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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
Returning to Vieques
Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated islands in the Caribbean last September. Six months later, how are they recovering? To find out, writers for Travel spent time in…
— New York Times
15 Popular Travel Destinations You Should Avoid In The Summer
Summer is undoubtedly a popular time for Americans to travel. With kids out of school and office environments a little more relaxed, it seems only natural to use your vacation days and get out of…
— The Huffington Post
Tours and Activities
How Martinique's Rum Became Certifiably the Best in the Caribbean
There are two ways to get toasted on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The first requires a beach towel and gobs of sunscreen. The second involves sipping glass after glass of a delicious adult beverage made from sugar cane and distilled to the exact standards of the French government.…
— The Boston Globe
A European Ski Resort All to Yourself
If you can put up with foolish goat men, sermonizing lions and the perpetual risk of being turned to stone, the storybook realm of Narnia would make an ideal skiing destination, at least during the 100-year winter of "The Lion, the Witch and the…
— CNN
Cruise
Avalon Waterways to Add India Cruise Tours in 2019
The 13-day Colorful India and the Ganges River trips will begin with a multi-day overland tour to India's capital, Delhi, as well as Agra (home to the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur -- a trio of historic cities known as the Golden Triangle. It'll then continue with a seven-night voyage on a tributary of the Ganges…
— KAGS
This Cruise Will Visit All Seven Continents and 32 Countries
An incredible new cruise that visits seven continents and 32 countries has been launched by Silversea. The ultra-luxury cruise line industry announced that the pioneering voyage on the Silver Whisper will start in…
— Lonely Planet
Transportation
Airline Offering a Voucher? Just Say No!
Beware of funny money, fellow travelers.
Airlines, hotels and cruise lines are quicker than ever to push vouchers into your unhappy hands when something goes wrong and you're owed a refund or apology. But think twice before you say "yes," because you might be forking over your hard-earned money without even realizing…
— USA Today
Emirates to Pay Millions in Compensation for Delatying Passengers
Thousands of passengers are in line for payouts of €600 (£529) from Emirates for flight delays, after the Supreme Court refused the airline permission to appeal against a ruling on missed connections. The decision is expected to cost the Dubai-based airline millions of pounds in retrospective…
— The Independent
Lodging
Las Vegas Resort Fees: How a $25 Room Becomes a $65 Room
Resort fees, those mandatory nightly charges for Internet service, fitness center use and other "perks'' that hotels insist guests want in one bundle, are increasing on and off the Las Vegas…
— USA Today
The World's Best Budget Hotels in Amazing Locations
Everyone loves a bargain, and there's no need to compromise on location when planning a shoestring…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
If You're Going to Brazil, Get a Yellow Fever Vaccine, CDC Warns
Federal health officials strengthened their warnings about travel to Brazil on Friday, saying anyone planning to travel there needs to get a yellow fever…
— NBC News
Woman Says She Was Fat-Shamed at Universal Theme Park
A woman who claims staff at Universal’s Islands of Adventure “humiliated” her by refusing to accommodate her size has filed a discrimination complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations, WFTV…
— Yahoo
Today in History
The Death of Robert de LaSalle
The French explorer Robert de LaSalle explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the entire Mississippi basin for France, naming it "La Louisiane" in honor of Louis…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
So….you’re having a dinner party….
by John Frenaye
Monday March 19, 2018
Imagine for a m inute if you will. You and your spouse/significant other/pet hamster decide to throw a dinner party. You plan the meal, you make a great Spotify playlist, maybe bought some new programmable lamps to finally use that whole “smart home” thing you bought a few years back. Your friends begin to RSVP. Everyone is stoked for the party and can’t wait. They ask what to bring and as a good host you tell them, “nothing, just yourselves.” The big night arrives and the first guest arrives and before you wave them in and take their coat, you tell them that there is a $20 cover charge. Who the hell does that?
Well—Disney does…kind of.
Last week Disney sent out the following…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Focus! Worth Repeating
 The main reason people are not more successful is because they dilute their efforts and try to do too many things for too many people, in too many ways. We often try to achieve a level of proficiency that may be beyond our grasp.
FACT: You are you, and there are only 24-hours in a day. How you decide to use your time (resources) is entirely up to you. Your choices will determine the level of your success. You are the product of the choices you…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Marketing Your Way
by Richard Earls
Sunday March 18, 2018
An unfortunate  temptation in marketing your travel agency is to scurry from one tactic to the next looking for the magic “trick” that will make clients come streaming through the door. The lure of the newest, the latest and great marketing gimmick is strong, but often comes at the expense of fundamentals. Thus, you sometimes see new travel agents that have not yet mastered the art of networking in their local communities leaping onto Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to market their new travel business because they heard that some other agent, somewhere, managed to wring a sale out of the online world.
Don’t get me wrong. I am all for creative niche marketing and I, too, enjoy learning about new marketing strategies and tactics. However, I am equally…
— Travel Research Online
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One-to-One Interviews
Travel Leaders Network
 Today's 1:1 Interview is with a panel of agency owners from Travel Leaders Network, a passionate community of professionals who are focused on mutual success—empowering agencies to grow more profitable, more professional and more efficient thanks to the enhanced commissions, powerful tools, advanced lead generation, innovative marketing and exclusive offers that only an internationally-respected powerhouse can…
— 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!
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
NEW ZEALAND 101 WITH GOWAY AND TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
What would be the major reasons to visit New Zealand? This makes for a long list. One has to say that one reason is nature at her best offering breathtaking landscapes of stunning and diverse natural beauty which include majestic and dramatic fjords, spectacular glaciers, rugged mountains, vast plains and farmland, long coastlines, wonderful sandy beaches and active geothermal regions plus so much more. The country also has history, culture and, not least, winelands producing excellent wines.
Register Now ➠
An introduction to Australis Expedition Cruises and Patagonia
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Explore the “end of the world” during the first session webinar series. Navigating the Patagonian waterways for over 25 years, Australis offers passengers an exclusive look into remote areas of the region, that include visits to glaciers, sub-polar forests and a view of amazing marine and terrestrial wildlife.
Register Now ➠
Better Booking 101 with America’s #1 Airline Consolidator
Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Are you ready to turn ticketing into your next paycheck? Then you won’t want to miss this webinar!
Register Now ➠
Getting to Know The SCENIC Group – Scenic Luxury Cruises
Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
The SCENIC Group is one of the World’s Leading Travel Companies. Since 1986, we’ve grown from a regional tour operator in Australia, to now taking guests to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations on all seven continents!
Register Now ➠
The Best of Calgary and Alberta with Canada à la Carte
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
The province of Alberta offers travelers the perfect blend of outdoor adventures and indoor arts and culture, and the vibrant city of Calgary is ideally positioned for your clients to enjoy both—in the same day.
Register Now ➠
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