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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
5 Great Places to Visit in June
Deciding where to travel in June can be tough. School is out in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Families are flocking to beaches and national parks, and prices for airfare and accommodations are rising steadily with temperatures in this part of the world. It can feel like there's nowhere to…
— CNN
10 Best Beaches in the U.S.
Each year, Steve Leatherman—also known as Dr. Beach—evaluates America's seashores based on criteria like water, safety, and sand quality. This year's list just came out, and unsurprisingly, the top ten is stacked with strips of sand in Hawaii, the Carolinas, and Florida. This gallery was originally published in May 2015. It has been updated with new…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
10 Best Tours in Amsterdam
Knowing where to direct your steps in Amsterdam is far more complicated than just keeping an eye out for the constant onslaught of bikes: between the major museum renovations, the cutting-edge architectural innovation, and the chameleonic food scene, the city is enjoying a renaissance akin to its Golden Age glory…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Halong Bay: A Journey Into the Dragon's Jaws
Captain Tho Pham first went out to sea when he was 14 years old. Now, he's been a junk skipper in Halong Bay for more than a decade. He knows his way through the tangle of islands that cover Halong as well as anyone alive. "Long ago, our forefathers were fighting to resist an invasion -- just one of the many we've fought off over the centuries," says Captain Tho as he guides his 55-meter junk boat between rearing limestone outcrops.…
— CNN
Cruise
This Cruise Ship's Elevators May Be Smarter Than You
In a stream of passengers boarding the new Carnival Horizon, I entered an elevator for a ride to my assigned cabin, only to become a prisoner to a lift with a brain but no buttons. The door closed quickly. Nearly a dozen of us, seemingly trapped in an elevator without controls, began rising to who knew…
— Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Ship Passengers Stuck For 2 Days in Tampa Port
Hundreds of passengers on a Carnival Cruise ship were supposed to be enjoying sun and fun, but instead they were kept in port in Tampa for two days. Passengers and the company say the Carnival Miracle was originally scheduled to depart Sunday and visit Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman and Mexico. But because of “pre-emptive but necessary maintenance work,” the company said it required two extra days in…
— Vancouver Sun
Transportation
J.D. Power Rates 10 Best North American Airlines for 2018
Which airlines have the highest customer-satisfaction ratings for 2018? J.D. Power ranked 10 North American Airlines. Five were 'traditional' carriers and five were low-cost. Scroll through to see how they rated, from lowest to…
— USA Today
Singapore Airlines is Launching a 19-hour Non-stop Flight to New York
Singapore Airlines has announced plans to launch the world’s longest commercial flight from 11 October, a non-stop service from Singapore to just outside New York, which will take nearly 19 hours. The proposed route from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey, will fly approximately 16,700km and overtake the world’s longest existing flight, Qatar Airlines' Doha to Auckland route, which covers…
— The Independent
Lodging
The World's Most Beautiful Floral Hotels
If you love flowers while you travel, you don't have to go outside to enjoy nature's beautiful. Just check into one of these hotels, from Mumbai to Manhattan to Monaco, for some of the world's most elegant and opulent floral displays all year round. These 11 will dazzle you with their flowers when you stay…
— CNN
Baha Mar, The Largest Casino and Hotel Complex in the Caribbean, is Open
Baha Mar, the largest casino and retail complex in the Caribbean, is finally complete. The final of the three hotels planned for the development will welcome its first guests on June 1. Rosewood Baha Mar had its ribbon cutting last…
— CNBC
Other and Odd
Etihad Airways Manager, Linda Celestino, Shares Her Top Packing Tips
She’s spent more than 35 years in the airline industry but says she only recently discovered this clothing hack that has changed the way she packs — the capsule wardrobe. Linda Celestino is the vice president of guest experience and delivery at Etihad Airways overseeing the airline’s in-flight product and service delivery for cabin…
— Escape
Amsterdam Gets Tough on Antisocial Behaviour From Tourists
Partying tourists in Amsterdam are being sent a sobering new message: antisocial behaviour will be met with on-the-spot fines. The Enjoy and Respect campaign has been launched jointly by the city’s marketing body, council, police and hospitality industries, in an effort to point out that even in a city that is all about freedom, nuisance tourism has a…
— The Guardian
Today in History
The Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on this date in 1922. In 1867, only two years after his assassination, the US Congress authorized the Lincoln Monument Association to build a memorial to Lincoln. However, it was not until 1901 that the site was chosen. Former President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft dedicated the monument upon its completion in a ceremony attended by Robert Todd Lincoln, the surviving child of…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
15-Day Alaska Inside Passage Cruises: Unforgettable Explorations with American Cruise Lines
GUILFORD, CT—May 29, 2018—American Cruise Lines’ 2018 Alaska Season will begin on June 9th with one of the Line’s two incredible 15-day, 14-night Alaska Inside Passage cruises. This extraordinary longer itinerary is offered only twice per season and includes a rare overnight in Glacier Bay—it is an Alaska cruising experience not to be missed. Sailings are aboard American’s gorgeous 2017 ship American Constellation—the only fully stabilized small ship in Alaska this season. The Line’s 2018 Alaska Inside Passage cruises are available June 9th (Seattle–Juneau) and September 8th, 2018…
— Travel Research Online
One-to-One Interviews
Louie Melhem, CMO of Cosmopolitan Travel Service
Louie Melhem
CMO
After joining CTS in 1990, Louie has overseen the Sales and Marketing for CTS. His familiarity with the products and the markets that CTS offers are one of the main reasons why CTS is where it is today. Louie holds a BA from the University of Michigan and a JD from the Detroit College of Law.
— Travel Research Online
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Supplier Profile
Real Experience with Vantage Deluxe World Travel
 Founded in 1983 by Henry Lewis, Vantage Deluxe World Travel has been sharing the joy of travel for 35 years. Since then, over 1 million travelers have created lasting memories with Vantage. Vantage’s river cruises and land adventures are designed for the traveler who wants to truly experience the world, and the varied cultures within it. Their goal in 2018, after all these decades, is still the same – to create a personalized experience for…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
I’m Just Sayin’…
 Since entering the travel industry in 1984 I have effectively uncovered a simple way to hold on to your valued clients. Notice I did not label them “customers.” I will explain why shortly.
Having recently been introduced to a shameful statistic I thought it timely to give you my opinion on this subject. See if you can swallow this dose of reality: When interviewed, travel agents believe they retain 78% of their paying customers. When interviewed, paying customers believe this number is closer to…
— Travel Research Online
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Travel Agent Diaries
A Minor Inconvenience
 It’s that email every travel agent dreads, “Subject: Flight Cancellations: Airline.” The email arrived as I was returning from a mid-year conference and two-night inaugural cruise. I was sitting in traffic at a stop light when the email popped up on my phone. A planned ATC (Air Traffic Control) strike would close the airport in MRS (Marseille Province Airport), causing my clients’ flight from VCE (Venice Marco Polo Airport) to be cancelled in two days. The notice arrived late in the evening Italian time, but with two days’ notice to my clients as well as the transfer company. The time difference would also allow me to search for options on flights.
— 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
Gauchos, Penguins, and Glaciers - Patagonia by Land and Sea
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
On this Australis webinar we are going to explore, in-depth, one of our most unique routes called “Gauchos, Penguins, and Glaciers.” During the webinar Stephen Bass will break the route down day by day and give a description of each days’ activities. He will also cover the details of this unique combination of both Land and Sea in one exciting experience.
Register Now ➠
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