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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
Dominican Republic to enhance food and drink inspections after tourist deaths
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is amping up safety measures after the Caribbean vacation destination made headlines for a spate of tourist deaths. Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier García announced Thursday that programs are being implemented immediately throughout the country to strengthen travelers' confidence, according to a press release. Most…
— USA Today
The US government is cautioning Americans that if they visit Peru they could be at risk of violent crime and 'organized criminal groups'
The US Department of State reissued a travel advisory cautioning against travel to Peru on July 18. The reissue comes ahead of the Pan American Games and Para pan American Games, which will be hosted in Peru. Certain areas are wholesale banned for US government personnel to travel to, including the Colombian-Peruvian border region. The Machu Picchu area, the Sacred…
— Business Insider
Want To Go To St Barths? Find Out What You Need To Know.
You will not find anything like it in the Caribbean. Imagine a charming village in South of France plunked down on a tiny island in the Caribbean. Throw in fantastic beach bars, an array of great restaurants, and the harbor side town of Gustavia where ancient stone buildings now house chic boutiques, and you will find yourself asking "why did not I come here years…
— Forbes
Tours and Activities
California 'Daffodil Hill' closing because of overtourism from Instagrammers
McLaughlin's Daffodil Hill, a field of beautiful yellow and white flowers outside of California's state capital of Sacramento, has announced that it will be closing indefinitely due to fallout from its unexpected popularity on social media. The Ryan family, who manages the property, posted an announcement on Facebook on July 15 announcing the closure. The original plot of…
— CNN
10 amazing holidays to celebrate the moon landings
Wow, doesn’t a half-century go in a flash? Saturday – you may have heard it mentioned once or 6,458 times – marks a precise 50 years since the Apollo 11 mission touched down on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, and all that. Now, if this makes you look up and think, “hey, I’d love to go there”, well, you can’t –…
— Telegraph (London)
Cruise
Your First Look at Virgin Voyages' Private Island
Virgin Voyages revealed on Thursday plans for Beach Club at Bimini, the private island oasis that will only be available to the cruise line's guests (or “sailors,” as Virgin calls them). “A cornerstone of every voyage will be The Beach Club at Bimini, where sailors can feel the sand in their toes in a stylish setting with white-sand and crystal clear waters and programming that will…
— Travel+Leisure
Budapest Illumination Cruises No Longer a Given on River Sailings
For years, one of the highlights of Danube River cruises beginning or ending in Budapest was the nightly "illumination cruise" past the Hungarian capital's landmark buildings. Now, most river cruise lines have quietly eliminated the tours, due to changing regulations from the city's government. In January, Budapest authorities banned certain vessels from turning around in front…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
KLM Airlines Faces Backlash After Asking Breastfeeding Mother to Cover Up
A passenger on a recent KLM flight says she was asked to cover up while breastfeeding her 1-year-old daughter. The woman, who refused to cover up with a blanket she was given, claims the flight attendant warned her “that if anyone complained,” it would be “her issue,” The New York Times reported. After posting her experience on Facebook, social media users voiced…
— Travel+Leisure
Looking for a cheaper way to travel? Why you may want to try an RV
If you're looking for a last-minute weekend getaway with the entire family, and you want to save money on the trip, you may want to hop in an RV. "You can get a five star hotel or you can get five billion stars that you can sleep under in a recreational trip," Jeff Cavins, CEO and Co-founder of Outdoorsy, said. With Outdoorsy, you take your vacation with you. "It's a hotel…
— ABC 13
Have Southwest tickets for travel this fall? Check your reservation for new 737 Max cancellations
Southwest Airlines on Thursday said it is removing the grounded Boeing 737 Max from its flight schedule through Nov. 2, a month later than previously planned. The airline, the largest U.S. operator of the Max aircraft with 34 Max 8s at the time of the grounding, said it is making the change due to the still uncertain timing of the plane's return. American and United recently…
— USA Today
Lodging
This Monthly Subscription Will Give You Unlimited Stays in Luxury Resorts
Luxury travel company Inspirato is introducing a new pass that lets travelers book stays around the world without paying nightly rates, taxes, or fees. Pass holders get unlimited access to more than 60,000 vacation homes, hotels, and resorts around the world. The price: a flat fee of $2,500 a month. How it works: Inspirato Pass holders pick an available trip or property from a list…
— Travel+Leisure
7 luxurious hotels loved by royalty
From the British Windsors to the Aga Khan to Monaco's House of Grimaldi, privacy and discretion is paramount for royals when traveling. First-class hospitality, personalized service and luxury amenities are also essential, so it takes a truly remarkable hotel to capture their hearts. With far-flung and glamorous destinations from Grenada to Gstaad on their radar, and private jets at…
— CNN
Other and Odd
This Travel Company Will Plant Sit While You’re on Vacation
Plant moms and dads know the worry of coming home to dry or dead house plants after an otherwise perfect vacation all too well. After all, there are dozens of services out there for looking after your pets, your kids, and your house in general while you're on vacation — but what about your special fern babies? Contiki, a company geared towards Millennial travelers, has you and…
— Travel+Leisure
6 Practical Ways to Deal With Travel Anxiety—Because ‘Taking Deep Breaths’ Doesn’t Always Cut It
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could snap your fingers and arrive at your destination—no packing, airport crowds, or customs lines required? If you're prone to worry and frustration, travel—particularly airport travel—is more than just a necessary inconvenience; it’s often a multifaceted catalyst for (sometimes crippling) stress and anxiety. Whatever potential travel stressor sets you off,…
— Real Simple
Is Your Vacation Ruining the Planet?
