|
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
10 Best Places to Visit in Italy (That Aren’t Venice, Florence, or Rome)
Rich with history, culture, and great food, it’s no wonder that Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In 2018 alone, 14.5 million American tourists came to enjoy the splendors of this Meditteranean paradise, which boasts more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. And while many focus their travel plans on cities…
— My Modern Met
Black Travel Vibes: Discover Gorgeous Hidden Beaches In El Nido, Philippines
If you’re a beach lover, chances are the islands of the Philippines are on your travel list. After a brief stop in the hectic capital city of Manila, jet-setters in the know make a mad dash for the stunning islands of El Nido–the waters are incredibly beautiful. From becoming Black mermaids on its sandy shores to floating endlessly through its crystal…
— Essence
A Director’s Guide to Atlanta Soul-food pizza, a Sunday warehouse party, and an ultrarare-sneaker shop.
“There’s no city like Atlanta. The mixture of cultures, embracing of food, partying, festivals — there’s just so much to do. I love to drive from the south side of Atlanta, where you see the footprints of OutKast, Ludacris, Killer Mike, into the city, where you can see Coca-Cola, CNN, the Georgia Aquarium — these are all symbols of Atlanta. It’s also a very…
— New York Magazine
Tours and Activities
9/11 memorials and remembrances around the US
It's become a solemn and sacred ritual in the United States each September 11 -- pausing for part of the day to remember the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks. While the attacks happened at the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon across the Potomac River from Washington and a lonely field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the…
— CNN
The Outer Banks' Wild Horses Have Safely Ridden Out Another Hurricane
As coastal North Carolina takes stock of the damage wrought by Hurricane Dorian last week, news from the Outer Banks—the region hardest hit by the monster storm—is finally coming in. Despite extensive flooding, we are happy to report that the majority of the area’s wild horses have been accounted for, which we assume means that their “butts to…
— Travel+Leisure
Cruise
Voyages to Antiquity Cruise Line to Cease Sailing Following Cancellation of 2019 Sailings
Voyages to Antiquity -- the small-ship line specialising in cultural cruises to Europe, Africa and Asia -- today revealed it will cease trading at the end of next month. The news follows the cancellation of ten sailings this summer due to engine problems affecting the company's sole ship, Aegean Odyssey. In 2018 Voyages to Antiquity announced that the…
— CruiseCritic.com
What it's like to own a superyacht
It's a lifestyle most of us can only daydream about -- speeding through crystalline seas on a private floating palace, sipping cocktails with views of islands and open ocean, the sun beating down on the pool deck. This is the world of the superyacht owner. Opulent, expensive, untouchable. And mostly secretive. For all the rest of us know, life on…
— CNN
Transportation
Europe's rail passes are affordable again — and much less confusing
Once an economical and easy way to travel around Europe, rail passes over the years had become more of a headache-inducing puzzle. But in 2019, Europe's rail passes underwent some sweeping changes that have made them an affordable option again, and much less confusing to shop for — and made me nostalgic for their glory days. As of…
— USA Today
This Is the Best Time to Book Your Holiday Flights for 2019, According to Experts
The holiday season is one of the busiest and most popular times to travel with people wanting to get home to family or go on a spectacular vacation with their time off. Experts say it’s also one of the most expensive times to travel and that waiting for the best price can actually come back to hurt you. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest…
— Travel+Leisure
Young man caught posing as senior citizen to fly to US
It was an impressive disguise: the snow-white beard, the oversized glasses, the wheelchair. But it was when the seemingly frail and elderly passenger reached security at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport -- India's busiest airport -- that he caught the attention of staff. At around 10.45 p.m. on the evening of September 8,…
— CNN
Lodging
The best luxury hotels in Grenada, including private pool villas, butlers and beach clubs
Other spots in the Caribbean, such as Barbados, may be better known than Grenada for luxurious holidays. But that's not to say you can't have a thoroughly indulgent time on this slow-paced and lush island, with its bevvy of drop-dead-gorgeous beaches. The select band of top-end hotels listed below are among the best of their kind in the Caribbean…
— Telegraph (London)
Maine’s Chebeague Island Inn
There are somewhere between 3,168 and 4,600 islands lying off the coast of Maine. As for that disparity in numbers, is an island still an island if it’s submerged at high tide? It depends on who you’re talking to. Some Maine islands are wooded, and some are boulders that look like bald pates, and most fall somewhere in between. They have rocky…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
Disney Donating $1 Million to Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts
In late August, Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas as an absolutely devastating category 5 storm. The storm, which brought flooding and dangerous winds, caused immeasurable damage and at least 50 deaths before moving north. Now, the islands are fighting to rebuild. And Disney is helping in a big way. On Tuesday, the Walt Disney Company…
— Travel+Leisure
Hong Kong Protests Scare Away 90% of Mainland China Tour Groups
The protests in Hong Kong, now in their 15th week, continue to impact the city’s tourism industry and in particular visitors from mainland China, who are usually its biggest group of tourists. The number of Chinese group tours to the city fell 90% compared to a year ago in the first ten days of September, according to data compiled by the…
— Bloomberg
Today in History
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
On this day in 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, crashing two into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth hijacked plane - United flight 93 - crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers tried to reclaim…
— Travel Research Online
Motivationally Speaking...
A Decay in Customer Service is a Decay in Customer Loyalty
by Stuart Cohen
Wednesday September 11, 2019
When you believ e that customer loyalty is achievable, and you have a plan that is actionable, then losing your best customer is avoidable. That’s the win-win practice. When you believe otherwise, your business bears the burden of constant turnover. That’s the lose-lose practice.
The turnover strategy is terribly exhausting and requires the biggest investment of money. The loyalty strategy is wonderfully rewarding and requires the biggest investment of effort. You can champion turnover by championing loyalty.
Last week I asked you to make one list of the businesses you have deserted. I suspect you broke up with them for something they did not do (that was expected and unfulfilled) or over something they did do (that was unexpected and unwelcome). In either case, you were disappointed (and…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
A Classic Journey of South Africa with South African Airways and Tourcan Vacations
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT
Learn about South African Airways, the largest airline in Southern Africa. SAA offers convenient connections from more than 100 cities in North America and daily flights from New York JFK and Washington Dulles with connections to over 75 destinations in Africa.
Register Now ➠
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 ➠
.jpg)
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 ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
You can answer this one yourself: Who do you want to spend time with?