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Wednesday October 02, 2019

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

Black Travel Vibes: Get In Touch With Nature In Costa Rica
Vacations tend to be very heavy on the must-sees and must-dos, with very little downtime for rest and relaxation. Travel doesn’t always have to be about doing the most with a limited amount of time. Often the best getaways are the ones that force you to slow down, become one with your surroundings and relax. Costa Rica is a destination that’s extremely…

Beyond Seville: three ancient towns to visit in Andalucía
Such is the dazzle of Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Málaga that few visitors to Spain’s south-west pause to explore the space between them. Part of it, La Campiña, a region of Seville province, appears largely empty. But over ploughed fields and olive groves there are towers and ramparts, the hazy outlines of towns founded in antiquity. Over the centuries,…

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Tours and Activities

Indonesia reverses tourist ban on Komodo Island
Indonesia has canceled plans to close its popular Komodo Island for tourists, but will instead impose a limit on the number of visitors to protect its native giant lizard. The country will set up an annual membership system for those who wish to visit the tourist spot, said the country's maritime affairs minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, according to the state-run Antara…

The 14 Best Breweries in Denver
There’s nothing like a refreshing pint in the Mile High City. Much like the West Coast cities of Portland, Seattle, and San Diego, Denver is one of the best places to explore the bustling craft brewing scene. According to Visit Denver, brewing in Denver is nothing new. When miners and pioneers flocked to the state during the 1850s gold rush, many of these…

Japan’s mysterious ‘lake of the gods’
Born from a volcanic eruption around 2,000 years ago, Japan’s mysterious Mashu-ko, or Lake Mashu, is rumoured to be one of the clearest lakes in the world. This mirror-like caldera lake sits within the Akan-Mashu National Park on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, and it is considered sacred by Japan’s indigenous Ainu people. Because the lake is…

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Cruise

Here Are All the New Disney Cruises You're Going to Want to Take in 2021
If you’re looking for the most magical cruise on Earth, Disney Cruise Line has some exciting new itineraries for you in 2021. Disney Cruise Line is opening bookings for its spring 2021 voyages to the public this week, according to a statement by the company. In addition to the new itineraries, the cruise line will also be launching two new ships in 2022 and 2023. The…

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's First Cruise Ship Is Delayed Due To Shipyard Issues
The inaugural ship in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which was originally set to launch from south Florida two nights before the Miami Super Bowl in February 2020, has delayed its debut by four months amidst cost issues in its construction at the shipyard. This delay affects not only the ship's first voyage from Fort Lauderdale – which is now scheduled for June…

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Transportation

Shrinking Airplane Seats Could Be Putting Us in Danger
As any frequent flier can tell you, airplane seats are getting uncomfortably small. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to test whether or not the new seat sizes are becoming unsafe for passengers as well. FAA deputy administrator Dan Elwell told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation that…

'I was just doing my job': Airline employee who stopped spinning catering truck shares story
The man who intercepted a runaway cart at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Monday has spoken out about the almost-hazardous incident. "I was just doing my job," Envoy ramp instructor Jorge Manalang said in a statement. Envoy, a subsidiary of American Airlines. A rogue runaway catering vehicle wreaked havoc at O'Hare Monday, spiraling out of…

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Lodging

Kit Kemp's Hotels That Are Purposefully Eccentric
Walk inside one of Kit Kemp’s hotels and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped through the looking glass. Responsible for beloved properties like London’s Ham Yard Hotel and the Crosby Street Hotel in New York, the co-owner and creative director of Firmdale Hotels has a knack for transforming seemingly ordinary-looking spaces into extraordinary pockets…

A Big Splash in Madeira: The New Savoy Palace Hotel
A “wow factor” in whatever area—home decor, personal style, luxury travel—is generally a figure of speech. People don’t exactly open our mouths and vocalize “Wow” whenever something impresses us. So usually, it’s just another travel writing cliché. Except that when I walked into the new Savoy Palace in Funchal, Madeira, not only did my jaw drop but also my…

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Other and Odd

How To Make Friends When You Travel, According To Solo Travelers
Along with taking in the beautiful sights, tasting the local cuisine and immersing yourself in the culture, meeting new people is one of the most exciting and enriching parts of travel. But for some, making friends as an adult can be an awkward, uncomfortable and, quite frankly, scary undertaking. “As a former introvert-turned-extrovert thanks to solo travel,…

Rome restaurant faces wave of tourist complaints after $500 bill goes viral
A Rome restaurant has attracted a wave of complaints over the alleged overcharging of tourists after two Japanese diners claimed they had been slapped with a bill for €430 ($470) for two plates of spaghetti and fish, and water. A picture of the hefty bill by Antico Caffè di Marte restaurant, near Castel Sant'Angelo, made the rounds on social media after it was…

TripAdvisor ends ticket sales to attractions that breed captive whales and dolphins
TripAdvisor has announced it will not sell tickets to attractions that breed or import captive whales and dolphins used for public display. The travel site has confirmed the move will affect major attractions that include SeaWorld’s theme parks. TripAdvisor and its subsidiary, Viator, will end commercial relationships with facilities that do not have, or are not in…

Today in History

Peanuts
On October 2, 1950, seven newspapers which included the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune, ran the very first Peanuts comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The strip and its associated books, merchandise, and television specials earned…

Press Releases of Interest

A+R offers 2-for-1 air on all 2020-2021 tours worldwide
October 1, 2019 – Keene, NH – Alexander+Roberts is offering free companion economy airfares for all of its Small Group, Private and Small Ship Journeys worldwide when travelers pay in full at time of booking before November 30, 2019 for any published departure through 2021. This…

Mike's Morning Missives

Sales Mistake #8: Failing to Follow Through

If you ask any sales professional, from any industry, the following question – the answer will be the same 99% of the time. “WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?”

The answer will sound something like this: “Follow through.” Maybe “follow up.” This has everything to do with not having enough time. (Although you happen to have all the time there is. All of it.)

Everybody seems to know the importance of following through, but it just isn’t done on a regular…

  — Travel Research Online
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Motivationally Speaking...

Would You Buy from You - Again?
by Stuart Cohen
Wednesday October 02, 2019

We shop where we are appreciated. Every year, when my watch stops, I go to the neighborhood jewelry store for battery replacement. Surrounded by gold and diamonds, my relatively tiny purchase consistently earns me a smile worthy of a top customer. When the timepiece itself needed replacement, I knew exactly who could help. ‘My’ jeweler values every dollar. The level of service she gives is not biased by the number of dollars I spend.

We shop where stress is low and convenience is high. Over the years, I have bought 4 used cars from the same dealership. Even before I arrive, they have several cars waiting for my inspection. They are expert at qualifying, thus reducing the time it…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Australia & New Zealand Guided Vacations: AAT Kings NEW 2020-2021 Brochure, Product and Destination Update

Australia & New Zealand Guided Vacations: AAT Kings NEW 2020-2021 Brochure, Product and Destination Update

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT

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Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT

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