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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
What to Eat on Your Next Trip to Washington's Orcas Island
Eleven years ago Jay Blackinton, then a vegan bike courier, relocated from Seattle out to Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands, signing on as a farmhand to escape his frenetic city life. Today, having fallen hard for both the island and its bounty, he dishes up sustainable nose-to-tail menus (along with sensational pizzas) at Hogstone's Wood Oven, his pilgrimage-worthy restaurant. These are his favorite flavors.…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Amsterdam looks to bar foreign visitors from buying cannabis
The mayor of Amsterdam has sought to win political backing for her cleanup of the overcrowded red-light district by revealing that a third of foreign tourists and nearly half of Britons would be less likely to visit the city again if they were barred from buying cannabis in the coffee shops. Femke Halsema, who is understood to want to reduce the number of outlets selling cannabis, attached the survey results to a…
— The Guardian
Tours and Activities
Is this Dubai's most authentic cuisine?
Amna Al Hashemi doesn’t like being referred to as the first female Emirati “chef patron”, a title bestowed on her by Dubai’s culinary community in recognition of her being the UAE’s first female chef to open her own restaurant. She says such a “pretentious” moniker alienates her from her guests and puts her on an unnecessary pedestal. The petite yet fiery mother of four prefers to focus on the…
— BBC
Love skiing? Enjoy it while it lasts
The organizers of last month's cross-country skiing world cup in Nove Mesto na Morave had just enough snow to cover roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of ski tracks. Their problem? One of the weekend's main events was a 15-kilometer race. According to International Ski Federation (ISF) guidelines, that event requires at least a 5-kilometer skiing loop. Warm temperatures in the Czech Republic in the run-up…
— CNN
Cruise
Coronavirus concerns sink New Jersey couple's wedding plan on Norwegian cruise ship
A couple from Toms River, New Jersey says a new cruise line policy aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus is ruining their wedding. "We thought after doing so many months of research that this was going to be beneficial for everyone involved," said Jocelyn Kirchner. Jocelyn Kirchner and Daniela Kenmure booked their wedding on a Norwegian cruise ship for March 6, planning a ceremony and reception…
— ABC 6
Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations
Many cruise lines have canceled or altered scheduled sailings to China and in and around Asia as the deadly novel coronavirus continues to spread through more than 25 countries, killing more than 1,000 people and sickening thousands more. On January 30, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, following an emergency…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
American Airlines and Alaska Team Up To Bring More Travel Options to the West Coast
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines said on Thursday they plan to launch a new partnership, expanding an older arrangement with a new integrated agreement that the airlines are calling a "West Coast international alliance." Alaska also plans to join the Oneworld airline alliance. American is a founding member. American and Alaska already operate a codeshare agreement, which allows Alaska passengers…
— Travel+Leisure
Southwest canceling nearly 400 daily summer flights due to 737 Max: What travelers need to know
Southwest Airlines on Thursday pushed its planned return of the Boeing 737 Max until early August, meaning the airline will be without the Max for the second consecutive summer as the troubled plane's grounding lingers. Southwest most recently had the plane returning in early June but had to shift the timetable to Aug. 10 after Boeing executives said regulators aren't likely to unground the plane until mid-2020.…
— USA Today
Lodging
French ski resort closes over 'no snow' for second year in a row
A French ski resort, for the second year in a row, is in the midst of a meltdown. The Le Mourtis resort in the Pyrenees mountains has once again been forced to close its slopes mid-season because warm temperatures there – which rose above 50 degrees Fahrenheit this week -- have brought “no snow,” Sky News reports. The last time France experienced a start to the year this mild, the country’s national…
— Fox Travel News
In Slovenia’s Secret Valley, A New Four-Season Alpine Hideaway
The secret on Slovenia is out. This tiny European nation is gorgeously green, environmentally enlightened and heavenly for foodies. But beyond its buzzy little capital city, Ljubljana, and the iconic lake of Bled, Slovenia guards a hidden valley in its far north—Jezersko, home to the country’s newest alpine retreat, the rustic-chic Vila Planinka. Unveiled in late winter 2019, this wood-clad hideaway is a rare find and…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
