|
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
Why Amsterdam wants tourists to go elsewhere
Famous for its tolerance as much as its narrow houses and broad canals, Amsterdam is undergoing a radical change of attitude when it comes to the millions of tourists that flock to see it each year. Tolerance, it seems, has reached its limits in the Dutch capital, which is now actively urging visitors to head elsewhere as frustrated locals complain of feeling…
— CNN
10 Memorial Day Destinations for People Who Still Don’t Have Plans
If you haven’t already planned your Memorial Day getaway, it’s not too late. You can still get out of town for a perfect weekend escape. Yelp has compiled a list of the best Memorial Day destinations for a last-minute jaunt of town. These places won’t be the busiest in the country, but they’ll still have plenty to do and see during the three-day…
— Travel+Leisure
Skip Phuket and Koh Samui—Go to This Island in Thailand Instead
When it comes to Thailand’s island destinations, Phuket and Koh Samui are the most well-known options. But with such popularity comes crowds of tourists, and a level of commercialization that takes away from the magic of such a beautiful country. To escape the throngs of visitors, go off the beaten track to a remote hideaway that locals hold close to…
— Vogue
Tours and Activities
Wisdome's Immersive Art In Los Angeles May Be Just What You're Looking For
“What is reality? Is what you see true or not?” After wandering through the geodesic domes in the Arts District of Los Angeles, you may not be so sure. The immersive exhibit, called Samskara and hosted at Wisdome, is a place where illustrations transform before your eyes, where you create art simply by moving in front of screens and where you…
— Forbes
The 2019 Holiday Season Is Going to Be More Magical Than Ever at Universal Orlando Resort
There’s no better place to spend Christmas than in Florida. Don’t fret about changing your annual routine for the holiday, because theme park Christmas lasts all winter long at Universal Orlando Resort. From Nov. 16, 2019 through Jan. 5, 2020, Universal’s two Florida parks will feature festive experiences themed to favorite films like "The Grinch," "Minions" and…
— Travel+Leisure
Cruise
Disney Cruise Line to Increase Number of Calls on Orlando's Port Canaveral
An extended agreement between Disney Cruise Line and Canaveral Port Authority will see the line will spend more time at Port Canaveral (most commonly associated with Orlando) in the coming years. The 20-year agreement goes into effect on June 1 and increases the number of guaranteed calls from 150 to 180 in 2023 and 216 in 2024. As under the…
— CruiseCritic.com
'I was living my Dirty Dancing dream': On board P&O's Strictly-themed cruise
When Stacey Dooley raised the glitterball trophy at the end of the last series of Strictly Come Dancing it was particularly inspiring. Not just because her Charleston was brilliant, but because she was one of the few contestants never to have danced before. When, several months later, I boarded P&O’s Britannia halfway through a two-week Portugal and…
— Telegraph (London)
Transportation
Why You Should Never Use Airport USB Charging Stations
Those oh-so-handy USB power charging stations in the airport may come with a cost you can’t see. Cybercriminals can modify those USB connections to install malware on your phone or download data without your knowledge. “Plugging into a public USB port is kind of like finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth. You…
— Forbes
How to avoid 3 mistakes that could lead to the loss of PreCheck and Global Entry
Looking forward to moving quickly through the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck line, I suddenly found myself shuffling along with everyone else. How could that be? I had faster-through-airport-security PreCheck, a perk of the Global Entry program that also gets you through customs faster. But now I was in the slow lane. That’s because…
— LA Times
Lodging
The heritage-travel trend just got easier for you to try, thanks to Airbnb and 23andMe
Heritage travel is the latest jet-setting trend you’ll want to add to your bucket list. Jetting off to another country to meet distant relatives or simply explore your family’s history is a great way to make those stories you heard growing up really come to life. In the past, these trips were something you researched and booked yourself. But now, Airbnb and…
— Well And Good
First look at the world's first guitar-shaped hotel
Why stay at a regular multistory hotel when you could stay in a guitar? This fall, the world's first guitar-shaped hotel will open in South Florida. The $1.5 billion Hard Rock property in Hollywood, Florida, is part of a larger project -- a $2.2 billion project expanding two Florida Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos (the other is located in Tampa). Both the Hollywood and…
— CNN
Other and Odd
How to Travel Without Being a Tourist
One of the joys of global mental health work is that it gives you the opportunity to travel not as a tourist. The places we go are often not suitable for pleasure travel. We go to poorer countries to get work done or other places to attend meetings. But these present opportunities to get to know interesting places and people, history, and ourselves. The first ten years…
— Psychology Today
Father's Day Gift Guide: The Very Best Travel Tech For Dads On The Go
Technology has dramatically changed the way we travel, from helping us get more work done on the road to escaping transit boredom with entertainment to having more fun and being more active while doing activities when we arrive at our destination. It’s easier than ever to stay in touch, bring home memories and explore while on the road. This is great…
— Forbes
