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Destinations

5 Reasons Why the Cape Cod of the Midwest Should Be Your Next Destination
I’m sure you’ve heard of Cape Cod, but did you know the Midwest has its own version of Cape Cod? Jutting into Lake Michigan, there’s a beautiful peninsula known as Door County, Wisconsin. I had no idea what to expect before my visit to Door County in February, but I was …

This Luxe Colorado Hot Spot Is One of the Best Places to Travel in 2024, With New Hotels and a Food-And-Drink Scene That Keeps Getting Better
I woke up on a Monday morning in Aspen to the view of pine trees heavy with brilliant white snow. It was still coming down as I rode the gondola up the 11,000-foot peak, not to ski but to visit the ultra-exclusive Aspen X Mountain Club. Inside the club, where an annual …

This Maine Town Is One Of The Top Vacation Spots For 2024
From Acadia National Park, one of the most beautiful US destinations, to some of the most impressive lighthouses in the country, Maine boasts many amazing places to explore. However, the real charm of this East Coast state lies in the small towns, and while …

This Former ‘Sin City’ Is Now Incredibly Family-Friendly
Thailand’s Pattaya is finally outgrowing its reputation as a city of sin, arguably transforming itself into one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated family destinations. Brimming with water parks, golf courses, fine beaches, ocean sports, theme parks, indoor play …

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit This Authentic Underrated City In Italy
Italy is indisputably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Home to numerous iconic landmarks, including Rome's ancient Colosseum, the UNESCO-listed canals of Venice, and the leaning Tower of Pisa to name a few, it attracts tens of …

Tours and Activities

From Music to Food to Film, Readers Say These Are the Best Festivals in the Nation
Millions of people attend at least one festival in the U.S. per year — and those numbers are on the rise. With so many events to choose from (and ticket prices in the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for some festivals), it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time and …

An Expert’s Guide to the Finding the Best Cheese in Paris
While some come to Paris for the bread, pastries or three-hour bistro lunches, I came for the cheese. France is home to over a thousand of them, from the Loire Valley's days-old fresh chèvres (goat cheeses) boasting the barest whiff of the barnyard to the …

7 Things to Know Before Going to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite, established in 1864, is a superstar of the National Park System for good reason. A visit, whether you stay in well-connected Yosemite Valley or head out into the vast wilderness, is a humbling experience. Despite its fame and infrastructure (areas …

Dark Tourism: When Travel And Tragedy Meet
Death, disaster, tragedy, and atrocity are four words commonly associated with dark tourism. Becoming a dark tourist is a controversial, and complex type of travel that some people consider no different than historical tourism while others see it as taboo …

AlUla: The Middle East’s Once-Inaccessible Ancient Wonder
As a photographer, I've always been drawn to the unique way that light in the desert stretches, bounces off the sand and rock and illuminates the plains. There is a stillness in these landscapes that I've come to crave, but I'm also fascinated by the relationships …

Cruise

Hotels at Sea: Land-Based Hospitality Brands Bring Guests With Them to Cruises
Mason Jones isn’t an avid cruiser, but he enjoyed his trip with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection so much that he took two in less than a year. Jones, a 50-year-old family doctor from Austin, Texas, booked the March 2023 sailing with his wife for its mostly all-inclusive model. And …

Carnival Cruise Line Completes Roll Out of Digital Debark
Carnival Cruise Line has achieved a new milestone in guest services by extending its Digital Debarkation program to every ship in its North American fleet. After much anticipation, Carnival Cruise Line has released its Digital Debark program across the entire North …

Celebrity Cruises Adds New Perks for Their Most Loyal Cruisers
Celebrity Cruises has added new perks for their Zenith members, those who cruise the most with the cruise line. Zenith members are those who have earned 3,000 or more points sailing on Celebrity cruise ships, Celebrity Cruises’ highest loyalty tier. The cruise …

This Ultra-Luxury Cruise Whisks Travelers to 40 Countries in 5 Months
Imagine spending nearly five months exploring the most fascinating destinations in the world while living in a lavish suite on a luxury cruise ship. From your suite’s private balcony, you can watch the ship pull into secluded islands and alluring ports in Asia …

