|
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 43 Cheapest Places To Travel In 2020
Want to take a cheap vacation in 2020? Help is here. Although travel costs are on the rise this year—with experts predicting that airfares will increase by 1.5% and hotels rates will go up by 2 to 4%—it’s still possible to take an affordable trip in 2020, if you know where to go. Every year, I tap into top travel experts and influencers to get their picks for the cheapest places to go in the year ahead. These women are…
— Forbes
5 Places to Travel This Winter
Some say summer is the best time to travel, but winter has always been the stand-out season to me. (This is, partially, because of my borderline-psychopathic climate preference: an icy, blue sky day that hovers at 22 degrees.) In summer, everyone wants to go to the beach, or Europe, or a beach in Europe. But winter offers many appealing, and polar-opposite fates: Maybe you’ll bundle up in a puffer to shred…
— Vogue
How to Help People and Animals Affected by the Australia Wildfires (Video)
Many of us have a soft spot for Australia — and it’s more than just the cuddly koalas. Travel + Leisure named Australia our 2020 destination of the year for its stunning outback vistas, exciting culinary and wine scenes, and the sense of adventure and fun every Aussie seems to have. However, as Australia battles deadly bushfires that have lasted months, travelers may be wondering what they can do to help or if…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
Where to Eat Around the World in 2020
This is not the aspirational fluff of Instagram wall neon; it’s fact. Recent surveys have shown that a majority of travelers consider food first when planning a trip, even ahead of where they sleep. Add to this that people are also traveling more than ever before — earthlings logged a record-breaking 1.4 billion international trips last year — and it’s safe to say that the hunger for new culinary experiences is more…
— Eater
Shining lights: an eco-break in Northumberland's dark-sky country
It was hard to see Battlesteads hotel’s green credentials in the dark, so first impressions meant I had to trust it was the beacon of sustainability it promised to be. It was a dreary, drizzly Friday evening and I’d taken the bus from Hexham to the hotel in the Northumberland riverside village of Wark – the bus stops right outside. In checking bus times in Hexham for the 35-minute ride, I’d already said the…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Mood-Sensing Cruise Cabins, Ultra-Personalization and Game-Changing Tech
MSC Cruises has unveiled a detailed "future gazing" report that predicts how cruisers might cruise into 2030. The report by The Future Laboratory covers everything from mood-sensing cabins to "ultra-personalization," as well as immersive public spaces and an onboard world of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and XVR (mixed virtual reality). Many of these technologies are already being trialed on MSC's…
— CruiseCritic.com
Carnival Cruise Line's Statement Regarding the Earthquakes in Puerto Rico
Carnival Cruise Line has issued a statement regarding their cruises to Puerto Rico and recent earthquakes that have hit the island. Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald posted the following statement earlier today on his Facebook page: “We are closely monitoring the situation in Puerto Rico following the earthquakes that were reported and are in touch with local authorities and the U.S. Coast…
— Cruise Fever
Transportation
Driverless bullet train speeds across China
China has just hurtled past another milestone in its vast high-speed railway expansion plans. As the countdown to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics continues, the new 108-mile high-speed railway line connecting the capital with Olympic host city Zhangjiakou has just entered service, cutting the travel time between the two from three hours to 47 minutes. But this isn't just another bullet train. This beauty, part…
— CNN
Amtrak Is Offering Buy-one-get-one Trips for As Low As $82, but You’ll Have to Act Soon
Amtrak is helping us make our travel goals of 2020 a reality already by designating train routes throughout the country as buy-one-get-one free, with fares starting as low as $82. The sale, which is valid for tickets purchased now through Jan. 12, allows you to bring someone with you for the cost of only your ticket. While you have to purchase tickets now to get this deal, you can travel from Feb. 1 through June…
— Travel+Leisure
Lodging
A Look Inside The Most Exclusive And Expensive Hotel In The Alps
As far as Alpine ski resorts go, Courchevel in the French Alps is arguably the most fashionable address, with the glitzy town of Courchevel 1850 as the jewel in the crown (1850 is a denotation of the altitude). Attracting the most elite names in hospitality like Aman, Six Senses and LVMH’s Cheval Blanc, there are plenty of hotels, residences and chalets on offer for the beau monde, but for those UHNW individuals…
— Forbes
Abode Ahangama
This four-bedroom bolthole just minutes away from Ahangama’s surfing beaches is a very affordable on-trend village home-styled hotel in a still-quiet destination. Close to popular surf breaks and yoga shalas, it’s well placed for south coast exploration. Set amidst a lush tropical garden, barely a few minutes from the southern coastal road, Abode Ahangama is a private, hidden-away spot for a blissfully quiet escape.…
— Telegraph (London)
Other and Odd
How to Travel With Your Pets, Stress-Free
Was your New Year’s resolution to travel more in 2020? (And if it wasn’t, why not?) To help with your trip planning this week, Mark and Nikki discuss the destinations that should be on your must-visit list this year. Locations include the much delayed, billion-dollar museum in Cairo—earmarked as the new home for Egypt’s greatest treasures—that will finally open, making the capital more a destination than a pit stop…
— Bloomberg
World's most powerful passports revealed
What's the travel document that opens more doors around the world than any other? It's a Japanese passport. The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world's most travel-friendly passports, has released its first report of the new decade. Japan is now top of the leaderboard, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to an incredible 191 destinations around the world. Asia dominates the top of the…
— CNN
Today in History
The Battle of New Orleans
The War of 1812 was over. On December 12, 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war. Unfortunately, American forces under the command of General Andrew Jackson and British forces encamped near New Orleans were unaware of that fact. The two armies had been facing each other…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
South African Airways Named As One Of The Top On-Time Performing Airlines
JOHANNESBURG, 7 January 2020 - South African Airways (SAA) has been named as one of the top performing airlines globally for on-time performance (OTP) by travel data and analytics company, Cirium. SAA was ranked fourth in the category for Middle East and Africa mainline carriers, ahead of some of its major…
— Travel Research Online
Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
The Old-Fashioned Letter
by Mike Marchev
Wednesday January 08, 2020
Call me out of  touch with reality or just place me in the “fossil” category, but I think a well-crafted personal letter still has a place in our business environment. Emails are easy. Texts are fast. But the letter is focused and sincere.
When you take the time to write me a letter you are saying that I am important to you and worth a few minutes of your time. I like that.
Today’s reminder is not a lesson in penmanship or creative word placement. I am blowing in your ear to remind you that if you want to get somebody’s attention the old fashion way, write them a…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
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 ➠
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
