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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
Tokyo transformed: Global sporting events put spotlight on Japan's capital
With Tokyo set to host two of the world's biggest sporting events -- the Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics -- Japan's capital is making final preparations for the global spotlight. So what will sports fans notice when they travel here? First of all, they won't be alone. Tourism in Tokyo is already booming. Annual foreign visitor arrivals to Japan trebled in the years from 2013 to 2018 to over 31 million,…
— CNN
Enjoy sun and sparkling city beaches in Europe's answer to Rio – an expert guide to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Las Palmas is the only true city in the Canary Islands, with the benefits of fine weather and an urban beach that elicits positive comparisons with Rio de Janeiro. Cruise ship passengers can chill on the sands, explore the picture-postcard old town and enjoy superb cuisine in this Gran Canarian city’s excellent tapas bars. Las Palmas is dominated by its port, which handily sits near the city’s most famous beach and…
— Telegraph (London)
Tours and Activities
14 Lesser-Known Ancient Sites Worth Building a Trip Around
The ruins of an ancient city, temple, or necropolis are often the centerpieces of an adventurous trip: Stonehenge, Chichen Itza, the Great Pyramids. And there are other, perhaps lesser-known (depending on who you ask, of course) sites that are every bit as spectacular and worth planning an itinerary around. These places can let you walk in the footsteps of ancient people—sometimes without the crowds—to…
— Atlas Obscura
A race to rescue frozen artefacts
Ice crystals landed on my face, falling from the ceiling of the tent and shocking me awake in a frozen flash. Through my many layers of fleece, I heard a faint snuffling noise. I unzipped my sleeping bag in a daze and sat up, with one eye on my canister of bear spray and one ear straining to listen. All I heard was the rapids from the nearby creek and a welcoming whinny from one of our horses grazing in…
— BBC
Smoke on the water: Sweden's first Foodstock festival
A top Swedish chef has turned his love for cooking over fire into a two-day festival of open flames and Nordic flavours on a pretty island in the Stockholm archipelago. We were only a few minutes into our boat trip across the Stockholm archipelago when we began to smell the smoke. In the distance was Stora (or Great) Fjäderholmarna, the largest of the four “Feather Islands”, east of the city. Small ships had…
— The Guardian
Cruise
An Amazonian city with bustling markets and spectacular colonial architecture – an expert guide to Belém
Belém is the ultimate port city, on the edge of the Atlantic and at the entrance to the mighty Amazon. As well as occasional cruises, passenger riverboats heading west to Manaus/Iquitos depart from here and the city’s docksides are a whirl of activity. As it lies some 60 miles inside the delta, Belém is used more by Amazon-bound cruises than those passing the rivermouth on Atlantic voyages. Belém is…
— Telegraph (London)
Have fun, but don't get sick! How cruise ship passengers should prepare for illness or injury
Royal Caribbean’s gargantuan Oasis of the Seas boasts multiple outdoor pools and an 82-foot zip line and made quite a splash when it added the first Tiffany & Co. boutique at sea in 2015. But in January 2019, the cruise ship, which bills itself one of the world’s largest, produced less cheerful news: Hundreds of passengers fell ill from the highly contagious norovirus stomach flu. The federal Centers…
— USA Today
These Cruises Will Take You Directly to Royal Castles to Hang With Nobility
Lunch with a charming countess? A private ancestral home tour led by a direct descendant of a king? If the new Downton Abbey movie has only heightened your secret desire to brush elbows with aristocrats, you're not alone. You're also closer to seeing that fantasy become a reality than you think: Easy entry into these titled circles can come via a cruise. Several cruise lines offer select shore excursions…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Transportation
A year of slow travel: 14 things I learnt circumnavigating the world without flying
Better than island hopping in the Maldives, a safari with the kids and Michelin-starred tasting menus in the Swiss Alps, my most memorable travel experience is circumnavigating the world without flying. Initially we were looking for a fun escape from London. My boyfriend (now husband – it was that kind of trip) and I bought a giant map and started marking intriguing places. Half joking, we drew a line…
— Telegraph (London)
Wow Air's new owner wants to 'make flying fun again'. But is the rebooted airline ready to take off?
