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INDUSTRY NEWS & PEOPLE  July 2004
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A-1 Limo Adopts Online Booking
Travelers using A-1 Limousine can now make instant online reservations and receive immediate e-mail confirmations through the company's website home page, www.a1limo.com. Customers simply fill out an easy-to-use form to create a profile, which is then password-accessible for making and changing reservations.
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Abacus Takes E-tickets Into 9 Pacific Rim Markets
Abacus International has received International Air Transport Association (IATA) approval to activate 32 electronic ticketing services to 15 carriers across nine regional markets. The activation, one of the largest of its kind, will impact approximately 180,000 paper tickets generated annually.
The activations will take place in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. It will include numerous airlines, including KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest, Virgin Atlantic, American, United and British Airways.
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Aer Lingus Continues EU Expansion
Aer Lingus plans to add service from Dublin to Liverpool, Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Budapest in late October. The additions are part of a three-year expansion that has more than doubled the carrier’s network.
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AgentWare Expands Supplier List
AgentWare has added Independence Air, Midwest Express and Intair to its list of more than 55 suppliers. The three new vendors join an array of other Travel Console and WebPoint features, including integration of the Galileo and Sabre GDSs. Amadeus integration is currently in development.
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Air Canada, LOT Codeshare Links Toronto To Poland
Air Canada has expanded its network between Canada and Poland via codeshare services with LOT Polish Airlines, a Star Alliance partner. Effective immediately, Air Canada now offers its customers a choice of flights operated by LOT between Toronto and Warsaw, as well as to seven additional Polish destinations: Gdansk, Krakow, Katowice, Poznan, Wroclaw, Rzeszow and Szczecin.
In addition, Air Canada now serves Poland conveniently from across Canada
on a codeshare basis via its European gateway cities, London, Frankfurt and
Munich. In turn, LOT now offers codeshare flights operated by Air Canada
between London, Frankfurt and Munich to Canada, with connecting Air Canada-
operated flights to cities across Canada.
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Air France Expands Service For Oil, Infrastructure Companies
Air France has added Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Doha (Qatar) and Kuwait to its Dedicate service, which is tailored for corporate customers working the energy and infrastructure sectors. Using Paris-Charles de Gaulle as its hub, the non-stop service was launched in January with flights to Malabo(Equatorial Guinea) and Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo). Approximately 10 new destinations are anticipated in 2005.
Dedicate completes the Air France network of "oil and gas" destinations (e.g., Aberdeen, Caracas, Dubai, Houston, Luanda, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Riyadh, Tehran, etc.) that has its roots in the airline’s Petroleum Club, begun almost 10 years to offer specialized services for frequent travelers in the oil and gas industry. From Paris, the Dedicate-branded routes are scheduled to connect easily to the global Air France and SkyTeam alliance networks. For instance, Air France spokesmen say that about a third of the service’s passenger traffic for the Paris-Tashkent service is expected to be generated by connecting passengers using the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub; while the other two thirds are expected to be divided equally between Uzbekistan and French passengers.
Dedicate flights are now being operated on A319ER (extended range) aircraft, whose 84-seat configuration is divided between 28 seats in business class and 54 in economy. The A319ER is a new-generation version of the A319, usually operated on the airline´s short- and medium-haul routes but now technically and commercially configured for Dedicate service. Two of the aircraft were delivered in June; three more are scheduled to join the Dedicate fleet by 2005.
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AirPlus Adds Corporate Card To Payment Services
AirPlus International has unveiled the latest product in its line of corporate travel payment solutions – the AirPlus Corporate Card, a Mastercard issued under a partnership with GE Corporate Payment Solutions. AirPlus already provides, through its UATP-based AirPlus Company Account, a highly sophisticated airfare purchasing product. The new corporate card makes it possible for companies to manage all corporate travel purchasing through a single provider worldwide.
The AirPlus Company Account provides detailed and accurate data including company, traveler and trip-specific information. All data generated through the use of an AirPlus payment product, including the new AirPlus Corporate Card, is available to the company anytime online via the web-based AirPlus Information Manager. By using the AirPlus Information Manager, corporate travel managers are able to analyze and generate comprehensive reports on their travel programs at any time.
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AirTran Orders More 737-700s
Within weeks of accepting delivery of its first new Boeing 737-700 aircraft, AirTran Airways has converted purchase options to firm orders for two more. Delivery is scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2006. The airline took out purchase options on 100 of the new aircraft when they first became available.
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Alaska Airlines Adding 6 Seats Per Plane, Plus New Safety Gear
Alaska Airlines says it will install six additional seats to increase capacity on its 737-400s and will upgrade its airplane cabins with all-leather seats on its Boeing 737-400, -700 and -900 aircraft.
The airline also says it will be the first U.S. commercial airline to acquire a new safety system designed by Honeywell International to reduce runway incursions and other airport ground safety risks. All 108 of Alaska's Boeing 737 and MD80 aircraft will be equipped with the Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS). The RAAS technology employs a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an internal runway database to monitor the airplane's location on or near the runway. Aural (voice) advisories provide call-outs that address critical operational events, such as the aircraft approaching a runway in-air or on-ground. Other aural advisories include aircraft aligned on a runway for takeoff or taxi and an inadvertent takeoff attempt from a taxiway. Installation begins this fall with completion expected next year.
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Amenity-charged Cadillac DeVilles Filling Most Of BostonCoach Fleet
Amenity-charged Cadillac DeVilles Filling Most Of BostonCoach Fleet
BostonCoach says it will convert the majority of its livery fleet to Cadillac DeVilles equipped with DVD navigation systems, power ports for laptop connectivity and OnStar communications services for passengers. BostonCoach is the first global ground transportation provider to feature Cadillacs equipped with navigation systems as its standard fleet vehicle.
OnStar’s in-vehicle communications services, branded Directions and Connections, include route support and directional assistance for drivers, as well as core safety and security features such as airbag deployment notification, emergency roadside assistance, and remote vehicle diagnostics features. They will be augmented with services to enhance passenger’s productivity, such as assistance with hotel and restaurant reservations and information on points of interest.
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America West Adds Online Chat Box to Web Site
America West Airlines' online customers now have quick and easy access to a customer service representative via a real-time chat box. Customers researching travel on the American West web site can click on a help box to ask a question and receive an immediate response from one of the airline's trained customer service representatives.
Customers will still have access to existing assistance options such as calling 1-800-2- FLY-AWA, e-mailing reservation agents or utilizing the help option, which provides step by step instructions on how to book travel online.
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American Express, Deutsche Bank Co-brand Travel Expense Program
Deutsche Bank plans to distribute a jointly branded American Express Corporate Card and Business Travel Account program to its corporate customers in Germany and their selected subsidiaries worldwide. The two companies’ cooperative agreement follows an agreement by the bank earlier this year to issue American Express corporate cards to its own employees.
The expense management solution will be available to Deutsche Bank corporate customers this month.
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American’s Low-fare Structure Applied To DFW-to-LA Flights
American Airlines has unveiled a low-fare structure, with prices between $99 and $199, for its 15 daily nonstop flights between Dallas/Fort Worth and the five airports (Los Angeles, Orange County, Ontario, Long Beach and Burbank)
serving the Greater Los Angeles area.