Windstar Announces Guest Chefs for 2025 Sailings
In 2025, Windstar Cruises celebrates the 10th year anniversary of its partnership with the James Beard Foundation. To celebrate the milestone, the cruise line will welcome five acclaimed chef to expand its series of annual culinary-themed sailings. The list includes …

Transportation

Colourful Carriages and Dreamy Elbe Views: On Board the European Sleeper From Brussels to Prague
Standing on the platform at Brussels-Midi station, it’s hard not to smile as the European Sleeper rolls in. The night train is composed of 15 old carriages rented by a start-up of the same name, one of a few new private operators aiming to fashion Europe’s rail renaissance. This will be …

‘Flying Feels Different’: Here’s How Air Travel Has Changed Recently
If you haven't flown in a while, fasten your seatbelts. I've got good news – and bad news. You've probably already heard the bad news because it travels faster than the speed of sound. Airfares are up. So are luggage fees. And we seem to have a problem with in-flight violence …

United Airlines Unveils Flight Filters for Wheelchair Users
United Airlines is officially rolling out new accessibility features Thursday that it says will make flying easier for wheelchair users. The updates, which the airline previously announced, include the ability to find flights that are the best equipped to handle their …

Why Airlines Tell You Not to Retrieve Your Phone if It Falls Between Seats
You may have noticed in recent years that during the announcements before takeoff, flight attendants have started telling passengers that if their phone falls between the seats, they should alert a crew member. Many passengers might try to retrieve …

Why Overhead Bin Space Is So Competitive
I’ll admit it. I will elbow you out of the way to get on the plane 30 seconds sooner and secure overhead bin space. I’m not proud of it, but I'll probably never see you again, and I really don’t want to have to check a bag on most flights. I’m part of the problem, but …

Lodging

These Are the 15 Best Hotels and Resorts in Tuscany
Ah, Tuscany: It’s no wonder that this Italian province remains a perennial favorite of so many travelers. The landscapes, which range from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennine Mountains, unfurl into a mosaic of vineyards, hilltop towns, art- and history-filled cities, and wild coastlines …

T&C Hotel Awards 2024: The Best-Looking New Lodges in the Wild
Entering one of Royal Portfolio’s hotels or lodges, you may well wonder whatever happened to classic safari khaki. Each interior is an exuberant collage of colors, textures, and contemporary African art handpicked by co-owner Liz Biden, whose design motto …

Best Places to Stay in Tennessee: From Treehouses to Rat Pack Vibes, These 8 Sites Will Have You Extending Your Stay
So you didn't make it to the beach for spring break but you still desperately need a getaway? Try elevating your standard staycation or day trip with a night or two in a truly special hotel. Luckily, National Geographic's got you covered, with a handy guide to eight of …

These Are the Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Maldives
A trip to the Maldives — that dreamy equatorial archipelago of white-sand beaches, swaying palms and vibrant reefs — might seem like Champagne wishes and caviar dreams. And its luxury resorts certainly offer plenty of both delicacies. However, there are also …

I’ve Been to 35 All-Inclusive Resorts. Here Are 10 Mistakes I Always See First-Timers Make.
Vacationing at an all-inclusive resort is very appealing for many travelers — and with good reason. Being able to budget before you arrive and not having to worry about toting around cash or credit cards, can alleviate a lot of travel headaches. As a travel writer …

Other and Odd

The Ultimate Guide to Confusing Travel Jargon
Let's be honest. With travel being back in full swing and everyone constantly on the move, it feels like new terms and buzzwords are coined everyday to reflect the newest travel trend—and it can be hard to keep up. But don't worry, we're here to help you stay up-to-date. We've …

These Are the Most Popular Destinations for Summer 2024, According to Google
Travelers are just chuffed with London this summer, and are planning to head there in droves. That’s according to Google, which named the city in the United Kingdom the most popular destination for summer 2024. The list reflects searches in the United States …

I’m a Luxury Travel Agent: Destinations My Wealthy Clients Don’t Visit Anymore
The lifting of post-pandemic travel restrictions released a flood of demand for destinations worldwide, but those with the most money to spend on experiences changed their priorities and preferences along the way. GOBankingRates spoke with two travel …

