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Tuesday February 18, 2020

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

Kyoto launches 'empty tourism' campaign amid coronavirus outbreak
Kyoto is usually packed with tourists from all over the world. But as the coronavirus outbreak keeps visitors away from the historic streets of Japan's former capital, a group of shopkeepers has launched an "empty tourism" campaign to lure them back. Merchants from five shopping streets in Kyoto's Arashiyama neighborhood -- a popular tourist district on the western outskirts of the city that's filled with temples…

The Japanese village that eats wasps
“I’ve got something for you.” One of the village’s wasp hunters beckoned me over to a small canopy at the edge of the field. He unwrapped a jagged, brown piece of a wasp’s nest, its beautiful tessellated interior teeming with larvae. I was being offered a rare, local delicacy; a single kilogram of this nest is only available once a year in November and sells for 9,000 yen (£64). I brought a still-wriggling grub to my lips…

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Tours and Activities

How an all-women fell-running course in Wales helped me let off the brakes
At the top of a muddy slope that drops into a beautiful valley, I take a deep breath and prepare to put one foot in front of the other. Walking down this track, strewn with roots and ruts, wouldn’t normally be too challenging. But today I’m attempting to reach the bottom at a faster pace. The trouble is, I’m struggling with my fear of falling. Thankfully, help is at hand. I’m in the Black Mountains for a Beginning Fell…

Plymouth Rock, iconic landmark that marks where the Pilgrims first landed, was vandalized
Preparations to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims arriving in the New World were in full swing in Plymouth, Massachusetts. But then residents woke up to find that the beloved landmarks that make their city special had been vandalized. Plymouth Rock was one of them. The iconic landmark, which is inscribed with the year 1620 to mark the year William Bradford and other Pilgrims first set foot on…

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Cruise

Why did US break Diamond Princess coronavirus quarantine? 'Something went awry'
A top health official at the National Institutes of Health acknowledged that the quarantine aboard the coronavirus-infected Diamond Princess Cruises ship failed while discussing the decision to evacuate hundreds of American passengers – 14 of whom tested positive for the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said the original idea…

Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations
Many cruise lines have canceled or altered scheduled sailings to China and in and around Asia as coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) continues to spread through more than 25 countries, killing more than 1,600 people and sickening tens of thousands more. In January, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, following an…

A captivating coastal town where memories of Napoleon still linger – an expert guide to Ajaccio
Lucky Napoleon, who was born in Ajaccio in 1769, for his hometown is delightful, framed by low hills and sandy beaches, graced with a picture-perfect harbour, and full of quaint squares and streets dotted with tempting sights, shops and restaurants. Charming and easy-going, it mingles hints of Italy – the Genovese having ruled Corsica for four centuries – with a dash of France and plenty of the island’s own…

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Transportation

Couple diagnosed with coronavirus flew on Delta, Hawaiian Airlines flights, carriers confirm
Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines have confirmed that a couple diagnosed with the coronavirus traveled on their flights in and around Hawaii earlier this month. On Feb. 6, the couple, a husband and wife from Japan who are reportedly in their 60s, departed from Honolulu for Nagoya, Japan, on Delta flight 611, KHON2 reports. The State Department of Health [DOH] said that the couple previously arrived in…

American Airlines passenger speaks out about seat-punching incident
The American Airlines passenger who posted a now-viral video of a man punching the back of her reclined seat said Monday she started rolling the camera because the flight attendant did nothing to stop his behavior. “The hits just kept on coming literally and figuratively,” Wendi Williams told Fox & Friends. “From the guy, then the flight attendant.” Wendi Williams was flying from New Orleans to Charlotte,…

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Lodging

From fun playrooms to free presents, the best family-friendly hotels in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is ideal for a family city break, with lots of ways to keep children entertained, from funfair rides at Tivoli to wildlife at Copenhagen Zoo and the Blue Planet. Outdoors, there are beaches and harbour pools; indoors, museums have hands-on exhibits and dressing-up boxes. Many hotels are family-friendly, with connecting rooms, children’s menus and assorted activities, especially during…

Las Vegas 5-Star Luxury - Wynn Resort Breaks Record For Forbes Stars
“Five Star” is an expression that has long been synonymous with the best in travel, something every luxury hotel aspires to, but few achieve. One brand, however, seems to have figured out the secret to racking up the prestigious ratings - Wynn Resorts. But first, a little background. Back in 1958, executives at gas station giant Mobil (now Exxon Mobil) decided to create travel guidebooks for their road tripping…

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Other and Odd

Wellness Travel Gets A High Tech Upgrade
Virtual reality spa treatments, ultrasound therapy, and data-driven wellness retreats are trending in Hawaii. Other destinations will soon follow. Is your circadian rhythm optimized? Has your facial collagen been refreshed lately? How’s the view from your Bod Pod? These and other personal health questions are now a standard part of guest experience programming in luxury hotels and resorts looking to gain a foothold…

Footage shows tigers chasing tour bus full of safari goers
Vacations are all about having memorable experiences, right? Footage from a safari in India shows a tiger grabbing hold of the vehicle’s curtain and refusing to let go. Even as the driver revved the engine, the big cat kept its jaws clamped down on the fabric. The incident occurred on a jungle safari in Chhattisgarh, India, newsgathering agency Southwest News (SWNS) reports. A bus full of tourists watched…

Can rationing carbon help fight climate change?
Once a day, Katja Suhonen opens her phone to check on her carbon footprint. Every journey she makes in her home city of Lahti, a city in the south of Finland, is studied by an experimental app called CitiCap and the carbon impact of her travel choices deducted from a weekly budget. “I have mainly travelled around by bike, public transport and walking before even using CitiCap, so it hasn’t really changed my daily…

Today in History

The Duke is Drowned
Duke of Clarence is a title traditionally awarded to junior members of British royal families. The first, George Plantagenet, was the brother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. Never happy with his status, George plotted with a number of co-conspirators to overthrow Edward IV and take the crown. Finally, Edward had…

Press Releases of Interest

CCRA Travel Commerce Network Announces Updates and Honors Leaders at PowerSolutions National Annual Conference
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – February 17, 2020 – CCRA held its 2nd annual PowerSolutions National conference February 6-9, 2020 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, in National Harbor, Maryland. At the conference, the organization celebrated another year of growth and shared an array of exciting…

Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos

Niche Marketing: Buzz Word or Logical Solution?
by Mike Marchev
Tuesday February 18, 2020

A business lesson that is hard to come to terms with is the fact (the truth) that you can’t be all things to all people. You can try. You can even succeed at times but, in the long run, you will be shooting yourself in the foot.

To become exceptional at what you do and thereby distance yourself from the competition, you must become very good, very knowledgeable, and very focused on your chosen subject matter.

Generalists compete on price. Specialists compete on total job…

  — Travel Research Online
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Upcoming Training Opportunities


Alaska, ShoreTrips Style!

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.

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Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations Overview

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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