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Friday November 22, 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

Spain's unsung region has hardly any tourists
It's hard to stand out in a country dotted with so many landmarks, but for a taste of Spain minus the crowds, Extremadura makes a compelling case. Overshadowed by neighboring Andalusia, this sunny region revels in bucolic charm and medieval heritage, Roman sites and a well-rounded calendar of festivities, all served with some of…

St Moritz, The Birthplace Of Winter Sports
It’s safe to say that there is no ski resort quite like the Swiss town of St. Moritz, which looks nothing like the quaint timbered village of Zermatt, the hard charging resort of Verbier or tranquil Gstaad. St. Moritz rises above the lake of the same name like a compact fairy tale kingdom, but the turrets and towers belong to legendary five-star hotels like…

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Tours and Activities

This Spa Combines Female Empowerment With Wedding Beauty and Travel Prep
The beauty industry has seen lots of changes and growth over the past decade. Millennial women are now more often concerned with wellness and ‘self-care’ and how they affect beauty, rather than simply beauty as a standalone concept. I spoke with Ashley Hilmes the founder of Vega Vitality, a medi-spa in Boston about female empowerment,…

Australia’s subterranean oasis
Nothing about the Australian town of Coober Pedy is for the faint of heart – it’s blisteringly hot, located in the country’s remote Outback interior and is usually covered in a thin veil of red dust from local opal mines. But rather than move to a cooler, more hospitable climate, residents have gotten creative, building a subterranean community in old mines…

Seoul chef sues Michelin Guide for including his restaurant
Some chefs dream their whole lives of winning a Michelin star. But not Eo Yun-gwon. The South Korean chef is reportedly suing Michelin for including his restaurant Ristorante Eo in their 2019 guide to Seoul, saying that he asked them not to. He is taking action under a South Korean law against public insult, which is similar to American laws…

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Cruise

Crystal Cruises Releases Signature App for Use Pre-Cruise and Onboard
Crystal Cruises released a new self-named phone app giving cruisers the opportunity to explore itineraries pre-cruise or check out onboard activities once on their ship. "We created the Crystal app to cater to the many savvy travelers who are constantly on the go and appreciate having all the information and choices available at their fingertips, when…

Carnival Cruise Chefs Will Teach Cooking Classes Onboard New Ship
Just because you’re onboard a cruise doesn’t mean you need to sit back and resign yourself to eating whatever you're served. Carnival Cruises announced that its newest ship, debuting next month, will feature a space for cooking classes onboard. The Carnival Panorama will feature the new Carnival Kitchen where passengers can take lessons from…

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Transportation

Holiday travel basics for infrequent flyers: 6 things to know if you haven't flown lately
Holiday travel season could easily be called the season of smug and ugh at the airport. Frequent flyers who live on airplanes throughout the year have to temporarily co-exist with travelers who only hop on a plane once a year, if that. From Transportation Security Administration lines to the boarding area, the most impatient among them can't…

E-scooters are riding into serious trouble
Brussels. San Diego. Bogotá. Walk around any major tourist destination these days, and you'll see them. Electric scooters, gliding silently around city center streets, zipping through traffic signals, or abandoned -- lying on the street, propped up against trees or, in some cases, dumped in rivers. Scooter-sharing systems similar to city bike schemes…

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Lodging

Barack Obama Prefers to Stay at a Hampton Inn — Here's Why
Nothing sounds more exciting than staying in a luxury hotel room with all the finishing touches. But sometimes, you just want a simpler place to lay down your head. And former President Barack Obama is no different, telling a group at a conference in Atlanta that sometimes he’d rather check in to a Hampton Inn than a fancy presidential suite, according…

French Hoteliers Suspend Olympics 2024 Partnership Over Airbnb Deal
French hoteliers are up in arms over the new partnership between the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and Airbnb, which they say is unjust. During the upcoming Olympic events–Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milan 2026, Los Angeles 2028–Airbnb will offer “guaranteed” accommodation in a deal reportedly worth $500 million by…

