We don't have to tell you that today's affluent travelers are interested in authentic experiences. The more exotic and uncharted, the better. First comes fascination followed by luxury hotel developers and validated by travel editors' picturesque prose. Sri Lanka fits the "emerging luxury destination" paradigm to a tee, complete with Lonely Planet "Dream Trips" and Robb Report's "Top Destinations for 2016" write-ups and Shangri-La property openings.  Become a Shangri-La Specialist to prepare for those inevitable Sri Lanka requests and for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

For every destination that requires your expertise, there are at least 50 local hotels that you’re expected to know just as thoroughly. We suspect that you don't have the time to research every hotel, in every location, for every client. A more productive way to learn about 3,800 hotels in 92 countries is to become an AccorHotels Ambassador. Complete three courses and have 480,000 rooms in your arsenal – one and done!

Tourists continue to put the Caribbean on the map in record numbers and Barbados in particular is experiencing a boom. For specialists, a membership in Barbados Elite Club means your earnings should reflect your expertise. So, you've taken the in-depth course, you've enjoyed "Preferred Agent" status on the official BTA website and you've logged your bookings in the rewards program for a chance to win $500 every month as well as a trip to Barbados. Oh, you haven't? Refresh your knowledge to maximize your membership benefits.

White sand beaches, azure waters and a laid back vibe - three demands you can easily deliver upon for clients headed to the Caribbean. While knowing the basics can help you suggest the islands with gusto, it's specialized expertise that will make the sale. Remind clients why paradise isn't always found in a couple of clicks by becoming a USVI Specialist. You'll easily sell the Caribbean and earn up to $200 with every USVI booking.

If anything truly defines Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, it is the value we attach to lasting memories. Building upon a century of experience as hoteliers has endowed us with a rich tradition of hospitality. We offer experiences that are authentically local, in hotels and resorts of unrivalled presence. And genuine hospitality is achieved when engaging service and attention to detail elevate each stay into cherished memory.

As someone who has the responsibility of booking travel for others, you understand the importance of creating a seamless, efficient and satisfying experience, whether the travel is for business or leisure. Famous Agents is the industry’s most exciting travel agent education and rewards programme. Our members increase their earning power by staying up-to-date on all the latest news from Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel locations worldwide. They also earn fabulous personal rewards and enjoy countless member-only benefits.

For over 20 years, Silversea has been committed to creating unforgettable luxury cruise vacations and destination immersion experiences for our guests. As our legacy of luxury continues, so does our commitment to excellence, innovation, expansion of product offerings, and unwavering commitment to you – our valued travel partners.

To ensure you have the tools you need to succeed, we designed this comprehensive training program to give you confidence in selling Silversea’s luxury intimate ships and expedition products. 

Rollings with the flow!  Read all about what's trending, new ships and itineraries, target markets and tips on how to sell the product more efficiently.

River Cruising continues to expand across the globe and new options are creating demand to entice more clients. Simply put, “river cruising is hot,” says Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner, Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “As a network, we continue to see double-digit growth in this segment, with some agents specializing in it quite successfully.” See what’s ahead.

Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and white sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Discover what makes this island so unique and become a St. Kitts Specialist now!

The Antigua & Barbuda Specialist program is designed to help you become a Specialist in selling our amazing destination. Whether you specialize in destination weddings, family getaways, luxury experiences or special interest markets like sailing or eco-adventures, this course will provide you with all the unique selling points and product information your clients may need.

Manage your Starwood booking like a pro from one easy account that monitors your profit performance. Become a StarwoodPro to learn about Starwood's nine world-class brands via five educational modules. You’ll be able to virtually visit Starwood destinations and learn the power of story-selling to help your clients visualize their next vacation – so you work smarter, not harder. Plus, you’ll qualify for Starpoints rewards, redeemable for free nights and award flights, complimentary in-room Internet for your clients when you book at spg.com and real-time online commission tracking.

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts started in Switzerland, a small country known for big mountains and equally high standards of living. These standards have inspired the brand to make quality of life our promise to our guests. Quality of life can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s spending time with family and friends. For others, it’s having easy access to a place of relaxation. However you define it, we hope the contemporary Swiss style and locally inspired flair at our high-end (but not always high-altitude) hotels keeps you returning again and again.

We look forward to welcoming you to Swissôtel, where quality of life comes first.

As someone who has the responsibility of booking travel for others, you understand the importance of creating a seamless, efficient and satisfying experience, whether the travel is for business or leisure. Famous Agents is the industry’s most exciting travel agent education and rewards programme. Our members increase their earning power by staying up-to-date on all the latest news from Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel locations worldwide. They also earn fabulous personal rewards and enjoy countless member-only benefits.

The Silver Muse Specialist course is dedicated to educating you on all things related to Silversea’s new flagship, Silver Muse, which makes her debut in April 2017. With this ship, Silversea once again raises the bar in the ultra-luxury cruise travel market.