Made for travel: When tourists demand something to see
When it comes to tourist attractions, some things are made solely for entertainment -- like amusement parks, zip lines, and death-defying skyscrapers with photo-ready viewing platforms. But what happens when a person comes to your city, hoping to visit an attraction that doesn't actually exist, and ready to fork over money for the privilege? Take the case of Verona, Italy as an example. Millions of travelers…
— CNN
The Biggest Wellness Travel Trends: Sound Baths, Tickling Helmets, and More
The hospitality industry continues to embrace the future of wellness travel. These are the latest rejuvenating destinations and the new trends you'll encounter. If most retreats these days want to change your life, the one at Canyon Ranch Woodside just wants you to get yours back. It sounds pat, but the newly opened 38-room setup in the heart of Silicon Valley doesn't force change with 4 a.m. yoga…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Taking a Vacation Is Good For Heart Health, Study Suggests
We all love a good vacation. It can relax you, excite you, and teach you about yourself by experiencing cultures much different than your own. It turns out, it’s also really good for your heart health. Taking a vacation can actually decrease the number of metabolic symptoms in people, according to a study published in the journal Psychology & Health in 2019. The study looked at 63 workers who were eligible…
— Travel+Leisure
Today in History
Patent Applications for the Telephone
William Orton, the president of Western Union, was worried. Telegraph traffic was expanding faster than the telegraph lines could handle them. Only a single message could be carried at a time, a severe limitation even in the earliest days of the new technology. He contracted with inventor Alexander Graham Bell to find a…
— Travel Research Online
Agent Perspectives
The York Cookery School, Waddesdon Uncorked and Agatha Christie
by Paull Tickner
Friday February 14, 2020
This week’s s hort stories focus on several bright ideas for September 2020, and I’ve kicked off with a very tasty offering for the York Food and Drink Festival. Just under 2-hours north of London and easily accessible with Virgin Atlantic direct flights into the northern gateway of Manchester, it includes a class at the Cookery School at the 5-star Grand Hotel. Beer, tea, and wine-themed tours come next – followed by an absolutely fabulous garden tour to the Wisley Flower Show, the flagship home of the Royal Horticultural Society. Plus, for this year only folks, the floral extravaganzas at fairy tale Leeds Castle and in majestic Salisbury Cathedral. For fans of murder mystery novels, I’ve closed with a heads up for the International Agatha Christie…
— Travel Research Online
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Deck Plans
Postcards from Around The World: Antarctica
After our aweso me call in Buenos Aires and a stop in Montevideo, Uruguay, it was time for us to go “with the floe” in Antarctica. This was our third visit to the White Continent. The first one in 2000, we went on an expedition ship that allowed for six landings in Antarctica, six in sub-Antarctic islands and one in Cape Horn. Our next visit on Holland America’s Amsterdam was during her 2012 World Cruise, and this third one is again aboard the Amsterdam on her current World Cruise – our last two visits allowed us to enjoy Antarctica’s icy panoramas from the ship.
We dug out our…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Break Away From Your Comfort Zone
 Somewhere along the way, we have all grown self-important as we find ourselves becoming entrenched in the day-to-day activities of office work. The vacation, somewhere along the way, has taken a back seat to “business as usual.”
This is a huge error in judgment. We have become too busy to care for the only differentiating factor we have, ourselves. I have no intention of waxing eloquent by suggesting you do something that is totally out of the realm of possibility. (New year’s resolutions are made from such nonsense, and I refuse to play a role in this act of futility in February.)
My recommendation? Take a walk. A daily walk is not a luxury, my out of shape friends. It is a necessity if you want to…
— Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Alaska, ShoreTrips Style!
Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 3 pm EST/12 pm PST
Join Sam, Director of Training with ShoreTrips, to learn all about his favorite destination – Alaska! It’s a narrow season but there is a lot of opportunity to earn additional commission and have happy customers at the same time.
Register Now ➠
Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations Overview
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
Learn what’s new and exciting at Universal Orlando Resort, along with a quick review of tickets, packages, and how to sell Universal to your clients.
Register Now ➠
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