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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
Hurricane-free Caribbean: Cool Reasons to Visit Curacao
A Dutch island in the southern Caribbean, Curacao conveniently sits below the hurricane belt, making it appealing for travelers who can do without the angst of weather delays during the Atlantic hurricane season that continues through the end of November. Seventy miles east of Aruba and 35 miles north of Venezuela, the cosmopolitan island is a melting pot on bold…
— USA Today
10 of the World's Most Epic Hikes
The world’s most exciting hikes have been revealed in a new book from Lonely Planet. In Epic Hikes of the World, the publisher has listed 50 of the best walks as selected by travel experts, from urban trails to month-long treks. The guide includes practical information on the best time of year to attempt each hike, how to get there, where to stay and what to eat.…
— The Independent
Tours and Activities
Overnight Getaways Before (or After) the Kids Go Back to School
A frantic fall schedule may be just around the corner, but hotels in Kansas City, Mo., Mexico City, Miami Beach and Key West, Fla., are offering attractive deals for one last getaway before the end of summer. Whether you want to take the family, or are looking for a getaway once the kids are back in class, these four vacation packages are worth a…
— New York Times
Cantal, France, Holiday Guide: What to See Plus the Best Restaurants and Hotels
The Cantal is the rural heartland of France’s wild Auvergne region, right in the centre of the country and part of the Massif Central. Locals joke that there are more cows here than people and there certainly are not many tourists, despite a range of adventurous outdoor activities in summer and winter. Hotels and B&Bs could not be more reasonably priced, and the hearty…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Ocean-going Crystal Cruises Slides Smoothly Into the Luxury Niche on Europe's Rivers
We were new passengers, my wife and I, when we boarded the Crystal Bach, docked at Mainz, Germany, on the River Rhine near Frankfurt. As we walked into the Palm Court lounge, fellow passengers made no secret of their curiosity. Most of them were at the midpoint of a two-week cruise from Amsterdam. Warm and friendly, they acted as if we were new members of their private…
— Miami Herald
Cruise Ship Passenger Says She Spent 10 hours in Adriatic Sea After Falling Overboard
A British woman on a cruise touring the Adriatic Sea fell into the water 60 miles off the coast of Croatia, apparently spending about 10 hours treading water before she was pulled into a rescue boat. The woman, who gave only her first name, Kay, spoke to reporters shortly after her rescue ship arrived at a Croatian dock. "I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star and I was in…
— NOLA.com
Transportation
Visit Rome, Florence, and Venice by High-Speed Train for Less Than $40
One of our favorite train deals is back, and it's even better than last year. One-way rides on direct, high-speed trains between Rome and Florence, and Venice and Florence are as low as $11.71, thanks to a partnership between search platform GoEuro and Italy's Italo train service. That's more than 50 percent off the usual price, and means you could hit up all three cities for less than $40…
— Conde Nast Traveler
'Unacceptable.' 'Ridiculous.' 'Inhumane.' More American Airlines Flight Attendants Speak Out About Their Airline's New Policy
Yesterday I wrote about the new policy that American Airlines announced for its flight attendants. Their union had quickly come out against it, so I set out out to ask rank-and-file American Airlines flight attendants if they supported their union's position. Short answer: If your employees quickly start using words like "unacceptable," "ridiculous," "inhumane," "horrible," and "suitable for…
— Inc.com
Lodging
Bulgari Brings New Beauty to Shanghai's Historical Chamber of Commerce
It’s easy to think that, with its Blade Runner-esque skyline, Shanghai is a city hyper-focused on the future. And in many ways, it is. Wandering the streets, it can feel like the city is in a constant state of construction, the embodiment of China’s rapid urbanization and economic growth. But Shanghai is a city of contrasts, where the colonial buildings dotting the Bund square…
— Vogue
The World's Best Lake Resorts
Oceans crash and rivers run wild, but lakes somehow, even when they bluster, evoke a sense of serenity. In northern climes synonymous with summer, lakes combine wonder (cold or warm? deep or shallow?) with the certainty that those shores make a full circle. Lake resorts let us drift away—both literally on a boat and figuratively from life’s everyday stressors and demands.…
— National Geographic
Other and Odd
Bhutan: Getting Under the Skin of a Country That Measures Success in 'Gross National Happiness'
Tiered rice terraces reflected the vast cerulean sky like shards of a shattered mirror. Kinley Choden, my host, sat next to me on the grassy lip of the valley as we watched women plant clumps of seedlings into the flooded fields. The sun winked behind the far hills. “Let’s go home, Mum is making ara,” she said. It was a far cry from the previous night I’d spent at a hotel in Thimphu…
— Telegraph (London)
This is How Airlines Price Tickets
Many of us this summer will fly off on holiday for a well-deserved break. It's more than likely that you spent hours on the internet researching flight deals, trying to figure out an airfare pricing system that seems completely random. Fees appear to fluctuate without reason and longer flights aren't always more expensive than shorter ones. But what seems random is actually…
— CNBC
Today in History
The Assassination of Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky was a Russian revolutionary and Marxist theorist and one of the key leaders of the Russian October Revolution. In the Communist Party, Trotsky was second in stature only to Lenin. His opposition to the rise of Joseph Stalin, however, earned him powerful enemies. Trotsky was cast out of the Communist party and deported from…
— Travel Research Online
One-to-One Interviews
An Interview with Mark Fravel, CEO, National Transaction
Mark Fravel is the Founder and CEO of National Transaction Corporation. Founded in 1997, NTC has over 20 years of transaction processing experience, specializing in card not present and e-commerce solutions for the hospitality, tourism and medical industries, charitable institutions and franchises. NTC is an electronic payment expert, currently serving over 4,000 merchant accounts across Canada and the US.
Mark is a proven executive with a complete understanding of the back office operations in the Electronic Payment Processing business Including Credit, Underwriting, Loss Prevention, and Customer Service. He personally brings over 25 years of bankcard history to NTC, formerly serving as Vice President of First Data Corporation and General Manager of the Barnett Bank Alliance, where he…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Of ASTA, Agents and Advisors
by Richard Earls
Sunday August 19, 2018
ASTA recently t ook the bold step of rebranding itself to the “American Society of Travel Advisors.” For an organization of some 87 year history, a rebranding of this magnitude is no small feat. It may be years before the significance of the change filters through to the traveling public, but no individual in the travel industry should misunderstand the shift in the dynamics of the relationship that has been taking place between travel professional and client now reflected in the new brand. Under Zane Kerby's leadership ASTA has been remaking itself, reorganizing internally and shaping new opportunities for the travel community. With the rebranding, the clock begins ticking to see if the promise of those efforts can be made a reality in public perception.
There is…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Marketing Mistake #13: You Think Like an Order-Taker, Not a Marketer
 There a number of ways a travel agency can stay in business and grow their asset. But, there is only one “fast” way to go out of business without unnecessary stress.
Here is the fastest way to go out of business: Wait for the phone to ring and then answer it like you really don’t care. Among all of the available options here is the surest way to maintain a growing business: Make it your number one objective to make your phone ring. Then answer it like you are happy the person thought enough of you to call.
“Making things happen” is an old saying that simply will not go out of…
— 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
How to Attract Affluent Clients
Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
The big mystery to many advisers is how to attract luxury and affluent clients. In this session I will share several proven strategies to attract your ideal luxury client.
Register Now ➠
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 ➠
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