A small boutique ship with only 596 guests (less than 300 suites), Silver Muse boasts all-suite, all-balcony accommodations, making it the most intimate new ship in the ultra-luxury market.

Vegas is usually a one-and-done type of booking. Short stays, fast commissions. You can even specialize in one of the best values on the strip in 20 minutes. Become a Treasure Island Specialist to have a go-to Vegas experience that boasts modern rooms (starting at $59), 10 restaurants, a 95,000 sq. ft. casino and the salient Mystère by Cirque du Soleil. Plus, you'll receive 50 percent off show tickets upon graduation - well worth the 20 minutes spent specializing in a top U.S. destination.

MSC Cruises, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is the largest privately held cruise line in the world – with a current fleet of 12 ultramodern ships – and the fastest growing, with an industry unprecedented 11 new next-generation ships planned by 2026.

In this course, we are going to discuss MSC Cruises - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. You'll learn how best to market MSC Cruises and you’ll get comprehensive marketing tools and financial incentives. You'll learn how to navigate the MSC Cruises websites and discover the advantages of using MSC Book - the online booking engine for agents - as well as be introduced to MSC’s sales and marketing structure.

Like the destination itself, Key Lime Academy has been designed to educate, inspire and entertain while unveiling all of what the Florida Keys has to offer. Along the way, you will meet a diverse group of local personalities who will introduce themselves through a series of short videos. As a graduate of Key Lime Academy, you will have access to our Suggested Itineraries; a series of vacation ideas written by locals offering insider tips on attractions, photo ops, restaurants and places worth discovering. But be careful — chances are these suggestions will inspire your own visit to the Florida Keys sometime very soon.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts operates its extraordinary collection of hotels by the credo: “True luxury is not just about what you do, it’s about how you feel.”  The renowned collection of hotels and resorts offers celebrated landmarks in celebrated locations around the world. Each exudes unparalleled residential charm and enchantment, while embracing the heartfelt service for which we are known.

Raffles caters to leisure and business travelers alike, who celebrate the finer things in life; we are consistently ranked among the world’s top-10 hotel brands in the annual Conde Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards.

As someone who has the responsibility of booking travel for others, you understand the importance of creating a seamless, efficient and satisfying experience, whether the travel is for business or leisure. Famous Agents is the industry’s most exciting travel agent education and rewards programme. Our members increase their earning power by staying up-to-date on all the latest news from Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel locations worldwide. They also earn fabulous personal rewards and enjoy countless member-only benefits.

The Silversea Expeditions Specialist Course has been designed to help you sell this unique type of travel. You’ll learn how Silversea Expeditions differs from Silversea Cruises and who make up the best prospects for it.

Silversea Expeditions’ three ships (and fourth ship being added in fourth quarter 2017) sail on specially curated itineraries to all seven continents and more than 350 destinations. Silversea Expeditions not only visits some of the world’s most remarkable and remote destinations, but it also provides in-depth discoveries and truly authentic adventures of these locales.

Family travel to Mexico is by all accounts booming. And that’s no accident. Suppliers, tour operators and travel sellers are redoubling efforts to highlight Mexico’s vast appeal. Read all about it in the Mexico Family Focus Series.

Here are some of the latest developments and offers that should be of interest to families planning a vacation in The Aloha State.

A sun-and-fun vacation in the Caribbean is certainly a great choice for a family getaway and the resort options are seemingly endless. That’s only half the equation, however. Every island in the region has a rich culture and history that begs to be explored and enjoyed. Read all about it in the Focus Series!

Destination weddings continue to grow in popularity, with new trends emerging on a regular basis. We asked a number of destination wedding pros to share their latest observations, hot tips and sales advice about this dynamic niche. Read the focus series to learn more! 

Las Vegas Welcomed 42.9 million visitors in 2016, surpassing 2015’s recordsetting 42.3 million, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). That total marks a third consecutive year of growth for the city, which got off to an even better start in 2017. January visitor volume was up 1.1 percent over January 2016, and the LVCVA is projecting another record year.

The destination also continues to enjoy industry-leading occupancy rates with an exceptionally large base of nearly 150,000 available rooms. That number keeps growing as well with new hotels and expansions to established properties. Here are some of the latest developments on that front.

With more than 56 million overnight stays in 2016, London has set a new visitation record. The milestone also means that in 2016, London drew more overnights than any other city in Europe, according to new research from the city’s destination marketing organization, London & Partners. European Cities Marketing reports there were over 41 million overnight stays from international tourists last year –– an increase of 7 percent over 2015.

London’s enduring popularity has its roots in Britain’s many centuries of rich traditions and colorful heritage — Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and all things royal are perennial must-see attractions, to be sure — but pop culture and recent history have served to enhance and broaden the city’s appeal. Here are some current and upcoming happenings that celebrate the timely and timeless aspects of London.