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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
Italy Continues to Lift Lockdown Restrictions — Here's What's Happening Now
Italy has continued in lifting its lockdown restrictions, now allowing locals to go to work and see family members. In what is considered "Phase Two" of the lockdown lift, those employed in construction, manufacturing, wholesale and real estate returned to their jobs on Monday, with employers deciding on when and how people arrive and work. Architects, accountants, lawyers, and engineers…
— Travel+Leisure
How New Orleans Is Keeping the Party Going From Its Front Porches
In normal times, James McClaskey's 25-foot-long, second-floor porch in New Orleans' Bywater district is his second living room. The California-born jazz bandleader, who lives with his partner, singer Annabelle Zakaluk, sits out there most days, strumming his guitar among a small forest of potted plants, spying on neighbors, and feeling the nearby Mississippi River breeze. When nightclubs shut…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Tours and Activities
Helsinki's huge VR gig hints at the potential of virtual tourism
According to Finland’s National Police Board, this year’s Vappu Eve (the festive night before May Day, when the country traditionally enjoys public fun and frolics) was “exceptionally peaceful”. Citizens largely respected calls to stay at home. And yet … I found myself at a gig in Helsinki’s Senate Square with almost 150,000 other people. I was dressed as a giant pineapple called…
— The Guardian
Travel To Your Favorite Cities With Art Masterclasses From London Art Studies
The current COVID-19 crisis has inspired a wealth of online masterclasses on just about every subject including a plethora of art classes. Look no further than London Art Studies if the concept of short and fascinating bites of information appeals. London Art Studies has offered a quick, fun and easy way to learn about art and the art world since launching first with short classes in venues across…
— Forbes
Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line to phase in some cruises by August
Carnival Cruise Line on Monday announced a plan to phase in some North American cruises beginning August 1. Eight ships will depart from Miami, Port Canaveral, Florida and Galveston, Texas, Carnival said in a statement. "In connection with this plan, our pause in operations will be extended in all other North American and Australian markets through August 31," the statement said. All…
— Yahoo!
2020 Alaska Cruise Season Suffers as Cruise Lines Struggle With Deployment
From Alaska to Washington State and British Columbia in Canada, ports in the Pacific Northwest are facing significant financial challenges as the already-short Alaska cruise season confronts delays and cancellations from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Coupled with restrictions on cruising brought on by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
'Travel bubble' plan to help kick-start flights
Australia and New Zealand are planning a "travel bubble", or corridor, that will allow the quarantine-free flow of people between the two neighbours. Both countries have severely restricted international travel to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, if successful, the "bubble" could grow to include more countries that have a low number of cases. A wider scheme is planned with Canada and…
— BBC
Qantas plans for London-Sydney nonstop flights suspended by coronavirus
At a time when traveling more than two kilometers is a pipe dream beyond the reach of millions, it's not surprising the mood isn't right to press on with plans for a 19-hour nonstop flight service between London and Sydney. Australian airline Qantas broke two world records last November with its experimental research flight GF789, which became the world's longest passenger flight by a…
— CNN
Eurostar to Require Passengers to Cover Their Faces
As some countries in Europe begin plans to ease coronavirus restrictions, the popular Eurostar train will start requiring passengers to wear face masks when traveling, according to the company. The mandate to cover your face went into effect on Monday, and includes passengers who are in the station or on the train, according to their website. Customers who don’t have a mask may be turned…
— Travel+Leisure
Lodging
Australians, New Zealanders Want Hotel Quarantine To Be More Compassionate
While most Australians placed in mandatory hotel quarantine have been happy with the measures, some are speaking out against the system’s inhumanity and failings on compassionate grounds. Their target of course is not the hotels themselves but federal and state health departments who drew up and are policing the guidelines for the two week stays. Since Australia closed its borders on March…
— Forbes
Japan firm offers couples unused hotel rooms amid Covid-19 lockdown
When Keisuke Arai switched to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, he began bickering more with his long-term girlfriend. Suspecting he wasn't alone, the Tokyo-based tourism operator wondered how couples across Japan were coping under lockdown, as they adjusted to being together 24/7 under the same roof. On April 3, he got his answer as the hashtag…
— CNN
Other and Odd
Will It Be Safe to Travel When This Is All Over? Will We Even Know?
We completely agree with Kappner Clark of RLH Properties in Mexico: “I think most people will be wanting and needing a vacation after all of this.” While the COVID-19 pandemic is the perfect time to start planning a trip, we still need to wait for the green light to actually go to all the wonderful destinations in the world (let alone just dine at the restaurant down the street). Here’s how we’ll figure…
— Fodor's Travel
The tiny 'country' between England and Scotland
Nowhere does a brooding winter sky quite like the west coast of Scotland. As I looked across the open estuary of the River Esk, pale yellow sunlight filtered through streaks of low-lying cloud, reflected in the mirror-like ribbons of water and ripples of sand exposed by the retreating tide. All around, fields dipped gently to flatten out along the shore of the channel, which snakes its way westwards to…
— BBC
Today in History
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo ("5th of May") commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 – a victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over the French. The date is observed as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride around the world. The Battle of Puebla delayed the French invasion of…
— Travel Research Online
Mike’s 1-Minute Marketing Memos
Lifetime Value
A mistake that many sales professionals make is that they are shortsighted when it comes to evaluating the potential future of both prospects and customers.
With the blame pointing toward a tight economy, too many salespeople try to rush the sale to fatten their wallets… prematurely, I might add. I guess the familiar term here is “Instant…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
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