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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
These Countries Are Cautiously Reopening for Domestic Travel
A couple weeks ago, British expat Sarah Keenlyside went to a local restaurant in Beijing for a birthday lunch with friends. Before entering, their temperatures were taken, and the host asked to see their health passes, a personal QR code that can be pulled up on a cell phone, to confirm they were green. The waitstaff split the party up into groups of three, the most allowed to sit together…
— Conde Nast Traveler
Where's San Francisco's spirit of tolerance came from
Dressed in a Union Civil War junior officer’s frock coat with epaulets and a purple-felt top hat displaying an array of long feathers in red, green, yellow and blue, Joseph Amster leads a group of eight – men, women and teenagers – across Powell Street near San Francisco’s Union Square. With his grey hair and circle beard, Amster already draws attention for his unique look, though it’s the confident way…
— BBC
Tours and Activities
13 Best Road Trips From NYC
We’re committed to traveling with the same fervor we’ve always had as soon as it’s safe to do so. That includes continuing to support our favorite hotels and local businesses. But the fact is, it will take every travel palette a different amount of time to reacclimate to the new norms. And the most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to travel in whatever way you’re most comfortable. As…
— Travel+Leisure
Magnificent holiday meals: nine dishes to transport you instantly – from moules marinieres to jambalaya
After a gruelling six-hour journey from Penang to Krabi in an overcrowded minivan, my then-boyfriend and I stopped off at Mr Krabi, a restaurant run by a Jamiroquai-loving Italian gentleman and his Thai wife. For my first meal in Thailand, I ordered krapow gai, and it was the perfect antidote to the trauma of the trip. The bird’s eye chillies combined with succulent chicken mince and holy basil…
— The Guardian
Cruise
Coronavirus: Princess, Holland America extend cruise cancellations; lines expand cancellations, rebookings
The COVID-19 pandemic is doing increasing damage to the cruise industry. Princess Cruises announced Wednesday that it is extending its pause in global ship operations, resulting in the cancellation of select cruises through the end of the 2020 summer season. Sister line Holland America is doing the same, pausing its Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises for 2020, as is other sister…
— USA Today
Holland America, Princess, Seabourn Cancel Cruises Through Summer and Into Fall
Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn have announced sweeping cancellations to voyages throughout the summer and into fall, affecting cruises to Alaska and British Columbia, Europe, Canada & New England, the Caribbean and Holland America Line's fall Grand Voyage aboard Amsterdam. These new announcements effectively cancel the entire Alaska, Canada & New England, Europe…
— CruiseCritic.com
Transportation
NASA and Virgin Galactic are developing supersonic air travel
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic is teaming up with NASA as part of a project to develop "high-speed technologies" for supersonic air travel. The collaboration, formalized by the signing of a Space Act Agreement this week, will aim to make "technically feasible, high Mach vehicles for civil applications." Exact details and timescales remain murky, but Virgin Galactic said on Tuesday it…
— Newsweek
Delta Will Start Blocking Aisle and Window Seats to Promote Social Distancing
Delta will now block certain window and aisle seats from being booked, in addition to all middle seats, in an effort to maintain social distancing for passengers while flying. In a press release Tuesday, the airline announced the specifics of its seat blocking measures. In first-class, 50 percent of all seats will be blocked off. In the main cabin, 40 percent of the seats will be blocked and unavailable…
— Travel+Leisure
Lodging
What will staying in a hotel look like in the near future?
Goodbye, breakfast buffets and bellhop service. Hello, temperature screening and keyless check-in. While pandemic-era policies are still being developed at hotels around the globe and will no doubt vary widely, it's safe to say that guests will see big changes the next time they check in anywhere. For the foreseeable future -- until a vaccine, widely effective treatment or instantaneous testing for…
— CNN
Airbnb, Short Term Rentals: Layoffs And Widespread Cancellations As Europeans Start Planning Holidays
Its a mixed picture of dismay and hope with Airbnb announcing the layoff of 25% of its workforce and a new survey on short-term rentals reporting more than a 76% increase in cancellations for spring and summer, at the same time of an early surge of bookings for European holidays as the continent continues to ease lockdown restrictions. With the global lockdown which, according to a…
— Forbes
Other and Odd
The Host of a New Travel Show on How to Keep Wanderlust Alive
Ernest White II grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., dreaming of a job that would propel him around the world. He taught English in Colombia, Brazil and Miami, and worked as a freelance journalist in Berlin, South Africa and the Dominican Republic. Now he’s added “travel TV show host” to his résumé. “Fly Brother With Ernest White II,” which began airing last week on various PBS stations, is an…
— New York Times
What will travel look like after the coronavirus pandemic?
It was early March when Valeria Martinez, a 21-year-old college student in New York City, decided to postpone her spring break trip to Iceland. "We heard of the European travel ban and we obviously got freaked out by it," Martinez told TODAY. Even though Iceland wasn’t a hot spot for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, she and her friends worried that they wouldn’t be…
— Today
Why Now May Be The Best Time To Book Future Travel
With travel restrictions in almost every destination in the world, and many people not even allowed to leave their homes, thinking about a vacation can seem pointless. However, at the moment, we all need something to look forward to, to dream about and to plan for. Booking travel for the future can seem daunting at the moment with airline routes unknown and the threat of airlines not surviving…
— Forbes
Today in History
The Founding of New Orleans
The city known as La Nouvelle-Orléans (New Orleans) came into being on May 7, 1718. Named for Philippe II, Duke of Orléans in France, the city's port made it an ideal area for the French Mississippi Company under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Under the terms of the 1763…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
A Virtual Visit to New York City: Part 2 – Beyond the Arts
A few weeks ago, we here at New York City Vacation Packages (NYCVP) discovered that although New York City is closed for tourism as we know it – it certainly is not closed for 2020’s most popular way to experience sought after destinations – virtually. In fact, after searching through emails and various…
— Travel Research Online
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Can You Rebuild Your Travel Business in Half the Expected Time?
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11 am EDT/8 am PDT
Travel will likely begin again in a few months, but most likely years before the industry fully recovers to pre-virus levels.
Experience is a great teacher and after every major crisis, those who focus on the fundamentals typically recover much faster than those who don’t.
Why? Because over the years, we have made the business much more complicated than it really is.
Register Now ➠
Hungary - Hidden Traditions, Culinary and Nature Gems
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
As you prepare for future travel, Hungary is committed to providing you exceptional unforgettable experiences, wide open spaces, delicious cuisine.
Hidden in the centre of Europe is a country where you can always find something historic or modern that touches your soul, and the atmosphere is vibrant and relaxing at the same time. Where the ”aszú” grape berries are harvested during autumn, from which beautifully balanced “gold wine” is produced. Where on hilltops, deep in the valleys and on endless plains, you find the hustle of small, centuries-old villages, charming towns, luxurious castles.
Register Now ➠
Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations Overview
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT
Learn what’s new and exciting at Universal Orlando Resort, along with a quick review of tickets, packages, and how to sell Universal to your clients.
Register Now ➠
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There is a distinct line between “customer service” and being a doormat. Remember: you can’t be all things to all people. Nor should you try to…