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Monday December 23, 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

Florida, Hawaii Are Top Holiday Travel Destinations For the Season
Four of the most popular cities – Orlando, Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa– are located in Florida, while two – Honolulu and Kahului – are in Hawaii. Anaheim, California; Las Vegas; New York and Phoenix also made the…

Why Uzbekistan is said to be a top travel destination for 2020
Uzbekistan, long unknown to most Westerners, is already shaping the travel scene for…

A Modern-Day Christmas Market, Transylvania-Style
While Germany's Christmas markets are a favorite among travelers, a little-known market in Transylvania has added sparkle to an ancient city with a German-speaking…

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Tours and Activities

Where to go in 2020: 3 tours and cruises to tempt the traveler
Monarch butterflies in Mexico; a river cruise to the music cities of Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., and a women's-only hiking trip in Glacier National Park will tempt…

Walkable cities in the U.S., including New York, San Francisco, Boston
SmarterTravel.com took a look at the top 10 most walkable cities in the U.S., along with the most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in each one, as determined by Walk…

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Cruise

Best new cruise ships for 2020
Dreaming of a fabulous sea getaway? A brand-new ship with the latest in innovations and enhancements may be the way to go. Check out CNN Travel's 10 best new cruise ships for…

Carnival Cruise Line gives possible cause of accident in Mexico, apologizes to guests
In a letter sent to guests on Friday, Carnival Cruise Line apologized for an earlier accident in Cozumel,…

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Transportation

Dispatch From the Land of Flight Shaming, or How I Became a Train Boaster
In Sweden, some environmentally conscious travelers are switching from planes to trains. Slower? Yes. But why not embrace the journey, perhaps even prolong…

Alaska Airlines says 'we dropped the ball,' apologizes for 'awful holiday travel experience'
Alaska blamed a "severe'' staffing shortage caused by baggage handlers calling in sick on…

Flight plan: Tips and tricks for your next airline trip
There are several ways travelers can save time and money and reduce stress on their next…

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Lodging

Go phone-free in these 10 stunning accommodations, including pods attached to a mountain
Mongolian yurts in the Gobi desert, an eco-lodge near a live volcano and rooms overlooking an African watering hole offer adventures and family bonding…

San Francisco's newest hotel just $50 a night if you're not afraid of strangers
While San Francisco hotel prices continue to soar into the stratosphere, a new hotel has opened in the heart of downtown with a starting nightly rate of just $50. The only thing is, to get that rate you'd have to share a room with other…

Disney goes artsy, European with its new Riviera Resort
Riviera Resort, a Disney Vacation Club property, has officially opened with a mix of European and artsy…

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Other and Odd

The death of the printed boarding pass and other ways travel has changed in the past 10 years
Smarter Travel has put together a list of incredible events and momentous changes in the travel world since…

Vacations: That's What (Making) Friends Are For
Work commitments, family obligations and the demands of everyday life are among the reasons that it’s hard to make new friends. But traveling - and leaving behind those demands - can stoke new…

Perspective | Don't let the cost of your trip take you by surprise
Deals can be a matter of perspective, of course. Do your research and ask yourself: Is this deal too good to be…

Today in History

Vincent Van Gogh Cuts Off His Ear
On this day in 1888, Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, today a renowned artist today but underappreciated during his time, took a razor to his ear in a fit of rage and sliced off his own ear lobe. Van Gogh had been suffering from psychotic…

Editorial Musings

Travel lessons from a juggler
by John Frenaye
Monday December 16, 2019

In travel, we are always juggling tasks. A payment needs to be made. Mr. Smith is on the phone and he’s mad. Southwest’s computer system just went down. The toilet is baked up. The cat barfed on your shoe. And you forgot to pick your kid up from soccer practice. Welcome to our world.

Let’s face it, travel planning can be very simple. But more frequently, it is not. And much of the trials and tribulations are out of our control. So, how does an travel pro handle it all? Let me offer a lesson from a juggler.

A friend of mine is a motivational speaker and a juggler. A real one. And he ends each presentation by tossing stuff up in the air. When he gets…

  — Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner

Campaign Season
by Richard Earls
Sunday December 22, 2019

How do you make your travel practice known to the public? If you are like most travel professionals, you rely on a number of tactics to raise your visibility. You may use social media, public relations, or content marketing through your website, email, and blogging efforts. You may take advantage of speaking opportunities or write for a local newspaper. You may advertise.

Inherently we know marketing works, because in our own civilian lives we ourselves respond to well-placed and produced marketing and advertising.  We have less confidence in our own efforts, however.

Ideally, your efforts to be better known are coordinated tactics where your public relations endeavors work with your networking at local functions, and both reflected through your social media…

  — Travel Research Online
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Mike's Morning Missives

Ever Hear of Nordstrom?

I can remember, not long ago, when I hated to read books. (Thirty years ago.) Today, I love my books.

Most people today regardless of their age still don’t like to read books. And if they do, they are works of fiction and are read for entertainment.

I like to read business books. They make me think. They also take the time that I might otherwise squander on less productive…

  — Travel Research Online
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