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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
Going to the Galápagos Is Easier and Cheaper Than Ever. That Might Not Be a Good Thing.
“The archipelago is a little world within itself,” a young Charles Darwin mused in his London study in 1839. Four years earlier, the aspiring naturalist had spent five weeks on the Galápagos Islands, some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. So taken by the “extreme tameness” of the species he encountered, he wasn’t an ideal visitor by today’s standards: He hopped on…
— New York Times
The Best European Destinations For 2019 Revealed
Budapest has been voted the #1 European destination for 2019 from 20 “must-see” locations that made the finalists’ list of contenders for the coveted title organized by European Best Destinations (EBD). For its tenth edition, the competition collected a record of more than 500,000 votes for the trendiest destinations in Europe that will be promoted throughout…
— Forbes
Tours and Activities
12 world-famous landmarks that every travel buff should visit
One of the best parts about travel is seeing a site that makes your jaw drop. It could be a snow-capped mountain, a decadent cathedral, a historical monument, or even a well-known landmark. Even if you're an experienced traveler who prefers less crowded destinations, many world-famous sites are worth seeing. Here are 12 spectacular landmarks every travel buff…
— Insider
World-class wine and empty beaches: Why the Fleurieu peninsula is Australia's best kept secret
Rather unusually, as a travel writer, this is a destination I don't particularly want to tell you about. It's a corner of the world so bizarrely unlauded and so disproportionately beautiful; so quiet and uncluttered; so sun-drenched and breezy; so rich in its offerings - I'd really rather it stayed that way, under-populated with not a selfie stick in sight. It happens to be my…
— Telegraph (London)
Cruise
World's largest cruise ship suite to feature $200,000 bed
Come 2020, cruise fans will be able to wake up from the comfort of a $200,000 bed inside what will be the world's largest cruise ship suite. The super luxurious room, dubbed the Regent Suite, is part of Regent Seven Seas' upcoming vessel, Seven Seas Splendor. The suite spans 4,443 square feet -- encompassing a swanky master bedroom, guest bedroom, private…
— CNN
Presale Opens for Virgin Voyages' Inaugural Season; Deck Plans and Other Inclusions Revealed
Virgin Voyages' inaugural season sailings onboard Scarlet Lady are now available for booking for those who previously made a $500 deposit. The season, which begins April 2020 and runs through October 2020, includes 18 four- and five-night "Havana After Dark" Caribbean itineraries, with prices starting at $1,450 (excluding taxes and fees) for an inside cabin (not per…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Germania airline is latest European carrier to go bust
German airline Germania grounded its planes on Tuesday after filing for insolvency as it failed to secure short-term financing to stay aloft. The Berlin-based airline, which carried more than 4 million passengers a year on scheduled and chartered short- and medium-haul flights, blamed factors such as an increase in fuel prices last summer. The decision came less than a…
— USA Today
Madrid taxis end strike, fail to get tighter rules for Uber
Taxi drivers in Madrid have ended a 16-day strike after failing to force authorities in the Spanish capital to impose tighter restrictions on ride-hailing companies like Uber and Cabify. Fifty-three percent of over 7,000 taxi drivers who voted late Tuesday backed calling off the strike, according to the professional association of taxi drivers Elite Taxi. The taxi sector…
— The Washington Post
Lodging
Hotel booking sites forced to end misleading sales tactics
Hotel booking sites will be forced to make major changes after Britain’s competition watchdog found they routinely engaged in pressure selling, misled consumers over prices and gave more prominence to hotels that paid the most commission. The Competition and Markets Authority is clamping down on websites including Expedia, Booking.com and Hotels.com…
— The Guardian
This Former County Jail Is the Best Bed and Breakfast in the U.S., According to TripAdvisor
At this B&B, if you get in, you may not get out — at least not without an appeal. Just kidding. While some people are always on the lookout for somewhere luxurious to stay on vacation, others are more in the market for something a little bit weird, and this bed and breakfast is definitely the most unique stay you can find in the U.S. According to Los Angeles Times, the…
— Travel+Leisure
'King Kong' to Go on Rampage at Japanese Resort
Broadway’s beast is heading east. Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment is planning to present the musical King Kong in Japan. The startling show, which some critics believe is “better suited for an arena spectacle or theme-park attraction” than a Broadway theater, will be staged at a large venue to be built as part of a new Hard Rock entertainment resort on the island…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
The Problem With Bucket-List Travel
As a journalist covering travel, I get lots of pitches from travel vendors and public relations people for “bucket list” destinations. According to one survey, 95% of Americans have “bucket lists” of things to see and do before they die. Perhaps this explains why I received 80 emails pitching me on “bucket list” destinations in the last…
— Forbes
Travel to US rises just modestly as international trips are hit by Trump policy, rhetoric
President Donald Trump's "America First" credo is setting the country back in the global race to attract foreign visitors, a new study argues. Overseas visits to the U.S. grew meekly for the second straight year in 2018 amid Trump’s isolationist policies and rhetoric, a strong dollar and a slowing global economy, according to an analysis of government and private data…
— USA Today
How to Use Siri as a Travel Tool—She Can Help You Find Parking, Open Your Hotel Room, and More
Travel would be so much better if we all had a personal assistant. Well, it turns out we all do. She’s just in our pockets. If you’ve ever thought Siri would only be useful for the occasional Google search or to call your friends when your hands are full, you’d be surprised to learn that she can do so much more. Especially when it comes to travel. If you’re working with…
— Food & Wine
Today in History
Elizabeth II becomes Queen
On February 6th, 1952 Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya. Her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh broke the news to her that George VI, the king of the United Kingdom and her father, had died peacefully in his sleep at age 56. She was asked what…
— Travel Research Online
Supplier Profile
A G-Normous Chance to Get More & Win Big
 G-Normous is back and bigger than ever! Sell big, win bigger. With every G Adventures tour you sell from now until April 30th, you’ll be entered for a chance to win free tours, cash money, and more. This February, all participating G-Normous agents will get 2% extra commission on eligible new bookings! Just use promo code GNORMOUS at the time of booking – perfect for introducing new travelers to National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures!
To sign up…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
A Balanced Attack
 I remember speaking to an international group representing 50 countries who worked for a Fortune 100 company.
I opened my presentation by asking the audience to lift one leg off the ground and to hold that position. This was an easy exercise...balancing on one leg. I congratulated them for their athletic prowess and quickly related this position to their current state of "balance."
I reminded them that in all probability they felt “balanced” in their jobs and in their personal lives. It would be very easy for me to approach each executive and knock them off-balance effortlessly with a single finger since they were standing on only one leg. I could destroy their balancing act with very little…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Selling Central Asia: Yearly Update
Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
Very little information has appeared about the region of Central Asia in books and articles until recently due to two main two reasons:
Register Now ➠
Fly the Dream of Africa with RwandAir
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
Operating from Kigali, Rwanda as our hub at the heart of Africa, RwandAir is one of the fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest and state of the art fleet on the African continent.
Register Now ➠
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