The prices apply to 14-day advance purchase for one-way, walk-up coach fares. None require a Saturday night stay. The airline has warned that the $99 fares
have extremely limited availability on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day.
Fares are nonrefundable/nontransferable, may not be available on all flights and are subject to change without notice. They do not include a $3.10 federal excise tax for each flight segment (one takeoff and one landing), the September 11th Security Fee, and up to $4.50 one-way in local airport charges.
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Amtrak Lists NYC Security Restrictions For GOP Convention
Amtrak plans several safety- and security measures on trains serving New York City during the Republican National Convention, from Aug. 28 through Sept. 2, including the requirement that passengers on nearly all trains during that period will need advance reservations. The only trains excepted from the reservation requirement will be the three weekend roundtrip Keystone service trains and the nine Keystone and Clocker roundtrips operating on weekdays.
Amtrak multi-ride tickets (e.g. monthly passes) will continue to be honored on those trains that currently accept them.
Passengers on trains going to and from New York’s Pennsylvania Station should expect some delays.
There will be no new restrictions on carry-on luggage, but all baggage, both carry-on and checked, requires identification tags. Trains will undergo security sweeps prior to their initial departures and passengers should expect to see en-route police inspections, as well. Other measures, such as the use of K-9 security teams may also be visible on trains and at Penn Station and other stations in the Northeast. Photo ID is required to purchase tickets from a ticket agent and all passengers are being advised to carry photo ID when traveling.
Since Penn Station is located at the site of the convention, Madison Square Garden, street access to the station will be limited to only two entrances during the convention. These entrances are at Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street and 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue, an entrance used primarily by Long Island Rail Road passengers. Access at the 32nd Street entrance will require passengers to walk on 32nd Street to or from Sixth Avenue, since portions of Seventh Avenue will be closed to pedestrian traffic. All Eighth Avenue entrances will be closed. Customers using taxicabs to access Penn Station will be dropped off on 34th Street just west of 7th Avenue, a location that will serve as the taxi pick-up point, as well. Persons requiring elevator access should use the 34th Street entrance, since 32nd Street is not equipped with an elevator.
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Apptricity Links Spend, Logistics Suites To Push SOX Compliance
Apptricity Corporation has extended its spend and logistics suites to facilitate the required internal control, authorization tracking and reporting of financial transactions by public companies under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Apptricity's enterprise resource planning solutions integrate requisitions, purchase orders, invoice reconciliation (including dispute resolution) and asset allocation with authorization tracking and documentation, so adherence to defined policies and procedures may be certified enterprise-wide. Pre-configured business rules, policy or practice exceptions are segregated and escalated for real-time handling or post-audit review before being archived.
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ARC Prepares To Abandon ‘Green Screens’ In Coming Year
Airline Reporting Corporation plans to release version 2.0 of its IAR electronic reporting system for accredited travel agencies and CTD locations in January 2005. The new platform will replace its current "green screen" technology a robust, web-based and more user-friendly system. IAR 2.0 will:
* Halve the number of screens needed to complete a sales report;
* Reduce exchange transactions, currently the most complex of transactions, from 13 to four screens;
* Increase the amount of data available and viewable on one screen;
* Replace all two-character commands with point-and-click commands and functions;
* Increase flexibility for multiple location entities to set up their own customized groupings for access to reporting and viewing functions;
* Facilitate downloading and printing of sales data to popular spreadsheet and word processing applications.
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Ariba Strengthens Procurement, Spend Management & Sourcing
Ariba has unveiled three new spend management solutions and several upgrades to its suite of procurement and strategic sourcing solutions. The trio of new products includes Category Procurement, Contract Workbench and Settlement.
Ariba Category Procurement enables companies to capture all of their spend across a broad range of complex categories such as time based, project based, third party, and catalog. It enables multiple purchasing processes, pricing mechanisms, and payment methods.
The Contract Workbench solution reduces cycle times for contract creation, enhances collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, centralizes contract visibility and drives standard contract language and best practices.
Ariba Settlement helps customers manage and pay approved invoices. The new application assists with payment terms and discount handling, payment schedule, status visibility and electronic disbursement on the Ariba Supplier Network. It also provides payment remittance advice routing and visibility, payment scheduling, forecast and discount analysis and vendor self service and payment profile synchronization.
Upgrades have broadened the reach of Ariba sourcing solutions by integrating public solicitation capabilities on the provider’s supplier network and focusing on the contract authoring process to ensure customers can easily close the compliance loop once suppliers are selected.
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Asia’s Pelican System Brings Hotel Distribution Product To U.S.
Pelican System has opened an office in Las Vegas, preparatory to introducing its online reservation and distribution system to the American market. Pelican is an Internet-based reservation system designed to manage all types of bookings, whether made directly by guests or through travel agents and corporate clients.
For Internet users, it will provide instant confirmation of reservations made through the hotel web site, and will notify the hotel's reservation department though automatically generated e-mail messages. Its offering include "Online Contracting," which eliminates the need for paper-based, fixed-term contracts; hotels set and adjust rates and allotments instantly according to seasonal period, special events or unexpected demand.
The system provides a secure link to agents and clients, allowing hotels to distribute confidential trade rates to pre-authorized recipients, and to share allotments among many agents and clients on a "first-come-first-served" basis. Each agent or client accesses the system directly from the hotel's own web site with a unique login/password combination, allowing the hotel to assign each user to a specific group, and to determine the information and privileges each group will receive.
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Audit Verifies Thor Accuracy
Topaz International has verified Thor’s 24/7 emergency service for 99 percent accuracy. The Topaz audit measured the frequency of customer service calls resulting in errors divided by the total number of calls handled. Thor consultants handle the traveler’s emergency after business hours travel needs with the airlines, car rental companies, hotels, limo and train reservations. They make new reservations and alter existing ones, issue tickets and add service fees to tickets.
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Budget Finishes Amadeus Upgrade
Budget Rent A Car System has completed an upgrade to provide real-time access of the Amadeus Global Distribution System and now is able to provide a seamless transparent interface to all four major GDSs. In addition to gaining access to real-time inventory, the Amadeus upgrade allows agents to display and compare corporate, association and promotional rates; view customer requests, and confirm one-way rates and drop-off charges if applicable. It also provides up-to-the minute tax, surcharge and regulation information as well as any rate changes and/or new confirmation numbers; and verifies any modifications made to a booking.
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China Southern Strengthens Its Europe-bound Network
China Southern Airlines’ international service network has inaugurated direct nonstop service between Guangzhou and Paris, and code-share service with KLM between Shanghai and Amsterdam, via Beijing. It also has announced a code share agreement with Korean Air for service between Incheon and Shenyang, effective Aug. 8.
The launch of China Southern’s new international services to Europe via Beijing signals plans for expanding outbound capacity from the city, which is the site for the 2008 summer Olympic Games as well as the country’s center for politics, economy and culture. The airline plans to expand its Beijing-outbound capacity and take a more active role in its international hub operations there, including a complete remodel of its terminal there.
