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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
Make Yourself a Margarita and Take This Virtual Tour of Florida's Best Beaches
As the weather heats up, staying home gets harder — most of us would give anything for a beach vacation right about now. Unfortunately, many of Florida’s beaches are temporarily closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, the Sunshine State is coming through to deliver an at-home beach experience: the Florida Beach Finder by Visit Florida lets you wander…
— Travel+Leisure
How I finally fell for Florida
When it's safe to travel again, I know where I'm going first: Florida. But few who know me would have predicted this. You see, I've never been a big fan of Florida. Once I started traveling on my own as an adult, I looked to far-flung locations. I wanted to go far and away to unfamiliar places where I could get by on not a lot of money. This led to a two and a half week trip to China…
— CNN
Tours and Activities
This Virtual Disney Parade Will Brighten Up Your Day With Beloved Characters and Stunning Floats
Need an extra dose of magic today? Look no further. With the Disney parks now closed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is making an effort to bring them home to you. This weekend, Disney presented a virtual viewing of the new Disneyland parade, Magic Happens, in a blog post. In the post, Michael Ramirez, the public relations director of…
— Travel+Leisure
The Young Chefs Transforming Montreal's Food Scene
On a side street in the 17th-century borough of Verdun, I recently had what struck me as the most Montreal meal of my life. Beba, opened last summer by brothers Pablo and Ari Schor, pays homage to the Spanish and Italian émigré cooking of Buenos Aires, their birthplace (dinner for two from $100; restaurantbeba.ca). “It's the food we grew up eating, but with Montreal touches…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Cruise
Holland America Line Issues Plea to Dock Cruise Ships Stranded At Sea
Holland America Line has put out a plea for a U.S. port to allow its returning ships, Zaandam and Rotterdam, as well as other cruise ships still out at sea, to dock and debark passengers who have been on vessels for several weeks. "Nations are justifiably focused on the COVID-19 crisis unfolding before them. But they've turned their backs on thousands of people left floating at…
— CruiseCritic.com
Cruise ship passengers desperately plead with Florida to allow them in
When Andrea Anderson and her husband boarded the MS Zaandam cruise ship in Buenos Aires more than three weeks ago, they didn't know that their trip of a lifetime would disastrously coincide with a global pandemic that would leave them shut out and stranded at sea. Unable to find a port willing to accept them, their ship has been stuck in a holding pattern for nearly two…
— NBC News
Transportation
What It Takes for an Airline to Ground Its Fleet Amid Coronavirus
As travel restrictions continue amid the spread of coronavirus, a record number of planes are being grounded. At least 70 airlines around the world have grounded themselves completely, according to Cowen investment bank. These include heavy hitting airlines like Emirates and Etihad and low-cost behemoths like EasyJet. Other top carriers, including Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific,…
— Conde Nast Traveler
40% Less Flights Worldwide: This Is What’s Happening With Air Travel
In the past fortnight COVID-19 has brought the world to a virtual standstill, and much of the international airline fleet with it. The cumulative effect of travel bans, stay at home orders and social distancing rules has seen the number of flights worldwide whittled to about 40% of their usual levels according to Flightradar24. That as International Air Transport Association (IATA) says…
— Forbes
Why are airlines still flying in and out of US coronavirus hot spots and will they continue?
New York Congresswoman Grace Meng posted a selfie from her American Airlines flight from New York to Washington, D.C., on Twitter Friday morning as she headed out for the vote on the coronavirus stimulus bill. One of the first comments wasn't about the $2 trillion package, but about air travel during the pandemic. "Can you find out why airlines are still flying similar schedules to…
— USA Today
Lodging
Coronavirus: Airbnb CEO offers apology, $250 million to hosts hurt by refund policy
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Monday apologized Monday to travel hosts upset by the company's cancellation refund policy and laid out four areas of relief, including $250 million to offset refunds to help with the financial burden. "I'm sorry we didn't consult with you as partners. We want to fix this," Chesky said in a 15-minute video message that included more than 6,000 participants.…
— USA Today
The Clever Way This Hotel Chain Plans To Stay Open During The Coronavirus Closures
The coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent travel restrictions, has battered the travel industry over the past few weeks. Vacation plans are paused. Work conferences are canceled. Most business travel is restricted. Even local staycations as a substitute don’t make sense in this newfound era of social distancing, where restaurants and bars are shut down and shelter-in-place rules…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
10 of the best travel podcasts
Frustrated about being stuck indoors rather than out on two wheels? Perhaps affable cycling champion Jack Thurston can help. The author of the popular Lost Lanes cycling guidebooks packs his pannier and pedals alongside fellow bike enthusiasts – poets, inventors, adventurers, activists and even the odd politician – to hear their stories of life in the saddle. Sleeping out in…
— The Guardian
The best cookbooks for traveling the world from your kitchen
While we may not be able to fly there ourselves right now, it's possible to experience the shores of the Mediterranean or the streets of Mumbai through their food. Getting creative in the kitchen can be a productive way to channel wound-up energy and an escape from circumstances beyond our control. These 12 cookbooks are more than just collections of recipes —…
— CNN
The 18 Best TV Shows for Vicarious Travel Thrills
There’s no getting around it: Most of us won’t be traveling for a good, long while. There are certainly more pressing concerns — personal health, supply lines, stocking the pantry, caring for the children — but the anticipation and inner peace of an upcoming vacation, a family gathering, or a trip abroad have now disappeared, and who knows for how long. It’s neither safe…
— New York Times
Today in History
Apple Computer Is Founded
No, fooling. After much experimentation with prototypes, Apple Computer was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on this day in 1976 to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. The first Apples were hand-built by Steve Wozniak in his parents' home. The computer did not come with a keyboard…
— 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 cruises on hold along Croatia’s Adriatic coast in response to the worldwide health crisis, Croatia’s small ship cruise specialist Katarina Line says that communication is important to successfully survive the current industry challenges. “This too shall pass,” says Daniel Hauptfeld, managing director…
— Travel Research Online
Motivationally Speaking...
When Sales Tank (And It’s Not Your Fault): Shoppers?
by Stuart Cohen
Wednesday April 01, 2020
 “We’re just looking.”
What would you give to hear that today?
In a non-pandemic world, most salespeople would hear that and wince. Unless you’re selling booze or bath tissue, I bet you’d give anything for a few good tire-kickers right now.
Sorta makes you appreciate all those walk-ins that you typically classified as time-wasters. That’s my point…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Better – Neutral or Worse?
 There are only three things that can happen when you meet people for the first time. They can feel better having met you, they can feel worse having met you, or the fact that they met you did not sway their opinion of you one-way or the…
— Travel Research Online
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