Destinations
The Philippines' 2,000-year-old Engineering Feat
Often called ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’, the hand-carved rice terraces in Banaue are long enough to stretch halfway around the globe. Tucked into the slopes of the Philippines’ largest island, Luzon, a living landscape of verdant fields climbs up the steep contours of the Cordillera Mountains towards the…
— BBC Travel
World’s Best Spot to Be at Sunset
Maldives, Australia, Egypt, and more - these are some of the most majestic sunsets in the world. Add them to your bucket list to live up the natural beauty.…
— Escape
Tours and Activities
Sustainable Travel: It's Not Just About the Environment
The term “sustainable travel” has a green glow to it, connoting eco-friendly practices and environmental responsibility. But the human side of sustainability, as defined by the World Tourism Organization, addresses community impact, both social and economic, and is newly gaining traction among travel…
— New York Times
Valletta on View: Malta's Capital Shows Off Its Cultural Side
Old Valletta has seen some intense years: 1565, for example, when it was besieged by Ottoman forces; and 1941, the height of the Axis powers’ attempts to bomb or starve Malta into submission. But 2018 looks set to be an equally memorable, and much less harrowing, time, as more than 400 projects mark its year as European Capital of…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Scared of Falling Off a Cruise Ship? Here's What You Should Know
Despite recent reports, cruise ships are still a safe way to vacation. Some might consider cruise ships havens, where passengers can destress freely and there's always something on tap. Still, although extremely rare, bad things can happen on…
— National Geographic
Okinawa Angling to Become Cruise Liner Hub, Not Just Waypoint
Okinawa has unveiled a road map to develop the southern island prefecture into a major hub for international cruise ships in East Asia. With the three-phase scheme, starting this year, the prefectural government is trying to achieve its goal of drawing 2 million cruise tourists from abroad in fiscal 2021 as part of a broader attempt to stimulate the local…
— The Japan Times
Transportation
10 of the World's Most Spectacular Airport Runways
There’s often much talk of the world’s most beautiful airports, but what of their runways? A survey of 8,500 aviation fans recently put Donegal’s in the top spot, thanks to its position skimming the beach, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic…
— The Independent
Surveys Say - Alaska and Southwest are Best US airlines, Spirit Remains the Worst
Which airline should you fly? The answer depends on whom you ask or, more importantly, which studies you read. Since March, six different organizations using individual methodologies have released surveys ranking US airlines, best to…
— The Boston Globe
Lodging
10 Hotels With Michelin-Starred Restaurants
Luxury hotels strive to offer their guests amenities of the highest caliber. Here are 10 properties to consider during your travels if you're looking for a top-notch meal just an elevator ride from your hotel…
— CNN
The Best Hotel in Every State
The right accommodations can make or break your vacation. One vacation planning mistake you don’t want to make is overlooking the importance of finding the best lodging you can afford. And even with the rising popularity of unconventional and sometimes over-the-top Airbnbs, hotels continue to be a safe bet.…
— The Daily Meal
Other and Odd
April's #avgeek Gallery: 36 Cool Aviation Photos
Hello Today in the Sky readers! It's time for the March 2018 edition of our "#avgeek photo gallery." For the uninitiated, it's a batch of fun airplane and aviation photos from around the globe. Like several of our previous galleries, this month's collection has a theme; this time it's a look at Canada's Vancouver International Airport.…
— USA Today
Fly Now, Pay Later: Are Travel Loans a Good Deal?
Dreaming of a spring getaway with white-sand beaches and a cool drink in your hand? A search for airline tickets can bring your dream down to earth, if the steep fares charged by many airlines outstrip your…
— Vancouver Sun
Today in History
The Birth of Thomas Jefferson
On this day in 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. His family was part of a prominent Virginia family, and he received a classical education in history, literature, and languages. His father died when he was 14, and Jefferson inherited over 5,000 acres of Virginia farmland. Part of his inheritance also included many slaves of African descent. He was admitted to the Virginia bar in…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE WITH GUARANTEED DATES ON ALL REMAINING 2018 TOURS!
Pawtucket, RI (April 10, 2018) – Collette, global tour operator, is excited to announce that all remaining dates for 2018 are now guaranteed to depart.
Collette is dedicated to helping their agent partners sell with confidence. With guaranteed departure dates, clients will have the peace of mind knowing that their tour is guaranteed to depart. For agents, it’s a powerful marketing tool to ease the process of…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
The Exciting Untapped Potential In England’s North Country
by Paull Tickner
Friday April 13, 2018
With Virgin Atl antic offering regular direct flights from Atlanta and New York to Manchester, make a note of their new services from San Francisco (3 per week from 22nd May) and Boston (2 per week from 23rd May). As many of you have clients who’ll relish the idea of avoiding LHR (at least for the outward journey), my top story suggests a different approach to encouraging them to use this great northern gateway.
The excitement continues throughout the summer with 17 living history performances of Kynren, an epic event on an epic scale, and two garden festivals to be enjoyed from a base in the Viking city of York. Staying with the horticultural theme, the story about Wells Dressing will interest garden tour planners and a…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Do You Really Care?
 I decided to write today’s message on the “caring” moments after I received an email from one of my friends last week.
This advice often is construed as “sour grapes,” but never a truer message has been delivered. It is not all about fame, and money and notoriety. Far from it.
Not because I say so, but because you are about to say…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Deck Plans
Avid Cruiser’s Q&A With Windstar Captain James Griffiths
Windsta r Cruises recently appointed Captain James Griffiths to a new role as Expedition Captain, in preparation for Windstar’s return to Alaska this spring with Star Legend. On these voyages, Windstar will feature its new Signature Expeditions program that combines adventurous shore excursion offerings more commonly found on expedition ships and pairs them with Windstar’s own classic cruising…
— 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
The Best of Eastern Canada by Rail
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
What better way to explore the great cities and captivating beauty of Eastern Canada than by train? Join Vacations By Rail for an educational session on selling Eastern Canada rail vacations. The perfect year-round destination, Eastern Canada’s popular destinations are close to home and filled with beautiful landscapes, iconic sites and exciting adventures.
Register Now ➠
Explore the “uttermost end of the earth” with Australis Expedition Cruises
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Australis takes you on an amazing journey to the “uttermost end of the earth” on modern expedition cruise ships that ply the untamed wonderland at the bottom end of South America. During 25 years of sailing and travel to Patagonia, we've had the privilege to introduce more than 100,000 travelers to the glaciers, fjords, sub-polar forests and amazing marine and terrestrial wildlife of Patagonia.
Register Now ➠
ShoreTrips 101: And Introduction to the World's Best Shore Excursions
Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
ShoreTrips 101: An introduction to ShoreTrips and why we have the world's best shore excursions. Learn about the history of the company, and why you want to choose ShoreTrips for your clients. We'll go through FAQs, our ports and destinations, and learn how to use ShoreTrips.com and all our helpful tools.
Register Now ➠
Small Group Touring through Europe
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
London based Back-Roads Touring Co, the experts in Small Group Touring, is pleased to join Travel Research Online for an informative webinar all about their unique style of touring. From just 15-18 passengers per tour, boutique accommodations, authentic local experiences, knowledgeable tour guides, leisurely paced itineraries, and so much more, these tours will soon be on the forefront of every clients mind. With tours through the UK and Europe, and their most recent additions through Asia, Back-Roads Touring Co offers a unique touring option for your travelers. Join us as we uncover the key selling features, and learn more about the Roads Less Traveled with Back-Roads Touring Co.
Register Now ➠
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