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CSA Adds Emergency Messaging, Luggage Tracking To Services
Six new services have been added to the 24-hour emergency assistance services that are part of the CSA WebDirect and CSA Group Guarantee trip insurance plans: tracking lost luggage, sending and receiving emergency messages, the latest worldwide medical alerts, pre-trip assistance, translation-service referrals, U.S. Embassy and consular referrals. All are delivered via free phone services for travelers on trips insured by CSA Travel Protection.
Pre-travel advice, medical referrals, assistance with emergency cash transfers, lost tickets and passports, and emergency prescription refills have been standard parts of the plans.
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Enterprise Joins Discount Plan
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering a 25 percent discount to holders of American Express cards in a plan designed to especially benefit small- to medium-sized
businesses. Enterprise is one of 10 companies to partner in the Business Savings program.
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Hyatt Installing Wi-Fi In U.S.
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts has begun installing T-Mobile HotSpot premium Wi-Fi service at its facilities across the United States, beginning with the Hyatt Charlotte (N.C.). The Hyatt Regency O’Hare (Chicago) plus others in Columbus (OH), Chesapeake Bay (MD) and the Grand Hyatt New York are set to receive the service shortly. By the end of the year, T-Mobile HotSpots are expected to be available in the lobby and other public areas, as well as select guest rooms, at most Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in the United States.
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bmi Plans Nonstop Service To Las Vegas
bmi will launch direct flights from Manchester, UK, to Las Vegas this winter as well as make significant enhancements to its new Caribbean services. Flights to Las Vegas launch Oct. 31; those to the Caribbean at the end of November.
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bmi regional To Offer Leeds-to-London Flights
bmi regional will launch direct flights between Leeds Bradford and London City airport on Nov. 1, offering both business and economy class service onboard 46-seat ATR aircraft. The flights have a journey time of just over one hour. The new services, four times daily Monday through Friday, will compliment the existing bmi schedule between Leeds and London Heathrow.
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BTC Survey: Employers Standing Pat On Fuel Reimbursement
Most employers have not adjusted their personal car reimbursement rates to accommodate high gasoline prices, according to the results of a survey conducted last week by the Business Travel Coalition. One of the reasons, point out the BTC report, is that going beyond the IRS’s current $.375 per mile guidelines "would trigger taxable income issues for employees and their organizations."
The average cost of driving a new passenger care in 2004 is $.562 per mile, according to the AAA’s annual study. But only a part of that is attributable to fuel costs. Of the average $8,431 spent annually to drive a car, the AAA estimates that vehicle owners pay about $975 per year for fuel.
The survey was conducted among 134 organizations, including corporations, universities and government entities.
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BTC Unveils 5-level Membership Plan, Including Peer-to-peer Think Tanks
The Business Travel Coalition’s new membership program goes into effect today, with access to its daily Travelogue news update, plus several new services, officially available at five different levels of membership, ranging from free to $5,000 annually.
In addition to Travelogue, the membership platform includes Toolkit, Network and Think Tanks, which are borderless and global peer-to-peer networks open to the entire business travel industry. Each Think Tank will be headed up by a volunteer director, and comprised of non-competitive peer companies (i.e. similar travel programs but not in the same industries). Full descriptions of each of the five levels is available on the BTC web site. In addition, the first 500 members who join at the platinum level will be designated as "Founding Members" and receive free a one-time BTC Executive Placement Search.
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China Southern Launching Commuter Service
China Southern Airlines is launching a commuter air service from its base at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. The service will be aboard new 50-seat ERJ145 aircraft and go to such destinations as Beihai, Changzhi, Luoyang, Nantong, Yichang and Zhanjiang.
After the New Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is in operation, China Southern will create special commuter check-in counters to handle checked luggage and facilitate quick boarding. China Southern will also work with local airports to allow passengers to pick-up their luggage immediately upon disembarking.
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Choice Hotels Redesigns Web Site For Easier Searches
Choice Hotels International has redesigned its web site to give it a new look and enhanced navigation and search functionality to help customers find and book a hotel more quickly and easily. New navigation bars, located at the top and bottom of each page, enable customers to access the main features of the site. Hotel searches, customer service, and special sections for travel professionals and meetings/groups planners, as well as information on rewards programs, special offers, franchise opportunities and investment opportunities, can now be accessed from any page of the site.
The "Quick Search" function allows visitors to search for hotels by city; "Advanced Search" options focus on hotels near airports, points of interest, military installations, etc. Hotels can be sorted by distance, brand, rate or points of interest.
Users also can create an online profile that automatically completes their registration forms on return visits; members of the chain’s guest rewards program are also able to access account balances and view their last five stays.
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Continental Offers Free Wireless In Airport Clubs
Continental Airlines is offering free wireless Internet access in all of its Presidents Clubs in the United States, except at Chicago, where it shares a club with Northwest Airlines. The company expects to expand the service to its international clubs by the end of 2004. Informational handouts will be available to help members log in to the service.
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Continental Reduces Fares To Latin America
Continental Airlines has reduced one-way First Class fares between many U.S. cities and Latin America. Two new fare levels are available with either a 7-day or no advance purchase, and are one-way, so no Saturday night stay is required.
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CWT’s Symphonie Upgrade Cuts Reservation Clicks By 40 Percent
Carslon Wagonlit Travel has deployed an upgraded version of its Symphonie service platform, exhibiting a design that is the product of both client feedback and the expertise of business psychologists and consumer behavior consultants.
One of the most significant enhancements is the new graphical user interface for Horizon, the proprietary CWT self-booking tool. Through a combination of intuitive page layouts, graphics and colors to help improve screen flow, CWT reports that the number of pages and clicks necessary to complete a reservation have been reduced by 40 percent. The new home page offers simultaneous single-page search for air, hotel and car reservations. Other enhancements include:
* More-intuitive links and buttons for better information flow and decision-making.
* Flight and hotel search criteria that can be modified directly from the search results page.
* The ability to hold bookings if the user is not ready to ticket.
* A new flight search option that allows travelers to look for flights based upon the arrival time at the destination.
* Online PIN retrieval to reduce help desk calls.
* Prominent display of past and pending trips and unused tickets, for easy reference related to expense reporting and unused ticket utilization.
In addition to the new user interface, CWT has refined its worldwide air, car and hotel property databases, enhanced the low-cost and non-ARC booking capabilities, continued to build the group/meeting booking process, and has added advanced direct connect functionality. Improvements to the supporting infrastructure have also been made behind the scenes to increase travel counselor productivity and to support future functionality improvements and globalization of the platform.
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Deadline Nears For Annual SCTM Innovation Competition
Deadline for the Society For Collegiate Travel Management’s annual Award for Travel Innovation is July 23. The competition is open to academic members of the Society, other than those who serve on its advisory board. Competition entry forms and rules are available at www.sctm-iu.org.
The competition offers a cash award for the most innovative travel services and solutions implemented in an academic environment over the past year. Entries are judged on savings in time and money, creativity, improved traveler satisfaction and the overall effect on the institution’s travel program. The winning idea will be presented as one of the Society’s educational sessions during its annual conference, which will be held Sept. 26-28 in Vail, Colo.
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Delta Expands International Service
Delta Air Lines is expanding its international service from New York-JFK this winter with flights to a second daily flight to Mumbai, India, via Frankfurt from Oct. 31 to Feb. 27; to San José, Costa Rica, beginning Dec. 1; and to Sao Paulo, Brazil, beginning Dec. 1.
