Destinations
Bordeaux: The Secret Side to France's most Elegant City
My challenge was to go to Bordeaux and not think about wine. I don’t mean “not drink wine”. Wine had always been the thing: tasting, analysing, discussing, writing, judging…
— Telegraph (London)
Why You Should Do More Than Ski in the French Alps This Fall
It’s here in Chamonix, home of the first Olympic Winter Games, where you’ll find the world’s most famous off-piste ski descent, the Vallée Blanche. Crevasses cut deep into glaciers and packed snow forms ice bridges that could easily be a Game of Thrones backdrop…
— Vogue
Australia's Wild West Capital, Perth Finally Coming of Age
Was this far-flung city of 1.7 million finally worth enduring an extra five-hour flight west from Sydney for jet-lagged international travelers? In March I decided to find out…
— San Francisco Chronicle
Tours and Activities
In France, a Cognac Tasting Tour at the Source
I had come to the Cognac region to learn more about the eponymous spirit, and understanding this essential ingredient was part of my orientation. My ignorance wasn’t the exception, according to my guide, Madeleine Marchand, the founder of the Bordeaux-based travel company Bordeaux Excellence…
— New York Times
Basel: 10 Things to Do in Switzerland's City of Art
Tucked up in the corner of Switzerland against the borders of France and Germany, the vibrant city of Basel offers the perfect escape for art fans, families and history-lovers. Ready for a weekend there? Here's what to do…
— The Independent
Florida Lines Up Ice, Snow, Parades and More for the Holidays
Celebrating the holidays in Florida is easier than remembering the names of Santa's reindeer this season, with a multitude of events across the state…
— Sun Sentinel
Cruise
One of the World's Most Luxurious Cruise Ships gets an Overhaul
Hapag-Lloyd's 500-passenger Europa 2 arrived in North America on Thursday for a series of sailings sporting nine restructured and redesigned areas including a significantly revamped spa…
— USA Today
The Edge on P&O Cruise Ships: What you Need to Know Before you Go
Thrill-seeking is just one part of the experience. Here are 10 more reasons why it’s worth leaving your deck chair to visit The Edge…
— Escape
Transportation
Luxury Seat Wars: Singapore Airlines Rolls Out Swanky New 'Suites'
A plush swivel chair, upholstered in fine leather. A 32” high-definition TV screen. A separate bed area and a personal wardrobe. Room to entertain. That’s not an ad for a New York City studio apartment, but rather for a new first-class "suite" that promises to be among the most luxurious on any airline flying today…
— USA Today
JetBlue Is Offering $49 Flights In An Awesome, 2-Day Flash Sale
JetBlue is giving travelers the gift of discounted flights this holiday season. The airline is currently offering one-way flights as low as $49 to select cities for its latest flash sale…
— The Huffington Post
Finnair Wants to Weigh People before Flights
While it may sound unusual, there's logic behind the move: The airline wants a more accurate metric for determining aircraft weight and balance, which can in turn make operations more efficient…
— Fox Travel News
Lodging
7 Spectacular Hotels for Viewing the Northern Lights
From Alaska to Finland, these seven hotels give you a great chance to see the northern lights and stay in style while you're at it…
— CNN
Checking In: Wilderness and Cozy Chalets at Charlevoix's Repère Boréal
The Galarneau brothers have created Repère Boréal, a distinctive wilderness vacation domain in the splendid woodlands of Charlevoix, halfway between Baie St-Paul and La Malbaie…
— Vancouver Sun
10 Best Value Hotels in Australia, According to TripAdvisor
Forget five-star prices. Just $129 a night is all it takes to nab a night at Australia’s best hotel. That’s according to the latest rankings of the nation’s top hotels released by TripAdvisor…
— Escape
Other and Odd
How to Get the Most From Your Cabin Baggage Allowance
With practically every airline charging for checking baggage into the hold on European flights, the amount of cabin luggage you are able to take is important. But which airlines are the most generous, and which the least?…
— The Independent
The 10 Best Websites for Booking a City Break
You can, of course, book the arrangements separately – the flights with the airline, the accommodation direct with the hotel or through an online booking agency. But there are strong arguments to be made for arranging everything in one go, as a package…
— Telegraph (London)
Today in History
Flight of the Spruce Goose
In 1942, the U.S. Department of War needed a new type of aircraft to transport men and materials long distances…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Execution
“Talk is cheap!”
“Ideas are a dime a dozen.”
“Walk your talk.”
“After all is said and done, more is said than done.”
I’m sure there more quotes supporting this lesson but I think you get the picture. I was reminded of this truth this past week while attending an annual conference onboard a cruise ship. In what I considered to be the most valuable 3-hour period of the entire program, the group gathered in the main dining room to brainstorm and share best practices.
That’s when the above four quotes kicked in again.
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Spotlight
Marilyn Conroy, Executive Vice President, David Morris International
by Simone Hasskew
Thursday November 2, 2017
 Marilyn Conroy is the Executive Vice President of David Morris International, a company that offers an array of sales, marketing, and operational services to cruise lines and tour operators. She emigrated from England to start a 20 year career with Cunard in the Hotel division before eventually joining David Morris to form David Morris International. DMI’s successful history, dedicated and experienced staff, and knowledge of the market are just a few of the reasons they have been chosen by Saga Cruises to aid their launch into the North American market. To learn more about Marilyn, DMI, and Saga Cruises continue reading the short interview below.
— Travel Research Online
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Departures
Bountiful Brussels with VISITFLANDERS
by Simone Hasskew
Thursday November 2, 2017
 Brussels, the capital of Europe and Belgium, is more than just a hub for European education and commerce. This region of Belgium is known for its medieval roots and varying cityscape. Thanks to VISITFLANDERS, the supplier sponsor of this article, you’ll get the details you need to make a trip to Brussels anything but boring.
— 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
Experience the Journey: North America’s Top Rail Vacations
Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Whether your clients are interested in the Canadian Rockies, America’s national parks or historic cities, a memorable experience awaits when embarking on a rail vacation. This special Vacations By Rail webinar showcases classic rail journeys across North America, each featuring an iconic rail adventure. From scenic heritage railway excursions to classic overnight train vacations, the variety of itineraries and experiences showcasing the World’s top trains are unmatched.
Register Now ➠
The Scenic Group: Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours – Agent Productivity Tools
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
Our ExpressBook and other tools in our Agent Portal, enable agents to easily find availability, quote and book specific trips, pay deposits and final payments and manage reservations.
Register Now ➠
An introduction to Australis Expedition Cruises and Patagonia
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Australis, a Chilean award-winning company with 27 years experience in operating expedition cruises and named 2017’s Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruises by Travel + Leisure. Born on the waterways of Patagonia and sailing out of Punta Arenas, Chile & Ushuaia, Argentina; The new Ventus will soon join sister ship Stella Australis as the only passenger vessels that can venture through the narrow fjords of Tierra del Fuego and disembark at fabled Cape Horn. Come see penguins! We are the only cruise line who’s passengers get to walk on Cape Horn (weather permitting) on a regular basis.
Register Now ➠
Introducing the newest and finest boutique hotel at sea
Monday, November 6, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Join Marilyn Conroy, Executive VP of David Morris International, exclusive sales and marketing representatives for Saga Cruises, and discover an exciting new era of “boutique” cruising launching July, 2019.
Register Now ➠
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