This year’s Hajj brings 2 million people to Mecca post-pandemic

Over 2 million Muslims will take part in this week’s Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as one of the world’s largest religious gatherings returns to full capacity following years of coronavirus restrictions.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so. For the pilgrims, it is a profound spiritual experience that wipes away sins, brings them closer to God and highlights Muslim unity.

For the Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, organizing the pilgrimage is a major source of pride and legitimacy. Authorities have invested billions of dollars in modern infrastructure, but the Hajj has occasionally been marred by tragedy, as in 2015, when over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede.

Here’s a look at the

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Bishops Lodge Resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Looking for a relaxing getaway tucked in the scenic mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico? Look no further than the Auberge Collection Bishops Lodge Resort, where the stunning views and relaxing atmosphere will take your breath away! This luxurious resort is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, set against a picturesque backdrop of the New Mexico mountains. Let’s take a closer look at all that Bishops Lodge Resort has to offer.

Accommodations:Guest room at Bishop's Lodge

Bishop’s Lodge Resort has splendid rooms, all featuring a comfortable and airy setting with a Western touch to it. The rooms are well furnished with all the modern amenities one could ask for, like a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a Kiva fireplace, and a stocked mini-fridge highlighting New Mexican offerings. There’s a coffee maker that uses Nespresso capsules and a clothes steamer both of which I really appreciate! From what I could

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A look at a legacy player in the commission payment space: Travel Weekly

One legacy player still working in the commission payment space is Onyx Center Source, which serves as a conduit between hotels and agencies, helping hotels process stay data and send payments to agencies and working with agencies to commission chases.

Onyx offers tiered levels of service to agencies: The base level, receiving a commission check, is free for agencies if a hotel uses Onyx to pay commissions. Onyx charges agencies for additional services, including a consolidated weekly electronic payment with stay details; booking data for reconciliation and commission recovery; and reporting, benchmarking and analysis.

Chief commercial officer Tony Wagner said that in most cases, hotels send commission payments to Onyx within 30 days of checkout, and the funds are remanded to the agency the following week.

A common agency complaint about Onyx is its cost. Wagner would not disclose what percentage Onyx charges for commission recovery, but did point to

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Fun Things to Do With Teenagers in Dallas, Texas

Fun Things to Do With Teenagers in Dallas, Texas

I’m excited to talk to you all about some of the great things to do with your teenagers in Dallas, Texas. As a parent of two teenagers myself, I know how difficult it can be to find activities that feel age-appropriate yet also enjoyable for all involved. Luckily, Dallas is chock-full of amazing opportunities that will make for the perfect family outing. From thrilling amusement parks to unique museums, there’s something for everyone!

1. Visit Six Flags Over TexasFun Things to Do With Teenagers in Dallas, Texas

Six Flags Over Texas is a superb place to take your teenagers when they crave adventure. It has some of the wildest rides around, including some of the best roller coasters in the nation. While there, don’t forget to check out the Hurricane Harbor water park for refreshing fun on hot summer days.

2. Bowls and BarrelsBowls and Barrels

If you’re looking for a fun spot to take your teenager bowling, I suggest

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LOOKING BACK: From working storefront to running his own agency, Teodor Mihail says “the time and effort were worth it”

At a Transat product launch in 2013, he had a 30-minute chat with two home-based agents. “I thought, ‘could it be?’” Mihail tells Travelweek.

Now 10 years later, Mihail looks back on his decade of running his own agency, Unravel World Travel, for this latest installment of Travelweek’s 50th anniversary series.

