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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
Leros: The Greek Island With Just a Touch of Italy
This Dodecanese gem has 20th-century Italian influences as well as the classic repertoire of secret beaches and laid-back tavernas. ‘It is an unusual island,” said my friend Yannis, slightly self-consciously. “We are a bit different from our…
— The Guardian
T+L Summer Shortlist: The Best Things to Do in Philadelphia
It’s time to take that summer vacation you’ve been dreaming of all winter long. While you’re brainstorming trip ideas, let Travel + Leisure help you decide where to go with its Summer Shortlist, which features the season’s hottest destinations in the…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
Bounce In a Dune Buggy On a Sandy Weekend Escape to Pismo Beach
“This is just like Tatooine!” exclaimed my 6-year-old grandson, referring to the sand planet that is Luke Skywalker’s home in “Star Wars.” Wearing what his 4-year-old brother called “ginormous” helmets and sand goggles, my two grandsons looked to me a bit like Imperial Stormtroopers. My husband, Paul, and I, had driven them to Pismo Beach to explore the astounding sand dunes in Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes…
— LA Times
20 Extraordinary Family Vacations Kids Will Actually, Truly Enjoy
Beach break? Mountain trek? Wildlife adventure? African odyssey? Summer is that sublime time of year when families can travel unencumbered by school schedules. And choices abound. Some destinations are all about kids, all of the time. Other properties may tolerate children but certainly do not lay out a welcome…
— Travel+Leisure
Cruise
June Route Roundup: Where Cruise Lines Are Adding Sailings
Cruise lines are constantly tweaking their schedules. Sometimes it's just the addition of a single port to a long-established itinerary. Other times it's the rollout of an all-new route. Here, some of the more notable new itinerary announcements from recent…
— USA Today
MSC Offers European-style in the Caribbean
MSC Cruises recently took delivery of the sister-ship to its trendsetting MSC Seaside. Known as MSC Seaview, the 4,132-passenger ship is the largest cruise ship ever built in Italy. Like MSC Seaside, the massive MSC Seaview is loaded with onboard features that include 10 restaurants and 20 bars and lounges. There are also five waterslides onboard; a bowling alley; a Formula One racing simulator; a 4D cinema; a kids splash park; a pair of ziplines; and an outdoor movie…
— Vancouver Sun
Transportation
Long-Haul Discounters Invade The Big Airlines' Trans-Atlantic Sandbox, To Consumers' Benefit
Abilene, Texas, and Reykjavik, Iceland, aren’t normally thought of in the same breath, yet the two cities share some things in common. Both have about 122,000 residents. They both are relatively isolated from large population centers. And, believe it or not, both now are served by American Airlines, making them two of the very smallest cities served by the world’s largest…
— Forbes
These Are the Best (and Worst) Airlines & Airports of 2018
Air travel is rough enough when everything goes right: security's a breeze, your flight's on time, you've secured a comfy seat, and the skies are smooth. But even the slightest hiccup at the airport or aboard your flight can turn your whole travel day into a hellish nightmare, especially if it requires having to sit on the phone with a customer service agent for hours.…
— Thrillist
Lodging
Millions of Brits Accidentally Book the Wrong Hotel When Looking for Holidays
Millions of Brits have accidentally booked the wrong hotel or dates in a rush to secure a bargain, according to research. After hours of searching the web for the biggest bargain, busy Brits have found themselves booking by mistake due to the pressure of securing the lowest…
— The Independent
Toronto's Hotel Scene Heats Up With 4 Exciting Newcomers
Four distinct hotels. Four different areas of the city. Toronto has been lauded the last few years for its expanding food scene. Now the hotels are catching up, offering visitors a variety of places to sleep after a fine meal, a ballgame or a visit to the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Here’s a look at four cutting-edge places that have opened their doors in the last few…
— Chicago Tribune
Other and Odd
World's Highest Bungee Jump to Open in China
For those who have successfully overcome their fears and walked the world's highest glass-bottom bridge in China, it's time to take things up a notch -- and bungee off it. A new 260-meter-high (853 feet) bungee-jump platform will be added to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in August 2018. Once open, it will be the world's highest bungee jump.…
— CNN
CNN's Anthony Bourdain Dead at 61
Anthony Bourdain, the chef and gifted storyteller who took TV viewers around the world to explore culture, cuisine and the human condition for nearly two decades, has died. He was 61. CNN confirmed Bourdain's death on Friday and said the cause of death was suicide.…
— CNN
Today in History
Porsche No. 1
