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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
Inside Praga, Warsaw's Most Hipster Neighborhood
On the right bank of the Vistula River, you will find a neighborhood of derelict art nouveau architecture, the exteriors of the buildings dotted with bullet holes and grimy with dirt. It looks like it's been decades since they've seen a paint job. It's been more than 70 years, in fact. And although Warsaw's city center was mostly destroyed by Nazis during the Invasion…
— Travel+Leisure
The Boom, Bust, and Rebirth of Perth
Perched along Western Australia’s 12,500 kilometers of coast and home to nearly 80% of the state’s population, Perth has been called the most isolated city in the world. And yet, it serves as the natural gateway to Australia for many countries, providing the fastest direct flights between parts of Europe and Asia, with new direct routes from India in the…
— Fortune
Radicalism, rebellion and Robert Kett: a walk through Norwich’s history
You may think of Norwich as a gentle and uncomplaining sort of a place but the city has a long history of radicalism and protest. On this short afternoon’s walk I’d like to introduce you to a gentleman farmer named Robert Kett, a key figure in the city’s history of rebellion. Start from the railway station, crossing the river to the Compleat Angler pub, where steps…
— The Guardian
Tours and Activities
This travel company will let people 'pay what you can' for a glamping vacation this summer
More than one in four Americans are skipping a vacation this year, and the No. 1 reason is because they can’t afford it, according to a recent Bankrate survey. But glamping travel company Under Canvas is running a promotion that will allow selected travelers to take a vacation and only pay what they can afford. Through June 4, people who cannot…
— CNBC
Meet the chefs reinventing Palestinian cuisine
As I wound through the bustling market streets of Bethlehem’s Old City and entered the courtyard of the Hosh Al-Syrian Guesthouse, a calm oasis emerged. Set amid the pale Jerusalem stone and plant-lined terrace, Fawda Restaurant & Café is a reservations-only, upscale Palestinian food experience that merges local ingredients with French techniques. Owner…
— BBC
7 Places For Incredible Stargazing (and Star-Partying) In the US
The first step in finding somewhere incredible to stargaze is to get as far away from other humans as you can, which is always an excellent start regardless of what you’re doing. If you live in a city, it’s easy to forget that the stars above you even exist, let alone how brilliant the night sky can be. When you finally escape all that light pollution you’ve grown…
— Thrillist
Cruise
Crystal Mozart to Leave Crystal River Cruises; Fleet to Consist Solely of Newer Ships
Crystal will soon bid farewell to Crystal Mozart, the ship that spearheaded its river brand. The move will position Crystal's river fleet as the youngest in the industry. The line revealed this week that it will transfer Crystal Mozart to sister brand Genting Cruise Lines ahead of the spring 2020 season. An exact date has yet to be revealed, though Crystal Mozart…
— CruiseCritic.com
Nature’s pharmacy: The remarkable plants of the Amazon rainforest – and what they may cure
The Amazon rainforest is the most abundant greenhouse on the planet with more than 80,000 plant species. It is also the world’s largest medicine cabinet, with around 25 per cent of all drugs used today derived from rainforest plants. Most cruises offer the chance to take a jungle walk with a botanist or to meet a shaman (a medicine man or woman) to…
— Telegraph (London)
Transportation
Hyperloop: Ushering In The 4th Dimension Of Travel
Hard to believe but the precursor of what we know today as the “Hyperloop”—the idea of transporting goods and passengers through low-pressure pneumatic tubes—dates back to the 18th century. It bounced back into the limelight in 2013, thanks to the Alpha paper published by Elon Musk. Christened ‘Hyperloop’, Musk’s concept involved…
— Forbes
How frequent flyer miles helped LGBT people in danger
As a gay man living in the United States, Brian Kelly was shocked to read about the violent anti-gay crackdown in the Russian republic of Chechnya a few years ago. So when he heard about Rainbow Railroad, he knew he wanted to help. Based in Toronto and operating without government funding, Rainbow Railroad helps LGBT individuals escape violence…
— CBS News
Lodging
I Went on a ‘Hotel Crawl’ in San Francisco and It Changed the Way I Travel
I dare you to name something better than waking up on a Saturday morning to a tap on the door and someone announcing “room service” while you’re tucked into fluffy white linens and your head is resting on a cloud-like pillow. Can’t think of anything? Me either. I love hotels. In fact, I wish I could pull a Tinsley Mortimer from “Real Housewives of New York,”…
— Travel+Leisure
Stay In This One-Bedroom Pop-Up Hotel By Ruinart
This month, legendary champagne house Maison Ruinart announced details of its imminent pop-up, Hotel 1729, revealing Jonathan Anderson, the director and founder of JW Anderson and creative director of Loewe, as the creative force behind its design. The one-bedroom hotel will make its appearance in Notting Hill, London from July 4th to 14th, 2019. The…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
This Is Why You Need Kidnapping Insurance For Travel
Before he left for a recent business trip to Lagos, Nigeria, Jay Libove had a thought: What if things took a turn for the worse? Specifically, did he need kidnapping insurance for travel? "I read the statistics, from various major countries' foreign offices, departments of state, and travel advisories," he says. The U.S. State Department has a warning for Nigeria,…
— Forbes
Why Travel is the Secret Ingredient to a Great Corporate Wellness Program
There is a new era of health and wellness exploding. From healthy eating and active lifestyles to mental health and spiritual practices, the way people prioritize their overall well-being has definitely changed. People apply their desire for an overall healthy lifestyle when deciding on a job. Employers have noticed this cultural and social change and are…
— Thrive Global
Today in History
The First Council of Nicaea
Roman Emperor Constantine wanted to unify the Roman empire. His plan depended in part on unifying the emerging Christian religion. He convened a council of nearly 1800 Christian bishops in Nicaea to solidify Christian doctrine. The outcome, expressed in the Nicene Creed, formed…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
How to be different in a world of clones. Here are 7 suggestions
by John Frenaye
Monday May 20, 2019
Last week, I di scussed the things that travel professionals need to bring to the supplier table to make a true partnership. But partnerships are only part of the formula for success. Your agency (really no matter how large) is a smaller part of their pie. And to the consumer, you are even a smaller piece of that pie.
I just Googled “How many travel agents are there in the US” and got this answer:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the travel agency industry employees 105,300 full time travel agents (May 2008). PhoCusWright estimates there are an additional 30,000 Independent Advisors that typically sell travel from…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Pulling Out of a Slump
by Richard Earls
Saturday May 18, 2019
Slump? I ain't  in no slump... I just ain't hitting. ~ Yogi Berra
I hope nobody told you the travel business was easy.
I'm just back from a travel conference in the great city of Memphis. The travel professionals in attendance seemed upbeat about business prospects, affirming the general sentiment that pent-up demand for travel is taking hold of the general public. One agent, however, indicated things had not been going her way lately and everyone else's enthusiasm was just making her feel worse. Her business was down and she didn't know…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
With a Little Help From Your Friends
 Although all my posts are important, this one may very well be more importanter than all the others combined. Yes, I know I said, “more importanter.” Do I have your attention?
For those of you pressed for time, I will cut to the chase. Get this and get it good. If you want to succeed in this business or any other business, it is more important than ever to “use” your friends. “Two heads (set of eyes) are better than one.”
By “friends” I mean mentor, coach, reliable source or any other name you choose to use. I was reminded of this on two occasions just last…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
ACCELERATE YOUR UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
With new attractions, new hotels, and so much more, 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 ➠
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 ➠
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