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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
The 13 Places Around the World You Must Visit, According to Our Expert Travel Advisors
Nothing quite beats the romance of travelling on a steam train or shunting through mountains. These rides showcase Europe’s spectacular landscapes. A quaintly old-fashioned rack- or cog-railway sets off from a low mountain pass inland from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to ascend the westernmost peak of the Pyrenees. All the way there are views…
— Travel+Leisure
Why Greece's forgotten second city should be your next holiday destination
So thoroughly does Athens dominate our perceptions of urban life in Greece that the country’s second city is left very much underappreciated. True, Thessaloniki (thessaloniki.travel and visitgreece.gr) does not offer anything quite as magnificent as the Parthenon – but this is a destination awash with food, culture and history. The capital of…
— Telegraph (London)
Tours and Activities
Ancient tombs found near Egypt pyramids
Archaeologists working near the pyramids of Giza have discovered an ancient Egyptian burial ground dating back to around 2500 BCE and hosting the tombs of high-ranking officials. The remarkable find includes a limestone family tomb from Egypt's fifth dynasty, a period spanning the 25th to the 24th century BCE, the country's Ministry…
— CNN
Meadow larks: orchids and alpine views in Slovenia
Meadow flowers, mountain fishing, food from one of the best chefs in the world. All are on offer in Slovenia, though from the looks of my fellow passengers on the late-night flight, few will venture far from Ljubljana’s bars and throbbing club scene. My companion and I, however, are drawn by more pastoral daytime delights: the Julian…
— The Guardian
Universal: Classic monsters join Halloween Horror Nights lineup
They'll do the monster mash at the 2019 edition of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. A haunted maze dubbed Universal Monsters will feature Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein, the Wolf Man and other classic movie characters at the Orlando event. The house will include passes through Dracula's castle and Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory, home of…
— Miami Herald
Cruise
Windstar Cruises to Send Two Ships to Australia and NZ
Windstar Cruises plans to send two of its ships to Australia next year, according to Steve Simao, the line's vice president of sales. As a once-off special cruise departing February 2020, the four-masted, 148-passenger Wind Spirit will visit the region on its way from Tahiti to Singapore for dry dock upgrades, calling at ports in Indonesia, the…
— CruiseCritic.com
The best South America cruises for budding archaeologists
In South America you can find some of the world's finest archaeological treasures from the oldest civilisations. Luckily for cruise fans, many can be found along its coastline – and the right voyage allows you to see several significant sites in one trip. Here are six cruises perfect for budding archaeologists. Among the highlights of…
— Telegraph (London)
Two Cruise Ships Brace For Potential Pirate Attacks
If you think pirates only exist on attractions at Disneyland, think again: Two different cruise ships have recently taken fairly extreme measures to make sure those aboard are prepared should pirates try and come aboard. And one of those ships happens to be Royal Caribbean’s brand new Spectrum Of The Seas. Before venturing into the…
— CruiseRadio.net
Transportation
Sweden by train: from Stockholm to Oslo
When most people think of Scandinavian travel, they picture fjords, mountains and the dramatic landscapes of the Arctic Circle. But for a slice of authentic Nordic life, consider the lesser-explored central part of Sweden connecting its capital, Stockholm, and Norway’s first city, Oslo. The route is mostly flat, but passes beautiful lakes, chief…
— The Guardian
Airline crew helps dad pull off epic mid-air prank
A devoted father got an airline to help him “punch” his daughter midflight, and now she’s plotting her revenge. Bridie Connell was flying to New Zealand for a family party when her father got the flight crew involved in a years-long “prank war” between him and his daughter. According to Connell, she and her dad have been locked in a…
— Fox Travel News
Lodging
How get better service in a hotel, according to a career concierge
Ever wonder how to get an upgrade in the hotel you’re staying in? Is there such a thing as a “best” night of the week to stay in a hotel? And just how clean are hotel rooms? We found out answers to all of these burning questions … and more. In the latest in our ongoing series, How to Get Better Service, NBC News sat down with Michael…
— NBC
Prince Charles Is Opening a Bed and Breakfast in Scotland
