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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
36 Hours in Gothenburg, Sweden
Jazz, street murals, distinctive architecture and world-class breweries in Sweden’s second-largest city. Swedes didn’t always adore Gothenburg. The resurgent second city, equidistant between Copenhagen and Oslo on Sweden’s western coast, was long viewed as a grungy port in slow decline. But locals saw the potential. Languishing neighborhoods became incubators for improvisational creative projects — in music, art, design,…
— New York Times
Why Glasgow is Better Than Edinburgh for a Scottish City Break
Friendly lively, dynamic and increasingly sophisticated, Glasgow is Scotland’s largest and arguably most vibrant city. In recent years, this former shipbuilding hub has reinvented itself as a perfect weekend getaway, filled with wonderful museums, unbeatable bars and restaurants that take full advantage of the excellent fresh seafood caught daily on Scotland’s west…
— The Independent
Tours and Activities
A Luxury-Tinged Guide to Thailand's Railay Beach
There's an obvious reason for its fame -- it's simply spectacular. Railay looks and feels like an island but it's actually part of the Thai mainland on the Andaman Sea side. The karst topography has left it isolated and devoid of road access, meaning the only way to get in is by boat.…
— CNN
Travel from Cambodia to Vietnam By Bicycle and By Boat
Journey by bicycle and boat from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on a new 11-day tour offered by Grasshopper Adventures. Mornings will be spent on bike touring mostly flat terrain, while afternoons are spent cruising the Mekong River on a 10-cabin riverboat. Highlights include exploring Angkor Wat in Cambodia, cycling through villages, with opportunities to meet local people; participating in a rice-wine tasting and walking through Ho Chi Minh City's former French…
— LA Times
Cruise
Carnival Adds More Cuba Departures from More Homeports
Carnival Cruise Line has expanded its cruises to Cuba with the addition of 23 three- to five-day sailings to Havana in 2019-20 aboard five different ships departing from four East Coast homeports. The new deployment will see Carnival Sunshine sail to Cuba from Charleston, the Carnival Triumph from Fort Lauderdale, the Carnival Paradise from Tampa and the Carnival Victory and Carnival Sensation from…
— Cruise Industry News
Newly Revamped Carnival Cruise Line Ship to Make Tampa Home
A newly revamped Carnival ship is heading to Tampa. The Miami-based line on Wednesday revealed that the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend will re-position to the city in October of 2019. Legend is undergoing an overhaul this spring that will bring several new eateries and bars that have been rolling out across the Carnival fleet.…
— USA Today
Transportation
North Korea Airline Plans New China Charter Flights Amid Diplomatic Thaw
North Korea's Air Koryo plans to launch charter flights between Pyongyang and Chengdu in south-west China, two airline officials told Reuters, amid a major improvement in diplomatic relations between the neighbors. The flights to Chengdu, one of the biggest cities in China's vast western region, could start as early as late June if approved by China's aviation regulator, the officials told Reuters on condition of…
— CNBC
The Busiest International Airline Routes In The World
The flight data firm OAG regularly compiles information on the airline industry and releases reports on routes, revenue and other key factors. The firm recently published its list of the world’s 20 busiest international airline routes, and the results might surprise…
— Forbes
Lodging
Goodbye Fusty Old Landscapes: These Hotels Are More Like Museums Where You Can Sleep
Even in a cut-rate motor inn, generic art just won’t do anymore. Hoteliers know their customers want an experience, and they’re increasingly inclined to give it to them in the form of provocative art. Upscale hotels such as the Chambers in New York City and the Henry in Dearborn, Mich., are packing their walls with original works of contemporary…
— Boston Globe
Airbnb’s Cut from Puerto Rico Bookings Will Go to Hurricane Recovery
Eight months ago, Puerto Rico was devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Maria. But since then, much of the island—especially the capital of San Juan—has come backß strong, even as some areas are still struggling to get back to full health. We urged you not to forget Puerto Rico in March, because the island's "best shot at recovery comes from…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Other and Odd
Only People Named Peter and Wendy Are Eligible to Win This Free 'Neverland' Tropical Dream Vacation. Here's How to Enter
Peter Pan may just be a children’s tale, but one lucky Wendy-and-Peter duo can get as close as possible to experiencing their own magical adventure. You’ll have to go without Tinkerbell, unfortunately.After YouTube host Matthew Patrick "discovered" Neverland to be Turneffe Atoll, Belize will give a real life Peter and Wendy a free…
