|
Editor’s Note — TRO wants to remind it’s 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
20 Amazing Destinations in Spain You've Probably Never Heard Of
This summer, more of us will be heading for Spain than any other country. It has been our favourite holiday destination for more than two decades, and last year nearly 19m British holidaymakers paid a vist - that’s the equivalent of more than a quarter of the population. But while the vast majority of us funnel into the Balearics, the Canaries and the Costas, much of this vast and very…
— Telegraph (London)
The Most Beautiful Stained Glass in the World
First coming to prominence in the Middle Ages, stained glass has been enhancing buildings around the world for thousands of years. Although traditionally used in the windows of churches, mosques, and other holy buildings, the material reached the secular world in the 19th century—today, it's not uncommon to find it used in cultural buildings, hotels, art installations, and even shopping malls.…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
On the Normandy Cheese Trail
“Once upon a time, there was triple crème in Normandy,” said François Olivier, a fourth-generation cheesemonger in the Norman capital of Rouen. Standing beside the glass counter of his family-run fromagerie, opened in 1907, Mr. Olivier gestured at an impressive array of Normandy’s dairy products, from raw-milk Camembert to unpasteurized butter and cream from the region’s…
— New York Times
Seek Out Mountain Gorillas on Tour of Uganda's National Parks
Trek through the jungle of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of endangered mountain gorillas on a 10-day excursion offered by Classic Escapes. Other highlights include a two-night stay in Kibale Forest National Park, known for its chimpanzees and 325 bird species, and two days of game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and…
— LA Times
Cruise
Celebrity and MSC Cruise Lines Plan New Florida Terminals to House Their Most Innovative Ships
Florida's cruise ports continue to grow, with two additional lines planning new terminals to accommodate their newest ships. Celebrity Cruises will complete its new terminal at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Fla.) in October in time for the launch of the Celebrity Edge cruise ship. In addition, MSC Cruises has announced plans to complete a new PortMiami terminal by 2022, designed to…
— Sun Sentinel
A Whale of a Time in Cornwall: All Aboard a Marine Wildlife Cruise
“Ahoy there!” came the cry, jolting us out of sun-induced drowsiness as the propeller roared to life and the boat headed towards the horizon. “Whale ahead!” We’d been scanning flat expanses of azure water off southern Cornwall for a couple of hours in sweltering heat that had seemingly sent the sea to sleep, but now our patience had been rewarded. From the flybridge, keen-eyed AK Wildlife…
— The Guardian
Transportation
The World's New No. 1 Airline for 2018 is...
Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s No. 1 airline, knocking off 2017 winner Qatar Airways, according to the annual World Airline Awards published by Skytrax. Singapore’s title – its first since 2008 and fourth overall – comes after it finished second in last year’s World Airline Awards. It also ends what had been a back-and-forth battle for the top spot between Qatar Airways and…
— USA Today
It's Official: Airfares Are Near Record Lows
Domestic airfares dropped to an average of $346 round trip in the first quarter of 2018, according to new data from the Department of Transportation. In inflation-adjusted terms, that’s the lowest average airfare since at least 1995, when an average round-trip flight cost $501. The dip marks a nearly four percent slide compared to the same period in 2017; fares were down a point from the fourth…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Lodging
Marriott to Eliminate Plastic Straws From All Hotels
Marriott International has made a commitment to remove plastic straws from all of its more than 6,500 hotels by July 2019. As the largest hotel company in the world with 30 brands, Marriott’s decision will result in the elimination of more than 1 billion plastic straws and about a quarter-billion stirrers per year. “Removing plastic straws is one of the simplest ways our guests can contribute to plastic…
— USA Today
Family Vacation Guide: How to Pick the Right Hotel for Your Crew
If you’re planning a vacation, it’s good to have your priorities straight and know how to pick the right hotel for your family. You need to come up with a game plan when it comes to booking a hotel, so consider all your options. Factors like location, price, and amenities all play a role in whether a hotel would be a good choice, and luckily websites like TripAdvisor or Trivago are there to help you along…
— Parade
Other and Odd
Coast Guard Extends Safety Zone Around Hawaii Lava Flows After 'Bomb' Hits Tour Boat
The US Coast Guard extended the required safety zone surrounding active lava flows in Hawaii after a flying hunk of lava hit a tour boat and injured 23 people. The so-called lava bomb punctured the roof of a lava tour boat named Hot Shot on Monday morning in Kapoho Bay on Hawaii's Big Island, the Hawaii County Fire Department said. Boats in Hawaii were already required to be at least 300…
— CNN
Passengers Overhear Teacher Talking About Low-Income Students, Give Her More Than $500 in Cash
Chicago schoolteacher Kimberly Bermudez has always been the chatty type. So when she was on a Southwest Airlines flight to Florida to visit her parents last week, and her seatmate asked her what she did for a living, she told him about her first-graders, some of whom are homeless, and all of whom come from low-income families. He asked her: ‘‘What’s the most challenging part of your…
— Boston Globe
Supplier Profile
Tailor-Made Vacations with Canada à la Carte
 Canada à la Carte is a supplier offering up fully-customizable and independent travel. Their goal is to help you create the perfect vacation in Canada’s most popular destinations. From mountains to historic cities to the Aurora Borealis, Canada à la Carte is ready to send the traveler on a journey into the scenic landscape of Canada.
Canada à la Carte’s most popular vacations showcase the diversity of what the traveler can experience. The Best of the Rockies package…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Mike's Morning Missives
Hey! You Never Know.
 I received an email recently from an old friend that brought to light two important business lessons. I would like to share them both with you today.
We had lost touch along the way and after a year of futile attempts trying to contact him, his email came in via LinkedIn. This is an online networking database based on the “who-you-know” theory of success.
In any event, once I received this notification I immediately called him. Voila, another friendship was…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
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!
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
DESTINATION: ARGENTINA With Aerolineas Argentinas, Inprotur and Delta Airlines
Monday, July 30, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
There are many reasons why you should sell Argentina with Aerolineas Argentinas:
Register Now ➠
How To Engage Prospects: Stuart's 15-Step Plan
Friday, July 27, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
To sell more, engage more. But how do we get people to respond? How do we grow our list and win more sales? Stuart's 15 methods are a fresh approach to radically increasing your success: 5 ways to engage prospects already on your list, 5 ways to engage brand new leads, 5 ways to engage at networking events.
Register Now ➠
Fly Solomon Airlines and Discover a ‘Hidden Gem’ in the South Pacific
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Tucked away in the South Pacific, the Solomon Islands are a little known, unspoiled paradise. The Solomon Islands are an archipelago of almost 1,000 islands, located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu – a three hour journey from Australia. These islands are laid-back, welcoming and often surprisingly untouched. Crystal clear waters with an abundance of the world’s most colorful fish, rays, and turtles make it a paradise for diving and snorkeling.
Register Now ➠
Small Group Touring through Europe
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Do you have clients interested in the concept of an escorted tour but no desire to travel long days in a large bus? Look no further! Join us for an informative webinar about Back-Roads Touring Co and give those clients an option they will love! Back-Roads Touring Co, a London based tour company, has specialized in leisurely paced scheduled departures through the UK, Europe, and Asia for the last 28 years. This webinar will cover their touring portfolio, including their newly released 2019 schedules, all the selling features you’ll need to know to sell their destinations, and give a more in depth look into the unique travel experience provided to your clients.
Register Now ➠
Boutique All-Inclusive Cruising
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Join Bruce Nierenberg, Chairman of Victory Cruise Lines for a live chat at 3:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday July 18th, 2018
Register Now ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
