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
5 Marvelous Places to Visit in August
August can present something of a challenge when you're setting travel plans. Some folks are getting their fill of summer (or winter in the Southern Hemisphere) by now and don't want to choose destinations too hot or cold. You have to start factoring in the probabilities of hurricanes or typhoons along certain coastlines. And in many spots, it's not yet shoulder season with its…
— CNN
16 of the World's Most Spectacular Coastlines
Coastlines are one of the most alluring of our planet's geographical features. The clash of land and water is often mesmerizing, as are the plants, animals and human activities that flourish along a shore. In classic novella "Heart of Darkness," seafaring author Joseph Conrad wrote that all coasts are shrouded in mystery, with an invitation to "come and find out" what they have to…
— CNN
Tours and Activities
Explore Jordan Like a Local Through Community Tourism
Most travellers skip the north of Jordan for the irresistible pull of storied destinations down south, such as Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, but now there’s a new reason to venture north of Amman: a cluster of new community-based tourism projects that are drawing visitors to villages well off Jordan’s trodden route. Instead of desert dunes and rugged wadis, head north and…
— Lonely Planet
A New $2-billion Amusement Park Four Times the Size of Disneyland Is Coming to Ohio
Developers are about to break ground on a new amusement park outside of Columbus, Ohio. Planet Oasis Ohio is investing $2 billion in the park project, the Detroit Free Press reported. It will be built on 350 acres of land in Sunbury, or about four times the current size of Disneyland. “Planet Oasis is located in Ohio because it's the center of the universe,” the park's president, David…
— Travel+Leisure
Transportation
Canadian Budget Airline Swoop Announces 7 US Routes
Upstart Canadian "ultra-low-cost carrier" Swoop is making its first push into the United States, revealing plans Thursday to fly seven routes from five U.S. airports. The airline’s first U.S. flights start Oct. 11, when Swoop launches non-stop service between Las Vegas and Edmonton. The carrier will add six more U.S.-Canada routes by the end of October. In addition to Las Vegas,…
— USA Today
Delta Is Testing Out 3-Course Meals in Economy
No matter what airline executives say, things in economy class are pretty bleak—the shrinking seats and bathrooms, the service (ugh, the service). But there's a glimmer of hope: Delta Air Lines is currently testing upscale dining in the back of the plane. To start the meal service, passengers in economy have a choice of "Welcome Bubbles"—a Bellini (Prosecco sparkling wine and…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Lodging
24 Hours Inside San Francisco's Hotel Zeppelin
While the rest of the country is happily ensconced in the depths of summer, San Francisco is sticking to its on-brand misery, stubbornly abstaining from sun and happiness with its torturous mix of rain, pre-winter temperatures, and gale-force winds. Visiting San Francisco in summer is a near pointless exercise. Some of the city's hospitality providers are more aware of this fact…
— Forbes
You're Probably Tipping Hotel Staff All Wrong
There are two types of people in the world: Those who tip well and those who don’t. You know which one you are. But thanks to all the confusing tipping situations that exist, even well-intentioned tippers can appear cheap. That’s especially true at hotels, where you could easily interact with a dozen staff members in a day, all with different but important roles dedicated to ensuring…
— The Huffington Post
Other and Odd
The 10 Airlines That Charge the Most Fees
Ancillary revenue is the amount of money an airline takes in after charging for its base airfares — also known as airline fees. It might not come as a surprise that the amount airlines get by nickel-and-diming you has been growing steadily over the past decade — but some charge (a lot) more in airline fees than others. How much? Billions. The 10 carriers that charged the most…
— USA Today
This Could Be the World's Most Ethical Travel Agency
The town of Soacha, on the southern outskirts of Colombia’s capital Bogota, doesn’t receive many leisure visitors. Home to thousands of people displaced by the country’s long civil war, Soacha is seen as highly dangerous by many Bogota residents. Gangs, guerrillas and paramilitaries are said to be active in the area – all of which makes it an unusual destination for a tourist…
— The Independent
Today in History
PT-109
The United States PT-109 was a World War II-era boat used in the Pacific Theater. It was commanded by 26-year-old skipper John F. Kennedy. A Japanese destroyer patrolling on a moonless night smashed into PT-109, killing several crewmen and sending the survivors into the water.…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
The First Modern Riverboat in U.S. History—American Song
American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that the first modern riverboat in U.S. history is nearly complete. This week, American Song, under its own power, moved from the East Outfitting Basin at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, to the yard’s outfitting bulkhead for the final outfitting…
— Travel Research Online
Departures
Offering More with DSA Vacations
Dream vacations, and their destinations, vary greatly in the spectrum of travelers. Finding a supplier of vacations that span a large portion of the world and have cater to different styles of travel can be difficult. This is one of the many things that DSA Vacations does well. With vacation plans for southern and eastern Africa, the Americas, and Asia; and types of travel ranging through safaris, family, culinary, and adventure travel; DSA Vacations is there for the traveler and the agents they trust for their dream vacation.
Established in 2001 by Terry von Guilleaume, a South African living in the United States, the company initially focused on trips to trips to Africa. DSA Vacations has had an award-winning history since its founding. They were one…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Spotlight
Vancouver with Canada à la Carte
by Joseph DeLoach Thursday August 02, 2018
Vancouver is Canada’s largest city on the west coast. It is a metropolitan city with plenty to do and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, unbelievable vistas, dense forests, and wildlife watching for every traveler’s enjoyment. Canada à la Carte is ready to show the traveler the history and sights of Vancouver's…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Marketing Mistake #1: You Don’t Know to Whom You Are Marketing
We just wrapped up the eight mental buying triggers. They were authority, reciprocity, trust, likability, anticipation, community, scarcity, and social proof.
For the next three weeks I am going to remind you of 15 Marketing Mistakes you need to eliminate from your daily program. I will highlight one each day to give you ample time to focus, reflect, and think about how you can avoid these potential mine fields.
It is too easy to fall into the trap of simply hanging a sign that reads “Open For Business.” Sure, selling is often referred to as a numbers game. It is true that there are millions of people who may be interested in your services. Yes, no matter what you do, some mud will stick now and then…
— Travel Research Online Read the rest of this article »
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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
Small Group Touring through Europe
Thursday, August 23, 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 ➠
The Best Kept Secret in River Cruising
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
You’re invited to come learn about the Best Kept Secret in River Cruising with The SCENIC Group and Travel Research Online! In this session we’ll hear a bit of backstory of this amazing organization, how it’s grown to such incredible size with their diverse offerings no matter the type of client, and hear secrets culled from top-producing travel professionals of ways they’ve been Successful with SCENIC! The SCENIC Group owns SCENIC Luxury Cruises, SCENIC Eclipse, and Emerald Waterways. This webinar will focus primarily on the Luxury Brands of the company’s river and ocean going ships.
Register Now ➠
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