Our species has never been as mobile as it is today. Getting from one side of the planet to the other has never been as easy or affordable. You can wake up this morning in Boston and through the magic of air transport, go to sleep in Barcelona, Botswana or Brisbane. The downside of this movement, while it brings people together, comes at a high cost to the environment. A…
— Forbes
Today in History
The Sinking of the Mary Rose
The Mary Rose was one of the largest ships in the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. She had seen nearly thirty years of warfare and had recently been upfitted with a new innovation: gun ports along the side of the ship, allowing it to fire a broadside. However, the battle tactics to support…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways' Employees In North America Commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day
Fort Lauderdale, FL (July 18, 2019) – South African Airways (SAA), the flagship carrier of South Africa, commemorated Nelson Mandela International Day with its employees at the North America Regional Office in Fort Lauderdale participating in an outreach program by collecting donations…
— Travel Research Online
American Cruise Lines’ 2nd Modern Riverboat AMERICAN HARMONY Departs Shipyard 23 Days Early for New Orleans
GUILFORD, CT—July 18, 2019—American Cruise Lines’ newest modern riverboat, American Harmony, has successfully passed Seatrials and received its Coast Guard Certification. The 2nd ship in the Line’s groundbreaking series of 5 modern riverboats, just departed from Chesapeake Shipbuilding…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
Make Profits From Literary and On Location UK Tours
by Paull Tickner
Friday July 19, 2019
If you’re a r egular reader of these Agent’s Perspectives (and there are many of you out there) you’ll be aware of my longstanding commitment to helping you identify and profitably develop some of the untapped niche markets close to where you live. It’s why my website is divided into separate sections for GARDEN, FAITH, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, GIRLS GETAWAYS, etc.
Many of your anglophile clients will be interested in themes with a LITERARY/ON LOCATION slant, and with 15 conversation starting itinerary outlines on the Literary Tours page, you can take a look at some of the potential sources ON YOUR DOORSTEP. The list…
— Travel Research Online
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Deck Plans
Avid Travel With Britton Frost – Chatting With Our AmaMagna Cruise Manager, Maddy, In Linz
This week on  Avid Travel With Britton Frost, I am coming at you live from the Danube joined by our cruise manager for this week, Maddy Caldaruse.
Maddy has been working with AmaWaterways since 2007. With the company starting up in 2002, it’s almost as if she’s been there since the beginning. Ralph has had the privilege, and yes – I use that word intentionally, of sailing with Maddy multiple times over the past few years. Though this was my first time meeting Maddy we bonded quickly and now, as our journey concludes, I feel like I am parting ways with a long lost friend.
Ralph and I were not the only passengers aboard AmaMagna who were captivated by Maddy’s radiance. On a final bus tour yesterday I…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Have You Tried “Thinking” Lately?
 Contrary to popular belief, your biggest problem may not involve your failure to communicate.
A few years back the movie Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman identified a universal concern as it pertained to the business world. In a famous scene, the feisty prison warden directed his wrath toward Newman and said in a threatening tone. ”What we have here, is a failure to communicate.”
This single scene may very well be responsible for the popular communication movement today. It is the “in” thing to blame most business problems on “communication” or the lack thereof. As far as I am concerned, this does not properly frame the problem. Nor does it do justice to this…
— Travel Research Online
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Soundings
Create Your Own Tour of Italy: Italy Shore Excursions
by ShoreTrips
Friday July 19, 2019
Rolling vineyar ds, centuries-old masterpieces, cobblestone lanes, world-class cities, and colorful coastal fishing villages just scratch the surface of what to see in Italy. There’s never a lack of things to do in this magnificent country, the real challenge is figuring out how to create your own tour of Italy and plan your time in “The Beautiful Country”. You can get to know the area in just a day while you’re at port, but it all depends on what you want to see and do. Here are our best tips on how to plan your next Italy shore…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
ShoreTrips in Europe
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Listen into this presentation to learn about the ShoreTrips offerings in Europe. Did you know that ShoreTrips has three different price points in Europe? We will go over the differences between all three! Regardless if you sell cruises to the Baltic and Med or primarily focus on land-only - we have you covered.
Register Now ➠
Coming to Australia? First Stop Melbourne!
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Australia is a country that is always on the North American traveler’s bucket list. The question is always where to start.
Register Now ➠
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