— Time
Revenge of the Travel Industry: Online Reviews of You
It was just a matter of time. All those one-star reviews you left for hotels and restaurants were bound to come back and haunt you. And now they have. In a sharing economy, many of the big players, including Airbnb and Uber, allow drivers and hosts to review their guests. A negative rating can affect your ability to hire another car or rent an apartment.…
— USA Today
Today in History
J. Edgar Hoover
On May 10, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge appointed J. Edgar Hoover as the director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI. Hoover remained the director until his death in 1972. Hoover was both respected and feared by many of the nine presidents under whom he served. Often criticized for abuses of power, his long tenure resulted in the current limitation of a ten year service for today's Directors of the FBI.…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Watch Your Tone
 Someone once told me to remember that elephants don’t bite. Mosquitoes do. This is a clever attempt at reminding us that it is the little things when overlooked can do us the most harm.
I was recently reminded of this when a former business acquaintance “reached out” and gave me an unexpected phone call. It had been a while since we last communicated which was a result of two busy people trying to make ends meet. It was good to hear his voice…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Luxury Travel Tips
You Have More in Common with McDonalds Than You Think!
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday May 10, 2018
Have you ever w ondered how much your business is worth? I mean, if you had to sell it tomorrow, how much would someone pay for it. In all likelihood the answer is zero, nada! But it’s probably not for the reasons you might think.
Most travel agencies are what are known as ‘Key-Man” businesses. Much like with a realtor or hairdresser, the client tends to be loyal to the person, not the business. It is not unusual for a stylist to switch shops or a realtor to switch brokers multiple times in their careers. Where they go, so too goes their revenue. In the case of a travel agency, many clients, loyal to the owner, will disappear, thus the value of the business is a fraction…
— Travel Research Online
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Spotlight
Handcrafted Getaways with Homeric Tours
by Joseph DeLoach
Thursday May 10, 2018
In 1969,  Homeric Tours began packaged tours to Greece. Since then, they have grown from providing memorable getaways to the gorgeous shores of Greece to including other Mediterranean countries, Europe, and Africa as well. This family-owned business has been the trusted supplier of Mediterranean vacation memories for almost 50 years, and they attribute this to the expertise of destinations and the trust that will take care of the traveler.
— 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
Argentina and Beyond with Aerolineas Argentinas and Delta
Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Join Aerolineas Argentinas and Delta for their informative webinar on Thursday, May 17.
Register Now ➠
Explore the Sunshine Coast – Australia’s best kept secret and Queensland’s hidden gem!
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Just one hour north of Brisbane in Queensland is the region known as the Sunshine Coast – Australia’s best kept secret and Queensland’s hidden gem! From the majestic Glass House Mountains to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, the region includes over 100 kilometres of pristine sandy beaches, surrounded by the quiet beauty of coastal and hinterland villages. The Sunshine Coast offers you on an Australia vacation abundant in nature, with a relaxed beach culture, fresh local food, world-class events, and bucket list experiences just waiting to be explored.
Register Now ➠
What’s New from Emerald Waterways in 2019 – Europe’s Rivers
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Experience the Exceptional Emerald Value on one of Europe’s newest and best-designed river cruise fleets, Emerald Waterways. Voted Best River Cruise Line For Value by the discerning experts at Cruise Critic for three years in a row, our ships and river cruises are praised for their striking design, innovative highlights and contemporary approach, setting a trip with us apart from any other river cruise. During our webinar you’ll learn what’s new for 2019, hear about our brand new promotions and find out about the re-launch of our online training tool, Emerald Specialist. Sign up today to join our Richard Hickey, Director of Key Accounts, to learn how you can build your business with Emerald Waterways.
Register Now ➠
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