Prince Charles is officially in the hotel business. On May 15, the future King of England will open the doors to his new bed and breakfast, known as Granary Lodge, to the public. The 10-bedroom development overlooks the picturesque North Sea on the grounds of the Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland. As the Daily Mail noted, the Castle of Mey…
— Travel+Leisure
Other and Odd
Mother's Day Gift Guide: Great Travel Toiletry Bags That Won't Spill The Beans (Or Anything Else)
There’s nothing worse than opening your suitcase and finding your clothes ruined because your shampoo spilled or your makeup ran all over them. A good toiletry bag is a travel necessity. It can also make a great accessory. Here are some stylish options, whether you’re going for a day or a…
— Forbes
More safety tips from readers for women traveling alone
Thanks for “Tips for a Safe Trip From Women With Bona Fides” (On the Spot, by Catharine Hamm, April 28 ). I practice many of these tips and have added a couple (Note to self: Learn a martial art) to my kit. When I travel alone, I dress for invisibility, and the diamond wedding band is stowed at home. In Manhattan, my…
— LA Times
Today in History
The Chunnel Opens
On May 6, 1994, the tunnel from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, France opened for business. Passing under the English Channel, the Chunnel, as it became known, is a modern marvel of engineering. It is the second longest undersea tunnel in…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Dear travel suppliers, here's what we need from you
by John Frenaye
Monday May 06, 2019
I don't know an y agencies that own their own resorts, planes or ships. With that said, we must work with suppliers to provide travel advice to our clients. Yes, it's a relationship. And like any relationship it is a two way street. Like a marriage, there is give and take. When one takes more from the relationship--often it ends in divorce. And so it is with travel suppliers. This week I am looking at what a good preferred supplier needs to bring to the table for agents. And in fairness, next week I will turn the tables and offer what we need to bring to the suppliers. Hopefully there will be no divorces in the…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Publishers Corner
Client Knowledge
by Richard Earls
Sunday May 05, 2019
Recently, I was speaking to a colleague about a new sales person he had just employed. The sales person was complaining the company did not have a presentation brochure. If only the company would produce a professional presentation, the sales person assured his boss, the sales would come flying through the door. My friend wanted to know what I thought, and I told him.
Good sales materials are important, but more important were the clients' needs. Company produced literature, particularly in a 1:1 scenario like travel consulting, was secondary to speaking intelligently and compassionately with the…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
COSMOPOLITAN BUENOS AIRES & ARGENTINA'S PATAGONIA WITH AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS AND BORELLO TRAVEL & TOURS
Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
The largest airline in South America, AR offers convenient connections to/from 37 domestic destinations in Argentina and 22 International destinations, including our daily non-stop flights from New York’s JFK and MIAMI, as well as code share flights from ATL with Delta Airlines. We’re proud to be the recipients, once again, of the 2019 Traveler's Choice Awards by TripAdvisor for “Best Major Airline Latin America.”
Register Now ➠
Journey to Laos and Beyond with Lao Airlines
Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT
Join us for an educational and fun journey to Laos and beyond with Lao Airlines.
Register Now ➠
Culinary Travel in China and Asia
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT
Thanks to Food Network launched in 1993, America has become more sophisticated with how food should look, prepared and taste. Thanks to Food Network success, many TV culinary shows are dominating our TV landscapes now with celebrity chefs such Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen), Mario Batali and Bobby Flay (Iron Chef America), Andrew Zimmern with Bizarre Foods, and of course from the late Anthony Bourdain. Chef Bourdain is well-known to bridge the food and the local culture that makes it more up-close and personal, on how we look at food preparation and how the locals consume them.
Register Now ➠
Blue-Roads Touring Co Expands Small Group Touring Portfolio!
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Join us for an informative webinar about Blue-Roads Touring Co, the experts in small group travel for almost 30 years! Known for their leisurely paced itineraries through Europe, Blue-Roads Touring Co has now expanded into Asia, and by the end of May will expand into the USA as well.
Register Now ➠
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This is Tip #4 in a series of 10 relationship building…