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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
Actually Cool Things to Do in Portland, Maine Right Now
Ah, Portland. And no we don’t mean that other city that seems to get all the love. We’re talking the beautiful waterfront peninsula in Maine. Yes, craft breweries and lobster rolls abound, but there is a lot more to discover about this quaint New England town. While cruise-shippers and leaf-peepers wait until summertime to come visit, those of us who are here year round or like to travel off-season know there’s so…
— Thrillist
7 exciting ways to experience the best of British Columbia this season
Spring is the season when landscapes wake up from winter’s chill, and there are few more dramatic places to witness this spring awakening than on the west coast of Canada, when the snow-covered scenery transforms into a patchwork of green spaces and multicolored flowers, and animals venture out into the warmer temperatures. Experiencing British Columbia’s endlessly diverse natural landscapes, from…
— USA Today
Tours and Activities
New Zealand's most famous tree, 'That Wanaka Tree,' vandalized
New Zealand's most famous tree has been the victim of bad visitor behavior. A willow tree at the southern tip of Lake Wanaka, which appears semi-submerged in the water and is a massively popular Instagram spot, was attacked by someone with a saw sometime around March 17, according to Stuff.co.nz. One local told Stuff, "The famous lower branch that hangs horizontally out over the water that is…
— CNN
Venus and Mercury Will Be on Display in the Sky Next Week — Here's How to See Them
Have you seen the planet Venus in the last few months? It's been shining very brightly in the southwestern sky after sunset in its brightest apparition (a time when something is visible in the night sky) since 2012. Venus has been impossible to miss, but what about tiny Mercury? On Tuesday, both planets will be as far from the sun as they ever get, making them both relatively easy to see. Here’s when and how…
— Travel+Leisure
All Your Questions About the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, Answered
The 2020 Olympics are coming to Tokyo in late July and early August, and they will capture the world’s attention for weeks. “Every Olympics is a chance to reveal the best of the host city and its people,” says Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist Amy Tadehara. She works with InsideJapan Tours, which has put together several itineraries for the Tokyo Olympics. “I am thrilled that the world will see…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Cruise
MSC Cruises Halts All Ship Operations through April
MSC Cruises is stopping all of its cruise operations until the end of April. The line has already ceased all U.S., South America and South Africa sailings, as well as ship operations across other areas considered high risk, including in Asia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Ships that are currently still at sea will conclude their current itinerary to return guests to disembarkation ports, then also stop…
— CruiseCritic.com
Hawaii to block 2 cruise ships from releasing passengers
Hawaiian officials said late Wednesday that two cruise ships carrying passengers who have yet to test positive for coronavirus would be turned away. The Associated Press reported that officials reversed a decision to allow the two ships, the Maasdam and the Norwegian Jewel, to dock at Honolulu's port while passengers disembarked. The two ships, operated by Holland America Line and Norwegian…
— The Hill
Transportation
Salt Lake City Airport Grounds Flights Following 5.7 Earthquake in Utah
Flights set to take off from Salt Lake City International Airport were grounded on Wednesday after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the area. The Federal Aviation Administration evacuated the airport's flight control tower because of the earthquake. All arriving flights to Salt Lake City are being directed to other airports, the FAA said in a statement. The groundings have the potential to impact flights around…
— Travel+Leisure
A Complete Guide to International Airlines' Coronavirus Policies
The global situation concerning the new coronavirus outbreak, or COVID-19, is changing rapidly every day. Guidance on where to travel and whether airlines will be flying to certain destinations around the world is evolving hour to hour. Here is the latest information from airlines around the world on where they are flying, what routes have been halted, and how to get a refund on any impending international trip…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Lodging
Hotel Industry Faces Huge Crisis in Coming Months, Discusses Recovery Solutions
The COVID-19 health crisis is unprecedented in its size and scope, and represents the single largest decline in travel in modern times. And its effects on the hotel industry are already staggering. The American Hotel and Lodging Association, the nation’s leading and largest trade association for hotel industry, is projecting 3.9 million job loss for the industry with current pace of occupancy decline for the year.…
— Forbes
How Many Hotel Brands Is Enough?
How many hotel brands is enough? Hilton and Choice Hotels International are putting that question to the test, with two new lodging brands focused on helping travelers maintain their healthy eating, sleeping and fitness habits on the road. The new entries join already-robust portfolios — Hilton’s Tempo will be the company’s 18th nameplate and Everhome Suites will be Choice Hotels’ 13th. They aren’t…
— New York Times
Other and Odd
If you have to travel right now, here's how to stay as safe as possible
While some of us have the ability to work from home and cancel travel, there are plenty of people who do not. For those who must take a plane, train, bus or taxi or drive a long distance, for business or personal reasons, we've compiled some expert tips for staying safe and healthy. The CDC recommends that older adults and persons with chronic health issues "discuss travel with a healthcare provider…
— CNN
10 of the best travel shows on Netflix to stream right now
There are plenty of ways to satisfy your wanderlust without leaving the house: scrolling through Instagram feeds, reading books about far-flung destinations and – one of our personal favorites – Netflix. The streaming service offers endless entertainment for all sorts of preferences, but with so many movies and shows to choose from, it can be difficult to find what you're really looking for in this Age of…
— USA Today
Today in History
The Death of Robert de LaSalle
The French explorer Robert de LaSalle explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the entire Mississippi basin for France, naming it "La Louisiane" in honor of Louis XIV. On his last journey, he set sail from France with four ships and 300…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
$300 Million-Dollar Travel Management Company Goes Virtual in Response to Coronavirus
ATLANTA, March 18, 2020 (Newswire.com) - As a precaution against the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, Duluth Travel (DTI) a full-service travel agency since 1993 located in Duluth, Georgia, has adopted a work-from-home policy starting March 17, 2020. DTI's full staff, more than 60 employees, including the CEO of…
— Travel Research Online
TRO SMITH
Sane Social Solutions for Crazy Times
by Catherine Heeg
Thursday March 19, 2020
 Chaos. Uncertainty. Fear. It’s everywhere! TV, newspapers, social feeds!
Our industry is suffering. Yet, you have the power to change the tone for your social fans. Help them cut thru the chaos and find a bit of sanity and serenity.
Why?
We all know our industry has survived many downturns. We’re resilient! We’re tough! As we start thinking about how to inspire our fans, we’ll prove that resilience once again…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
It May Be Time To Change Your Disposition
 With or without having a pandemic as an excuse, some people walk around looking as if they have just lost their best friend. These people are communicating to the world that life is, and will continue to be, an unfair experience. Daily existence is a total drag while life offers nothing in return for their “showing…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Upcoming Training Opportunities
Australis 102 – Itinerary Ideas in Patagonia
Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT
Our last webinar Australis 101 focused on the basics of Australis Cruises, our ships, itineraries, and some online tools to help you sell Patagonia and Australis to your South America bound clients. In this webinar we will do a brief review of the basics and then offer itinerary suggestions for other areas within Patagonia that can easily be combined with the cruise to form an incredible land/sea adventure.
Register Now ➠
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