|
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
7 Places to Stay in Puerto Vallarta as an American
In the state of Jalisco lies a stunning beachside destination on Mexico’s coast dubbed Puerto Vallarta. As picturesque as it is renowned, there are accommodation options here suited to every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts, budget…
— Travel Noire
Move Over Marfa: This Is the New Art Hot Spot in Texas
Art lovers will have a new favorite destination in Texas this year when the final pieces of El Paso’s Downtown Arts District slot into place, bringing a cultural renaissance to a city worth a visit in its own right. El Paso is hoping to tap into the buzzy type of art tourism that Marfa…
— Afar
9 Things to Know Before Visiting Cancún
If my frequent travels to Cancún have taught me anything, it's that paradise will throw you a curveball from time to time. Among the setbacks, I've experienced a costly car break-in, brazen price gouging and a debilitating bout of sickness with dengue fever, an ordeal that…
— Lonely Planet
Tours and Activities
Hippo Mauls Woman to Death on African Safari, Lawsuit Says
The husband of a New Jersey woman who was mauled to death by a charging hippopotamus during an African safari is suing a U.S.-based tour company for not keeping the couple safe. Craig Manders became a widower in June after his 70-year-old wife, Lisa, was killed in front of…
— USA Today
The Seven Wonders of the World for 2025
“In our seven wonders of the world, shall we include feminine beauty?” asked the documentarian Lowell Thomas in 1956 in the trailer to the Seven Wonders Of The World movie—perhaps the most bizarre contribution among the myriad attempts to update the original list from…
— Condé Nast Traveler
Top 4 Parks in Appalachia to See Fireflies This Summer
Can’t make it to a coastline to see bioluminescence from those glowing algae blooms? Don’t worry—nature has other options for you. As a Midwesterner, fireflies (or lightning bugs, I called them) were a big part of my childhood. During the warm months, I remember watching…
— Travel Awaits
Cruise
NCLH Brands Now Accept PayPal for Cruise Payments
Travelers can now use PayPal for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, for US-based reservations. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will use PayPal Braintree for credit-card processing for reservations and all shipboard payments…
— Seatrade Cruise News
National Geographic Delfina to Make Lindblad Debut
The new National Geographic Delfina is embarking on its maiden voyage for National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions this weekend. Acquired from Celebrity Cruises in 2024, the 16-guest catamaran became the third vessel in the company’s Galapagos Islands fleet. Along…
— Cruise Industry News
Transportation
This Airline Just Launched a New York to Montreal Route—and It Serves Free Wine and Beer
Porter Airlines recently announced a new flight between New York City’s Newark International Airport (EWR) and Montréal Trudeau Airport (YUL). The new route takes off on June 1, 2025, and will operate daily, before expanding to twice daily during peak season. The flight will be…
— Travel+Leisure
Spirit Airlines Rejects Frontier Merger Offer
A merger of America's two largest budget airlines appears increasingly unlikely. Spirit Airlines on Thursday rejected Frontier Airlines' latest proposal for a merger, which would have helped bring the Florida-based carrier out of bankruptcy to join forces with its top competitor…
— The Points Guy
Lodging
Visit America’s Historic Love Motels Before It’s Too Late
At first glance, Cove Haven Resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains — 100 miles north west of New York City — might pass for a run-of-the-mill roadside motel. Pulling into its car park, low-slung buildings stretch endlessly toward the horizon, their pebbledash exteriors capped…
— National Geographic
1 Hotel Seattle Now Taking Reservations
The swanky 1 Hotel Seattle is set to open in just a few months, and the luxury property is now open for reservations. The South Lake Union-area hotel is set to open April 22 and is now available for reservations online, the hotel told The Points Guy. Room rates start at $400 per…
— The Points Guy
Meet the Newest Luxury Hotel Right in the Heart of the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania
The Poconos has become a staple for the adventurous as well as nature enthusiasts. From wineries to ski slopes to stock cars, the area has it all. And now, after your day of exploration, there is a new place of relaxation. From the moment you enter the doors at The Swiftwater Hotel…
— CBS News
Other and Odd
10 Places Where Families Should Travel in 2025
Planning the perfect family vacation is no small feat. From ensuring kid-friendly activities to securing spacious and comfortable accommodations, it's about striking the right balance between entertainment, comfort, and price. A recent Family Travel Association (FTA)…
— National Geographic
‘Calmcations’ Are on the Rise – Here’s Why You Should Book One in 2025
Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. In a world that never stops buzzing, the antidote to burnout is becoming clear: slow down — something we've championed at Country Living for a long time. That’s why a ‘calmcation’ – a getaway focused entirely on tranquillity – is the…
— Country Living
Importing Mosquitos Is SAVING Marlon Brando's Private Island
The first time I ever heard about Marlon Brando’s private island was on an episode of The Simpsons. The episode Bart on the Road, which first aired in 1996, involves Bart Simpson obtaining a fake ID, renting a car, and going on a Spring Break road trip with his fourth-grade…
— Fodor's Travel
Today in History
Patent Applications for the Telephone
William Orton, the president of Western Union, was worried. Telegraph traffic was expanding faster than the telegraph lines could handle them. Only a single message could be carried at a time, a severe limitation even…
— Travel Research Online
Press Releases of Interest
CCTO Announces 2025 Board Elections and New Officers
Sacramento – February 12, 2025 – The California Coalition of Travel Organizations (CCTO) is pleased to announce the election of its 2025 Board of Directors, reaffirming its commitment to advocating for and…
— Travel Research Online
The Incessant Traveler
SITA World Tours Combines the New with the Very Old
by David Cogswell
Friday February 14, 2025
Now in its 92nd year of operations, SITA World Tours is an old-timer. But the travel industry is far too dynamic and ever-changing to allow any company to get set in its ways. No tour operator survives nine decades without being highly alert and adaptable. SITA must be vibrant and agile to keep on top of constantly changing times. It combines its use of new technologies with some practices that haven’t essentially changed since the company started in 1933.
Primitive? Old fashioned? Perhaps. Probably the most important of SITA’s surviving early practices is intensive human interaction between the company and its travel agent partners.
This is a $50 million a year operation, handling travel in 90 countries on six continents, in business for more than 90 years.…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
The Rosen Report
Expedition Cruising and Greenland Top the Program at NY Travel and Adventure Show
by Cheryl Rosen
Friday February 14, 2025
Greenland is th e hot new expedition destination—and if you are not selling it and other expedition destinations, you are missing an opportunity to grow both your customer base and your commissions.
That’s the takeaway from the Expedition Travel Panel at the NY Travel & Adventure Show in Manhattan, where Connoisseur Travel Ltd.’s Brandi McBride brought together four of her favorite expedition suppliers on a panel for travel advisor attendees.
For the many travelers looking for something different and exciting and Instagrammable in 2025, Pres. Trump’s offer to buy Greenland has put it on the map. And with United Airlines offering new direct four-hour flights from the New York area to a new airport in Nuuk, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) is stepping up with new itineraries for US…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Top Headlines
AmaWaterways Appoints Catherine Powell as President
by Cheryl Rosen
Friday February 14, 2025
 Catherine Powell, new President of AmaWaterways.
This week’s announcement of Catherine Powell as Ama’s new president was all about the G word. In the press release announcing the appointment, AmaWaterways said it is gearing up to “position itself for a new phase of growth” by welcoming Catherine Powell as its new president, freeing up co-owner and co-founder Kristin Karst to move to a new role as Chief Brand…
— Travel Research Online
Read the rest of this article »
|
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Discover the Camino de Santiago with Petrabax
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT
Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time pilgrim, this session will provide insider tips, route insights, and essential travel planning advice to help you craft the perfect Camino de Santiago experience.
What You'll Learn:
Register Now →
How to Market and Sell Luxury Villas and earn Top Commissions
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 1 pm EST/10 am PST
DATE & TIME CHANGE
Join Willie Fernandez, CMO for an in depth look at the fastest growing and most in demand segment of travel. Get answers to how to successfully sell villas, earn high commissions, Bespoke concierge services, and learn about the many destinations offered by Rental Escapes. Plus learn about some of the marketing secrets to driving villa sales.
Register Now →
|
|
|
Use TRO every day to find travel guides, e-postcards, and other resources you can personalize and send to your clients.
|
TRO Travel Specials
|
|
iver cruise has been on my radar for a while, but 2025 might actually be the year I stop talking about it and actually do it. Europe always entices me, with its beautiful landscapes and rich history, but why do I tend to forget about the river cruise experience that’s just a short, single-connection flight away…