|
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
Winding Canals And Golden Beaches: Visit The Venice Of Portugal On Your Next European Vacation
Perhaps the most iconic city in Italy is the beautiful historic city of Venice. Lined with scenic canals oozing romance and all the European vibes imaginable, Venice highlights many travelers' bucket lists. In 2024, it's not the most welcoming with overtourism and environmental concerns, plus a tacky…
— Travel Off Path
Getting Around Ecuador Is Easy With These Traveler Tips
Ecuador’s irregular topography and geographical richness are some of the top reasons travelers choose to visit the South American nation. However, when it comes to navigating around its territory, the same qualities pose challenges for visitors. Thankfully, Ecuador’s straightforward road system…
— Lonely Planet
Tours and Activities
The 'Friends' Experience Is Coming to Las Vegas — What to Know
Cue up The Rembrandts and grab your besties to dance around the famous Friends fountain, "The Friends Experience" is setting up a West Coast flagship location in Las Vegas to help celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary. Dubbed “The One in Vegas,” this Friends Experience — much like the…
— Travel+Leisure
The Chicago River Was a Toxic Wasteland. Now It’s an Urban Oasis.
Chicagoans have long avoided the Chicago River—a waterway once so heavily polluted that its stench could make people sick. Since French explorers first charted it in 1673, the river has been manipulated, dredged, and channelized to support Chicago’s growing population. It served as a…
— National Geographic
Everything You Need to Know About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, is one of the few cities in the United Kingdom left untouched by the bombs of World War II, making it a beautiful juxtaposition of medieval buildings and modern skyscrapers. At any time of the year in Edinburgh, you can visit Holyroodhouse, one of King Charles’…
— AFAR
Cruise
What to Bring On Your Next Sailing
The way travelers pack can change depending on where they’re going – and how they’re getting there. For cruise passengers, it’s worth packing as much with the ship in mind as the destination. “Packing for a cruise can be quite different from preparing for a land-based vacation,” said Deborah…
— USA Today
American Cruise Lines Announces 3 More Newbuilds: Confirms 7 Ships on Order
American Cruise Lines confirmed today that it has seven new ships on order, all scheduled for delivery before the end of 2026, the company said in a press release. The new ships include six Project Blue series ships and a brand-new American Riverboat. “The domestic cruise industry is the healthiest it…
— Cruise Industry News
Transportation
AA About-Face Brings Back Travel Advisor Commissions
When a stick doesn’t work, reach for a carrot—and apparently that’s the smart new approach to its travel-agency partners at American Airlines. The carrier has followed up the recall of its highly unpopular NDC booking strategy by promising to pay 10% commission on NDC-enabled bookings of…
— Travel Research Online
Heavy Rain Causing Travel Troubles at South Florida Airports
CBS News Miami's Tania Francois is at Miami International Airport, where hundreds of travelers are facing flight delays as heavy rain pours throughout South Florida…
— CBS News
These Airlines Let Fliers Reserve ‘Sleeping Rows’ in Economy
Attempting to sleep on a long-haul flight in economy is one of the most uncomfortable tasks in travel, right up there with handling seasickness on a cruise or managing a third-degree sunburn at the beach. Although some coach seats are certainly more comfortable than others, on the whole, airline…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Lodging
The High-end Hotel Amenity That's Worth Shelling Out for This Year
There are better times to arrive on Providenciales, it turns out, than the middle of spring break. My two kids, husband, and I were on the island for a vacation at the 758-room Beaches Turks & Caicos. But occupancy was at 97 percent, and 2,400 guests were jamming the resort’s 15 pools and 21…
— Travel+Leisure
Secrets of the Grandest Budapest Hotel of Them All
For most of the last century, the story of the Gresham Palace closely mirrored that of the city in which it was built. Built at the turn of the 20th century in prosperous Budapest, it quickly became the Hungarian capital’s hottest address. After enduring two world wars, it suffered neglect under…
— AOL
Other and Odd
You Can Renew U.S. Passports Online Again
The State Department on Wednesday reopened its online passport renewal portal, bringing back a trial service that had not been available for more than a year. The service, available to a limited…
— The Washington Post
5 Times When Traveling Abroad Might Be Cheaper Than Staying Close to Home
Prices vary based on many factors, including taxes, regulations, exchange rates and demand. However, savvy travelers quickly learn that some destinations are cheaper than others. Many Americans saw these pricing differences play out for Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour." Tickets for shows…
— The Points Guy
U.S. Issues New Travel Advisories: Which Countries Made the List in 2024 So Far?
Summer 2024 is nearly here, and you know what that means: Vacation time! As Americans across the nation plan getaways to all parts of the globe, travelers need to keep in mind that certain areas of the world are safer than others — after all, with two wars raging in Israel and Ukraine, the world at large…
— MSN.com
Today in History
Vancouver Burns to the Ground
On June 13, 1886, the newly incorporated city of Vancouver, British Columbia was clearing brush out of the areas between Main and Cambie streets. A controlled burn fire was started to burn the brush and debris. Suddenly, a…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
Collette Shows off Over 30 Years of Safari Experience With ‘Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari by Land and Water’ Tour
Pawtucket, RI (June 11, 2024) – Collette’s new “Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari by Land and Water” small group Explorations tour showcases the company’s 30-plus years of safari experience. Travelers not only get to explore…
— Travel Research Online
60-Second Geography
Suzhou: A Timeless Gem of Classical Gardens, Silk Culture, and Waterways
by Joey DeLoach
Thursday June 13, 2024
Nestled in the Jiangsu province of eastern China, Suzhou stands as a captivating destination that weaves together the threads of ancient history, cultural richness, and natural beauty. Often referred to as the "Venice of the East," this enchanting city has long been celebrated for its classical gardens, thriving silk industry, and intricate network of canals that grace its landscape
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
The Incessant Traveler
Tauck’s Next Big Thing: Smaller Groups, and the Resilience of the Group Tour Model
by David Cogswell
Thursday June 13, 2024
Next year, 2025 , will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of Tauck, and at this major milestone the tour operator is taking a serious look at its concept of group touring. Historically, the Tauck tour might have carried as many as 40 in a group. That was more or less the capacity of the standard touring motorcoach.
In 2008, Tauck introduced a series of smaller group travel, carrying an average of 24. Now with the small group tours accounting for more business than the traditional large-group model, the company is pushing farther in that direction.
The company is now trying out a new smaller group series lowering the average tour size from 24 to 15. Tauck is calling the new series, logically enough, Smaller…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
