|
Editor’s Note — TRO wants to remind its 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 Most Visited City in the World
A record number of Americans are traveling abroad. That’s wonderful news when you consider just two decades ago only 20 percent of Americans possessed a passport. Yes, we are all collecting those tiny little passport stamps left and right, but where exactly are international travelers going? According to Mastercard’s 2018 Global Destination Cities…
— Travel+Leisure
In Pods We Trust: Japan On a Budget
The Japan Rail Pass is cost-effective for a week or more of long-distance travels, but if you’re visiting only a couple of cities, investigate the country’s low-cost airlines: they offer extremely competitive fares. Major domestic carriers such as ANA also have discount tickets for overseas visitors. Long-distance buses can be up to half the price of the equivalent route…
— The Guardian
Tours and Activities
Ambitious Game of Thrones Tourist Attraction Proposals Unveiled
HBO, the US television network behind Game of Thrones, has unveiled ambitious proposals to celebrate the show’s legacy by converting some of the film locations used across Northern Ireland into tourist attractions. Also in prospect is the creation of a studio tour and visitors experience at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, enhanced by state-of-the-art digital content…
— The Planner
11 of the World's Scariest Travel Destinations Where People Go for Fun. Really.
Every year as Halloween approaches, people seek out choreographed thrills that frighten them in harmless ways, the dangers perceived rather than actual. Yet there are places around the world where scares come without benefit of costumed characters wielding plastic chainsaws. Edge along narrow planks suspended high on a mountain cliff, putting your trust into the bolts embedded in the sheer stone…
— AZ Central
Cruise
Disney Cruise Line Unveils Cruises, Destinations in 2020: Hawaii, New Orleans, Caribbean
Disney and the bayou! On Thursday, Disney Cruise Line announced new cruises setting sail during early 2020. In early 2020, Disney Cruise Line will establish a new home port in New Orleans. The cruise line also announced a highly anticipated return to the Hawaiian Islands; cruises out of Puerto Rico; and popular itineraries to tropical…
— USA Today
Ten Proactive Solutions to Making Cruising Welcome
Making cruise ships and their guests welcome and trying to find the balance between the economic impact from cruise tourism and sustainability in port-cites and destinations was the subject of a lively discussion at the recent Seatrade Cruise Med in Lisbon. Moderator Luis de Carvalho, ceo, Bermello Ajamil & Partners Europe, kickstarted a three way…
— Seatrade Cruise News
Transportation
House Passes Bill to Require Minimum Standards for Airplane Seat Size, Legroom
DU.S. House lawmakers passed legislation late Wednesday that would give federal regulators the authority to set minimum standards for seat size and leg room on flights. Tucked inside a 2,000-page funding bill is a provision that gives the Federal Aviation Administration a year to establish minimum pitch, width and length on airplane seats to…
— CNBC
Mom Slams Airline After Male Flight Attendant Told Her to Stop Breastfeeding Her Baby
A distraught mom has slammed an airline, saying she was told to stop breastfeeding during a flight. Kelly Edgson-Payne, 36, was feeding 1-year-old son Lex onboard an EasyJet plane to Spain from London’s Gatwick Airport in August when she was left in tears by a flight attendant, Fox News reports. Traveling with her husband and four…
— AOL
Lodging
It's Hip to Be Cheap as Hotels Democratize Design
If you haven’t visited a college campus, secondhand store or seen “Crazy Rich Asians,” in which one of the central characters possesses a Jamba Juice freebie card, you may not have heard: Thrift is cool. In hospitality, that spirit has worked its way from Airbnb mania to spinoff hotel brands and independent properties that promise the travel…
— New York Times
D.C. Council to Vote Tuesday on Barring Residents From Renting Out Second Homes on AirBnB
The District would bar property owners from using AirBnB or similar companies to rent out second homes under a revised bill to go before the D.C. Council on Tuesday, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Thursday. The long-awaited new version of the legislation also would limit rentals of a primary residence when the owner is away to just 90 days…
— The Washington Post
Other and Odd
Google Makes It Easier to Keep Track of Travel Research
Google is introducing new features to its Trips tool that will make it easier for you to keep track of your travel plans. When you're putting a trip together, you might end up juggling a lot of information like flights that you're keeping an eye on, hotel options and restaurants or sites you're interested in visiting. Beginning in October, Your Trips will help…
— Engadget
The Best Cameras for Travel, According to the Pros
Thanks to our phones, everyone is an amateur travel photographer these days. And while that's not a bad thing (anything that encourages people to be more adventurous gets a Traveler thumbs up) there's always room for improvement—and a new camera, of course. We tapped the pros, like former Obama White House photographer Pete…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Today in History
The Norman Invasion
For eight months, the Duke of Normandy's ships were prevented from sailing to England because of unfavorable winds. King Harold of England amassed his army early, but the long wait for the Duke of Normandy's army took its toll. The harvest season meant many of his soldiers…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Travel Agents Hold The Key To Unlocking The UK’s Untapped Potential
by Paull Tickner
Friday September 28, 2018
For more years  than I care to remember, I’ve been a great believer in two things. The huge untapped potential for customised UK travel that’s on every travel agent’s doorstep and that YOU are the person who’s best placed to find it.
