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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
US issues travel alert for Jerusalem, Israel, West Bank and Gaza
The Trump administration issued an advisory on Monday urging Americans to avoid traveling in areas of Israel and Palestinian-held territories including Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. An advisory from the U.S. Embassy in Israel did not provide a specific reason for the travel advisory, linking it only to heightened tensions in the Middle East. "Out of an abundance of…
— The Hill
Paris on Strike: What You Need to Know About Traveling to France During the Yellow Vest Demonstrations
If you’ve seen Les Misérables or Marie Antoinette, you know Paris has a long history of revolt and revolution. And if you’ve visited the city in the past year, you’ve probably gotten up close and personal with it. The yellow vest or gilets jaunes protests have been ongoing since the middle of November 2018, and beginning this past December, general strikes following the promise of…
— Fodor's Travel
Tours and Activities
World's largest ice and snow festival kicks off in China
If you think enduring teeth-chattering cold is part of the fun when you travel, then the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the carnival for you. Set in Heilongjiang Province in northern China, it's the world's biggest snow and ice festival and features plenty of spectacular installations and activities. The annual festival officially runs from January 5 to February 25, but…
— CNN
Notre Dame Cathedral Still in a 'State of Peril' Nine Months After Fire
There is still up to a 50 percent chance that Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral may not be salvaged almost a year after a devastating fire engulfed the beloved site. “Notre Dame is not saved because ... there is an extremely important step ahead, which is to remove the scaffolding that had been built around the spire” before the fire, Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin told French broadcaster CNews.…
— Travel+Leisure
20 Food Festivals Worth Traveling For in 2020
One of the greatest joys of travel is discovering different cultures through cuisine. And with an upswing of food festivals popping up around the world — often bringing together top chefs, renowned mixologists, beverage experts, and celebrities for extravagant multiday celebrations — there's never been a better time to take a trip solely for the food. The best fests offer…
— PopSugar
Cruise
Aurora Expeditions to Build Sylvia Earle Expedition Cruise Ship
Australia’s Aurora Expeditions will name its second purpose-built expedition ship after marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle. Dr Earle was the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 -- a tribute to her conservation efforts for marine protected…
— CruiseCritic.com
One cruise, 8 months, 111 ports of call. Yes, there is actually such a thing
Eight months on a cruise ship — could you do it? For some, it’s an unimaginably long time at sea, while for others continuous cruising has become a way of life. For well-off and time-rich travelers, there’s a hunger not only for expeditions to novel, remote and less-accessible destinations, but also a growing interest in super-long world cruises that can last the better part of a year.…
— CNBC
Transportation
How to travel by train - and ditch the plane
Many have chosen to reduce their carbon footprint by flying less, or cutting out planes completely. Flygskam - the Swedish word for "flight-shame" - has become commonplace. In August, Swedish climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg set an example by crossing the Atlantic in a zero-emissions yacht. If she had made the return journey from the UK to New York by air, she would…
— BBC
JetBlue Just Announced Major Plans to Combat Climate Change (Video)
JetBlue is ready to be the greenest airline in the sky. On Monday, the airline announced it will offset carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from jet fuel for all its domestic flights beginning in July 2020. It also announced plans to start flying with sustainable aviation fuel sometime this year on its flights from San Francisco International Airport. “Air travel connects people and cultures and supports…
— Travel+Leisure
I didn't want to fly – so I took a cargo ship from Germany to Canada
‘Are you a crew member?” the security guard asked, fixing me with a stare in the van’s rear-view mirror. “Passenger,” I replied. The guard gave me a quizzical look then muttered something to himself in German, shaking his head. It was 7am and the port of Hamburg was a hive of activity, our port security van speeding past whirring cranes and towering stacks of shipping containers.…
— The Guardian
Lodging
Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein
Pristine, no-nonsense rooms, a lobby-lounge that invites you to linger, and a central (if not hugely attractive) location, combined with an eminently affordable price tag make this a top recommendation for a short city stay. The largely organic breakfast is excellent value too. Pristine, no-nonsense rooms, a lobby-lounge that invites you to linger, and a central (if not hugely…
— Telegraph (London)
The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels In Houston
With an expansive culinary scene (some studies claim that Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city) and a permanent place in the hearts of space lovers everywhere, Houston has plenty to offer travelers. The country’s fourth largest city, more than 22 million visitors head to Space City annually, and the number continues to climb each year. Though most of the…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
7 Ways To ‘Travel Green’ In 2020
As news of wildfires ignite our hearts and webpages, the idea of living sustainably is more important than ever. Sadly, the travel industry is one of the worst culprits of environmental crimes. From the plethora of single-use plastics to the outsized carbon footprint of airplanes, the sector is not well-positioned to be sustainable or green. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With…
— Forbes
The Right Way to Travel, According to Environmental Experts
We all need to do our part to help protect the planet, but for those suffering from wanderlust, the practicality of that goal can seem a bit daunting. After all, aircraft account for 12 percent of all U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions. It’s no wonder Time‘s Person of the Year, teenage Swedish climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg, sailed across the Atlantic to a United Nations…
— Reader's Digest
Today in History
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is Closed
In the Pisa cathedral, construction began on the free-standing bell tower on August 9, 1173 and took 117 years to complete. Built on a small foundation in soft soil the massive tower soon began to tilt, and over the centuries came to be known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Over time many plans…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Katarina Line Offers New Year’s Holiday Special Of 20% Off Most Popular Small Ship Bike Cruises in Croatia
Award-winning small ship cruise company and DMC Katarina Line is offering a last-minute New Year’s holiday special of 20% off on select 7-day guided bike cruises in May 2020 that include departures out of Split and Opatija, valid when booked by January 31, 2020. The tours explore Croatia’s…
— Travel Research Online
The Travel Institute Celebrates 2019 Milestones, Poises for 2020 Success with Continued Momentum
FRAMINGHAM, MA, January 6, 2020 – Celebrating a banner 2019, The Travel Institute announces 2020 priorities and its New Year New Career campaign with continued emphasis on educating new agents entering the industry. “Increased recognition that trained travel professionals are critical to…
— Travel Research Online
Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Surveys. Yes or No?
by Mike Marchev
Tuesday January 07, 2020
Chances are tha t if you are like me you are fed up with receiving unsolicited surveys in your email inbox. In the vast majority of instances, you immediately hit the delete button. But let’s stop and think about this.
All the supplier is trying to do is identify where they are doing things right and where they could use a little improvement. That does not make them bad people. If they are like you, they treasure the opinion of their customers.
Bottom Line: Surveys are good…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Argentina For All Seasons
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Learn about Aerolineas Argentinas, the largest airline in South America. AR offers convenient connections from 37 domestic destinations in Argentina and 22 International destinations, including non-stop flights from New York’s JFK and Miami International Airport, seasonal flights from Orlando, and from Atlanta, code share flights with Delta Airlines.
Register Now ➠
Blue-Roads Touring Co. The Small Tour Specialists in Europe, Asia, and North America
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Join us for an informative webinar about Blue-Roads Touring Co, the experts in small group travel for almost 30 years! Known for their leisurely paced itineraries through Europe, Asia and North America. Blue-Roads Touring has won the Best Coach Holiday Company-Small-at the British Travel Awards for the past 5 years in a row.
Register Now ➠
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