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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
The World's 50 Best Wildlife Holidays
The following 50 holidays cover the widest possible range of charismatic species across every continent, with an emphasis on the latest destinations, camps and experiences being introduced in 2018…
— Telegraph (London)
Solomon Islands: A Deep Dive
If a remote South Pacific destination with lots of World War II artifacts and world-class diving appeals to you, check out the Solomon Islands…
— Miami Herald
Florida's Pinellas County Beaches offer Stretch of Sand for Every Mood
Want to hit the beach this spring break? There's no shortage of options along the Gulf Coast peninsula anchored by St. Petersburg, Fla.…
— Chicago Tribune
Tours and Activities
Addis Ababa: 10 Best Things to Do in Ethiopia's Capital
Addis Ababa keeps visitors on their toes -- in a fun way. Find out the 10 best things to do in Ethiopia's spirited capital…
— CNN
Cycling the North York Moors – a Galaxy on my Doorstep
Looking for an adventure with a cosmic feel, our writer reckons a new cycling centre in the wonderfully named Great Fryup Dale will fit the bill…
— The Guardian
How About Some Eye Candy for Valentine's? Massive Porsche exhibit Coming to Petersen
You'd have to travel to Porsche's global home garage in Stuttgart, Germany, to see a display anything like this, the Petersen Automotive Museum says of its new show opening this weekend…
— LA Times
Cruise
Scenic Cruises to Build Second Ship with its own Helicopter, Submarine
The Australian-owned cruise operator on Saturday said the soon-to-debut, 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse would get a sister in 2020 to be called Scenic Eclipse II…
— USA Today
9 Changes Happening to Cruises
As the cruise industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, cruise lines are listening to their guests and are making changes. Here are nine changes happening to cruises…
— Cruise Fever
Transportation
Kenya Airways to Launch First-Ever Route to the USA
Daily non-stop flights between Nairobi and New York JFK begin Oct. 28 and will be flown with the carrier’s Boeing 787-8 “Dreamliners,” which seat 30 in lie-flat business-class seats and 204 in coach…
— USA Today
Airlines Facing Investigation for Splitting up Passengers Who Refuse to Pay Extra
Around one in five travellers who refuse to pay extra are now being split up from their friends or family, the CAA reports. For Ryanair, that figure rises to more than one in three…
— Telegraph (London)
Germs in Airplane Cabins are Bad, but it's Even Worse at the Airport Terminal
You don't have to be a germophobe to want to slip on rubber gloves when you enter an airplane cabin. The latest study found that surfaces in airport terminals can have even higher germ counts than those in the planes…
— LA Times
Lodging
Rick Steves: Europe's Convents offer Tranquility — and Treats
Convents provide tranquil and often economical sleeping quarters. They can also be a way to tap into a deeply ingrained cultural heritage…
— USA Today
The Sailmaker's House in Portsmouth a Renovated Sweet Spot
The refurbished inn, set on a quiet South End side street, has rare outdoor space. In warmer months, guests can sit in a spacious fenced-in yard among flowering perennials and fruit trees…
— The Boston Globe
Legoland's 2nd Hotel – a Castle – Ready to Open in April
The wizards, dragons and royal princesses have not yet taken up residency in Legoland's newest hotel, but the castle facade is complete and the themed guestrooms are on track for an April 27 opening, the Carlsbad, Calif., theme park announced last week…
— Miami Herald
Other and Odd
Screen Addiction is Destroying Travel. Here's How to Stop It
The issue is simple: Travelers are tied to their devices 24 hours a day. The results can seem funny, like when park guests collide at Disney World, but they can also be tragic, and over the long term, they are troubling…
— USA Today
Truck Driver Plows into Peru's 2,000-year-old Archeological Enigma
Peru's world renowned Nazca Lines were damaged when a rig plowed into the ancient site on Saturday, the country's ministry of culture said…
— CNN
Today in History
The Tybee Bomb is Lost
Somewhere off the coast of South Carolina on the bottom of a shallow channel, lies an 11-foot-long canister.…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Are we adequately protected against fraud?
by John Frenaye
Monday February 05, 2018
Earlier this we ek I received an email pitching a service to help agencies detect fraud. It piqued my interest initially and to be honest, it did not seem to have a whole lot of meat to it. So much of it was not applicable to agencies, but more to tour operators, OTAs, and airlines. And then there was this statement that make begin to think.
The entirety of the article is summed up in an infographic here; but what caught my eye was the behavior of fraudsters. And the average dollars of the fraud.
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Get Your Act Together
 Which one of these two stories defines your organization?
#1. Heads, you win…tails, I lose.
I once called a store and asked about a replacement glass cover for a kitchen light fixture. Since they did not have a computer, I was told that I would have to take a picture of the part and come into the…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Publishers Corner
Client Retention
by Richard Earls
Sunday February 04, 2018
Marketing has a two-fold function – to acquire new clients and to retain your existing clients. For that reason, smart travel professionals put into place a comprehensive client retention plan designed to keep an ongoing conversation with their existing clientele. When economic times get tough, it is your existing clients to which you can most easily and cost effectively turn for support. It is commonly known and accepted that it is much more expensive to acquire a new client than to retain an existing one. Existing clients represent the stability of your travel planning business. If your clients are not traveling with you on a repeat basis, chances are you are doing something very wrong.
Most conventional marketing…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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One-to-One Interviews
Jim Tedesco, Vice President of Sales for International Markets, Back-Roads Touring Co.
 With 11 years in the travel industry, Jim Tedesco has proven to be an effective and well respected leader. Before his position as Vice President of Sales for International Markets (North America/UK and Europe), Jim spent many successful years specializing in the wholesale side of the industry. In his VP of Sales for International Markets position Jim is responsible for an array of items, including the overall strategic direction of the Back-Roads brand in the International Markets. To learn more about Jim Tedesco and Back-Roads Touring Co., continue reading on…
— 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
Travel Agency Transformation
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
If you answer “YES” to any of these questions, YOU need to attend!
Register Now ➠
MEET THE NEW SCENIC ECLIPSE
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
The World’s First Discovery Yacht, the ultra-luxury mega yacht, Scenic Eclipse, will make her debut on August 31st in Athens, Greece. Inspired by the sleek contours of a sailing yacht and designed to easily glide through ocean currents, Scenic Eclipse will utilize state-of-the-art technology while featuring luxury suites, world-class dining, butler service and Spa Sanctuary that is over 5,000 square feet.
Register Now ➠
"Best of Both Worlds" with Down Under Answers
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Do you want the “Best of Both Worlds”? Then Victoria and the Northern Territory in Australia is for you.
Register Now ➠
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