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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
19 destinations that defined 2019
A cathedral in flames is a heart-stopping sight. A son following in his mother's footsteps is a heartwarming one. Places evoke all kinds of emotions as they experience growth, improvement, renewal and sometimes devastating setbacks. Tenacity stands out as a defining characteristic for many of the places that spoke to us this year in travel. And there's always space for dreaming big…
— CNN
Tourists still struggling to travel around Paris amid France union strikes
Traffic improved slightly on French trains Thursday as nationwide strikes over the government’s retirement reform entered a 15th day and small signs of progress emerged in negotiations with unions. However, the crisis hitting one of the world’s biggest economies at the height of the holiday season is far from over. Anti-government protesters are keeping up pressure on…
— USA Today
Black Travel Vibes: Let The Magic Of Bangkok Fill You With Joy
Known as “The Land of Smiles” for its friendly locals and fascinating culture, the southeast Asian country of Thailand has long been a hit amongst travelers looking for more than just a cookie-cutter getaway. From the moment visitors arrive in the vibrant capital city of Bangkok, that magic takes hold and they are immediately captivated by all the city has to offer. From sparkling temples…
— Essence
Tours and Activities
The world's most radical chef?
Chef Ángel León wants to change how people think about seafood, and by all accounts, he’s succeeding. His three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Aponiente, has made waves around the world by using high-tech methods to creatively transform seemingly inedible parts of the ocean into masterfully crafted 20- and 22-course tasting menus that almost exclusively incorporate ingredients from…
— BBC
Eiffel Tower Shuts Down Again As Nationwide Protests Continue
The Eiffel Tower was closed on Tuesday for the second time in a month amid ongoing strikes in France. The nationwide strikes, which started earlier this month, continue as workers fight for their pensions. On Tuesday, The Associated Press reported that Eiffel Tower staff walked off the job and Paris opera workers gathered on the famous building’s steps to sing an aria expressing…
— Travel+Leisure
Cruise
Why The Galapagos Is Best Explored Via Boat
There are three ways to experience the Galapagos: by boat, via an overland tour (island hopping hotel to hotel with a group/guide), or via day trips (staying on one island, purchasing day tours a la carte). Each lends itself to personal preference in many ways—for example, if you loathe guided tours with set itineraries, then the day-trip method probably appeals to you for the flexibility.…
— Forbes
New Carnival Dress Code Bans Clothes With Offensive, Hateful Messages
A new Carnival Cruise Line dress code forbidding clothing with offensive, racist and obscene messages is drawing praise from the company's customers, as well as concerns about how it will be enforced. The guidelines, which were discussed in a Facebook post by brand ambassador John Heald, has led to more than 1,000 comments and more than 23,000 votes in an online poll. So far,…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
These Are the Holiday Flight Routes Most Likely to Be Delayed — and What to Do If It Happens to You
Holiday travelers may need to brace themselves for the millions of people taking to the skies for the holidays — and depending on your location, some airport crowds and difficulties may be worse than others. 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 this year, and passenger rights company…
— Travel+Leisure
TSA expecting 42 million passengers over the holidays
The Transportation Security Administration estimates 42 million passengers will go through security checkpoints across the country this holiday season -- and that means you need to plan ahead. The traffic from December 15 to January 5 will see an increase of 3.9% from last year, according to a TSA news release. That volume increase could slow down the security process, and the…
— CNN
Lodging
Where To Stay In Madeira, Portugal: Six Of The Best Hotels
Madeira’s moderate and sunny climate all year round and natural beauty makes it a very attractive island to visit. In fact, Madeira was just voted Europe's “Leading Island Destination” in the World Travel Awards again (the sixth time in the last seven years). The world’s top footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, was born here and the airport was renamed after him. There’s also a Ronaldo museum…
— Forbes
The hotel room that's deliberately difficult to stay in
The bed is difficult to get onto and has barely enough space to squeeze around. The bathroom door doesn't shut, and gets in the way when you reach for the toilet roll dispenser. This may sound like a pretty typical TripAdvisor review. But if you stay in the hotel bedroom created by Christopher Samuel, don't rush to post a scathing review. He has actually designed it to be as annoying…
— BBC
Other and Odd
How Women of Color Are Reimagining Their Travel Narrative
Growing up, travel was reserved for select family gatherings and church activities deemed worthy by my grandparents. They raised my sister and me, and throughout our childhood they instilled a Caribbean mindset that kept economic consciousness and interdependence at the forefront. Traveling to unplug, escape, or relax seemed like an anomaly, a luxury that was only available to…
— Conde Nast Traveler
The Instagram decade: #hashtag holidays and other travel trends
First the Scandinavians gave us hygge, then they gave us flygskam (flight shame), which has nothing to do with candles and everything to do with guilt about the environmental cost of flying. If the noughties were all about a giddy sense of the world opening up thanks to the rise of low-cost flights and online booking tools, the subsequent decade has started to feel like payback time, as…
— The Guardian
10 Times Tracee Ellis Ross Inspired Us To Travel Solo
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is celebrates for a lot of things, she’s one of our favorite Girlfriends, our ultimate hair crush, and daughter to living legend Diana Ross. However, a quick glimpse of her Instagram feed shows us a side to Ms. Ross that you wouldn’t necessarily expect – she’s a lover of solo travel. It’s no secret that Ross is happily single and proud of it, so she’s not waiting for…
— Essence
Today in History
Poor Richard's Almanack
Benjamin Franklin was a statesman, an inventor, a patriot and a founding father of the United States. He was also the author and publisher of Poor Richard's Almanack. Franklin took on the pseudonym of "Poor Richard" or "Richard Saunders" for his publication, which he first published on December…
— Travel Research Online
Mike's Morning Missives
Testimonials Are A Powerful Thing
 I recently found myself flipping through the restaurant review section of my local newspaper and spotted one where I thought I would like to try out for an upcoming future event. I had heard a few good things from friends and felt comfortable in my decision to call and make a reservation for that special night. I began reading the review thinking that it was only going to reinforce my decision. I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
The paper flipped my thinking 180 degrees. I’m not saying that the review itself was right or wrong; I am saying it changed my mind.
So, what was the problem? There was more than one negative reference in the paper regarding the maître d', the food and the table service.…
— Travel Research Online
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y in the rearview mirror let’s consider how we can avoid some common pitfalls, slip-ups and social marketing blunders as we usher in…