Editor’s Note — TRO wants to remind its Travelgram readers the articles presented here are meant to assist you in remaining informed and prepared to discuss travel news of the day with clients.
Destinations
The 9 Most Gorgeous, Secluded And Totally Hidden Beaches In The U.S.
Remember when you were the only one to know about your favorite local sandy spot? Well, word’s gotten out and now it can be hard to spread out your towel without elbowing a tourist. So we hunted down the quietest, most pristine and untouched slices of paradise right here in the U.S.…
— The Huffington Post
Madagascar's Heritage Site that Few can Reach
Getting to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park isn't easy, but those who make the trek are handsomely rewarded…
— BBC Travel
Soaking in the Views (And the Hot Springs) in Banff and Lake Louise
Glorious, rugged, and gorgeous, Banff gets a lot of love. National Geographic Traveler named it one of 21 must-see places to visit in 2017, the only spot in Canada to make the list…
— The Boston Globe
Tours and Activities
10 Incredible Forest Walks to Add to Your Bucket List
Any keen walker will tell you that woods have a special magic. The play of light through the forest canopy in the early morning and evening is often bewitching, while individual tree species from the giant masculine oak to the gentle, feminine ash create an atmosphere all their own…
— Telegraph (London)
Take Detour to a Tale of Murder in Boston
There’s nothing like a high society murder mystery to get people’s attention. “Beacon Hill: The Parkman-Webster Murder and Brahmin Culture” tour is part of Detour’s big spring expansion. Soft launched in San Francisco in 2014, Detour expanded to Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York last fall…
— The Boston Globe
'Star Wars' Virtual Reality Experience to Open near Disney Parks this Year
“Star Wars” lovers now have something else to get excited about this holiday season. Disney will be launching its hyper-realistic virtual reality experience near both of its parks – Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Florida…
— Fox Travel News
Cruise
Young Girl Falls from Carnival Cruise Balcony, is Airlifted to Florida Hospital
A 3-year-old girl is in stable condition after falling from the balcony of the Carnival cruise ship late last week. The incident took place on Friday afternoon aboard the Carnival Breeze, which was heading back to Galveston, Texas, following a cruise to the Bahamas…
— Fox Travel News
La Belle Barge Provides Small-Scale Cruising with a Very French Flavour
There’s a lot of numbers, but no math needed for a six-day cruise along the Burgundy Canal on La Belle Epoque: one hotel barge, 17 meals, 22 wines and 19 cheeses, one hot tub, some mountain bikes and visits to at least a dozen interesting sites…
— Vancouver Sun
Transportation
Turbulence Aboard American Airlines Plane Injures 30 Passengers
Violent turbulence rocked an American Airlines flight traveling to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago Wednesday night, injuring 30 passengers. According to local media, three passengers received further medical treatment at a health facility after the plane landed…
— Yahoo
On These Luxe Trains, the Journey Doubles as the Destination
Recent airline blunders have left travelers nostalgic for transportation with a touch more civility. Lucky for them, deluxe trains are laying track around the globe…
— Vogue
Pilotless Planes: What you Need to Know
Pilotless passenger aircraft could save the industry, and airline passengers, $35bn (£27bn) a year according to investment bank UBS. However, there are a number of issues to deal with before pilot-free travel is possible…
— The Guardian
Lodging
Four Seasons Surf Club Renews Miami Glamour
Miami's sunshine and good times have drawn visitors back for years, but a new hotel concept hopes to bring back some of the glamour of a bygone era. The recent arrival of Miami's newest hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in the Surfside enclave of North Beach, feels like just what the city needs…
— CNN
Five Acre Barn, Leiston, Suffolk: Review
Beyond the old-fashioned facade is a bubbling undercurrent of modernity and progressive ideas. You can find it at Five Acre Barn, a remarkable new place to stay, hidden behind trees and a sea of wildflowers just a few miles from the coast, outside the town of Leiston…
— The Guardian
This Off-the-Grid Virginia Resort Is the Perfect Place to Stargaze
From the gated entrance, a mountain road leads to Primland, a towering lodge of wood and glass with a silo attached. Inside, twin fireplaces flank a great room beneath a soaring ceiling. Staffers proudly point out the rich woods in beams and walls, all salvaged from old tobacco barns…
— The Washingtonian
Other and Odd
Tropical Storm Franklin Forms in Western Caribbean, Hurricane Watches Posted for Mexico
