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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 other Tuscany: Turning back time in Barga and Lucca
Wandering the Saturday market in the tiny hill town of Barga, you would be forgiven for thinking you had time-traveled to the Tuscany of 30 years ago. Shawl-clad grandmothers gesticulate wildly over pungent wheels of cheese. Spiky heads of romanesco and palm-sized porcini mushrooms spill from crates. And everywhere floats the aroma of chestnuts milled into the area's characteristic pasta…
— CNN
How Germany became the country of cars
At the edge of the Black Forest in south-western Germany, Edgar Meyer turned onto a medieval road barely the width of an ATV. Vines curled overhead and drooped down over discreet garden gates, while birdsong and the hum of Meyer’s vintage BMW were the only sounds. We were driving through the busy town of Dossenheim, yet we were completely alone on this peaceful little lane.…
— BBC
Tours and Activities
Great parks and green spaces in the UK
Skirting the southern edge of Manchester, Turn Moss and Chorlton water meadows offer a huge swathe of countryside just five miles from the city centre. Bisected by the River Mersey, they are home to at least 67 species of birds, and the rare Daubenton’s bat. During the second world war, mock housing and factory buildings were built of plywood on Turn Moss as decoys to distract German…
— The Guardian
This Fitness Guru Takes Travelers On International Voyages To Pull Them Out Of Their Comfort Zones
Stephanie Erazo never thought she would leave her glamorous job as a Los Angeles producer at one of the world’s most reputable news organizations to fulfill her passion for travel and fitness. But after a petrifying panic attack at work, her career trajectory began to shift. “I had a very cool job and got to attend a lot of Hollywood events,” Stephanie tells ESSENCE. “But it was also very stressful.…
— Essence
Cruise
Why This Cruise Ship Is 'Home' To Many
Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas isn't the newest or biggest ship, but it has a fiercely loyal following. The ship's 23rd birthday is approaching this December, and it shows: it has none of the newest tech or the latest shows onboard, and even the photo gallery presents your images as physical prints as opposed to letting you browse a digital display. So why do people return to the famous…
— CruiseCritic.com
Royal Caribbean to overhaul Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean is bringing what was once the world’s largest cruise ship up to speed with a $116 million overhaul with plans to keep it sailing the Southern Caribbean from Puerto Rico. Freedom of the Seas was once the Guinness World Record holder before the wave of Oasis-class ships, but it’s still a massive offering at 154,407 gross tons. The ship that debuted in 2006, and had its last major…
— Orlando Sentinel
A pint-sized capital surrounded by epic landscapes – an expert guide to Reykjavik
The world's most northerly capital city – lit by the midnight sun in summer or winter's magical Northern Lights – is a highlight of many a North Atlantic cruise. Though architecturally underwhelming, its waterfront setting and mountain vistas imbue the city with charm, while just inland lie epic landscapes shaped by volcanoes and glaciers. Though central Old Harbour can accommodate smaller…
— Telegraph (London)
Transportation
How Will Airports Keep Up With Travel Demand?
More than 2.7 million travelers on 44,000 flights travel across the United States each day – a figure that has increased every year since 2008. According to S&P Global Ratings, nearly 45 percent of all Americans took a commercial flight in 2018 and 42 percent of U.S. citizens now own a passport, compared with just 15 percent in 1997. Demand shows no signs of stopping, with this summer…
— Forbes
Southwest Will Cut Nearly 20 Direct Routes by January
On Thursday, Southwest Airlines announced it will do away with nearly 20 non-stop routes around the nation by January. The move, the airline said, is simply in response to route supply and demand. “We are always evaluating our service patterns and performance to ensure that we are offering the right number of seats for the community based on demand from travelers,” Southwest spokesman…
— Travel+Leisure
Lodging
7 Amazing Hotel Programs Helping Shelter Dogs
Hotels across North America and the Caribbean are helping shelter dogs find forever homes with their unique programs. From walking adoptable dogs to fundraising for local rescues, there are a number of ways you can make a difference in the lives of homeless pets while on vacation. Some hotels even have canine ambassadors and fosters to greet visitors, providing much-needed visibility for dogs…
— Forbes
Maison de la Luz Hotel
This bold boutique property from the Ace Hotel brand brings a striking level of aesthetic innovation to the New Orleans’ hotel scene, with delightfully surprising and memorable design details. By turns whimsical and daring, but always intriguing, there’s nothing quite like this hotel in the city. The hotel neighbours its sister property, The Ace Hotel New Orleans, on a relatively quite stretch ion…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