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Other and Odd

Joe Jonas Travel Series Greenlit at Quibi
Joe Jonas is going on an adventure. The singer, who is of course one third of the Jonas Brothers, is set to host and executive produce a travel series titled “Cup of Joe,” inspired by his Instagram account. “Cup of Joe” will follow Jonas as he travels around the world for the trio’s Happiness Begins tour. A local will guide him around each city he stops…

LGBT travel index puts Sweden top, and warns against some popular destinations
Sweden has been named the most LGBT-friendly country in the world for travellers according to new research into gay rights in 150 countries. The LGBTQ+ Danger Index was created by ranking the 150 most-visited countries using eight factors, including legalised same-sex marriage, worker protection and whether, based on Gallup poll findings, it is a…

A New Study Shows Your Fellow Travelers Could Be Making You Sick
Should the sniffles keep you away from your next holiday? Sure, you’re feeling gross, but Starbucks has hot tea and Hudson News has Tylenol Cold PM which means you’re sure to fall asleep on the flight, even in economy. And you’ll wake with the satisfaction that you didn’t let a cold ruin your vacation. Good for you, right? Wrong. Evidence from a…

Today in History

Blackbeard
On this day in the year 1718, the notorious pirate Blackbeard was killed in battle off the coast of Ocracoke, North Carolina by a crew of British sailors under the authority of the governor of Virginia. Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, had a fearsome reputation.…

Agent Perspectives

Discover New Ways of Looking at Your Old Friend Britain
by Paull Tickner
Friday November 22, 2019

With interest in UK customised pre and post cruise extensions on the rise, this week’s collection of 2-3 nighters for Southampton arrivals and departures will certainly catch the eye - especially with those who want a closer look at the living history and traditions of their old friend Britain.

I’m a great fan of matching UK tours to niche markets ON YOUR DOORSTEP and if you know any flower arrangers, my final story will really grab their attention for a unique tour next…

  — Travel Research Online
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Deck Plans

Why AmaMagna Is A Great Choice For First-Time River Cruisers

River cruising and ocean cruising seem miles apart. Well, that’s because they are – or at least oceans apart. A small ocean cruise ship is characterized by a guest capacity of 1,000 passengers or fewer, meaning that river cruise ships can be ten times smaller than these small ocean vessels. Because of the lack of space on the rivers, it means that river cruise companies may have to give up certain amenities to make room for guests onboard – but that’s not always the case.

The amenities that you give up on a river cruise may not be those that matter most to you. In fact, you may not feel like you are giving anything up at all. Sure, there are certain river cruise ships with…

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

Do What Is Right

Somebody once went on record to remind us that bad news travels light-years faster than good news. This may be true but today I am going to focus your attention on a little good news that happened to me a few years back.

I want to share this true-life experience with you. It happened when I was traveling to Europe on business. I was taking a river cruise, which I hesitate to call “work” but that is exactly what it was.

It wasn’t until I was packing to return home that I realized that I was missing my Kindle reader. I had over 75 business books loaded on this device, so this more than a slight inconvenience. In fact, I was very disappointed in myself for letting…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Hungary – The Wellspring of Wonders

Hungary – The Wellspring of Wonders

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST

Hidden in the centre of Europe is a country where water roils under the earth and erupts to the surface, hot and healing. A country, where you can refresh your body and mind by relaxing in the hot water of genuine medieval Turkish baths, both in the summer and winter. Where you can always find something historic or modern that touches your soul, and the atmosphere is vibrant and relaxing at the same time. Where the ”aszú” grape berries are harvested during autumn, from which beautifully balanced “gold wine” is produced. Where on hilltops, deep in the valleys and on endless plains, you find the hustle of small, centuries-old villages, charming towns, luxurious castles and a lively metropolis.

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Earn More Commissions With Agencia Global

Earn More Commissions With Agencia Global

Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST

Agencia Global is the most innovative and user-friendly booking platform for home-based and traditional travel agents. We understand that your goal is to be a travel expert, not a GDS expert, and our platform will allow you to be just that. Not only does Agencia provide agents with aggressive commissions and net fares for over 150 airlines, it will also offer you innovative features such as:

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