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Dolce Opens Second Meeting Center In Germany
Dolce International has opened its second German venue, the Parkhotel Berlin Muggelsee, located half an hour from Berlin City Center. The hotel and conference center is about 21 miles from Tegel International Airport and 10 minutes from Schonefeld Airport on the shores of Muggelsee Lake. The venue offers 20 air-conditioned meeting rooms accommodating up to 800 people. The four star hotel has 172 guestrooms and 4 suites, all with views of the lake from private terraces.
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Dollar Thrifty Nears Two-thirds Of Acquisition Targets
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group has agreed to acquire two more Thrifty Rental Car franchises, one serving the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA, and the second in nearby Newport Beach. Last week the company signed an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of the Thrifty franchise operation serving Chicago’s O'Hare and Midway airports.
The acquisitions bring DTAG’s acquisitions to 32, close to two-thirds of those targeted when the company set out in December 2002 to operate key U.S. and Canadian locations corporately. The company has also opened eight new Dollar or Thrifty locations adding approximately 21,000 vehicles, on an annualized basis, to the company's rental fleet.
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EASA Certifies New 6-passenger Turboprop
The EA-500, a new six-passenger single-engine turboprop from Lancaster, PA-based Extra Aircraft, has received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and is awaiting final approval from the U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration. The EA-500’s combination of a Rolls-Royce 250 turboprop engine and all-carbon-fiber composite airframe is expected to deliver more cost-efficient operation than anything in its class. Once certification is complete, Extra will be ready to begin production in Germany, with plans for the first aircraft to be finished in December.
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Emirates Investing $1.13B In Fleet, Passenger Amenities
On the second day of Farnborough International Air Show 2004, Emirates signed a host of agreements worth more than US$1.13 billion, ranging from systems and suites to simulators, on the heels of the first day’s order for 13 Boeing aircraft worth US$2.96 billion.
Plans include new hotel-like first-class suites on all 31 of Emirates’ A380s. Each first class cabin will house 14 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration based largely on those currently installed in its innovative A340-500 aircraft. Features include private wardrobes, electrically controlled doors, seats upholstered in leather with built-in massage options, touch screen technology, large personal interactive LCD screens, vanity tables and mini-bars.
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Four Points Enters Thailand As Starwood’s Asia Expansion Continues
Four Points by Sheraton, a brand in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts portfolio, will make its first entry into Thailand next July when its name goes up on a new hotel under construction in Patong, the downtown hub of Phuket. The opening will demonstrate a new direction for the brand in terms of its expansion in Asia and into the resorts and leisure market, says Miguel Ko, president, Asia Pacific of Starwood.
The company has expanded its portfolio in Thailand significantly over the last year with the addition of Sheraton Krabi Resort and The Westin Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok. It also recently signed an agreement for a new Sheraton in Thailand's "royal paradise" beach resort of Hua Hin. That will open in September 2005. Four Points by Sheraton made its debut in Asia-Pacific in March 2000 with the opening of its hotel at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Other Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Asia-Pacific are located in Geelong and Port Macquarie in Australia, and in Chung Ho, Taiwan. The first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in China will open in Shenzhen in September 2004.
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Galileo Part Of Cendant TDS’s Support Base For Thai Tourism
Cendant Travel Distribution Services has agreed to create and execute destination-marketing campaigns to promote Thailand internationally under terms of a new agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Airways International (THAI). The Galileo GDS will be among several Cendant TDS brands supporting the campaigns.
Cendant TDS already drives significant numbers of inbound visitors to Thailand, transacting 1 in 5 air passengers to the country worldwide through Galileo in 2003, and arranging 12,500 tailor-made programs through Travel2/Travel4. Cendant TDS's four consumer websites provide access to an excellent selection of Thai accommodation and tour content. For example, there are 314 Thai hotels in HotelClub.com and 58 in RatesToGo.com.
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Galileo’s NetFares In Canada
Galileo International is taking its NetFares browser-based shopping and booking engine to Canada. The system automatically integrates with the Apollo desktop and provides Galileo agents with the tools for one-stop shopping to access, search, book, and mark up consolidator fares.
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GetThere Survey Documents Continued Corporate Cost-cutting
Businesses are continuing to substantially reduce costs by booking online and using low-cost airlines, according the GetThere’s fourth annual corporate travel benchmark survey, just released. The survey was also showed some evidence that medium-sized companies tend to book a greater percentage of their trips online than their mega corporation counterparts.
Overall, companies reported that online bookings represent 60 percent of their total reservations on average, compared with 53 percent in 2003. Trips booked online averaged 15 percent lower airfares and nearly 50 percent lower travel agency fees than those trips booked over the phone. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they are now using a specialized e-fulfillment center for online bookings, versus just 48 percent a year ago, in order to lower transaction fees.
While large corporations were initially quicker to deploy online booking technology, this year's survey showed medium-sized companies are averaging 65 percent adoption compared with 56 percent for larger companies. The high level of success among medium-sized businesses is most likely a result of their ability to more easily implement proven adoption/cost savings strategies such as senior executive endorsement.
Forty-one percent of respondents reported online travel activity for global offices. Online adoption for offices in Europe and Asia averaged 55 percent, rapidly approaching the same level as North American offices.
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GlobalStar Signs New Partners To Represent Austria And Korea
GlobalStar Travel Management has added two more travel management companies to its worldwide network: Travel Marketing GmbH of Austria and Aju Tours, headquartered in Seoul. Both companies have been with other international organizations and bring a wealth of expertise and client contacts into their new partnership.
GlobalStar’s business development groups in EMEA and Asia-Pacific are currently in negotiations with another 10 potential partners. The joint-venture partnership is shaping its expansion efforts to synchronize with customers’ consolidation plans, according to Martin P. Metzler, worldwide president and managing director.
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Hawthorne Suites Enters E.Africa
US Franchise Systems Inc. (USFS) has announced the signing of a master franchise agreement that will introduce its extended stay Hawthorne Suites brand to East Africa, the region comprised of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Renovations have begun to convert a two-story hotel in Mwanza to a six-story facility. Properties are in the planning stages for development in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania. In addition, a Hawthorn Suites is under construction in Abuja, Nigeria, and 10 more are under consideration for development in West Africa.
"As Hawthorn Suites continues to expand internationally, the potential for development in Africa is substantial," said Mike Leven, president and CEO of USFS. "We look forward to working with Nicodemas and his team." Currently there is a Hawthorn Suites under construction in Abuja, Nigeria, and 10 additional Hawthorn Suites properties under consideration for development in West Africa.
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iJET Issues Special Alert For Next 2 Weekends In Paris
iJET Travel Risk Management has advised travelers to expect severe congestion in Paris this weekend, due to the high season for tourism and the finish, on July 25, of the Tour de France bicycle race. Travelers should expect large crowds along the race route; severe congestion of public transportation systems, particularly at metro stations around the avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe; difficulty in securing taxi service; road closures; and booked-up hotels and restaurants.