Corporate Travel Titans Merge as Amex GBT Acquires CWT
In a major merger that underscores its faith in business travel, American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is acquiring CWT in a $570 million deal. Amex GBT is the world’s largest travel management company, with 20,000 global customers and about …

‘Bigger Than the Super Bowl’: Americans Are Spending Big on Eclipse Tourism
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse in April, there’s no shortage of options. Six Flags Over Texas is hosting a “Solar Coaster” viewing party. Holland America has a 22-day Solar Eclipse Cruise. And after filling up one path-of-totality flight, Delta …

Press Releases of Interest

Collette Launches ‘Collette Connection’ Service for Advisors
Pawtucket, RI (March 28, 2024) – Collette announces the launch of its new “Collette Connection” service. With the print-on-demand service, travel advisors will be able to send their clients Collette’s Explorations brochure …

Elite Voyages Joins the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
NEW YORK (March 26, 2024) – Terry Dale, president and CEO of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) announced today that Elite Voyages has joined USTOA as its newest Active …

The Travel Institute Launches Group Travel Course Amid Growing Interest
FRAMINGHAM, MA, March 18, 2024 – The Travel Institute has released a new Group Travel Specialist Course amid growing demand from travel agents to learn more about the niche market and its scalable revenue model for group reservations and bookings. While the concept of group travel is not new, its …

Collette Offers $1,000 in Bonus Commission for Group Bookings
Pawtucket, RI (March 14, 2024) – Collette is offering advisors $1,000 in bonus commission on all group bookings for 15 more travelers through April 15, 2024. The offer is valid for any booking made on departures through March 31, 2025. Collette makes booking groups easy. There’s no minimum deposit …

Travelers Can Be the First to Embark on Collette’s New ‘Spotlight on Northern Italy’ Tour
Pawtucket, RI (March 7, 2024) - Collette reminds travelers that they can be among the first to embark on their all new “Spotlight on Northern Italy” tour. Seats are still available on the first-ever departure for this tour on Aug. 15, 2024.Collette reminds travelers that they can be among the first to embark on their all new …

Agent Perspectives

FyndTravel at One Year, Lisa Watson Showcases a Streamlined Travel Event Calendar

My first interview with Lisa Watson went great. She was easy-going and her dedication of work to the creation of FyndTravel was obvious. However, a dead computer on my end took all text and recordings with it to the scrapyard. Chaos happens, I suppose. We tried again and, as expected, I found the conversation just as enjoyable and informative. Lisa started our conversation by pulling up a screen share



Mike's Morning Missives

And That’s a Wrap

2019 is just about yesterday’s news. I don’t want to use a beat up worn-torn saying but I will: “Where has the time gone?” I also refuse to suggest that you have a Happy New Year. I’d rather remind you that time waits for nobody, and whether your New Year will be happy or not is entirely up to you. As I look down the barrel of another year I see an empty slate. Yesterday’s news is exactly that… yesterday’s news. Not a single evening news program goes by without…



Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda

  Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to this behavior: I would’ve done it if I had more money. I could’ve tried if I had more time. I should’ve called them but … This happens more often than not, when you get an idea and fail to act on it. This simply does not have to happen. Once you have an idea for a notion to do something, do it. Don’t think it to death. And don’t procrastinate until you forget what it is you were going to try.



Soundings

The Travel Institute’s New Survey Signals Need for Additional Agent Recruitment & Retention

The Changing Face of Travel Agents 2023, the report released by The Travel Institute, offers valuable insights into the current state of the travel industry. Based on the findings, the gig economy continues to thrive, and more agents are interested in part-time work that provides greater flexibility and independence.



Deck Plans

Viking Launches New Nile Ship

Viking® today announced its newest ship for the Nile River—the 82-guest Viking Hathor—was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in August 2024, the Viking Hathor will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary



Anita’s Tips and Tools

The Incessant Traveler

Jerry Mpufane’s Mission to Connect North and South

After five years, Jerry Mpufane has left his post as president of the North American hub of South African Tourism, the government tourism board, to pursue other opportunities. Although his tenure 2019-2024 included the time of COVID’s global rampage, Mpufane leaves SAT in a better position than when he took the post in May 2019. When he started, North America, including Canada and the United States, was the third largest source market for South African visitors. Now it’s the largest