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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
Explore Turkey's Ancient Sites From the Seat of a Bike
Cruise and bike in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas on a weeklong tour of Turkey that includes sailing along the Turquoise Coast and cycling trips inland. A pre-tour begins in Istanbul with participants exploring mosques and monuments. The group then flies south to Marmaris and boards a Turkish gulet (a traditional wooden sailing boat)…
— LA Times
This Country Was Just Named the Best Place for Expats for the 4th Year in a Row
Singapore has been named the world’s best country for expats for the fourth year in a row. The results are based on HSBC’s annual Expat Explorer survey, a global survey completed by 22,318 expats across 163 different countries. Expats were asked to rate countries based on three different categories: economics, experience, and…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
Think Disney is Expensive Now? Prices Just Went Up - Before You Even Walk in the Gate.
Walt Disney World is often touted as the most magical place on earth. It’s also getting to be one of the most expensive. Especially if you want to park your car. The fee to park at Disney’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom — is now higher, as of Tuesday. Three bucks…
— Miami Herald
10 Epic Hikes Around the World
Some people like beach trips, some like city exploring. Other vacationers prefer adventure. Lonely Planet's new book "Epic Hikes of the World" offers ideas for outdoorsy travelers, from Africa and Australia to a few in our own backyard. Hike…
— Baltimore Sun
Cruise
Fast-Growing MSC Cruises Reveals Plans for a New 'Ultra-Luxury' Division
The battle for well-heeled cruisers is about to heat up. Fast-growing MSC Cruises on Thursday revealed plans to add a new "ultra-luxury" division that will compete in the space currently dominated by such lines as Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The Switzerland-based cruise operator said it had signed a…
— USA Today
Low Water Levels Affecting Danube, Rhine River Cruises
Water levels are so low on Europe's Danube and Rhine Rivers that some lines are being forced to reduce week-long cruises to just two days' sailing. A dry summer with little rain has led to numerous pinch-points along the Danube, particularly the stretches between Budapest and Vienna and Vilshofen to Nuremberg. And while there was some relief…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Playing 'Footsies' Leads to Flight Disruption, Assault Charge
Federal authorities say a man accused of touching a woman’s leg and trying to play “footsies” with her on a flight has been charged with simple assault. A criminal complaint also accuses Justin Riley Brafford of trying to intimidate flight crew members on the Southwest flight Tuesday from Los Angeles to Dallas. According to authorities, Brafford sat…
— Vancouver Sun
Inside a Frequent Flyer’s Travel Habits
As much as I’d like to imagine I’m a free-spirited, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal, I’ve also realised that when it comes to travel, I’m a creature of habit. It starts with what time I get to the airport before a flight. Two hours for international, one hour for domestic. Nothing more, nothing less. Predictable and average as it might be, it’s a step…
— Escape
Lodging
River North Hotel Invites Guests to Spend a Killer Night in H.H. Holmes Pop-up Suite
Want to spend a night with a serial killer? If so, Acme Hotel Company has you covered. The hip-and-trendy boutique property in River North is getting into the Halloween spirit by tricking out a hotel suite with decor inspired by one of Chicago’s most prolific and notorious murderers: H.H. Holmes. Some of the 19th-century killer’s victims were slain in…
— Chicago Tribune
The Best Hotels in Europe, According to Our Readers
Our readers are a discerning bunch, and they'll book months and years in advance for a chance to sample the world's finest stays. So it's no surprise they voted these 10 places—a melange of palatial city digs, roving country estates, and sublime clifftop getaways—the best hotels in Europe in this year's Readers' Choice Awards survey. Destinations…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Other and Odd
Photos: The Famous Swimming Pigs of the Bahamas
You might have thought about swimming with dolphins, fish, even maybe sharks, but wild pigs? Appearing in videos, newspapers, commercials, TV shows and countless selfies, the swimming pigs of Exuma, in the Bahamas, have become a bucket-list sensation. A new book, "Pigs of Paradise: The Story of the World-Famous Swimming Pigs" by T. R. Todd…
— USA Today
The Bosnians Who Speak Medieval Spanish
On our way to Sarajevo's Ashkenazi Synagogue for the Friday evening Shabbat (Sabbath) service, my friend Paula Goldman and I walked down cobblestone streets through the Baščaršija, the old Ottoman area of the city, passing mosques, shops and a madrasa (Islamic school). It was the year 2000, and the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina still…
— BBC Travel
Today in History
The Basel Earthquake
On this day in 1356, one of the most devestating earthquakes ever to hit northern Europe struck the small Swiss town of Basel, situated at the southern end of the Upper Rhine Graben. Basel was nearly completely destroyed with over 300 people dead. Those wooden houses that were not destroyed by the earthquake were burned by subsequent fires caused…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Chapter Restructuring Gains Momentum – and How You Can Get Involved
A little more than two months after we announced our plan to bring the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) under the ASTA banner as the ASTA Small Business Network (SBN), we wanted to update you on where things stand, with a special focus on the chapter…
— Travel Research Online
Windstar Cruises’ New ‘Easy Stays’ Make It Effortless to Extend the Windstar Experience Beyond the Ship
This fall Windstar Cruises expands its curated offerings to include newly launched Easy Stays. The program was designed in partnership with select hotels and destination management companies across the world to create a seamless cruise-hotel-transfer package. Guests can select from hotels in more than 30 cities where the cruises embark and disembark.…
— Travel Research Online
TRO SMITH
How to Master the Wow of Video and the Ka-Pow of Social Ads
by Catherine Heeg
Thursday October 18, 2018
Are you wonderi ng if video is worth your time and effort? Hint: the answer is a huge YES!