The service notes that the crowds will probably increase the propensity for petty crime. Travelers should safeguard all valuables and personal belongings; label each piece of luggage, including carry-on bags, to comply with a new security requirements enacted on July 1.
Travelers planning to leave Paris the first weekend in August can expect significant delays on transportation routes, particularly those leading out of the city, due to the onset of the French summer holiday season.
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International SOS Outlines Plan For Meeting Olympic Emergency
After consulting with the International Olympics Committee and Athens police, International SOS is developing medical and security crisis management plans including protocols for emergency response and evacuation, for major U.S. Olympic sponsors. Key elements in its recommendations include:
o Preparation of wallet card or similar easily-carried document that details what actions are to be taken in case of emergency -- where to assemble, who to contact, etc.
o Familiarity with options for evacuation routes in the event of a major incident.
o Development of a backup communications plan.
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Israir Now Operating Out Of JFK
Israir Airlines has begun offering flights to Tel-Aviv from JFK’s Terminal 4, the ultra-modern international air terminal at JFK Airport. The addition of Israir gives Terminal 4 a total of 52 airlines offering flights.
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Jet Aviation Offers Onboard Delivery From Among 200 Newspapers
Jet Aviation’s Teterboro FBO now offers NewspaperDirect, which prints and delivers a passenger’s choice from nearly 200 different newspapers from around the world. Titles include the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Washington Post, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany), Corriere Della Sera (Italy), Kathimerini (Greece), Mainichi Shimbun (Japan), or Tages Anzeiger (Switzerland). The service has already been successfully introduced this year at Jet Aviation’s FBOs in Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland.
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Jet Aviation Returning To Zurich
Jet Aviation has moved its worldwide operational headquarters from Palm Beach back to Zurich. Heinz Aebi, senior vice president of corporate marketing and communications, will return to Zurich. The marketing department for the U.S. has been relocated to the U.S. headquarters in Teterboro, NJ. It will consist of Jonathan Campbell, marketing director North America; Stacey W. Keats, manager of public relations and advertising North America; and marketing coordinator Shawn Duffy. Jet Aviation's COO in the United States is Theo Staub.
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LAN Airlines Start NJ Shuttle To JFK
LAN airline service alliance members LAN CHILE, LAN PERU and LAN ECUADOR have introduced complimentary shuttle service between New Jersey and its JFK airport terminal. The new shuttle service is available daily from New Jersey’s Paterson Station, Union City Station and Newark Station.
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Names In The News
Amadeus has named Matt Murphy to assume the role of CFO at Opodo, filling a role that has been vacant since Simon Tucker left the company a year ago. In addition Vince Bourke, previously operations director for Opodo before leaving the company in April, will rejoin as chief operations officer. Luc Boucey, currently managing director of Vivacances.com in France, has been appointed acting commercial director.
PhoCusWright Inc. has named Joan Silver its vice president of sales, responsible for sales of the company’s syndicated research, custom research and strategic consulting services. Prior to joining PhoCusWright, Silver was an original member of the launch team for MapQuest, and held a variety of positions there, most recently as a senior account executive working with such companies as Cendant, Sabre/Travelocity and Worldspan.
Tech3 Partners has been formed in a joint consulting venture between Corbin Ball, Rodman Marymor and Jeff Rasco, individually known as three of the most influential people in meetings and hospitality technology.
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Names In The News 7/2//04
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has named Jack O’Neill to its North American Executive council, with the title executive vice president and COO, as it integrates its purchase of Maritz Corporate Travel into its operation. O’Neill will oversee account management, operations, national sales and the CWT Solutions Group. Former Maritz executives now on the account management team are Lesley Conzelman, now vice president of the Atlantic Region; and Scott Guerrero, now vice president Southwest Region. CWT staffers will include Bindu Bhatia, team leader and vice president of the Central Region; Cathy Voss, vice president of the West Region; and Mike Woodward, vice president of the Northeast Region. In addition, former Maritz staffers Janet Wheatley is now vice president of operations, while Barb Barnard has been named vice president of business development. CWT’s Steve Shook will continue as vice president of the Solutions Group.
Destination Hotels & Resorts has appointed Andy Anderson as senior vice president of sales and marketing. The company manages more than 7,000 guest rooms, 17 golf courses and eight full-service spas in 28 locations.
Expedia Inc. has named Steven McArthur, formerly vice president of web services at America Online, as president of Expedia North America, responsible for the day-to-day operation of Expedia’s North American operations.
Independence Air has appointed Denise Womble to the position of vice president of reservations. Womble comes to Independence Air after six years at US Airways as director of sales and customer support, where she was responsible for the airline’s executive support customer care center as well as group and meeting sales. Prior to that, she spent 20 years at Sabre/American Airlines in various positions including the management of customer care centers and help desks.
Patterson TravelStore of Sacramento has hired Bill Amaral as vice president of corporate sales. Most recently travel manager for Level One Communications, Amaral has also worked for Intel Corporate Travel and the State of California. He is also founder and president of the Sacramento Business Travel Association, and has served on the National Business Travel Association’s Board of Directors.
Prime Hospitality Corp. has promoted Bryan K. Hayes to senior vice president of operations, eastern division responsible for operations and sales efforts at the company’s 86 owned and managed AmeriSuites and Wellesley Inns & Suites in the eastern United States.
PrivatAir has added five new charter sales representatives to its U.S. corporate headquarters in Stratford, CT, in response to demand that has pushed midyear U.S. charter revenue is up 60 percent. New inside sales representatives include Loryn Cook, Debbi Higgins and Zach Zola. Maureen Jewell and Jeffrey Triana have been appointed to outside sales positions.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has appointed Sarah Chen as vice president sales and marketing, based in Hong Kong beginning in August, and responsible for the sales and marketing of new hotel projects. It is a new position. Chen is returning to Shangri-La after most recently serving as director of marketing at Grand Hyatt Taipei.
Southwest Airlines has selected Gary Kelly to succeed James F. Parker as its vice chairman of the board and CEO. Parker retired suddenly on July 15, citing "personal reasons." Kelly has been CFO of Southwest since 1989, and is being succeeded in that position by Laura Wright, currently vice president of finance and operations.
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Names In The News 7/28/04
Air Canada has realigned its Customer Experience leadership team, effective Aug. 1, as it prepares to enhance its customer service program. The team is being subdivided, with Brad Moore, currently vice president of customer service, appointed vice president, customer experience – airports. Sue Welscheid, currently vice president, people, will have the position of vice president, customer experience - inflight. Both will report to Steve Smith, senior vice president, customer experience.
Frontier Airlines has hired Robert Rapp Jr. as its vice president and chief information officer (CIO), responsible for Frontier's information technology infrastructure including all telecommunications, data center operations, technical security and applications development, as well as overall architectural and integration technology planning. Most recently a principal with Knowledge Reservoir technology consulting firm, Rapp’s experience includes serving as vice president of systems for Southwest Airlines.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has appointed Simon Allison to president of its Europe operation, reporting directly to joint CEOs Tony Potter and Wong Hong Ren. He joins Millennium from Molinaro & Kogar, a leading U.S.-based hotel consultancy and brokerage, where he as managing director, investment and finance. In addition, Tracy Halliwell, formerly with Thistle Hotels, has joined Millennium & Copthorne as vice president sales and marketing EMEA.