“After graduating from the Travel and Tourism Program at Seneca College in 2009, I got my foot in the door by working at a storefront agency. There, I got trained on how to book the majority of travel products. Starting off in the industry, it was my job to build my clientele from scratch and qualify them for the perfect vacation which will ensure they will be repeat clients. To my surprise, I was good at that and my clientele grew mostly from referrals. I would keep track of my sales using Microsoft Excel, design my own marketing materials,

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Top 10 Beach Vacation Packing List

Planning a beach vacation? Don’t know what to pack for a beach vacation? Picture yourself lounging on pristine sandy shores, soaking up the sun, and savoring the gentle breeze. To make the most of your seaside retreat, here are my recommended top 10 beach vacation packing list. It’s essential to pack wisely. Whether you’re heading to a tropical paradise, a serene coastal town, or your local seashore, I’ve curated the ultimate beach vacation checklist for you. For all your beach trip essentials, this beach list will ensure your getaway is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮ang𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮a𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 a𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪ana𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘐 𝘮a𝘬𝘦 a a 𝘴 𝘮ang𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩a𝘴𝘦! 𝘛𝘩ang𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔a𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘩 𝘛𝘳an𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴!

1. Sunscreen and sun protection

Nothing ruins a beach vacation faster than a painful sunburn. Protect your skin from harmful UV rays

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Parents traveling with breast milk are allowed through airport security. Here’s what to do about TSA screening issues.

woman pouring breast milk into bottle

I donated 2 gallons of my breastmilk.Jamie Grill/Getty Images

  • TSA’s website says breastmilk, formula, and other baby and toddler food can be taken through security.

  • Parents should let TSA agents know they are traveling with these things

  • Actress Keke Palmer said she recently experienced “breast milk discrimination.”

Actress Keke Palmer, who starred in the 2022 film “Nope,” said that security agents threatened to throw away the 16 ounces of breast milk that she was trying to bring through airport security.

“Breast milk discrimination at the Houston airport ruined my mood,” she said Tweeted. “I should’ve popped my tit out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz of my babies food?!?!!! Why is that not a crime?? I’M A MOTHER for crying out loud.”

TSA policies allow breastmilk and other baby food to go through security. Here’s what

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Canadian Agents Discover the Nile with Exotic Journeys

It was a memorable FAM for nine Canadian agents who traveled with Exotic Journeys to the land of ancient wonders along the Nile.


Nile
Exotic Journeys

During their week-long stay, the group had the chance to participate in several excursions and visit breathtaking sites. Some highlights include exploring the iconic Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and the National Museum of Civilization.

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The group then flew to Aswan to board the Movenpick Royal Lotus for a 3-night river cruise along the Nile, stopping at the High Dam, Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsute Temple, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple. They then flew back to Cairo for some shopping at the vibrant Khan El Khalili Baazar and enjoyed a farewell dinner aboard the Four Seasons First Nile boat.

Egypt, a country steeped in history and home to awe-inspiring

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G Adventures & Visit Jordan explains why they invest in travel agents

G Adventures, Visit Jordan and Royal Jordanian Airlines are hosting the 2024 Next Door Travel Agent conference. TTAND agents will fly on a private, chartered Royal Jordanian Airlines jet to the 2024 event.

we asked David GreenVP and managing director, G Adventures and Omar Banihanidirector of marketing, Visit Jordan why they are investing in hosting TTAND agents at next year’s conference.

TTAND: Despite predictions that travel agents would become extinct, they seem to be more in demand than ever since the pandemic. Explain the importance of the travel agent to your business.

David: I’ve never bought into this concept that Travel Agents will become extinct. In the same way that people need great real estate agents, they also need great travel agents. Sure, people can do their own research, they can find their own deals, but a Travel Agent does so much more. They are there

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Cleartrip rebuilds booking tool from scratch

Skift Take

As new distribution capabilities and alternative strategies emerge, travel agents’ traditional reliance on global distribution systems for selling tickets is changing.

Amrita Ghosh

Getting its first overhaul in 14 yearsonline travel agencies cleartrip unveiled a revamped version of its booking tool for agents. With what Cleartrip describes as a user-friendly design and round-the-clock support center, AgentBox 2.0 enables travel agents to book more than 100 airlines, more than 500,000 hotels, exclusive holiday packages, group bookingsand meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. “While the earlier version, first introduced in 2009was more about making agents familiar with online adoptionthe upgraded tool focuses heavily on the backend stackoffering a suite of products including flights, hotels, packages, buses and trains,” said Sukesh Shetty, head of B2B at Cleartrip. One of the reasons why the tool was never upgraded after 2009, he said, was because the

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