Trip bundling is growing: Here are 6 places you can plan a trip from start to finish
Travel bundling — booking flights, accommodations and attractions on one platform — is becoming more popular as it saves time from bouncing around to different sites. And booking multiple parts of a trip in one place oftentimes saves money. Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz and Kayak are go-to websites for travel bundling, where users can book…
— USA Today
Today in History
The Deaths of Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Barrow, better known as "Bonnie and Clyde" share the same date of death: May 23, 1934. On that day, the notorious outlaws were ambushed and killed by Texas and Louisiana law enforcement in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The two lovers…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Topdeck debuts Mexico destination trip, expanding tour footprint to Latin America
NEW YORK – May 21, 2019 – Topdeck Travel, the number one provider of group travel for 18-39 year-olds, is launching its premiere Mexico destination trip, marking the brand’s first group tour package in both the country and greater Latin America region. The 11-day Mexico Unveiled…
— Travel Research Online
CCRA Announces Dates for Upcoming Regional PowerSolutions LIVE Agent Training and Round-Table Supplier Events
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – May 22, 2019 – On the heels of its successful, first annual National Conference with more than 700 travel professionals in attendance, and its PowerSolutions LIVE educational forum in Atlanta, CCRA Travel Commerce Network today announced upcoming…
— Travel Research Online
TRO SMITH
How to Use Video in the Sales Process
by Catherine Heeg
Thursday May 23, 2019
Do you want to  close sales more quickly?
Do you want to grow relationships with your potential clients more quickly?
I’ll bet your answer is a resounding YES! Learning how and when to add video into your sales process is a super easy way to shift your sales into high gear. Tune in and finesse your next sales conversation with the tips in this…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Spotlight
Greenland's Glaciers and Coasts
by Joseph DeLoach
Thursday May 09, 2019
A land mass tha t is largely above the Arctic Circle, Greenland is a country covered mostly in ice. Though, the southwestern coasts are populated by smaller towns. With stunning fjords and glaciers, to a midnight sun in the summer, to northern lights in the winter—Greenland is a getaway that will leave the traveler speechless with its sights. Today's article on the shores of Greenland is brought to you by Iceland ProCruises.
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Luxury Travel Tips
Choose Role Models Carefully
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday May 16, 2019
One of  the more useful lessons, I learned early on, is to seek out and emulate role models. When the Virtuoso owners who took this naïve young man under their wing to share the “business” of the travel industry, and when recruited into industry roles, I modeled those I considered to be good managers with a high level of trust and integrity.
Ray Dalio is someone worth emulating. A self-made billionaire, his life and work are governed by hundreds of “Principles” documented in the New York Times bestseller by the same name. Here are three that stood out to help find your own role…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Mike's Morning Missives
I Can’t Listen Anymore!
 I recently invested one-hour of my time listening to an on-line webinar from a “professional.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
It had nothing to do with the information being shared, although that definitely had something to do with it. The presenter was putting me to sleep. I wanted to run out the door screaming. Incredible.
Ladies and gentlemen: I believe whatever you do, and regardless of your industry, your competition may be putting your prospects and their customers to sleep. I am finding this experience hard to believe, but perhaps I should not be surprised at all. This person is a so-called expert, specialist, and popular consultant. Not…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Groups with ShoreTrips
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Listen into this presentation on how to do groups with ShoreTrips. If you haven’t done a group with them before, you will come out a pro! And if you have done groups with them – you will likely learn about some advanced features you did not know about before.
Register Now ➠
Best Fall Vacations
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
The recipe behind a great fall tour is vibrant colors, historic sites and memorable rail excursions. Join Vacations By Rail for an informative session on autumn rail tours and heritage trains that showcase the best fall foliage in North America.
Enjoy an overview of these historic railways and Vacations By Rail’s new and popular autumn rail trips in the USA and Canada. This webinar will inspire new fall vacation ideas and give you the knowledge and tools to sell rail vacations with confidence and make this unique travel style a part of your business.
Register Now ➠
Airline Consolidation: The Sky Bird Advantage
Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Sky Bird's Business Development Director, Michael Dunne, shows agents the advantages of working with an airline consolidator. Agents will explore the many benefits offered including: assistance booking large groups, low net fares, and customizable land packages through Sky Bird's tours division, and how to navigate the WINGS booking engine, available exclusively to agents who register for free with Sky Bird.
Register Now ➠
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 ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