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Names In the News 7/7/04
GTREX Inc. has appointed Kathy Misunas to its advisory board. Most recently, Misunas was CEO of AirTreks, a San Francisco-based travel company. Her past posts have been as CEO of Reed Travel Group and of The SABRE Group, and CIO of American Airlines.
Questrians LLC, high-end meeting and incentive company located in New York and Boston, has named Eileen Wingate to be its CEO and executive partner. Wingate has held a number of positions in the industry, including a recent assignment as director of international sales at Galileo International.
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NBTA Convention Opens This Weekend
The National Business Travel Association’s 36th Annual Convention and Trade Show opens this coming weekend in Orlando, continuing until Aug. 4. This year’s Trade Show will showcase the largest number of exhibitors in the Association’s history, and attendance also appears on-target to exceed prior years.
The conference will also include more than 50 educational sessions, presentations from more than 15 high-level executives and a Technology Pavilion featuring demonstrations from leading travel technology vendors.
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NBTA Survey Confirms Increase In Travel Expenditures
The 2004 mid-year survey just released by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) confirms recent indicators of recovery in the travel industry, showing more 60 percent of respondent companies are spending more this year on travel than they did in 2003. More than three-quarters of those reporting higher travel spend indicated increases of 10 percent or less.
Nearly 70 percent of the respondents foresee increases in air travel prices; nearly 75 percent, in hotel rates; and almost 60 percent, in car rental prices. More than 65 percent said meetings & conventions costs will grow.
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New BTC Study Offers Users’ Assessments Of ITMCs
The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) has released a 55-page report based on input from 32 current corporate users of internet travel management companies (ITMC), describing their assessments of the ITMC’s overall capabilities and satisfaction with its service, plus their expectations of how they might evolve. A central conclusion of the study is that online firms such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are serious players, continuously improving their products and positioned for growth, says Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the BTC and author of the study.
The organizations interviewed for the study, all customers of Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity, ranged from $1 million to $35 million in annualized U.S. domestic air transportation purchases; the average is $6.5 million. The respondents said they see ITMCs as a viable alternative for many organizations; the vast identified transaction savings as the primary impetus for investigating and then retaining the services of an ITMC. The respondents also say:
o They achieved the savings that they anticipated.
o Their ITMCs were very responsive when they requested product fixes or enhancements.
o They wonder if there is enough discipline to keep the ITMC business model simple and low-cost over the long run.
o ITMCs need to continue to work to make all suppliers’ inventory easily available and to protect customers against disputes with suppliers who threaten to pull inventory.
o Many traditional TMCs have responded to the emergence of ITMCs by lowering costs, adding Web-based tools and systems and further unbundling their product offerings.
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Omni San Francisco Unveils Signature Guest Rooms
The Omni San Francisco Hotel has unveiled its 26 new Signature Guest Room, outfitted with complimentary Wi-Fi, T1 Internet connections and an in-room color copier / printer. Personal amenities include luxury linens, a high quality sound system, a library of music and movies and complimentary fresh fruit and bottled water. The Signature Room features are in addition to the luxurious amenities all Omni Hotels offer, including two dual-line phones with voicemail, terrycloth robes, marble guest baths and complimentary morning beverage and newspaper delivered to the room.
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Orbitz Adds Seat Availability To Booking Choices
Orbitz has unveiled a seat-map feature that lets travelers compare flight options by seat availability when reviewing fares and itineraries. The new feature, available on both its consumer and business travel sites, displays available first class and economy cabin seats, including premium economy.
To use the tool, Orbitz users click the "view seats" link displayed on the first results page of a flight search. From there, customers can purchase the flight or view seating options on other available flights.
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Ovation, Nee Travel Specialists, Fuses Technology & Elite Service
Ovation Corporate Travel, heretofore World Travel Specialist Group, has debuted as it introduces a new level of travel management that combines advanced technology, exceptional customer service and value pricing. The new service solution is keystoned by the Ovation Club, a members-only program for frequent business travelers. Although the company will keep its Lawyers Travel Service, it will not add other branded services for specific industries, according to Executive Vice President Michael Steiner.
Instead Ovation will provide customized services needed by its clients by integrating service and technology. That will include the new Ovation Club, a members-only program providing elite benefits. Services include management of frequent flier award reservations; exclusive hotel amenities (upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, spa treatments) at over 200 properties as well as special discounts and amenities at other luxury properties; and customized leisure travel publications and benefits based upon demographics, psychographics and travel interests.
Other services added with the new name include:
* Trip alerts – up-to-the-minute travel updates about flight delays, cancellations, and air traffic slowdowns at airports, sent directly to PDAs, Blackberrys, and other mobile text devices.
* Ovation guarantees; a 20/20 guarantee that waives the transaction fee if calls are not answered within 20 seconds and emails/voicemails, within 20 minutes; plus a satisfaction guarantee that offers a refund if the traveler or travel arranger is not completely satisfied with service on a given trip.
* Automated pre-trip reminders, including weather and proper documentation. 24 hours before departure.
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Red Roof Inn’s New Logo Reflects Ongoing Renovation Program
Red Roof Inn has unveiled its new logo, part of an overall strategy to redefine the economy brand as the brand’s properties across the country are renovated. The new logo is designed to reflect the spaciousness of the chain’s new room design as well as enhanced personal service from implementation of a new employee training program.
The new logo will be part of new signage going up at Red Roof Inns as their renovations are completed, a process that will take several years to complete, according to the company. There are about 350 Red Roof Inns across the country. Room upgrades, in a contemporary European style, have been completed in several locations, including Baltimore, Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Delaware, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Red Roof Inns is a brand of Accor North America.
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Runzheimer Launches Travel Program Benchmarking Service
Runzheimer International has launched its Travel Management Network (TMN), designed to assist organizations in benchmarking their travel programs and costs to prepare for supplier negotiations. The service includes a wide array of airfare benchmarking information, including airfare history, with easy-to-use data exporting capabilities to support analytics and reporting.
The TMN informational service has tiered levels of membership and is available 24/7.
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SkyTeam Offers Discounts On Itineraries To The Americas
SkyTeam passengers traveling to the Americas are now able to use America Pass discounted fare coupons that will give them added flexibility. Passengers must reserve a seat at least seven days prior to the departure of their first SkyTeam flight. Once Americas-bound, they can redeem coupons at any time. The program also allows the collection of frequent flier miles, and gives them access to priority baggage handling and airport lounges.
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Starwood Adds To Luxury Collection
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has finalized a long-term agreement to include the exclusive Hotel Convento do Espinheiro in its Luxury Collection in mid- 2005. The 59-room hotel in Evora, Portugal is part of a 15th century convent that is currently undergoing complete renovation and conversion for use as a hotel.
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Starwood To Open First W Hotel In China In 2008
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed a letter of agreement to open its first W Hotel in the People's Republic of China -- a 383-room waterfront hotel with extensive meeting facilities -- in early 2008. The W Hong Kong will be developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and located right next to Hong Kong's future Cultural and Entertainment District on the West Kowloon Waterfront. This new area will feature high-end retail, office, art museums, theatres, man-made gardens and lagoons, a yacht anchorage, lush landscape, a promenade, and food and beverage outlets along the waterfront when it is fully completed in 2010.
