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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
The 8 best places to travel in Asia in 2020
The list, which is compiled by Travel & Leisure editors as well as travel writers, advisors, and other experts, includes places that are "at the forefront of the global conversation" as well as "perennial favorites that are reinventing themselves in exciting ways," according to a press release. In Asia, eight destinations made the list, including Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Kyoto, Japan. Here are the best places…
— Business Insider
Iceland's newly extinct glacier
At the very heart of Iceland is the country’s gleaming, glinting namesake: ice. Glaciers make up roughly 10% of Iceland, and they bring close to 2 million tourists from all over the world to the country each year. But these mighty masses of ice are more fragile than they may seem. In the wake of climate change, glaciologists predict that in 200 years all of Iceland’s glaciers will have…
— BBC
Tours and Activities
Desert hunting with the world's fastest bird
Twelve-year-old Mohammad is the first to spot the tracks. Jumping from the SUV driven by his father, Ali, he races a few yards over the desert sands and follows them toward a small, scrubby bush. "Rabbit," he says with a grin, pointing to the animal camouflaged against the grayish-yellow sand. And then with an even wider smile, "He's going to be dead." With the prey sighted, sitting on…
— CNN
Everything You Can Eat at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Ranked
Food is an essential part of any travel experience. You wouldn’t leave France without having a croissant or Japan without trying ramen, and Walt Disney Imagineers wanted to give guests that same experience when visiting planet Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. When designing this land at Disneyland Park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, the Imagineers wanted to…
— Travel+Leisure
Escape routes: remote getaways in the UK
Feeling the need for isolation and to get away from it all? These tiny islands, remote bothies and clifftop retreats should do the trick. Where better to escape political disappointment than a tiny island? Each is a nation unto itself ready to be declared an independent democratic republic (with yourself as benign dictator-for-life, naturally). Flat Holm, a 24-hectare isle four miles into the Bristol…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Inside the world's largest river cruise ship
The Yangtze may only be the world's third-longest river, but it's about to be served by the world's biggest river cruise ship. The Victoria Sabrina ship will set sail on China's largest inland body of water in 2020, ferrying passengers through multiple provinces and providing views of the Three Gorges Dam. US-based company Victoria Cruises tells CNN Travel that the Victoria Sabrina, due to make…
— CNN
Southern California, this new ship's for you. Panorama will sail from Long Beach
Carnival Cruise Line‘s Panorama, a new ship designed expressly for the L.A. market, set sail on its maiden voyage Wednesday, heading into the sunset from the Port of Long Beach on its way to Mexico. The three-night inaugural cruise was the second phase of festivities celebrating the 1,055-foot Panorama, the first new vessel in two decades shaped with Los Angeles in mind. On Tuesday, it was…
— LA Times
Transportation
Over 47 Million People Are Expected to Fly U.S. Airlines During Peak Holiday Time, Report Shows
A total of 47.5 million people are expected to fly all over the world on U.S. airlines during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period — a 3 percent increase from last year, according to an airline trade group. In a report by Airlines for America, the group predicted an average 2.6 million passengers would fly each day during the busy holiday season starting on Dec. 19 and ending on Jan. 5. That’s…
— Travel+Leisure
This Taiwan Airline Flew For 62 Years, But May Be Grounded Indefinitely
Far Eastern Air Transport, a six-decades-old Taiwanese airline catering to destinations within Asia, suddenly suspended its flights on December 12. The airline’s website said that as of December 13 it would cease to continue running because of unspecified “operational losses.” On Friday, Chang Kang-wei, Far Eastern’s chairman, told a news conference that he had found new sources of investment…
— Forbes
Lodging
How To Run the Best Hotel in the World
There are tons of stunning luxury hotels around the world. But some are just better than others, according to travelers. SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills, for example, was recently named the best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards. With such a saturated market, I was curious about how this property managed to stand out from the rest. To do that,…
— Forbes
Pablo Escobar’s Tulum Spread Gets New Life as $100 Million Hotel
Tulum, the fashionable beach destination on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is getting a new luxury hotel with a colorful distinction: It once belonged to the cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar. Thor Equities Group bought Casa Magna, part of a beachfront compound once owned by Escobar, for $17.5 million, according to a representative for the firm. It plans to spend as much as $100 million to…
— Bloomberg
Other and Odd
AAA says 2019 holiday travel will be record breaking
If you’re planning to hit the road this holiday season, expect to bump into some traffic along the way, according to the American Automobile Association, which forecasts that there will be 115.6 million travelers between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. The organization stated that this holiday projection is record-breaking compared to its previous data sets that go back to 2000. Moreover, this year will see…
— Fox Business
How Wellness Travel Became a Thing in the Past Decade
As the decade comes to a close, it’s inevitable that we’d start thinking about how wellness travel has changed over the past 10 years. With more people interested in fitness than ever before, there has been an uptick in people working out while traveling. ClassPass recently made this announcement in its 2019 Fitness Trends, finding that 18 percent of business travelers booked workouts in a…
— Skift
Ego tourists: Who are they and how do you know if you're one of them?
There's a new name for the world's worst travelers: ego tourists. They're inconsiderate, wasteful – and rude. Are you one of them? This may be the right time to ask because nothing brings out the ego tourists like the holidays. The busy travel period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is so stressful that it comes with its own survival guide. But let's face it: it's the people that make…
— USA Today
Today in History
The Abdication of Pope Celestine V
Pietro da Morrone became Pope of the Catholic Church in 1294. He had become a Benedictine monk at the age of 17 and had adopted an ascetic life, living in a cave on the Mountain of Maiella in south Italy. There, he founded the order later called the Celestines. At the death of Pope Nicholas IV, Morrone…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways Celebrates A Sweet 16 Victory As Africa's Best Airline By Global Traveler Magazine
Fort Lauderdale, FL (December 12, 2019) – South African Airways (SAA), a Skytrax 4-star rated airline, has been selected by the readers of Global Traveler as the “Best Airline in Africa” for the 16th consecutive year in the magazine’s annual reader survey. Global Traveler presented the award to SAA at a…
— Travel Research Online
Cruise Along the Nile with CroisiEurope
Beginning in February 2020, discover the mysteries of ancient Egypt along the Nile River with CroisiEurope Cruises on board the luxurious Steigenberger Royale. This new port-to-port, eight-day cruise takes passengers through over 2,000 years of history across the Land of Pharaohs, guaranteeing…
— Travel Research Online
Deck Plans
The Top 10 Best European River Cruises For 2020
Many of the bes t river cruises in Europe get overlooked by the average consumer. We’re going to make it easy for you to choose a spot, whether it’s your first time on a river cruise or you’re a pro. Here are the top 10 European river cruises for 2020. 1. Tulip Cruises
A Tulip Time cruise is one of the most iconic (and picturesque!) river cruises you can take…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives
Protect Your Time
 “Productivity isn’t about being a workhorse, keeping busy or burning the midnight oil. It’s more about priorities, planning, and fiercely protecting your time.”
I am absolutely certain of one thing when it comes to rendering travel services to the rank and file: Although you can try to be many things to many people, you can’t be all things to all people – if you have any intention of accomplishing your financial goals.
I am betting you are as busy as a one-armed paperhanger, and you do not have enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks on your to-do list. You did not invent this “time warp,” but you do have to find a way to deal with…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Australis 101
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Navigating the Patagonian waterways for 29 years, Australis offers passengers an exclusive look into remote areas of the region, that include visits to glaciers, sub-polar forests and a view of amazing marine and terrestrial wildlife.
Register Now ➠
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