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Monday November 06, 2017

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 Most Welcoming Cities in the World, from Singapore to Stockholm
Singapore scored particularly highly for its welcoming port of entry, achieving a perfect 10 in this category. The country is known for its cleanliness (chewing gum is banned), multi-cultural charm and the prevalence of English signs, making it easy to navigate as a tourist…

Idaho Hopes to Boost Tourism with Prizewinning Night Skies
A rare designation from the International Dark-Sky Association could be a major boon for the Gem State…

Loving Lima One Dish at a Time
Move over, Texas. In Peru, everything is bigger and better. That’s because the under-the-radar country is nourished and inspired by the aortas of the Amazon Basin Rainforest, which covers some 60% of its land mass…

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Tours and Activities

5 Of The World's Most Epic Road Trips
From the Pacific Coast Highway in the U.S. — one of the most scenic drives in the world — to China’s over-water highway, there is a route for everyone. Just take your pick…

Still here After 12,000 years: Honoring the Sites and Cultures of Indigenous New England
Conventional Thanksgiving lore does give props to Massasoit and Plymouth-area Wampanoag for bringing most of the food to dinner. But the Pilgrims are only one part of the story. The Wampanoag Homesite at Plimoth Plantation depicts Native life vividly, but here are a half dozen museums that focus exclusively on the indigenous side of New England’s heritage…

Disney Reveals Details for Revamped Pixar Pier
Big news, Disney lovers. Things are about to get a whole lot more Pixar-ated at Disney California Adventure’s largest attraction. In a Nov. 2 press release, the entertainment giant announced that the park’s Paradise Pier will be revamped and renamed “Pixar Pier” for summer 2018…

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Cruise

Peak South Florida Cruise Season Opens with 'Smart' Ships, Fancy Terminals, Luxe Voyages
It’s time for South Florida’s annual peak cruise season, and passengers are about to be greeted with “smart” ships that offer high-tech concierge services, a re-imagined cruise terminal with a movie theater, digital avatar sailing companions and ultra-luxury voyages with butler service…

Deal watch: Carnival Cruise Line offers Military Families Credits, Upgrades
Available through Nov. 14, the offer brings active and retired military personnel a $50 per cabin credit on up to three cabins as well as a free two-category upgrade…

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Transportation

EasyJet has Reported a Jump in Passenger Figures for Last Month
The London-listed company, which recently announced that it was paying around £35m for bankrupt Air Berlin’s slots at the German capital’s Tegel airport, transported just over 7.5 million passengers in October…

Man Crawls through Baggage Carousel, Sneaks onto Tarmac at Miami Airport
Video shows a man diving into a luggage carousel at Miami International Airport. He later made it onto the runway tarmac and was arrested by police…

Why It Takes So Long to Get Off the Plane After It Lands
Passengers may see landing as the end of a flight, but for the airport crew the process has just begun…

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Lodging

Best Western Creates New Hotel Brand
The BW Signature Collection by Best Western joins two other “soft brands” that the company has produced in recent years. Once known as an economy brand for travelers, Best Western has expanded into the independent and upscale market with such offshoots as BW Signature…

Hotel Hit Squad: Beaverbrook, Surrey - a Big-Budget Vision of a Fantasy England
Once home to a press baron, Beaverbrook is a big-budget country house hotel serving up a fantasy England…

This Stunning Hawaiian Resort Has a Three-story Oceanarium in It
The all-new Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, opening next month, is the latest sophisticated resort to pop up on Waikiki. The hotel, designed by Rockwell Group, has nearly completed its $115-million renovation, and the results — from the guest rooms to the pool deck — are absolutely stunning…

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Other and Odd

Five Ways to Get the Best Deal Booking a Hotel Online
The CMA’s primary concern is that sales techniques used by hotel comparison sites may mislead customers and put undue pressure on them to book. We need the CMA to keep them honest, but we can also be canny when using them. Here’s how…

Here's the Difference Between Travel Alerts and Warnings
The U.S. State Department frequently issues advisories for travel to countries around the world. When an alert or warning includes a destination you were planning to visit, you likely have questions and concerns. But before you imagine the worst case scenario and cancel a trip, here's what you need to know…

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Today in History

Meet the Press
The highest rated Sunday morning news talk show debuted on this day in 1947…

Editorial Musings

I'll be betting on Branson in 2020
by John Frenaye
Monday November 06, 2017

If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Branson.