If you’re like many travel & tourism pros you may be shy on tech skills or just shy to get in front of the camera. So many of us think more about the Fear and Gear than the Wow and Ka-Pow of…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Departures
Mystical Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
 One of the most popular spots for travelers in South America, Machu Picchu is a stunning relic from time’s past. Though, Machu Picchu isn’t the only attraction in the area. Not far away, the Sacred Valley of the Incas also awaits the adventurous traveler. Today’s 60-Second Geography, about these inspiring landmarks in Peru, is brought to you by Central…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Don’t Ever Count Yourself Out
 You all know how much I enjoy the Olympics. They are truly special events for me. I remember watching an event that resembled cross-country skiing one afternoon. As it is only fair when you take a group of international, world-class athletes, the superior athletes start in the front so the second tier of world-class athletes do not screw things up.
I have no problem with stacking the deck by putting the fastest guys up front. When the gun sounded, and like it is so often the case when you have a group of world-class athletes trying to accomplish a life-long dream, somebody errs and then more err occurs until you have one giant err.
The guy wearing Bib #4 was one of the favorites according to the…
— 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
Explore the wildlife of Patagonia with Australis on a journey to
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Set sail with Australis Cruises on a journey of discovery and learn about the wildlife that inhabits this region. Find out why your nature-loving clients should consider a journey with us. Patagonia is perfect for anyone interested in seeing landscapes and habitats largely untouched by man for thousands of years. With a huge variety of birds, sea life and more this region is sure to please wildlife lovers and bird watchers alike. Australis delivers our guests to even more via the pristine and remote waterways of the Patagonian Fjords. Otherwise inaccessible by most other methods, our custom built ships are designed to navigate these areas in safety and comfort. Our all-inclusive rates include meals, open bar and excursions allowing you to get up close and personal with our landscapes with tremendous value.
Register Now ➠
Scenic Eclipse, the World’s First Discovery Yacht
Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Scenic Eclipse, the World’s First Discovery Yachts, launching in January 2018, has captured the imagination of cruise fans everywhere. The “6-star” luxury mega yachts, carrying just 228 guests, (200 in the polar regions) marries luxury, discovery and safety. The ships intimate size allows for docking in smaller ports; its GPS dynamic position technology allows it to ‘anchor’ in areas where the use of a real anchor would make it off-limits and its innovative zero-speed stabilizer fins are 50% larger and provide even greater stability.
Register Now ➠
ARGENTINA FOOD WINE COUNTRYSIDE
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Hosted by: Mercedes Bassi “Wine & Gastronomy” coordinator and Ariel Cohen, National Institute of Tourism Promotion, and Aerolineas Argentinas.
Register Now ➠
The Art cities in Flanders-Belgium
Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Flanders, the northern Dutch speaking part of Belgium, continues to surprise visitors with its wide array of culture, gastronomy, cycling and lifestyle & fashion opportunities. Join us for this webinar to learn more about the six major art cities where visitors can have these unique travel experiences: Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen and Leuven. Learn why each city is different and find out about the highlights in 2019.
Register Now ➠
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