Starwood also has 25 hotels currently open or under construction in China under its St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands.
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Starwood’s W Chain To Make EU Debut In Barcelona
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’ says its W Hotel brand will make its debut in Europe with the 2008 opening of a 475-room waterfront facility in Barcelona. Several more W deals are expected to be made Europe in the near future; London, Rome and Paris have been mentioned as possible sites.
W’s international is expected to grow this month with the opening of the of the Seoul Walkerhill this month and the W Montreal in September. The W Maldives-Fesdhu, W's first resort, is scheduled to open in 2005, followed by the W Dallas in 2006 and the W Fort Lauderdale in 2007. Currently there are 18 W Hotels.
Although Starwood has several hotels in Spain, Barcelona is one of the few cities in the world in which its has not had a presence. Starwood’s portfolio of grand hotels in Spain includes The Westin Palace Madrid, the Hotel Alfonso XIII, A Westin Hotel in Seville and the Mardavall Hotel, Spa in Palma de Mallorca and the Sheraton Bilbao. Five additional Starwood hotels are under construction in Spain.
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Travel & Transport Powers Direct Links To Suppliers With EzRez
Travel and Transport has chosen EzRez Software to provide direct connections to suppliers and multiple travel services including dynamic packaging and a rewards fulfillment tool. With the implementation of EzRez’s technology, Travel and Transport will be the first travel rewards fulfillment manager to offer customers the dynamic packaging of travel products in real-time via an online redemption program.
Since EzRez integrates with existing legacy systems, Travel and Transport is able to build on its existing call center and rewards program platform to directly connect with suppliers’ inventory in a cost-effective and flexible implementation. Now, customers can build their own packages and redeem points for travel directly through Travel and Transport’s loyalty Web site. In the near future, Travel and Transport plans to roll out additional dynamic packaging tools across multiple areas of their business services.
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Travelocity Business Replicates, Enhances Consumer Site Capabilities
As a follow-up to the redesign of the Travelocity web site, Travelocity Business has unveiled its own enhanced site, offering more discounted deals and key corporate functionality, including:
* a powerful, easy-to-use control panel that enables the company’s designated site manager to adjust preferred suppliers, policies, traveler messages, etc., without getting lost in layers of menus;
*Out-of-policy explanations delivered at the point of booking to help travelers understand which options are policy-compliant, and why others are not; out of policy notifications can also be sent to a manager for review;
* automatic traveler profile import from Travelocity;
* AAA diamond ratings displayed on-site;
* instant automated registration and site set-up, in some cases enabling a company to launch its new travel program in minutes.
The new Travelocity Business site also provides a broader range of discounted hotel rates -- the number of participating hotels now numbers approximately 10,000. It also offers a wide selection of web fares; low-price hotel and car rates typically available only to online leisure travelers; a broad range of domestic and international airfares offering up to 50 percent off for Travelocity Business customers.
Travelocity Business also offers a full range of enhanced travel management services, such as strategic account management, advanced web-based reporting, executive/VIP services, an international rate desk and a dedicated toll-free phone number.
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Travelocity Business Upgrades Corporate Offerings
Travelocity Business just launched enhanced technologies in its service center to integrate and automate the corporate travel reservation process from beginning to end. The ITMC’s beginning-to-end automation technologies now include:
o At booking - powerful online technology, and technology-centric service centers staffed with experienced agents 24/7;
o Access to travel options/inventory via the Sabre GDS;
o Agent desktop - sophisticated programming to increase agent speed and accuracy with caller ID, automated retrieval of existing reservations, booking tools focused on productivity and accuracy, automated policy compliance checks, and constant access to traveler and corporate preferences throughout the reservation process;
o At mid Office, automated quality control (QC) processing enables a touchless rate of more than 90 percent. The system confirms that reservations are formatted to meet customers' specific requirements and all data reporting information is captured accurately, automates all ticketing (including e-tickets, split tickets, paper ticketing, automated FedEx tracking number assignment, and electronic document distribution);
o In the back office, accounting, data management and online reporting are refreshed daily.
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Travelport Packs More Power Into Online Booking Engine
Travelport Corporate Solutions has unveiled a suite of 17 new capabilities for its online booking engine. The new features include integrated web fares, localization and key enhancements to Travelport's policy management tools.
New enhancements to assist travel managers with the customization and management of their corporate travel programs includes configurable entry pages to facilitate customized text, graphics, and branding of their Travelport site; more detailed cost reporting; and improved private fare code support that enables negotiated air, car and hotel codes from multiple sources to be applied to searches and simultaneously displayed.
The new release also offers six new ways to implement travel policies via Travelport's Advanced Policy management tools. In addition to applying policy to web fares, customers may now create and apply detailed policies for individual air segments, scheduled arrival time, length of flight time, number of stops en route, type of car rental, and hotels in customer-specified cities.
With the new next-generation integrated web fares, travelers now see more flight choices in a single display, including select third-party web content, corporate negotiated fares, and discounted airline web fares such as Galileo's preferred fares select program. Corporations can choose vendors that are most important to their travel program with no limitation as to the number of sites that can be included.
The latest enhancements also include "a deep cultural localization" that goes beyond basic text translation to include date, clock, and calendar display, as well as country-specific validation of phone and address formats.
Other highlights of this new feature set include a suite of "power tools" for the frequent traveler, allowing them to more quickly and efficiently book or change their travel plans. Included are the ability for travel coordinators to book trips on behalf of multiple travelers or non-profiled guest travelers, the application of frequent flyer program miles from the booked airline or any of its partners, the flexibility to book different cabins of service on each trip segment, an enhanced airline seat selection map with more flight information, airplane equipment detail and intuitive graphics, and a superior online help system designed to assist travelers over the Internet.
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TravTech Unveils FareCapture Online Auditing & Reporting Tool
TravTech, a subsidiary of Omega World Travel, has introduced Fare Capture, web-based, real-time auditing and reporting tool that collects alternative airfares and flight options that were available at the time of booking but not selected. It also tracks airfares via both agents and online booking tools. Both types of collected data are stored to be sued later in airline contract negotiations. FareCapture is also useful in ensuring compliance with company travel policies, and in verification of SOX compliance.
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Ultramar Deploys Dashboard Site For Delivery Of Data, Information
Ultramar Travel Management is launching its own branded dashboard site, which will be deployed in different configurations to help travel managers, travelers and agents make informed travel purchasing decisions. The agency’s online Travel Center acts as the single entry point to access a collection of online services.
Inside the Travel Center, Ultramar’s Travel Manager Dashboard provides real-time data for searching, analysis and benchmarking. Data sources and services include arrival/departure manifests, client billing codes, travel policy and out-of-policy alerts, a travel tracker that monitors pending departures and identifies those currently traveling. Various reporting tools, complete with filtering features, can be directly accessed from the dashboard for both standard and customized reports, charts and graphs.