The sixth named tropical storm of the season, Franklin, formed early Monday in the western Caribbean Sea. It is now on a definite strengthening trend and could be upgraded to the season’s first hurricane before it makes landfall on the Yucatan peninsula late Monday night…
— The Washington Post
The Secrets of Earning Rewards Travel
Accruing points or miles can save clever shoppers thousands of dollars, but experts warn there are hazards…
— CBS News
Today in History
The Purple Heart
On August 7, 1782, General George Washington issued orders to the Continental Army creating the Badge of Military Merit, later better known as "The Purple Heart"…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
When Starbucks just isn’t working for you
by John Frenaye Monday August 07, 2017
I am not sure about all of you, but my career in the travel industry started with an office job. I was doing the 9-5 thing. And then I sold my retail locations in 2005 and shifted. I worked from home with several independent contractors across the country doing the same thing. Technology, at that time, enabled us to work anywhere there was an Internet connection and a place to plop down your laptop. Today, we don’t even need that with the smart phones. Starbucks (and any other local coffee shop) became the de-facto “office” for many. And for me, today, Starbucks is just not cutting it any…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
How To Write Headlines That Work
The right headline can draw in even the most disinterested reader, luring them in to read the rest of your article, email or sales letter. In the same way, a bad headline can totally turn off a reader who otherwise might be very interested in what you’re trying to sell.
While it would be nice to have, there are no specific rules that every headline needs to follow. That’s because it depends on what your topic is, what the goal of your writing is, and several other factors. There are, however, some basic rules and guidelines that can help you get…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Publishers Corner
Shoestring Nooses
by Richard Earls Sunday August 06, 2017
I often encounter a mindset that sees marketing as an expense. I suppose from the perspective of an accountant, that is absolutely accurate. However, in reality marketing should be viewed as an investment. Think of it this way: marketing is only expensive if it's not working. If you made 5 dollars every time you spent two marketing dollars you would be spending money all day and be happy about it. Ideally, marketing is an investment.
We all live within the constraints of a budget. There are many good things to be said about marketing on a shoestring, on choosing strategies that are smart and that work. Today, however, we are going to talk about avoiding turning our shoestrings into nooses - making mistakes with our marketing…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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One-to-One Interviews
Jennifer Fernandez, Vice President of Events and Content for Specialty Travel Forums, Travel Show Marketing Group
Jennifer Fernandez, holding the title of Vice President of Events and Content for Specialty Travel Forums, a Division of Travel Show Marking Group, has an extensive background in producing highly-effective travel tradeshows and events. With over 20 year of experience in the industry, Jennifer has led many initiatives in launching and repositioning events catering to both the MICE and travel agent channels, touching upon every aspect from sales, marketing, content and engagement. Jennifer has previously worked for major tradeshow companies, where she was responsible for the entire leisure travel event portfolio. Jennifer is focused on the Specialty Travel Forum's goal of growing its collection of specialized programs in the travel agent community...
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article » |
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
Let Your Clients Discover the Beauty of China on Xiamen Airlines
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Refreshing Fujian, beautiful Xiamen – China’s unique city has been recently voted the prettiest and greenest in the whole country! Located on the south coast in the Fujian Province, Xiamen offers a fine mix of city, cultural, and beach attractions. With origins dating back 5,000 years, trade has been the lifeblood of Xiamen, and the city has grown on the commerce from merchants, both Chinese and European, who used Xiamen as their ‘Gateway to China’.
Register Now ➠
Multi Channel Marketing
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Using many different channels of marketing to reach your ideal customer. Learn how to use these channels to their fullest and spend your marketing dollars where they will have the greatest impact. Discover how to integrate a Multi Channel approach so that you reach as many prospects & customers as possible. Customization of your marketing message is essential to success.
Register Now ➠
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