It’s no easy task, getting an out-of-business airline back in the air. But the chairwoman of the rebooted Wow Air insists the low-cost brand’s famous purple planes will be flying between the United States and Iceland again come October. Michele Ballarin’s ambitious goal has raised eyebrows among industry analysts who question the scant details available about the plan, as well as why anyone would start flying to…
— The Washington Post
Lodging
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
This family-friendly hotel in downtown Bangkok offers excellent facilities and a couple of good restaurants. The compact rooms come with great views, but it’s the spacious suites, some with two bedrooms and kitchenettes, that are among the city’s best for long-stay guests with children. This family-friendly hotel in downtown Bangkok offers excellent facilities and a couple of good restaurants. The compact…
— Telegraph (London)
The Secret Sauce That Makes The Breakers Palm Beach A Perennial Favorite
While the appeal of many grand hotels seems to fade over time, the charm of The Breakers Palm Beach only grows, enhanced by the patina of age. The “secret sauce” of this more than century-old property has been the owners’ ability to maintain a delicate balance between preservation and modernization. Originally built in 1896 by Henry M. Flagler, the sprawling, 140-acre oceanfront resort is now owned by…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
Innovators: The Venture Out Project’s Perry Cohen Wants Everyone to Feel Safe While Outdoors
Perry Cohen grew up in southern New Hampshire in the 1970s and 1980s, hiking, skiing, camping, and biking. It makes sense, then, that decades later, Cohen would spend most of his time in the natural world, where he feels he belongs—even if the road getting there was circuitous. In 2014, after 10 years working at a corporation in New Hampshire, Cohen founded The Venture Out Project (TVOP), a…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Humberto Strengthens Into Category 1 Hurricane
Humberto strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday evening as it makes its way east across the Atlantic Ocean, according to CNN. It is not predicted to make landfall in the U.S. However, the National Hurricane Center predicted that the storm could create dangerous rip-currents from central-east Florida up the coast through North Carolina this week. The storm will also likely affect…
— Travel+Leisure
Today in History
The Founding of Tiffany & Co.
On September 18, 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany founded a small jewelry and silver company in New York City which he termed a "stationery and fancy goods emporium." Tiffany designs quickly became popular among the families of the city's elite and the store flourished. Still in business since its inception, sales now total…
— Travel Research Online
60-Second Geography
The Holy and Profound Experience of Israel
by Joseph DeLoach
Tuesday September 17, 2019
Israel, a place of holiness to many around the world. It is steeped in the ancient history of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths. Calls from mosques ring out in contrast to the prayers along  the Western Wall. Markets buzz with life, while holy sites like the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount stand as monoliths in time. Modern Israel is full of amazing opportunities for the traveler to experience, from relaxation to the deepest of historical sites.
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Marketing Mistake #13: You Think Like An Order-Taker, Not A Marketer
 This is Marketing Mistake #13 of 15. Here is the fastest way to go out of business: Wait for the phone to ring and then answer it. If the caller wants to book a trip, help them the best you can.
Here is the surest way to maintain a healthy business: Make it your business to make your phone ring. When it does, answer it like you are happy I called.
In the first example above, the agent has fallen into the trap of wishing, hoping and praying that things will work out. They don’t take the initiative since somebody once told them that all sales professionals are aggressive, manipulative, self-absorbed, pushy and can’t be trusted. It is no surprise that their response to this labeling is…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
What's New for 2020 with Image Tours
Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT
Having been in business since 1939, Image Tours is one of the most experienced Europe tour operators in the world and they have earned a reputation for high quality tours at an affordable price. While their emphasis is on introducing your clients to the European way of life, Image Tours remains aware of the small details appreciated by American travelers.
Register Now ➠
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 ➠
Budapest – The Spice of Europe
Monday, September 23, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Join the Hungarian National Tourist Office to learn about Budapest and Beyond.
Budapest is a truly authentic and historic European capital, but it also has an innovative, pulsating personality, making it a versatile and cosmopolitan city. The beautiful built and natural environment, the grandiose architecture, the historical thermal spas, the diverse and vibrant gastronomy, a blossoming fashion and design scene, and the immensely rich cultural life, define Budapest’s sparkling and original character.
Register Now ➠
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