|
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
Where to go for the ultimate Asia experience
Two centuries ago, trips to Asia were reserved for wealthy merchants, ambassadors and colonial elite who could afford grand and expensive voyages. But that travel scenario has been turned on its head. With a proliferation of affordable flights, versatile accommodations, high-speed rails and increased international connectivity, it's easier than ever to…
— CNN
City break in Turku – where the Finnish started
Quiz question: which is the oldest city in Finland and became the capital in 1809? No, not Helsinki – Turku. This south-western city, little-known to UK travellers, was the most important in Finland for hundreds of years. Now, 200 years after the end of its golden age, it is having a renaissance, with new bars and restaurants opening, and direct flights starting…
— The Guardian
48 hours in... Amsterdam, an insider guide to navigating the city's canals and beyond
Amsterdam is a city that celebrates individuality, encourages quirkiness and delights in difference. It has a long history of riches and rebelliousness. The glory-days of the 17th century, the über-cosy 1800s, the counter-culture explosion of the 1960s – they’ve all left tidelines along Amsterdam’s canals: opulent gables, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, barrel-lined…
— Telegraph (London)
Tours and Activities
How Iceland recreated a Viking-age religion
Priest Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson rummaged around in his blue woollen robe and fished out two cans of warm Icelandic lager. “Beer?” he asked, handing me one of the tepid tins, which frothed violently as I pulled the ring. “Skál,” said the priest, a mischievous glint in his pale blue eyes. “Skál,” I repeated, and we slurped our overflowing lagers. Those weren’t the…
— BBC
Ready to roll: a family campervan holiday through Portugal
Is camping the best kind of family holiday? I know plenty of parents who think so. It’s something to do not just with the immersion in nature and fresh air but the sheer amount of day-to-day activity involved, from the mundane (water fetching, sleeping bag stashing) to the thrilling (fire stoking, s’mores toasting). Restless kids are rarely bored. But camping with…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Huge cruise ship plows into tourist boat, dock in Venice
A towering, out-of-control cruise ship rammed into a dock and a tourist river boat on a busy Venice canal on Sunday morning. Italian media reported that at least five people were injured in the crash. The collision happened about 8:30 a.m. on the Giudecca Canal, a major thoroughfare that leads to Saint Mark's Square in the northeastern Italian city. Videos of…
— Miami Herald
Historic Mississippi River Flooding Forces Cruise Lines to Adjust Itineraries
Near-record breaking Mississippi River water levels have prompted two cruise lines to alter itineraries. The National Weather Service has described the flood, caused by heavy rains across the central United States, as the longest-lasting since the "Great Flood" of 1927. American Queen Steamboat Company has adjusted the docking locations for two of its…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Flying-V will carry passengers in its wings
The development of a V-shaped, fuel-efficient airplane design known as the Flying-V is getting a boost with the announcement that Dutch national carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will help to fund it. Intended to improve the sustainability of air travel, the Flying-V was conceived by Justus Benad, then a student at the Technical University of…
— CNN
A Behind-the-scenes Look at How Flight Attendants Are Trained for the Job
Working as a flight attendant comes with perks that include traveling to exotic locales around the world, but what does it take to land the role? While part of what flight attendants do is serve passengers on board, safety is a crucial aspect of the position, with the earliest "skygirls" of the 1930s, as they were called, even required to be registered nurses. While…
— Travel+Leisure
Lodging
Adam Levine and Maroon 5 to Headline Opening of Guitar-Shaped Hotel in Florida
Maroon 5 will be headlining the opening of a guitar-shaped hotel in Florida in October, in what will be one of the premiere destinations in southern Florida upon its opening. The 35-story high building at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood will be open to the public on October 25, with frontman Adam Levine and the band performing at the hotel’s opening of…
— People Magazine
This Historic Boston Jail Is Now a Luxury Hotel With Incredible Views of the City
Since 1851, people have been doing their best to avoid a night in Boston’s Charles Street Jail, but today, people are willingly checking themselves in — and paying for the privilege to do so. The Liberty Hotel, Boston’s iconic jail-turned-hotel has been completely reinvented while showcasing much of the building’s storied history and structure. The building is thought to…
— Travel+Leisure
Other and Odd
16 Easy Tips for Saving Money on Your Family Vacation
Summer is on its way, and if you have kids, that likely means complicated summer camp plans. But it also could mean time for a family vacation. Trips that take everyone in the family away from their routines — parents from work and household responsibilities, kids from school and homework — can be a great bonding experience for families and give each…
— Travel+Leisure
What Kenan Thompson Can’t Travel Without
The actor and comedian Kenan Thompson has been a star on “Saturday Night Live” for a record-breaking 16 seasons. In July, he’ll also be a judge, along with Chrissy Teigen and Jeff Foxworthy, on “Bring the Funny,” a new television series where comedians will compete in a talent show for fame and money. Next season, he will start in a new family sitcom, "The…
— New York Times
Today in History
The Shooting of Andy Warhol
Valerie Jean Solanas was an unusual woman and artist. Her work was so radically feminist and pornographic that even Andy Warhol refused to publish it. The two collaborated on other ventures, but Solanas, perhaps suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, grew increasingly…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Break out of any sales slump with these five tips
by John Frenaye
Monday June 03, 2019
Face it. We all have slumps. For me, it is right now. Most of my clients are planning on traveling over the summer with their kids and the plans are made, deposits are a thing of the past and I sit here waiting for travel dates so I can get paid. I know it is a temporary lull and not really a slump, but we need to get over it. At some point, we are all here. So, how to get over the hump? Here are five suggestions for you! And they’re really pretty simple!
Stay positive. Your negative mindset is likely to kill all sales. It’s a slump! This too shall pass. Stay upbeat because no one likes to buy travel from…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Publishers Corner
The value of client testimonials
by Richard Earls
Sunday June 02, 2019
I happened upon a travel agency website this weekend with an exceptional feature. It wasn’t the site’s use of technology or a booking engine, or the wide array of content it provided. What most impressed me was the extensive number of client testimonials the owners had gathered together from their existing client base. There were a total of 42 client testimonials, and maybe a few others I didn’t see. I’m pretty sure the web site had more glowing recommendations from former clients than any site I had ever seen.
I don’t know this particular agency, but I am certain I could book with them with confidence. My vacation would be in good hands.
We tend to have a herd…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Mike's Morning Missives
Same Old, Same Old: 1987 Revisited
 The newsletter I picked up while cleaning a box I found in my basement read The Marketing Communications. It was dated 1987 and was written by a man named Pete Silver.
The title of this particular edition was 99 Ways To Out-Market Your Competition. It was written over thirty years ago. I read each numbered entry with great…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
How to Leverage Social Media to Get New Clients
Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Each year, social media continues to experience a massive growth. More and more consumers using social media channels as their main communication channel to interact with businesses of all sizes. Join our webinar to learn how to effectively manage all your social media presence boost engagement and gain new clients.
eClincher is a leading social media management platform offering a complete solution to manage, publish, engage and analyze social media presence.
Register Now ➠
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 ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
