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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
36 Hours in Thessaloniki
Frequently outshone by the idyllic Aegean Islands, and overshadowed by the ancient glories of Athens, Greece’s second-largest city is hardly a household name. But the buzzing metropolis in the country’s northern mainland doesn’t need to trade on its looks or fame to earn respect. The once-powerful port is still filled with the Unesco-listed remains of the three empires that ruled…
— New York Times
Seven of the World's Most Colorful Places
If you saw a photograph of any of these colorful places, you’d think it was heavily edited. Can anywhere really have colors so bright and vibrant? These seven places are naturally vivid — but you may have to visit to believe it. Rainbow Mountains, China. Formed millions of years ago by layers of sandstone and minerals, the mountains of Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park…
— USA Today
Tours and Activities
I Hated Corfu, But I Had It All Wrong
The quintessential package holiday, we shared poolside space with other Brits intent on working on their tans and working their way through as much cheap, local Ouzo, and all-inclusive English breakfasts as possible, day in, day out. The only thing resembling culture was the bi-weekly resort “talent” competition. Not the stuff great holidays are made of, at least not for me.…
— Escape
Under the Volcano: A Tour of Etna and North-east Sicily
The little girl, dressed in a yellow satin robe, stepped on to a crane and waved at the crowd below as she was hoisted on high. The crane stopped 20 metres above the ground and the child was helped on to a metal seat on the side of a towering float topped with a crown and a cross. There she perched, a human decoration shining in the August heat, held in place just by a bar around her waist. The crane slowly descended to pick up another…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Is the New Crop of Cruise Ships the Ugliest Ever?
There was a time when even the biggest passenger vessels cut an elegant profile. They were sleek and streamlined to slice through the waves, and they often had gracious curves and highly-designed superstructures. Alas, those days are long gone. As cruise ships have gotten bigger over the years, they've also gotten boxier and (some would say) less appealing to the eye.…
— USA Today
Raise a Glass to These Winemakers on Norwegian Cruise Lines' Fall Sailings
Learn about wines and winemakers this fall and winter when Norwegian Cruise Lines kicks off its third season of Meet the Winemaker cruises, seven-day journeys available on Norwegian's ships Bliss, Escape and Dawn. The program will be offered on an Oct. 27 sailing from the Port of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera (rates start at $649 per person, double…
— Sun Sentinel
Transportation
What Can Airlines Do To Reduce Carbon Emissions?
It is estimated that the airline industry produces between 2-3% of all manmade CO2 emissions. All that jet fuel has to go somewhere. The atmosphere, mainly. And the number of people flying each year is increasing, dramatically. In 2004, almost 2 billion passengers took to the skies. By last year that number had more than doubled -- eclipsing the 4 billion mark for the first time. That's great news for the global economy. But what about global…
— Forbes
Hurricane Lane: Airlines Waive Change Fees
Airlines were waiving change fees as Hurricane Lane tracked toward Hawaii. The storm was not forecast to make a direct hit to the state, but its effects were likely to be felt on the islands by late Thursday. Lane was expected to churn to the south of the state through Saturday evening, according to forecasts from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center of National Oceanic and Atmospheric…
— USA Today
Lodging
10 of Airbnb's Quirkiest Listings
Airbnb is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this August. In the last decade the online accommodation network has expanded at an unbelievable rate, and now boasts more than five million hosts in 81,000 cities across 191 countries. With the number of listings growing every year, the diversity of offerings has increased too. Tourists don’t have to settle for some bog-standard holiday let…
— The Independent
Avoid Sneaky Hotel Fees on Your Next Vacation
Nate Hake thought he got an incredible deal when he booked a last-minute room at a Las Vegas hotel recently. But when he checked in, the front desk agent informed the 32-year-old Colorado resident that he would also have to pay a "resort fee" of $35 plus taxes per night for the room. “They insisted on charging me the fee, or they wouldn’t let me check in,” he says. “Ultimately, I really didn’t have any choice but to…
— Consumer Reports
Other and Odd
How to Have a Harry Potter Halloween at a Real-life Hogwarts
Harry Potter fans looking for a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience are invited to visit some of the most iconic sets used in the films and enjoy a multi-course meal filled with behind-the-scenes experiences this year. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London—The Making of Harry Potter, which introduces visitors to sets, special effects, and secrets from the popular film series, is bringing back its Halloween event for three evenings…
— Travel+Leisure
Descend into the Heart of an Icelandic Volcano
National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo and Coors Light share a fervent desire to dream big and make those dreams come true. For Ruzo, the ultimate dream of his Icelandic expedition was being lowered into an intact volcano. In the third of four photo essays, join Ruzo as he achieves his goal and witnesses the geologic wonders preserved within a magnificent magma…
— National Geographic
Today in History
Eugene Bullard
Eugene Bullard joined the French Foreign Legion upon the outbreak of World War I. A native of Georgia, he traveled back to the United States to enlist and fight for his country when the U.S. joined the war. Though he passed his physical, the government denied him a commission as a pilot because of his…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Central Holidays Unveils Novel Small Group Experiences for Individual Travelers
Moonachie, NJ – (August 22, 2018) – Central Holidays today unveiled its newest offering – the “Explorer Series by Central Holidays’ Group Travel Experiences,” immersive and experiential small group tours that can be booked by travel agents for their individual travelers, couples, or friends traveling together. …
— Travel Research Online
Luxury Travel Tips
Big Fish, Little Fish – Which One Are You?
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday August 23, 2018
Virtuoso was a  leader long before it was cool. Formally known as API Travel Consultants, the organization was made up of agencies that specialized in luxury or “the carriage trade” as it was then commonly known. Even though there are many organizations that specialize in it, when you think “Luxury Travel”, you think Virtuoso right?
But specializing in luxury travel or cruises is not enough to set you apart from every Tom, Dick, and Costco out there. You need to find your niche by drilling down even deeper. From cruises, down to small ships, to expedition to polar adventures. There is a strong market for this and the customers will seek out a specialist or expert to assist them.
Here is the five-step process I share with…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Sales Mistake #1: Trying to Up-Sell!
 I just wrapped up 15 of marketing mistakes and this might be the perfect time to focus on the number of selling errors that come to mind. I will focus on one sales mistake each day for the next couple of weeks.
The notorious up-sale.
The gift-of-gab has no place in business today. There’s no need for memorizing and rehearsing verbal retorts and proactive sales pitches. After taking the time to understand one’s particular buying motives, your one and only responsibility is to recommend what you feel is in the best interest of your…
— 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
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 ➠
Getting to Know The SCENIC Group – Scenic and Emerald Waterways
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Please join Tom Van Dorn, Business Development Manager, Midwest, for an informative webinar presentation highlighting The Scenic Group brands – Emerald Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and the Scenic Eclipse – with a specific focus on the Scenic Eclipse: the World’s First Discovery Yacht. Enjoy learning what makes Scenic’s river cruises so special and truly all-inclusive, and learn about many of the features of the Scenic Eclipse that set a whole new benchmark in design innovation and luxury. With Scenic’s commitment to world-class safety, innovation in design and quality appointments throughout, the Scenic Eclipse will offer guests the experience of discovering the world in all-inclusive luxury!
Register Now ➠
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