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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
Coronavirus: Britons abroad urged to return to UK immediately
Up to 1 million Britons on holiday or on business trips abroad have been asked to return to the UK immediately by the Foreign Office as they may not be able to get commercial flights within days. In updated advice, the FCO said British citizens abroad who were resident in the UK should make urgent plans to cut short holidays and other trips and come back home straight away. Dominic Raab, the foreign…
— The Guardian
Tokyo Olympics Will Be Postponed to 2021
The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will be postponed to 2021. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, have agreed to reschedule the Games to next year as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic after a meeting on Tuesday, March 24. "In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC…
— Travel+Leisure
Tours and Activities
10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours
Art lovers can view thousands of paintings, sculptures, installations and new work online – many in minute detail – as well as explore the museums themselves. There are various platforms: from interactive, 360-degree videos and full “walk-around” tours with voiceover descriptions to slideshows with zoomable photos of the world’s greatest artworks. And many allow viewers to get closer to the art than…
— The Guardian
7 Ways to Bring the Disney Magic Home While the Parks Are Closed
With Disney parks around the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans are looking for ways to bring that magic home until they can visit once again. We’ve put together a list of seven ways you can experience Disney at home, from virtual rides on beloved attractions to playlists that will instantly transport you to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Bring the sounds of the parks to your living room with a…
— Travel+Leisure
Inside Japan's Under-Wraps Super Nintendo World
From the lava-filled depths of Bowser’s Castle to the shores of Koopa Troopa Beach, Nintendo’s Super Mario franchise has delighted generations since 1985. Now, Super Nintendo World—a new offering from the beloved video game company—is nearing completion. The special theme park land is scheduled to open this summer at Universal Studios Japan. Despite being in the works for several years,…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Cruise
What Are Cruise Lines Doing With Their Empty Ships?
Most cruise lines have voluntarily suspended their operations until the end of April, and in some cases further out. A few weeks ago, when operations were initially suspended in Asia, Royal Caribbean redeployed its China-based ships to Australia offering free cruises to first responders who battled the country's bush fires. But now that virtually all cruising has ceased and ships are either docked in ports…
— CruiseCritic.com
Passengers on Norwegian Cruise Ship Scheduled to Disembark in Hawaii
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that passengers on Norwegian Jewel will be allowed to disembark in Honolulu, Hawaii starting today March 23. Guests will fly home on chartered flights and approximately 1,000 crew members will stay on board the cruise ship. Despite there not being any confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 associated with the ship, all guests will undergo enhanced medical screening…
— Cruise Fever
Transportation
U.S. Airlines May Shut Down All Passenger Flights
President Trump has shown no inclination to order a domestic travel ban, but it’s looking increasingly likely that the U.S. airline industry will do it voluntarily. All the major domestic carriers are contemplating a complete shutdown of passenger service, according to The Street. Whether or not you call it a shutdown, cancellations have skyrocketed over the past several weeks. Consider this: It’s not yet 9 a.m. on…
— Forbes
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
4 Million Hotel Job Cuts Expected In Coming Weeks
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is sounding the alarm with an estimate that 44 percent of all hotel workers will lose their jobs in the coming weeks due to fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. “The impact to our industry is already more severe than anything we’ve seen before, including September 11th and the great recession of 2008 combined,” said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO.…
— Forbes
Coronavirus: Can you – and should you – 'shelter in place' at a hotel or vacation rental?
States across the U.S. are invoking "shelter in place" orders, asking their residents not to leave their homes except for essential items such as food and medicine amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the country and world. But what if you are at a hotel or vacation rental when such an order comes? Could you go to a vacation rental to wait it out? The answer is ultimately up to your judgment, but advice from…
— USA Today
Other and Odd
The travel 'ache' you can't translate
Every time I feel like I’ve reached the most remote place I’ve ever travelled, I hear “Guten tag”, and see a German rounding the corner, nonchalantly strolling by like he or she went for a walk around in their Munich or Hamburg neighbourhood, got pleasantly lost, and somehow ended up here in the wilds of western Ethiopia or below the peaks the Bolivian Andes. The more I traverse the globe, the more I realise…
— BBC
Is it safe to travel? Avoid it if you can, doctors say
As coronavirus cases surge, doctors are underlining the message that sticking close to home is the best way for individuals to help slow its spread. "To 'flatten the curve' people should be staying home, practicing social-distancing and avoiding all nonessential travel," said Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb, who specializes in infectious diseases at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Staying at least…
— CNN
Today in History
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
On March 24, 1989, Captain Joseph Hazelwood grounded his boat. Unfortunately, his boat was a 30,000 ton oil tanker filled with 53,094,510 gallons of oil, of which 10.8 million gallons spilled into Prince William Sound. The resulting oil spill ranks as one of the most disastrous environmental catastrophes of record. The short…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
‘Communication is Key’ To Surviving Travel Industry Crisis, Says Croatia’s Small-Ship Cruise Specialist, Katarina Line
With all cruises cancelled along Croatia’s Adriatic coast through the end of April in response to the worldwide health crisis, Croatia’s small ship cruise specialist Katarina Line said that communication is important for travel partners to successfully survive the current industry challenges. “This too shall pass,” said Daniel…
— Travel Research Online
Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Taking the Day to Regroup
 Good morning hard working travel professionals and faithful readers.
I do not have a specific message for you today, other than to say that for the next unknown period of time I will be offering short, meaningful soundbites designed to give you a morning lift during these ring times.
There is an old saying that is ear-torn among speaking professionals that reminds us “If you can’t improve upon the silence, don’t…
— Travel Research Online
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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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