What you may not have had at your fingertips is a product range that can help you to develop it into high yield results. Feel free to utter the words Abracadabra but as you do so, click here and enter an Aladdin’s Cave of imaginative new ways of looking at your old friend Britain.
If you’re in any doubt as to who might be interested these inspired suggestions, I’ve listed some of the niche markets where you will probably already have the right connections. Take…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Deck Plans
Barging From Sete To Arles: A Photo Journal
I’ve just ret urned from France, where I spent a week hosting 20 guests on CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, barging from Sete to Arles. Eleven of us also did a four-day pre-barge trip from Paris through the beautiful Perigord region of France to Sete. Following are a few photos from our trip. Next week, I’ll have an extensive report from our time in…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Mike's Morning Missives
The Curse of The Social Buffoon
 Today’s message has little to do with travel, and a lot to do with your social status.
In not so many words, the Social Buffoon Curse sounds like this: “You think that is cool, wait until you hear what I have to say.” It shows its ugly face when one person in a group shares some good news only to be trumped by the next person’s self-directed “exciting information.” The other people in the group immediately interpret this as a sign that it is time to play “one-upmanship.”
It may unfold something like this: “My daughter just graduated from The University of Miami.” “Oh! My son just graduated from Brown…and we had a big party…and he came with his fiancé…and we bought him a car…and 300 people came…and he…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Soundings
How Do You Pick Your Preferred Cruise Lines?
by Susan Schaefer
Friday September 28, 2018
Recently I had  a conversation with a potential independent contractor, and the discussion naturally turned to compensation. His business model was strongly focused on selling only those cruise lines that paid the highest commissions. It made me wonder how much travel advisors focus on their commission when recommending cruise lines to clients.
This is the time of year when travel agencies start to re-evaluate their preferred suppliers, making decisions on what to change in the upcoming calendar year. Part of that analysis involves our relationships with BDMs, our clients’ past experiences, and how we are compensated. If clients continuously have bad experiences on their vacations, it’s not good for business if we keep using those suppliers. If we don’t feel that a supplier is supporting us…
— 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
A Sneak Peek of 2019 with Canada à la Carte
Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Join Canada à la Carte’s 2019 Sneak Peek webinar and get an in-depth preview of new vacations available for 2019 travel. From nature and wildlife getaways to coastal and culinary adventures, discover new trips steeped in indelible experiences and how each can be tailored to your client’s tastes and budget. Plus, get advance access to early booking offers for your clients—and qualify for exclusive bonuses for yourself.
Register Now ➠
Discover Peru with Super Value Tours
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Super Value Tours, in partnership with the Trade Commission of Peru in Los Angeles, brings you Peru! Travel through the Land of the Incas on October 9th with Super Value Tours’ Nancy Lemus and Elisabeth Hakim from PROMPERU (Peru Tourism Board). As one of the most popular destinations in South America, Peru offers a splendor of activities and sites that will satisfy everyone. From Machu Picchu to the Spanish colonial cities of Lima and Cusco, Peru is a world-class cultural and culinary destination that is truly special. In this webinar series, learn about Super Values Tours’ brilliantly designed Peru program and discover how they balance adventure with high quality experiences for guests.
Register Now ➠
Discover the Wonder of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
In this webinar, you will learn how Scenic takes the all-inclusive luxury to a higher level of guest experience with its innovative and custom-designed Space-Ships. From its Salt Therapy Lounges to Scenic Culinaire on board cooking school in Bordeaux and the South of France. Our exclusive Scenic Enrich encounters take your clients to behind the scenes to enjoy private access and unique experiences. By offering a butler to every guest combines 5-star quality with personal attention to detail. So please join us today to learn more about the Wonder of Scenic!
Register Now ➠
BECOME AN EXPERT IN AWESOME
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
With new attractions, new hotels, and the opening of a whole new water theme park, your clients may not be aware of all we have to do – or that they’ll need multiple days to see and do it all. Be sure to register to take our webinar course so you can stay an expert on everything going on at Universal Orlando Resort™.
Register Now ➠
|
Cartoons
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
