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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
CDC issues travel advisory for three states as global COVID-19 death toll tops 30,000
People in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were urged to "refrain from non-essential domestic travel" for the next two weeks by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the number of people killed by the coronavirus pandemic around the world surpassed 30,000. The CDC travel advisory was issued after President Donald Trump decided against calling for a quarantine in the tri-state…
— NBC News
In Tel Aviv, a City-Wide, Socially Distanced Shabbat
It was raining in Tel Aviv last Friday afternoon, but Jackie Donner, a 42-year-old mother of three, gathered her family together anyway. She guided them out onto the balcony, where they all began to sing. She admits it was a bit awkward at first. The family began with “Lecha Dodi” before segueing into “Shalom Aleichem,” both traditional hymns sung across the Jewish world at the start of the…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
Organizers finalize new dates for Tokyo Olympics, beginning in July 2021
The new dates of the Tokyo Olympics have been finalized. Less than a week after announcing that the Games would be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers have decided on a new start date of July 23, 2021, according to an International Olympic Committee spokesman. The closing ceremony will be held on Aug. 8. The Tokyo Olympics had previously been slated to start…
— USA Today
10 virtual tours of the world’s most famous landmarks
Many details of how the Inca site was constructed are still a mystery. Built in the Andes at 2,430 metres above sea level around AD1450, Machu Picchu was created without wheels or animals to transport the huge stones up the mountainside. A series of 360-degree images on YouVisit’s virtual tour explore various areas of the site. The tour also includes a voiceover guide with information…
— The Guardian
Bahariya and Farafra: Egypt's bizarre, desert landscape
The Bahariya and Farafra depressions have some of the rarest landscapes in Egypt, making one forget, for a moment, that the Pyramids are the country’s biggest attraction. Located in Egypt’s Western Desert, the Bahariya and Farafra depressions don’t even cover 1% of the Egyptian Sahara. Yet, they have some of the rarest landscapes and geological formations in the entire country. This is…
— BBC
Cruise
Four dead and 138 sick on Holland America ship that’s seeking refuge anywhere
The cruise ship was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime, far away from Asia where the coronavirus was raging out of control. Twelve hundred eager passengers set sail March 7 from Argentina for a 14-day cruise offering an itinerary full of magnificent passages and upscale dining. Now, days after the passengers were supposed to be back on land, four people are dead, two have just tested…
— Sun Sentinel
Cunard Extends Suspension of Global Cruise Operations Until May 15
Cunard has extended its fleet operations until May 15 -- a month longer than it previosuly announced. Cunard's President, Simon Palethorpe, said: "The impact of COVID-19 is affecting personal routines and businesses as well as placing significant travel restrictions around the world. Everyone in the Cunard team is aware of the need to support the management and containment of…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
Grounded Flight Attendants Are Being Redeployed To Hospitals In Coronavirus Battle
Flight attendants with first-aid training are being drafted in to help on the front lines of the battle to beat coronavirus. In the U.K. the National Health Service has enlisted cabin crew from both Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet to assist staff at the temporary 4,000-bed Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel Centre in London. Further temporary hospitals are being planned in Manchester and Birmingham…
— Forbes
easyJet grounds its entire fleet
Britain’s biggest airline by passenger numbers, easyJet, has grounded its entire fleet of 344 aircraft. The Luton-based airline says its last flight operated on Sunday 29 March and there will be no further departures anywhere in Europe until further notice. It attributes the shutdown to “unprecedented travel restrictions imposed by governments in response to the coronavirus pandemic”. While…
— The Independent
Lodging
Plan Your Future Dream Vacation With These Luxurious Spanish Hotels
While traveling is off the table for the time being, it’s never too early to think about the next big trip. When it comes to gorgeous villas and vibrant cultural experiences, it’s difficult to find somewhere more ideal than Spain. If you’re dreaming of lying under the hot sun on the southern Iberian coast, or picturing steaming paella filled to the brim with seafood, be sure to draw inspiration from these…
— Forbes
New Campaign Aims to Connect Inns Across the US Amid Ongoing Coronavirus Concerns — Here's How
More than 100 small inns and bed and breakfasts across the country have teamed up to support one another as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on small businesses. In a new campaign, named Still Inn Business, owners of hotels that have either closed their doors or have remained open are invited to use multiple digital platforms including dedicated Facebook, and Twitter accounts as well…
— Travel+Leisure
Other and Odd
7 Travel Movies and Shows to Watch on Netflix Right Now
We may be stuck at home practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream of far-off destinations, adjust our bucket lists, and learn about the world around us. If you want to get some inspiration and information for your next adventure, Netflix has you covered. The online streaming service, which is currently one of the world’s most popular pastimes,…
— Travel+Leisure
Lockdown escapes: where I’ll visit when this is over
As fate would have it, I arrived back in my tiny Venice apartment on 8 March, the day the city was locked down. Since then, restrictions have become increasingly – and rightly – more stringent, so today I can only go 200 metres outside, apart from a trip to the shops. Luckily I have a great view over the city from my rooftop terrace. From there, I can sit and dream of places I’ll revisit when I have…
— The Guardian
Today in History
Seward's Folly
On this day in 1867, the U.S. Senate purchased the territory of Alaska from the Russian Empire for the sum of 2 cents per acre, or $7.2 million (approximately $110 million in 2009 dollars). Russia knew the territory as Alyeska, the "great land", an Aleut word. William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Costa Rica: Book Now Travel Later
With the current travel restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Costa Rica Dream Adventures has taken some actions to provide flexibility for your future travel plans. Enjoy peace of mind vacation planning. Zero risks and stress-free. Book with confidence. We are ready when you are! To…
— Travel Research Online
Editorial Musings
Seeking help for your business in a COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s some suggestions
by John Frenaye
Monday March 30, 2020
We’ve seen so me trying times before; but I have to say, this is the most trying one yet. And unfortunately, it is one that virtually no one saw coming. Airlines are grounding planes. Cruise ships are idling at sea and most of us are sheltering in place in our homes in hopes that the COVID-19 virus will soon be a memory. And it will. But before we get there, we have our businesses to think about. And unlike many of the past bailouts and stimuli packages, this one includes something for us in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). I don’t have a cure-all, but here are some options to make sure you and your business remain afloat.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans
The…
— Travel Research Online
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Publishers Corner
Let's go, Virtually
by Richard Earls
Sunday March 29, 2020
Travel prof essionals:
It is so important to stay visible to your clients. A calm and helpful voice will be remembered when the situation we find ourselves in normalizes. Please feel free to modify and use the article below in your own blog posts, newsletters and social media in whatever manner works for you. Looking forward to getting on the other side of all this with you.
Add some virtual reality videos to your website using our tool here: — Travel Research Online
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Don’t Mess Up Your Future
I came across this old message and thought I would give it a new slant, given our new and challenging set of circumstances.
If there is any room today for some good unsolicited advice here, it is: If you don’t want to regret your past, don’t mess up your future. The choice is up to you.
During these unprecedented times, I hope you have taken some time to reflect on both the good and the bad as it unfolds everyday. I hope you are learning from the bad and are motivated as a result of the possibilities.
I am often reminded of a sound bite from the popular comedian Woody Allen, who once went on the record to say, “I feel I had grandiose plans for myself when I started…
— Travel Research Online
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