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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
This is the world's best country to travel to
It has more than 3,000 miles of coastline, and no fewer than 48 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Now, Spain has been declared the best country in the world to visit. For the third year running, it slid in just above France in the 2019 Travel & Tourism Competitive Report by the World Economic Forum, the Swiss-based organization that annually gathers the global elite to discuss major…
— CNN
Black Travel Vibes: Get Lost In The Natural Beauty of Arizona
When was the last time you explored the gems right in your own backyard? So often we get caught up in finding flight deals to dip out to the other side of the world, that we forget all about the beauty there is to behold right here in our very own country. Natural picturesque destinations like Arizona are ripe and ready for exploration and discovery and you don’t have to travel across the…
— Essence
Ischia Travel Guide: 6 Places You Need To Visit Now
Much has been said about Ischia in the past few years, thanks in part to the HBO-RAI adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend and most recently, the reopening of the famed Mezzatorre Hotel. The largest island in the Gulf of Naples, it has long been overshadowed by the allure of Capri and the Amalfi Coast but the “Green Island” is finally stepping into its own. There are a lot…
— Forbes
Tours and Activities
Abandoned palaces reveal secrets of the past
Building wrecks come in all shapes and sizes, but when a palace falls apart, it tends to attract a greater level of fascination.
That's the premise behind a new book, "Abandoned Palaces," which examines some of the most striking ruined chateaus, mansions and palazzi around the world. Among them are the homes of kings, military commanders, dictators, business magnates --…
— CNN
California beaches amp up fun, thanks to new mobility devices that navigate sand
Your day at a California beach is about to get better. In a first, the California Coastal Conservancy has approved $112,000 in grants to improve mobility access at California beaches. The awards will go to 11 nonprofits and public agencies to buy, store and maintain beach wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment at 18 coastal sites stretching from Humboldt to San Diego counties. As a…
— LA Times
Theme park apologizes for 'racist' safari cruise ride
One of the most popular theme parks in France has been forced to modify a popular ride after guests accused the attraction of being racist. The Africa Cruise ride at Nigloland in north eastern France has been at the park for several decades, having first been installed in 1987. However, the popular attraction was sparked outcry after a video of the ride surfaced last week. A park guest…
— Fox Travel News
Cruise
Hurricane Dorian: Norwegian cruise passenger's wedding weekend 'completely destroyed'
Travel agent Tina Wolf was all set to go on the Sept. 1 Norwegian Breakaway cruise for daughter Haylee Brania's wedding — until Hurricane Dorian got in the way, setting off a chain of events that left Wolf displeased with how the cruise line handled the situation. Wolf clarified that it's not about the cancellation of the wedding or cruise that upset her. "It’s the last-minute decisions that put a…
— USA Today
Angry Norwegian Cruise Line passengers said they had to sit in buses for hours without food or water after Hurricane Dorian forced their ship to change its final destination
Passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway ship told the Miami CBS affiliate CBS4 News on Wednesday that they were left on charter buses without food or water for hours after Hurricane Dorian forced their ship to reroute to New Orleans from Miami. They said that after the ship docked, they were confined to a cargo terminal with little communication from Norwegian…
— Business Insider
Transportation
Off-duty Pilot on Vacation With His Family Saves Entire Flight From Major Delays by Offering to Fly the Plane Himself
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear little gold wings. Michael Bradley, an easyJet pilot taking his family on vacation, did not expect to find himself back in the cockpit on a flight from Manchester, England to Alicante, Spain on September 2, according to the Manchester Evening News. Bradley and his family were passengers on the easyJet flight, which was severely delayed after…
— Travel+Leisure
How to Avoid Huge Taxes and Fees When Cashing in Frequent Flier Miles
Airlines tout their frequent flier programs as great ways for travelers to earn free flights. As a result, many fliers spend years diligently racking up miles through travel and airline credit cards, all in the hopes of scoring a free ticket at the end of the slog.
But, often, when travelers actually redeem their miles, they find that they must also pay hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Lodging
TripAdvisor is failing to stop fake hotel reviews, says Which?
