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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
Detroit: The Most Exciting City in America?
How a 21st century Detroit navigates the dangers of regeneration is a particularly poignant question on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit race riots…
— New York Times
Oman: Amazing Facts and Reasons to Visit
Neither as glitzy as Dubai nor as known for its history as Jordan, Oman could be described as that rarest of things - a part of the Middle East that, relatively speaking, has neither fame nor notoriety. Unappreciated? Underrated? Perhaps both these things…
— Telegraph (London)
8 Reasons to Put the Blue City on Your Bucket List
The word magical is fairly overused today, but if there’s a place that truly epitomizes the mystical adjective it’s Chefchaouen, in the northwest of Morocco. It’s a destination known by many—especially Instagram and Pinterest addicts—as simply the “Blue City,” and it’s perched amid the Rif Mountains…
— Vogue
Tours and Activities
How a Victorian Railway Line became Ireland's Coolest New Bike Trail
The transformation of this stretch of railway provides the perfect opportunity to explore the unfamiliar landscapes of Ireland's east coast…
— The Independent
Louisiana Creates a Shopping Trail to Promote Unique Stores
Gov. Billy Nungesser's office says Louisiana Tax Free Shopping for International Visitors announced the launch of a "cultural shopping trail" aimed at promoting unique retail experiences and local shopping to out-of-state visitors…
— NOLA.com
Ice Rinks Where Skating Doesn't Require Winter Weather
The city by the bay isn’t the only burg to surprise visitors with temporary rinks. Here are four more temperate tourist destinations where you can glide on the ice — or at least a synthetic version thereof…
— San Francisco Chronicle
Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line Kicks Off Black Friday Promotion
The offer brings free drinks, free specialty restaurant dining and other perks to customers who book a trip in the next few days…
— USA Today
Transportation
Fast-growing Aer Lingus makes Seattle its 12th U.S. Destination
The Irish carrier will begin flying there 18, offering four flights a week to its main hub in Dublin on 265-seat Airbus A330 aircraft. Seattle becomes the latest U.S. airport to land new service on fast-growing Aer Lingus…
— USA Today
'Pay Least, Board Last' – British Airways unveils its Newest Policy
As of December 12, all travellers flying within Europe will be assigned a group number between one and five at check-in, based on the fare they paid and their frequent flyer status…
— Telegraph (London)
Vintage Fliers: Lufthansa Restores Historic Aircraft
German airline Lufthansa takes its history seriously as it restores vintage aircraft. You will be able to see them and even take special flights…
— CNN
Air Travel is Such a Pain that This Woman Started her Own Airline
Artist Qinmin Liu hates flying commercial so much that she started her own airline that flies exclusively to art events. First stop: Art Basel Miami in December…
— Miami Herald
Lodging
The Best of Lebanon's Lodging: Le Gray Hotel
Le Gray boasts an enviable position at a modern-day crossroads. In fact, a cornerstone property of the newly rebuilt downtown, it attracts Beirut’s fashionable to its bars and restaurants who mingle with well-heeled tourists and business travelers…
— Forbes
Hotels Get Rid of Closets, add Other Storage Solutions
Closet doors and dressers are disappearing, nooks are becoming more fashionable and the bed is serving a dual purpose with space underneath for bags…
— USA Today
With Renovations and New Restaurants, LAX Hotels are Taking Off
The $14 billion in improvements at LAX have stolen the show, but the airport is not the only place that’s getting a face-lift. Check out the nearby hotels on Century Boulevard for a happy surprise for out-of-town guests or for you if you have an early flight…
— LA Times
Other and Odd
Thanksgiving Flying Guide: 7 Things to Know
Some tips are constant: Arrive early. Brace for crowds. Pack smart. That advice changes little from year to year. But there are some updates for 2017 that are different than in previous years…
— USA Today
7 Reasons Why Japan Is Amazing For Solo Female Travelers
When choosing a suitable destination to travel to as a solo female, Japan may not be the first place that springs to mind, and that isn’t for any derogatory reason, but simply because there is not enough information out there about precisely how female friendly Japan actually is…
— The Huffington Post
Today in History
The Sinking of the Essex
On this day in 1820 a giant sperm whale attacked and sank the whaling vessel Essex in off of the western coast of South America. The survivors climbed aboard two life boats and made it to a small island…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
American Song Launched 7 Weeks Ahead of Schedule
American Cruise Lines announced today that it successfully launched its brand new riverboat American Song into the Wicomico River on Friday, November 17th. The first ship in the Line’s highly anticipated Modern Riverboat Series, American Song has made a big splash—both in the water and the news…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
7 tips to keep you or your team motivated
by John Frenaye
Monday November 20, 2017
The day in and  day out of work can take a toll on us all. And when that happens, we check out. A Dale Carnegie study found that as many as 45 percent of the workforce is not engaged and another quarter are actively disengaged. Yikes!
Whether you have a team of employees running your agency, or a team of one, keeping engaged and appreciated is key to your success. Failure to keep engaged and appreciated can result in your employees looking for greener pastures—or even yourself looking to bail on the industry. As Jack Torrance said in he Shining—all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Be sure to reward those who work for you…even if it is only you. And remember, it does…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Setting Goals for Your 2018 Business Plan
by Richard Earls
Sunday November 19, 2017
Just 6 more wee ks and 2018 is here. I like both endings and beginnings, the opportunity to evaluate how the year has gone and the opportunity to plan for the next. I'm hoping you have begun to work on a business plan for next year. If you need a bit of help, here is an article abstracted from a new project Anita Pagliasso and I have undertaken at Travel Professional Academy. It will help you get a real jump on writing a business plan.
Keep in mind as we build your business plan that marketing has two fundamental…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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One-to-One Interviews
Todd Powell, CEO and Co-Founder, Vacations By Rail
 Todd Powell, CEO and Co-Founder of Vacations By Rail, fell in love with the art of rail travel studying abroad, and has extensive experience traveling through Europe, the USA, and Canada by rail. With the support of the Vacations By Rail staff, Todd evaluates rail journeys based on an array of things including personal experience and extensive customer feedback. Todd Powell worked in many different areas of the travel industry, from management to marketing, before the creation of Vacations By Rail in 2004 which has since become one of the United States' largest producers of rail vacations and trail tours throughout the…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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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!
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Let Your Clients Discover the Beauty of China on Xiamen Airlines
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
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 ➠
Hotels.com TAI – The Obvious Choice for booking your Clients’ Perfect Stay
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
Choose from over 300,000 Properties
Register Now ➠
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Today's Message: Thank your lucky stars you are not a pharmaceutical sales rep. Every 25 years (+ or - five years) I get bit by a bug that puts this 190 pound, 6 foot boy down flatter than a Tuscaloosa, Alabama Flap Jack.