On June 8, 1948, the first car bearing the name "Porsche" took its very first test drive. The company had been restructured by a British Major, Ivan Hirst, after its founder was imprisoned for war crimes following Porsche's involvement in building tanks and designing Volkswagens for Germany during World War II. He was never charged and was subsequently released after 20 months in…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Central Holidays Unveils Novel New “Top Ten Destinations” Publication for Agents and Guarantees Departures on Featured Italy and Israel Escorted Tours
Central Holidays today unveiled its new “Top Ten Destinations” brochure, featuring vacations exclusively offered by the travel brand to its most highly requested destinations and guaranteed departures on the company’s most popular signature Italy and Israel Escorted Tours. Known for its specialized destination expertise and affordable-luxury line-up of diverse travel programs, Central Holidays is making it easy for agents to find the best program for their clients via this novel publication that showcases the top destinations and programs that travelers are booking this…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Downton Abbey, Whisky, Chocolate, some Silver Darlings and a Wedgwood Experience
by Paull Tickner
Friday June 08, 2018
Welcome to anot her salvo of bright ideas which you’ll probably not hear about anywhere else. Among them you’ll find an update on Highclere Castle, an On Location visit to the recording of the BBC’s Antiques Road Show, a Whisky Festival, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Poldark, some heroic gardens and an English Afternoon Tea at Wedgwood.
The really good news is that I know exactly how to piece together all of them (and many other visits) into customised and saleable UK travel experiences that will generate valuable commission for you and, because you’ve come up with the goods, further cement your relationship with your valued…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Your Customer Is Your Competitor’s Prospect
 Read that again slowly, and think about those six words. In most instances, more energy is expended towards acquiring new accounts than it is for maintaining current relationships.
We all seem to want more these days: one TV is not enough, one car is not enough, one yearly vacation is not enough. There seems to always be something else we have in our sights. What we currently have never seems to satisfy us. More… more… more seems to be the…
— Travel Research Online
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Soundings
Streamlining Loyalty Programs
by Susan Schaefer
Friday June 08, 2018
As you know, Ro yal Caribbean also owns Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. A unique aspect of this ownership is that the three cruise lines offer reciprocal loyalty program benefits. For example, if you are an Emerald Member with Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, but you have never sailed with Celebrity Cruises; Celebrity will give you the perks of their Select level of the Captain’s Club because it is the equivalent to Royal Caribbean’s Emerald level.
This has been a nice selling point with my clients. They’re loyal to one particular brand, so they hesitate about sailing another line and “starting over” in a loyalty program. Admittedly, that’s the whole point of any loyalty program - keep them coming back. But offering reciprocal benefits in…
— 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
Compete with Costco Travel & Win!
Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Have you ever experienced helping a client plan a vacation only to have them call you and say they booked with Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s because of a better deal? It’s the worst! Nothing is more frustrating and makes you feel more helplessness than when that happens. So what can you do about the low prices, amenities, sometimes rebates cleverly disguised as gift cards that are a thorn in your side? The answer - a lot more than you might think!
Register Now ➠
Explore China & Asia Beyond The Familiar
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Join Travel Research Online and Chinatour.com and let us introduce you to new products in China and Asia. While most of you are familiar with Beijing, Xian and Shanghai in China or Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand, we’d like you to explore some other amazing secondary destinations to share with your discerning travelers. Other destinations in Indonesia besides Bali will be featured and we will be discussing and offering Agent FAM Trips as well.
Register Now ➠
Emerald Waterways in 2019 - Europe Rivers, Dalmatian Coast & Nile River
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm 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 including Emerald Waterways’ first ocean cruise: the Islands of Dalmatia, and our newest Egypt, Nile River & Jordan programs. Sign up today to join Mark Junette, Regional Sales Manager, Southwest, to learn how you can build your business with Emerald Waterways.
Register Now ➠
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s will visit Mexico, South America, and Asia in 2019 and 2020. Royal Princess will offer 27 total departures in Mexico while Diamond and Sapphire Princess sail 45 departures in Asia, and Coral and Island Princess visit South America on 14…
