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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
A Local's Guide to Rome: 10 Top Tips
Contemporary Rome’s best bars, restaurants and culture are found in the southern neighbourhoods of Testaccio and Garbatella, a world away from the city-centre gladiators in plastic…
— The Guardian
Is This the Food Capital of Asia?
With its unique mix of cultures, languages and religions, Kuala Lumpur often gets described by locals as a ‘big melting pot’, where different traditions are openly celebrated. The melting pot is also often more literal than metaphorical in Malaysia’s biggest city and capital.…
— BBC Travel
Tours and Activities
Record 72 Million Tourists Came to Orlando Last Year
Even though Hurricane Irma forced the closures of its theme parks and airports and filled its hotels with displaced evacuees, a record-setting 72 million tourists still flocked to the Orlando area last year, tourism officials said Thursday. The 5 percent year-over-year increase in visitors was powered by domestic…
— MSN.com
10 of the Best Things to Do In Hanoi
The first thing you’ll notice about Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the traffic – horns blare as the locals zip past on a seemingly endless fleet of scooters, while tour buses barrel in carrying a steady flow of tourists, ready to lap up the sights and sounds of this vibrant…
— The Independent
Cruise
New Norwegian Bliss Becomes Biggest Cruise Ship Ever to Transit Panama Canal
Monday will be a day for the record books at the Panama Canal as one of world's biggest cruise ships, Norwegian Bliss, passes through the waterway for the first time. Unveiled by Norwegian Cruise Line in April, the 168,028-ton vessel is the ninth largest cruise ship ever built…
— USA Today
Music Festivals and Mixology: How Cruises Got Cool
They have always been associated with the grey pound, but now cruise ships are trying to attract a millennial crowd. Will smaller boats, late-night stop-offs and better brunches tempt young people on board? Think of cruise holidays and a whole host of images spring to mind. Endless buffets. Crushed velvet…
— The Guardian
Transportation
America's Least-favorite Airline Is Adding Wi-Fi
Spirit Airlines has announced that it will introduce high-speed Wi-Fi on all of its planes. Once the Wi-Fi service is installed, Spirit passengers can browse the web, follow social media, and stream videos at speeds similar to their home connections. The budget airline has chosen global technology company Thales…
— Travel+Leisure
Spend Two Weeks Exploring Norway With an All-You-Can-Fly Pass
Packing a trip around Norway into just two weeks may be within reach this summer with an all-you-can-fly pass. Widerøe, a Norwegian airline, is offering an Explore Norway Ticket, which provides unlimited travel around Norway for two weeks, between 1 July and 31…
— Lonely Planet
Lodging
Room With No View: Valencia Wants to Ban Airbnbs With the Best Vistas
Valencia is the latest popular holiday destination poised to impose restrictions on private holiday rentals, such as Airbnb, with a focus on banning new tourist accommodation above first floor level. The rules, to be voted on by the Valencian regional government, would effectively limit the number of properties with Mediterranean sea…
— Telegraph (London)
10 Festive Hotels in Europe
Hotels on Europe’s festival circuit come in a range of styles, from party-centric to serene retreat. Some even create their own festivals devoted to food, literature or music, and others offer easy access to destination events nearby. The following new, improved or event-staging hotels welcome guests to…
— New York Times
Other and Odd
This 23-year-old's Photos Will Make You Want to Become a Flight Attendant
A flight attendant for Emirates is proving you don’t have to be a celebrity to live the jet-set life. 23-year-old Brigita Jagelaviciute, originally from Lithuania but living in Dubai, has traveled to 74 countries so far, and her worldly adventures can be seen on her gorgeously cultivated Instagram…
— Travel+Leisure
Is Indonesia Safe for Travel? Travel Advice and Updates
Indonesia is reeling from deadly bomb attacks on three churches across Surabaya in Java. At least 11 people are dead and more than 40 horrifically wounded. In the wake of the atrocity is Indonesia still safe for tourists to travel to? Latest travel advice and…
— Express.co.uk
Today in History
The First Smallpox Vaccination
On May 14, 1796, physician Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox vaccination to 8 year old James Phipps. Wife's tales indicated that milkmaids who contracted the milder cowpox never caught the more deadly smallpox. Jenner's work was also preceded by Chinese and Turkish practices of inoculating with weakened cowpox and smallpox…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Facebook is changing things up, pay attention
 by John Frenaye
Monday May 14, 2018
OK, I am not ready to admit defeat and abandon Facebook; but there is plenty of reason to be cautious. I know I have been an ardent advocate for Facebook (and other social media platforms) for years and still feel they are an integral and perhaps critical part of any marketing plan for any agency. However, we also need to remember that the sandbox we have been invited to play in DOES belong to Mark Zuckerberg and at any time, he is able to take his ball and go home. Or, in this case, change up the rules a bit. If you are relying solely on Facebook—you need to be concerned. If you rely on it heavily—then keep a watchful eye!
Several months…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Yes! It Can Happen To You
 This happened a while ago, but it can happen to you.
A large advertising agency lost the Mars account after 70 years of service and $70 million in annual billings. The well-known D’Arcy Advertising Agency has been respected for over 70…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
The Usual Suspect
by Richard Earls
Monday May 14, 2018
Visit any of th e forums frequented by travel professionals and you get a sense of how the bogey man might look. Variations on a theme betray our greatest fears, often summed up in a phrase like “I lost a sale to the internet.” It appears “the internet” is stealing our sales. With nothing but 1’s and 0’s spinning in his eyes the monster’s algorithms apparently foil us time and again. What chance do we have against a dispassionate mind capable of manipulating trillions of trips a second?
Wait. I’m thinking what we have here is a case of mistaken identity. Like the characters in the movie “The Usual Suspects” the Internet often looks like a culprit, but the identity of the real criminal is a bit more surprising.
— Travel Research Online
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One-to-One Interviews
John Klados, Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Director of Group Sales, Homeric Tours
 John Klados has worked in the travel industry since 1980. John began his career working for several airlines such as Olympic Airlines, Yugoslav Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. John joined Homeric Tours in 1995 as the Group Sales Supervisor and has cultivated its group department to what it is today. Born, raised and educated in New York, John has traveled extensively around the world to learn firsthand the required level of service and accommodations that will meet Homeric’s high standards, as well as those of the American traveler. With his strong roots and family ties in Greece, John is able to intimately describe Greece to everyone’s expectation. Today, John is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for…
— 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
Australia's Gold Coast - Where the Fun Never Ends!
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Ever wondered where Australian’s go on holidays to meet international travellers! Welcome to the famous Gold Coast, Australia’s endless playground of entertainment and adventure.
Register Now ➠
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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