The travel website TripAdvisor is failing to stop fake reviews boosting the rankings of top-rated hotels, Which? has claimed. The consumer organisation analysed almost 250,000 reviews for the 10 top-ranked hotels in 10 popular tourist destinations around the world, finding one in seven had “blatant hallmarks” of fake reviews. Which? Travel reported 15 cases to TripAdvisor and claimed…
— The Guardian
The most romantic stays in San Francisco, including twinkling bay views and crackling fireplaces
It’s easy to see why you might leave your heart in San Francisco: this unreasonably good-looking city is effortlessly romantic. Between charming cable cars rumbling past twinkling bay views, the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, and fragrant strolls through eucalyptus groves, it’s impossible not to get seduced. The city’s best hotels for couples embrace those natural strengths: be that…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
How to travel solo with your child (so you both actually enjoy it)
There’s an adage that shows up on far too many travel-themed Pinterest boards, but still rings true: “It’s not where you go, it’s who you’re with.” However, sometimes it’s who’s not with you that can have the biggest impact. Although my 6-year-old son, Zephyr, and I have camped together, we’ve never been out of the country without my wife. That changed recently, when I tested my…
— The Washington Post
These Are the Must-Have Apps for All Your Travel Needs
“There’s an app for that” has never been apter (see what I did there?) in the travel space as new technology emerges countless little helpers to make flying, driving, talking, and flirting easier than ever. Travel apps run the gamut though, so it can be tough to know which ones to use and why. Don’t fret—we’re here to help. We’ve analyzed and utilized the most pivotal travel apps on…
— Fodor's Travel
Today in History
U.S. Nicknamed "Uncle Sam"
Samuel Wilson, a Troy, New York meat packer, began supplying United States troops with barrels of meat on this day in 1813, and continued to do so throughout the war of 1812. Wilson stamped the rations with the letters, "U.S.", and soldiers began referring to the meat as "Uncle Sam's." The…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
The 10 Virtues of Travel Consulting
by Allison Sodha
Friday September 06, 2019
You may have he ard the story of the man with the hammer. A machine broke down at a manufacturing plant and a repair man was called. The managers were greatly concerned because production had ceased, resulting in delayed shipping. The repair man was an expert on this specific machine. He took out his hammer and slowly walked around, tapping the machine at certain spots. Eventually he pounded the hammer on one pully and the machine instantly started again. Everyone was thrilled!
The following week, the repair man sent an invoice for $10,000. The managers were shocked and, believing the amount unreasonable, asked for an explanation and itemization. The repair man replied, “Hammer: $10. Expertise: $9,990.”
I share this story because our expertise is often undervalued as travel…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Deck Plans
Avid Travel With Britton Frost – How To Save On A River Cruise
This week on  Avid Travel With Britton Frost I seek to answer one of the most frequently asked questions on our site: How do I save money on a river cruise?
In this episode, we look at the prices of river cruises on the Danube and the Rhone during peak season, and during shoulder season. There are multiple factors to take into consideration when looking for river cruise deals whether its time of year you’re cruising, airfare incentives, price cuts, or something…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike's Morning Missives
Marketing Mistake #4: You Have No Marketing Plan
 This is marketing mistake #4 of 15. I don’t want you to jump ship on this one. Very few people in business today have a marketing plan. They say they do, and every book on business suggests that you have one. My experience tells me otherwise.
The truth is that most well-intentioned folks have a “wing-it” plan. They have a “we try harder” plan. They have an “I’m a nice person, so I deserve success” plan. For lack of a better term they call these Marketing Plans. I don’t think so!
The reason they don’t have a plan is because in order to construct a marketing plan they must first know and understand what “marketing” is, or means, and how it works. They…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Soundings
8 Amazing World Experiences for 2019
by ShoreTrips
Friday September 06, 2019
The team at Sho reTrips has traveled to over 400 destinations around the world and came up with a list of our best recommendations for your next world travel experience. From the far corners of Asia to the United States, here is a list of must-see travel experiences to fuel your wanderlust in…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Discover Switzerland by Rail
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
Discover Switzerland by Rail with this new webinar from Vacations By Rail and uncover the top-rated adventures and memorable experiences that highlight a Swiss train vacation.
Register Now ➠
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ASTA Membership is Your Ticket to Success
Monday, September 16, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
At the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), we promote your business, telling your story every day! We are the industry’s only professional trade association whose business it is to promote, defend, educate and represent the entire travel industry—small, mid-sized and large travel agencies and their travel advisors; independent and home-based advisors; and suppliers of travel-related products and services.
Register Now ➠
Discover the Happy Isles with Solomon Airlines
Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Tucked away in the South Pacific, the Solomon Islands are a little known, unspoiled paradise. The Solomon Islands are an archipelago of almost 1,000 islands, located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu – a three hour journey from Australia. These islands are laid-back, welcoming and often surprisingly untouched. Crystal clear waters with an abundance of the world’s most colorful fish, rays, and turtles make it a paradise for diving and snorkeling.
Register Now ➠
What's Your 2020 Vision?
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 12 pm EDT/9 am PDT
We only get one go around in life, so make it count!
- Are you earning less than minimum wage?
- Did you think you would be able to travel more?
- Have you spent a fortune on marketing - with little to show for it?
- Is your family pressuring you to quit?
- Has your business plateaued, and you have tried everything to get unstuck?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you must attend this free training.
Register Now ➠
Destination Bariloche (presented by INPROTUR)
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
San Carlos de Bariloche (commonly known as Bariloche), is a town in the Argentina’s Patagonia region. Bariloche is an all-season destination for all travelers, offering great skiing during the winter months as well trekking, climbing, etc. in the summer.
Register Now ➠
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