
Elite Cruise Ship Spends $10K on Caviar for One Night
Cruises can be polarizing – some people find weeks at sea to be liberating, others find having to spend every day aboard the same moving platform to be confining. The Smithsonian Channel has set out to end the conflict by creating a show that depicts what the high life means on the high seas…
— Fox Travel News
Zadar Not to Limit Number of Cruise Ships Any Time Soon
As every cruise ship passenger is a welcome guest in Zadar, the city intends to raise the number of arrivals from this year's 130,000 to the desired 170,000 in 2018…
— Total Croatia News
Transportation
Harvey: More Houston Flights on Friday, but Normal is a Long Way Off
Flight schedules were slowly resuming in Houston on Friday, but it could take weeks until the city's two busy airports are back to normal schedules. Overall, more than 11,300 flights have been canceled nationwide since Harvey first began affecting flights last Friday (Aug. 25)…
— USA Today
Delta Pilots may have Incentive to Fly Airline's Louder, Older Planes
For the young pilots that don’t mind, the route to promotion is perhaps closer than ever before. Less pilots wanting to sit in the MD-88 cockpit means more opportunities for younger pilots to captain those planes, rather than simply serving as a first officer…
— Fox Travel News
Southwest to Add Non-Stop Flights Between New Orleans and Cancun
Southwest Airlines will start offering non-stop flights next year between New Orleans and Cancun, Mexico, according to a news release issued Monday (Aug. 28). The new flight offering begins April 14, 2018…
— NOLA.com
Lodging
Looking for a London Vacation Rental? We Tried the Plum Guide
Every home rental company touts a distinguishing feature. The Plum Guide’s is the stringent testing process that a hospitality expert conducts on each home before that property is accepted to the site…
— New York Times
September Roundup of Notable Renovated Hotels
The hotel industry is thriving, with new properties popping up all over the USA. As a result, existing properties are renovating to keep up. USA TODAY takes a look at notable hotel renovations this month…
— USA Today
Mr. C's Next-Door Neighbors get in on Hotel-Style Luxuries
Mr. C Residences in Beverly Hills is the latest project to bet big on the lure of the luxury-hotel-meets-home hybrid…
— LA Times
Other and Odd
Millennials Are Relying on Travel Agents in Record Numbers
According to three new studies, millennials have discovered the value of relying on travel agents — not just to book their trips, but also as advisors on making travel decisions, such as which hotels to stay at and which destinations to consider…
— Travel Leisure
Subtle Giveaways That Show You're an American Tourist Abroad
Americans tend to wear their nationality unwittingly on their sleeves (or more accurately, “half-pants”), so it comes as no surprise that they’re easy to spot abroad -- but the French have made this a sport unto itself. Their culture, tightly wound and difficult to infiltrate, makes them particularly adept at calling out the imposters…
— Thrillist
Today in History
The Fall of Atlanta
Union Army General William T. Sherman entered Atlanta, Georgia, on this day in 1864. The move was highly tactical, cutting off key supply lines for the Confederate army of the South…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways Invites You To See The Beauty Of Africa For Less
South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, has launched the “See the Beauty of Africa for Less” sale, with low fares from the U.S. to Johannesburg…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Handling Incoming Leads: Part 2
 Today we take up where we left off yesterday. Here are reminders 6-10.
They are all pertinent when you find yourself following up on incoming business leads, regardless of how they are positioned on your to-do…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Soundings
How the Cruise Lines Responded to Hurricane Harvey
by Susan Schaefer
Friday September 01, 2017
Hurricanes happ en every year. Fortunately, they are usually identified early and closely tracked, and not every hurricane makes land fall. In most instances, cruises aren’t seriously impacted. I’ve been on ships when an itinerary has to be completely turned on its head because of an active hurricane, but that was the extent of the impact on the cruise; only a minor inconvenience.
As a result we had beautiful weather and calm seas. Of course, there’s always at least one loud disgruntled passenger because they had their hearts set on visiting a specific port, or they don’t want to go to Nassau for the umpteenth…
— 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
KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa’s Awe-Inspiring Province
Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Join Kirsty Perring, General Manager of the Africa and the Middle East at Goway as she takes you on a journey through the magnificent South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu Kingdom, is right up there on "must-see, must- do" lists of discerning travelers around the globe. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a unique fusion of raw natural beauty, modern sophistication, cultural diversity and pulsating energy – all in the most breathtaking natural setting. These are all just some of the reasons why KwaZulu-Natal should be on your clients bucket list. Experience awe-inspiring world heritage sites such as the coastal iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the mountainous 'Barrier of Spears' in Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Follow in the footsteps of legendary Zulu kings. Witness the unforgettable wildlife in prestigious game reserves. The truth is; there is just no comparison.
Register Now ➠
Explore the World of Transformative Travel with Perillo's Learning Journeys
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Join Learning Journeys President Carol Dimopoulos to explore the world of transformative travel.
Register Now ➠
Top Travel Trends and Great Escapes to Africa
Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
You are invited to join the experts at South African Airways and South African Airways Vacations and learn about the best way to fly to Africa and the more than 80 air-inclusive packages available offering value and variety for your clients.
Register Now ➠
Scandinavia ... So your clients can enjoy the best weekend for the lowest price!
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the leading airline between the U.S. and Scandinavia for more than 70 years, and Holidays with Downtown are teaming up to “provide fascinating travel experiences” and bring you amazing and affordable weekend packages to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. SAS provides easy access to the ultimate long weekend in Scandinavia. With eleven direct flights from seven major gateways in the United States―including four major cities on the East Coast; Boston (BOS), New York (ERW), Miami (MIA), and Washington D.C. (IAD) – Scandinavia has never been closer.
Register Now ➠
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