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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
A Warm Hello: The 10 Most Welcoming Cities In 2023
Great hospitality goes a long way when it comes to travel. Feeling welcome in a new destination makes it easier to dive into a new culture and get to know its people. If you're hoping to experience something like this, consider planning a trip to the top 10 most…
— USA Today
Nature Abounds: The Ultimate Travel Guide To Durango & Things To Do
Whether planning a visit to Durango for the first time or having been there before, this part of Colorado is filled with numerous excursions and attractions that entice travelers of all ages and interests. From outdoor sports to cultural attractions to historical sites and features, there is a…
— The Travel
Thailand Is Adding A Tourism Tax On Foreign Visitors
A trip to Thailand is about to get a little more expensive. Starting June 1, the country will impose a tourism tax on international visitors, the government approved Tuesday. Those who arrive by air will be taxed 300 baht (roughly $9, which will be added into airfare) and those by…
— The Washington Post
Tours and Activities
The First Theme Park in the Caribbean Announces Opening Date, Details on Rides
The world’s first theme park in the Caribbean, Katmandu Park Punta Cana, will open on March 15, 2023, the park shared with Travel + Leisure this week. Located in the Dominican Republic, the park features “cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind rides and attractions that immerse guests in…
— Travel+Leisure
The Best Mardi Gras Parades Beyond New Orleans
Tossing “throws” out to spectators from the bed of a Mardi Gras float is an art form I learned while riding in this year’s Krewe of Dionysus Parade in Slidell, Louisiana. Our procession of 18 floats rolled for several hours through the city’s downtown, each float decorated with colorful…
— Smithsonian Magazine
Exploring South Africa’s Black Wine Scene
Under a bright blue sky on a cloudless November day, a tasting room in Stellenbosch features all the charm you’d expect from South Africa’s premier wine region. Housed in a white Cape Dutch building with a thatched roof, it offers panoramic views of green hills, rows of grapes and…
— New York Times
Cruise
Forbes Just Named These 5 Ships Its First-Ever Star-Rated Cruises
For the first time, Forbes Travel Guide has released ocean cruise ratings. The five ships honored—Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Edge, and Celebrity Summit—are the first resorts at sea to receive the distinction. Apex, Flora, and Millennium…
— Thrillist
Virgin Hotels' First New York Location Opens Its Doors
The British company Virgin Hotels, part of the Virgin Group—created by Richard Branson— just opened its brand new hotel in New York City. It is the company’s first hotel in New York, the sixth in the United States, and the seventh worldwide. Virgin Hotels New York City has opened…
— Travel Off Path
Transportation
Capital One Expands Airport Lounge Network and Launches New Premier Collection
In November 2021, Capital One launched its highest-end credit card product to date, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Since then, the company has set out to prove Venture X’s worth in the highest of credit card spaces, a viable competitor to the likes of the…
— AFAR
What Are Airline 'Junk Fees,' And What Does President Biden Plan To Do About Them?
If you have ever booked flights only to see the price at checkout look much higher than the fare you originally picked, you're not alone. With many airlines charging fees for extras such as seat selection, checked baggage and more – depending on the fare category you choose – the…
— USA Today
Lodging
Airbnb Says People Are Still Spending Big On Travel And But They're Choosing Shorter Stays In Bigger Cities
Airbnb Inc. shares surged the most since 2021 after the company’s sales outlook beat analysts’ estimates, signaling robust travel demand following a record year in 2022. Shares rallied as much as 11.7% to $135, the highest since May. The San Francisco-based home-sharing…
— Fortune
How to Enjoy a Five-Star Hotel Alone
hy did I do this to myself?” That was my first thought when I checked into my room at a five-star hotel in Jaipur. All through 2021 and 2022, my travels included other people, whether they were getaways with girlfriends or group tours with a travel company. After years, I had planned…
— Fodor's Travel
Other and Odd
'Get Out There': This Mom Is Using A Never-Ending Road Trip To Inspire Black Family Travel
Kay Apkan got a bad feeling from the RV park her family pulled into in Galveston, Texas. Having traveled across the country full-time since 2020, the Apkans were used to being the only Black people in some places, but this time felt different. "It felt very intimidating," she…
— USA Today
2023 Pride: 12 LGBTIQ+ friendly destinations where you can celebrate
Everybody say "love!" We're headed around the world in pursuit of the very best cities welcoming the LGBTIQ+ community. These are the kinds of cities that understand that life's meant for celebrating; whether it be rowdy drag shows that thrill with sass or thumping dance…
— Lonely Planet
Today in History
Tutankhamun's Tomb Is Opened
Archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter was a man obsessed. His studies revealed the existence of a little known or remembered Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, reigning in 1333–1324 BCE. But the evidence was scant…
— Travel Research Online
The Incessant Traveler
TourRadar: How a B2C Booking Platform Became B2B
by David Cogswell
Thursday February 16, 2023
TourRad ar, a company that aggregates 2,500 international adventure operators offering 50,000 tour products on a single booking platform, has made its network of operators commissionable to the retail travel community. The company is offering 12 percent commission till June 30 as part of its efforts to invite potential travel advisor partners to its network.
— Travel Research Online
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