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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
Is It OK to Travel to Australia Right Now?
As summer draws to a close in the Southern Hemisphere, the worst of Australia’s ferocious wildfire season is over. On Thursday, February 13, authorities announced that all fires in New South Wales were under control for the first time since September, thanks to heavy rainfall across the state. At the same time, the rainstorms brought hail and flash flooding to the outskirts of Sydney and the surrounding coastline, as well…
— Fodor's Travel
Rijeka in Croatia: the culture capital that knows how to party
Clanking cowbells filled the air as about two dozen zvončari paraded through the village of Rukavac, just west of Rijeka. To me, they looked like pagans from a Grimm’s fairytale: shaggy woolly gilets, those bells hanging round their waists, and heads adorned with towering flower-covered hats. Exaggerating their gait to make the bells jangle, they shimmied and bumped their hips against each other as they waved…
— The Guardian
Tours and Activities
Scared To Travel Alone? Try It With These Solo Travel Groups
Solo travel allows you to go where you want when you want, which is a wonderful thing for anyone who's all about freedom. Despite the incredible independence though, solo travel can still be a bit daunting, especially when it comes to visiting places you've never been before. For those who are a bit wary of traveling all by themselves but don't want to miss out on the opportunities solo travel affords, there…
— Refinery29
What the world's most expensive Irish whiskey tastes like
A rare beast has been asleep in the Irish countryside for close to half a century. When the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork closed its doors in 1975, after 150 years in business, several casks of trial whiskey innovations disappeared with it. They rested deep within their barrels -- until now. On Tuesday night, a gathering of whiskey enthusiasts met in London's Old Sessions House to toast the launch of Midleton…
— CNN
Cruise
Coronavirus updates: 2 passengers die after leaving 'chaotic' cruise ship
Protesters from the village of Novi Sanzhary in Ukraine blocked the road leading a quarantine building where evacuees arriving by plane from Wuhan, China are due to be held for at least two weeks. The plane carrying Ukraine nationals landed at the Kharkiv Airport Thursday. Hundreds of police were dispatched to keep order, and some were seen dragging some protesters away from the crowd at the…
— NBC News
Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Mega Cruise Ship
Cruise companies are building ships for a new generation of vacationers, some of whom need a lot to impress them these days. Whether it’s a massive vessel with every imaginable amenity or a smaller ship that tones down the grandeur so it can sail to smaller ports, each style has its fans. Over the past few years alone, we’ve seen snow grottos, ziplines, planetariums, and virtual balconies introduced onboard—with…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Transportation
Real ID applications may be getting faster in effort to meet October deadline
Federal officials will let states allow Real ID applicants submit the required documents electronically in an effort to help states meet an Oct. 1 deadline for enhanced driver's licenses. Anyone who plans on flying domestically from then on must have a form of identification that's compliant with a 2005 law aimed at improving transportation security. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 100…
— USA Today
Huge tunnel network creates new railway link through the Alps
Thousands of feet under the Swiss Alps, a new high-speed, high-capacity railway is close to completion. At its heart is the world's longest railway tunnel -- the 35-mile-long (or 57-kilometer) Gotthard Base Tunnel. Everything about this $11.3 billion project is on a grand scale; at their deepest point, the GBT's twin tunnels are around 8,000 feet below the Alpine peaks. More than 2,500 people worked on its…
— CNN
Travel Chaos In Norway As Landslide Closes Oslo To Bergen Rail Line
The world-famous Oslo to Bergen is finally back open after a landslide caused chaos on the rails. Such was the weight of the snow that fell in the landslide on Monday afternoon, wooden structures built to protect the tracks collapsed and power lines were torn down. Train driver Kjell Haugerud told TV2 of the experience on the last train before the closure. “We couldn't see our hand in front of us,” he said. Haugerud,…
— Forbes
Lodging
A Sustainable Safari: Discover Africa’s 10 Top Eco-Friendly Lodges
Luxury and amazing wildlife adventures don’t have to come at the expense of sustainability. An increasing number of African lodges has started to prioritize earth-friendly practices as much as they do show-stopping safaris. Here are some of Africa’s best sustainable lodges. The epitome of luxurious sustainability, this reserve is located in the eastern area of South Africa in the rugged and breathtaking…
— Forbes
It List 2020: Our Editors’ Picks of the Best New Hotels in the World
A great hotel offers more than merely a place to rest your head and stow your stuff between sightseeing excursions. A truly standout property can offer new insight into a beloved place; bring fresh energy to a been-there, done-that neighborhood; even become a destination in its own right. That’s why we here at T+L spend months obsessively tracking new openings and major overhauls, consulting our trusted network…
— Travel+Leisure
Other and Odd
CDC issues travel guidelines for Hong Kong after second coronavirus-related death in the city
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines on Wednesday for American travelers to Hong Kong after the city reported its second death from the new coronavirus. Travelers to Hong Kong should avoid contact with sick people, the CDC said, and regularly wash their hands. It is the CDC’s lowest-level travel warning, but it is the first coronavirus-related travel notice issued by the…
— CNBC
Coronavirus fallout: Study says people aren't downloading flight and hotel apps
As the coronavirus continues to spread, upending the tech industry and causing tremors in the business sector, consumers and companies alike are wary of flying and booking hotel stays. New data collected by the attribution company AppsFlyer revealed that travel app bookings have declined steadily since news about the respiratory illness began to circulate. While the virus is having the greatest impact on tourism…
— USA Today
Today in History
A Volcano is Born
On February 20, 1943, Dionisio Pulido, a farmer in the Mexican state of Michoacán, was working in his cornfield along with his wife and son. From the center of the field, a hissing noise began. Suddenly a plume of smoke and ash began spewing from the ground from a fissure that opened. Pulido and his family were witnessing…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Central Holidays Presents a World of Unparalleled New Travel Packages and Experiences in its Just-released Collection of 2020 Brochures for Egypt, Africa & West Asia, and Latin America
Moonachie, NJ – (February 19, 2020) – Central Holidays has announced the debut of its 2020 brochures for Egypt, Africa & West Asia, and Latin America that round-out its virtually world-wide range of travel opportunities and add to its recently introduced new Italy and Europe brochures. Celebrated for its…
— Travel Research Online
Departures
The Modern Marvels of Dubai
 Rising from the Arabian desert, on the Persian Gulf, is the luxurious and futuristic city of Dubai. Said to be settled in the 18th-century as a fishing village, Dubai has come a long way since then. Though forts and watchtowers remain from that time, skyscrapers and man-made islands create an entirely different aesthetic. As modern as Dubai has become, there is an undercurrent of tradition that keeps. Dubai has defied the harsh terrain to be become one of the most well-known metropolises in the…
— Travel Research Online
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
There Is No Harm In Asking
by Mike Marchev
Thursday February 20, 2020
Today’s marke ting minute falls under the category of current events. This happened to me twice in the last few days. Here is my story and accompanying…
— 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 ➠
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een to an industry event and met someone who instantly exchanges cards and then walks away? You know the type; they don’t really start much of a conversation with you and it seems like all they want is to grab your card and run off to the next…