Why travel makes you a better person
Have you always doubted the science of travel, of the innumerable articles glamourizing travel? As a full-time traveller and one who travels for a living (by choice), I have experienced the full effects that travel has on our physical and mental health and well-being. Here are some of the life lessons I have learned from a life of travel, and why I am convinced that travel makes you a better…
— Thrive Global
12 Etiquette Rules You Must Follow When Traveling with Friends
Traveling with friends can be an absolutely amazing experience where you make lifelong memories—or it could end up testing the boundaries of your friendship. Whether it’s a bachelor(ette) party, a one-on-one trip with a BFF, or a celebration of a birthday on a year that ends in zero, there’s plenty to consider when hitting the road with pals. Though most people’s idea of fun vacation planning doesn’t…
— Reader's Digest
The Simple Thing I Do to Be a Better LGBTQ+ Ally While Traveling
As a traveler in a same-sex couple, a bed and breakfast is never my first choice. Clarifying that my wife and I would like to share a bed—yes, one bed—is awkward enough in the lobby of a hotel, let alone in the living room of a stranger. But when we booked a last-minute anniversary trip to [Orcas Island, Washington], this July, there was only one vacancy left in town—at Otters Pond B&B,…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Today in History
The Founding of the Red Cross
In 1864, the Swiss government invited the governments of Europe and the United States to a diplomatic conference in Geneva. On August 22, 1864, that group of nations adopted the first Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field". Among the adopted…
— Travel Research Online
TRO SMITH
Social Overload & Overwhelm: How to Avoid the Chaos
by Catherine Heeg
Thursday August 22, 2019
Do you ever fee l overwhelmed and overloaded with social marketing, selling, accounting and balancing life & work? Whew! It’s a lot of juggling, isn’t it?
How can we make better use of our social marketing time and effort?
A tourism pro recently threw this question out to me in a workshop I was leading. So, I decided to put together a short video with some quick tips to help you avoid the social marketing overwhelm so many of us…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Spotlight
The Treasures of Morocco
by Joseph DeLoach
Thursday August 22, 2019
Morocco attract s millions of travelers each year from all over the world. And we understand why! The country offers a wide range of landscapes and activities that leave tourists in awe: beaches and seaside resorts on the Mediterranean or Atlantic coasts, Atlas (mountains or dunes), wadis, oases of the desert, or the secret lanes from the medinas of beautiful cities like Fez, Tangier, Marrakech or Casablanca. All paired with the hospitality of the locals, will leave you loving Morocco and hungry for more. Today's article is brought to you by Holidays with Downtown.
— Travel Research Online
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Luxury Travel Tips
Why are You So Special?
by Dan Chappelle
Thursday August 22, 2019
Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises, said in a recent interview about the success of his company, “We are focused clearly on what we are and the number of things we are not.”
As a travel professional, the message is clear. In order to stand out among the plethora of booking options, get clear on who you are and who you are not. Ask yourself, “What makes me special?” and “What do I want to be known for?”
These are powerful questions I often ask of my students and audiences. Usually, the response is an awkward…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Two Heads Are (Often) Better Than One
 A very interesting thing happened this week and I wanted to share it with you.
I stumbled across a recording from a marketing specialist promoting himself as “The Sales Hunter.” His name, appropriately enough, is Mark Hunter. I think I stumbled upon him in iTunes. I liked what I heard.
I linked to his blog and as I often do, I posted my favorable comments along with a reference to my web site (so he could check me out) and I closed by suggesting that we chat sooner rather than later. As a hook, I referenced my former membership in NSA – the National Speakers…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Affordable Non-Stop Flights to Paris with XL Airways
Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
“Paris is always a good idea!”, famously said Audrey Hepburn, and we couldn’t agree more. Now that XL Airways has year-round scheduled flights between New York and Paris, the magnetic ‘City of Light’ becomes even more accessible on a budget. Paris is one of the “World’s Best Places to Visit”, and there has never been a better time to enjoy it than in the fall and around the winter holidays! The crowds are gone, the mood is mellow, and its beautiful colors add just a notch more charm and romanticism.
Register Now ➠
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