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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 travel updates: which countries have restrictions and FCO warnings in place?
If UK nationals are usually based in the UK, the FCO advises returning if possible: “International travel is becoming very limited as air routes close, land borders close and new restrictions are put in place that prevent flights from leaving.” “We are working with airlines to keep routes open, and calling for international action to keep routes open to enable British people [to] return home…
— The Guardian
What the World's Top Tourist Destinations Look Like Right Now
When it comes to visiting the world's top tourist destinations, we've grown accustomed to bumping elbows with fellow travelers and fighting for the best photo-taking spots. But due to the spread of the coronavirus and subsequent government lockdowns, most major cities and landmarks have become completely deserted, giving the world a post-apocalyptic appearance that's equal…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Italy's inspiring response to the coronavirus
It’s late afternoon and my daughter and I are leaning out of our living room window, looking down at the usually bustling square in Rome’s historical centre where we live. On any normal day, we’ll watch groups of meandering tourists, couples walking their dog, a gaggle of nuns or a lover’s quarrel. Today, the piazza is empty. There’s just one person wearing a mask and gloves walking…
— BBC
Tours and Activities
Great Italian Cooking Lessons With Celebrated Chefs To Watch During Quarantine
While you can’t travel to Italy now, you may want to bring some of its indelible flavors into your kitchen. Master the how-to’s of the country’s scrumptious cuisine with online cooking videos featuring some of the world's most celebrated chefs—a selection is included below. (The videos are free, with the exception of a series of classes that requires a subscription.) Massimo Bottura…
— Forbes
Section of Great Wall of China reopens after coronavirus-related closure
A section of the Great Wall of China has reopened after the popular attraction was closed in January amid coronavirus concerns. According to CNN and The Weather Channel, the Badaling section of the wall was reopened as life is China slowly regains normalcy. The Associated Press reports that Beijing's city zoo has also reopened. The province in China where the coronavirus…
— USA Today
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…
— CruiseCritic.com
Two Grand Princess cruise passengers with coronavirus die; 103 have tested positive for COVID-19
Two passengers who had been on Princess Cruises' Grand Princess, the second Princess Cruises ship with cases of coronavirus, have died. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the deaths, indicating both passengers died due to complications from the coronavirus. A statement from HHS to USA TODAY said both passengers were on board the Grand…
— USA Today
Transportation
Jetting to Arts and Culture
While esteemed patrons of the arts have long used private jets to travel to events and exhibitions, a growing number of private-aviation firms are offering special packages and experiences geared toward lovers of the arts. Take VistaJet, which launched in 2004. From dedicated art tours to globally renowned shows, the company offers a variety of experiences to clients looking…
— Barron's
Airlines Can’t Shrink Fast Enough To Keep Up With The Unprecedented Collapse In Global Travel Demand
It’s all but axiomatic that no business can stay in business if its number of customers and, therefore, its revenues, fall by a whopping 87% on a year-over-year basis. Yet data from the Transportation Security Administration show that is exactly the situation in which U.S. airlines now find themselves. On Tuesday only 279,018 people – not all of whom were even air…
— Forbes
Lodging
Inside the U.K.'s Most Talked-about New Hotel
It was one of those unbelievable evenings straight out of a J.M.W. Turner painting, the sky flushing peach over the gilded treetops of the English countryside. I was wandering the grounds of the Newt in Somerset, a 23-room hotel in southwestern England. The estate grounds are open to the public during working hours, but the last day-tripper was long gone — and dusk had all but…
— Travel+Leisure
These Hotel Live Streams Will Bring Paradise To Your Laptop Screen
When your wanderlust is put on hold, you may try to stay off of a hotel's website or airline's app. Scrolling through the dreamy packages and pics of luxe pools may make you feel like you're missing out on the world and all its experiences. Don't fret. Those experiences will be waiting for you when it's the right time to chase after your wanderlust again. Until then, these hotel live…
— Elite Daily
Other and Odd
Koalas Rescued From Australia's Bushfires Are Finally Getting Released Back Into the Wild
Five koalas that were rescued during Australia’s brutal bushfires were released back into the wild this week. Sydney's Taronga Zoo released four koalas and a newly-born joey into Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the state of New South Wales. They are the first of 12 koalas to be re-released into the wild after they were rescued. The release is the first step of rehabilitating the animals…
— Travel+Leisure
Caught In Between: What It's Like When You Can't Go Home
In this unprecedented travel ban moment where much of the world is on lockdown and there are significantly fewer airplanes criss-crossing the skies, there are a lot of emotions running through us daily. There's the fear of this ever-spreading virus taking its toll, the stress of watching the economy crumble, and the uncertainty of not knowing when the world will return to normal.…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Today in History
The Death of Richard the Lionheart
Richard I was king of England for ten years, starting in 1189. The king spent only five months of that time in his kingdom. In March 1199, Richard I was in France suppressing a revolt at the castle of Chalus-Chabrol. On the evening of March 25th, he walked around the perimeter of the castle…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
American Cruise Lines Travel Advisor Assurance Plan
Guilford, CT—March 24, 2020—American Cruise Lines has unveiled its full Travel Advisor Assurance Plan following the Line’s voluntary decision to suspend cruise operations through April 30th, 2020. The new plan contains some of the most guest and agent friendly policies in the river cruise industry.…
— Travel Research Online
Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
10 First Moves
 March 26, 2020 – People today are on edge more than ever. They don’t know who to trust and they don’t know what to believe. It is more important then ever for you to position yourself as one of the “good…
— Travel Research Online
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