As if you need prodding to want to visit Rome, American Airlines has introduced Milestones, a Web site “postcard from the hottest destinations in the world.” Milestones replaces American’s Mileage Zone eNewsletter — and it’s certainly a more interesting dispatch. The first edition of the online magazine featured Italy and visitors to the site were drawn in with an amusing video tour of Rome hosted by Regan Burns of Comedy Central.

AAdvantage members have easy access to their account summary, bonus offers, quick links to ways to earn miles, the Mileage Maximizer and more. Links are also provided so you can book your flight to Italy with dollars or miles. Travel-related information is featured such as the featured destination’s It List and Must-See Events and visitors can view a photo gallery created by AAdvantage members. American promises that as new editions are released, additional aspects of the community forum will be introduced, providing members with more travel tips and information on highlighted destinations, along with special AAdvantage offers. The soft launch of the site illustrated some interesting facts: the video has been viewed worldwide, although it was only distributed in the U.S. and the countries with the highest activity include Italy, U.K., India and China; 88 percent of responders said the destination feature was of interest to them; 71 percent said they found the video to be entertaining and informative and 66 percent said the site delivered helpful tips for earning and redeeming AAdvantage miles. The site does a great job in showing you how you can earn miles and certainly entices you to earn more, but as far as help with redeeming them? Not so much. AAdvantage does not have plans to offer discounted award travel for flights to the featured destination. Visit http://www.aa.com/milestones

Next stop, Hawaii, followed by London and Paris. The destination featured will change monthly.