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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
This is the Best European Vacation Destination Right Now
Visiting the Louvre in Paris. Sunbathing on the Azores. Biking across the Appian Way. If any of these are on your bucket list, you’re in luck — MONEY ranked these spots as the best value European trips you can take this year. To find European travel destinations that won’t break the bank, MONEY dug into its Best in Travel database to zero in on Europe. We analyzed year-over-year changes…
— Time
The Most Popular Labor Day Weekend Destinations and What to Do in Each of Them
Labor Day may be just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to make a quick three-day weekend getaway happen. To help all would-be travelers plan, Yelp compiled a list of the top 10 “must-see” U.S. destinations for the unofficial end of summer weekend. To compile the list, Yelp explained it looked at cities across the country that saw the biggest spike in…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
In South Africa, Whale Watching Is a Waiting Game (With Penguins)
In a world so unpredictable, we reassure ourselves with the knowledge that there will always remain a few enduring certainties: The Earth revolves around the sun. Toothpaste, once unfurled, can never return to its tube. The better a restaurant’s view, the more mediocre its food. The only things Drake loves are his bed and his mama. And if you visit…
— New York Times
Disney to Sell Early Morning Starts to Toy Story Land
Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park visitors can start their day ahead of the crowds at Toy Story Land via a new early-access program sold by Walt Disney World. The “Early Morning Magic” event becomes available on select mornings beginning Sept. 17. Participants will have access to the land’s Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster, Alien Swirling Saucers ride and various…
— Sun Sentinel
Cruise
How I Learned the Truth About These Common Cruise Myths
Last summer I finally went on a cruise and discovered that everything I thought I knew was wrong. Here's what a 12-day tour of the Mediterranean Rivieras aboard Holland America's Westerdam taught me. Yes, you will find seniors who have the time to take vacations sailing the seas—but they’re not the only ones. There is a wonderful mix of ages; some are going it solo, some with groups of friends. There are families and…
— Reader's Digest
Major Hurricane Lane Forces Hawaii-Based Cruise Ship to Remain at Sea; Next Sailing Delayed
With Major Hurricane Lane bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, Norwegian Cruise Line has been forced to delay Pride of America's next cruise and reroute the current one to avoid the storm. Pride of America's Saturday, August 25 departure will leave from its homeport of Honolulu on Monday, August 27. The ship is now nearing the end of a weeklong cruise that…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Everything You Need to Know About Ryanair Controversial New Baggage Rules
Ryanair is changing its baggage policy yet again, a move that will further restrict what passengers can take on its aircraft for free. Here we outline how the changes will affect your trip. What is Ryanair doing? Overhauling its baggage policy... again. The budget carrier introduced new rules on luggage in January, but it appears to have gone back to the drawing…
— Telegraph (London)
Do Airline Tickets Need Warning Labels?
Airline tickets are more complicated and confusing than ever. Do they also need warning labels? Maybe. A provision in the Senate version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act requires air carriers to disclose their baggage fees, cancellation fees, change fees, ticketing fees and seat selection fees “in a standardized format.” It’s unclear whether the…
— The Washington Post
Lodging
Las Vegas: Sneak Peek at Palms Casino Resort's $620 Million Makeover
Palms Casino Resort, a one-time Las Vegas hot spot that hosted a season of MTV's "Real World" and Katy Perry's "Waking up in Vegas'' video, hopes to regain its hipness with a $620 million renovation. The 1,365-room hotel and casino, about a mile off the Strip behind Bellagio and across the street from Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, started…
— USA Today
Tour Operator Thomas Cook Removes 300 Guests From Egypt Hotel After 'Fit and Healthy' Couple Die
Tour operator Thomas Cook is evacuating all of its customers from a hotel in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Hurghada after two Britons died there this week under unclear circumstances. The move came after John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley in northern England, died while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel. They were on a holiday with other family…
— Vancouver Sun
Other and Odd
Hurricane Lane Update: Hawaii Residents Prepare for Category 4 Cyclone
Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 cyclone, is already making an impact on the Hawaiian islands, with anticipated landfall late on Thursday or early Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is reported to have winds up to 145 mph, and Hawaii Governor David Ige is warning residents to prepare themselves with at least 14 days of food and water and to seek…
— Travel+Leisure
US State Department's New Travel Warning System
The discovery of eight bodies on the streets of the city of Cancun, Mexico on August 23 not only raised the idea of safety in Mexico yet again but cast a fresh light on the US State Department’s new travel warning system, which was rolled out in January. The State Department replaced its traditional travel warnings and travel alerts with a travel advisory for every country.…
— Forbes
Today in History
The Destruction of Pompeii
It was the day after Vulcanalia, the festival of the Roman god of fire. On August 24th, death rained down on the Roman village of Pompeii from Mount Vesuvius. For several weeks, the wells around the town had begun to go dry. A series of small earth tremors began. Then, on August 24th, the eruption commenced and lasted for almost 19 hours.…
— Travel Research Online
Deck Plans
Holland America Line Unveils Special Guest Line-Up for O Magazine Cruise
When Holland Am erica Line’s O, The Oprah Magazine Adventure of Your Life Cruise sets sail for the Caribbean Oct. 28, 2018, aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, guests are in for an inspiring week with some of the magazine’s editors and world’s leading visionaries.
Senior Editor Molly Simms and Beauty Director Brian Underwood from O, The Oprah Magazine will be cruising along with “The First Lady of Nutrition” Ann Louise Gittleman, Unplug Meditation teacher Christina Huntington, best-selling author and transformational speaker Lori Harder and Functional Life Coach creator Mastin Kipp. Special programming during the roundtrip Fort Lauderdale cruise will allow guests to gain insight and knowledge from this team of thought leaders and learn from their expertise.
“The Adventure of Your Life Cruises offer an incredible opportunity for our guests to connect…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Sales Mistake #2: Not Being Obsessed With Helping People
 If you want to get to the top of this profession, you have to stop worrying about selling and start thinking about helping. Sounds absurdly simple. It isn’t.
Your primary goal is to stop selling and to start helping others.
When you appear to be selling, it is glaringly obvious to everyone that you are selling and nobody I know enjoys being “sold.” But when you are legitimately, openly, and sincerely interested in helping people, you will have their undivided attention and eventually the combination to their checkbook. Selling and helping are two entirely different…
— 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
Get to Know the newly renovated Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
The Sirenis Hotels & Resorts group is excited to announce that the final leg of the renovation process is underway at Grand Sirenis Punta Cana. By December, 2018, the newly updated luxury resort plans to re-open the property to guests from around the world.
Register Now ➠
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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