Individual travelers are provided with the Ultramar Traveler Information Dashboard, which allows access to their own current and historical information: accumulated air mileage, days out of state (for tax filing), booked trips, previous trips, etc. They also have access to Ultramar’s proprietary profile system and the KnowledgeShare database. The former allows travelers to register more than 100 categories of preferences such as airline seat and meal choices, hotel club accounts and frequent flier account. That information is synchronized with data from the Sabre GDS and GetThere self-booking system, ensuring that Ultramar agents have access to the most current information available. The KnowledgeShare database provides an easy way for travelers to share travel experiences and recommendations. The online information system also provides access to a complete travel guide and destination-specific travel alerts, which are also delivered by e-mail.
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US Airways Extends GoFares to Nashville And D.C.
US Airways has announced that it is adding its GoFares simplified fares to service between Washington, D.C., and Syracuse and Nashville. The lowest fares for both Syracuse and Nashville require an advance purchase. The new fares begin at $99.
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VIP Service Boosts Small Hotels’ Numbers
Small Luxury Hotels of the World reports that its "The Club" customer recognition program has drawn a favorable response from VIP members. The complimentary service for frequent travelers guarantees exclusive offers, automatic upgrades and other benefits, ranging from a free champagne breakfast to a tutored wine tasting or luxury picnic on a private beach. The program is designed to alert hoteliers to the guests’ special hospitality preferences prior to arrival.
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Worldspan Trip Manager XE Integrates With Procurement Systems
Worldspan will unveil its new Trip Manager XE at the National Business Travel Association convention next week. This expanded version of its self-booking and travel management tool has been moved to the .NET platform, which means it can be transparently integrated with existing business systems via the Internet. Thus it will interoperate with any procurement system, technology platform and operating system, and all programming languages and devices using XML web services.
Trip Manager XE incorporates several proprietary Worldspan tools and technologies, including the Worldspan GDS; Rapid Reprice, which puts automatic repricing of a ticket directly into the hands of the traveler;
Worldspan Power Shopper and Worldspan Power Pricing low-fare search technologies; and SecuRate Air Plus, a web-based tool for managing negotiated fares. All are easily accessible and manageable through a completely redesigned, easy-to-navigate graphical user interface, intuitive functionality and more flexibility as travelers make and change their travel arrangements.
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iJET Issues Special Report For 2004 Summer Olympics
iJET Travel Risk Management has published a special report on travel to Athens before and during the Olympic Games next month. The report covers measures being taken by Greek officials to tighten security against terrorist attacks as well as transportation concerns, health risks, petty crime, disorderly protests, etc. Among iJET’s recommendations:
• Limit use of public transportation, avoid traveling alone and keep movement within the city to a minimum.
• Always carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in the safe at your hotel’s front desk.
• Be prepared for long delays, searches and questioning when entering buildings and private establishments. Be patient and cooperative with security personnel.
• Check vaccinations and be health conscientious. Travel to Greece does not require immunizations. However, participants and spectators will be coming from all parts of the world and contagious illnesses are a concern anytime large numbers of people are in close quarters.
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International SOS Upgrades Traveler Locator Service
International SOS has released Version 2.5 of its Traveler Locator Service, which tracks travelers with real time data that is exportable to Excel spreadsheets.
The service uses GDS systems to aggregate travel reservation information from travel agencies, airlines and hotels on every continent except Antarctica. The information can then be conveyed through a web-based interface, by phone or through pro-active daily and weekly reports to clients. The solution includes not only employee tracking but also the ability to e-mail traveler specific information directly to the employee.
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It’s Official: Navigant‘s Passportal For Online Management Is Open
Navigant International has released Passportal, its proprietary online corporate travel management solution, designed to complement Tq3navigant’s existing suite of travel management products and services. Passportal offers traditional air, hotel and car booking options as well as travel management, policy enforcement and reporting. The tool is backed by Tq3navigant’s product fulfillment and support teams.
Passportal’s service options, identified as Passportal Standard and Passportal Select, include a stand-alone online travel management solution and an online booking tool that is integrated with Tq3navigant’s suite of products and services.
Passportal Standard, designed for lightly managed programs, offers ticketing and agent services through a central call center, provides standard reporting, and fixed pricing — initially $5 for a touchless domestic transaction and $15 for a domestic agent-assisted transaction.
Passportal Select, directed at the mid-market, includes a booking tool, RFx reporting and AQUA quality control. Pricing depends on the level of customization each customer requires.
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Jet Aviation Entering Dubai Int’l
Jet Aviation has begun construction of a new facility at Dubai International Airport, its third in the region. It will be the first private executive aviation company based at the airport and will offer a full-range of maintenance and FBO services to private and corporate aircraft. The new facility is expected to be operational by January 2005.
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New American Express Tool Protects Negotiated Hotel Rates
American Express Corporate Travel has unveiled Rate TRAX, an automated tool that compares a company’s negotiated hotel rates to those listed in global distribution system (GDS). Rate TRAX completes a comprehensive audit of each program, highlighting any differences between the negotiated rate and the actual rate found in the GDS. Companies can share this data with hotels so they can make any necessary corrections and address pricing inconsistencies.
Rate TRAX can take into account seasonal rates negotiated with specific hotel chains or individual properties, as well as rates for different room types. Travel managers can also use it to benchmark their rates to the GDS Best Available and AAA rates, when available. Rate TRAX also will identify “squatters” - properties that are not part of a hotel program, but give the appearance of having been selected, therefore drawing business away from preferred suppliers and distorting overall volume numbers.
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PrivatAir Passes Safety Audit
Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), making it the first business aircraft operator and one of only seven airlines worldwide so far listed in the IOSA registry. The audit program is an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess an airline’s operational management and control systems.
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Radius’s Norwegian Member Expands Scandinavian Presence
Norway’s Via Travel Group, a shareholder in the Radius travel network, has merged with Denmark’s Weco DSB Travel. Via acquired several Swedish travel agencies last year. The Weco acquisition makes it the largest travel agency group in Scandinavia with a 28 percent market share, 132 branch offices and close to 1,500 employees.
The merger also includes Denmark’s leading online-agency, www.flybillet.dk, currently posting a 40 percent annual growth. Via also owns the GOTOGATE.no and Zolong.no online agencies.
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Star Alliance Adds 3 Members, Implements Regional Strategy
Members of the Star Alliance have approved applications for membership from South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal and Finland’s Blue1 regional airline. Following the trio’s official inauguration next year, the Alliance’s network will comprise over 15,000 daily flights to 833 destinations in 152 countries.
Blue1’s admittance marks the official implementation of Star Alliance’s regional membership strategy. To become a regional member, a carrier must be sponsored by and have close ties to an existing member, helping to assure quick integration into the Star network. Blue1 is owned by SAS, already an Alliance member.
South African Airways serves more than 20 destinations across Africa as well as 34 cities in 26 countries on six continents. TAP Air Portugal offers an average of 180 daily flights to 40 destinations in 25 countries in Europe and Africa as well as North, Central and South America.
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Swiss Int’l Bows Out Of oneworld
Swiss International Air Lines has been released from its commitment to join the oneworld airline alliance following the vacating of an agreement it made last fall with oneworld member British Airways. That agreement was a fundamental condition for SWISS joining the alliance. All code-shares and bilateral relationships between SWISS and the other existing individual oneworld partners remain in place. Officials of the airline say they hope to seek membership again “under terms suitable for all.”
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