The man, not Missouri! Without a doubt, Sir Richard Branson is a disruptor. From record stores, to hotels. From wines to banks. From airlines to cruise lines. What? Yes it’s true, Fincantieri is in the process of building the first ship for Virgin Voyages! Of course “cruises” was too boring for Branson.

Just check out the rendering. Instantly recognizable. Tremendously sexy. Not your grandmother's cruise…

  — Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »

Mike's Morning Missives

We Are All In This Together

Last week I had a very interesting five days. Most of my weeks are exciting. On Tuesday I spoke before a room full of successful business owners who made their living selling million dollar yachts. On Friday, I found myself in front of 35 secretaries from a Fortune 100 company.

Yacht dealers one day...secretaries the next. What's all this noise I hear about "niching?" Doesn't this contradict the notion that you can't be all things to all people? Don't think I don't think about that stuff. I…

  — Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner

Networking
by Richard Earls
Sunday November 05, 2017

Travel consulting is a people business, and in the end, it's all about who you know.  As our good friend Mike Marchev will remind us on occasion, it's also about how many "who's" you know. An important component of building a successful travel practice is the network of people with whom you come into contact. Although your own circle of influence may be small, it grows exponentially because your friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and co-workers all have circles of influence into which you can market. These relationships provide opportunities to introduce your practice to people with whom you might otherwise not come into contact.

But you have to make the effort to meet real,…

  — Travel Research Online
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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!


Upcoming Training Opportunities


How to Sell the Islands of Tahiti

How to Sell the Islands of Tahiti

Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 2 pm EST/11 am PST

This webinar will introduce you to the islands of Tahiti.

Register Now ➠


Visit Japan in 2018!

Visit Japan in 2018!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 2 pm EST/11 am PST

Demand to Japan is on the rise.

Register Now ➠


South Africa: A World in One Country

South Africa: A World in One Country

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST

Join South African Airways and South African Tourism on a journey through our awe-inspiring country. We’ll discuss top-selling activities, including the vibrant city of Cape Town, big 5 safaris, world-class museums and restaurants and adrenaline-fueled adventures. We’ll also review tips and tools to help you effectively sell and market South Africa to your clients with confidence.

Register Now ➠


Experience the Journey: North America’s Top Rail Vacations

Experience the Journey: North America’s Top Rail Vacations

Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST

Whether your clients are interested in the Canadian Rockies, America’s national parks or historic cities, a memorable experience awaits when embarking on a rail vacation. This special Vacations By Rail webinar showcases classic rail journeys across North America, each featuring an iconic rail adventure. From scenic heritage railway excursions to classic overnight train vacations, the variety of itineraries and experiences showcasing the World’s top trains are unmatched.

Register Now ➠


The Scenic Group: Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours – Agent Productivity Tools

The Scenic Group: Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours – Agent Productivity Tools

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST

Our ExpressBook and other tools in our Agent Portal, enable agents to easily find availability, quote and book specific trips, pay deposits and final payments and manage reservations.

Register Now ➠


An introduction to Australis Expedition Cruises and Patagonia

An introduction to Australis Expedition Cruises and Patagonia

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST

Australis, a Chilean award-winning company with 27 years experience in operating expedition cruises and named 2017’s Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruises by Travel + Leisure. Born on the waterways of Patagonia and sailing out of Punta Arenas, Chile & Ushuaia, Argentina; The new Ventus will soon join sister ship Stella Australis as the only passenger vessels that can venture through the narrow fjords of Tierra del Fuego and disembark at fabled Cape Horn. Come see penguins! We are the only cruise line who’s passengers get to walk on Cape Horn (weather permitting) on a regular basis.

Register Now ➠







Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.

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